Frances & Basil Emmerson
Many congratulations to Francis & Basil Emmerson who celebrate their 68th Wedding Anniversary this weekend. They were married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on 7th December 1946.
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 re-commence on Monday, 12th January at 8pm.
Serving the Homeless Southend Recycling Community Rewards Scheme
A big thank you to everyone who voted for us during the last few months. As a result of the support that we received across the Borough we were awarded the top prize of £4,000 to use on our local projects.
With this we will be able provide further support for Southend YMCA’s building project in Hamlet Court Road, and Southend Churches Winter Shelter programme. We will also be able to fund the next three months of fresh meat, milk and cheese, that we supply weekly to HARP for the Day and Night Shelters.
We are holding a ‘Songs and Poems for Christmas’ night on 19th December, 7.15pm at St Barnabas Church. Hadleigh. Please join us for Christmas music and mince pies and mulled wine. Any donations on the night will go towards our local projects. Jo Ronan
The Carmelites
The next meeting of the Carmelites is on the 13th December. This is open to all Parishioners who want to deepen their faith. You can join us for the Rosary at 2.15pm in the Church or 2.30pm in the Parish Centre, Newman room for tea/coffee plus the meeting, which includes lectio divina. We normally finish by 5 pm. You are all welcome to join us for part or all of the meeting.
Fundraising
Please remember to use easyfundraising.org.uk to raise money for the Parish Centre. We have just received a cheque for £33.84.
Money Matters
Offertory: Thank you for the generous offerings received last weekend, which amounted to £2,418.75
Counters are Bob Hall, Kitty Edwards & Bernadette Lane.
Newsletter Folders are Mary Johnson & Josephine Vickers.
2015 Brentwood Diocesan Directory
The 2015 Directory is now available at the back of Church at a cost of £2.75p. Please put your money in the book box. Thank you.
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society Gift Mass - 9.30am Sunday 14th December
There will be a Gift Mass for the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society on 14th December. Please write clearly on the gift whether it is for a boy or girl and what age range it would suit. Gifts for teenagers would also be much appreciated and if you are struggling with ideas, then Gift Vouchers are always very welcome.
HARP Charity Collections Volunteer search
On Saturday 20th December Principal Girl Production is performing two pantomime performances of Cinderleigh, 4.00pm and 7.30pm, at the Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road.
They have kindly invited us to run collections before and after both performances. If anyone can spare some time to raise money for this wonderful charity, please contact me as soon as possible. Niqui Denkmayer 01702 475739/07707606411.
Collection times will be: Afternoon 3pm-4pm and 5.15pm-6.30pm and Evening 6.30pm-7.30pm and 9pm-9.30pm. Please help by donating some time to help HARP help the homeless.
Luxury Hamper Raffle
The CWL Luxury Hamper Raffle was won by Cassandra Kelly, blue ticket no. 280.
Luxury Hamper Raffle
The CWL Luxury Hamper Raffle was won by Cassandra Kelly, blue ticket no. 280.
Second Sunday of Advent
Year B
First Reading Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11
Second Reading Peter 3: 8-14
Gospel Mark 1: 1-8
Preface 1 of Advent
Eucharistic Prayer 3
Saturday 6th December
5.30pm Mass Kate Conneely, RIP
Sunday 7th December
8.00am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass John Harley Thanksgiving
11.30am Mass The Siani Family, RIP
1.30pm Polish Mass
4.00pm Lillian & Jim Fegan, RIP Extraordinary Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Year 2, Psalter Week 1
9.15am Mass: Andrew Porter, RIP
Tuesday 2nd Feria
9.15am Mass: Clare Chadwick, RIP
Wednesday 3rd St Francis Xavier, Pr
9.15am Mass: Mary Agnes Birkins, RIP
Thursday 4th St John Damascene, Pr, D
9.15am Mass: Intentions of Mike Rubbert
Friday 5th Feria
12 Noon Mass: CWL Intentions
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour and Benediction
Saturday 6th St Nicholas, Bp
10.00am Mass Susan Sicilia, RIP
Confession – the Sacrament of Penance – is also available on request
Holy Rosary is said after morning Mass during the week
Year 2, Psalter Week 1
9.15am Mass: Andrew Porter, RIP
Tuesday 2nd Feria
9.15am Mass: Clare Chadwick, RIP
Wednesday 3rd St Francis Xavier, Pr
9.15am Mass: Mary Agnes Birkins, RIP
Thursday 4th St John Damascene, Pr, D
9.15am Mass: Intentions of Mike Rubbert
Friday 5th Feria
12 Noon Mass: CWL Intentions
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour and Benediction
Saturday 6th St Nicholas, Bp
10.00am Mass Susan Sicilia, RIP
Confession – the Sacrament of Penance – is also available on request
Holy Rosary is said after morning Mass during the week
First Sunday of Advent
The Jesse Tree (in the Parish Church of La Trinité Porhoet, Brittany)
Dear friends in Christ
