Baptisms
We congratulate the parents of Nancy Smith, Albert Hennessy, Evie Abel,
Alexandra Romal, Zander Butcher, Teegan Hayde, Jack Curnock, Oscar Perotton, Jaime Ayerbe & Alice Meyers who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.
Baptism Preparation Evenings
The next Baptism Preparation Evenings will take place on Tuesday 1st and Tuesday 8th November, 2016 beginning at 8 pm in the Parish Centre. If you wish to attend please ring Catherine Harris on 07733327295.
Serving the Homeless
A big thank you to everyone who supported our ‘Italian Night with Magic.’ We made almost £800 on this event and have been able to purchase 25 sleeping bags, bag liners, bed rolls, pillows and pillow cases for the new night shelter that will be operating at Leigh Road Baptist Church from 1st December.
We invite everyone to our ecumenical Carol Service at Our Lady of Lourdes on Friday 16th December at 7pm, followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Parish Centre. There will be a collection taken to support Southend YMCA projects, which help many young homeless youngsters in this town. Thanks again for your continuing support. Jo Ronan (Chairwoman, Serving the Homeless).
Job Vacancy
Finance Assistant required to support the Finance Office at Cathedral House, Brentwood. The role is part-time, working four days a week (28 hours). If you – or any of your family or friends – are interested in this role, please first contact recruitment@dioceseofbrentwood.org for a copy of the job description and person specification. You should then send in your CV, with a covering letter demonstrating how your experience and skills match the essential requirements and attributes of the role as per the job description and person specification. Closing date for CVs/applications is Friday 11th November 2016. Interviews week commencing 21st November 2016.
Scripture Group
Fr Con Joyce’s Scripture Group will next meet in the Parish Centre 8pm-9pm
on Thursday, 3rd November. Fr. Con will be talking about the prophets. All welcome.
Rotas available at the back of Church
November Eucharistic Ministers and Readers rotas and Tea/Coffee rotas for the Parish Centre. There is also a new Newsletter Folding rota as all teams have been moved up by one week.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Shirley Murphy & John Murphy.
Newsletter Folders: Bobby Newman & Emma Beardsell.
Pray for the Dead
Please pray for our dead on their anniversaries:
Canon Thomas Bishop, Canon Richard Gay, Alice Conway, Joyce Jones,
Helen Lesley, Doris Payne, Mary Russell, William Upsher, Walter Kilman,
Edward Hullett, Mary Peomore, Eileen Clark, Philip Modica, Mick Burke,
Andrew Mitchelmore, Marie Hale, Mary Shanahan, Lilian Rombaut, Paul Evans, Maria Lynch, Winifred Allen, Elizabeth Spivey, Bob O’Toole, Dorothy Bartley,
Lily Kenny, Irene Fanning, Mary Pinsent, Arthur (Rob) Hood & Margaret Scales.
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.
Thirtieth Sunday of the Year
Dear friends in Christ
Once again this Sunday the subject of prayer occupies our minds in the Readings of Mass. Last week Jesus told us the importance of persevering prayer; this week the parable teaches us the difference between true piety and false piety. Jesus reminds us that humility has to be the foundation of our dealings with God. He wants us to pray like needy children desirious of His mercy. St Alphonsus Liguori advises us: God wants you to go to Him with confidence. Bring to Him your work, your projects, your fears and whatever interests you. Act with a trusting and open heart. For God does not speak to those who never speak to Him. We may not experience any special feelings when we pray; and this shouldn’t bother us. What is most important is that we imitate the Publican in the Gospel parable: he did not stand upright and profess to be something he was not; rather, he saw himself humbly the way God saw him. Unlike the Pharisee - whose prayer was not heard because of his pride - the Publican knew why he needed to stand at the back of the Temple, not daring even to raise his eyes to Heaven. The whole of the Christian life, we could say, consists in our learning how to make the journey from the front to the back of the Temple. Like Our Lady - to whom we go with especial devotion in this Month of the Holy Rosary - we want to remain close to The Lord in all of the circumstances of life and in constant conversation with Him. God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 22nd October St John Paul II, P
10.00am Mass Mark Solecki, RIP (IS)
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jim Scott, RIP (GA)
Sunday 23rd - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Peter Parsons, RIP (CR)
9.30am Mass Ernest & Phyllis Cheeseman, RIP (CC)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 24th St Anthony Claret, Bp
9.00am Mass Daniel McCarthy, RIP (RO’C)
Tuesday 25th Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Fatima Balolong (FB)
