Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
Dear friends in Christ
We are approaching the day when Our Lord ascended to Heaven following His Resurrection.
Dear friends in Christ
We are approaching the day when Our Lord ascended to Heaven following His Resurrection. On Thursday the Church celebrates that moment when Jesus returns to his proper place with God the Father. During this forty-day period between Easter and the Ascension, the Church asks us to keep our eyes on heaven, our final dwelling place, to which Jesus is calling us. Our Lord has promised His disciples that in a little while He would leave them but be with them forever. Jesus has kept His promise, but His presence will not end when He goes back to His Father; He remains with us, especially sacramentally in the Blessed Eucharist, which is the promise and foretaste of the eternal life to come. The thought of Heaven should help us to live detached from the things of this world and help us overcome difficult situations. We please God, and increase our happiness, when we foster the virtue of hope for things eternal. There will be times when we need this hope very much. Thoughts of Heaven should spur us on to more generous living in our daily struggle. Words are altogether inadequate for describing the life to come that God has promised His children. What we now poorly discern by revelation, and can barely imagine in our present state, will one day become a joyful reality. As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension on Thursday, we should reflect that nothing in life is more important than attaining our goal to live with God forever, and encourage those we love also, to seek the things that are eternal. I remind you that Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation which for us Catholics means that we celebrate and witness to this mystery in the life of Our Lord by attending Holy Mass.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Saturday 9th May
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
5.30pm Vigil Mass Marie Tisi, RIP (LB)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 10th May
Sixth Sunday of Easter
8am Mass Sister Mary Juliana, RIP (RM)
9.30am Mass Jim McEvoy, RIP & Mary & Arthur Leftley, RIP (FM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 11th
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
9am Mass Christine Mary Nolan, RIP (MW)
Tuesday 12th
St John Houghton, Pr, M
9am Mass Donald Craig, RIP (Anniv) (AC)
Wednesday 13th
St Erconwald, Bp; Our Lady of Fatima
9am Mass Holy Souls
Thursday 14th
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD—Holyday of Obligation
9am Mass Jim & Lillian Fegan, RIP (Anniv) (JC)
12Noon Mass Holy Souls
7pm Mass The People of the Parish
Friday 15th
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Saturday 16th May
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass Intentions of Bridget Scholastica Helen D'Cruz (AJ)
No Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament or Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Rosemary Bragard, RIP (MM)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 17th May
Seventh Sunday of Easter
8am Mass Intentions of Rosemary Mann (RM)
9.30am Mass Derek McNamara, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We pray for our sick
We pray for the sick of our parish
“Father,
by the power of your Spirit
you have filled the hearts of your faithful people
with gifts of love for one another.
Hear the prayers we offer for our relatives and friends.
Give them health of mind and body
that they may do your will with perfect love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
MARIE TISI who died on Thursday, 23rd April. Her body will be received into the church on Monday, 25th May at 6pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday, 26th May at 11.15am followed by burial at Sutton Cemetery.
Requiescat in pace
Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp burns for healing for Austin and his mum and peace in the world.
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 16 May
10:30am First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 24 May
11:30am Confirmation Mass
Sunday 7 June
4pm Corpus Christi Procession
Saturday 11 July
Flower Festival
Saturday 11 July
3pm Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life, Brentwood Cathedral
Sunday 19-Friday 24 July
Lourdes Pilgrimage
Eastertide Talks
In Eastertide the Risen Jesus opens the Scriptures to his disciples
Let Him do this for you through these inspirational talks from Brant Pitre
Monday mornings 10.30am in the Parish Centre
May 18th The Woman at the Well
June 1st, 15th & 29th, July 13th The Gospel of Matthew
Wednesdays 7.30pm in the Parish Centre
May 27th The Woman at the Well
June 24th, July 8th & 22nd The 4 Gospels
Repository
We have in stock a selection of cards and gifts for First Holy Communions and Confirmation. In addition, there are a few Mantillas available, the 3 year Missal and our usual stock of beautiful statues and Rosaries.
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 10th May from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
Seniors Exercise & Balance Class
10am Tuesdays
Parish Centre
£6
You are invited to join the Exercise & Balance Class for Seniors which is held every Tuesday morning in the Parish Centre. The class starts at 10am and lasts one hour. Exercises are done to music and each session costs £6.
Flower & Crafts Festival 2026
Saturday 11 July
We ask for your help to make the day a success. The theme this year is The Beatitudes. There are 8 beatitudes and we would like each to be represented in flower displays, art work, crafts... Please consider taking part—especially if you have not before. If you can sew, knit, embroider, paint, draw, craft, arrange flowers—then we need you!
The Festival is a way of opening ourselves up to a wide group of people of various religious persuasions—or none! Each year we host some people who have never been in a church before… This is part of our Christian witness. If you would like to take part or would like to know more, contact me by email, or find Theresa or myself in the Lady Chapel after the Family Mass on Sunday.
