Dates for your Diary
Thursday, 10th November
Annual Parish Requiem Mass for those who have died in the past year - 8pm
Thursday 24th Nov-Saturday 26th Nov
Forty Hours Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 3rd December
Christmas Bazaar - 10.30am
Friday 16th December
Carol Service (Serving the Homeless)- 7pm
Saturday 6th & 13th May
First Holy Communion Masses - 10.30am
Sunday 18th June
Corpus Christi Procession - 4pm
Saturday 22nd July
Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Stewards of the Gospel Diocesan Initiative
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Being followers of Jesus Christ, we are all called by Him to be ‘stewards of the Gospel’, proclaiming His ‘Good News’ by word and deed! How best can we do this? Our bishop, Bishop Alan, has recently launched throughout the Diocese the ‘Stewards of the Gospel’ initiative, inviting us to discern and determine our response to this calling. All parishioners are urged to contribute to the outcomes of this consultation intended to help steer the work of our parish and Diocese for the foreseeable future! To guide discussion, the Diocese has provided the ‘Stewards of the Gospel’ Parish Questionnaire’; every parish is requested to respond to the Diocese using this Parish Questionnaire (by December!), having sounded out as far as possible the views and considered opinions of its parishioners.
The ‘Questionnaire’ has three sections: Section A is akin to an ‘audit’ of the parish and its resources: Section B poses searching questions for parishioners to engage with and is the real ‘heart’ of this ‘Stewards of the Gospel’ initiative; Section C will be the summary of the parish’s suggestions and conclusions. The ‘Parish Questionnaire’ is now available on the parish website www.lourdesleigh.org. Two requests!! First, I have filled in parts of Section A – if there are mistakes or there is further information you can provide do please let me know on 01702 552373 or obrjam@btinternet.com. Secondly, to address Section B we are arranging two ‘workshops’, to be held in the Parish Centre from 2.00-4.00pm on both Saturday 5th November and Saturday 19th November. Please note these dates – if you are able to join us please let Jan know on 01702 478105/janlewis123@btinternet.com. For parishioners unable to attend, we hope you will respond to a short questionnaire which will be made available to you in a forthcoming Parish Newsletter! Please pray for a fruitful outcome to this endeavour! Thank you for your support! Francis O’Brien.
St. George’s Catholic Primary School - Administrative Assistant
We are looking for someone to join our extremely busy office for 13 hrs a week, working on a Monday & Friday, term time only. The successful candidate must have excellent Microsoft Office skills and the ability to communicate on all levels.
The Governing Body is committed to safer recruitment requirements and all appointments are subject to satisfactory medical / Enhanced DBS clearance and references. For further details and an application pack please contact the school office on 01702 293522 or email office@st-georges.southend.sch.uk.
Closing Date: Monday 31st October
Interview Date: Wednesday 2nd November
St Aidan’s Catholic Primary Academy, Ilford
We have vacancies for Nursery Teacher Wednesday – Friday and Relief Midday Assistants. Closing Date – Wednesday 26th October 2016 contact the school for further details: 0208 590 5223.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Stanford Le Hope
Headteacher vacancy at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Stanford Le Hope required for Summer Term 2017. For application form please contact Sharon Jackson on 01375 672217 or sharon.Jackson@stjosephsprimary.thurrock.sch.uk.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
Leaflets are available at the back of Church giving instructions on how to fill a shoebox with gifts for a child this Christmas, who otherwise would receive nothing. Filled and ready to collect shoeboxes should be taken to the nearest drop-off point, Leigh Road Baptist Church (opposite the Church in Marguerite Drive) Tel no 01702 478698, by the closing date Friday 18th November 2016. Please do not leave filled shoeboxes at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Community Fayre – Saturday 22nd October at Nazareth House
Whether you are caring for an elderly loved one, wish to learn more about recycling, excited to learn about growing your own vegetables, finding it hard to cope with debt and want to discover a more ethical way of banking, even discover the wide range of Fair Trade products that are available, plus many more exhibitors who can help and make your life simpler. Or you simply wish to enjoy a good cup of tea with a slice of delicious homemade cake and buy a ticket in the raffle, then please join us at Nazareth House, 111 London Road, Westcliff, on Saturday 22nd October, 10am – 1pm. Plenty of car parking and free entry - we will be recycling old spectacles and old mobile phones and look forward very much to seeing you all. This event is organised by the Knights of Saint Columba. Enquiries to Liam 07952 954833
Scripture Group
Fr Con Joyce’s Scripture Group will next meet in the Parish Centre 8pm-9pm
on Thursday, 20th October. Fr. Con will be talking about the prophets. All welcome.
