Counters & Folders
Counters:
19th December - Jan Lewis, Sandie Hippard & Nina Bridgeman
28th December - Linda Wall & Sheila West
Newsletter Folders:
30th December - Angie Martin & Joseph Martin.
Third Sunday of Advent
On this middle Sunday of Advent the Church bids us be joyful - Gaudete - as we prepare for the arrival of Christ. As Christians we are required to make this joy evident to the world by the manner of our lives.
Dear Friends in Christ
On this middle Sunday of Advent the Church bids us be joyful - Gaudete - as we prepare for the arrival of Christ. As Christians we are required to make this joy evident to the world by the manner of our lives. We do this by listening again to the voice of St John the Baptist who asks us to reform our lives by going into the desert, finding space and peace amidst the business of the world, so that the message can be heard. Practically this can be achieved by small gestures such as living simply through self-denial, using religious-themed greetings cards, preparing a Crib in our homes. This involves being counter-cultural as the world around us continues on its usual cycle of materialism and consumerism with often little reference to the event of the Incarnation. St John the Baptist reminds us that we have to stand ready by the constant call to reform our lives.
Next Sunday, the Fourth of Advent, there is the custom of the Blessing of the figures of the Infant Jesus at the end of Mass; please ask the children to bring their figures along so that they can be blessed ahead of them being placed in your Cribs on Christmas Day. During 9.30am Mass this weekend children are invited to present a gift for a child in need which will be distributed by the Brentwood Catholic Children's Society.
Thank you once again for the generous support you gave to the Parish Bazaar last weekend. £1,753.47 was raised and this will be equally divided between the weekly running costs of the Parish Centre and support for Persecuted Christians, especially in the Middle East through the Aid to the Church in Need Charity. God bless you all in yours efforts to remain faithful to Christ this Advent!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday 11th December - Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Henryk Konieczka, RIP (Anniv) (MK)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Elaine Lambert, RIP (AC)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish - Children’s Gift Mass
11.30am Mass Peter Parsons, RIP (BP)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
9.00am Mass Stefano Forgione, RIP (A)
Tuesday 13 St Lucy, V, M
9.00am Mass Mike & Winnie McHale, RIP (WM)
Wednesday 14 St John of the Cross, Pr, D
9.00am Mass Peter Parsons, RIP (BP)
Thursday 15 Feria
9.00am Mass Marcia Clarke, RIP (PM)
Friday 16 Feria
12Noon Mass Ione & Robert Waite, RIP (NB)
Saturday 17 Feria
10.00am Mass Patrick Burke, RIP (Anniv)(RO)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confessions
The Holy Rosary is prayed after morning Mass during the week
Sunday 18th December - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Tony Poulton & Anne & Albert Shaves, RIP (PP)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP Anniv (AE)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Marcia Clarke, RIP (LW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood
Thursday 29th December (Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Patron Saint of Pastoral Clergy) at 11am here at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The Bishop will celebrate the Mass with other Priests of the Diocese; our Seminarians and Enquirers will also be present. All are welcome.
New Year’s Eve Party
Celebrate New Year dancing to Phyl’s disco at the Parish Centre’s upstairs Gilbert Hall and join in the traditional Auld Lang’s Syne at Midnight! Party starts 7.30pm ending 12.15am. Bring your own drinks and nibbles! Tickets: Adult £7.50 and £20 for a Family ticket (2 adults and children), available in December from the Lourdes social committee: Darrell Binding, Phyllis Sadowski and Marian Long. Raffle prize donations welcome! All proceeds to Lourdes Parish Centre.
Book a table and buy tickets by Phoning Darrell 07825686249, email parishcentrecommittee@gmail.com or find one of us after Sunday Mass teas and coffees in the Parish Centre.
Christmas Eve Lunch 1pm - Sacred Heart School
We are planning a Christmas lunch for those who may be alone this Christmas. We hope to serve Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings as well as celebrate with Christmas Carols with friends from our community.
We hope too that Father Graham Smith may be able to mark the occasion with a special service before all of the fun. Tickets are now available, please contact the school office to book your ticket on 01702 534546.
Scripture Group
Fr Con Joyce’s Scripture Group will next meet in the Parish Centre 8pm-9pm on Thursday, 15th December. Fr. Con will be talking about the Prophets. All welcome.
HARP - Thank you!
The committee of ‘Serving the Homeless’ would like to extend their thanks and Christmas greetings to all who have supported our work this year. With the help of your donations, participation in events and membership of the 200 Club, we have been able to:
Furnish 3 more rooms for Southend YMCA to house young homeless clients, ‘The Tom Moulton Suite’, and provide £2000 towards the refurbishment of their music studio.
Spend £200 per month on fresh meat, milk and cheese to provide meals at all the properties run by HARP, as well as an annual amount of £3,500 for training programmes, (80% of clients are under 25)
Collect large amounts of dried foods and clothing from participating churches each week to be given to HARP clients.
