Scripture Group
Fr Con Joyce’s Scripture Group will next meet in the Parish Centre 8pm-9pm on Thursday, 30th March. Fr. Con will be talking about the prophets. All welcome.
First Holy Communion 2017
First Holy Communion 2017
There will be a parent’s meeting on Wednesday 29th March at 8pm in the Parish Centre for those parents who have a child making their First Holy Communion in May.
Lenten Service – Thursday 30th March 2017
Friends of St Thomas More High School are warmly invited to attend a Lenten Service which is to be held at the school on Thursday 30th March 2017, starting at 7.00pm. We are presenting the story of Jesus’ Passion and Death through word, image and music, using a Musical entitled ‘Born for This’, reflection by Jude Martin, songs by Joanne Boyce. We hope you will be able to join us on this evening. If you would like to attend, please contact Mrs Davies on 01702 606762 so that we can have an idea of numbers. There will be some light refreshments available after the service.
ABC - About being Catholic
The series of 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. 27th March: Life Issues - Christ’s Body the Church. 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.
Steward of the Gospel - Summary of Parish Responses
Steward of the Gospel - Summary of Parish Responses
Parishioners responded to the questions posed by the Diocesan 'Stewards of the Gospel' initiative through parish meetings (held last November) and questionnaires. A 'Summary' of the contributions made is now available on our parish website! Please take time to catch up on the thoughts and views of your fellow parishioners. Our parish 'response' will shortly be submitted to the Diocesan Director of Development, Mr Steve Webb. Thank you to all parishioners who were able to take part. Francis O’Brien, Parish, Steward of the Gospel.
The Diocese of Brentwood – 100 Years in Pictures
We are publishing a Souvenir Booklet to mark our Diocesan Centenary, 110 pages with more than 300 colour and black & white photographs. Copies are now available at the Repository for £7.
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 6th & 13th May First Holy Communion Masses- 10.30am
Sunday 4th June Confirmation Mass - 11.30am
Sunday 18th June Corpus Christi Procession - 4pm
Saturday 22nd July Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Monday 24th/Friday 28th July Parish Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
7th October to 15th October Parish Mission
Memorial Mass for Sister Mary Stephen RIP
There is to be a Mass to celebrate the life and contribution to St Bernard’s School of Sister Mary Stephen who passed away in January 2017. It will be held at St Bernard's, Westcliff on Saturday 7th October at 11.30am followed by refreshments.
Please Pray for the Dead on their anniversaries
Mgr Canon Alfred Gilbey, Fr Denis Hall, Fr Joseph Tuohey, Canon William Toft, Derek Taylor, Victor Moule, Kathleen Farrell, Leo Winter, Jane Adamson, Herbert Maddocks, Pamela Shenstone, Winifred Lawson, Mary O’Connor, Hugh Devine, Kathleen (Kit) Collins, Ann Turner, Frederick Duggans, Bessie Higley, Sheila Townsend, Veronica Redhouse, Alan Reid, Mary Leonard, Geraldine Gwilliam, Herbert Robertson & Marjorie Nolan.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Third Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends in Christ
With the Mass Readings of Year A we hear, over these next three weekends, three of the most powerful encounters that Jesus has in the course of His public ministry: the meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well; the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus form the dead. They have been deliberatively chosen by the Church for this time of Lent because it is a more intense time of preparation for the Easter Sacraments. Throughout the Church many souls are preparing for their moment of definitive encounter with Christ in Baptism, Confirmation and the Blessed Eucharist. These three Gospel Readings focus our attention on how Jesus brings us to fullness of life in Him: by offering us the waters of eternal life in Baptism; opening our eyes in Confirmation; and giving us His own risen Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Though these Gospels are long, we can hear them again with a fresh vision. Jesus wants us, like the Samaritan Woman, to enter into friendship with Him, but in a union so deep that we will never exhaust the riches of this friendship. So please pray for those who are being prepared for Reception into the Church next month; for their Sponsors, who accompany them along their formation in the Faith. Last weekend some twenty young adults from the Parish began their preparation for Confirmation at Pentecost. May we all, as members of God’s Family the Church, grow in knowledge and love of Him in this time of grace.
Dear Friends in Christ
With the Mass Readings of Year A we hear, over these next three weekends, three of the most powerful encounters that Jesus has in the course of His public ministry: the meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well; the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus form the dead. They have been deliberatively chosen by the Church for this time of Lent because it is a more intense time of preparation for the Easter Sacraments. Throughout the Church many souls are preparing for their moment of definitive encounter with Christ in Baptism, Confirmation and the Blessed Eucharist. These three Gospel Readings focus our attention on how Jesus brings us to fullness of life in Him: by offering us the waters of eternal life in Baptism; opening our eyes in Confirmation; and giving us His own risen Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Though these Gospels are long, we can hear them again with a fresh vision. Jesus wants us, like the Samaritan Woman, to enter into friendship with Him, but in a union so deep that we will never exhaust the riches of this friendship. So please pray for those who are being prepared for Reception into the Church next month; for their Sponsors, who accompany them along their formation in the Faith. Last weekend some twenty young adults from the Parish began their preparation for Confirmation at Pentecost. May we all, as members of God’s Family the Church, grow in knowledge and love of Him in this time of grace.
