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
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Saturday 2nd May
St Athanasius, Bp, D
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 3rd May
Fifth Sunday of Easter
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Neuza Sousa, RIP (Anniv) (DS)
11.30am Mass Cathy Sanders, RIP (Anniv) (RS)
4pm Mass Holy Souls
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 4th
The English Martyrs, Mm
10am Mass David Lesley, RIP (JW)
Tuesday 5th
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
9am Mass Valerie Quinn, RIP (Anniv) (TQ)
Wednesday 6th
St John Payne, Pr, M
9am Mass Gerald Callistan, RIP (AL)
Thursday 7th
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
9am Mass In Thanksgiving (IS)
Friday 8th
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
12Noon Mass Julian & Gertrude Fernando, RIP (AF)
Saturday 9th May
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
10am Intentions of Bridget Scholastica Helen D'Cruz (AJ)
10.30am—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
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
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.”
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Thomas Norris, Fr Feargus Saurin, Fr Andrew Dorricott, Canon Patrick Palmer, Canon Basil Booker, Fr John O’Callaghan, Canon Brian Grady, Canon John Duckett, Sarah Jane Coyne, Ronald Owen Turner, Wilhelmina Chalk, Leslie Porter, Anita Dawson, David McCluskey, Sybil Figueredo, Elizabeth McCarthy, John Brown, Petronella Jennett, Mary Delong, Arthur Leftley, Bertha Nesnas, Catherine Sanders, Mary Hardie, Mabel Salter, Dorothy Hosmer, Denys Hale, Charles McLaughlin, Fred Parsons, Arthur Chadwick, Anthony Camelo, John Cooper, Patrick Shanahan, Peggy Choppin & Mary Donovan.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
MARIE TISI who died on Thursday, 23rd April. Funeral details to follow.
Requiescat in pace
Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp burns for Uju, her conversion and salvation of her soul, her person and her intentions.
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
11 July
Flower Festival
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
OLOL Ladies Group
We meet next on Thursday 7th May. We are very fortunate to have a guest speaker, Mr Reg Wells, who will be presenting an old film of Southend.
NB: LADIES ARE ASKED TO BE VERY PROMPT AS THE FILM STARTS AT 10AM AND LASTS FOR APPROX 1 HOUR.
Please note that refreshments will not be served whilst the film is showing. We are looking forward to a very enjoyable and interesting morning.
As usual new members are welcome to attend and subs just £1. We have a fun Raffle and gifts are becoming more urgent please, so many thanks in anticipation of your donation.
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.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
In 1964, Saint Pope Paul VI, launched Vocations Sunday, which since then we celebrate on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also called Good Shepherd Sunday.
Dear friends in Christ
In 1964, Saint Pope Paul VI initiated Vocations Sunday, which since then we celebrate on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also called Good Shepherd Sunday. As Catholics and the People of God, we all know that God is calling us and has a plan for each of us. He called each of us by name through our Baptism to holiness. He continues to call and reach out to us each day to be his disciples, some to the married life, some to the priesthood, some to religious life or to life as faithful single people. Everybody is called to something great and noble. Along with the whole Church, let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life today. Let us take time to stir the hearts and minds of the people around us to think about their future vocation. The Church constantly invites us to talk and encourage children, young people, grandchildren, students, family members to respond generously to the calling of the Lord. We need good married couples and robust family life. We also need priests who will minster to us and bring us the grace of God in the Sacraments. What can we practically do as ordinary Catholics? I could suggest that we be more generous in the way we pray and encourage our young people in their path of life. Would you consider offering a Rosary once a week for vocations? Offer your Holy Mass once a month for this intention. Make a Holy Hour specifically imploring the Lord of the Harvest for more dedicated priests and nuns. Encourage a young person you might perceive who has a vocation, to offer themselves generously to His service. Above all, let us live fidelity to the vocation that God has given each one of us, in spite of the crosses, trials and disappointments of life. God needs faithful men and women who will witness to the Gospel and the truths of our Catholic Faith. May Christ the True and Good Shepherd, lead us along the ways of goodness and continue to nourish us at the fountains of eternal life.
God bless you and help us persevere in our individual and unique call to holiness!
Msgr Kevin Hale