The AUGUSTINIAN
Magazine for the Parish of Springfield St Augustine of Canterbury Church of Our Saviour New Hall
Lent 2016
Contents 2. Welcome 3. City Passion 4. Michael Barwick 6. A Call from God? 7. Puzzles and Recipes 8. Cranky Old Man 10. Puzzle 11.Catenians 12. KSC 13. bccs Our vision for our parish is that we are: 14. The Bishops’ a dynamic worshipping community ‐ where people come for the first me and immediately sense the presence of God
a community where everyone is growing in their understanding of the Catholic Faith
a community where everyone is growing in the life of prayer and their rela onship with God
a community where pastoral, spiritual and prac cal care is given to those in need
a community where more people are ac vely involved in the Mission of the Church
A Word from A Word from the Altar The Chair
Well done to the Communica ons Group. Since we met as a parish in November last year quite a They have iden fied relaunching the Parish Mag‐ lot has been happening and this new Magazine is just azine as a priority. It is good to have it back and I one example. I really hope that you enjoy reading it and hope it will be of great benefit to parishioners. if you would like to contribute anything for a future edi‐ Remember, though, that the magazine will only on I know that the Communica ons Team would be be as good as you want it to be; the more con‐ delighted to hear from you. tributors we have, the more effec ve it will be as We have a new Parish Pastoral Council and very shortly a means of communica on in the parish. you will see photographs of us all on the no ce board so If you don’t feel confident to write ar cles then that even if you don’t yet know who we all are you will that is fine, but there are lots of ways in which be able to recognise us in the future. This is not being people can contribute: maybe you can contribute done out of vanity but rather to encourage anyone who news from your family, special occasions, an ex‐ has something to contribute to our parish life to know ci ng experience you would like to share, some‐ who they can approach to have a chat. So if you have thing about your faith journey and experience of any ideas please feel confident that the PPC really wants being a Catholic Chris an, things like that. to hear from you. I look forward to the first issue and hope all of The PPC has met twice since we were appointed and we you will take a copy and read it through. are working towards the implementa on of our parish vision. You will see the Vision and our Prayer in this Feedback will be welcome and any comments magazine and the PPC is holding to both. Please join us can be directed to Chris Thompson who will pass in the Prayer. It was wri en by the Bishops of England & them on to the team. Wales as part of Proclaim 15 and as it sits really well with our Parish Vision we have adopted it for our Parish.
I wish you all the peace and joy of the risen Apart from working on this Magazine the Communica‐ Christ this Easter. ons working group are working on some proposed re‐ Father Nick visions to the newsle er, updates to the Parish no ce‐ board and an overhaul of the website. There are also plans to launch a Parish Facebook page soon, so watch all these spaces!
A report was also received from the Welcoming working St Augustine’s group and two new ac on groups have been set up and are now looking at Faith Development and Social Ac vi‐ es. You will hear more about these in the near future.
Chris ne Webb
Parish Pastoral Council City Passion
Chelmsford will have its own Passion Play this Easter! It will be performed in the City Centre, on Good Friday, on the stage used at the end of the Procession of Witness. A company will be performing a play which shows the Passion and Death of Christ. For many Good Friday is a shopping day and we hope that we will show them why it is the greatest day in history.
Passion Plays are not new. Through history they communicated to the illiterate Faithful what Scripture meant. A range of original plays from the Middle Ages are s ll performed today and their vibrant ac on and resonant language make them an inspira on to many.
Recently, the tradi on of Passion Plays has been reinter‐ preted for the modern age. In 2006 a major City Passion was staged in Manchester to great acclaim. It was cov‐ ered by BBC3 but in 2012 a Preston Passion was shown live over Good Friday by BBC2. Port Talbot’s Passion in 2011 included Michael Sheen and a group of Welsh ac‐ tors but it is vital that the core of the cast comes from the local Chris an Community.
