Ingatestone Parish of St John the Evangelist & St Erconwald

News

Confirmandi Information

31st May 2020

Bishop Alan has recorded a message for Confirmandi across the Diocese who would have been celebrating the Sacrament this weekend, and over these months of lockdown. The message was played at the start of today's livestreamed Mass from Walsingham House at Abbotswick.

To help to share the message, it is now available in two ways:

1. Via a “news story” on the BCYS website - https://bcys.net/pentecostmessage/

2. Directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNvmELVfYoE

Homily for Pentecost Sunday

30th May 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Matthias' Homily for Pentecost Sunday:

Pentecost Sunday 2020

Passage Virtual Garden Party

30th May 2020

Please see below a message from The Passage:

We are holding an online event instead of our usual Garden Party held in College Garden, Westminster Abbey.

Please join us on the Friday 5th June, from 6pm, to commemorate 40 years of The Passage and its work helping people to overcome homelessness.

Hosted by BBC Gardener’s World’s, Adam Frost, live from his spectacular back garden, spend a peaceful summer’s evening with us as we celebrate gardening and mark our anniversary.

Sit back and enjoy gardening tips and secrets from Adam, while tucking in to a suggested menu at home from The Passage’s very own Head Chef, Claudette Dawkins; which you can pair with a refreshing gin cocktail, recommended by HMS Spirits, who are offering 20% off their products for all attendees.

Hear directly from the frontline, via staff at The Passage who have been supporting homeless people in a range of innovative ways during the pandemic, and take part in our auction for a chance of winning some fantastic lots to keep you occupied right the way through lockdown!

All whilst serenaded throughout the evening by a variety of live music and entertainment. To sign up and for more details visit

https://passage.org.uk/get-involved/events/virtual-garden-party/

There is no charge for this event but of course donations are most welcome.

Kind regards,

Andrew Hollingsworth

Community Fundraiser

St Paul in Acts

28th May 2020

During the Easter period we have been hearing excerpts from the Acts of the Apostles at the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. It is from Scriptures such as these, which point to the priorities of Christian faith lived in the world, that we can reinvigorate our faith as we go forward from Pentecost to face new problems for the world and for the Church. Fr Adrian Graffy, Scripture scholar and parish priest of Gidea Park, has prepared a new talk ‘Paul in Acts’ which can be accessed by going to

www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks

Pastoral care to families/parishioners by phone

28th May 2020

Dear Parishioners,

May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you all.

Since my arrival in this parish in March I have not been able to visit families/parishioners in Ingatestone and beyond as part of my pastoral care to this community due to Covid-19 . I would now like to start this important ministry by making a phone call to as many parishioners as possible over the next few weeks to offer moral and spiritual support and other things you think will help enrich our Christian community. This will help me to know you and also allow you to become more familiar with me.

I would like to ask parishioners for your phone numbers if you think that yours might not be up to date from the last census carried out in 2017. Please call the parish landline (01277353193) and give it to me, you could also leave a message on the parish phone in my absence and I will get in touch with you. Please indicate the time most convenient to you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay alert, control the virus and save lives.

May the Lord bless you all as we pray in our homes for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Your servant in the Lord.

Fr. Matthias Baidoo

Lourdes 2020 and "Share the Good News" - amplifying young voices, with stories of faith in action

26th May 2020

Please see a message from Father Dominic:

I hope that you are safe and well.

In a fortnight or so we will be sharing information about “Lourdes in your Living Room.” This will include a range of Masses and liturgies for all ages; most content will be ideal for those in their homes, and we will be asking for your help to get as many older parishioners as possible access to the online content. We will also be producing booklets that we will send you as a PDF, so they can be printed and given to those who may struggle to print things at home. For young people there will be some specific content, including – amazingly – a way to re-create the 18 hour coach journey from their front room.

This “pilgrimage at home” will run from 27th – 31st July. We may not be able to go to Lourdes this year, but we will be doing all we can to bring Lourdes to you.

In the meantime, we really want to hear any good news that there is to share – please have a fresh look at the email below, and think whether something a parishioner, student or staff member is doing could be shared. If making a video is too much, just drop us a little email telling us what has been happening (please send this to bethwarren@dioceseofbrentwood.org). The deadline for this is next Saturday, 30th May, if at all possible.

Finally, just a little reminder that next Sunday, 31st May, the Mass streamed from here will include a message from Bishop Alan for the Diocese, and especially for Confirmandi, as Pentecost Sunday is the day when so many young people would have been Confirmed. All details at www.bcys.net/events/pentecost including the details of YouTube and Instagram Livestream. Weekly Youth Masses also continue each Wednesday at 8pm.

With many thanks, and many blessings

Fr Dominic

Christian Kitchen, Walthamstow - Appeal for help

26th May 2020

Please see below a message from Father Dominic:

I hope that you are safe and well. This item is especially relevant for the Waltham Forest Deanery but it may be that others in the Diocese can offer some publicity as well, to help with this wonderful work.

Every night for nearly thirty years the Christian Kitchen has served hot meals to rough sleepers and people who are homeless in Walthamstow. It is an amazing project – along with the meals the volunteers offer practical help and support wherever they can. They are currently serving as many as 60 people per night – to serve hot food on such a scale from a mobile location takes a lot of work, and over 100 volunteers are involved, including from Our Lady and St George, Shernhall Street, and Our Lady of the Rosary and St Patrick, Blackhorse Road.

The van they use is quite old, and the new emissions charges scheduled for next year will make it impossible to run; so they are hunting for a new van and need to raise £60,000 to get one that is fully kitted out and able to sustain the project for many years to come.

Please help the Christian Kitchen, Walthamstow. They serve hot meals to 60 people a night, and are in serious need of a new van. Full details: https://www.caritasbrentwood.org/news/christiankitchen/

Christian Kitchen van appeal

Homily for 7th Sunday of Easter

26th May 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Matthias' Homily for 7th Sunday of Easter:

7th Sunday of Easter

Invitation to Rosary Rally Relay, 31 May 2020 by Bishop Alan

23rd May 2020

“It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view. For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.” Pope Francis Letter on the Month of May.

In response to Pope Francis’ request, set out above, there has been an 8pm May Rosary Mission co-hosted by the London Rosary Shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Carfin Grotto in Scotland and Rosary on the Coast. As a culmination to this Rosary Mission, Mgr John Armitage, the Rector at the National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, has invited each diocese to take part in a simple initiative – a Rosary Relay on 31 May 2020. Each diocese has been asked to encourage their people to pray the Rosary either individually, or where possible in groups, during a designated hour.

The Diocese of Brentwood has been asked to pray the Rosary at 11am on the 31 May, Pentecost Sunday- please see the attached poster with further details including the prayer intentions for each hour. I will be praying the Rosary myself during this hour after the live-streamed 10 a.m. Pentecost Mass at Wickford. Please encourage all our people, in whatever ways possible, to join in this National Prayer Initiative.

Pentecost National Rosary Rally

Pentecost Novena 2020

21st May 2020

Please see a message from Father Matthias:

I wish you all a happy feast of the Ascension. I would like you all to participate in the Pentecost Novena 2020. Even though we cannot gather as a community I would like to encourage all to pray every evening this Novena for the fruits of the spirit and for the renewal of our world from Friday 22nd May to Saturday 30th May.