Jo Ronan
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—23rd May 2026
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood 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. Sacred Heart are running a coach, and the cost will be £25 per adult, children under 16 go free.
Leaving Sacred Heart Church at 7am, picking up at St John Fisher at 7:10am and Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh, at 7:25am. We expect to be back in the Southend area by 8pm. Please phone Sandy Rand 07470 820994 to book your seat. Book early to secure your place. Thank you.
MISSIO Red Boxes
If you have boxes that need emptying please give them to me personally or leave them in the Office and I will collect them. If you have not taken a Spring Missio Magazine from the back of the Church please do so.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School & Nursery
We warmly invite families to visit our wonderful school and see first-hand the engaging and supportive learning environment we provide. Arranging a visit is a great opportunity to see the school in action, meet our staff, and experience our welcoming community.
If you would like to book a tour, please contact the school office who will be happy to arrange a visit.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly-motivated class teacher to join our friendly and dedicated team. We were judged to be an an OUTSTANDING Catholic school (S48 Inspection, May 2022) and a GOOD school by Ofsted in January 2023
Our school provides a happy, calm atmosphere with delightful children, a wonderful learning environment and supportive colleagues, governors and parents. The successful candidate will need to be a strong practitioner committed to achieving high standards of pupils' learning and capable of teaching imaginatively.
They will be willing to be involved in all aspects of school life. The post would suit an experienced teacher who is either a practising Catholic or willing to support the strong Catholic ethos of our school.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.
Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. For more details please contact Mr. Parascandolo (Head Teacher) via the school office (01268 785741)
For an application form please visit the school website www.olorcps.net
Closing date: Thursday 14th May 2026 (4pm)
Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life
Bishop Alan Williams will preside at the annual Mass on Saturday, 11th July at 15.00; followed by a Reception.
If any married couples—with their family—would like to participate in this celebration, please let fr Kevin know and he will give you a formal invitation. We would like to invite especially any couples who are celebrating a significant anniversary of Marriage this year.
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Augustine Davidson, Mgr John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes, Fr James (Jim) McCormack, Michael McDermott, Cestan Szymczak, Margaret Park, May Donney, Mary Jones, Wally Hurst, Philip Wilson, Vera Sarah Fogarty, Frederick Leslie Freeman, James McEvoy, Charlotte Anderson, Robert King, Patrick O’Sullivan, Joyce Wilkinson, Iris Amner, John Lyons, Terry Cole, Mrs Constance Newton, Dorothy Kyrke-Smith, Margaret Philp, Joseph Edwards, John Smith, Eileen Rosina Hood, Gerald Clarke, Donald Craig, Mrs Winifred Craic, Francis Thomas, Roma Morgan, John Rivens, Arthur Mills, Emma Jane Hobbs, Alfred Warner, Philip Everett, Amy Ehn, Bridget Hamblion, Pauline Cousins & Jacqueline Rogers.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
In a meditation for the month of May, Saint John Henry Newman writes: Why is May chosen as the month in which we exercise a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin?
Dear friends in Christ
In a meditation for the month of May, Saint John Henry Newman writes: Why is May chosen as the month in which we exercise a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin? The first reason is because it is the time when the earth bursts forth into its fresh foliage...the blossoms are upon the trees and the flowers are in the gardens. It is because the days have got long, and the sun rises early and sets late. For such gladness and joyousness of external nature is a fit attendant on our devotion to her who is the Mystical Rose and the House of Gold. She is the first of creatures, the most acceptable child of God, the dearest and nearest to Him. It is fitting then that this month should be hers, in which we especially glory and rejoice in His great Providence to us, in our redemption and sanctification in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (From Meditations and Devotions, part 1)
We have a particular impetus for Marian Devotion in our Parish, we being dedicated to her memory at Lourdes. There are various ways that we can live this during May: remembering to visit the Grotto in our church, especially after Holy Mass; making a shrine in our homes around which we can gather and venerate her; praying part or all of the Rosary as a family or group; making a pilgrimage to one of her shrines or churches dedicated to her name; keeping on our person a reminder of her motherly presence in our lives, such as Rosary beads or a Miraculous Medal. Each Sunday throughout May we continue the custom of singing the Litany of Loretto as we process to her altar in the church. By these small gestures, we keep alive the memory of her whom God chose from all eternity to be His Mother, the Mother of the Saviour and Mother of the Church.
Friday will be the first anniversary of the election of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. This is a day for us to thank God for his gift to the Church. Many of us will have seen the recent images of his Apostolic Journey to Africa and the joy with which he was received, and the optimism he brought to those countries. May he continue, as he has begun, giving us confidence in our Catholic Faith, and making the face of the Catholic Church appear credible and attractive.
May God and His Blessed Mother protect us, especially in this month of May!
Msgr Kevin Hale