Jesus Christ will return in glory to the earth. We do not know when He will return, but Christ promised us that he would return in glory, “as light comes from the east” to bring God’s plan of redemption to its fulfilment. In the early Church, Christians expected that Christ would come soon—any day. There was hopeful expectation. They were watchful—they looked to the sky in the east to wait for Christ. And because they did not know when he would return, they proclaimed the Gospel with urgency and enthusiasm, hoping to bring the world to salvation before Christ returned. It has been nearly two thousand years now since Christ ascended into heaven. It has become easier to forget that He will come again to earth. It has become easier to forget that we must be waiting, we must be watching, and we must be ready. In the season of Advent, as we recall Christ’s Incarnation at Christmas, we are reminded to be prepared for Christ’s coming. In the Gospel for this First Sunday of Advent, Christ tells us his disciples “to be on the watch.” “You do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,” Jesus says. “May He not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” We remember that Christ is coming whenever we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the Holy Mass we are made present to the sacrifice at Calvary, and to the joy of Christ’s glory in Heaven. But we also remember that Christ will return, and we remember to watch, to be vigilant, to wait for him, and to be prepared. The Mass is rich with symbolism. The vestments of the priest remind us of the dignity of Christ the King. We strike our breasts, and bow our heads, and bend our knees to remember our sinfulness, God’s mercy, and his glory. In the Mass, the ways we stand, and sit, and kneel, remind us of God’s eternal plan for us. All of this prepares us here on earth for the moment when we shall be taken-up into the fullness of the glory of Christ. May this Advent be for all of us a moment when we constantly watch-out for Christ. Let us not be so consumed with the affairs of this world that we do not see Him in His advents: in time, in the Incarnation and in His Eucharistic presence now, which foreshadows the glorious life to come. God bless you all!
Fr Kevin Hale
Parish Christmas Bazaar - 6th December 2014
We are in need of your donations of Bottles, Bric-a-Brac, Craft, Unwanted Gifts, Books and Toys for next weekend’s Parish Bazaar, the first in our new Parish Centre. Please deliver your homemade cakes to the Parish Centre either on Friday 5th December or early on Saturday 6th December for our cake stall.
Visit Santa’s Grotto, enjoy morning Coffee with a mince pie, Lunches, Teas and Snacks will all be available from 11am!
Any stall holders wishing to set up on the afternoon of Friday 5th should contact Angela on 07940183452 or Sue on 07816141492/01702 479646.
Don’t forget to return your completed counterfoils and payment to the Parish Office this week or on the morning of the Bazaar for a chance to be entered into Prize Draw and win from a range of fantastic prizes!!
Parish Christmas Bazaar - 6th December 2014
We are in need of your donations of Bottles, Bric-a-Brac, Craft, Unwanted Gifts, Books and Toys for next weekend’s Parish Bazaar, the first in our new Parish Centre. Please deliver your homemade cakes to the Parish Centre either on Friday 5th December or early on Saturday 6th December for our cake stall.
Visit Santa’s Grotto, enjoy morning Coffee with a mince pie, Lunches, Teas and Snacks will all be available from 11am!
Any stall holders wishing to set up on the afternoon of Friday 5th should contact Angela on 07940183452 or Sue on 07816141492/01702 479646.
Don’t forget to return your completed counterfoils and payment to the Parish Office this week or on the morning of the Bazaar for a chance to be entered into Prize Draw and win from a range of fantastic prizes!!
The Parish New Year’s Eve Party
Tickets will go on sale at the Christmas Bazaar (6th December) for the Parish’s New Year’s Eve party upstairs in the Gilbert Room, organised by the Social & Fundraising Committee. Cost: Adults £5; Family ticket £15 (two adults and their primary age children). Bring your own drinks and nibbles! Music provided by ‘Berntres Dance Music’. Special raffle – donations welcome. Doors open 7.30pm and music to just after midnight (special licence). For parishioners and immediate family please. Contact Darrell to get tickets after the bazaar on 07825 686249 email manybindings@hotmail.co.uk.
The Parish New Year’s Eve Party
Tickets will go on sale at the Christmas Bazaar (6th December) for the Parish’s New Year’s Eve party upstairs in the Gilbert Room, organised by the Social & Fundraising Committee. Cost: Adults £5; Family ticket £15 (two adults and their primary age children). Bring your own drinks and nibbles! Music provided by ‘Berntres Dance Music’. Special raffle – donations welcome. Doors open 7.30pm and music to just after midnight (special licence). For parishioners and immediate family please. Contact Darrell to get tickets after the bazaar on 07825 686249 email manybindings@hotmail.co.uk.