Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 8/9 July 2017
Appointments:
Parish Priests:
Fr Chris Brooks from Chingford, OLG to Colchester
Fr Francis Coveney from South Woodford to Chingford, OLG
Fr Neil Brett from Upton Park to South Woodford
Fr Angelus Houle to Upton Park
Fr Maurice Gordon from Walthamstow, St George to Elm Park
Fr James McShane from Elm Park to Danbury & South Woodham Ferrers
Fr Niall Harrington from Danbury & South Woodham Ferrers to Walthamstow
Fr Dominic Howarth will move into Abbotswick
Canon Tony McKenty from Colchester to Halstead
Fr Brian McGilloway will be retiring
Priests in Charge:
Fr Daniel Kelly to Holy Trinity, Basildon and St Therese of Lisieux at Laindon
Fr Paul Kerner to St Basil, Basildon
+Alan Williams, sm will live in the Presbytery at Laindon
Fr Sabu Pariyadin RCJ remains at Springfield
Fr Thomas Madukkamoottil (Syro Malankara) to St John the Baptist, Ilford
Fr Joseph Soosai Marian SCA to Becontree
Fr Paul Cracknell (Ord) is appointed Chaplain to HMP Chelmsford
Sunday Smile:
Young boy: ‘Father, when I grow up I’m going to give you some money.’
Priest: ‘That’s very kind of you, my son, why would you do that?’
Young boy: ‘Because my dad says you’re the poorest preacher we’ve ever had.’
(thanks to Fr Tom Lavin
Thirteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A) 1/2 July 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
The call of the readings today may be summarised by the word ‘sacrifice’. In the Gospel the disciples are called to be prepared to opt for Jesus even when the going gets tough. Opting for Jesus means a willingness to follow him till the end. If we do this Jesus promises that we will find true life; life in all its fullness.
Last Saturday’s Vigil at Frinton was very special as Seth Garner received Holy Communion for the first time. We now look forward to Terri Ann Lloyd will making hers on 8th July. I know you will pray for all these children and their families.
Owing to the sudden and unexpected death of an old friend (for whom I am sole executor) I may have to return to Bolton at short notice to deal with his affairs. This may result in some disruption to weekday Masses at Frinton. My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause, and my thanks to our Frinton Ministers and to Fr Bill who continues to celebrate the weekday Masses at Harwich.
May our great and generous God bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Two young curates talking.
Curate number one: ‘My parish priest is an absolute angel.’
Curate number two: ‘You’re lucky, mine’s still alive.’
(thanks to Fr Bill)
The Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi Year A 17/18 June 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast that most of us call Corpus Christi – The Body and Blood of Christ. On this special day we give thanks for the gift of the Holy Eucharist – the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion. The Mass is so central to our faith that we remember it many times, but especially on Holy (or Maundy) Thursday and at today’s feast day.
We are especially blessed at Dovercourt today as our Mass will be enhanced by the active participation of our First Holy Communion children who celebrated their First Holy Communion Mass on Saturday morning. We hope and pray they had a good celebration yesterday, and that their Second Holy Communion will be just as momentous. Do keep Ferne, Liam, Evie, Olivia, James, Ruby, Jarrod, Patrick, Rachel and Henry in your prayers. We also celebrate on this day the baptism, during Mass, of Alberto Keene. At Frinton, Seth Garner will receive Holy Communion for the first time at our Vigil Mass next Saturday, and Terri Ann Lloyd will make hers on 8th July. We pray for all these children and their families.
May Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion, continue to enrich your lives beyond measure,
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales:
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, ‘When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah’. The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’ ‘Then,’ the little girl replied, ‘you can ask him.’
The Most Holy Trinity (Year A) 10/11 June 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. It is appropriately celebrated after the wonders of Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. Each of these feasts highlights the work of God as we focus in turn on Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three persons, one God. It is hard for us to understand this Trinity of Persons bound together in perfect love. Maybe rather than trying to understand we should just rejoice that God reveals himself in this way as each day we pray: ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.
Wasn’t last weekend wonderful? The Confirmation of so many of our young people provided such a joyful way to celebrate Pentecost. Please continue to pray for Rebecca Dunbar (confirmed at the Vigil Mass in Frinton – it was so good to see Fr Arthur Barrow on that occasion) and Christopher Bartholomew, Patrick Bartholomew, Luca Kulacz, Neroli Kulacz, Holly Leach, Maisie Leach, Cameron Wallace, and Miles Wallace (confirmed at a particularly uplifting 10.45am Mass in Dovercourt). Please keep these young people in your daily prayers.
May the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Five year old Angela was excited to tell her teacher about her new baby brother:
Angela: He’s called Euan, Miss, he’s named after the Holy Spirit.
Teacher: I don’t think the Holy Spirit is called Euan, Angela.
Angela: He definitely is Miss; our Parish Priest says it every week….”….who lives and reigns with you an’ the Holy Spirit”
Pentecost (Year A) 3 / 4 June 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the decent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. This marks the beginning of the third phase of our salvation history, following on from the era of the prophets and the era of Jesus Christ, that is, the era of the Church or the era of the Holy Spirit. The Church now, as then, must continue, aided and enriched by the Holy Spirit, the work of Jesus Christ – proclaiming his word and celebrating his sacraments until he comes again.
This weekend nine of our young people will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation: Rebecca Dunbar (at the Vigil Mass in Frinton) and, Christopher Bartholomew, Patrick Bartholomew, Luca Kulacz, Neroli Kulacz, Holly Leach, Maisie Leach, Cameron Wallace, and Miles Wallace (at the 10.45am Mass in Dovercourt). Please keep these young people in your daily prayers today and in the coming days.
May the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Owing to the Sunday smile ‘Irish Medical Dictionary’ causing unintended offence it has been withdrawn. Sunday Smile will continue in later editions of the Newsletter. My apologies for any hurt.
The Ascension of the Lord (Year A) World Communications day 27/28 May 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate Christ’s triumphant return to heaven forty days after the Resurrection on Easter Day. Christ returns to the Father so that he is no longer limited by time and space; thus he can be with us until the end of time. He is with us until the end of time in the Church, in the gathered community, in the word proclaimed in Holy Scripture, and, supremely, in the Blessed Sacrament.
Next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost – the beginning of the era of the Church. Nine of our young people will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on that day: Rebecca Dunbar (at the Vigil Mass in Frinton) and, Christopher Bartholomew, Patrick Bartholomew, Luca Kulacz, Neroli Kulacz, Holly Leach, Maisie Leach, Cameron Wallace, and Miles Wallace (at the 10.45am Mass in Dovercourt). Please keep these young people in your daily prayers this week.
Anne and I will be away for a short holiday from after Mass on Tuesday until Thursday evening – my thank you for all she did for me during my convalescence. If you need to speak to a priest in the case of an emergency, please speak to Jane Dunbar in the Parish Office in Dovercourt, or to Sheila Wright or Jane Robinson in Frinton, or ring Fr Bill (07472 617368) or Fr Michael Rear (01206 392695). Funeral, Baptism, Wedding arrangements etc. can be made after I return from our short holiday.
May the Risen, Ascended and Glorified Lord bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
As the Sunday smile ‘Irish Medical Dictionary’ caused unintended offence it has been withdrawn. My apologies.