Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 23 August 2020
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XXI – keeping in touch.
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 22/23 August 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 next week:
Monday (24th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Private Intentions
Wednesday (26th): (Frinton) 11.00am Gerry Prendergast RIP (The Women’s Group)
Thursday (27th): (Frinton) 11.00am Pat Pollock RIP (Marie Taylor)
Friday (28th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Tom Jordan RIP
Saturday (29th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Fr Jonny Torres (Bray)
Sunday (30th): (Frinton) 8.30am Fr Charles Kakooza (Anne Jackson)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am All Parishioners
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Gillian McMahon (Kathleen Farry)
Niall Buckley RIP (Kathleen Farry)
Seafarers & their families
The Recently Bereaved
Fr Frank & Anne.
My dear friends,
Our Gospel reading today focusses on the response to a question put to the Apostles by Jesus. It is Peter, the undisputed leader, who responds on their behalf.
Peter always comes over as a real human being, warts and all. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the Evangelists didn’t attempt to cover up the Apostles’ bad side. These were the leaders of the infant Church – you’d think the Gospel writers might have tried to build them up a little, cover up their faults. But, no. We see the Apostles as they truly were – often confused, foolish, and sometimes cowardly. The Gospels avoid any cover up because they want us to see the transformation that God brings about in their lives after that startling encounter with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Jesus knew he could safely found his Church on Peter, the rock, because he could see great potential in him.
We too are flawed, are subject to human weakness. But we can be transformed (you know this). Like Peter if we recognise our faults and repent we are assured of God’s forgiveness and of the power of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives.
May the God of all good things bless you today and forever.
Fr Frank
A hymn for this Sunday:
The Church’s one foundation, from heaven he came and sought her
is Jesus Christ, her Lord; to be his holy bride,
she is His new creation, with his own blood he bought her,
by water and the Word; and for her life He died.
The tune that these words are normally sung to is ‘Aurelia’, composed by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-76), a prolific composer of hymn tunes and anthems. He could certainly write a good tune; one of my favourites of all time is ‘Hereford’ sadly not in our hymn book. He came from a family of organists and composers and was the great nephew of John Wesley. This week’s reflection is the heart stopping statement made by St Peter: ‘You are the Christ, the son of the living God.’ (AJ)
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes): 22/23 August, surnames S-Z.; 29/30 August, surnames A-D.
Private Prayer: owing to a decline in attendance, Private Prayer times have been suspended in both churches. Our churches will be locked outside Mass times. Please do not enter church premises outside these scheduled times. There is no exception to this rule. Remember, we have a responsibility to keep one another safe.
Sunday Smile: Taken from an American church magazine: Wednesday, the Ladies’ Liturgy Society will meet. Mrs Jones will sing ‘Put me in My Little Bed’, accompanied by the Pastor.
Ninetenth Sunday in Ordinary Time and The Assumption of Our Lady 9 and 16 August 2020
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL DOUBLE NEWSLETTER XX – keeping in touch.
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 8/9 August 2020
THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY 15/16 August 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 over the next two weeks:
Monday (10th) to Friday (14th) – No Masses or Private Prayer in either parish.
Saturday (15th) (Frinton) 6.00pm Sheila Wright RIP (Governors, Staff & Pupils of St Philomena’s)
Sunday (16th) (Frinton) 8.30am Barbara Anslow RIP (The Sisters)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am All Parishioners
Monday (17th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Private Intention
Wednesday (19th): (Frinton) 11.00am Pat Pollock RIP (Women’s Group)
Thursday (20th): (Frinton) 11.00am Jill Harper-Penman RIP
Friday (21st): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Percy Sutton RIP (Maureen & Pat Sutton)
Saturday (22nd): (Frinton) 6.00pm Carmel Corcoran RIP (Sr Agatha)
Sunday (23rd): (Frinton) 8.30am Marjorie Hosegood RIP
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Tony Farry RIP (Noel Farry)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions for the next two weeks are:
Mr & Mrs John Calnan & Family (P. Calnan) Private Intentions
Fr Niall Harrington Fr Frank & Anne
Fr Michael Stokes Seafarers and their families
Fr Arthur Barrow All Parishioners
All Parishioners The recently bereaved
My dear friends,
Anne and I will be away for this ‘inside’ of this week. As a consequence, both churches will be closed from Monday to Friday. There will be no Masses or Private Prayer this week in either church. Please remember that we should only enter church during scheduled opening times when a Steward is on duty. This important rule exists to protect everyone from the risk of contracting Coronavirus.
