Parish Priest: Fr Gerry Drummond MA 109 Ashingdon Road, Rochford, SS4 1RF /

Transcription

1 The Parish of St Teresa of the Child Jesus Rochford & St Hockley Parish Priest: Fr Gerry Drummond MA 109 Ashingdon Road, Rochford, SS4 1RF / frgerry@talktalk.net 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Harvest Festival It's a difficult and worrying time for us all living through a financial crisis. But for those already living in poverty, it's a catastrophe. Severe food shortages, price rises and job losses have left up to 90 million more people struggling to feed themselves and their families - bringing the total number in extreme poverty to one-quarter of the world's population. To keep their heads above water, millions have to sell everything they own, including what they rely on to make a living. Parents cannot afford to send their children to school and child labour is increasing. Illness is crippling entire communities because healthcare is now a luxury few can afford. Let me introduce you to Margaret Mueni - a single mother of seven from Kenya. A proud and determined woman, she has always found ways to take care of her family. But then she lost her job in a local factory. Next she lost her home. Now the family lives together in one room. With food prices rising, Margaret says life has turned into a battle for survival. More often than not, she goes to bed hungry. This is what Margaret said to CAFOD: "If there is not enough, I would rather not eat so my children can. When you can't provide for your family, you feel useless. "If there is no food in the house you will find me in church, washing the seats, volunteering. I find peace there. I can cry a lot. I don't like crying in front of my kids or my neighbours, so I cry to God." CAFOD is working hard to reach those in desperate need such as Margaret across the world, providing the essentials - food, water and medicine. But, because of the financial downturn, aid is worth almost one-third less than it was last year. We are also calling on world leaders to stand by their aid promises to protect the poorest. We mustn't give up on those living in poverty just when they need us the most. If we all give as much as we can afford this Fast Day, we show Margaret - and others just like her - that they are not alone. Please take a collection envelope as you leave church today. Bring it back here for collection next week with your donation enclosed. And don't forget to fill out the Gift Aid declaration - it will increase the value of your gift by almost a third, at no extra expense to you. You can also choose to give a regular gift and support CAFOD month by month. Thank you, and please remember Margaret and her family in your prayers this Harvest.

2 What s On The Legion of Mary: working and praying for the Kingdom of God in our Parish. Everyone is most welcome to the 5.30pm meeting in the Parish Centre - new members always welcome. friends and parents to come along and celebrate on this special night with us. The tickets are priced 15 each. In order to purchase your tickets please either speak to Pat Green after Mass or drop into the pre-school. We hope you can join us! St. Teresa's Pre-school are also celebrating winning a silver award for our vegetable plot in the Southend in Bloom competition. The children have benefited deeply in being able to plant the seeds, water and watch the shoots come up and being able to pick the produce and of course eat it! We are all very excited at winning this and would like to thank our green fingered mum Natalie Valentine. Baby & Toddler Group meets in the Parish Centre after the 9.20 Mass on Wednesday Mornings : 10am to 12pm during term time. Everyone very welcome. We are currently looking for volunteers St John Payne to assist with this group. Please contact Catholic School in Sandra Stilwell on Chelmsford will be celebrating its National Day of Prayer & 50th Anniversary Fasting For Life. On from September Tuesday 29th September, 2009 to July Feast of St Michael the We would Archangel, please pray like to invite any and fast for the end of ex-pupils and abortion and euthanasia. past members of staff for a reunion which Your prayer and fasting is rd urgently needed. For information contact; will be on Saturday 3 October 2009 at the The Good Counsel Network on school s Upper School Hall. More details 1740 or are available on the school s website of the other events info@goodcounselnetwork.freeserve.co.uk taking place throughout the year. We are St. Teresa's Pre-School also producing a special book to mark this are celebrating the historic event and this book can be pre-or30th Anniversary of the dered through the school office. opening of the PreSchool at Rochford Hun- G.A.Ls. On Monday, 5th Ocdred Golf Club on Satur- tober at 7.30 p.m. in the Parday 3rd October ish Centre there will a quiz 7.30pm. We would and social evening. Please love for former pupils, note the 2nd November past and present meeting has now been

