Parish of Our Lady of La Salette, Rainham

CAFOD Lent Appeal – Family Fast Day. Following Friday’s Family Fast Day, there is a second collection this weekend in support of CAFOD. CAFOD asks that you please donate and join them in a pilgrimage of hope this Jubilee Year. You’ll be supporting communities suffering the impacts of war, poverty and climate change to find solutions and hope.

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The Bethlehem Nativity Group. A Missionary from Bethlehem will visit us next weekend to talk about the Holy Land and sell religious articles made of olive wood to help and support poor Christian families. Any help you can give will be highly appreciated.

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Lent–Tin Drive. Bring a tin. This lent we are collecting tinned food to support our local community. All tins will be donated to The Ship Centre, Rainham.

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Lent – Stations of the Cross. Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent at 7:00pm followed by Mass. After Mass there will be silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, ending at 9:00pm. Each week the Service will be planned by the following groups: 21st March: Choir / 28th March: Confirmation Group /  4th April: Eucharistic Minsters / 11th April: Altar Servers / 18th April (Good Friday): Priests

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Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 24th May 2025. We are invited to join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope in Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. Bishop Alan has asked that this be the main event for the Diocesan celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope and we would like to go as a Parish Community if possible. If sufficient parishioners are interested we will hire a coach. If you would like to come, please speak to Fr Kris.

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A new way to support our youth. Support our parish youth online. Visit our ‘shop’ to donate. We don’t sell or ship anything. After choosing the amount, click “personal collection” in the basket. Then pay to transfer your donation to our youth fund. Visit <THIS LINK>. Thanks for investing in our parish’s future.

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Important information for Parish volunteers with a DBS who have subscribed to the update service. The Online update service has recently changed their renewal process. You can renew your subscription to the update service up to 30 days before your current subscription ends but you cannot renew on the last day of your subscription. This means that when you receive an email from: donotreply@dbs.gov.uk stating that your subscription to the update service is due for renewal, then you will need to follow the instructions given. If you do not renew your subscription before the expiry date, then at the DBS renewal time you will need to apply for a new DBS check and not through the Update service. This does not affect your current DBS date but it will affect the way it is renewed in future.

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Gift Aid 2025-26. Please note that envelopes for the new financial year are now available for collection in the porch. If you are a tax-payer not yet enrolled in the Parish Gift Aid scheme, we would encourage you to consider joining, as this is a most effective way of donating. We are able to claim an additional 25% on these donations at no cost to you. We have sets of envelopes available for new joiners. Please see Anne Slorak or pass your details to any of the Priests.

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Sacrament of Reconciliation. As part of our Parish activities within this special Jubilee Year, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available 15 minutes before Sunday Mass, in addition to the usual times on Saturdays. All Parishioners are encouraged to avail of this opportunity.

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Life in the Spirit Seminars. Please save the dates for the upcoming “Life in the Spirit” seminars which are being held in Brentwood Cathedral Large Hall over 6 Tuesday evenings (29th April - 3rd June). Come along to hear inspiring speakers, be filled with the Holy Spirit and travel through your own 'Holy Door' as we celebrate this Jubilee Year.  More details will follow shortly.

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Brentwood Cathedral Lenten Talks 2025. There will be a series of Lenten Talks on the power and significance of the Holy Eucharist in our lives of faith, entitled, “Those who believe, don’t leave.” These talks will take place on Wednesdays, 19/26 March and 2nd April in the Cathedral commencing at 7:30pm.

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Beginning Experience Weekend. Beginning Experience is a special residential weekend programme for widowed, separated and divorced people, helping participants with natural feelings of grief and loss.  The weekend is led by trained volunteers, who have experienced having to adjust to life as single people again. This next programme will be held on 4-6 April at the Sion Community, Essex. For further details please contact: Mary: 07730 884315, or email: BeginningExperience.SoE@gmail.com.

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Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025. Join Bishop Alan in Lourdes from Friday 18th to Friday 25th July. Support is available for those with medical needs.  For further information, please call Tangney Tours on 01732 886 666 or book online: www.tangney-tours.com/diocese-pilgrimages/diocese-brentwood

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♟️ Join Our Chess Classes! ♟️ Elite Chess Academy invites children aged 4-16 and adults to join our chess classes. It’s a great opportunity to learn chess, develop logical thinking, and have fun! 📅 Classes are held on Mondays and Saturdays. If you’re interested, please contact us: 📧 contact@elitechessacademy.co.uk 🖥️ www.elitechessacademy.co.uk 📞 07858975335

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Offertory Collection. Please help us to minimise cash handling by setting up a standing order. Forms are available in the porch. Please also consider Gift Aiding your offering if you are a taxpayer. Non-Gift Aid donations can also be made using your contactless card on the machine in the porch.

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REGISTERING AT THE PARISH: It’s always important to have details of all of our parishioners. There are Parish Registration Forms in the Porch of the Church. Please complete and return to the Presbytery.

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Please pray for the Sick members of our Parish, at home or in hospital: Theresa Anatole, David Kowalski, Sheila Miller, Mary Ponting, Jean Shaw. May they feel the presence of the Lord with them at all times.

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Visiting of the Sick. If you, or a member of your family, would like a visit, we are happy to arrange this. Please let one of our priests know.

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