Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Cardinal John Carmel Heenan, Fr William Philpot, Deacon Norman Wiseman, Canon Denis Petry, Bob O’Toole, Dorothy Bartley, Lily Kenny, Irene Fanning, May Pinsent, Arthur (Rob) Hood, Margaret Scales, Marie Elliott, Olive Potter, Alice West, James McHugh, Alan Gloyne, Bernard Culham, Bridget Curtis, Tom Doran, Robert Drew, Clare Murphy, Emma Harley, Fr James Ethrington, Francis Whelan, Dorothy Stuart, Sydney Hamblion, Thomas Horner, Dr Gerry Leyden, Marie Daniels, Sidney Hempstead & Pearl Scaife .
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Dates for your Diary
Friday 10th Nov Sung Requiem Mass in the Extraordinary Form - 8pm
Thurs 30th Nov - Sat 2nd December - The Forty Hours Prayer
Sunday 10th Dec Advent Organ Recital by James Devor 5.30pm (with Benediction)
Friday 14th Dec Carols with the Gaudeamus Choir - 7.30pm
Friday 29th Dec Mass with the Bishop and seminarians of our Diocese - 12Noon
Gaudeamus Christmas Concert, Friday 15th December 2017, 7.30pm
Gaudeamus is a chamber choir of 26 singers based in Leigh-on-Sea. They sing a wide range of music ranging from Renaissance to present day works but are particularly noted for their a capella (unaccompanied) singing. They will be singing a variety of Christmas carols and also the audience will be invited (and actively encouraged!) to participate in some well-known carols during the concert.
All are welcome.
Tickets will be available at the door for £8. Tea and coffee with mince pies will be served in the hall during the interval. If you would like more information please contact Nigel Warwick-Brown (member of 9.30 Mass music group) on 07402324626.
Reception Open Afternoon for Prospective Parents
We are holding tours on 15th and 17th November to show parents around our Reception classes and the facilities for children here at Our Lady of Lourdes. This opportunity to visit Reception is open to any parent that has a child who will be starting school in September 2018.
The visits will begin at 1.30pm on both days, however please make sure you contact the School Office on 01702 475689 to book in, as we would like to spread our visitors over the two days, thank you. We look forward to welcoming new parents and children to our school.
The Forty Hours’ Prayer Thursday 30th November – Saturday 2nd December
Thursday 30th November
Solemn Opening Mass 7.00pm
Exposition continues until midnight
Friday 1st December
Exposition from 7.00am and throughout the day
Holy Mass 12 noon
Benediction for children & families 3.30pm
Preached Holy Hour 8 – 9pm;
Exposition throughout the night
Saturday 2nd December
Holy Mass 7.00am
Concluding Solemn Benediction 4.00pm
Parish Social Events in the Parish Centre
Friday 24th November Quiz starts 7.30pm. Tickets £6 each (includes Mulled Wine and mince pie).
Sunday 31st December New Year’s Eve party with Disco, 8pm to 12.15am Tickets £5 (family ticket £20)
Christmas Bazaar, Sunday 3rd December, 2017
Everyone is welcome to join us after 8am Mass right through to 1.30pm. We need your donations of unwanted gifts, bottles, toiletries and good quality raffle prizes. You can leave these in the old Baptistry. We really hope that you can join us for delicious refreshments. Come along and bag a bargain. If you wish to help on the day please contact Sue Lawford 07816141492 or Angela Clements 07940183452.
Scripture Group
Fr. Con's Scripture Group will next meet on Thursday 9th November in the Parish Centre from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Journey of Faith (RCIA)
A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, continues on Monday 6th November at 8pm in the Parish Centre with The Bible. You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
November Dead List
Envelopes for the November dead list are at the back of the church. Please place names and offering in the box provided.
Baptism Course
The next Baptism Course will be held on Tuesdays 7th and 14th November 8-9pm in the Newman Room of the Parish Centre.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School - Cleaner Vacancy
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated person to join our friendly school, for 10 hours per week, Point 7. You will be responsible for cleaning within all areas of the school and any other additional areas that may need cleaning. The hours are 2 per day either before or after school. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to support this commitment. For more details please contact the office by phone on 01702 475689 or email finance@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk.
Closing date for applications is Thursday 9th November 2017 at 5pm.
Serving the Homeless
Our next fundraising event is "Songs from the Musicals" featuring Elizabeth Upsher and the Southend YMCA on Saturday 18th November in the Parish Centre. Tickets cost £12 and include an Italian buffet supper. Please bring your own drinks. Tickets are available from Theresa 335922 or Nina 472536.
Wines for Celebrations
Wine tasting - Wines for Celebrations - to be hosted by Steve Jones (late of the Pipe of Port) at St Helen's Church Hall, St Helen's Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JP on Friday 17th November at 7.30 p.m. Includes delicious refreshments of paté , cheese, bread and chutney which is served after the Wine Tasting. Tickets cost £15 - all profits go to St Helen's Church Lourdes fund (which gives financial assistance to help people going to Lourdes on the parish pilgrimage) and The Parish Minibus fund (to pay for the annual insurance of over £1,000). To book please ring
Pat 01702 476672 or Elizabeth 01702 347369
Live Simply Film Night
Many thanks to those who attended last week's enjoyable evening when £100 was raised. This will be divided between CAFOD and RSN ( an educational charity supporting refugees).
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of
Margaret Convey, RIP whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday,
20th November at 10.15am.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
This week marks the beginning of November with the two days that set the tone for this time of year: All Saints and All Souls: the Day of those who live with God in Heaven and the Day of the Departed who are still on that journey homewards to God. Wednesday (1st) is a Holyday of Obligation for Catholics and Thursday the Day on which many of us like to participate in Holy Mass for the souls of our departed loved-ones. Thursday evening the Mass will be for all those from the Parish Family who have died in the last year. Every day is a preparation for our final hour on earth.
Dear Friends in Christ
This week marks the beginning of November with the two days that set the tone for this time of year: All Saints and All Souls: the Day of those who live with God in Heaven and the Day of the Departed who are still on that journey homewards to God. Wednesday (1st) is a Holyday of Obligation for Catholics and Thursday the Day on which many of us like to participate in Holy Mass for the souls of our departed loved-ones. Thursday evening the Mass will be for all those from the Parish Family who have died in the last year. Every day is a preparation for our final hour on earth. This can never be a morbid thought but a consideration that helps us to focus better on our time here, which is, to know love and serve God, so as to be happy with Him for ever in Heaven. This is practically the first truth we learned as children about the purpose of life: to live godly lives here and now, so as to receive the reward of life eternal. Everything we do must help to further this end: our life of prayer, the Holy Mass, the Sacraments, our good works and sacrifices, all of it is so that we may one day join the company of Saints above.
Before the Parish Mission I said that we need to continue the momentum of those days of renewal with a new drive to evangelise. There are many different models that are used these days, one of them Apprenticeship for Discipleship has been successfully employed in several Dioceses across our country and elsewhere. It involves us moving to an increased sense of discipleship; growth in prayer and spiritual life; increased devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist; attaining and attitude of conviction in witnessing to our Faith and a human and spiritual growth enabling us to be uninhibited when it comes to proclaiming our Faith. Over the coming weeks I shall say more about the ways we might do this as a Parish Family but for now I would ask you to keep alive the enthusiasm of the days of our Mission, by praying the Mission Prayer still, and perhaps revisiting the Talks which are available on the Parish website. May God bless us abundantly!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org