Chelmsford follows this pa ern. The play is freshly wri en by Andrea Dalton, who is also the Director. She, and producer Sally Ransom, are veterans of the South Woodham Ferrers Passion and Chelmsford Theatre Workshop as well as being two key cast members. James French and Kenton Church took key roles in the Cathedral Pas‐ sion. The cast come from Churches of all denomina ons across Chelmsford. Everyone is taking part to communi‐ cate their Faith (but also to enjoy doing it).
The play concentrates on the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus and finishes with the disciples’ reports of the Resur‐ rec on. It is very much a public performance and a empts to draw in the audience to the ac on. The closing speech challenges the audience to reflect on what they have seen and heard and think what it means for their own lives.
It starts at 1.30 and lasts an hour so that the audience can go on to their 3pm services. It will certainly be worth watching so come along. We hope that 2016 will be the first of a developing tradi on. Part of the problem is funding. If you would like to help, Chris Thompson will know where to send dona ons! A Word from the Seminary
By Michael Barwick
It is a wonderful to be able to write a short piece for this edi on of the Augus nian and give you a bit of a reflec‐ on of my me at seminary so far. It has been really special to come home at the end of each term or half term and to see you all and receive messages of support and most importantly, knowing that you are praying for me.
So the journey so far…
As you may know, I am now a seminarian for the Diocese and I am currently studying at St. Mary’s College in Osco in Birmingham. Arriving at seminary for the first day was quite nerve racking as it was like being back at school in year 7 with a huge rucksack on my back (in this case all of my clothes, Arsenal paraphernalia and DVDs) and then that awkward kiss off your mum outside the gates as she leaves in front of everyone. For anyone who knows my mum…well this did happen.
Walking into a new environment with new people was something I have always found difficult. The moment when groups arrived at Walsingham House was always the me when most team members (and I include my‐ self) find that the kitchen is suddenly really dirty and we all need to clean it there and then. Any excuse to avoid awkward conversa on was what I was looking for but this me I couldn’t do that. A er the first few days we were shown all around the seminary, we were ge ng to know one another, and how things “worked” around the seminary.
The liturgies and mes of prayer were something that I was looking forward to because the chapel at Osco is beau ful and there is such a peaceful and prayerful at‐ mosphere. It is a place where as soon as I walk into every morning at 7.13am (7.15 is medita on) I feel the pres‐ ence of God. It is the heart of all we do and throughout the day I o en return to spend me in prayer. I always remember being told by a priest friend “to have an open heart and an open mind to all things” and this was something I repeated a lot to others but this me it was for me to take on board. Having my heart open to God has allowed him to work within me and guide me on my journey.
Throughout the week I have a variety of different lectures, prayer mes, mee ngs and also social events. A er lunch each day we all gather together (there are nearly 60 of us in the community) and we pray for our semi‐ nary, voca ons and those who have died. We finish our prayer by saying three mes, “Most Sacred Heart of Je- sus, we place all our trust in you”.
The image of the Scared Heart is something I have grown up around, as in Ireland there is a picture of it in my Mum’s family home with a li le red electric candle in front of it (I’m sure you can picture this now if you have Irish family). I never really paid much a en on to it but since September this image has really aided me in my prayer.
A recent visitor to Osco drew a en on to this image and said how our heart should be connected to Christ’s and we give him our hearts to change. A favourite piece of scrip‐ ture of mine is from Ezekiel 36.26. It reads, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This is what I use in my prayer each day and I encourage you to do the same because you’ll be amazed at what God will do with you and for you in your life when we have an openness of heart.
Prayer is key to a rela onship with God and this is the way in which we can communicate with him and let him into our lives. If you are able to sit and pray for even a couple of minutes a day, then the rela onship with God will start to build. Our hearts and our minds need to be open to him to hear where he is calling us. As we pray for Voca ons today (and I encourage you to do this each day) ask God, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “what he has in mind for you”. Spend me before the Blessed Sacrament and pray before Jesus Christ himself. This is a great me to s ll ourselves and place all we do and say to Jesus. If this is something you find difficult, then challenge yourself; I did and I have found the journey wonderful and exci ng!
“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you”
“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you”
“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you”
Michael Barwick
Seminarian for the Diocese of Brentwood
We pray for Michael and ask that he be given the courage to follow his calling A Call from God?
