PARISH SAFEGUARDING REPRESENTATIVE.

 

 

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child

or adult at risk, do not delay contacting the police,

using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in

immediate danger. Alternatively, please contact

your diocesan safeguarding caseworker

 

Marta Śrama email:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Marta also act as a conduit between the

parish and the Child Safeguarding & Protection Service.

 

 

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk or believe that a child or vulnerable adult is in danger of being abused, or is subject to abuse, then do not delay in contacting the police telephoning 999.

 

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.

 

 

If you want to talk about an allegation of abuse, or if you are a survivor of historic abuse and want to talk about it with someone who will listen with sensitivity and care, then please contact our Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator, Simon Moules who will help in any possible way and he can be contacted on:

 

 

01277 265234  or   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

You can also phone the national “safe space” helpline on 0300 303 1056. This is a dedicated helpline for anyone who has been a survivor of abuse in a Catholic or Church of England faith setting (church, school, or anywhere else run by the church). You will find more information at https://www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/

 

 

 

 

The Society of African Missions is an international

community of Catholic missionaries who serve the

people of Africa and people of African

descent around the world.

 

More information on: 

 

 https://sma.ie/

 

 

"The LiveSimply Award is a practical way

to respond to the Papal imperative at parish level.”

 

Bishop Alan

 

 

On Sunday 12th March 2017

our Parish was presented with its first ever award at 11:30 Mass.

There was a special Fairtrade tea on the lawn, meeting

and congratulating each other on this very important

witness to our parish living simply, sustainably and in

solidarity with the poor of our world. 

 

Our parish has become the second

parish in Brentwood Diocese and the

24th parish in England and Wales to

be awarded the livesimply parish award for

its commitment to live more simply and

sustainably and to stand in solidarity with

the world's poor. The award is a national

prize for Catholic parishes putting their faith into action.

 

 

"In the light of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment

and human ecology, Bishop Alan is encouraging all

parishes in the diocese to work towards global aid charity

CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award.

The Pope’s letter invites us to “change direction”

by taking on the beauty and responsibility of the

task of “caring for our common home”.

At a personal level Pope Francis is asking us to

change our actions and daily habits, reducing water

consumption, sorting and recycling waste and even

“turning off unnecessary lights”. If done by many

people, such actions can have a significant effect.

Bishop Alan said: “The LiveSimply Award is a practical

way to respond to the Papal imperative at parish level.”

To win the award, a parish must display nine ways in

which it is putting into practice the three principles

of LiveSimply: living in solidarity with people in

poverty; living simply; and living sustainably with

creation. Receipt of the award is national recognition

to Catholic parishes that they are making a difference

to their community – and the world.

The award is coordinated by Eco-congregation, on behalf

of CAFOD, and there are hundreds of ways a parish

can put the principles into practice. Parishes which

have already gained the accolade, for example, have 

encouraged parishioners to walk or cycle to church,

installed solar panels on the church roof to generate

their own electricity, or implemented a clothing

recycling scheme to benefit the Saint Vincent de Paul Society."

 

(Information above from the website:

https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/faith/live-simply/)

 

More information you can find out on:

https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/LiveSimply-award

 

 

 

 

 

 

CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF

ENGLAND AND WALES

 

 

Statement from the

Catholic Bishops of England Sunday

– it is our Day

 

 

On 19th July, the current legislative powers which assist the

mitigations against the covid-19 virus transmission will be

rescinded by HM Government.

 

Nevertheless, there will be

an encouragement to personal and corporate responsibility in

this area; as the Prime Minister said in his most recent statement

“The pandemic is not over.” Even without this legislation in place,

the Church in England and Wales will be adopting a cautious

approach to capacity and activity within our buildings, especially

at corporate acts of worship.

 

We are mindful of the certain fact

that the Covid-19 virus is still circulating in society. Vaccines

provide genuine protection against the worst effects of the

virus, yet we recognise the legitimate fear on the part of some

who otherwise desire to gather for Holy Mass.

 

It is our continuing

judgement, therefore, that it is not possible at the present time

for all of the faithful to attend Mass on a Sunday thus fulfilling

their duty to God. It is hoped that it will be possible for all

Catholics in England and Wales to fulfil this most important

Church precept, that of the Sunday Obligation, by the

First Sunday in Advent 2021.

 

In the meantime, all Catholics are

asked to do their best to participate in the celebration of the

weekly Sunday Mass and to reflect deeply on the centrality

of Sunday worship in the life of the Church.

 

In April, following

our Plenary Assembly, we offered a reflection on the experience

of the extraordinary long months of the pandemic. It was titled

The Day of the Lord. We also began to look at the way forward.

 

 

We spoke about the important invitation to restore the Sunday

Mass to its rightful centrality in our lives. We asked for a rekindling

in our hearts of a yearning for the Real Presence of the

Lord in the Eucharist, as our response to the total, sacrificial

love that Jesus has for us. We said:

 

“The Eucharist should be

the cause of our deepest joy, our highest manner of offering thanks

to God and for seeking his mercy and love. We need to make it the

foundation stone of our lives.”

 

May this continue to be our striving

during these coming months as we journey back to the full celebration

of our Sunday Mass and our renewed observance of The Day of the Lord.

 

 

1 St Jerome, In Die Dominica Paschae II