See below for guidance on your daily prayer:

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Nottingham Diocese recruitment - Director of Communications

21st May 2020

We have received a request to share the attached document on behalf of The Diocese of Nottingham, in order to advertise their Director of Communications role.

Should there be any interest, please contact: office@dioceseofnottingham.uk

Nottingham Diocese recruitment

Protecting Vulnerable Women at risk: Christian Concern Campaign against DIY abortions

21st May 2020

Please see below a message from Catrina a Chaplain at Grays Convent school:

Women in abusive relationships can be pressured into having an abortion without the safe-guard of a one-to one confidential consultation with a doctor at a clinic as they can now be forced to have DIY abortions causing untold damage to women and babies.

Christian Concern want to appeal the judgement on DIY abortions to protect vulnerable women and babies and to continue to expose the abortion industry’s privileged access to the heart of government, undermining our democracy. To save you time, I have written a little summary about the case which is attached for you.

If you would like to support this campaign in any way please see this link for further information.

https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=bed173cc9adfcad1e0e442a35&id=ecaabca805&e=f8bb6ee76d

The chief executive of Christian Concern commented:

“The U.K. government is going to extraordinary lengths to protect lives due to the threat of Covid -19. It appears to fail to see the irony in opening up access to abortion and counting the lives that will be lost as a result of such action.”

God bless you,

Catrina

Vulnerable Women at Risk

Masses for Confirmandi and First Holy Communion Children

20th May 2020

Please see below a message from Father Dominic:

I hope that you are safe and well; you are all held in prayer in the daily Masses from Walsingham House at Abbotswick. On “thank a teacher” day, special thanks and prayers for schools, in these rather turbulent times.

In recent weeks I have been chatting with some priests and catechists, very mindful of our young people. This would have been the time when many hundreds would have been celebrating Confirmation, and many thousands would have been celebrating First Holy Communion. I know that many parishes which are livestreaming will be marking the moments when these Sacraments would have been celebrated locally, but not all parishes are able to livestream and so it also seems helpful to offer something through the BCYS. Please do pass on these details to Holy Communion and Confirmation Catechists, so they can be shared with parents and families.

Pentecost Sunday, 31st May, 10.30am Mass for Confirmandi. With a special message from Bishop Alan at the start of Mass, and music recorded by soloists and groups of young people from across the Diocese, as well as Intercessions read by young people, this Mass is especially for those who would have been Confirmed today, and it will be offered for you. On both YouTube and Instagram we are BrentwoodCYS, and more details of the Mass are at https://bcys.net/events/pentecost/

Corpus Christi, Sunday 14th June, 10.30am Mass for Holy Communion children and their families. With a special message from Bishop Alan, and music recorded before lockdown from children’s choirs across the Diocese, this Mass will be celebrated as a children’s Mass, with simplified readings, and intercessions recorded by Holy Communion children. The Mass will be offered for the children and their families. On both YouTube and Instagram we are BrentwoodCYS, and more details of the Mass are at https://bcys.net/events/corpuschristi/

With many blessings

Fr Dominic and the Walsingham House at Abbotswick Team

Homily for 6th Sunday of Easter

16th May 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for 6th Sunday of Easter:

6th Sunday of Easter

Virtual Pilgrimage

14th May 2020

Please see below a message from Fr. Daniel at Basildon:

I hope you, your families and your parishioners are all well at this time!

In Basildon we are keeping Fr Tom Jordan and Fr Paul Dynan very much in our prayers as they are former parish priests here.

As you know the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham was due to take place next weekend on 23^rd May, however, thanks to the Shrine’s livestreaming service we can still have a virtual pilgrimage.

If you are able to communicate with your parishioners via an online newsletter (or even if you are posting your newsletter out to parishioners at this time, as we are in Basildon), or Social Media please invite them to access the RC Shrine at Walsingham’s livestream via their website www.walsingham.org.uk.

A possible notice for your newsletter/Social Media platform could be:

Virtual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – Our annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham was due to take place on Saturday 23^rd May but had to be cancelled due to the closure of places of worship as a result of Covid-19. However, thanks to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham’s 24 hour livestream service we can still have a virtual pilgrimage by joining the services being livestreamed via the Shrine’s website www.walsingham.org.uk on Saturday 23^rd May from 11am.

Take care, stay safe and God bless,

Fr Daniel Kelly

National Marriage Week

13th May 2020

Please see below a message from Bishop Alan:

"This week is National Marriage Week and I would like to take this opportunity to send my greetings to all married couples, especially those celebrating significant anniversaries this year, and all those who are preparing for marriage. We have recently celebrated the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and the church is greatly enriched by all those who live the vocation to marriage, helping their spouse and their children on the path to heaven and revealing something of Christ’s love for his church through their own commitment to each other. You are all in my prayers, but most especially those who are experiencing illness and bereavement. I am also aware of the deep disappointment experienced by the many engaged couples who have had to postpone weddings or do not yet know how their weddings will be affected, and you too are in my prayers at this time of uncertainty.

Many families will be under a great deal of pressure with all the additional stresses associated with the pandemic, and sadly some relationships will be pushed to breaking point: please do not be afraid to seek help, or leave it too late – Marriage Care is one of a number of organisations offering remote access to marriage counselling, and in our own diocese the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society continues to provide vital support to children and families who are experiencing difficulties. As Pope Francis recently tweeted “The Family is the hope of the future. Let us pray especially for families facing serious difficulties: may Our Lord assist them.”

Yours in Christ and Mary,

Alan

Homily for 5th Sunday of Easter

9th May 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for 5th Sunday of Easter:

Homily 5th Sunday Easter

COVID 19 - Scam Emails

9th May 2020

Please see below a message from the Brentwood of Diocese IT Helpdesk:

I hope you are all keeping well. Just a reminder that we are seeing a big increase in phishing scam emails and you should remain vigilant:

Be on the lookout for:

Emails that mention Covid-19 (Such as refunds or loans)
Emails that say something is Urgent (For Example, your account will be disabled, you need to pay something urgently)

If you are not sure, please forward us the email (here) and we will be happy to advise if its genuine or not. See below for some excellent advice from the Catholic Insurance Service:

Coronavirus and Cyber Crime

Day of Prayer and Fasting and Works of Charity

9th May 2020

On February 4, 2019, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar met in Abu Dhabi to sign the Document on Human Fraternity—a joint statement calling for the reconciliation of people of goodwill in service of universal peace. With the support of the United Arab Emirates, who themselves are deeply committed to harmonious coexistence through dialogue and understanding, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity was founded www.forhumanfraternity.org Pope Francis made the following appeal on Wednesday: “As prayer is a universal value, I have accepted the proposal of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity so that on Thursday May 14th believers of all religions unite spiritually in a Day of Prayer and Fasting and Works of Charity, to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic. Remember: May 14, all believers together, believers of different traditions, to pray, fast, and do works of charity.” Please join in this initiative in whatever ways you can.

Good Shepherd Sunday

3rd May 2020

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday when we traditionally pray for vocations to the priesthood for our diocese.

Usually on Good Shepherd Sunday the seminarians travel to parishes to speak about vocations.