Church Bazaar - Saturday 3rd December
Yes it’s that time of year again! A short meeting will be held for all willing and able to help, either old hands or new, next Wednesday 19th October at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre.
ABC - About Being Catholic
Following Fr Kevin’s Introductory Talks, the series informal talks designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church continues every Monday, starting at 8pm in the Parish Centre. 17th October: The Beatitudes. 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 on 712123.
Day of Recollection
The local community of Lay Carmelites invite you to join them at Our Lady &
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea for a Day of Recollection, Saturday 22nd October. Our theme this year will be: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. We will gather for Tea/Coffee in the Parish Centre at 10.15am. Our guest speaker will be Fr. Michael Cox O.Carm. For a full programme please see the poster on the church notice board.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Sheila West.
Newsletter Folders: Linda Wall & Bob Hall.
Pray for the Dead
Please pray for our dead on their anniversaries:
Mgr Canon Christopher Creede, Fr Bernard Clay, Canon William O’Neill,
Olga Ballard, Mary Aitken, Mary Smith, Florence Cody, Ada Redington,
Patricia Kendall, Charles Edwards, William Brooks, Johanna Gromnicka,
Mary Kenny, Josephine Platt, Annie Barton, Anthony Isaacs, Joan Erwood,
George Gatward, David Thomas, Monica James, Elizabeth Winchester,
Veronica McCullough, Dr Brian Quinn,Denis Jordan, Norman Halligan,
Clara Donnelly, Catherine Hevey, Thomas Gunn & Eileen Morgan.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year
Dear friends in Christ
The first Reading and Gospel at Mass this weekend tell us about the gratitude of those who suffered from leprosy and were cured: especially the ten cured by Jesus. It is a reminder to us - by the words spoken by Our Lord - of the virtue of gratitude. Only one returned to give thanks to God. At times in life we can take things and people for granted. Often we take those around us for granted; those who provide for us, who show us love and support and keep us in good form. This little encounter of Jesus, and His words of rebuke to the ungrateful, are a reminder to us to be always thankful for what we receive and for what others do for us, especially those who are close by ties of family and friendship.
This weekend we welcome to the Parish Mr William Johnstone; he represents, and makes an appeal on behalf of, The St Barnabas Society, a registeredcharity, operating in Great Britain and Ireland which exists to provide pastoral and financial help on behalf of the whole Catholic community to former clergy ministers and religious from other churches, who live in Great Britain and Ireland, and who have been led by faith and conscience to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. St Barnabas was chosen as its patron because it was he who befriended Paul after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and encouraged him to begin a new life in the apostolic church with St Peter at its head. Those who have been ministers, clergy or religious of other churches lose not only their jobs but also often their homes. Many are not qualified, trained or experienced in any other work and find it very difficult to obtain another job. Thanks to the generosity of the Catholic community the St Barnabas Society is able to help these people with friendship, advice, and where necessary financial support. I am sure we will support this noble work with our customary practical charity. God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 8th October St Osyth, Rel
10.00am Mass Intentions of all Parishioners (JL)
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
Sunday 9th - Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Lola Collingwood, RIP (GS)
9.30am Mass Denise McDermott, RIP (GD)
11.30am Mass Thomas Patrick Costello, RIP (Anniv) (CC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 10th St Paulinus of York, Bp
9.00am Mass Dorothy Kennedy, RIP (CE)
Tuesday 11th St John XXIII, P
9.00am Mass Eileen & Bill Pearson, RIP (Anniv) (SP)
Wednesday 12th Ss Ethelburga, Hildelith and Cuthburga, Rel
9.00am Mass Lawrence de Lobel, RIP (VC)
Thursday 13th St Edward the Confessor
9.00am Mass Intentions of Kath O’Connor (M&II)
Friday 14th St Callistus 1, P, M
12Noon Mass Intentions of Norbert Wider, (T&RO)
Saturday 15th October St Theresa of Jesus (Avila), V, D
10.00am Mass John Young, RIP (Anniv) (LY)
5.30pm Vigil Mass Fr Giovanni Battistelli, OFM, RIP (Anniv) (D&MC)
