Money Matters
Offertory: Thank you for the generous offerings received last weekend, which amounted to £1,610.14
Counters are Linda Wall, Sheila West & Mary Kennedy.
Newsletter Folders are Angie Martin & Joseph Martin.
Knights of St Columba
The Knights would like to say thanks for the support received by the parish over the last year, and to show this, a supply of ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ envelope stickers provided free by the Knights of St Columba are available for parishioners to take home to be put onto the front of Christmas card envelopes. Please take some home to be used for your Christmas card postings.
HARP
Thank you very much for your generous donations of tinned and dried foods, fresh fruit, sleeping bags, duvets and other bedding items. These have helped us to provide meals and assistance to the rough sleepers in Southend.
This month’s wish list is: Small cartons of drink, crisps, individually wrapped cakes and biscuits, fresh fruit, all of which are used in our night packs for the rough sleepers. We also urgently need: hats, gloves, scarves, body warmers, jeans and trousers for men.
Forty Hours’ Prayer
Watching lists are at the back of the church; please be generous with your time. Candles in memory of our dear departed family & friends, which will be placed on the altar during the Forty Hours’ exposition, are available to purchase from the Repository or from the Parish Office during weekday mornings (donation £5), they will then be used in the Sanctuary lamp throughout the year.
Serving the Homeless
The Committee of Serving the Homeless wish to thank the person who generously left a donation for their work in the Parish Office.
St Thomas More High School Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 20th November 6.00 to 9.00 pm
For families who have pupils - boys and girls - in year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2015. Come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students. There will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.
Deanery Mass for Deceased Clergy
This will be a concelebrated Mass this coming Wednesday (12th) at noon in the Chapel of Nazareth House.
We pray for the departed on their anniversaries
Canon Denis Petry, Fr Terence Howes, Fr James Allis, Fr James Ethrington, Francis Whelan, Dorothy Stuart, Sydney Hamblon, Thomas Horner, Dr Gerry Leyden, Marie Daniels, Sidney Hampstead, Pearl Scaife, Lucy Tombleson, Joan Lucey, Donald Galvin, eileen Stanshall, Anne Britt, Joan Read, Albert Rogers, Janet Conway, John Owen, John Cavanagh, Jack O'Riordan, Vincent Kelly,John O'Neill, Louisa Hurst, Sydney Pullen & Myriad Hubbard.
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Year A
First Reading Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12
Second Reading Corinthians 3: 9-11, 16-17
Gospel John 2: 13-22
Preface of Dedication of a Church
The Roman Canon
Saturday 8th November
5.30pm Mass Mary de Souzsa, RIP
Sunday 9th November
8.00am Mass Peter Herzog, RIP
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Dead of the Wars
4.00pm Polish Mass
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Year A
First Reading Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12
Second Reading Corinthians 3: 9-11, 16-17
Gospel John 2: 13-22
Preface of Dedication of a Church
The Roman Canon
Saturday 8th November
5.30pm Mass Mary de Souzsa, RIP
Sunday 9th November
8.00am Mass Peter Herzog, RIP
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Dead of the Wars
4.00pm Polish Mass
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Year 2, Psalter Week 3
9.15am Mass: Holy Souls
9.15am Mass: Kathleen Vatcher, RIP (Anniv)
Wednesday 5th Feria
9.15am Mass: Holy Souls
Thursday 6th Feria
9.15am Mass: John & Anna Connolly - Golden Wedding Anniversary
Friday 7th St Willibrord, Bp
12 Noon Mass: CWL Intentions
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
Saturday 8th Feria
10.00am Mass Intentions of Tom & Rita O'Callaghan
Confession – the Sacrament of Penance – is also available on request
Holy Rosary is said after morning Mass during the week
Solemnity of All Saints
Dear friends in Christ
The opening days of November are full of hope: All Saints celebrates our hope of Heaven and the fulfilment of the lives of the Saints; and Monday - All Souls - speaks of the hope of the souls in Purgatory awaiting their definitive union with God in eternal life. Both of these days in their own way enjoin us to prayer: we pray on All Saints Day to those who are our models and intercessors before God and on All Souls Day we pray for those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of Faith, that they may be admitted to Heaven.
