Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The shorter form of this Sunday's Gospel are two of the shortest Parables Jesus told.
Dear friends in Christ
The shorter form of this Sunday's Gospel are two of the shortest Parables Jesus told. For the early Saints, the treasure and the pearl ultimately point to one reality: Christ Himself and the Kingdom of God. Once a person truly discovers Him, everything else finds its proper place. The man in the parable sells all he has—not reluctantly, but in his joy—because he has found something of infinitely greater value.
St. John Chrysostom observed that the treasure is hidden because the glory of the Gospel is not immediately obvious. Like treasure buried beneath the earth, Christ's riches are discovered by those willing to look beneath the surface. He also noted the beautiful contrast between the two parables: one man unexpectedly stumbles upon the treasure, while the merchant spends his life searching for the perfect pearl. God calls people in different ways—some are surprised by grace, while others find Christ after a long spiritual journey.
Origen saw another layer of meaning. He taught that the "field" can represent the Scriptures, within which the treasures of God's wisdom are hidden. The more we pray and study, the more we uncover the riches that God has placed there. The pearl of great price, he says, is Christ Himself—the fullness of truth that surpasses every other treasure.
St. Augustine reminds us that many people walk over the field without ever seeing the treasure beneath their feet. Faith opens our eyes to what the world cannot see. To "sell everything" is not simply to give away possessions but to reorder our hearts, placing God above every earthly attachment. These ancient reflections offer a timely challenge. In a world that constantly tells us to accumulate more, Jesus invites us to ask a different question: What is truly worth everything? The Fathers answer with one voice: Christ. Every sacrifice made for Him is not ultimately a loss but an exchange for a treasure that can never fade. May we never stop seeking the pearl of great price, and may we have the wisdom—and the joy—to recognise the treasure when we find it.
We have just returned from our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes on Friday evening. Thanks be to God for the graces received—seen and unseen—during those days, and I assure you that the spiritual and material needs of the Parish Family were uppermost in our intentions. God bless you as we enter the holiday period, and may those of you travelling enjoy good rest and relaxation!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 6
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 25th July
St James, Ap
5.30pm Vigil Mass People of the Parish
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 26th July
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass Intentions of Sue Maxfield (JL)
9.30am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (CB)
11.30am Mass Tom Hayden, RIP (Lambert family)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 27th
Feria of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Intentions of Sue Hibbert (MS)
Tuesday 28th
Feria of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Holy Souls
4.30pm Body in Church Brian Crawley, RIP
Wednesday 29th
Ss Martha, Mary & Lazarus
9am Mass Intentions of Lambert Family ( Ruth’s Anniv) (PL)
11am Requiem Mass Brian Crawley, RIP
Thursday 30th
St Peter Chrysologus, Bp, D
9am Mass Msgr Gordon Read—50 years of Ordination (M&JC)
Friday 31st
St Ignatius of Loyola, Pr
12Noon Mass Canon Francis Gilbert, RIP (FM)
Saturday 1st August
St Alphonsus Mary de’ Liguori, Bp, D
10am Mass Holy Souls
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Fidelis & Lourdesmary Pallis, RIP (DL)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 2nd August
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Holy Souls
11.30am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (NB)
4pm Mass Holy Souls
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Harding, Fr Bernard (Brian) McGilloway, Fr Michael O’Sullivan, Daisy Houlihan, Frederick James Hardy, Mrs Pearce, David Bavin, Margaret Hughes, Bertha Dokk-Olsen, Emma Alexander, Anne Owen, Mirren Button, Dorothy Pogue, Basil Hall, Ruth Lambert,Rrory Forge, Richard Wallner, Leo Frances Ring, Paul Swann, Irene (Molly) Kerry, Irene Hall, Caroline Richards, Patricia Mansfield, Mary Ellen Fiddes, Eleanor Lawson, Sylvia Gosling, Ethel Warwick, Olive Scott-Hansen, Winifred Bailey, Bernard Martin, Frances Murray & Teresa Fitzgerald.
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.”
Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of the Sullens, Keable, Piscina & Pearce Families.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
BRIAN CRAWLEY who died on Saturday, 6th June. His Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 29th July at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescat in pace
Repository News
Would Parishioners please note that after this weekend, 25th/26th July, the Repository will be closed until September. Mass cards will be available from the Parish Office on weekday mornings only during this period.
Certificates of Catholic Practice
Please note Fr Kevin will be issuing Certificates of Catholic Practice in September/October.
