Accommodation Required
Denis Collins, an ex-Parishioner who now lives in Colchester, is starting a job at South Essex College in September (Southend) working three days per week, Weds, Thurs and Friday. If there is any parishoner who might have a spare room for any or all of those nights please ring 01206 824276. Father Swires, my Parish Priest, who will happily provide a reference on request.
Serving the Homeless
Sincere thanks to those parishioners who purchased raffle tickets for our Grand Summer Draw. These will be on sale throughout the summer from any member of our Committee or, alternatively, please contact Jo Ronan 474062, Linda Wall 558217 or Nina Bridgeman 472536. Tickets cost £1 each or you can purchase a book of 5 tickets for £5.
Art Exhibition & Sale
The Live Simply Group invites you to an exhibition & sale of beautiful original paintings & craft from Kenyan artists in the Parish Centre. The work will be on display from 10.30am Saturday 15th July until 8.00pm; and then again, on Sunday 16th July, from 8.30am until 2.00pm. Refreshments will be available. All proceeds will go to Kenyan Orphan Fund & Ugandan Project. Why not pop in after Mass or tell your friends?
CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players
Bishop Robert Barron's ground-breaking Pivotal Players series concludes this week on July 3, 2017 at 8:00 pm in the Parish Centre, with two converts to Catholicism, John Henry Newman and G.K. Chesterton. John Henry Newman came into the Church as a convert and used his prodigious intellectual gifts to help the Church better understand its identity and mission. G.K. Chesterton, a nineteenth century literary convert, shows that the fundamental disposition of effective evangelisation is joy, and that life in Christ is a day-to-day encounter with an abundant and surprising offer of grace. Newman and Chesterton show us how to effectively engage our culture in challenges of truth in matters of religion, that is too often befuddled by Christ and suspicious of the Church.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Tom O’Callaghan & Rita O’Callaghan
HARP
Thank you to all the parishioners who have donated items of food and clothing recently. We would also like to thank the Committee of Serving the Homeless for their weekly donations of meat and other fresh foods, which are used to provide nourishing meals every day. This month's wish list: night-pack items, UHT milk, bottles of squash. We would also like wire coat hangers, which will be used for an art project that our vulnerable clients are currently working on.
Diocesan Centenary Exhibition
This will be available in the Parish Centre at Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, before & after Mass on Saturday 8th July (5.30pm) and Sunday 9th July (8.00am, 9.30am & 11.30am). Free Admission. All are welcome. Bookstall available.
Volunteering for HARP
HARP the local homeless charity are looking for volunteers to help collect donations on Saturday 15th July between the hours of 9am-5pm at Waitrose, Fossetts Way, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4DQ. If you have an hour or two spare on that day please contact Lisa Walton 01702415834 lisa.walton@harpsouthend.org.uk many thanks.
Diocesan Centenary Pilgrimage to Walsingham Saturday 22nd July
The main celebration of our Centenary this year will take place at Walsingham and will be a Diocesan-wide event. Two coaches will travel from our Parish at a cost of £10 per adult, £5 per child. The coaches will leave Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 8am and depart from Walsingham no later than 5pm.
If you would like to book a ticket for the coach please call in at the Parish Office as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Monies should be paid at the time of booking. The Parish Office is open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, put your name and cash/cheque (payable to Our Lady of Lourdes) in an envelope and post it through the Presbytery door
Memorial Mass for Msgr George Stokes, RIP
This will be celebrated on Thursday, 6th July at 11am at Brentwood Cathedral.
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 2nd July Parish AGM - 6.30pm
Saturday 22nd July Walsingham Centenary Pilgrimage
Monday 24th-Friday 28th July Parish/Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
7th October - 15th October Parish Mission
Please Pray for the Dead on their anniversaries
Fr James Littleton, Fr Patrick Curran, Fr Patrick Carthy, Canon Thomas Barrett,Fr Peter Brady, Fr Bill Brown, Frank Clancy, Gustave Rombaut, Lionel Conway, Paul King, Josephne Studd, Julie Quaile, Iris Bell, Harriet Thompson, Reginald Brierley, Joan Wiltshire, Alfred Edwards, Mirian Jackson, Kathleen Ford, Gertrude Bridges, Elsie Asher, Edmund Gdembewski, Ann Littlewood, Marie Clements, Alfred Johnson, Jennifer Lyons, Joseph Bond, Dorothy Blaker, Ronald Conner, Brian Finnigan, Dorothy Burder, Susan Hayes, Alison Shepherd, Elizabeth (Lily) Dean, Maurice Mulcahy, Benita Skellon, George King, Margaret Smith, Patricia Cavanagh, Ted Wilson & John Hardy.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
This weekend the calendar resumes Ordinary Time after the celebration of Corpus Christi last weekend. I thank those who helped to arrange our Eucharistic Procession last Sunday which as always is a tangible witness to our Catholic Faith in the Blessed Sacrament. I am especially grateful to the Tilbury Brass Band, our band of Altar Servers and the Ladies who provided the lovely Tea that followed.