This year three of them, Michael Barwick, Jonathan Burden and Deacon Paschal Uche have recorded video messages in place of this. You can watch them with the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1Gs_cDHv-pew1BupiuyitH8u37_8bWjU

We continue to have evenings for those who would like to enquire about a vocation to the priesthood. At the moment these are being held online. Please get in touch with Fr Mark Swires at vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information.

Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life and also that all of us may be able to hear what God is asking us to do.

Visit: www.brentwoodvocations.co.uk

Vocations Prayer Card

Acts At Easter in Lockdown

3rd May 2020

Lockdown may provide us with opportunities to dedicate more time to the reading of Scripture, celebrating our own Liturgy of the Word. Throughout the Easter season we read from the Acts of the Apostles, seeing how the Easter gospel is preached in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Fr Adrian Graffy has recorded a talk on the opening eight chapters of Acts, which is now available on www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks. It is hoped to provide a further talk later in the Easter season.

CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal

3rd May 2020

Please see below a link to an important message from the Director of CAFOD, Christine Allen, regarding the Coronavirus Appeal:

CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal

Catholic Universe Subscription Update

2nd May 2020

For those who use to pick up the newspaper "The Catholic Universe" from the church, here's a short message from them:

Catholic Universe Subscription Update

Homily for 4th Sunday of Easter

2nd May 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for 4th Sunday of Easter:

Homily 4th Sunday Easter

Update from Father Dominic

26th Apr 2020

Please find below a letter from Fr. Dominic who has some upcoming online events. This includes a Mass with Bishop Alan next Sunday for Good Shepherd Sunday. They are now also broadcasting masses on YouTube which will hopefully make it more accessible for people

Father Dominic Update 26.04.20

Homily for Third Sunday of Easter

26th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for 3rd Sunday of Easter:

Homily 3rd Sunday Easter

Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday

19th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday:

Homily Divine Mercy

Share your Positive Thoughts

17th Apr 2020

Dear friends,

Happy Eastertide to you all.

The government has just announced that we are to have a further three weeks of “lockdown”. During the first weeks of “lockdown” several people have shared positive things that have come out of it for them. These positive things have been in relation to their faith, parish community and wider society. According to a recent poll less than 10% of people want the world to return to the same “normal” that existed before the lockdown.

With that in mind I would like to invite anyone who would care to join in to send me two or three examples of positives that have come out of your “lockdown” so far. I will collate these responses and then share them in anonymised form. Once this is all over it will be too late to capture these thoughts and it would be shame not to capture the good that is coming out of these difficult times.

It would be nice if you could let me have your personal thoughts and then perhaps you could also ask around your parish networks to see what others think. If you can do that and let me have those thoughts by the end of the month that would be great and we can bolster and support one another with our shared positive thoughts.

I wish you well for the coming weeks and look forward to hearing from you.

(Please send any feedback to ingatestone@dioceseofbrentwood.org which Fr. Mathias will pass on to Steven Webb)

Kind Regards,

Steven Webb

Director of Development

Diocese of Brentwood

Letter from BCCS Director

17th Apr 2020

Please see below a link to a letter from the Brentwood Catholic Children Society:

BCCS Director Letter

LiveStream Mass for Migrants

17th Apr 2020

Dear Friends,

As you know, Caritas Brentwood were this year organising the Mass for Migrants on behalf of the Dioceses of Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood, due to be celebrated at St Antony’s, Forest Gate on Saturday 2nd May.

We cannot gather in the usual way – but at a time when so many Migrant Workers are amongst those on the “frontline” in the NHS and care homes, as well as working as delivery drivers, cleaners and caterers, this is a time to honour them in prayer. In addition, as so many within our migrant communities are amongst the most financially vulnerable, working on zero hours contracts or pay that is below the Real Living Wage, it is also a good moment to highlight the wonderful heritage of Catholic Social Teaching that recognises everyone as “our brothers and sisters”, calls us to tear down borders that divide and exclude any group of people, and has mandated us to pay a Real Living Wage ever since Pope Leo XIII wrote about it in 1891.

We will therefore be celebrating the Migrants Mass via Instagram Livestream on Saturday 2nd May, at 10.30am. We will work on ways to include migrant voices within that Mass – hopefully we will be able to prerecord Intercessions in a variety of languages, and I will work with some of the ethnic chaplains to achieve this in the next fortnight. Please could I ask the Ethnic Chaplains receiving this email to contact me if there is a member of your community who would be able to prerecord a prayer. I will then work with you/them to ensure there is a range of prayers, and a variety of nationalities represented.

All the Mass details – and how to access the livestream – are at www.bcys.net/events/migrantsmass Please do publicise this on websites and via social media where possible – and especially to the ethnic chaplaincy groups with which you are in contact. One of the benefits of Instagram is that it allows people to interact with the Mass through adding prayers and sending greetings in their own language; such a time of “Spiritual Communion” may be very helpful for many exhausted or anxious people to know that they are connected with a wider community that is praying for them and cares about them, and that – through advocating the Real Living Wage – the Church is also campaigning in practical ways to ameliorate their conditions at such a difficult time.

With every blessing,

Fr Dominic

Daily Wisdom - What Good News

15th Apr 2020

People of different churches are putting about various opinions about the present pandemic, some of them rather bizarre. Much of this can mislead and worry people. We should be guided by what Pope Francis is saying, that the present situation is above all an opportunity to build a better world by listening to God’s word, providing for the poor, and looking after creation. Here is a very helpful excerpt from the Good Friday sermon of the papal preacher, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa:

‘God is our ally, not the ally of the virus! If these scourges were punishments of God, it would not be explained why they strike equally good and bad, and why the poor usually suffer the worst consequences of them. Are they more sinners than others? No! The one who cried one day for Lazarus' death cries today for the scourge that has fallen on humanity. Yes, God "suffers", like every father and like every mother. When we will find this out one day, we will be ashamed of all the accusations we made against him in life. God participates in our pain to overcome it. Did God the Father possibly desire the death of his Son in order to draw good out of it? No, he simply permitted human freedom to take its course, making it serve, however, his own purposes and not those of human beings. This is also the case for natural disasters like earthquakes and plagues. He does not bring them about. He has given nature a kind of freedom as well, qualitatively different of course than that of human beings, but still a form of freedom — freedom to evolve according to its own laws of development. He did not create the world as a programmed clock whose movements could all be anticipated. It is what some call “chance”, but the Bible calls “the wisdom of God.”’

