22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today we welcomed back Father Martin and Jan from their holiday. Father Martin presided at the Parish Mass and Father Mervyn preached and concelebrated. Father Mervyn pointed out that last week Jesus had praised Peter for his profession of faith whilst in today’s reading he castigates Peter suggesting he is acting as a tempter. Jesus points out that if we want to follow him we have to take up our cross. Being a Christian is not an easy or soft option.

KEN RICHARDSON’S FUNERAL

The Funeral Requiem will be at 11.00 a.m. on Monday 5^th September. By request family flowers only but donations for the Rainbow Trust can be made either to Father Martin or the Co-operative Funeral Directors.

DATES

Tuesday 30^th August SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEETING following the 7.30 p.m. Mass in the Lady Chapel.

 

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Kathryn will be Confirmed at St. Edward’s Church on Sunday 18^th September at 6.30 p.m.

Mark, Sky, Aaron and Billy will be Confirmed on Sunday 25^th September at 6.30 p.m. in St. Augustine’s.

PLEASE KEEP KATHRYN, MARK, SKY, AARON AND BILLY IN YOUR PRAYERS AS THEY PREPARE FOR THIS SACRAMENT.

21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

We had a nearly full church this morning for the Parish Mass as we celebrated the 90^th birthday of Jean, a member of our congregation for over 58 years. Father Mervyn presided and preached. He preached on the theme of the Gospel “who do people say that I am?” – the question posed by Jesus. Father Mervyn pointed out that that question was as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. It was a question we all had to answer personally: who do we say Jesus is?

Sadly on Friday evening a long standing member of our congregation died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Ken who was in his 80’s had served St. Augustine’s in many different roles including Churchwarden and Treasurer. He will be sadly missed and we send our condolences to his wife Mary and all the family. Details about funeral arrangements will be published as soon as they are known.

After Mass we went to the hall to enjoy lovely refreshments and wine provided by Jean’s family. Father Mervyn proposed a toast to Jean, saying he couldn’t believe she was 90. After the toast we sang her “A Happy Birthday”.

THE SATURDAY SHOP WILL BE CLOSED ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE BANK HOLIDAY

THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY

Today we celebrated The Assumption of Our Lady at which Father Mervyn was the celebrant and preacher. He reminded us that Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth shortly after the Angel had appeared to her. Elizabeth who was herself pregnant experienced the baby, St John the Baptist leaping in her womb. She greeted Mary proclaiming her of all women the most blessed and in reply Mary proclaims “My soul magnifies the Lord” Father Mervyn pointed out that the words Mary used then were as relevant today as they were when she first said them. In our broken society we had seen bankers who had lost millions of pounds and had nearly brought the UK to bankruptcy through unmitigated greed still awarding themselves millions of pounds in bonuses, we had had politicians prepared to swindle their expenses, footballers paid obscene amounts of money, was it then any wonder that we should experience the criminal activities of a minority who would or who could never aspire to anything like the income these others had, people who had no work and, it seemed were not likely to get any in the near future and so had determined to help themselves. We had experienced this criminal looting in our own town of Romford, in Ilford, in Barkingside and Hainault. There had been the terrible incident in Barking of the Malaysian who had been robbed when he lay injured by local thugs who appeared to be helping him and who instead were helping themselves to his phone etc. But as children of Abraham, we had the promise that the mighty would be put down from the seats and the humble would be exalted, that the hungry would be filled with good things whilst the rich would be sent away empty. Those who had been responsible for such terrible things needed to hear the message of the Gospel that God would put things right, that was the promise contained in the Magnificat and that God’s way was not the way they had pursued. We rejoice today that God had taken Mary body and soul into heaven.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As Father Martin is away on his annual holidays, Father Mervyn presided and preached at today’s Parish Mass. Despite many people being away on their holidays we had an excellent attendance with several new people.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop was affected by people being on holiday but despite the reduced numbers attending we still made a very creditable £155.

Next Sunday we will be celebrating The Assumption of Our Lady.

18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today was Father Martin’s last Sunday before he goes on holiday. He celebrated and preached whilst Father Mervyn read the Gospel. For the next three weeks or so Father Mervyn will be looking after the parish whilst Father is enjoying a well-earned rest.

Yesterday’s Saturday shop took an amazing £273 – well done everyone.

LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS

Saturday 17^th September in church

BOOK THE DATE NOW

More details later