For some years now since the Second Va can Coun‐ cil the Church has recognised that, in the words of Blessed John Henry Newman, we are called by God to "some definite service". For some this service will be lived through the sacrament of marriage. For oth‐ ers it will be through a dedicated single life. For some it will be to religious orders. As Voca ons Di‐ rector for the Diocese of Brentwood I have been asked by my Bishop to help men to discern whether they are being called to the priesthood. Priesthood is a calling from God to serve him in his church. It is Parish Prayer the priest or deacon who administers the sacra‐ ments in our church. We are called to give new life through bap sm, to Loving Father, reconcile the sinner back to God, to preside at the You so loved the world that you sent us your only holy sacrifice of the Mass, to confirm in the name of Son, that we might believe in Him and have eternal the Bishop, to preside over those called to holy mat‐ life. rimony, to heal the sick through anoin ng and walk with those who are being called to eternal life. We May we encounter Jesus Christ anew this day and are called to preach the word of God and to evange‐ live the Good News with joy. lise the world. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to “go Many people believe that the priesthood is a chal‐ out to the whole world and proclaim” our faith with lenging choice with many a cross to bear, but so is confidence. any road that we travel on and God helps all of us to Give us the courage to witness to the joy of the Gos‐ walk the path he has chosen for us. A recent study pel by our words and ac ons. reported the clergy are the most happy people on Help our parish to become more welcoming and mis‐ earth. Having had thirteen years experience of this sionary, so that you may be known and loved by all rich ministry of priesthood I know why. people. If you believe God is calling you to priesthood ask We make this prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ him to help you discern this calling and ask him to Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Ho‐ help you be generous in your response. ly Spirit, One God for ever and ever, Fr Graham Smith Vocations Director Amen
Chocolate Easter Egg Nest Cakes
Brilliant to make with li le children over the holidays!
Ingredients
225g/8oz plain chocolate, broken into pieces 2 tbsp golden syrup 50g/2oz bu er
75g/3oz cornflakes 36 mini chocolate eggs Chocolate Easter Bunny
Recipe Method
Line a 12‐hole fairy cake n with paper cases.
Melt the chocolate, golden syrup and bu er in a The Ingredients you will need to bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water (do not let the base of the bowl touch the wa‐ make these are: ter). S r the mixture un l smooth. Marzipan
Silver or gold confec onary beads Remove the bowl from the heat and gently s r in the cornflakes un l all of the cereal is coated in 1. Roll a round lump of marzipan for the chocolate. the body and s ck on a smaller lump
for the head. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and press 3 chocolate eggs into the centre of each 2. Roll out two li le sausage‐shaped nest. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour, or un l com‐ pieces, fla en them for ears, and pletely set. place them on the head. Add a small (Shredded wheat or puffed rice cereals can be used in‐ round nose to the face and a li le stead of the cornflakes). lump to the back of the body to make a tail.
3. Use the confec onary beads for the eyes. “Cranky Old Man” What do you see nurses? What do you see? What are you thinking…when you’re looking at
me?
A cranky old man…not very wise, Mak Filiser, like many other elderly people, was placed in Uncertain of habit…with faraway eyes? a nursing home, and virtually forgo en. Nursing homes are typically very lonely places. Family members treat is Who dribbles his food…and makes no reply. as a task to go see their elders. When you say in a loud voice…I do wish you’d try!’
And forever is losing…A sock or shoe?
Their visits decline as me goes on. They’re so crowded, Who, resis ng or not…lets you do as you will, most nursing homes are understaffed and many seniors With bathing and feeding…The long day to fill? are neglected, not receiving the care needed to keep Is that what you’re thinking? Is that what you see? their spirits high. Then open your eyes, nurse…you’re not looking at
me
As I do at your bidding…as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten…with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters…who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen…with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now…a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty…my heart gives a leap.
