Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 31 January 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Monday (1st) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Bill Howes RIP
The Presentation of the Lord
Tuesday (2nd) (Frinton) 9.00am Peter Jackson RIP
(Dovercourt) 11.00am The Sick and those who care for them
Thursday (4th) (Frinton) 11.00am St Philomena’s School
Friday (5th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am St Joseph’s School
Saturday (6th) (Frinton) 6.00pm Denise Butt RIP
Sunday (7th) (Frinton) 8.30am Jack Taylor RIP (Marie Taylor)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Anne Emerson RIP (Sheila Davis)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Racial Justice
Alice McCarthy RIP
Florence McCarthy RIP
St Benedict’s School
All Parishioners
Fr Frank writes:
We are now up to Special Newsletter 40 (XL – not in this case Extra Large – the Newsletter is as brief as ever as are our Masses). When I began producing these special newsletters I viewed them as a temporary stop-gap until things got back to normal. Many of us are beginning to realise that what will emerge after lockdown and all the other emergency measures is going to be something different from our old way of life, it has been called ‘new normal’. What it will look and feel like, we cannot tell. Meantime, we need to show our love and concern for others by masking, distancing and washing/gelling our hands, and, of course, praying for the victims of Coronavirus and for all those who care for them – particularly our NHS Heroes.
On Tuesday we celebrate the Feast of The Presentation of the Lord. As this ends the Christmas Season (the cribs will be removed after Mass), this is, therefore, a significant day, and Masses will be celebrated in both parishes, Frinton at 9.00am and Dovercourt at 11.00am (I may be a little late at Dovercourt, if so, please be patient…it’s all very weather-dependent). Normally on this day (also known as Candlemass) we each carry a lighted candle. In view of the risk of transmitting the virus either through handing out candles or having parishioners rummage through a box this will not happen this year, but I pray that the Light of the World will shine in our hearts as we celebrate Mass together. Frinton parishioners please note there will be no Mass on Wednesday this week.
May Christ, the Light of the World, bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Mass attendance, January 2021: 30/31 Jan, surnames A-D. Sunday Mass attendance, February 2021: 6/7 Feb E-K; 13/14 Feb L-R; 20/21 Feb S-Z; 27/28 Feb A-D. Please note that there are no alphabetical restrictions applied to weekday Masses.
Sunday Smile: Two young tourists went into a Quaker guest house in the Lakeland. As they were strangers the warden approached and asked, “Are you Friends?”. Back came the reply, “No, we’re married.”
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 24 January 2021
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XXXIX – keeping in touch
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) 23/24 January 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Monday (25th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Clare Foy
Wednesday (27th) (Frinton) 11.00am Margaret White
Thursday (28th) (Frinton) 11.00am With thanks for your generosity at Christmas (Fr
Frank and Anne)
Friday (29th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Robin & Patricia Paxon
Saturday (30th) (Frinton) 6.00pm Marjorie Hosegood RIP
Sunday (31st) (Frinton) 8.30am Brendan & Clare Normoyle & Family
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Mary Sutcliffe RIP (Libby & family)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
NHS Staff & all Keyworkers
The Homeless
Teachers & Students
Private intentions
All Parishioners
Fr Frank writes:
A former student once said to me, “Why is it you need the emotional support of the Church?” She viewed the Church as a safe haven from the world: an escape for those unable to cope. In reply I said that for me my faith was a challenge – a call to go out and work for justice: with God’s help, to live the Kingdom life! A far from comfortable life choice!
This was the experience of the prophet Jonah (see our first reading). His religion made demands on his time and energy so that the people of Nineveh could be saved.
In our Gospel reading we are reminded that Jesus began his preaching with the word ‘repent’. “Repent,” he would say, “the time has come. The kingdom of God is upon us.”
In the original ‘New Testament Greek’ the word we translate as ‘repent’ is ‘metanoia’. It means turn your life around: reorient your lives to God. And once our gaze is fixed on God we are again on that narrow path.
Our Psalm reminds us that as well as repenting we must also be humble, “he guides the humble in the right path.” We are not to rely on ourselves alone, on our own resources, but to walk in faith humbly with our God. This can be comforting, but it can also be challenging.
St Paul, in our second reading, emphasises the priorities of the Kingdom. We are not to keep our faith in a special compartment to be brought out on Sunday and at other special times. Our faith is to be the mainspring of our lives. He calls on the people of Corinth to refocus on God – this call applies to us too! Like Simon and Andrew, and James and John we are called. Called to live lives which are focussed on God and his Kingdom, and though our example and our lives of service to bring others to see God.
The current pandemic offers many opportunities to serve others. Why not call an elderly neighbour, or someone who lives alone, and ask how they are and whether you can do anything for them. This would be doing Christ’s work: living the Kingdom life.
May Christ, the Servant King, bless you, strengthen you and keep you safe in his love.
Frank ofs
Sunday Mass attendance, January 2021: 23/24 Jan surnames S-Z; 30/31 Jan, A-D. Sunday Mass attendance, February 2021: 6/7 Feb E-K; 13/14 Feb L-R; 20/21 Feb S-Z; 27/28 Feb A-D. Please note that there are no alphabetical restrictions applied to weekday Masses.