May God bless you and may Our Lady pray for you.
Fr Frank
A hymn for this Sunday:
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star!
Guide of the wanderer here below!
Thrown on life’s surge, we claim thy care;
save us from perils and from woe,
Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
This just happens to be one of Fr Frank’s favourites! The tune set to C19th harmonies does just what you expect, making it pleasing to sing and play. The words were written by Rev Dr John Lingard, a Catholic Priest, born into an English recusant family in the C18th, a time when Catholics were under suspicion. Towards the end of his life he lived in Hornby, a village near Lancaster, where people held him in high regard for his learning and his undoubted Christian virtues. They (in true Lancashire form) affectionately referred to him as “th’owd doctor”.
This week’s reflection from the Gospel reading and familiar as the opening of the Magnificat: ‘ My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord’. (AJ)
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes): 8/9 August, surnames E-K; 15/16 August, surnames L-R; 22/23 August, surnames S-Z.; 29/30 August, surnames A-D.
Sunday Smile: Taken from an American church magazine: The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs Julius Belzer.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 August 2020
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XIX – keeping in touch.
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 1/2 August 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 this week:
Monday (3rd): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Bill
Wednesday (5th): (Frinton) 11.00am Jane Robinson (Anne Jackson)
(Dovercourt) 4.00pm Receive the body of Anne Emerson RIP
Thursday (6th): (Dovercourt)) 9.15am Funeral Service (Anne Emerson RIP)
Friday (7th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Sheila Marriott RIP (Maureen & Pat Sutton)
Saturday (8th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Sister Agatha (Sr Teresa)
Sunday (9th): (Frinton) 8.30am Teresa Ingham RIP
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Private Intention
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions this week are:
Private Intention
Florence McCarthy RIP
The Recently Bereaved
All Parishioners
Seafarers
My dear friends,
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (taken from today’s Gospel Acclamation).
In today’s Gospel we hear of how Jesus is anxious to feed the crowds that have been following him. As they were in a lonely place there was no opportunity to buy food – they had to make do with what they had: five loaves and two fish. It seems so little, but Jesus was able to feed the crowd (of “5,000 men, to say nothing of women and children” Mt.14:21), with enough scraps left over to fill twelve baskets full!
This is a powerful reminder that God gives us what we need – he is the master of the harvest.
Not only does he provide for our body’s need, but for our soul’s too. Each day we pray “give us this day our daily bread”. This could simply be taken to refer to the food we need to sustain our strength and make us grow. But he provides other food too – food for our souls. This too is included in the Lord’s Prayer – we thank God for the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion which we receive at the Mass (our daily bread).
May God richly bless you day by day.
Fr Frank
A hymn for this Sunday:
Come to the feast of heaven and earth! My bread will ever sustain you
Come to the table of plenty! through days of sorrow and woe.
God will provide for all that we need, My wine will flow like a sea of gladness
here at the table of plenty! to flood the depths of your soul.
A hymn that I would rather be writing about than playing on the piano! It was written by Dan Schutte; perhaps best known for the hymn ‘Here I am Lord’. We sing it quite often at Dovercourt where Carolyn, Eilis and I are glad of support from each other. It goes with a lick (crotchet = 152) but is fun. I have quoted verse 3 here as for me it ties in with the reflection for this Sunday, from St Paul’s letter to the Romans: ‘For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, …..nothing that exists…nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (AJ)
Funerals: Dovercourt: Anne Emerson RIP will be received into church at 4.00pm on Wednesday 5th August. Her funeral service will take place the following day at 9.15am, followed by interment at Dovercourt Cemetery. May they Rest in Peace.
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes): 1 /2 August, surnames A-D; 8/9 August, surnames E-K; 15/16 August, surnames L-R; 22/23 August, surnames S-Z.; 29/30 August, surnames A-D.
Sunday Smile: Taken from an American church magazine: Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 26 July 2020
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XVIII – keeping in touch.