When Mak died in the geriatric ward of the nursing home he was living at, nurses began to clean out his area and At Twenty‐Five, now…I have young of my own. discard unwanted items. One of the nurses found some‐ thing impressive – a poem. She was so touched by the Who need me to guide…And a secure happy poem she made copies and handed them out to her fel‐ home. low nurses at the home. A man of Thirty…My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other…With ties that should The poem is called “Cranky Old Man” last. At Forty, my young sons…have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me…to see I don’t mourn.. The Black Dot At Fi y, once more…Babies play ’round my knee,
Dark days are upon me…My wife is now dead. One day, a teacher entered her classroom and asked her I look at the future…I shudder with dread. students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited for For my young are all rearing…young of their own. the exam to begin.
And I think of the years…And the love that I’ve known. The teacher handed out the papers with the text facing down, as usual. Once she handed them all out, she asked the students to turn over the papers. To everyone’s surprise,
there were no ques ons–just a black dot in the centre of the paper. The teacher, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about
what you see there.” The students, confused, got started on the strange task. At the end of the class, the teacher collect‐ ed in the exam papers. She started reading each one of them out loud in front of all the students. All of them, with
out excep on, defined the black dot, trying to explain its I’m posi on in the centre of the sheet. A er all the papers had now an old man…and nature is cruel. been read, the teacher started to explain:
It’s jest to make old age…look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles…grace and vigor, depart. “I’m not going to grade you on this. I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white There is now a stone…where I once had a heart. part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot – and But inside this old carcass a young man s ll dwells, the same thing happens in our lives. However, we insist on And now and again…my ba ered heart swells focusing only on the black dot – the health issues that both‐ er us, the lack of money, the complicated rela onship with a I remember the joys…I remember the pain. family member, the disappointment with a friend. And I’m loving and living…life over again.
I think of the years, all too few…gone too fast. The dark spots are very small when compared to everything And accept the stark fact…that nothing can last. we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds. Take your eyes away from the black dots in your
lives. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that So open your eyes, people…open and see. life gives you. Be happy and live a life filled with love!”
Not a cranky old man.
. Look closer…see…ME!!
Chelmsford Mid Essex Circle Consequently we are a pre y comprehensive 115 network of Catholics. Throw into the mix a summer BBQ, a winter theatre trip and sever‐ of the Catenian Association al golf days spread all over the Diocese and By Steve Webb we have a pre y good social calendar. For the last few years I have been a member Every Circle in the associa on supports two of our local Circle of the Catenian Associa on “in house” chari es. The first is the Bursary and it has been great fun. It is always inter‐ Fund that supports young people engaged in es ng, o en inspiring and humour is never projects for the benefit of others and for us very far away. I have made good friends and I that includes regularly suppor ng young peo‐ have thoroughly enjoyed the company of my ple who go to Lourdes with HCPT. The second brothers. is the Benevolent Fund which comes to the aid of members who fall on hard mes or ex‐ We meet on the first Monday of each month perience some temporary difficulty. Addi on‐ for a short mee ng and a longer dinner at ally each year our President supports an ex‐ Pontlands Park Hotel. Members of the Circle ternal charity of his choice and the circle rais‐ come from a wide variety of backgrounds but es funds for that par cular charity for one everyone is a prac sing Catholic so each of us year. brings to the table a rich life experience built upon our shared faith. As this ar cle goes to print the Catenian Year will be coming to an end and in April our new Every third month our wives and the widows year starts. If all goes according to plan I will of deceased brothers join us for dinner and proudly become President of Chelmsford Mid these are always extremely convivial occa‐ Essex Circle and I look forward to a really sions. The conversa on is always good and great year with a lot of laughter, thought pro‐ obviously when you bring together people voking conversa ons, prayerful mee ngs and from across several parishes in and around to con nuing the proud tradi on of the Asso‐ Chelmsford you will meet people you know cia on in strengthening our faith and our slightly and become friends. Everyone has a family lives together. If you are interested in lot in common because we are all prac sing coming to join us please speak to either me Catholics with children who probably went to or Roger Sclater at church and we would be the same schools and it really is rather special delighted to make you very welcome. Alter‐ to socialise in this environment that is so na vely call me on 07474941180. deeply rooted in our shared faith.