Sunday 16th - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Ann White, RIP (JK)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass John & Gertrude Caden (MK)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Dates for your Diary
Thurs, 10th November
Annual Parish Requiem Mass for those who have died in the past year - 8pm
Thurs 24th Nov-Sat 26th Nov
Forty Hours Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 3rd December
Christmas Bazaar - 10.30am
Friday 16th December
Carol Service (Serving the Homeless)- 7pm
Saturday 6th & 13th May
First Holy Communion Masses - 10.30am
Sunday 18th June
Corpus Christi Procession - 4pm
Saturday 22nd July
Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Stewards of the Gospel Diocesan Initiative
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
We shall shortly be celebrating the first centenary, of our Brentwood Diocese. Thank God, there will be much to celebrate! At the same time, of course, we now find ourselves on the threshold of a new centenary in which each one of us is called again to make known the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Looking to the future, our bishop, Bishop Alan, has instigated the ‘Stewards of the Gospel’ initiative. Within it, Bishop Alan is asking each of us, as members of our parish and of our diocese, to take time to reflect together in order that we might discern the road ahead! Our work, the work of the Church, is to make known the person of Jesus Christ to our local community as well as to the world beyond! Our task is to be a missionary Church! Our task is to Evangelise! How best, in the years ahead, can we proclaim anew the Joy of the Gospel, both within our own parish and to the world beyond? My role as Steward of the Gospel for our parish is to help instigate and lead this period and process, this time for reflection and planning, in co-operation with Father Kevin and the priests of our parish, and in collaboration with all parishioners. The Steward of the Gospel initiative is a process of consultation. Your views are being sought by the Bishop, not to change the treasure of our Catholic Faith but as to how we might make better known our Faith, as to how we might better evangelise, as to how we might better reflect God’s love and mercy to a sometimes sceptical world. Stewards of the Gospel are expected to encourage and stimulate discussion amongst parishioners and to be an advocate for their views, suggestions, concerns and ideas such that these might in due course be reflected in the future plans and aspirations of our parish and Diocese. In order that there is consistency of approach throughout the Diocese, the Steward of the Gospel process is guided by a document entitled ‘Stewards of the Gospel-Parish Questionnaire’ comprising three sections: Section A focuses on facets of the parish and is intended to present a ‘picture’ of parish life and what is “going on” here; it is an ‘audit’ of the human, material and spiritual resources of the parish: Section B is the challenging part of the consultation process – focusing on the same facets of parish life as Section A, it poses some searching questions for parishioners to engage with; Section C will be the summary of the parish’s deliberations and discernment. The whole ‘Parish Questionnaire’ has now been placed on the parish website, lourdesleigh.org. Two requests; First, I have filled in large parts of Section A – if there are any mistakes there or there is information you can provide do please let me know on 01702 552373 or obrjam@btinternet.com ; secondly, to address Section B of the Questionnaire we are arranging two ‘workshops’ to be held in the Parish Centre both from 2.00-4.00pm on both Saturday 5th November and Saturday 19th November. Please note these dates in your diary – if you are able to join us please let Jan know on 01702 478105 or janlewis123@btinternet.com. For parishioners unable to attend these sessions we hope you will respond to a short questionnaire…more details to follow!
Thank you for your support! Francis O’Brien.
Almshouse Vacancy
A vacancy has arisen at the Sir William Petre’s Almshouses in Ingatestone for someone over 50 who is in need of accommodation. The cottage, which is one of a group of twelve with a chapel, is small – it has a living room, bedroom, fitted kitchen and bathroom. It is suitable for a single person who can live independently, as there is no warden care available. Because of the listed nature of the building we cannot make major adaptations for someone with a disability. Please note that priority may be given to Roman Catholics. For more information, and for an application form, please contact Homes & Watson Partnership (who manage the properties) on Tel no 01277 355200 by Friday 21st October 2016. Deadline for submission of application forms to Homes and Watson: Monday 31st October.