Go to www.whatgoodnews.org for more talks and discussions surrounding our faith

Bishop Alan's Easter Message

12th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Bishop Alan's Easter message:

Bishop Alan's Easter Message

Homily for Easter Sunday

12th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for Easter Sunday:

Homily Easter Sunday

Knights of St. Columba Easter Poster

10th Apr 2020

This year we have been asked to display this poster on our website to show that we are still celebrating that Jesus died on our behalf and rose again on Easter Sunday. Please see a PDF version below if you wish to print one off for your home:

Easter Poster 2020

Homily for Good Friday

10th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for Good Friday:

Homily Good Friday

Paschal Message from Father Mathias

10th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Easter Pascal Message:

Easter Paschal Message

Easter Duties

10th Apr 2020

The obligations (confession and receiving communion on Easter Sunday) for Catholics to fulfil during Easter this year are removed. In preparation for Easter there is a message of Cardinal Vincent Nichols on Easter duties on YouTube. Father Mathias encourages parishioners to watch

Online Donations

10th Apr 2020

We have heard some parishioners wish to donate to the parish in this time of COVID-19. Anyone who wishes to do that can do so via this direct link provided by the diocese: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=ingatestone

Holy Week celebration from the Vatican

5th Apr 2020

Please see below for information on how to Live stream masses from the Vatican during Holy Week:

Holy Week Transmission from the Vatican

Homily for Palm Sunday

5th Apr 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for Palm Sunday

Homily Palm Sunday

Cancellation of Easter Activities

30th Mar 2020

In the light of guidance and measures from Public Health England and the Prime Minister in

relation to large gatherings, and social contact, as well as the avoidance of non-essential travel, we

are very sadly cancelling the events in this document:

Cancellation of Easter Activities

Volunteers for COVID-19

30th Mar 2020

Please find below a link to a document from the Diocese calling for volunteers to help out with the NHS Nightingale being established at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London

VOLUNTEERS FOR Covid-19

Homily for 5th Sunday of Lent

29th Mar 2020

Please see below for a link to Father Mathias' Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent

Homily 5th Sunday of Lent

Fr.Mathias COVID 19 update

28th Mar 2020

Fr.Mathias has written a letter regarding current events

COVID 19 Update

Letter from the Apostolic Nunciature regarding the Holy Father’s Statio Orbis Friday 27th at 5pm

26th Mar 2020

In order to offer intercession and consolation during this time of exceptional discomfort, the Holy Father will preside over a time of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration in Saint Peter's Square, without a congregation of the lay faithful, on Friday 27th March 2020 at 5pm, London time.

This Statio orbis will be broadcast on mondovision and streamed by Vatican News.

During this time of prayer Pope Francis will impart the Urbi et Orbi Blessing and will also concede a Plenary Indulgence to all those persons who participate in these prayers via the communications media.

In the absence of an Apostolic Nuncio and as instructed, I would suggest that all the local Churches, through the available means of communication, convey to the Catholic faithful and to all believers in Christ, this invitation to join the Holy Father and to pray with him on this occasion.

Let us all join our Holy Father to intercede for the world.

Fr. Matthias Baidoo

Prayer Amid Coronavirus

21st Mar 2020

Please find attached a prayer to pray during the Coronavirus outbreak

Prayer Amid Coronavirus

Father Matthias

20th Mar 2020

Father Matthias has moved into the presbytery. Details for emergencies and other needs including weddings and other sacraments, have reverted back to the church phone number and email address. Carpets are being laid in some rooms in the presbytery on the 20th March so parishioners who offered furniture or other items need to contact David Berry at David_berry@tiscali.co.uk to organise delivery after the 20th March. Thank you to everyone who has offered donations. Father Matthias is overwhelmed by your generosity for cleaning and painting the presbytery and for the offer of furniture and other necessities.

Coronavirus - Special Advice

13th Mar 2020

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales has updated its Coronavirus advice to bishops and parishes today. We are now moving to stage 2 of the guidelines which can be viewed using the following link https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/bishops-update-virus-guidelines-parishes/

Please implement these changes with immediate effect

The Presbytery

29th Feb 2020

The Parish Council would like to express their thanks for the considerable time and effort expended by parishioners in sorting, clearing and cleaning the presbytery, parish room and sacristy.

To make the presbytery more comfortable for Father Matthias the house needs a lick of paint and some new carpets in the lounge, dining room and on the stairs. As you all know, the parish is running on a deficit budget so where we can have volunteers to complete jobs with parishioners donating items, it will help enormously.

Jan Myers has a small team of people making a start on the lounge on Thursday 27th February. We hope to complete the main bedroom too before Father Matthias arrives. Please contact Jan on jan.am.myers@gmail.com if you would be willing to offer some time to help paint other areas of the house.

There are also several furniture items the house needs as soon as possible. So far we have a sofa donated by Mr and Mrs Boyle and a chest of drawers, and a rug from Patricia Barry - thank you for your generosity.

Please email Jan or David Berry on david_berry@tiscali.co.uk or Yvonne Falcone yfalc100 @gmail.com if you can provide or purchase any of the following:

Requests: a floor standing lamp, nest of coffee tables or a coffee table, bedside tables, bedside lamp, curtains for any of the rooms (we have a set for the lounge and the main bedroom only), four new bath towels, six new tea towels and a welcome box with tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, kitchen roll, furniture polish, toilet rolls, kitchen spray, bathroom spray, floor cleaner, range of cleaning cloths.

Welcome Father Matthias Baidoo

29th Feb 2020

Bishop Alan announced at last weekend masses that Ingatestone parish are being allocated a priest on a short term basis until September. After September, Bishop Alan will be acting on the restructuring agenda for the whole of the Diocese.

In the coming weeks we will be welcoming Father Matthias Baidoo to our community and he will be living in our presbytery.

On behalf of all parishioners, The Pastoral Parish Council would especially like to thank Father Martin and Bishop Alan for saying mass for us on a regular supply basis. A mass will be said for them in thanksgiving once Father Matthias has arrived. Until Father Matthias is in residence, contacts for emergencies etc., will remain the same as indicated in the newsletter.

Parish Council / Stewards of the Gospel Meeting

15th Feb 2020

This meeting will take place on 20th February at 7:30 p.m. in the Presbytery lounge and an Agenda will be circulated at the meeting. All parishioners are welcome to attend

Ash Wednesday

15th Feb 2020

Ash Wednesday is on 26th February and is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence, the start of Lent and the beginning of a time of preparation for Easter. Mass will be held in Ingatestone at 8:00 p.m. with distribution of ashes and Stock at 10:30 a.m.

Church Flowers for Christmas

15th Dec 2019

There will be a second collection after all Masses this weekend and next weekend towards the cost of Christmas flowers. Thank you for your generosity.

Christmas Mass Times

10th Dec 2019

Sat 21 December: 6.00pm Anticipatory Mass - 4th Sunday of Advent

Sun 22 December: 11.00am 4th Sunday of Advent

Tues 24 December: 6.00pm Children's Christmas Mass

Tues 24 December: 9.00pm Carol Service and Readings followed by Mass at 9.30pm

Wed 25 December: 10.00am Mass

Sat 28 December: 6.00pm Anticipatory Mass

Sun 29 December: 11.00am Mass

Monday Mass

7th Dec 2019

I have very much enjoyed celebrating the Monday evening Mass at Ingatestone, however, with the dark evenings and icy roads I feel it is wiser to postpone this for the present until the better weather, when I look forward to being with you once again. Bishop Thomas

Thank you

7th Dec 2019

Thank You for your good wishes on my new appointment and I appreciate your generous gift. God Bless and reward you all. Have a very Holy Advent Season as you ready yourselves for the coming of the Messiah. Fr. Anthony

Reconciliation Service

1st Dec 2019

A Reconciliation Service will be held on Wednesday, 18th December at 7.30 p.m. in Brentwood Cathedral.

