Bishop Alan's -Pastoral Letter
Webmaster • April 9, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The first Holy Week – almost two thousand years ago – saw world-changing events happen with bewildering speed. Jesus received a King’s welcome in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, by Friday he had been crucified to death but on Easter Sunday his disciples were proclaiming his Resurrection.
In any other year I would be encouraging you to take time out of your busy schedule and journey with Jesus in the Holy Week Liturgy and in personal prayer, but this year our churches are closed, many of us are confined to our homes and, as one NHS worker grimly remarked, many of us are now living a three day week – yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Yet our Catholic Christian Faith is very clear that whether in times of suffering or joy, light or darkness – ‘Fix your thoughts on Jesus the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess… Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith’ (Hebrews 3.1, 12.2).
In the annual rich liturgical and devotional life of the Church this is obvious and can become even routine, but now, in this time of the Covid19 virus, our churches are closed, people are suffering and dying and we are all living in a radically different world.
In that first Holy Week, the last week of our Lord’s life on this earth, the first Christians made little sense of what was happening. The apostles fled from Gethsemane, Peter denied Jesus three times and the Lord died almost alone with just his Mother, St John and one or two others.
Easter Sunday changed everything. Mary Magdalen, filled with love for her friend Jesus, went to the tomb to anoint a body; hope and love had triumphed over paralysis and despair. Mary was the first witness to the empty tomb; much more she was, in the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Apostle of the Apostles (Apostolorum Apostola) and she shared her excitement and joy with the apostles.
Every new generation of Christians discovers and proclaims the crucified and risen Lord – ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever’ (Hebrews 13.8). In these dark and difficult days of the pandemic Mary Magdalen’s longing for life and healing, even when others were plunged into loss and despair, invites all of us to trust God in Christ absolutely.
At His Last Supper our Lord told His disciples, ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you… Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them’ (John 13.15,17). In these challenging days we need to support each other and, especially, look after and pray for the vulnerable and elderly. Our priests are continuing to celebrate Mass for their parishioners and, whenever possible, the Sacraments and other pastoral support are being offered to the people of God. Each and every act of kindness, in imitation of our Lord, reminds us that we are truly blessed by God.
The Holy Father continues to be a source of strength and inspiration – ‘In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: He is risen and is living by our side’ (Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica, 27 March 2020).
I wish you many blessings this coming Easter and in the future,
Devotedly in Christ and Mary,
+Alan Williams, sm
Bishop of Brentwood
9 April 2020
I want to get an idea of numbers and so applications may be made by any young person born before 31st August 2009 who lives in the parish and attends Mass regularly . Those who live outside of the parish must obtain the permission of their own parish priest before applying . Application forms are at the back of the church. Please ensure a copy of the baptismal certificate is attached to the completed form.
North Ilford Fellowship of Churches are inviting everyone to Pentecost Songs of Praise on Sunday, 8 th June in Ashurst Drive Baptist Church. There will be refreshments afterwards. I attended the NIFOC committee meeting this afternoon. People were saying how much they enjoyed the World Day of Prayer service at our church.
This year we celebrate 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea in 325, which gave the Church the Creed still used at Sunday Mass. Deacon Ken Carleton, dean in the formation programme for deacons, and accomplished church historian, will lead a study day to explore how the Creed was produced, and what role was played by the Emperor Constantine in this first world Council of the Church. The study day will take place on Saturday 7th June from 10.30 (Coffee) until 2 pm, with a break for lunch, at the Catholic Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park, RM2 6DH. Easy access on the Elizabeth Line, or from the M25. The programme will be live-streamed on www.whatgoodnews.org and available subsequently on the same website. You will be very welcome to attend in person as we celebrate that the Lord Jesus is ‘consubstantial with the Father’.
Missio is the Pope’s charity for World Mission. We ignite God’s love by helping local missionaries to walk alongside global communities who are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. I would like to thank you on behalf of Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries for raising £3202.88 in 2024 through the Red Box and direct giving, including direct debits and online donations. Thank you for your continued support for our global church, through prayer and generous giving, despite the challenging times we live in. On the poster at the back of the church is Fr Glenn, a Mill Hill Missionary, with his parishioners at Mary Mother of God Church, in the rural parish of Tamping, Cambodia. In 2024, you provided essential support to enable Missionary Priests, just like Fr Glenn, to go out to some of the most remote areas of their parish to share the Sacraments and the message of the Gospel with their communities. This is the very essence of being a missionary disciple, and something we can all share in. Our Parish here today is connected to our global community through the celebration of the Eucharist and through prayer.
Many thanks to those who support this scheme. The parish bank account was recently credited with £17,209.59 by the tax[wo]man. Very many thanks also to our gift aid administrator, Ms Maxima Emmanuel, for all her hard work in making this possible. If you pay income tax and would like to join the scheme please see me after Mass. It takes just one simple form and it costs you nothing. The parish simply claims back the income tax you pay on any donations you already make to the parish in the weekly collection.
HOLY MASS for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis will be celebrated by Bishop Alan in the Cathedral on Sunday 27th April At 11.30am.
VERY MANY THANKS for all your prayers, cards, presents and generous Easter offerings. They are, as always, very much appreciated.
Those who wish to, are invited to gather at the magistrates' court (suggest 9.15am - 9.30am) and walk in small groups, along the pavements to Ken Aston Square as we have done for the past two years. Other than that, please ask people gather at the Square as usual, where we hope to start the service at 10.00am.