On Wednesday evening in Brentwood Cathedral there will be the Solemn Concelebrated Mass with Te Deum for the Centenary of the Diocese. Most of the Hierarchy of England and Wales will be present and Cardinal Nichols will deliver the Homily. Whilst numbers have to be limited there will be five members of the Parish present (who applied for tickets) and who will represent Leigh Parish. We can all thank God for the graces He has given us in Brentwood and under the patronage of Our Lady of Lourdes go forward with renewed Faith and enthusiasm.
May God bless you.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Third Sunday of Lent
Third Sunday of Lent - Sunday 19th March
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Guy Bragard, RIP (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Intentions of Derek Timothy (BT)
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 20 ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
9.00am Mass Denis & Paul Reid, RIP (Anniv)(AR)
Tuesday 21 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Fr Boniface (B&MH)
Wednesday 22 Feria
9.00am Mass Elpedio M Bonggot, RIP (ER)
Thursday 23 Feria
9.00am Mass Lee Hayward, RIP (ER)
Friday 24 Feria
6.30am Mass Georgious Kyriacos Panayiotou, RIP (JC)
12Noon Mass John Mansfield, RIP (KW)
8.00pm Stations of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 25 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
10am Mass Peter Jacobs, RIP(MK)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
The Holy Rosary is prayed after morning Mass during the week
Fourth Sunday of Lent - Sunday 26th March - Laetare Sunday
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Moira & Frank Keenan, RIP (Anniv) (FK)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Gabrielle Haiser, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass May Downey, RIP (MD)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of
June White, RIP who died on 14th March 2017. Her Body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 30th March at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 31st March at 2pm, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium at 3.15pm.
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 6th & 13th May First Holy Communion Masses- 10.30am
Sunday 4th June Confirmation Mass - 11.30am
Sunday 18th June Corpus Christi Procession - 4pm
Saturday 22nd July Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Monday 24th/Friday 28th July Parish Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
7th October to 15th October Parish Mission
Catholic Women’s League
Jo Ronan has kindly agreed to come to the CWL Social Meeting on Monday, 27th March to talk to us about the works undertaken by 'Serving the Homeless', which is an interdenominational project representing the congregations of six local churches. Please come along and support Jo on the 27th. Tea and cake will be supplied and entry is free. A collection will be be taken up at the end to contribute to their works.
Gift Aid envelopes
New boxes of envelopes for those in the Gift Aid Scheme will be available for collection on 18th/19th and 25th/26th March. If you wish to gift aid your weekly offering by using envelopes, please complete a Gift Aid Form, available at the back of Church, and either hand it in to the Parish office or place it in the offertory collection. You will then receive a box of envelopes for your weekly collection.
APF Boxholders
I have received the Spring Missio Magazine. If you have not received yours from me please take one from the table at the back of the Hall or from the back of church in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505.
Class Teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Manchester Drive, Leigh on Sea, SS9 3HS, 01702 475689
MPR/UPR, Full-time, Required September 2017. We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, experienced highly motivated, Upper KS2 teacher to join our teaching staff. We are a large 2 form entry primary school with 421 children on roll. The successful candidate must be either a practising Catholic or willing to support the strong Catholic ethos of our school. TLR would be considered for the right candidate.
The successful candidate will: have a passion for learning and to make learning fun, expect the highest standards from all pupils, demonstrate high expectations of behaviour and achievement, communicate well with children, parents and colleagues, have good organisational skills and outstanding classroom practice. We offer access to professional development. Visits are warmly welcomed and can be arranged by contacting the school office. Closing Date: Thursday 20th April 2017
For the application form, please follow the link below.
http://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/employment-documents/application-forms. Please choose the link ‘Teacher Application Form’, download and return to the school office via post or email to finance@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The appointment is subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance and references and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Spring Walk
Why not sign up again for HARP’s Prittle Brook Spring Walk? Taking place on Sunday 23rd April 2017 at 2pm, it’s a 3½ mile Sunday afternoon stroll along the Prittle Brook Greenway from Priory Park to Belfairs Park – raising vital funds for HARP. Every step you take will show you’re supporting local homeless people.
What’s more, with each entry you will receive a FREE HARP Spring Walk T-shirt and also enjoy a well-earned cup of tea and slice of cake afterwards at the Woodlands Centre at Belfairs Park. This is a great afternoon out and knowing you are helping Southend’s homeless community rebuild their lives and live independently makes it even better! http://www.harpsouthend.org/spring-walk