Keys to Church, Presbytery and Buildings

1st Dec 2019

If you have keys to the Church, Parish Room, Sacristy, house, garage or anywhere on the property please contact Yvonne Falcone with details of your name, contact information and which keys you have, thank you. Yfalc100@gmail.com Tel: 07565 390053.

Parish Annual General Meeting

8th Nov 2019

Parish Annual General Meeting is on Sunday 17th November after 11.00 a.m. Mass

Blessing of Graves - Fryerning Cemetery

7th Nov 2019

Fr Stewart Foster has very kindly offered to hold a short ceremony at Fryerning Cemetery on Saturday 16th November at 3.00 p.m. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

Vision Document e-bulletin - Oct 2019

7th Nov 2019

Please find further information in the e-bulletin regarding the Vision Document.

Vision Document e-bulletin - Oct 2019

26th Oct 2019

Please note that with effect from 1st November 2019 any announcements or notices that need to go in the Newsletter from Ingatestone or Stock should be sent to tilbury@dioceseofbrentwood.org no later than Wednesday evening every week.

The following parishioners will be contact persons regarding any Liturgical or Sacramental Celebrations, i.e. funerals, baptisms, marriage preparation, etc. The four co-ordinators will then contact Fr.Anthony.

Co-ordinators for Saturday 6.00 p.m. Mass are:

Yvonne Falcone - 07565390053

Helen Shaw - 07939916217

Co-ordinators for Sunday 9.00 a.m. Mass are:

Teresa Mills - 07855793144

Christina Rodriguez - 07780240222

Christ the King Social Meal

22nd Oct 2019

May - £196.30

June - £237.47

July - £354.47

August - £107.80

September - £124.80

Making a grand total of £1,153.64! Thank you for your generosity

Coffee and Tea

28th Sep 2019

Please join us every Sunday after 11:00 a.m. Mass in Ingatestone for tea, coffee and biscuits in the Parish Room. We also need a few more parishioners to be included in the rota. Please see Fr. Anthony if you can help

Harvest Food Collection

28th Sep 2019

There is a box at the back of the Church under the table for your items. Friday 4th October is the last date for leaving the items. Thank you for your generosity and God Bless you all

This year's confirmation journey begins

16th Sep 2019

The following 8 teenagers from the Ingatestone parish have just started their journey to prepare for being confirmed by Bishop Alan Williams in the summer of 2020: Alyssa Mills, Aoife Whitfield, Callum Rutherford, Connor Bryanton, Ella Webb, Joseph Bridge, Michael Walsh and Nathaniel White

21st Jul 2019

Enrolment Mass for Confirmation Candidates will be held on Sunday 15^thSeptember 11.00 a.m. Mass. Attendance is compulsory. As you all know Bishop Alan will be making his Pastoral visit to our Parish in the summer of 2020.

Confirmation Application is closed and we have eight confirmandii who have applied to be confirmed during the Bishop’s visit. They are: Alyssa Mills, Aoife Whitfield, Callum Rutherford, Connor Bryanton, Ella Webb, Joseph Bridge, Michael Walsh and Nathaniel White.

100 Club

15th Jul 2019

The next draw will be 28^th July at the 11.00 a.m. If you have not paid your contributions you only have two more weekends before the July Draw.

Rose Bushes

15th Jul 2019

Could anyone help to do some gardening work and weeding around the rose bushes. Please contact Davina on 01277 355670. Many thanks.

Confirmation 2020 Enrolment Mass

15th Jul 2019

Confirmation 2020 Enrolment Mass will be celebrated on Sunday 15^th September 2019 at 11.00 a.m. in Ingatestone Parish. Attendance is compulsory for candidates and their families.

The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

15th Jul 2019

The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will feature on Lourdes TV (www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/) at 22.00 (UK time) on Monday 22^nd July when we are part of the Marian (Torchlight) procession and at 09.30 (UK time) on Tuesday 23^rd July, when we celebrate Mass at the Grotto. In addition, each day from Monday 22^nd to Friday 26^th July the BCYS (Brentwood Catholic Youth Service) will be offering “Virtual Pilgrimage” clips and highlights from Lourdes, including homilies from Bishop Alan and priests of the Diocese.

You will find all these on the website www.bcys.net. The website is being refreshed this Friday, 19^th July, with new resources and links for youth leaders and catechists: have a look!

100 Club

There are currently four jobs that need immediate attention, as follows:

Entrance Lobby

Acquire and attach child locks on cupboards
Acquire a dirty washing basket and enough tea towels for single use only
Edge of stairs highlighted

Toilet

Acquire a supply of disposable sanitary waste bags

Parish Room

Acquire and install a CO detector
Acquire and install a new lock for doors to garden with non-key opening from inside (re: fire escape)

Parish Boiler Room

Acquire and install a hasp and clasp lock and also add a laminated sign "AUTHORISED ACCESS ONLY"

We have suddenly been given cost free access to a container to be sent to Uganda at the end of December. We would like to send second hand sewing machines (manual or electric) to a village project (which Sr. Monica Butler has visited and has supported for many years). Sewing machines are invaluable since they enable villagers to produce items for sale and hence support their family financially. If you are able to donate a sewing machine please contact Catherine Boyle on 0787 6341039 as soon as possible.

Ingatestone Mass Times

14th Dec 2018

This weekend please remember to take the Mass schedule for Christmas and the New Year. Please note the following:

Thursday 27th December (Parish Feast Day) Mass will be at 9.00 a.m. followed by refreshments.
Monday 31st December Mass will be at 9.00 a.m. there will be no 7.00 p.m. Mass but 10.30 p.m. – 11.30 p.m. there will be Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour and Benediction followed by a social gathering to welcome in the New Year.

Stock Christmas Mass Times
Christmas Eve: Confessions 11 a.m. – 12 noon. Carols 7.30 p.m. followed by Christmas Vigil Mass at 8 p.m.
Christmas Day: Mass of Christmas 9.00 a.m.

Christmas Mass Times

8th Dec 2018

Monday 24^th December Ingatestone 6.00 p.m. (Children’s Christmas Liturgy)
Ingatestone 9.00 p.m. Carol Service followed by Christmas Mass at 9.30 p.m.

Tuesday 25^th December Stock 9.00 a.m. Mass

Ingatestone 10.00 a.m. Mass - There is NO MASS at 11.00 a.m.

More details will be available next week for the Christmas Octave and New Year Liturgies.

Church Cleaning for Christmas

8th Dec 2018

Please come along, if you can, on Friday 21^st December between 10.00am and 12 noon to help clean the Church. Male parishioners would be most welcome too. Many hands make light work. Coffee and mince pies as well.

Sick and Infirmed Parishioners

1st Dec 2018

Do you know of any parishioners who are unable to attend Masses? If you have their contact number please let me know so that I can contact them to arrange a visit and celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick with them during Advent. Fr. Anthony

Parish Third Social Meal

1st Dec 2018

Thank you to everyone who participated in last Thursday’s social meal. The raffle raised £93 for parish funds.

Children’s and Young Families Christmas Mass

1st Dec 2018

If any of the older children who have moved on from Children’s Liturgy of the Word group would like to play a solo or accompany the nativity hymns please let us know.