3 moved to the 9th November when Brian Curtois will give a talk on being a journalist for the BBC. More information nearer to time. For any enquiries please ring Maureen on St Thomas More High School Open Evenings, Thursday 8 October, 6.00pm to 9.00pm for families who have a son due to transfer to secondary school in September 2010 come and see the school, meet the staff and pupils. The Headmasters talk will being at 7.30pm. Prospective sixth form students for September 2010 are also welcome, although there will be an open evening for students currently in year 11 on Thursday 26 th November. Parents of boys attending non-catholic primary schools who wish t o apply to St. Thomas More School for a place in September 2010 should complete the local education authority application form and fill in the supplementary information form (SIF) that can be collected at the Open Evening. If you are unable to come to the Open Evening, please contact the school as soon as possible in order to get the Supplementary Information Form. Dr Vivien Lane.There will be a memorial mass for Dr Lane at Nazareth House on 9 October at 7.00pm. Vivien travelled with the Southend and District Branch of the Across Trust from 1996 to All who knew her are welcome. There will be tea and biscuits in the hall after mass. BCYS Youth Gather 10 th /11 th October Young people of school year 9 (age 14+) and above, are invited to come along to the Diocesan Youth Gather which takes place at Mersea Outdoors on the weekend of 10 th /11 th October. There is transport available from Stratford, Romford, Brentwood and Southend and costs are 45 without transport, or 55 including organised transport. The weekend offers an opportunity to meet other young people, experience a variety of outdoor pursuits as well as art, drama and music; to have times of reflection, listen to challenging speakers and to celebrate Mass together. If you are interested and want an application form or more details, go to or contact clare@bcys.net or call (photos of previous years are also online). The Brentwood Catholic Children s Society is hosting a Charity Night at Romford Dogs on Wednesday 14 th October. Ticket are priced at 22 per person and this includes: Entrance, 3 Course Meal with Coffee in the Chase Restaurant, and Free Race card. We are expecting this event to be really popular so please book early in order to avoid disappointment. For further details and to book tickets call Julie on or jabbott@childcareuk.org Love at the heart of all things - A time of prayer for young adults with the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. As part of the visit of the relics of St. Thérèse, there will be a special liturgy for young adults at 7.30pm on Wednesday 14th October at Westminster Cathedral, with chief celebrant Mgr. John Armitage. This inspiring journey through the life of St. Thérèse

4 will be followed by an All Night Vigil in the presence of the relics and in the prayerful atmosphere of Westminster Cathedral by night. All welcome to this unique opportunity - please reserve your free ticket by ing info@bcys.net. More details online at Lection Divina- Praying with Scripture Tuesday 14 th Oct 7.30pm Cathedral Conference Centre. Facilitator- Fr Gervase Holdaway OSB, a monk from Douai Abbey Would you like to know more about this way of praying with Scripture or how to lead a group in your parish? For further information please contact Sr Nuala on or book by ing deniseholder@dioceseofbrentwood.org st & sp men only meet Oct 20th 8.00pm White Horse Hockley Shhh - don t tell the Missus! A Question of Faith The Commission for Evangelisation and Formation invite you take part in An evening of questions on living the Catholic faith on Thursday 22 October 2009, p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes, Parish Pastoral Centre, Cambridge Park Wanstead, London E11 2PR. Topics will include: Moral Issues and Quandaries, Theology and Scripture, The Church and its history and The Church in today s world. Further details from the parish through Maureen Brazier on or from CEF Direct Line or CEF@dioceseofbrentwood.org 'I'd say yes Lord, if I knew what you wanted' A weekend retreat on October 2009 for young adults aged on Ignatian rules of discernment; directed by Fr. Dave Stuart SJ, leader of the Young Adult Ministry at Farm Street. The retreat will be held at Abbotswick House of Prayer in the Essex countryside. For further details visit or call Guild of St Stephen Brentwood Diocese Memorial Mass for all deceased members and altar servers at Brentwood Cathedral, Saturday 24 October at 3.00pm. Celebrant: Fr Jean-Laurent Marie (Guild Director). All servers welcome, please bring albs etc. Those parishoners who are in year 9 or above who are interested in making their confirmation next year,please write to Father Gerry and let him know. If you were not baptised in St. Teresa's please enclose a copy of your baptism certificate. The course will be starting in October. This years parish dinner dance at the Lawns is being held on Sunday 20th December. Full 3 course Christmas menu and music by The Alvin Jones Band. Tickets 40 each. To secure your ticket please give a 10 deposit to Una or Martin Johnson ( )