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 25/26 July 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 this week:
Monday (27th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Alice & David Gillings (Jane & Brian)
Wednesday (29th): (Frinton) 11.00am Jim & Mary Kay RIP
Thursday (30th): (Frinton) 11.00am Fr Juan Manuel Beltran (Bray)
Friday (31st): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Mary Sutcliffe RIP (Scarfe Family)
Saturday (1st): (Frinton) 6.00pm Amanda Finian & Paidi Newman (Andy & Nuala)
Sunday (2nd) (Frinton) 8.30am Sr De Paul (Sr Teresa)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Angela & George East (Carmel Sadler)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions this week are:
Seafarers
Personal Intentions
Personal Intentions
All Parishioners
Alice McCarthy RIP
My dear friends,
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to make itself felt. I had invited Fr Charles Kakooza, an old friend of mine from Uganda, to come and spend some time in the parishes during August. Because Uganda is in lockdown (and all is chaos according to Fr Charles), and we are far from fully operational, his visit will not now take place. Also in August, we were to have a visit by The Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) who were due to preach an appeal. They tell me that all appeals have been cancelled this year, so we shall not be seeing them either.
Keeping one another safe during the pandemic is of paramount importance. It is essential, therefore, that we only enter church during scheduled times, when a Steward is on duty. Once again, I offer my thanks on your behalf to all those who have volunteered to act as Stewards (which also involves the essential task of cleaning/disinfecting the church after use).
With every blessing.
Fr Frank
A hymn for this Sunday:
O, the love of my Lord is the essence Every day, every hour, every moment
of all that I love here on earth. have been blessed by the strength of his love.
All the beauty I see he has given to me At the turn of each tide he is there at my side,
and his giving is gentle as silence. and his touch is as gentle as silence.
A familiar hymn this week. The words and music were written by Estelle White; a prolific hymn writer of the C20th. Once more I encourage you to turn to the internet to read about her. She was quite a character. I knew that she was a former nun and very little else, so I have learned something too. The hymn has a simplicity that leads to a truth fundamental to our faith. The reflection for this Sunday is from the Gospel Acclamation: ‘I call you friends, says the Lord.’ (AJ).
Walton Mini-Bus: Ever since the church closed in Walton we have enjoyed a mini-bus service provided by Pastor Robert and the people of the Hebron Pentecostal Church. Sadly, two events have changed this arrangement. Firstly, the Hebron church has closed and, secondly, we have lost a number of Mini-Bus users – including, this year, Barbara Anslow, Marie Hines and Najat Clifton-Brown. May they rest in peace. For these reasons the present service cannot continue. If you have problems getting to Frinton for Mass, please let me know and we’ll try to arrange a rota for providing lifts (but not until the Pandemic is over!)
Funerals: Frinton: Najat Clifton-Brown RIP will be cremated after a 10.15am service at Weeley on Tuesday 28th. Dovercourt: Anne Emerson RIP will be received into church at 4.00pm on Wednesday 5th August. Her funeral service will take place the following day at 9.15am, followed by interment at Dovercourt Cemetery. May they Rest in Peace.
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes): 25/26 July, surnames S-Z; 1 /2 August, surnames A-D; 8/9 August, surnames E-K; 15/16 August, surnames L-R; 22/23 August, surnames S-Z.; 29/30 August, surnames A-D.
Sunday Smile: Happiness is like jam. You can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21 June 2020
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XIII – keeping in touch.
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 20/21 June 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 this week:
Monday (22nd): (Frinton) 9.00am John Turner (Bray)
Wednesday (24th): (Frinton) 11.00am Deacon Kevin Lyons (Anne Jackson)
Thursday (25th): (Frinton) 11.00am Nollag & Dennis Forster (52nd Wedding Anniversary)
Friday (26th): (Frinton) 9.00am Emmy Hoban
SS PETER AND PAUL:
Saturday (27th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Sheila Wright RIP and David Wright (The Sisters)
Sunday (28th) (Dovercourt) 10.45am Veronica Howell RIP (Angela East and Family)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions this week are:
Private Intentions
Butler and Neville Family RIP
For those suffering Domestic Abuse
For Prisoners and their Families
All Parishioners
My dear friends,
Thankfully, we can begin to open our churches for private prayer. At the designated opening times our churches will be supervised by Stewards, please follow their directions and do not enter church until invited to do so. Under no circumstances must you let yourself in with your key (should you have one). The opening times at Dovercourt are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 12noon to 1.30pm, and at Frinton, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 1.30pm to 3.00pm.
Dovercourt parishioners will have seen the email from Michael Wyatt. I have sent my personal thanks to him, but would like to publicly record my thanks on behalf of all the parish for the wonderful work Michael has done over the years to improve the H&S in the parish – the standards of safety at OLQH have never been higher. We wish him and Lisa every blessing for the future. Not to forget Frinton where Andy Molloy, like Michael, works tirelessly on H&S matters – work that can be frustrating, but its fruits are obvious to all. We are blessed by the dedication and professionalism of these two men whose work has been recognised as outstanding by the diocese.