4th Nov 2018

13th Oct 2018

Blessing of Graves, Fryerning will take place on Saturday 17th November at 10.30 a.m.

Holy Souls Envelopes

13th Oct 2018

Pastoral Parish Council

13th Oct 2018

Pastoral Parish Council There are forms at the back of the Church for all Parishioners to complete and return to Fr. Anthony, Jan Myers or Yvonne Falcone before 24th October as the PPC will need to prepare a report for the AGM in November. Thank you.

Happy Animal Blessing (Feast of St Francis of Assisi)

8th Oct 2018

Our four-legged friends including Orio, Raffles, Zoe, Max, Tom and Jerry gathered with their owners to be blessed by Fr Anthony as part of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.

Volunteers needed to help with tea and coffee after Mass

6th Oct 2018

Volunteers needed to help with tea and coffee after 11.00 Mass on Sundays. Please contact Fr. Anthony or Philippa Webb if you can help. Thank you.

Rosary Prayers

6th Oct 2018

Rosary Prayers will be said every Wednesday after 9.00 a.m. Mass during October, please join us.

CAFOD Harvest Fast Day

30th Sep 2018

CAFOD Harvest Fast Day is 5th October. There are envelopes on the table at the back of the Church for your use. Please put your gift aid number on the envelope if you have one. Retiring collection will be taken after all Masses on 6th/7th October.

Parish Bingo and Fish and Chip Night

15th Sep 2018

Unfortunately due to school holidays this event has been cancelled but we hope to try and arrange for next year.

Gardening and Maintenance Group

1st Sep 2018

Our volunteer team need donations of some second hand equipment: spades, rakes, wheelbarrow, petrol strimmer and a hedge trimmer would be greatly appreciated. We also need to borrow a double/triple extension ladder for a couple of weeks if possible. If you can donate any items we would like to have them by Friday 14^th September. Many thanks.

Friday 14th September 2018 - Feast of The Exaltation of the Cross

1st Sep 2018

Please come join the Catholic Parish of St. John the Evangelist & St. Erconwald, Ingatestone for a day of Prayer & Fasting. We begin with morning prayer at 10.00 a.m. and thereafter the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed till 6.30pm with Benediction. Mass will be celebrated at 7.00 p.m. in the church (please note that there will be NO 6.00 p.m. Mass at the Almshouses that evening). A sign up sheet is on the table by the entrance of the church for those who like to spend quiet time with the Blessed Sacrament and pray for our broken church and fragile world in desperate need of healing/reconciliation.

St. John’s Ride and Stride Saturday 8th September

1st Sep 2018

Thank you to all the people who have signed up to welcome visitors to our Church, there are still spaces if anyone can spare an hour. Striding – anyone in either Ingatestone or Stock who is interested in joining a guided walk round Chelmsford should contact Helen Shaw (354230). Walks will start from Chelmsford Bus Station when the 10.22 bus arrives (depart Ingatestone 9.58). Walk as far as you like, there are up to 10 churches in 2 miles! Good luck to all of you who have sponsor forms and enjoy the day next Saturday.

Ride and Stride Ingatestone Saturday 8th September St. John’s

27th Aug 2018

Thank you to all those who have already requested a sponsor form. More will be available after the Masses this weekend. Do your children have bikes? Why not join them to ride some local churches? Lists of Local Churches and suggested routes (from 2 to 10 miles) will be available soon.

Alternatively, if you would like to join a group for a walk of about one mile, visiting 10 churches in Chelmsford or Brentwood please contact Helen Shaw – Tel: 354230.

Volunteers are also needed to welcome people to our church on the day, if you can spare an hour please sign the list at the back of the church. Thank you to all who are supporting us. Ingatestone: 354230 and Stock: Moira Trigg 07836 748618.

Gardening and Maintenance Group

27th Aug 2018

Parish Bingo Night

27th Aug 2018

With apologies but due to unavailability of halls at Margaretting and Fryerning we are unable to hold our Bingo and Fish and Chip Night. A new date has not yet been confirmed.

Ingatestone and Stock celebrate the Sacraments

17th Aug 2018

Baptisms: Please pray for Beauden Stephen Junior Williams who will be baptised on 26^th August and Luca Gambazza on 18^th November. All baptisms begin at 2.00 p.m. in the parish church at Ingatestone. Please contact Fr. Anthony as soon as you can to register and arrange for a baptism preparation course.

Infant Baptism Preparation Courses: Contact Fr. Anthony to arrange your course which will either be on 12^th September; 17^th October; 14^th November or 19^thDecember. Courses begin at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday’s in the Parish Room. Next available Baptism dates 16^th September; 21^st October and 18^th November. 2019 dates are 9^th January; 13^th February; 15^thMay; 12^th June and 17^th July. Please Notethere are no Baptisms during the Advent and Lenten seasons. 2019 Baptism dates are; 13^th January; 19^th May; 16^th June and 21^st July. Extra Baptism 6^th January the Feast of the Epiphany at 11.00 a.m. Mass.

First Holy Communion 2019: Registration commences on 8^th/9^th September for those children who will be at least eight years of age in May 2019. Please ask Fr. Anthony for a Registration form in August 2018 and make sure you return the completed form, together with the child’s Baptismal Certificate (photocopy) by 21^stOctober as no late Registrations will be considered. Enrolment Mass will be on Sunday 4^th November at 11.00 a.m.

Parish AGM

7th Jul 2018

Parish AGM will be on Sunday 18^th November immediately after 11.00am Mass. Please keep this date free.

Feedback to diocesan letter

7th Jul 2018

Dear Parishioners - Please see below two paragraphs from the diocesan letter relating to our feedback to the renewal and restructuring agenda. The full letter sent to all parishes, giving feedback and sharing next steps, will be posted on the parish website as soon as we can make that possible. A hard copy will be available for parishioners to view at the back of the church. We are planning on using one of the church noticeboards to display communications from the diocese, parish council minutes and any communications and posters the stewards of the gospel receive. This will enable those without internet access to be kept informed and to hopefully get involved. You are most welcome to approach Father Anthony, myself, Patricia Barry, Ross Townsend or David Berry if you have any questions about the diocesan renewal and restructuring agenda. God Bless, Jan Myers Chair of the PPC

Issues specific to our Parish:

We have noted your enthusiasm for Renewal and your concern to “catch them young”. That is clearly a sound principle and please do not think that the use of the relationship between parishes, hospital and secondary schools in any way suggest we undervalue the importance of the primary level. Far from it.

We have interested by your comments about the proposal to link small rural parishes. While it is not the case that no consideration was given to the things you list we have taken heed of your comments. I am afraid that we can already say that it is unlikely that your preferred link with the Cathedral will come about but a refined linking with other parishes may be possible more along the lines you have suggested.

Summer BBQ was a roaring success!

1st Jul 2018

Thank you to everyone who helped support our annual BBQ last weekend and also those that helped out, especially the cooks who had to grill in the barmy heat! We managed to raise £299 for the Church.

This free course will be held on Tuesday 3rd July 7.30 p.m. at Billericay Parish. Attendance is compulsory for all those who volunteered to be Fire Marshalls. Please contact Trevor Rhodes 079688 68357 to book your place before 26th June.

