Seventh Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
During these days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, the Church invokes the Holy Spirit to reinvigorate the face of the earth.
Dear friends in Christ
During these days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, the Church invokes the Holy Spirit to reinvigorate the face of the earth. We are deeply in need of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of the Church. His healing and revivifying presence gives balm to our lives and the life of our world. There is so much to implore the Holy Spirit for in these days, we should never be lost for what to ask Him for. As Jesus has returned to the Father, He has promised us the Holy Spirit so that we will never feel abandoned or orphaned. In these days leading to Pentecost we pray: Veni, Sancte Spiritus…Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful...and renew the face of the earth!
This is typically the time of year for celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation, especially Confirmations and First Holy Communions that occur over these two weekends. I ask you to pray for our young people who will receive these Sacraments within our Parish Family. May the Holy Spirit inspire them to be good witnesses of the Faith, now, and in the years to come.
As the Apostles—the nascent Church—gathered around Mary in these days leading to Pentecost, may she be a good Mother to all those who seek to draw closer to her Son in the Church and, as the Spouse of God the Spirit, may she inspire us to be steadfast in faith, hope and charity.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Seventh Sunday of Easter Liturgy
Readings of Year A
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Ascension
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Saturday 16th May
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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
Monday 18th
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
9am Mass Emily Elizabeth March, RIP (FM)
Tuesday 19th
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
9am Mass Vivien Clancy, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
Wednesday 20th
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
9am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (IS)
Thursday 21st
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
9am Mass Samuel & Johanna Beech, RIP (JC)
Friday 22nd
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
12Noon Mass Intentions of Tom & Hannah McGregor (SD)
Saturday 23rd May
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
10am Mass Intentions of Bridget Scholastica Helen D'Cruz (AJ)
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Denis Murphy, RIP (KP)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 24th May
PENTECOST
8am Mass Intentions of Brett Mackay (SD)
9.30am Mass Andrzej Sasiadek, RIP (TS)
11.30am Confirmation 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
Fr John William Hayes, Fr Paul Dynan, Canon Thomas Clarke, Canon Michael Fitzpatrick, Fr Brendan Sheppard, Mgr Canon William O’Grady, Pope Francis, Fr Henry Peace, Florence West, Ellen O’Leary, Agnes Theresa Brady, Edward Petronius, Michael Jones, Charles Cutter, William Ross, Eric Jeffries, Lily Mead, Michael McNamara, John Kelly, Richard William Walker, Vivien Clancy, Dorothy Mansell, Anne Perkins, Robert Gammon, Zoe Conroy, Joseph Dray, Brian Webb, Mrs Gertrude Caden, Henry James Herbert, Christopher Buckingham, Eileen Hart, Murray Grant-Browning, Minnie Rowland, Derrick Amner, Cliff Falkus, Andrzej Sasiadek & Margaret Maxfield.
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 Chioma, her conversion and salvation and for her family.
Dates for your Diary
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
Wednesday 15 July
9.30am OLOL Leavers Mass
Sunday 19-Friday 24 July
Lourdes Pilgrimage
Online Donations
Thank you for bearing with us through the renovations to the website. Hopefully you are finding the current offering helpful and informative. Now we are finished, we can offer recurring donations online. Please consider this as the new form of the offertory collection.
If you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid permission gives us an extra 25p on every £1 you give. If you are a higher rate tax payer, you claim the rest of your tax paid on your donations made with Gift Aid. So a donation of £4 becomes £5 for the parish, but only costs you £3! If you make an account on our website, you have control of your payments, and can track your total donations for the tax year. You should include your Donations on your tax return, giving you your tax rebate. Gift Aid is a government incentive for donating to charities: please take advantage of it! Increase the amount you give at no cost to you, and—if you unfortunately find yourself in a higher tax bracket—then your giving will also give you some cash back
Collecting and processing the offertory plate takes the time of many volunteers. If you can switch to online donations, this burden could be eased. You can make recurring donations on our website. This is a new way to make your offertory donation and you can modify or cancel at any time. We hope you will find this easier.
Thank you for your continued generosity which helps our Parish function effectively.
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 on Thursday 21st May in the Parish Centre for a prompt start at 10am. Subs are £1 plus a fun Raffle and all ladies in the are Parish welcome. Next week we are having a photo Quiz with all you Ladies bringing a photo of yourself in childhood ie from toddler to young teen. We hope the morning will be fun and the system of choosing who's who will be explained on arrival, so don't be shy in adding to our ‘Portrait Gallery’.( all photos will be returned) Plus we will be having our usual Raffle and refreshments.
Repository
We have a small collection of gifts and cards for those young people being Confirmed this month. We also have a good selection of cards covering most events including those Special Wedding Anniversaries, and our usual Rosaries and beautiful statues. Please feel free to browse or ask one of the Volunteers to help if you can't find what you are looking for.
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.
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.
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
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 18th May from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
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.
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.