Wednesday 26th St Cedd
9.00am Mass Roseleen Armstrong, RIP (JA)
Thursday 27th Feria
9.00am Mass Moira Moore, RIP (FD)
Friday 28th Ss Simon & Jude, App
12Noon Mass Mrs Greiner, Grace & Gwen Greiner, RIP (FM)
1.15pm Funeral Service: Christopher James, RIP
Saturday 29th October Our Lady on Saturday
10.00am Mass Jim Scott, RIP (MS)
5.30pm Vigil Mass Deceased members of McMahon & Swanton Families (AS)
Sunday 30th - Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Robert Morgan, RIP
9.30am Mass Dennis Jordan, RIP (Anniv) (PJ)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Dates for your Diary
Thursday, 10th November
Annual Parish Requiem Mass for those who have died in the past year - 8pm
Sunday 13th November
Cemetery Visit - 3pm
Thursday 24th November-Saturday 26th November
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
Steward of the Gospel – Diocesan Consultation
Each one of us has been entrusted with the task of passing on the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so…. “How can we sustain and encourage the growth of our Catholic community in the coming years?” You are warmly invited to join with fellow parishioners on Saturday 5th & 19th November to together respond to this important Diocesan consultation. There are 12 questions to ponder: Questions 1-6 we shall consider on 5th November; Questions 7-12 on 19th November. Both meetings from 2.00 - 4.00 pm. Prompt starts and finishes guaranteed! All ages are welcome! Please do try to come! If you are able to join us, please let Jan Lewis know - on 01702 478105 or janlewis123@btinternet.com – so we can be properly organised. Life is very busy but the responses to this consultation are intended to guide the work of the Diocese over the next 15/20 years – please do your best to take part. Thank you for your support! Please pray for a fruitful outcome to this endeavour, both for our Diocese and for our parish. Francis O’Brien
St Barnabas Society
Thank you for your very generous donation of £972.94 to the St Barnabas Society which offers support to Anglican Clergymen who become Catholics.
Serving the Homeless
Leigh Road Baptist Church are opening their doors to the homeless one night each week as part of the Southend Winter Churches initiative. They are looking for volunteers to assist in the following ways: Welcoming and talking with the guests, which could involve eating the evening meal with them; cooking the evening meal; helping in the kitchen, serving and washing up; staying overnight; preparing and washing up breakfast; cleaning and clearing away tables, chairs, bedding etc. They are drawing up a provisional rota for volunteers to come one or two weeks per month,although nothing is set in stone! The shelter will be set up from around 6pm, guests arriving at around 7pm. People sleeping over need to be there by 10pm and the premises clear by 8am.
A Volunteers Evening is being held in November (date to be confirmed) and there is a briefing meeting for all night-shelter volunteers at Shoebury Baptist Church on Monday 14th November. If you feel you can help please phone John Bastin who will be happy to answer queries. John’s number is 01702 872062/07780977728.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the September draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 53 Mr & Mrs F O’Brien
2nd Prize £100 16 Mr R Vaulbert de Chantilly
3rd Prize £75 140 Mrs D Watts
4th Prize £50 114 Mr N Warwick-Brown
5th Prize £25 96 Mr I Britt
Subscription is £5.00 per month, either by cash, cheque or direct debit. If you would like to join, please fill in a form which can be found at the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Afternoon Tea on the Terrace
The CWL would like to say thank you to all those who participated in the Afternoon Tea. To those who baked, made sandwiches, served tea, washed up, the list is too long to mention everyone. A special note of thanks to those who came and supported the day by eating and drinking all that was provided. It was a great success and we raised £350 which has been distributed between Fr Dominic’s Calais Appeal - £100, the local Women’s Refuge - £100, with the remaining £150 being distributed amongst other CWL National Charities that we support. We look forward to meeting you all again at the next event.
Live Simply Group
We would like to thank those who supported our Film Night last Friday. We are able to send Fr. Dominic a cheque for £225 to help those still in desperate need in Calais.
There will be no meeting this Monday during half term. All are welcome to join us on Monday 31st when we recommence.
Blessing of the Graves
This will take place on Sunday 13th November at Sutton Road Cemetery. It will start at 3.00pm with prayers at the large cross and be followed by the blessing of individual graves.
Catholic Women’s League
The next social meeting is on Monday, 24th October in the Newman Room at 2pm. Feel free to wander in and join us.