Day for Life

17th Jun 2018

Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. This year’s Day for Life is celebrated on Sunday, 17 June 2018 and there will be a retiring collection for this worthy cause.

Day for Life is celebrated annually by the Catholic Church in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The proceeds of the Day for Life collection to be held in parishes in England and Wales assists the work of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre and other life-related activities supported by the Church.

Prayer for Day for Life We pray for the victims of human trafficking that they may be helped to rebuild their lives after the traumatic experiences they have gone through. AMEN

Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2018

10th Jun 2018

If you have any Intentions/Petitions for Fr. Anthony to take to Our Lady’s Shrine in Lourdes in July please place them in an envelope marked ‘Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2018’ and hand to Fr. Anthony or post in the green letterbox no later than Sunday 22^nd July.

London Marathon 2018 - WELL DONE PHILIPPA

6th May 2018

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the parishioners who kindly sponsored me to run the London Marathon. As it was the hottest to date, I was a lot slower than I’d hoped for but managed to get round in 5 hours 29 mins. I have subsequently raised in the region of £2,000 for Dementia UK and will be collecting any outstanding money over the next few weeks or if people prefer they can donate online via my Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/Philippa-Webb

WELL DONE PHILIPPA!

Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2018

5th May 2018

Patrick Bourbery will be representing our Parish and working with BCYS assisting sick pilgrims. He is trying to raise funds for his fare and if you would like to sponsor his pilgrimage. Kindly send your donation to Fr. Anthony marking envelope ‘Patrick’s Lourdes Pilgrimage’. Many thanks.

Parish Maintenance Fund

15th Apr 2018

There is a container at the back of the Church if you would like to contribute to this Fund. If you are in the gift aid scheme please make sure you use your gift aid envelope which is in your gift aid pack of envelopes. This is a monthly contribution. Please do not put empty gift aid envelopes in the offertory collection.

Sponsor a Rose Bush

15th Apr 2018

You may have noticed that the ground has been cleared along the pavement and behind the bench as we are hoping to plant rose bushes each side of the entrance to the church grounds. If you would like to sponsor a rose bush or two the cost is £20 per bush. Please complete a ‘Sponsor a Rose Bush’ form at the back of the Church.

Office of the Hours (Easter Triduum)

24th Mar 2018

Parishioners are encouraged to come for Night Prayer at 11.45pm on Holy Thursday after Keeping Watch and then to come for Morning Prayer on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday at 9.30am.

Good Friday is a day of Fasting and Abstinence

24th Mar 2018

All able bodied children and adults under the age of 65 must Fast on Good Friday.

Parish Quiz Night

18th Mar 2018

Thanks to everyone who came and supported the Quiz Night on Friday which raised £500 for our Parish. Congratulations to the winning team, who were made up the Sankeys', the O'Connors' and Anne Bryne, who not only won the main quiz with a score of 74.5/90 but also the marathon round!

It was a fantastic night enjoyed by all so particular thanks go to Liz and Richard Higgins for organising their 14th Parish Quiz, Jane who booked the hall and made teas throughout and Joan Gibson who put together the prizes and helped organise the raffle with Jane.

Baptismal Certificates required

18th Mar 2018

Would all parents whose children were baptised between May 2007 and August 2016 please let me have a copy of their child’s Baptismal Certificate. If you have mislaid the Certificate please write a letter stating the full name of your child(ren), date of birth, date of baptism, names of Godparents and officiating minister.

Bishop Alan goes #SiLent!

10th Mar 2018

For 12 hours, from 8am to 8pm, on Tuesday 27^th March, the Tuesday of Holy Week, Bishop Alan will be completely silent (except for occasional communication with his cat, Delia). This is part of a national initiative, “Million Minutes,” adopted this year by the BCYS, to encourage all of us to (re)discover the peace, tranquility and value of silence: within the stillness, God speaks. Every minute of silence can also be sponsored, raising money for projects led by young people in our Diocese.

For more details, and all the resources, www.millionminutes.org/Brentwood https://be.wonderful.org/bishop.alan/2018/staysilent

To sponsor Bishop Alan and to find out more about all our opportunities for young people go to www.bcys.net

Empowering Vulnerable Children ( EVC ) Uganda Appeal 10 / 11 March 2018

3rd Mar 2018

Next weekend there will be a collection for this that works with some of the poorest children in the world in order to take them out of hopeless poverty and provide them with real hope for the future through education. On the weekend of 10 and 11 March Judi Fawcett, a Trustee, will talk briefly after all the Masses about the work.

Please look at their website at www.evcuganda.org

Sunday Children’s Masses

1st Mar 2018

Fr. Anthony will focus the Readings and his Homily on children and their families. These liturgies will be celebrated at 11.am on 25^th March Palm Sunday Procession (please assemble in the car park by 10.45am weather permitting), 13^thMay, 8^th July, 30^th September, 25^th November Youth Sunday.

The Season of Lent

28th Feb 2018

The Season of Lent began last Wednesday and Fr. Anthony will be leading faith and scripture sharing and Lenten Catechesis on Fridays: 2^nd March, 9^th March and 23^rd March 7.30 - 9.00pm in the Parish Room. The sign-up sheet is available at the back of the Church.

Women’s World Day of Prayer

22nd Feb 2018

Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held on Friday 2^nd March at 10.00 a.m. at St. Edmund and St. Mary’s Church. All are welcome including men, and refreshments will be served. Surinam is the country represented this year.

JONNIERCON’VIVIA

20th Feb 2018

Chinese New Year celebrations last week went well and everyone had a great time. The raffle raised £186 for parish funds. Thank you for coming along. Our next social meal to celebrate Pentecost will be on Thursday, 24th May.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 26th May 2018

18th Feb 2018

Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we honour Our Lady of Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. Let Fr. Anthony know if you are interested in going. See poster at back of Church.

First Holy Communion

18th Feb 2018

The next session is Saturday 24^th February 9.00 – 10.30am. Children must attend this session but not parents. Session 9, Saturday 10^th March – Mothering Sunday celebration (parents and child must attend).

siLENT from Million Minutes In the Diocese of Brentwood

16th Feb 2018

You are reminded that we should strictly observe silence in the Church, not just during Lent, but before and after all Masses in our Parish Church. Please visit the website www.millionminutes.org/brentwood to stay silent - get sponsored and raise money to celebrate young children which gives grants to support them to change their lives and their world. Million Minutes supported ‘Field of Dreams’ in Basildon, a holiday programme run by volunteers from BCYS.

Steward's of the Gospel recent questionnaire

11th Feb 2018

The Committee would like to thank everyone for participating in the recent questionnaire. The Stewards of the Gospel have collated the information received and will be reporting at the Diocese meeting on 24th February.

The Mass Explained

10th Feb 2018

Bishop Thomas will give a talk in the Conference Room, Cathedral House, Brentwood on 10th February at 10.30am. The talk will give something of the history and meaning of the different parts of the Mass to help us to a greater understanding of our Sunday celebration.

