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Our parish of St Thomas of Canterbury promotes God's kingdom of justice, love and peace through worship, the proclamation of the Word and prayer. As a community we serve those in need and support God's family in all areas of life.
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A FAIRTRADE PARISH
 EIGHT-HUNDREDTH YEAR OF THE FRANCISCANS (OFM)
Follow this link for more details of the event held at St Thomas' on 23rd May - and more.
On Friday, June 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared the coming year a Jubilee Year for Priests. The Holy Father marked the occasion by sending a letter to the priests of the world.
 He begins by noting that the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been "traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy," in part because of its connection to the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated on the octave, or eighth day, of Corpus Christi). It is through priests, of course, that the Body and Blood of Christ are made present to us in the Mass.
This year is also the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, and Pope Benedict devotes much of the letter to holding up his life as an example for all priests. St. John Mary was passionate in his desire to lead souls to Christ, and he did so through cultivating their love for the Blessed Sacrament and for the Sacrament of Confession.
The Holy Father notes that:
Priests ought never to be resigned to empty confessionals or the apparent indifference of the faithful to this Sacrament. In France, at the time of the Cure of Ars, confession was no more easy or frequent than in our own day, since the upheaval caused by the [French] revolution had long inhibited the practice of religion. Yet he sought in every way, by his
preaching and his powers of persuasion, to help his parishioners to rediscover the meaning and beauty of the Sacrament of Penance, presenting it as an inherent demand of the Eucharistic presence.
St. John Mary understood that the salvation of his parishioners was intimately connected to his own, and he even, as Pope Benedict notes, often performed penance on their behalf. Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that this holy priest is the patron saint of priests, and that he be offered as an example in a year "meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to
interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today's world."
While the Holy Father's letter is meant for his fellow priests, the faithful should read it as well, and we should keep all priests, especially those who serve our parish, in our prayers in a special way throughout the coming year.
 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY . . .
Sunday 5th July - ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC
2-6pm, Friary Gardens. Featuring live music with a "jigs and jazz flavour" by TenStringFever, find our more at this link
Pictures by Chris Curtain. For more pictures click this link.
 
25th ANNIVERSARY SPONSORED WALK
Our prayers were answered! The weather held for the sponsored walk on Saturday when 16 parishioners from St Thomas' and St Edmond's (Loughton) left the Becket Centre for High Beach through lovely Epping Forest for Brentwood Catholic Children's Society. Many thanks to the CWL for the fine refreshments on our return to the Becket Centre. Please be generous in supporting your walkers for this worthy cause.
For more information on the work of the Brentwood Catholic Children's Society follow this link.
 FRIARY TENNIS CLUB
The two courts in idyllic surroundings at the back of the Friary gardens are managed by our own tennis club. New members are always welcome and the subscriptions are very modest. To find out more follow this link.
 NEW TO THE PARISH?
If you are new to the parish or have moved within the parish, please contact the Parish Office so we can keep our records up to date.
Follow this link to see earlier events previously listed on this page
 
Any Christian community tries to live out the commandment of Christ to love God and one's neighbour as thyself. Both aspects are inseparable and support for CAFOD enables us to help those in great need.
A recent estimate indicates that we throw away enough food to feed the starving in the whole of Africa. We urge all to review their lifestyle and the effects that a secular and consumerist society have had upon our existence. Live simply so that others may simply live!
Click here to go to the page on this website for details of the Brentwood Diocesan branch of CAFOD. Click here to go directly to the CAFOD Brentwood website, from where you can access the latest newsletter.
 IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR MAC USERS: PLEASE NOTE, CURRENTLY THIS SITE DOES NOT FUNCTION FULLY WITH YOUR SAFARI BROWSER. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE. CURRENTLY WORKS BEST WITH FIREFOX. GET FIREFOX FOR MAC HERE
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| Mass Times
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St Thomas
Saturday: 6pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Sunday: 8.30am, 10am (Children's Liturgy)
11.30am (Traditional Choir)
Weekdays: 10am (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
The Rosary is said every Wednesday after 10am
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St James URC Buckhurst Hil
Sunday: 9am (Children's Liturgy)
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Chigwell Convent
Sunday: 10am (Children's Liturgy)
Weekdays: 6.50am (Morning Prayer), 9.30am
Saturday: 10am
First Wednesday of month no morning Mass
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