Buy 5 vacuum cleaners and an industrial washing machine /tumble dryer for the night shelter.
Support the development of the ‘White Heather House’ to accommodate 18 homeless women.
Provide another £1500 to support the Churches Winter Shelter programme.
Provide 25 sleeping bags, bag liners, roll mats, pillows, pillow cases and fleece blankets to Leigh Road Baptist Church to set up a new night shelter.
Provided monthly donations to Oasis Café, Leigh to buy ‘suspended’ meals for the homeless.
In all we have spent £16,000 on your behalf this year. We invite you to join us on Friday 16th December at 7pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a short Carol Service, followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Parish Centre. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year. (The raffle for a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne(retailing £125-140) will be drawn.)
Jo Ronan
Catholic Women's League
The last business meeting for 2016 will be on Monday, 12 December at 2pm in the Newman Room. The members of the CWL take this opportunity to wish all our parish family a blessed and joyful Christmas.
Christmas Cards & Posters
Posters and Christmas cards with Mass times are now available at the back of church.
Brentwood Diocesan Directory 2017
These are now available from the back of the church at a cost of £2.75.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett.
Newsletter Folders: Kay Prendergast & Simone Dann.
Grand Prize Draw Winners
£100 - Pat Goodwin
£50 - Nicky Denkmayer
Breakfast Sets - Norman
Port - M. Regan
Plants - Murphy Family
Vodka - Weaver Family
Pencils & Games - Mrs Caunce
Bracelet - Mr Samuels
Wine & Glasses - Mrs Hunt
Books - Britt Family
Chocolates - Kevin Clark
Advent Calendars - Hurley Famil
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 11th December Children’s Gift Mass- 9.30am
Friday 16th December Carol Service (Serving the Homeless) - 7pm
Sunday 18th December Blessing of the figures of baby Jesus at the Masses
Wednesday 21st December Advent Service of Penance with Confessions - 8pm
Saturday 6th & 13th May First Holy Communion Masses- 10.30am
Saturday 22nd July Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Second Sunday of Advent
Before Our Saviour arrives in the world, John the Baptist appears. He is a herald, like those of ancient times, who would announce the arrival of the king. The whole of his life is determined by this mission. This is to be his vocation. By being fully conscious of his mission, he is also aware of the humility needed so that he can say: He must increase, I must decrease.
Before Our Saviour arrives in the world, John the Baptist appears. He is a herald, like those of ancient times, who would announce the arrival of the king. The whole of his life is determined by this mission. This is to be his vocation. By being fully conscious of his mission, he is also aware of the humility needed so that he can say: He must increase, I must decrease. This is a prayer for us as we prepare to receive Our Lord. It is a fitting prayer for all who would seek to serve Christ and His Church. Only by letting Christ shine-through us will the image of God be evident in our society now. Like St John, the Church needs us to be both witnesses and precursors: witnesses to the Faith we profess as Catholics in the midst of the world; precursors by the way we pave the way for the One Person who alone brings hope and salvation to our world. Our great joy is that of being able to bring to Christ, our family, our workmates, those people we are in contact with frequently. With our example and our prayer we should reach even people we don’t have much chance of speaking with. The world stands in need and, in a certain sense, in readiness for the Messiah. May the person, life and teaching of St John the Baptist move us to be more like him in his witness and in his teaching.
Next Sunday - the Third of Advent, ‘Gaudete' - children and families are invited to bring a gift (during 9.30am Mass) for a needy child. As in previous years these will then be distributed by the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society in the coming weeks. I am sure you will respond, as you have done in previous years, with characteristic kindness and generosity.
Thanks to all those who helped organise our Parish Bazaar last Saturday: those who made the preparations and all of you who gave gifts, bought draw tickets and who supported the event. I propose sending half of the proceeds to help persecuted Christians (through Aid to the Church in Need) and the remainder to go towards the costs of running the Parish Centre. God bless you all during this Advent season!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday 4th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Intentions of May Strzetelska
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Margaret Sheaf, RIP (BS)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of Fatima Balolong (FB)
4.00pm Mass Private Intention- Extraordinary Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 5 Feria
9.00am Mass Fr John Caden, RIP (MK)
Tuesday 6 St Nicholas, Bp
9.00am Mass Thanksgiving (MS)
Wednesday 7 St Ambrose, Bp, D
9.00am Requiem Mass Maria Lena, RIP
8.00pm Devotions & Benediction
Thursday 8 Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00am Mass Pat & John Moon & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
Friday 9 St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
12Noon Mass Clare Clarke, RIP (BH)
Saturday 10 Feria
10.00am Mass Jim Scott, RIP (MS)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confessions
The Holy Rosary is prayed after morning Mass during the week
Sunday 11th December - Third Sunday of Advent - ‘Gaudete’
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Henryk Konieczka, RIP (Anniv) (MK)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Elaine Lambert, RIP (AC)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish - Children’s Gift Mass
11.30am Mass Peter Parsons, RIP (BP)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request