2013

Wisdom is the power to put our time

 and our knowledge to the proper use. 

Thomas J. Watson 

Have a very Happy and Holy Year 2013.

The Holy Family Sunday

A Family Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep our family in Your love.

Help us to imitate the example of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Make our home a holy place where the love of Jesus will be in all that we think, do and say.

Give us the strength to overcome difficulties and may our family life lead only to Jesus - the source of true happiness.

Amen.

... and some pictures as our Parish Family celebrated Christmas this year

Christmas 2012

Mary gave birth to a son, her first-born.She wrapped him in swaddling clothes,and laid him a mangerbecause there was no roomfor them at the inn

Luke 2:6-7

 ‘What good is it for the Christ

to be born two thousand years ago

if Christ is not born in you?’

Meister Eckhart

  Every year as we recall the first coming of Christ into our world, we are challenged to live his way of justice, truth and love. Christmas does not guarantee us a trouble free life. During the Christmas season as we contemplate Mary and Joseph we come to realise that they had only their faith to sustain them in difficult times. It was their deep abiding trust in God’s love that enabled them to cope with hard decisions. That’s all we have too. During this Year of Faith, we pray that as our relationship with Christ deepens, we will have the strength to respond to the challenging decisions of every day life. By keeping our minds and hearts focused on Emmanuel-God-with-us, we too will discover in him the inner source of our hope.

  May we often go to the Bethlehem of our hearts and spend time with the One who offers us love, inner peace and hope.

With prayerful good wishes for this Christmas season 

and the New Year.

Fr.Adam MS and Fr.Chris MS

4th Sunday of Advent

...be focused on 

as we are so close ...

3rd Sunday of Advent

 And the multitudes asked John the Baptist, "What then shall we do?"  And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."  Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you."  Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."  As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,  John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy  to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.

Luke 3:10-18

2nd Sunday of Advent

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne,  in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness;  and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

 Luke 3:1-6

1st Sunday of Advent

Today we begin the season of Advent - a time of longing and waiting for Christmas and for the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

As we light the first candle, we pray:

Heavenly Father, bless our Advent wreath. 

Touch our hearts with the warmth of your love and keep us attentive to Jesus, the light of the world. 

Christ the King

 Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

John 18: 37

Christmas Bazaar

Thank you to all who supported the Christmas Bazaar and help make it such a great success, especially to those who organised it, those who gave gifts and those who came and supported it.

It was fun...

33rd Sunday

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Mark 13:31

32nd Sunday

"Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.   For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."

Mark 12:43-44

31st Sunday

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one;  and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'  The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 

Mark 12:28-31

after feast

THANK YOU to all who helped make the celebration of ST.CEDD’S FEAST so special last Sunday. For the prayerful Mass with music and the children’s welcoming hymn, the Bidding prayer in various languages, the African Offertory Procession and the great participation of everyone in the Mass. Special thanks to all those who donated food and drink for the lunch in the hall and especially to those who organised the occasion. It was a very happy day. St Cedd pray for our parish.

St. Cedd

Today in our parish we are celebrating our Parish Feast of St Cedd. In 653 St.Cedd sailed from Lindisfarne, an outpost of Iona,Northumbria, as part of the Celtic mission and landed at Bradwell on Sea, in Essex. He spread the Faith with people of Essex and built a chapel which is still their today. St.Cedd pray for us and our parish.

30th Sunday

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

Mark 10:47

for many

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:42-45

love as Jesus loves

 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"  He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away."  But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.  But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.'  `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,  and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."  And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.  And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her;  and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."  And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

Mark 10:2-16

 And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."  And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them,  "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

Mark 9:35-37

Avoid the mainstream, look in a different way, find a new way ... Jesus challenges not only his disciples....  

19/09/2012

On Saturday, September 19, 1846, a 'Beautiful Lady' appeared to two children in the French Alps, not far from the village of  La Salette.
... want refresh or discover the story: www.lasalette.co.uk 

 Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of Sinners, 

pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you. 

24th Sunday

For whoever would save his life will lose it; 

and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

Mark 8:35

P.S.

(The last Friday Paul  J. Kim (the singer of this clip) had a talk for students of Canon Palmer Catholic Academy) 

23rd Sunday

 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.  And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him.  And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;  and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."  And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.  And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.  And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

Mark 7:31-37

22nd Sunday

And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of  you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him."

Mark 7: 14-15

London Paralympics 2012

The Olympic Quilt is displayed in our church during the Paralympics Games.

The quilt was completed by members of the Catholic Clothing Guild & Catholic Women's League throughout the Brentwood Diocese. Groups where given a square of calico together with felt depicting a sport, which was sawn to the calico, twenty five squares in total.
 Diagonal shows paralytic competitors.
One hundred and twenty seven members took part in the sewing, their names are recorded at the bottom of the quilt.

Holiday 2012

A very happy, restful and safe holiday to all of the parish family of St. Cedd’s, 

whether you are away or staying at home. 