Sunday Smile: From the USA: At one time my husband, George, a priest in the Episcopal Church, did an interim in Texas assisting a bishop. when it came time to line up for the recessional, the acolyte (a young boy) came up to George, who was wearing his red chimere rochet and Indian beaded stole, and said in a whisper, “Just love your outfit.”
Second week in Ordinary Time (Year B) 17 January 2021
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XXXVIII – keeping in touch
SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) 16/17 January 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Monday (18th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Mark Smith (Mary Power)
Wednesday (20th) (Frinton) 11.00am Rebecca Mohan
Thursday (21st) (Frinton) 11.00am Sr Teresa (Anne Jackson)
Friday (22nd) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Carers and volunteers
Saturday (23rd) (Frinton) 6.00pm Hugh and Cieron McElwaine
Sunday (24th) (Frinton) 8.30am Marie Taylor (Frances and David Plaskett)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am NHS Staff and all Keyworkers
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Florence McCarthy RIP
Christian Unity
Fr Frank and Anne
The Unemployed
All Parishioners
Fr Frank writes:
We come to Mass for many and varied reasons – so many different motives bring us to Christ. Principally though we all attend for one thing – to meet Christ face-to-face (a good phrase borrowed from Holy Scripture where Moses is referred to as ‘the man who spoke to God face-to-face’. I find this phrase very moving and so use it a lot).
At Mass we hear the words: ‘this is my body which will be given up for you’, when we hear this our response should be, ‘this is my body which I give to you’. Like those disciples of St John the Baptist in today’s Gospel reading we should commit ourselves to following ‘The Lamb of God’.
An essential element in following Christ involves caring for others. During this current health crisis, we pledge our support for all those who cannot attend Mass owing to the current pandemic and commit ourselves to helping them as best we can – by ‘phone contact, for example, and, most certainly, by prayer.
Speaking of the joy of attending Mass, there have been some queries about the obligation to attend Mass. The Bishops’ Conference confirm that the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days remains suspended until further notice. In fact, the advice for anyone who is unwell, elderly and/or vulnerable is to stay away from church for the time being.
If anyone should get Coronavirus symptoms they should self-isolate and get a test. If the test is positive self-isolation should continue for a period of 10 days – but before returning to Mass, please get a further test and only return to church if this is negative.
May God, our loving Father, keep you well and safe in these difficult times.
Frank ofs
Sunday Mass attendance, January 2021: 2/3 January, Surnames A-D; 9/10 Jan, E-K; 16/17 Jan, L-R; 23/24 Jan S-Z; 30/31 Jan, A-D. Please note that there are no alphabetical restrictions applied to weekday Masses.
Sunday Smile: From the USA: The rector of a church in Washington DC had just made the happy announcement that a member of the congregation was with child. Then he reminisced a bit: “There were no pregnancies in this parish until I arrived,” he beamed.
Second week in ordinary Time (Year B) 17 January 2021
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XXXVIII – keeping in touch
SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) 16/17 January 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Monday (18th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Mark Smith (Mary Power)
Wednesday (20th) (Frinton) 11.00am Rebecca Mohan
Thursday (21st) (Frinton) 11.00am Sr Teresa (Anne Jackson)
Friday (22nd) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Carers and volunteers
Saturday (23rd) (Frinton) 6.00pm Hugh and Cieron McElwaine
Sunday (24th) (Frinton) 8.30am Marie Taylor (Frances and David Plaskett)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am NHS Staff and all Keyworkers
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Florence McCarthy RIP
Christian Unity
Fr Frank and Anne
The Unemployed
All Parishioners
Fr Frank writes:
We come to Mass for many and varied reasons – so many different motives bring us to Christ. Principally though we all attend for one thing – to meet Christ face-to-face (a good phrase borrowed from Holy Scripture where Moses is referred to as ‘the man who spoke to God face-to-face’. I find this phrase very moving and so use it a lot).
At Mass we hear the words: ‘this is my body which will be given up for you’, when we hear this our response should be, ‘this is my body which I give to you’. Like those disciples of St John the Baptist in today’s Gospel reading we should commit ourselves to following ‘The Lamb of God’.
An essential element in following Christ involves caring for others. During this current health crisis, we pledge our support for all those who cannot attend Mass owing to the current pandemic and commit ourselves to helping them as best we can – by ‘phone contact, for example, and, most certainly, by prayer.
Speaking of the joy of attending Mass, there have been some queries about the obligation to attend Mass. The Bishops’ Conference confirm that the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days remains suspended until further notice. In fact, the advice for anyone who is unwell, elderly and/or vulnerable is to stay away from church for the time being.
If anyone should get Coronavirus symptoms they should self-isolate and get a test. If the test is positive self-isolation should continue for a period of 10 days – but before returning to Mass, please get a further test and only return to church if this is negative.
May God, our loving Father, keep you well and safe in these difficult times.