Speaking of Safety, the proposed opening of our churches for private prayer requires a large number of safety measures to have been put in place. As well as thanking Michael and Andy, I would like to record my thanks to Jane Dunbar (Dovercourt) and Anne Jackson (Frinton) for deep cleaning our churches, ordering and installing PPE, setting up notices and barriers, and completing the 25 page checklist/risk assessment for the diocese! Finally, my thanks to those who have volunteered to act as stewards to ensure the safety of all.
May the God of all good things bless you today and always.
Fr Frank
A hymn for the 12th Sunday of the Year:
You shall cross the barren desert, You shall speak your words in foreign lands
but you shall not die of thirst. and they will understand.
You shall wander far in safety You shall see the face of God and live.
though you do not know the way.
Be not afraid, I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.
A wonderfully upbeat hymn for this week, a particular favourite with many at OLQH. I can hear the flute, guitars and piano as I write this! The gospel reading is from Matthew and includes this assertion: ‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven.’ (AJ)
Sunday Smile: A young curate was visiting an elderly man on his 99th birthday. They had a good conversation about the parish in times past. As he was leaving the young priest said: “I hope to see you again on your 100th birthday.” The old gentleman carefully looked him over and said: “I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t, father, you look healthy enough to me.”
Corpus Christi (A) 14 June 2020
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER XII – keeping in touch.
CORPUS CHRISTI (A) 13/14 June 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 this week:
Monday (15th): (Frinton) 9.00am John Turner
Wednesday (17th): (Frinton) 11.00am Eileen Mary Corbett & Marie Bernadette Hines RIP
Thursday (18th): (Frinton) 11.00am Jane Robinson (Friends)
Friday (19th): (Frinton) 9.00am Anne Hughes RIP (Maureen Maguire)
Saturday (20th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Kathleen & Sonny Lombardi RIP
Joe Lombardi RIP
Holly Crowley RIP
Peter Huckle RIP (Lombardi family)
Sunday (21st) (Dovercourt) 10.45am The Turner family (Dunbar)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions this week are:
Tony Farry RIP (Kathleen Farry)
Dunn and O’Callaghan Family RIP
George and Angela East (Noons Family)
Christine McDonald RIP (Brian and Family)
All Parishioners
My dear friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast that most of us call Corpus Christi – The body and Blood of Christ. On this day we give special thanks for the gift of the Holy Eucharist – the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion. The Mass is so central to our faith that we celebrate it every day. What a wonderful gift Christ left us!
Your inability to Receive the Blessed Sacrament as a result of the current pandemic causes pain – of this I am clear. Like you, I look forward to the day when we can once again come together as a community.
Meanwhile I can assure you that Mass continues to be celebrated in our parishes and that you are all remembered on these occasions.
This weekend our First Holy Communion children should have been celebrating receiving the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time, either on Saturday morning (Dovercourt) or Saturday evening (Frinton). This will now be put back until things return to normal and they can complete their preparation course. We pray for our children who must feel a great sense of disappointment.
The day when we will be able to open our churches for private prayer grows near. I shall keep you advised by email of our progress towards being able to pray in a safe environment. At the moment an opening on Monday will not be possible as we haven’t got the necessary PPE. The earliest we will be open for prayer is from Monday 22nd. There is still no news as to when we can begin celebrating Mass with a congregation present.
May Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, fill you with every good gift.
Fr Frank
A hymn for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi:
This is my body, broken for you, This is my blood poured out for you,
bringing you wholeness, making you free. bringing forgiveness, making you free.
Take it and eat it, and when you do, Take it and drink it, and when you do,
do it in love for me. Do it in love for me.
A very familiar hymn this week. There are many beautiful hymns that reflect this week’s theme but this one gets to the heart of the matter in a simple and direct way.
“I am the living bead which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.” (words from St John’s gospel.) (AJ)
Offertory: A simple way of continuing to donate to church funds, go to:
For Harwich & Dovercourt parishioners: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=harwich-and-dovercourt
for Frinton & Walton parishioners: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=frinton-on-sea
Sunday Smile: The Trout Inn, which lies between the villages of Wansford and Driffield at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, is a popular port of call for cyclists and ramblers. The elderly vicar of Wansford asked the innkeeper if he would display a notice giving details of the services at the village church. The innkeeper gladly obliged and the notice read:
“We will be glad to see you at any of our services. Clothes don’t matter.”