Fourth Sunday of Easter 12 May 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
This Sunday, in particular, we think and pray about vocations in our Church. Pope Emeritus Benedict has written:
In presenting the mystery of the Church in our time, the Second Vatican Council gave priority to the category of “communion”. In this perspective, the rich variety of gifts and ministries acquires great importance for the People of God. All the baptised are called to contribute to the work of salvation. In the Church, however, there are some vocations which are dedicated especially to the service of communion. The person primarily responsible for Catholic communion is the Pope (……) with the Bishops (…….) assisted by the priests.
The Church in England needs more priests. Please pray for vocations to the sacred ministry.
Easter ends on the Feast of Pentecost (8/9th June). This is the day when we celebrate the Church of many languages and nations. To emphasise this I would like the readings at Mass that weekend to be in a language other than English. If your first language is not English and you would like to read at one of the Masses that weekend please let me know (preferably by email or by written note). If we have any volunteers for this wonderful task, I promise I shall sign the Eucharistic Prayer using the language of the deaf! But only if we have volunteers!!
May the Risen and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A new rector had preached his first sermon but a sudden emergency had prevented one of the churchwardens from attending church that day. When the churchwarden saw the rector during the week, the following conversation took place.
Churchwarden: “I was so sorry to have missed your first sermon, rector.”
Rector (with great modesty): “Oh, you didn’t miss much.”
Churchwarden: “So they tell me.”
Third Sunday of Easter 5 May
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
“It is the Lord!” This exclamation of the Apostle John emphasises the intense emotion experienced by the disciples on recognising the risen Christ, who appeared to them for the third time on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. After a long night of loneliness and toil, the dawn arrives and his appearance radically changes everything: the darkness is overcome by light, the fruitless work becomes an easy and abundant catch of fish, the feeling of tiredness and loneliness is transformed into joy and peace. Since then, these same sentiments enliven the Church. We know with certainty that the light of Easter now shines eternally on those who follow Christ. The great message of the Resurrection fills the hearts of the faithful with inner joy and renewed hope. (St John Paul II)
Easter ends on the Feast of Pentecost (8/9th June). This is the day when we celebrate the Church of many languages and nations. To emphasise this I would like the readings at Mass that weekend to be in a language other than English. If your first language is not English and you would like to read at one of the Masses that weekend please let me know (preferably by email or by written note). If we have any volunteers for this wonderful task, I promise I shall sign the Eucharistic Prayer using the language of the deaf! But only if we have volunteers!!
May the Risen and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
From Scotland:
Having preached for half an hour the minister asked, “And what shall I say more?”
A voice from the back replied, “Say Amen, mon, and sit doon.”
DOUBLE EDITION Palm Sunday 14 April and Easter Day 21 April 2019
Fr Frank writes:
As we approach the most holy season of the Church Year, I give below details of the main services for Holy Week and Easter.
Harwich & Dovercourt:
Wednesday, 17th April: Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, 7.00pm
Maundy Thursday, 18th April: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch, 7.00pm
Good Friday, 19th April: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 5.00pm
Holy Saturday, 20th April: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
Easter Day. 21st April: Mass, 10.45am
Frinton & Walton:
Wednesday, 17th April: Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, 7.00pm
Maundy Thursday, 18th April: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch, 7.00pm
Good Friday, 19th April: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 2.30pm
Holy Saturday, 20th April: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
Easter Day, 21st April: Mass, 8.30am
Lent is a time when adults are prepared for reception into the Church and to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please pray for our candidate, Amanda Campbell (Frinton) who will be Confirmed at the Frinton Vigil Mass.
May our loving God bless and enrich the lives of each one of you.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:From an advertisement in the Huddersfield Examiner:
“H reg Nissan Micra in red, one reverent owner from new, never missed a service.”
Fifth Sunday of Lent (Readings from Year A) 7 April 2019
Fr Frank writes:
As we approach the most holy season of the Church Year, I give below details of the main services for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum.