Frank ofs
Sunday Mass attendance, January 2021: 2/3 January, Surnames A-D; 9/10 Jan, E-K; 16/17 Jan, L-R; 23/24 Jan S-Z; 30/31 Jan, A-D. Please note that there are no alphabetical restrictions applied to weekday Masses.
Sunday Smile: From the USA: The rector of a church in Washington DC had just made the happy announcement that a member of the congregation was with child. Then he reminisced a bit: “There were no pregnancies in this parish until I arrived,” he beamed.
Fourth Sunday of Advent (B) and Second Sunday of Christmas 20 December and 3 January
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR EDITION
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) – EXPECTANT MOTHERS 19/20 December 2020
CHRISTMAS 2020
SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS (including EPIPHANY) 2/3 January 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches over this period:
Monday (21st): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Seafarers &their families
Wednesday (23rd): (Frinton) 11.00am Val Bartlett (Anne Jackson)
CHRISTMAS:
*Thursday (24th): (Dovercourt) 6.00pm Migrants & Refugees
(Frinton) 8.00pm Sr Agatha
*Friday (25th): (Frinton) 8.30am Christmas greetings for the Women’s Group (Frances Plaskett)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Ron Dunbar RIP
*Saturday (26th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Marjorie Hosegood RIP
*Sunday (27th): (Frinton) 8.30am Edgar Foy
(Dovercourt) 10.45am McLindon Family
*Attendance limited to those with pre-booked seats
2021
Saturday (2nd): (Frinton) 6.00pm Sr Bernadette (Sr Teresa)
Sunday (3rd): (Frinton) 8.30am John & Kitty McElwaine & family
(Dovercourt) 10.45am All Parishioners
Monday (4th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Arthur Barrow
EPIPHANY:
Tuesday (5th): (Frinton) 7.30pm Joseph Camilleri & family
Wednesday (6th): (Frinton) 9.15am Peggy McElwaine & family
(Dovercourt) 11.30am Students & Teachers
(Dovercourt) 7.30pm Fr Michael Stokes
Friday (8th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Niall Harrington
Saturday (9th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Sr Brigid & Communities (The Sisters)
Sunday (10th): (Frinton) 8.30am Marie, Terry & Denis Lloyd RIP (Martina & Harry Lloyd)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Students & Teachers
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
The Homeless Migrants & Refugees
Prisoners & their families The Homeless
Expectant Mothers Seafarers & their families
Private Intentions Private Intentions
All Parishioners Migrants & Refugees
The Recently Bereaved The Homeless
All Parishioners
Sunday Mass attendance, January 2021: 2/3 January, Surnames A-D; 9/10 Jan, E-K; 16/17 Jan, L-R; 23/24 Jan S-Z; 30/31 Jan, A-D.
Sunday Smile: After a glass or two of sherry, the teacher on duty rushed through to the dining room to say grace before Christmas Dinner. Her order to the school was: “Eyes together and hands closed”.
Third Sunday of Advent (B) (Gaudete Sunday) 13 December 2020
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) [Gaudete Sunday] 12/13 December 2020
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches during the week:
Monday (14th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am The Collins Family
Wednesday (16th): (Frinton) 11.00am Christine & Filomena Wood (The Sisters)
(Frinton) 12.00noon: Funeral Service: Mary Green RIP
Thursday (17th): (Frinton) 11.00am Maeve & Fergal Leamy & children
Friday (18th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Mary & Larry Key RIP (Patricia & George Chowney)
Saturday (19th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Anne & Paul Bray (Eileen Turner)
Sunday (20th): (Frinton) 8.30am Ints of Nollag Foster
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Expectant Mothers
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Students & Teachers
The Homeless
Private Intentions
Migrants & Refugees
All Parishioners
A hymn for Sunday:
Hail to the Lord’s anointed! He comes to break oppression,
Great David’s greater son! to set the captive free;
Hail, in the time appointed, to take away transgression,
his reign on earth begun! and rule in equity.
This hymn, quite simply, is one of my all time favourites and has been since I was young. I can remember, as a chorister in my local parish church in Coventry, enjoying the elegance of the words and of the melody. Some hymns are special to us or they may evoke particular memories and this is certainly one such for me. Each verse is beautiful; sing all 4 on this joyful Gaudete Sunday!
This week’s reflection from the entrance antiphon: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.’ (AJ)
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes – ADVENT): To give all parishioners the opportunity of attending Mass once during Advent, Sunday Masses will be open to parishioners as follows: 3rd Sunday of Advent (12/13 Dec), Surnames H-O; 4th Sunday (19/20 Dec) P-Z. The church may be more crowded than usual, please maintain social distancing at all times even if this means standing.
Christmas Masses: I am planning for seven Christmas Masses to be celebrated across the two parishes between 24th and 27th December. Please note that attendance will be limited to those who have pre-booked seats. Please come early and be seated in good time.
It’s getting cold: as we need to leave windows and doors open in church to ensure adequate ventilation, please remember to come dressed in warm outdoor clothes!
Sunday Smile: One Sunday after an illness that had left me temporarily deaf, I happened to say to one of my parishioners, “That was a strange experience, I couldn’t hear myself preach.”
“My,” he said, “you were lucky.”