Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Dear friends in Christ
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Our Lord tells us the parable of the talents.
Dear friends in Christ
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Our Lord tells us the parable of the talents. A man going on a journey entrusts his property to his servants, giving to each according to his ability. Two of them put their talents to good use and doubled what they have received, while the third, out of fear, buried his talent in the ground. When the master returns, he praises those who have been faithful: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.
There is something deeply challenging about this parable. It reminds us that everything we have is ultimately a gift from God: our faith, our abilities, our opportunities, our time and even the circumstances of our lives. We are not owners but stewards of these gifts, and one day we shall be asked how we have used them. It is tempting to think that we have little to offer, that our contribution is insignificant, or that the gifts God has given us are not as great as those of others. But the Lord does not ask us to compare ourselves with our neighbour. He asks us to be faithful with what we have received. The tragedy of the third servant was not that he had been given less, but that he had done nothing with what he had been given. The Christian life is not about burying our faith, keeping it safely hidden away, or allowing it to become something that belongs only to Sunday. It is about putting our faith into practice: through prayer, generosity, kindness, forgiveness and service to others. We are called to make the love of Christ visible in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives.
Next Sunday we shall celebrate the great Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It is also National Youth Sunday, when we are invited to pray particularly for our young people and to encourage them to discover the gifts and talents God has entrusted to them. Christ the King calls each of us, young and old alike, to give Him first place in our lives. May our young people have the courage to recognise that they have something precious to offer the Church and the world, and may we, by our example and encouragement, help them to put those gifts at the service of Christ.
I would also like to remind everyone that our Forty Hours' Devotion is approaching at the end of this month. This beautiful period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is an opportunity for our parish to come together in adoration, thanksgiving and intercession. In the presence of Our Eucharistic Lord, we are reminded that the greatest gift entrusted to us is the gift of His own life. Let us make every effort to spend some time with Him, bringing before Him our families, our young people, our parish and all those in need of His grace. You might like to begin signing the lists at the back of the church for Watching during those days and to offer a candle which can be had from the Sacristy.
The parable of the talents leaves us with a question worth pondering: when the Lord comes to ask what we have done with the gifts He has given us, will we have something to show Him? May we never be content simply to bury our faith, but rather seek each day to make it grow, so that one day we may hear those wonderful words: Well done, good and faithful servant. God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 14th November
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 15th November
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (SD)
9.30am Mass Dec'd Relatives of the Wall & Rockell Families (LW)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Pete & Erin Underwood (Lambert Family)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 16th
St Edmund of Canterbury
9am Mass Maureen Ward (90th birthday) (RO’C)
Tuesday 17th
St Eizabeth of Hungary, Rel
9am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (Anniv) (IS)
Wednesday 18th
Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter and Paul, App
9am Mass Moira Rice, RIP (RC)
Thursday 19th
Feria of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Dec'd Parents, brothers & sisters of Canon Gilbert (FM)
Friday 20th
Feria of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
12Noon Mass Jacqueline Hall (RIP) (L&KW)
Saturday 21st November
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
10am Mass Intentions of Luke McGregor (MC)
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Maria Keen, RIP (DL)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 22nd November
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Holy Souls
11.30am Mass Susan Griffin, RIP (UO’K)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr James Allis, Fr Richard (Dick) Ashton, Fr John Harden, Fr James Linburgh, Fr Edwin Sheehan, OFM, Louisa Hurst, Sydney Pullen, Myriad Hubbard, Mary Capon, John Cousins, Ethel Donnison, Luciana Garuti, Edna Hutchings, Edith McCourt, Kathleen Macauley, Mrs Alice Kelly Jack Hosmer, Florrie Peck, Charlotte Roberts, Bert Russell, Maureen Deeks, John Cheswick, George Livermore, Celia Ashley, Marcia Clarke, James Rourke, Agnes Fitzgibbons, Emily Hariet-Upcroft, Boleslaw (Charlie) Czogauk, Peggy Ingham, Finbar Hayes, Ada Mundy, Brian Slattery, Josephine Phelps, Paul Pearman, William Shanahan, Rene Bragard, Victor Gubbins, Anne, Jordan & Patricia Breslin.
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 Wall, Rockell & Upton Families.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
MARY SAUNDERS, RIP who died on Wednesday, 21st October. Her body will be received into the Church on Sunday, 22nd November at 6.15pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 23rd November at 10am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
MONSIGNOR WILLIAM NIX, RIP who died on 4th November. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated in Brentwood Cathedral on Friday, 20th November at 12.15pm.
JANE ALLARD, RIP who died on Monday, 2nd November. Her body will be received into the Church on Sunday, 29th November at 6.15pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 30th November at 10am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Sunday, 22nd November—Christmas Bazaar 8.30am—1pm
Thursday 26th-Saturday 28th November—Forty Hours’ prayer
Sunday 29th November— Inauguration of Advent, Brentwood Cathderal—4pm
Sea of Voices Annual Christmas Concert—3pm
Friday, 18th December—Annual Carol Service—7pm
Saturday, 8th May—First Holy Communion Mass—10.30am
Sunday, 16th May—Confirmation Mass—11.30am
Sunday 30th May—Corpus Christi Procession—4pm
Invitation to a Mass of Thanksgiving
All parishioners from across the diocese are warmly invited to attend a Mass of Thanksgiving to be Celebrated by Bishop Timothy Menezes following his appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood. Join us as we gather in prayer and thanksgiving to welcome our new Bishop and seek God's blessing upon his ministry. All are welcome.