Sea of Voices Anniversary Summer Concert
This year marks the tenth anniversary of our Sea of Voices community choir and we’ll be holding our Summer concert this Sunday 26th July at 3pm in the parish centre. All funds raised will go towards the purchase of a new electric piano organ for use in the church and by the choir in the parish centre, so please mark the date in your calendars now!
Any help towards the concert e.g. teas and coffees and donations of raffle prizes would be very much appreciated- thank you! Contact Darrell Binding mobile 07825686249.
First Holy Communion 2027
If your child is going into Year 3 or above and you wish for them to make their First Holy Communion in May 2027, please submit the application by Friday 4th September.
This should be done via the parish website, under Sacraments - Communion
(https://lourdesleigh.org/sacraments)
We will be in touch after this date to confirm preparatory sessions for the children. Please note that these take place on a Saturday (once a month) at 4pm-5:15pm.
Latest Assisted Suicide Bill
The fight against assisted suicide is entering a critical phase. If you haven’t already written to your MP asking them to vote against the bill being introduced in Parliament proposing a change in the law to permit assisted suicide, but would like to, the Right to Life website asks your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. If you click on this, you will be asked for your postcode and a letter is automatically generated to your MP. It takes about 30 seconds.
Seniors Exercise & Balance Class
The Seniors Exercise & Balance class has closed for the Summer and will re-open on Tuesday, 1st September. All welcome.
Flower Festival
Thank you again to all who took part in the Flower Festival.
£327.09 cash donations for HARP were made on the day. Any electronic donations on the day will be added.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday, Jesus warns us of allowing pernicious weeds to grow among the good wheat in our lives.
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday, Jesus warns us of allowing pernicious weeds to grow among the good wheat in our lives. The weed of which He speaks was widespread in the Middle East, resembling wheat and difficult to distinguish. The Fathers of the Church have understood this to be an allegory for false teaching, which is not easy to distinguish from the truth, above all at the beginning; but if error is allowed to flourish it always has catastrophic effects on the souls of God’s faithful. This may resonate with us still today. So, the lesson is clear: we need to shape our lives, our hearts and our consciences with the truth of the Gospel and the unerring teaching of the Church, especially in matters of faith and morals. We read the Word of God, we study the Catechism, we seek guidance, in order to see the world through the lens of God’s providence. To live as God’s children in this world, it is necessary that we use all of the means to ensure our sound formation in matters of faith and doctrine. Let’s use the means at our disposal, and look in the correct places, to ensure that we never allow the seeds of dissension and error to take any root in our lives.
This weekend our Diocesan Pilgrimage departs for Lourdes. I will be joining them this week with a group from our area as well as a group of our young adults. We all assure you that we hold the Parish Family very much in our thoughts and prayers during these days, especially the sick and elderly, those suffering and alone and those in any particular need at this time. I will offer the Mass we celebrate at the Grotto for all your intentions. May Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette grant us a safe journey there and back!
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 18th July
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 19th July
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass Intentions of Blake Mackay (SD)
9.30am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (ML)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 20th
St Apollinaris, Bp,M
9am Mass Intentions of Maura Irwin (PL)
Tuesday 21st
St Laurence of Brindisi, Pr, D
9am Mass Holy Souls (ML)
Wednesday 22nd
St Mary Magdalene
9am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (LW)
Thursday 23rd
St Bridget of Sweden, Rel,
9am Mass Ann Widdecombe, RIP (IS)
Friday 24th
St Charbel Makhlouf, Pr
12Noon Mass Victims of the Venezuela Earthquake (IS)
Saturday 25th July
St James, Ap
10am Mass Holy Souls
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass People of the Parish
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 26th July
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass Intentions of Sue Maxfield (JL)
9.30am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (CB)
11.30am Mass Holy Souls
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Edmund Dobson, Fr Patrick Taylor, Deacon David Balmer, Fr John Boardman, Fr Michael Hannan, Fr Dermot Moore, Fr James Cooney, Fr James McEvoy, Fr Godfrey Anstruther OP, Fr John Hones, Bill Prior, Margaret May Orme, David Finnigan, Reginald Copley, Caroline Hardy, Kathleen Butt, Jane Bickmore, Charles fletcher, Jane Mawdsley, Alice collins, Aislinn Lane, Elsie Witty, Irene Huggett, Frank McEvoy, Pamela Johnson, Francis Howard Kenney, Geraldine Hayter, Joan Farmer, Winifred Martin, Marian Bukowski, Leonard Betts, Arthur Koch, William Rhodes, David Hall, Eva Bartley, Silvester Smolarczyk, Marie Ann Brand, Anthony Downey, John Maguire, Stefan Nowacki, John O’Brien, Gertrude Mortelman & Carmina Czogalik.
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.”