Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Jesus came upon earth to relieve our burdens by taking them upon Himself.
Dear friends in Christ
Jesus came upon earth to relieve our burdens by taking them upon Himself. Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Close to Jesus any difficulty will be easier. Problems will not disappear, but close to Him, and united in His Heart, we experience a way of being that makes the crosses of life somehow lighter and even joyful. Jesus still bears upon Himself the weight of our sorrows. The Gospels give us constant examples of His concern for all men, women and children. He raises the dead, cures the blind, the lepers, the dumb, and frees those possessed by the Evil One. At times He does not even wait for people to be brought to Him, but offers to go and heal them. Even at the moment of His death He shows concern for the people around Him. We can imitate Our Lord in small ways by avoiding whatever gives pain to others; by not causing them unnecessary anxiety, and not adding to the burdens of others with our own self-preoccupation. As disciples of Jesus, our task is always to look-out for ways that we can alleviate the burdens of others, create a lightness of touch in our approach to difficulties and always seek to raise up, rather than bring down.
We have all seen the scenes, and been shock by, the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela: thousands dead and many more thousands still missing, and all those who have lost their homes and possessions. As we pray for them, we can also offer our practical charity; one of the best and simplest ways to donate is through the website of Aid to the Church in Need God, and our brothers and sister, are never outdone in charity.
Please pray for the Reverend Andrei Ilies who is ordained priest this Saturday morning in Brentwood Cathedral. Further down in the Newsletter you will find the recent Appointments of Clergy which take effect from the first weekend in September. May God bless all our Priests and Religious as they endeavour to be Christ to others, relieve their burdens and bring souls to Heaven!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 4th July
St Elizabeth of Portugal
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 5th July
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Intentions of Ann Craig (AC)
11.30am Mass Paolo Selci, RIP (Anniv) (MS)
4.00pm Paul Hiscock, RIP (CB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
6.30pm Body in Church Kitty Lydon
Monday 6th
St Maria Goretti, V, M
9am Mass Dec'd Parents, brothers & sisters of Canon Gilbert (FM)
1.30pm Requiem Mass Kitty Lydon
Tuesday 7th
Feria of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Intentions of Fr Kevin (IS)
Wednesday 8th July
Feria of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Alison Shepherd, RIP (Anniv) (CH)
Thursday 9th
St Augustine Zhao Rong and his Comps, Mm
9am Mass Mike Worsley, RIP (LL)
Friday 10th
Feria of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
12Noon Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (MR)
Saturday 11th July
St Benedict, Ab
10am Mass Martin McSharry, RIP (RC)
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 12th July
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Kitty Lydon, RIP (IS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Patrick Carthy, Canon Thomas Barrett, Fr Peter Brady, Canon Francis Gilbert, Fr Walter Walsh, Miriam Jackson, Kathleen Ford, Gertrude Bridges, Elsie Asher, Edmund Gdembiewski, Ann Frances Littlewood, Marie Louise Clements, Alfred Johnson, Jennifer Lyons, Joseph Bond, Dorothy Blaker, Ronald Albert Conner, Niqui Denkmayer, Brian Finnigan, Dorothy Burder, Susan Hayes, Alison Shepherd, Elizabeth (Lily) Dean, Mary Kennedy, Maurice Mulcahy, Benita Skellon, George King, Margaret Smith, Patricia Cavanagh, Ted Wilson, John Hardy, Paddy Shanahan, William O’Neill, Selwyn Lewis, Its McCullough, Ian Spacie, Joan Kendall, Felix Keenn, Annie Harriet Briggs, Maria Chadian & David Dilley.
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 Deceased relatives of the Baker & Severi Families.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
MIKE WORSLEY, formerly of this Parish, who died on Wednesday, 10th June. His Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 13th July at 10.45am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
CATHERINE (KITTY) LYDON who died on Friday, 19th June. Her body will be received into the church on Sunday, 5th July at 6.30pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 6th July at 1.30pm followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
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.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 11 July
Flower Festival
Saturday 11 July
3pm Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life, Brentwood Cathedral
Wednesday 15 July
9.30am OLOL Leavers Mass
Sunday 19-Friday 24 July
Lourdes Pilgrimage
Clergy Appointments
CLERGY APPOINTMENTS which will take effect on the weekend of 5/6 September 2026:
PARISH PRIESTS
Fr Paschal Uche From Assistant, Grays to Canvey Island.