SiLent - an evening for young people at Brentwood Cathedral

3rd Feb 2018

An evening for young people aged 14-25, with Barry and Margaret Mizen speaking at 6.30pm, then the BCYS monthly Youth Mass at 8.00pm. Come and hear a story of amazing forgiveness and hope. Come and be introduced to SiLent. Come and enjoy the company of young people from across the Diocese. Pizza and drinks provided. If you are bringing a group please email gabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org. If you want to know more about SiLent please visit www.millionminutes.org/brentwood

Racial Justice Sunday

26th Jan 2018

This weekend there will be a retiring collection for Racial Justice Sunday.

Peace Sunday

11th Jan 2018

There will be a retiring collection this weekend for Pax Christi. In his 2017 World Peace Day message Pope Francis reminded us that we are all artisans for peace with others through simple actions sustained by prayer. Over the past year Pax Christi has seen an increased demand for its wide ranging advocacy and campaigning resources.

JONNIERCON’VIVIA

7th Jan 2018

The first of our three social meals will be held on Thursday 8^th February at Izumi in Warley at 7.30pm to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dog Reunion Dinner. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the Church – closing date for signing up is Sunday 4^th February.

BCCS Crib Donations

7th Jan 2018

The proceeds of the Crib Collection are donated each year to the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society to support those children and families who need their help. We would like to ask you to take a moment to pray for those children and families for whom Christmas may be a difficult time. On behalf of the trustees, staff and the children and families who we are privileged to help, we thank you for your support and wish you a very Happy New Year. The Crib this year will again be displayed until 2nd February.

Friars of the Renewals

26th Nov 2017

During Advent we will be collecting the following items for those less fortunate than ourselves: Clothing (dark items), pants, vests, T-shirts , trousers and track suits, socks, Beany hats, gloves, scarves, jumpers and heavy jacket. Foodstuffs: sugar, instant coffee, canned chopped tomatoes, squash (orange, lemon, and blackcurrant) onion and garlic. Household items: toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, cling film, foil, heavy duty bin bags, orange recycling bags, disposable gloves and toilet cleaning items. All items will be collected until w/e 17^th December.

Ride And Stride Ingatestone 2017

15th Nov 2017

We have received a cheque for £535 from the Friends of Essex Churches. This is half the total collected and will go to parish funds. The organiser’s comment was ‘Congratulations on another fine effort.’ Fr. Anthony and I would like to reinforce this and thanks again all the Riders, Striders and those who welcome visitors to both the Almshouses and St. John’s and a huge thankyou to the sponsors. Helen

Animal Blessing 2017

8th Oct 2017

All creatures great and small were blessed on Sunday 8th October at St John the Evangelist and St Erconwald Catholic Church by Father Anthony Cho as part of the celebration to commemorate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, who is the Patron Saint of ecology and creation.

Cats, dogs and 'Doogle' the hamster gathered to mark the love and companionship which the Ingatestone community have for their beloved pets. Father Anthony's two black "boradores" Raffles and Oreo, who have white 'dog collar" markings on their chest were also blessed.

Ftr Anthony said at the pet's blessing service that "We praise and thank God for our pets who provide much joy and all animals should be treated with the utmost respect".

The next Animal Blessing to celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi will be held on Sunday 7th October 2.30pm.

Commissioning of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

24th Sep 2017

The following parishioners have been trained and commissioned by Fr. Anthony as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. They have received spiritual, theological and practical preparation to fulfil this ministry in the Parish of Ingatestone and Bishop Alan has officially given them faculties for the next five years as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

David Pearce, Augusta Udo, Barbara Appleby, Michael Falcone, John Codling, Patrick Hinchin, Rosemary Toye, Helen Shaw, Beryl O’Brien, Georgina Townsend, Lucy Jack, Darryl Sankey, Aileen Donnelly, Jacinta Whitfield, Ross Townsend, Patricia Barry, Imelda Bevans, Rachel Grainger, Merryl Gargan, Tony Townsend, Davina Bolt and Anne Byrne.

Stewards of the Gospel

7th Sep 2017

The next important stage of the Stewards of the Gospel discernment process is upon us! A document setting out a vision and strategy to take our diocese forward was published at http://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/

There are two hard copies of the document at the back of the Church. Please return if you take away to read so others have the chance to look at the document.

Good Friday Walk of Witness

19th Apr 2017

Over 50 people from the four village churches took part in the walk of witness on Good Friday after Stations of the Cross as St John's. Some of our wonderful young people helped to carry the cross as we walked up to the Anglican Parish Church stopping at the Elim and URC churches for prayer on the way.

ICW Supports Local Charity- Kids Inspire

21st Feb 2017

The ICW holds a variety of fund raising events throughout the year donating proceeds to Church funds. Each year the ladies also select a worthy cause from the local area to whom they make a smaller contribution. This year’s chosen charity is Kids Inspire: http://kidsinspire.org.uk.
Kids Inspire support young people across Essex who are at an educational, social or economic disadvantage, for example, they might be experiencing relationship abuse, anxiety or be subject to bullying. The Charity mainly supports those recovering from trauma or dealing with emerging mental health issues. Their goal is to ensure no child is left without the love, support and healing they need to live full and happy lives.
We were moved to hear the stories of neglect, suffering and deprivation and delighted to be able to support the work done by Kids Inspire who achieve such remarkable results.

Pictured, Chairwoman Sue Parulis, together with members of the ICW, hands over a cheque for £200 to Kids Inspires’ Paula Ashfield.

Parish Dinner - Lunar New Year: 25-January 2017

25th Jan 2017

43 parishioners were delighted to join Fr Anthony in celebrating the Lunar New Year Reunion Dinner at Izumi on Wednesday 25 January. Fr Anthony was going home for a visit and wanted to celebrate with us before he left. We all learnt something new; whether it was chatting to a parishioner we hadn’t previously spoken to or listening to Fr Anthony explain the tradition of giving red envelopes – these are usually given with money in them but Fr Anthony’s gift to us were red envelopes containing all a list of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Further photos of this wonderful event can be seen on the Gallery Page.

Recent Baptisms

15th Jan 2017

Sienna, Bernie & Joseph - 3 of the newest members of our parish. These infants were baptised on 7th & 8th January 2017. They were presented to the rest of our congregation and they also received their baptism certificates on the 15th January at the 11am mass.

Steward of the Gospel Meeting for Youth - Cancelled

12th Jan 2017

The 12th January Steward of the Gospel Meeting for Youth has been cancelled due to snow making it dangerous for everyone to travel to. A new meeting date will be arranged shortly.

Art Competition

24th Dec 2016

Our Children have taken part in an art competition to depict what Advent and Christmas mean to them and their families. Their wonderful creations can be seen here and prizes will be given at the First Mass of Christmas on 24-Dec (6pm).

St John’s ICW Grand Christmas Draw

11th Dec 2016

The annual ICW Christmas raffle draw took place after 11am Mass on Rejoice Sunday (11-December) whilst supporting parishioners enjoyed tea and cake provided by the Children’s Liturgy Group. Our Pastoral Assistant John McCormack drew the raffle and the lucky winners of the top five prizes were as follows:

£500 Cash: Lucy Jack
Dinner for Two at the Cuckoo: Margaret Planel
Luxury M&S Hamper: Pat Chandler
M&S Hamper: Margaret Wood
Citizen Watch: D Wood

A huge thanks goes to the ICW for their hard work in organising this vital fundraising initiative. An amazing and much needed £1450 was raised for Parish funds!