Masses will be celebrated in three locations:
Tuesday 8th December: 11:00 a.m—Cathedral Church of St Mary & St Helen, Ingrave Road, Brentwood CM15 8AT
Tuesday 8th December: 7:30 p.m—St Antony of Padua Church, St Antony’s Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9QB
Wednesday 9th December: 7:00 p.m - St James the Less and St Helen Church, Priory Street, Colchester CO1 2QB
CHAPTER OF CANONS MASS will take place in the Cathedral Church of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood on Monday, 14th December at 10.30am Celebrated by Bishop Timothy Menezes. All are very welcome to attend.
In the New Year there will be an opportunity for each deanery to welcome Bishop Timothy.
Why we believe
Our next session asks "Why confess to a priest?"
Most of us will have been asked this at some time - and may have asked it ourselves, too. Once again Brant Pitre helps us increase our understanding & appreciation of this healing sacrament. It doesn't matter if you've missed our other meetings, why not come along on Monday 16th November at 10.30am & Wednesday 25th November at 7.30pm, in the Parish Centre.
Journey in Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday 16th November at 7.30pm and is specifically for those who are not Catholics but who are enquiring with a view to finding out more about the Catholic Faith and Reception into the Church. These evenings are held in the Parish Centre and last for one hour. Names may be given in advance to Father Kevin or to the Parish Office.
Those interested in reading or learning more before the course begins may wish to purchase a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from the Catholic Truth Society, or listen to The Catechism in a Year podcast with Fr Mike Schmitz.
Lenten Retreat Day
Looking ahead to next year, some of us are planning a Retreat Day on a Saturday in Lent—at either St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough or Clare Priory.
If you would be interested please let Heather Ward know—tel 07885 737393 (my phone is temperamental, so be ready to leave a voicemail!); heatherward55@gmail.com
Sea of Voices Annual Christmas Concert
Tickets for our Christmas Concert on Sunday 29th November, 3pm at the Parish Centre, are now available from the Parish office at £5 each. All funds raised will go to the choir’s piano organ fund and the new instrument will be used for both choir and Church purpose. Donations for the concert raffle will be gratefully received.
Darrell Binding - contact seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com or on mobile 07825686249 to enquire about tickets, etc.
Sent from my iPad
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 22nd November, 8.30am - 1.00pm
We’re getting ready for our Parish Christmas Bazaar, and we need your help to make it a wonderful success! This year the Bazaar will be on Sunday 22nd November, running all morning from 8.30am until 1pm. Put the date in your diary and come along for breakfast and a little shopping too!
If you are free to offer an hour or two on the day, please call or message Sue on 07816 141492.
Draw tickets are now available at the back of the Church after all Masses, to be completed & returned to the Parish Office with payment as soon as possible please.
Donations Needed for Our Parish Christmas Bazaar
Alll donations are most welcome but we’re especially looking for donations of:
Unwanted bottles of alcohol – perfect for our bottle tombola and raffle prizes.
Unwanted jewellery – costume or fine, to add sparkle to our jewellery stall.
Unwanted toiletries – always popular on our “Smellies” stall!
If you have any of these items tucked away at home, please consider donating them to support the Parish.
Donations can be left in the old Baptistry. If you need us to collect, (locally), just give us a call
Sue 07816 141492 Angela 07940 183452
Every contribution helps – and together, we can make this year’s Bazaar the best yet!
Thank you for your generosity and continued support.
MISSIO RED BOX
Thank you to all who donated to the World Mission Sunday Appeal. If anyone has a box needing to be emptied please give it to me personally or leave in the office for me to collect.
Please let me have any boxes by Sunday 22nd November 2026.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505.
St Bernard’s High School Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 3 December 2026—6.30pm to 8.30pm
We would be delighted to welcome to our Open Evening prospective Year 12 students who are interested in joining St Bernard’s High School’s Sixth Form in September 2027. We welcome applications to our mixed Sixth Form from students of all faiths and none, who meet our entrance requirements and are seeking a school with a Christian ethos.
www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk - Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 16th November 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.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School Vacancy
Inclusion Lead (SENDCo)—MPR/UPR + TLR2 | Full Time | Permanent | Start ASAP
Our Catholic primary school, part of the Assisi Catholic Trust, is seeking an experienced SENDCo to join our leadership team. You will lead and develop high-quality SEND provision, ensuring ambitious outcomes for all pupils in line with statutory guidance.
Essential:
Successful SENDCo experience
NASENCo (or willingness to complete)
Strong knowledge of inclusive practice
Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. To arrange a visit or an informal conversation with the Headteacher, please contact the school office.
For further details and an application form, please visit the school website: www.olorcps.net or the Essex Jobscene advert
OLOL Ladies Group
We meet on Thursday 19th November from 9.30 for a 10am prompt start. This week we have the welcome return of our friend Reg who has previously presented films about the history of Southend. This time he will be showing us some very interesting films about "Essex in the 1950's" which includes a little bit of Southend. All ladies in the Parish are welcome to attend with subs at just £1 plus a Raffle and refreshments.