Fr.Adam and Fr.Christopher

London 2012

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 

PRAYER FOR THE LONDON 2012 GAMES

For all those nations attending the Games - for dignity and respect for all cultures and differences - for the 2012 30th Olympiad and Paralympics, the athletes and visitors.
For peace for London, for the host cities and for all cities. 
For people of all faiths.
For young people, their health, happiness and future.
 For one world of justice and compassion. 
For international peace from conflict. 
For the flourishing of international art, culture and music.

14th Sunday

He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him.  And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his  hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.  And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."  And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them.  And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Mark 6:1-6

13th Sunday

 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; ...

 Mark 5:24

Birth of John the Baptist

 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son.  And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."  And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name."  And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled.  And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.  And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea;  and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.  And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Luke 1:57-66,80

11th Sunday

Mark 4:26-34

Corpus Christi

And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, Take; this is my body.  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Mark 14: 22-24

Diamond Jubilee

Last Sunday 3rd June the 11 a.m. Mass was offered for Her Majesty the Queen in thanksgiving on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee as the Queen of England. There was a coffee morning in our parish hall. 
We had an amazing celebration. 

The Most Holy Trinity Sunday

 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20

Holy Land 2013

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND 2013! 

There will be a meeting for the next year planned parish Pilgrimage to Holy Land with Fr. Paul Maddison of Palestine Pilgrimage Ltd. in St. Cedd’s Lower Hall on Wednesday 30^th May after 7.30pm Mass. 

Please do come along if you want more information and booking forms.

Pentecost Sunday

Come, Holy Spirit, and show us what is true

 in a world of great wealth where many go hungry
and fortunes are won and lost by trading in money..

Come, Holy Spirit and show what is true 

In a world of great knowledge where many die in ignorance 

and every piece of information has a price in the market-place.

Come, Holy Spirit and show what is true 

in a world of easy communication, where words leap between continents 

and we expect to see a picture to illustrate each item of the news

Come, Holy Spirit and show what is true 

in a Church which speaks a thousand accents, divided over doctrine, 

creed and ministry, more anxious for itself that for the Gospel.

Ascension of the Lord

Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.

Ps 47

6th Sunday of Easter

You are my friends if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have  heard from my Father I have made known to you. 

John 15:14-15

5th Sunday of Easter

 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

John 15:1

Good Shepherd

Today we pray for vocations.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;  and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:68-69

Our support

TODAY  PHIL BUTCHER is competing in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon on behalf of the Brentwood Catholic childrens Society.

If you are watching the event Phil will be wearing bright yellow and running number 35542,
If you wish to make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/Phil-Butcher

or text BHBL 87 £1 (or more!) to 70070  (it really works :-) fr. Chris )

3rd Easter Sunday

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,  and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.

Luke24: 45-48

Divine Mercy Sunday

Our Lord appeared to Sister Faustina and revealed His Divine Mercy for the world.

Here are some excerpts of conversations with the Lord from Saint Faustina's diary.

Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world.

I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.

The Feast of Divine Mercy

I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, the depths of My Divine Mercy will be open to all. 

Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace until it returns to My Mercy.

Easter 2012

Very Early in the Morning

This is the day:

When tears are wiped away,

shattered hearts are mended,

fears are replaced with joy.

This is the day:

When the Lord rolls away the stone of fear,

throws off death’s clothes,

goes ahead of us into God’s future.

This is the day the Lord has made:

Death has no fear for us,

sin has lost its power over us,

God opens the tombs of our hearts

to fill us with life.

This is the day – Easter Day!

Christ is risen!

Hallelujah!

Easter Blessings to all our parishioners and visitors,

Fr.Adam and Fr.Christopher

Palm Sunday

so we start the Holy Week 2012....

5th Sunday of Lent

  "If the grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit"

John 12: 24 

Video from yesterday (Flames 2012, Wembley) 

Flame 2012

National Youth Congress

Wembley Arena

we were there...

Saturday joy

Many blessings and all the best for Thomas - Our Saturday jubilarian. 

4th Sunday of Lent

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

(John 3, 16-17)

3rd Sunday if Lent

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

John 2:19

just around...

... 'Just 10' and our CAFE program...

2nd Sunday of Lent

God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" he replied.

Then God said:"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.

There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you."

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!"

"Here I am!" he answered.

"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.

"Do not do the least thing to him.

I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."

As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.  So he went and took the ram

and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.

Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing- all this because you obeyed my command."

Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

  

2nd Sunday of Lent

retreats before confirmation

Place: Rainham

Leaders: Walsingham House Team

Participants: Parishes: Goodmayes, Rainham and St. Ives.

Impression: awesome

1st Sunday of Lent

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

Mark 1:12-15

7th Sunday

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them.  And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.  And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.  And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."  Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,  "Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic --  "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home."  And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Mark 2:1-12

1st Thursday prayer

Prayer group 

 8.15 pm – 9.15 pm

Every First Thursday of the month

we pray together in English, Polish and Latin.

4th Sunday

And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.  And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;  and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."  And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Mark 1:21-28

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3rd Sunday

Passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

Mark 1:16-20

2nd Sunday

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).  He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

John 1:40-42

Ephiphany

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;  and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they  offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

Matthew 2:10-11