During November, and these lasts days of the liturgical year, Mother Church directs us to a consideration of the Last things: death, judgment, Heaven, Hell. These certainties are a focus for our prayer and consideration as we each make our pilgrimage homewards. It is also a time when we redouble our efforts to pray for the Faithful Departed. We can do this by our personal prayer for the Holy Souls, or by uniting our prayer with that of the offering of Jesus in the Mass, also by requesting the Mass be offered for our deceased loved-ones. This can be done by placing names and an offering in the envelopes provided at the back of church so that these can be placed under the Altar during the month. In this first week of November the Church offers us a special deal for the Faithful Departed: during these days we may gain what is called a Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This is simply described as a spiritual work of charity we can perform which aids the Departed in their journey to Heaven. The Church stipulates this is done by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the Departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory. A Plenary Indulgence, again applicable only for the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on All Souls Day. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. As we now have a burial place beside our church (the Memorial Garden) this can be easily and readily performed by any of us. You might like to visit this area during November and offer a prayer for those whose ashes are already buried there.
Following on from the Synod on Marriage and the Family which took place in Rome two weeks ago - and my own Homily last weekend on the subject - there is available at the back of the church a Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Nichols of Westminster; do take a copy and read his excellent synopsis of the Synodal proceedings.
Next weekend - the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome - I shall be commissioning a number of new Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion during the Saturday Vigil Mass. Please pray for them that, they may be faithful and devoted to the Blessed Sacrament which they will assist the Priest in giving to the People of God. God bless you all!
Fr Kevin Hale
Solemnity of All Saints
Dear friends in Christ
The opening days of November are full of hope: All Saints celebrates our hope of Heaven and the fulfilment of the lives of the Saints; and Monday - All Souls - speaks of the hope of the souls in Purgatory awaiting their definitive union with God in eternal life. Both of these days in their own way enjoin us to prayer: we pray on All Saints Day to those who are our models and intercessors before God and on All Souls Day we pray for those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of Faith, that they may be admitted to Heaven.
During November, and these lasts days of the liturgical year, Mother Church directs us to a consideration of the Last things: death, judgment, Heaven, Hell. These certainties are a focus for our prayer and consideration as we each make our pilgrimage homewards. It is also a time when we redouble our efforts to pray for the Faithful Departed. We can do this by our personal prayer for the Holy Souls, or by uniting our prayer with that of the offering of Jesus in the Mass, also by requesting the Mass be offered for our deceased loved-ones. This can be done by placing names and an offering in the envelopes provided at the back of church so that these can be placed under the Altar during the month. In this first week of November the Church offers us a special deal for the Faithful Departed: during these days we may gain what is called a Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This is simply described as a spiritual work of charity we can perform which aids the Departed in their journey to Heaven. The Church stipulates this is done by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the Departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory. A Plenary Indulgence, again applicable only for the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on All Souls Day. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. As we now have a burial place beside our church (the Memorial Garden) this can be easily and readily performed by any of us. You might like to visit this area during November and offer a prayer for those whose ashes are already buried there.
Following on from the Synod on Marriage and the Family which took place in Rome two weeks ago - and my own Homily last weekend on the subject - there is available at the back of the church a Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Nichols of Westminster; do take a copy and read his excellent synopsis of the Synodal proceedings.
Next weekend - the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome - I shall be commissioning a number of new Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion during the Saturday Vigil Mass. Please pray for them that, they may be faithful and devoted to the Blessed Sacrament which they will assist the Priest in giving to the People of God. God bless you all!
Fr Kevin Hale
ABC - About Being Catholic
The next series of informal talks designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church will continue, starting at 8 pm in the Parish Centre. 3rd November - Scripture and Tradition (and guide to referencing the Catechism)
You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin or telephone Pat O’Connell, Tel 01702 712123.
Scripture Group
The Scripture Group, led by Fr Con Joyce, will commence on Thursday, 6th November from 8pm to 9pm in the Newman Room.
Money Matters
Offertory: Thank you for the generous offerings received last weekend, which amounted to £1,645.80
Counters are Jan Lewis, Sandie Hippard & Josephine Vickers.
Newsletter Folders are Pauline Jordan & Maureen Ward.
Masquerade Ball - Black Tie
Saturday 22nd November 7.30pm at The Westcliff Hotel
Carriages 12.30-am. Live Band: Hussyband.com. Tickets £16 - Sisca Watts 07976762509 Nikki Nicholls 07792848341. Funds raised for Outdoor equipment for Our Lady of Lourdes School.
Masquerade Ball - Black Tie
Saturday 22nd November 7.30pm at The Westcliff Hotel
Carriages 12.30-am. Live Band: Hussyband.com. Tickets £16 - Sisca Watts 07976762509 Nikki Nicholls 07792848341. Funds raised for Outdoor equipment for Our Lady of Lourdes School.