Please pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Bernard Collings, Canon John Sloane, Canon John Walsh,Canon Cyril Shepherd, Stella Stanley, William Pearson, Peter James Scott, Kathleen Shanahan, Charles Capon, Nellie Aynsley, Marjorie Clarke, Sheila King, Vera Goldman, Margaret Knight, Antoni Byczynski, Campbell Coe, Gladys Robson, Doris Bree, Catherine Marriott, John Flemming, Pat Moon, Celia Peace and Frederick John Lea.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
During my recent holiday in Italy I experienced the intense heat that much of southern Europe has been experiencing these last weeks. On some days it was very uncomfortable to even venture outside. More to the point, many regions are experiencing drought and water rationing. These kind-of conditions may make us appreciative of the more temperate climate in which we live. We have heard all of the arguments about climate change and the importance of care for environment, and whatever the science behind these claims we nonetheless know that we must respect the world around us. There is a wise moral dictum: God always forgives; man sometimes forgives; nature never forgives. It is with this consciousness that Pope Francis wrote his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si in May 2015.
Dear Friends in Christ
During my recent holiday in Italy I experienced the intense heat that much of southern Europe has been experiencing these last weeks. On some days it was very uncomfortable to even venture outside. More to the point, many regions are experiencing drought and water rationing. These kind-of conditions may make us appreciative of the more temperate climate in which we live. We have heard all of the arguments about climate change and the importance of care for environment, and whatever the science behind these claims we nonetheless know that we must respect the world around us. There is a wise moral dictum: God always forgives; man sometimes forgives; nature never forgives. It is with this consciousness that Pope Francis wrote his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si in May 2015. Pope Francis has said that the warming of the planet is a symptom of a greater problem: the developed world's indifference to the destruction of the planet as they pursue short-term economic gains. This has resulted in a "throwaway culture" in which unwanted items and unwanted people, such as the unborn, the elderly, and the poor, are discarded as waste. The real problem, according to Pope Francis, lies in the fact that humans no longer see God as the Creator. Thus we see "other living beings as mere objects subjected to arbitrary human domination" and do not realise that "the ultimate purpose of other creatures is not found in us. Pope Francis says that instead of viewing humanity as having "dominion" over the earth, we must see that everything is interconnected and that all of creation is a "kind of universal family”. Nature cannot be seen as something apart from humanity, or merely the place where we live. He says that our social and environmental crises are thus one complex crisis that must be solved holistically.
I am very happy that, in our own way here in the Parish, we try to do all we can to respect the dignity of life and creation. We may only be able to make a small contribution to this scenario but as the saying goes: no drops, no ocean! So I would encourage us all to be ever more conscious of the way we use the resources of the earth. Within the buildings of the church, Parish Centre and Presbytery, we have consciously chosen low-energy lighting and heating to conserve energy. Many people now receive the Newsletter electronically; it ismy hope that eventually we can be a paperless Parish. So please do sign-up for the electronic version of the Newsletter if you are not already a subscriber. Also the Gallery on the Parish website is a facility where we can share images of recent events; and the Parish website in it’s redesigned format is a user-friendly area in which to advertise forthcoming events; please continue to send news and images via the Parish Office (admin@lourdesleigh.org). The Catholic Truth Society are also leading the way here as they have now published hundreds of their booklets as e-books. We can all play our part in the safeguarding of our environment and in making our earthly existence compatible with the vision that God has for us, and which is outlined so forcefully by our Holy Father the Pope.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 20th August
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Mary & Alf Johnson, RIP (Anniv) (CM)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Patricia Armstrong, RIP
9.30am Mass Mike & Marie Rubbert - Golden Wedding Anniversary (M&MR)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 21 St Pius X, P
9.00am Mass Andrew Regan, RIP (MR)
Tuesday 22 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00am Mass Intentions of Arthur Wiktorski, (AW)
Wednesday 23 St Rose of Lima, V
9.00am Mass Patricia & John Moon & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
Thursday 24 ST BARTHOLOMEW, Ap
9.00am Mass Terence, Maisie & Eugene Renehan, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
Friday 25 St Louis
12Noon Mass Charles & Alice Whitfield , RIP (FM)
Saturday 26 Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Pr
10.00am Mass Alex Junior & Peggy McFarlane, RIP(Anniv) (MW)
The Holy Rosary is prayed after morning Mass during the week
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 27th August
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil William Underwood, RIP(RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Bill Pearson, RIP (Anniv)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Jim Scott, RIP (Anniv) (MS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Afternoon Tea on the Terrace - 2nd September at 2.30pm
Tickets for this event will be on sale after Masses over the next 2 weekends at a cost of £5 per ticket. They can also be purchased during the week, after the weekday Mass, from the Parish Office. There are a limited amount of tickets so make sure you get yours early.
The Friends of Nazareth coffee morning and jumble sale
This will be held on Saturday 2nd September, 11am to 12.30 at Nazareth House hall. All proceeds go to the Sisters of Nazareth House for the benefit of the residents. We shall also be trying out a Poetry Resitation performance during the coffee morning. All poetry fans welcome to recite their favourite piece.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the July draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 20 Mrs C Carlile
2nd Prize £100 40 Ms J Yates
3rd Prize £75 200 Mrs S Griffin
4th Prize £50 14 Mrs G Robertson
5th Prize £25 154 Mr A Barber
The 200 Club continues to provide funds to support the running of the Parish Centre. Over the past two years the number of parishioners supporting the 200 Club has fallen. 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.
