Posts by Editor

Ash Wednesday – 17th February

A reminder that Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent is this year 17th
February. Restrictions permitting ashes will be blessed and imposed
during masses on the day will be at 7am 9am and 8pm.

Churches remain open during lockdown

As per the national guidance there are no changes in the Mass Schedule during the national lockdown.

New Year Message from Fr Pat

Parish Office Closed

Please note: The parish office is closed until further notice due to COVID 19 restrictions.

You may contact the presbytery by telephone on 0208 989 2074 or email  wanstead@dioceseofbrentwood.org only.

Pastoral Letter from Bishop Alan

In his pastoral letter for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Bishop Alan writes:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we continue to celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas.

For many of us the past year has been marked by difficulty and distress. Opportunities for Christmas family gatherings have been very restricted and some of us have unwelcome memories of enduring a pandemic that has yet to run its course.

In his Gospel Saint John reminds us of the necessity of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ – “God so loved the world that He sent His only Son” and that love continues in the midst of human confusion and suffering. Faithful disciples of Christ – the Saints of the Church – are people who witness to the gifts of God even in unpromising times.

All human beings need to meet Christ. In today’s Gospel Simeon and Anna encounter the Christ child and his family. They learn what so many have learned over the centuries; personal knowledge of Jesus brings salvation and peace. Simeon and Anna are moved to praise God as they rejoice in the light and glory of Christ.

In his recent Apostolic Letter about the place of Saint Joseph in the Church Pope Francis speaks of the courage of Joseph in the face of adverse events: “The Holy Family had to face concrete problems like every other family, like so many of our migrant brothers and sisters who, today too, risk their lives to escape misfortune and hunger. In this regard, I can consider Saint Joseph the special patron of all those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution and poverty.”

It may be that words of encouragement and consolation are difficult to hear this Christmas. During the pandemic we have become acutely aware of the fragility of human life but those who believe in Christ look for the gifts of God which are freely given despite the almost impossible circumstances we can find ourselves in.

In his reading today Saint Paul describes what happens when we allow ourselves to be loved by God. Followers of Christ live out compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Christ’s love clothes us with rich gifts; joy and gratitude find their home within us. Joseph – a pre-eminent follower of Christ – became a true father to his foster son through these virtues.

As we move forward we can thank God for medical workers and many others who care for us when we are ill and whose work has produced vaccines that hold out so much hope. We can be grateful for these gifts of God but Pope Francis encourages us, above all, to ask for “the grace of graces: our own conversion” during the coming New Year.

The Holy Father ends his letter with a short but powerful prayer:–

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

Show yourself a father

And guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,

And defend us from every evil. Amen

With continued prayers,

Yours in Christ, Mary and Joseph,

+Alan Williams, sm

Bishop of Brentwood

Christmas Message from Fr Pat

Even though it was Christmas with a difference this year it was celebrated with joyful hope in the parish. Attendance at the 10 masses was lower than usual because of the pandemic but good numbers were present none the less.

It was more contemplative than usual. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the Holy season and celebrate the feast of the Holy Family on Sunday. Let us continue to pray for each other and for family life in our parish. ~ Fr.Pat.

Christmas mass cancellations.

If you have to cancel your Christmas mass reservation please email michaelaololcc@gmail.com

Please DO NOT telephone or email the parish office as we currently do not have the staff to deal with cancellations. Thanks

Tier 4 from 20th December

We will enter tier 4 from Midnight – but public Masses are allowed to continue.

Please remember your face coverings, to sanitise your hands on entry and exit of the church and check in on the NHS Track and Trace QR Code.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Masses – Fully Booked.

All the masses on Christmas Eve/Day are now fully booked.

If you have been unable to book the Bishops of England and Wales have suggested that everyone attend mass at some point during the Christmas Octave which runs from Christmas Eve/Day through until the end of Friday 1st January.

An octave in the Church calendar means that Christmas Day is of such great importance and significance that it is celebrated for eight days! So, in effect, each of those days after Christmas is also Christmas Day – a long and joyful
celebration! It means that there are lots of opportunities to celebrate
Christmas by attending one of the masses that week.

The masses after Christmas Day do not need to be booked.

Wanstead in Tier 3 Covid Restrictions from 16th Dec

Wanstead will enter into Tier 3 of the Covid Restrictions from 00.01 Wednesday 16th December.

Under Tier 3 restrictions places of worship are permitted to stay open for public services so there will be no change to our Mass schedule .