One of our Ladies Nights is also a Clergy Night when we invite local priests, deacons, reli‐ gious brothers and sisters to join us. Last year we were pleased to have Bishop Alan Williams and Mgr Keith Newton (leader of the Ordinari‐ ate) with us. Some mes we have guest speak‐ ers at our dinners but other mes we just talk to each other and members of other Circles who come to visit us from around our dio‐ cese and beyond. KNIGHTS Night on 15th October at St Augus ne’s. Hopefully, the proceeds from this will assist to fund our chari‐ OF es which include bccs, Medialle Trust, BEEF (Bishops Fund for Training of Priests), Nepal Project ST COLUMBA and support for our Youth.
Recently 29 Knights, wives, family and friends had a very pleasant and in some cases, a lucra ve evening, at Rom‐ We will be holding our annual walk for bccs later in ford Dogs. We gave our support at the OLI Christmas Ba‐ the year. We always look forward to people joining zaar, assis ng with the se ng up and taking down of the us for a gentle walk around the Essex countryside. th stalls and running the bo le stall. June 9 is St Columba's Feast Day. We are having a Mass said on Sunday 12th June and a er we will be We delivered Christmas Posters, Diocesan Directories and going to Aylesford for the Southern Provinces Pil‐ Brentwood News to all Parishes in the Deanery. The grimage. We are following up sugges ons for our Christmas Posters are also delivered to local churches. Annual Lecture in October so watch this space. Our Annual Dinner in February was held at Li le Channels Golf Club in February and was a ended by 50 people. One of the speeches was given by Holly Clarke, the youngest speaker that we have ever had. The Canon Manning Trophy was recently awarded to Aidan Greenwold from St Augus ne’s. This tro‐ phy is in honour and recogni on of Canon Man‐ ning, a former priest of OLI and awarded annually to a young member or group of young people in the churches community for service to their faith.
A decade of the Rosary is said at all Council and Commi ee mee ngs for world peace and those in need. A half day retreat has been organised for Sat 19th March at St Augus ne’s commencing at 9.30am with Mass, and a Weekend retreat will be held later in the year.
Socially, we s ll have our monthly Knights at Leisure and For further informa on please contact Chris they are always well a ended. In March we have Ten Pin Thompson or Mike Hiom on 01245 265159. Bowling at Braintree and The Quizzylympics Final at Council 302 wish you a very happy and holy Easter. Brentwood Cathedral Hall with Brentwood Catholic Chil‐ dren’s Society In April we have the Provincial Quiz at St Mike Hiom, Grand Knight, Council 302 Chelmsford Augus ne’s, Pitch and Pu evening in July and a Race diocese. We do not ask about their faith and we Brentwood Catholic do not judge behaviour, we just try to help. The help we can give to children is personal face Children’s Society to face help. We only employ skilled and well qualified social workers and counsellors to help children overcome the problems that they are Your Children’s Charity for Your Parish faced with. A bccs counsellor will listen, interact, advise and be there for children who are in need. Throughout the Year of Mercy the Jubilee Door is open to When appropriate we will work hand in hand with allow all sorts of people to enter either physically or meta‐ the family or staff at school to ensure the best phorically and to experience His mercy. At our Cathedral in outcome for the child. At other mes we work Brentwood there are special masses for many different with teachers or school support staff or parents to groups of people who may be especially in need and at bccs help them to understand the problems a child is we warmly welcome the idea that those who are suffering experiencing and in turn to help the child on a day and are perhaps feeling disenfranchised can be specially to day basis. welcomed by our Church during this special year. While the demand for our services increases year bccs helps many hundreds of children every year. Those by year, thankfully we are rich in the professional children live in our diocese. They are not thousands of miles skills that enable us to help and with the con n‐ away in a foreign land, they are right here in our midst. They ued help and support of our parish community we are our neighbours who are in need and in the name of our will find more funds to enable us to help as many Church and following the example and commandment given children as possible and to be Merciful Like The to us by Jesus bccs tries to help them. Father.
th They may be children suffering because of bereavement or On September 10 2016 Bishop Alan has request‐ abuse. They may experience difficul es through poverty ed a pilgrimage in our diocese for all to walk to caused because their parents have been made redundant or and through the Door of Mercy at the Cathedral are unemployed. They may be lonely or suffering mental or in aid of the work we do at bccs. Mass will be cel‐ spiritual anguish, addic on, or even because of the pain that ebrated at 3pm by the Bishop and all are wel‐ exists in a family when a sibling dies in child birth. come.