Including Pastoral Care for Southend Hospital
From Assistant, Chelmsford to Braintree
Fr Michael Barwick
Fr Jude Kurumeh CSSp From Assistant, Hornchurch St Mary to East Ham as Parochial Administrator
ASSISTANT PRIESTS
Fr Shajin Jose Anthony From Walthamstow, Our Lady & St George to Chelmsford Parishes [Our Lady Immaculate, Holy Name, St Augustine of Canterbury
Fr János Csicso From the Hungarian Chaplaincy to Chelmsford Parishes
Fr Andrei Ilies Newly ordained to Walthamstow Our Lady and St George
Fr Joseph Soosai Marie From sabbatical to Hornchurch St Mary
CHAPLAIN TO THE MARILLAC
Father Eamonn Power has been appointed as the Chaplain to the Marillac Hospital and will reside on site in the Chaplain’s Lodge
Canon Bob Hamill retires as Parish Priest of East Ham.
Certificates of Catholic Practice
Please note Fr Kevin will be issuing Certificates of Catholic Practice in September/October.
Flower & Crafts Festival 2026
Saturday 11 July
It is getting closer..... Thank you to all those parishioners who have already volunteered to take part. To make the day a success we now need to make sure that we encourage friends and neighbours to visit on 11th July. Some people are very nervous of entering a church and need an invitation to do so. Please try to be pro-active in advertising the event and of course make sure that you visit yourself.
On the day we will need people in the church to welcome visitors and also we need donations of cakes and biscuits to serve as refreshments in the Parish Centre. Cake makers we need you! These can be dropped off on Friday morning 10th July or on Saturday morning itself.
This is our chance to open up our wonderful church to our local community, to let people explore what it means to be a Christian. Our theme this year of The Beatitudes can be seen as a handbook for our Christian life.
Jo Ronan
Talks on the Gospels
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
July 13th The Gospel of Matthew
Wednesdays 7.30pm in the Parish Centre
July 8th & 22nd The Four Gospels
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 on 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. Tickets at £5 will go on sale in early July 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 appreciated- thank you! Tickets will be made available at the Parish office as usual. Contact Darrell Binding mobile 07825686249
Repository News
Please feel free to come and browse our stock of religious items. We have a few copies of the 3 year Missal, plus a small selection of books for your spiritual reading. Our large selection of cards includes those special Wedding Anniversaries, Baptisms, Get Well etc.
Please ask one of the volunteers for help if you do not see what you are looking for.
St John Bosco Children’s Camp—Summer 2026
Children’s Summer Camp places are filling fast! Applications are open for children currently in school year 5 – 7 (i.e. aged 9-12 in August 2026) to spend a week at camp. 25th July – 1st August or 1st – 8th August. Activities include archery, fishing, AquaPark visit, football, kayaking and much more. The camp is especially for children who may not otherwise have a summer holiday. Suggested donation £200, but full bursaries are available. All application details and full information are at www.boscocamp.co.uk. Places are going quickly – you are encouraged to apply this week.
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.
Food Donations
Please add any donations to the SVP box in the Repository. DRY GOODS only please, hygiene items also welcomed.
Dani Cauchi, who leads the St. Vincents center in Southend gave a talk recently explaining the SVP Centre are able to offer a discounted food market service, for those in need. Any contribution is appreciated. Thank you.
Sallie Pollock SVP @ OLOL
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 6th July from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
St Bernard’s High School
Open Evening for Year 5 Students (Starting Year 7 in September 2027)
Thursday 9 July 2026 5.30pm to 8.30pm
We would be delighted to welcome Year 5 girls and their parents/carers to our Open Evening. This is an evening for girls wishing to join Year 7 in September 2027.