Working Together to Evangelise our Diocese
The Report drafted as a result of the recent consultations and discussions that took place around the Diocese for future planning is published here:
World Youth Day, Panama, January 2019
If you will be in year 12, or aged 17-27, in January 2019, then join the BCYS group travelling to Costa Rica and Panama for an encounter with 2 million young people from all over the world, and the Pope.
This is truly a “once in a lifetime” experience and an amazing opportunity to discover and celebrate faith in Latin America. For more information, visit www.bcys.net or email frdominic@dioceseofbrentwood.org by 15th September 2017.
BCYS Lourdes, Summer 20
Turn your computer on, and enjoy the “virtual pilgrimage.” Video clips of 2-10 minutes capture the flavour of the recent Diocesan pilgrimage, including all the homilies, and interviews with Bishop Alan and Fr Bob Hamill.
You can find these via www.bcys.net or search “Virtual Pilgrimage – Lourdes 2017” on YouTube.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Jacky Hoggett & Brian Mountier
Folders: Bobby Newman & Emma Beardsell
First Holy Communion 2018
If you have a child going into Year 3 in September and you would like them to make their First Holy Communion in 2018, please complete the on-line Registration Form available from the Parish Website under Sacraments and return this to the Parish Office no later than Thursday 31st August 2017.
School Admissions
Letters of Practice for admission to Primary School will be issued on a date in October.
Dates for your Diary
11th, 18th & 25th September - Introductory Talks on the Faith
7th October - 15th October - Parish Mission
We Pray for our Sick
Renata Butler, Mike Rubbert, Teresa O’Brien, Derek Timothy, John Jarvis, Maureen Deekes, Carol Halldenby, Noel Fagan, Leanor Fairbanks, Patricia Abram, Christine Noden, Tina Doveaston, Pat Lynch, Rose Craft, Addi Brady, Gerard Rodgers, Ben Wilson, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Brita Irons, Eileen Wilson, Patricia Spikin, Sandra Fagan, Edna Wallace, Beryl Dixon, Nan Carrit, Nick Evans, Vicky Jack, Lyn Gopee, Margaret Harrington, Mary Boyce,Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Dympna Addecott, Monica Neate, Janet Woods,Laura & Anne Breen, Roy Widdecombe, Lynne Hilkene, Johanna Lynch, Thomas Corrigan, June Moncaster, Breda Lynch, Sheila McBrearty, Anthony King, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Edward Martin, Johnnie Pool, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Barbara Sheaf, Maria Clark, Josephine Griggs, Colleen Worley, Antonella McConalogue, Fr Jean Laurent Marie, Noel Kolb, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornwell, Lorraine Hart, Dawn Deleigh, Wyn McCafferty, Linda Dean, Annie Holland, Fr Martin Buckley, Chas Taylor, Martha Braun, John Lavery, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, David Askew, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, David Kislingury, Maureen Ward, Jane Jowers, Irena Solecki, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Rosemary Arscott, Lanto Bellis, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith and children Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Lucy Price, Connie Price, Mary Isherwood, Frazer Gregory, baby Talia Emery and Hattie Seymour.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
Gerard Rogers, RIP who died on Sunday, 13th August. His requiem Mass will be on Friday 1st September at 11am.
Raymond de Chantilly, RIP who died on Thursday, 17th August. Funeral details to follow.
Sanctuary Lamp
The lamp burns for the intentions of the Bidera, Cicpty & Winkler Families.
Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr George Greasley, Fr Séan Sheils, Canon Vincent Cameron, Fr Arthur Ryan, Rocco Forgione, Agnes Harding, Dainee Seebold, Edith Seymour, Mary Saegar, Rhoda Addecott, Teresa Griffiths, Anne McCarthy, Ronald Abnett, Eileen Shears, Christopher Poulain, John Ryan, Valerie Griggs, Marian Hart, Dorothy Scott, Stephen McGough, Stephen Cornell, Margaret Acaster, Colonel Ernest G. Petter, Bernard Squires, John Lowndes, Louise Newman, Veronica Maguire, Alan Tate & Mary (Molly) Horn.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
It seems to me that the thread connecting the First Reading and Gospel of the Mass this Sunday is that of silence. God is encountered in the still small voice of calm both by the prophet Elijah and by the Apostles after the storm on the lake. It is interesting that the more we engage in noise and activity, the less the world seems to hear God. All things that are great grow in silence. This is why the Christian soul needs to create silence and then find God within that stillness.
Dear Friends in Christ
It seems to me that the thread connecting the First Reading and Gospel of the Mass this Sunday is that of silence. God is encountered in the still small voice of calm both by the prophet Elijah and by the Apostles after the storm on the lake. It is interesting that the more we engage in noise and activity, the less the world seems to hear God. All things that are great grow in silence. This is why the Christian soul needs to create silence and then find God within that stillness. As we approach the great celebration of The Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven this coming Tuesday, Mary can be seen as the personification of this silence which characterises the encounter with God and the mystery of the divine. Speaking in 1995, Pope St John Paul II said: Mary’s example enables the Church better to appreciate the value of silence. Mary’s silence is not only moderation in speech, but it is especially a wise capacity for remembering and embracing in a single gaze of faith the mystery of the Word made man and the events of His earthly life. It is this silence as acceptance of the Word, this ability to meditate on the mystery of Christ, that Mary passes on to believers. In a noisy world filled with messages of all kinds, her witness enables us to appreciate a spiritually rich silence and fosters a contemplative spirit.
Let us look to Mary in this mystery of her Assumption and ask for the gift of inner peace and serenity. The world stands in need of this silence. Without it, this mystery of God will never be encountered and we will never experience the presence of God within ourselves. May this period of holiday and rest be for us the time to experience once more the healing inner peace of God.
With every blessing!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org