For more informa on about our work visit www.bccs.org.uk or call 01268 784544 These are among the people to whom the Holy Door of Mer‐ cy is open during this Jubilee Year and it is a good reminder to us at bccs that although we are not in the business of prosely sing we are very much in the business of witnessing to God’s mercy and pu ng it into prac ce. At bccs we try to be a Good Neighbour to the children in need in our The Bishops’ A Church of England and A Roman Catholic School
It’s a pleasure to contribute to the Parish Magazine. The Bishops’ is unique in Essex as we are the only joint Angli‐ can/ Catholic Primary School in the county. There are another six or so in the country. This founda on is incredi‐ bly important to us, welcoming and serving Chris an families from many tradi ons (we are approximately ¼ RC, ¼ C of E, ¼ other Chris an denomina ons and ¼ other faith or no defined faith). We do our best to nurture, ex‐ plore and teach about faith in ways which every child and family can feel at home with. A recent church school inspec on found that:
‘The Bishop’s School is an inclusive Christian family community, rooted in its welcoming commitment to nurture and serve all its children and their families. Pupils are proud to belong, feel valued and achieve highly. This is because there is a strong commitment for everyone to model their new motto; ‘live fully, laugh often, learn deeply, love as God loves you and let your light shine’.
This mo o, and lots of values, were created and agreed last year alongside an art week when every class made a felt banner represen ng a different value. We call our mo o the ‘Bishops’ High Five.’
The picture is our final celebra on assembly when we showed the school all the banners and they are now dis‐ played around the school.
‘Living life to the full’ is at the heart of our school. Music, art, performing arts and sport are really important to us, and clubs thrive (street dance, theatre, band, choir, reading, wri ng, many sports, art and many others). Our cur‐ riculum is broad, has many aspects of the Interna onal Primary Curriculum embedded in it alongside the Na onal Curriculum, and teaches children to be responsible global ci zens. Recent excitements include the choir (of 50 pupils) sing‐ ing with young Voices at the 02, a Roman day for our Year 4s, the opening of our new Year 6 block for which we enjoyed a celebra on outdoor communion and picnic, and a new Adventure Play Area with all weather safe‐ ty surfacing.
The children also love our school dog, Luna, who is thera‐ This is the first edi on of our new regular Parish py to distressed children (and staff!) and happily listens magazine. We hope you have enjoyed it. to children reading and becomes a donkey at Christmas Thank you to all those who have contributed and Easter – and our school chickens which are looked material; apologies to those who we could not reared and looked a er by pupils. fit in, but we will get them into the next edi‐ on. We are already collec ng material for the second edi on and will be very pleased for anything you may have. We would also wel‐ come anyone who can help with its produc on:
if you can, please speak to one of us.
Editors
Chris Thompson Steve Webb
I hope this gives a flavour of life at The Bishops’.
Greg Waters Head Teacher
A Catholic independent ‘diamond model’ school in Chelmsford Day (3-18 years) • Boarding (7-18 years) Preparatory • Girls’ Division • Boys’ Division • Sixth Form
Through the highly successful ‘diamond model’ structure, New Hall provides the best of both worlds the academic beneÀts of a singlese[ education in the Senior School with the social advantages of coeducation in the 3reparatory School and the Si[th )orm. Open Morning: Saturday 30 April 2016, 9.00am - 12.00noon To book your place, please visit newhallschool.co.uk/openmorning. Alternatively, please call 01245 236 098 to arrange a visit a time to suit you.
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