Harwich & Dovercourt:
Palm Sunday, 14th April: Mass with blessing of Palms, 10.45am
Wednesday, 17th April: Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, 7.00pm
Maundy Thursday, 18th April: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch, 7.00pm
Good Friday, 19th April: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 5.00pm
Holy Saturday, 20th April: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
Frinton & Walton:
Vigil of Palm Sunday, 13th April: Mass with blessing of Palms, 6.00pm
Palm Sunday, 14th April: Mass with blessing of Palms, 8.30am
Wednesday, 17th April: Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, 7.00pm
Maundy Thursday, 18th April: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch, 7.00pm
Good Friday, 19th April: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 2.30pm
Holy Saturday, 20th April: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
Lent is a time when adults are prepared for reception into the Church and to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please pray for our candidate, Amanda Campbell (Frinton) who will be Confirmed at the Frinton Vigil Mass.
May our loving God bless and enrich the lives of each one of you.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile: A young couple invited their elderly priest for Sunday lunch.
While the parents were in the kitchen preparing the meal the priest asked the son what they were having.
“Goat,” the little boy replied. “Goat?” replied the startled priest, “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes,” said the youngster. “I heard dad say to mum, ‘Today is as good as any to have the old goat for lunch.’”
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Readings from Year A) 31 March 2019
Fr Frank writes:
Both the story of the blind man (in today’s Gospel) and the story of the selection of David as King (first reading) speak to us of God’s choices.
Because God sees into the heart, sees the potential in a person, he chooses differently from the way that we might do.
Both David and the blind man are remembered and celebrated by the Christian community because they point beyond themselves to the reality of the divine. We honour David as the one who points ultimately to the ‘Son of David’; we recall the man born blind as the one who points to the ‘Son of Man’, ‘the light of the world’.
God has chosen us too. We, like David and the man born blind, are to display his works. In our baptism we have been chosen to point to Jesus by the witness of our Christian lives. To many people, including ourselves, we may seem an unlikely choice. But our greatness lies in the fact that we have been chosen, not in ourselves alone.
If I allow God to work in me, I can keep alive the story of God’s eccentric choices!
May the God of Surprises bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
An elderly woman walked into a country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up a small flight of steps.
“Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.
“The front row, please,” she replied.
“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The preacher is really boring.”
“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman enquired.
“No,” he said.
“I’m the preacher’s mother,” she replied indignantly.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
“Good,” he answered as he hurried away.
TRIPLE EDITION First, Second and Third Sundays of Lent 10/17/24 March 2019
This week’s news for both Parishes
During Lent; we are asked to pray for these intentions: Candidates for the Sacraments; Women; The Needy and Hungry of the World; Survivors of Sexual Abuse; Penitents and Wanderers.
The Holy Father’s Mission Intention for March: that Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected.
Saints and Feast Days:
Wed 13 Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis
Fri 15 Lent Fast Day
Sun 17 Second Sunday of Lent (Year C)
Tues 19 St Joseph (Solemnity)
Sun 24 Third Sunday of Lent
Mon 25 The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)
Sun 31 Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year C) – Laetare Sunday & Mothering Sunday
We are encouraged to make The Stations of the Cross in Lent. The church is open during daylight hours. Various booklets with different versions are available inside the church that they may be helpful. Lent is a special time of preparation for Easter with the “spiritual tools” of “prayer, fasting and almsgiving”.
Ministries in Church: Do you feel left out? Do you feel you have something to offer but have never been given the opportunity? If you feel called to be a Minister of the Eucharist, or Reader, or Welcomer, or Cantor, please let me know. Thank you, Fr Frank.
Hospital Admissions: if you or one of your family is admitted to hospital, please remember to make it clear to the staff that you are Catholic and that you would like to see someone from the Chaplaincy. In the case of emergency (e.g. imminent death) please ring Fr Frank day or night.
The Essex Recusant Society (Brentwood Diocesan Historical Society) will hold its next meeting on Saturday 30 March at 2.30pm: The Grange, 93 Queens Road, Brentwood, Esssex, CM14 4EY. Mr Edward Walsh (Parish Archivist) will speak on ‘Our Lady Of Lourdes, Wansted – 100 years old’.
Retiring Collection: There will be a collection taken at all Masses on 16th/17th following our Lent Fast Day – proceeds to CAFOD.