Dear Friends in Christ
This weekend the calendar resumes Ordinary Time after the celebration of Corpus Christi last weekend. I thank those who helped to arrange our Eucharistic Procession last Sunday which as always is a tangible witness to our Catholic Faith in the Blessed Sacrament. I am especially grateful to the Tilbury Brass Band, our band of Altar Servers and the Ladies who provided the lovely Tea that followed.
Next Sunday (2nd July) is the occasion of our Annual Parish Meeting. As in previous years the invitation to attend is extended to the entire Parish Family. However, I invite in a particular way all who offer their time and talents to the Parish as a means of my expressing gratitude to you all. Please do try and come along if only for a short time. The Meeting will begin at 6.30pm with the Reports from the Parish Groups and then flow into the Garden Party.
On Monday we will be welcoming Year 6 Leavers from around our Deanery Primary Schools for a Thanksgiving Mass here in our church. Pray for our young people as they prepare for the next stage of their schooling.
Thursday is the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul and is a Holyday of Obligation. The children from our Primary School will be attending the morning Mass (at the later start time of 9.15am). This feast of the two Princes of the Apostles lets us celebrate our Faith in the Church which is founded on their fortitude, courage and strength, even to the point of martyrdom. Their two statues both on the tower of our church and either side of the sanctuary within, proclaim to us and to the world the excellence of their witness.
Finally, may I remind you that there are still some seats available on the two coaches that will be going to Walsingham on Saturday, 22nd July. This will be the main Centenary celebration for our Diocese together with our Bishop and all the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese; please book now to avoid disappointment!
With every blessing.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 25th June
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Intentions of the Major Family (PM)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Renata Butler (TO’C)
11.30am Mass Intentions of the James Family (UO’K)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 26 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Teresa O’Brien (BH)
11.00am Mass Year 6 Deanery Mass
3.45pm Funeral Service Laura Groves, RIP
Tuesday 27 St Cyril of Alexandria, Bp, D
9.00am Mass Thomas O’Dwyer, RIP (JC)
Wednesday 28 St Irenaeus, Bp, M
9.00am Mass Gareth Lewis, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
Thursday 29 SS PETER & PAUL, App Holyday of Obligation
9.15am Mass Joan & Patrick McCarthy (Golden Wedding) (TO’C)
12Noon Mass Holy Souls
8.00pm Mass The People of the Parish
Friday 30 The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
12Noon Mass Patrick Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
Saturday 1 July St Oliver Plunkett, Bp, M
10.00am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (Anniv) (CR)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confessions
The Holy Rosary is prayed after morning Mass during the week
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 2nd July
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Vera & Henry De Souza, RIP (FDS)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Teresa Yates, RIP (MW)
9.30am Mass Lynn Tait, RIP (BH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4.00pm Mass Marion & Robert Caunce, RIP - Extraordinary Form (JC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Baptism Preparation Evenings
The next Baptism Preparation Evenings will take place on Tuesdays 4th and 11th July in the Newman Room of the Parish Centre at 8pm. Details from Paul and Diane Watts on 01702 478396.
Flat for Renting
A Parish property in close proximity to the church is available for renting at the market rate of £750 pcm. Anyone interested should contact the Parish Office.
APF Boxholders
If you have not had your box opened in the last six months would you please give it in to the office or to me personally in the next few weeks. I have received the Summer Missio, if you have not already received one from me please take one from the back of the church in the usual place. Don't forget to collect your emptied boxes from the back of the church. Thank you. Joan Caunce, 01268 757505.
Sea of Voices
We have been going for one year now and have sung in various locations. We could still do with more voices, male and female. We meet upstairs in the Parish Centre 7.45pm to 9.15pm on Wednesday evenings. Do come along and see what you think with a view to joining. We also need an Assistant Musical Director. If interested, or know of someone, please contact Darrell on 07825686249.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the May draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 140 Mrs Diane Watts
2nd Prize £100 159 Mr A Bullock
3rd Prize £75 3 Mr M Diggines
4th Prize £50 190 Mr J Hurley
5th Prize £25 31 Mrs L Ravinet