5 Please bring your APF collection boxes to church as soon as possible as they are due for emptying. If you do not already have a Red Box, please feel free take one from the back of Church (an empty one obviously). Notices Hockley Village Centre Redevelopment Survey. Your views are urgently needed. Rochford District Council (RDC) is about to submit strategic planning proposals to redevelop Eldon Way and the Foundry Industrial Estates, which will materially affect the way the village centre develops. RDC s revised Core Strategy proposes that all existing businesses are relocated, mainly to greenbelt land at the airport, and the land utilised for mixed development including offices, leisure, community uses as well as an estimated additional 200 residential dwellings. We are undertaking a survey across the entire village, in order to gather views and to try and ensure that any redevelopment of the village centre meets the needs and desires of Hockley s residents. The results will be analysed and forwarded to Rochford District Council. Please complete the survey online at Copies will be handed out outside church afterwards for those who don't yet have it... The Collection for weekend of 20th September was Our Parish needs 1620 over the same period to run. Thank you all for your continued generosity. And as if Hockley wasn t enough!- - - Rochford Area Action Plan The Council are in the process of producing an Area Action Plan for Rochford town centre. The Council has produced a draft of the Area Action Plan for Rochford. They now want your views on these. Copies of the Rochford Area Action Plan discussion and consultation document ( Issues and Options ) can be viewed online at: as well as in Rochford library and Rochford Council Offices. Views can be submitted via the online consultation system at: If you wish to submit your views but are unable to do so online, please contact a member of the Planning Policy team on Comments must be received by 5pm on 30th November It is noteworthy that the Area Action Plan looks at no fewer than six different sites in Rochford, but makes no mention of the former BP Garage site opposite the Station, now boarded up, although it does suggest knocking down the next door sites of the A1 Car Sales Garage and Haynes Florists to Create heritage entrances and improved signage on the main routes into the town centre. Could it be that a Supermarket is involved? Altar Servers List next week Sunday 27th September am MC Stuart, Cross Bearer, Sophie D Book Bearer Dean, Thurifer & Boat, Charlotte & Sophie C, Candle Bearers, Emily, Victoria, James & Aimee, Offertory Alice & Francis Spare, Rebecca

6 Mass Times and Intentions Sat pm Sun am At S 10.30am Mon 28 No Mass Today Tues pm Weds 30 Thurs 1 10am At St 9.30am at St Teresas 11.00am At S The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ss Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Angels S Jerome, Priest & Teacher of the Faith S Teresa of Lisieux, Virgin, Religious, teacher of the Faith, Patron of the Parish, and all round Good Egg Fri am The Holy Guardian Angels Sat am Sun 4 Ints Moira Lock The People of the Parish Ints Marie Louise Nathan Ints Philomena Ryan Catherine Toovey RIP Frank Way RIP Mrs Kitchens RIP 5.30pm The Twenty-Seventh Sunday Jim Bennet RIP LB 9.00am At S in Ordinary Time Michael Sheehan RIP 10.30am of the Year (B) The People of the Parish TB SV P OR M S For Your Prayers In our Cycle of Prayer we remember those who live in Ash Green, Canewdon Hall Close, Featherby Way, and Hilary Close. The Sick: Dennis Hartnett, Sarah Fisher, Elizabeth Graham, Delia Cheek, William McArthur, Dorien Churcher, Gabriella Prideaux, Gail Airey, Joan Hauser, Antoinette Cane, Chris Bowler, Christopher Carr, Sarah Knight, Zita Killick, Ross Giza, David Ward, Oliver Kelly, Lucy Fuller, Laura Munden, Harry Clark, Terry & Marie Barrett, Vicki & Dee Fage, Daphne Lamb, Jackie Gravestock, Fr William Newton, Drummond & Helen Clapp, Chris Sheehan, Jim Bourne, Shirley Kennenson, Siobhan Taylor, Gareth Lewis, Mark Reilly, Bartly Igoe, Dexter Govia, Michael King, Elizabeth Reilly, Johanna Packer, Marylin Friend, Marjorie Jay, Cassie Thompson, Ciaran Freel, Angele DeCan, Ann Francis, Paul Clarke, Mac & Maria McFairbairn, Ken Cropley, Louise Knight, Ann Moore, Tony Micallef, Maud Livett, and all who are sick. The Departed: Alan Wells & Jim Holland recently departed: George Hanagan, James McKinney, Eileen Smith, Ronnie Lee, Fr Gordon Godfrey, Ann Davis, Ita Ryan, and all whose years mind fall at this time.