Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
Dear Friends in christ
As we come to the end of another year in the life of the Church we celebrate the Kingship of Christ. All power, authority and leadership in the Church is at the service of the People of God. The image of Christ the King is expressed also in the image of Christ as Shepherd and Suffering Servant who reigns from the Cross. It is this image also that we hear in the Gospel of this Sunday: Jesus, Universal Lord and Judge of Mankind. The final judgement is depicted for us by Jesus in graphic detail, as He separates mankind as sheep and goats: those who chose to do good and those who omitted to. It reminds us that our individual particular judgment will be based upon the way we responded to the needs of those who call upon it. The so-called Corporal Works of Mercy derive from this Gospel of Christ the King.
Dear Friends in christ
As we come to the end of another year in the life of the Church we celebrate the Kingship of Christ. All power, authority and leadership in the Church is at the service of the People of God. The image of Christ the King is expressed also in the image of Christ as Shepherd and Suffering Servant who reigns from the Cross. It is this image also that we hear in the Gospel of this Sunday: Jesus, Universal Lord and Judge of Mankind. The final judgement is depicted for us by Jesus in graphic detail, as He separates mankind as sheep and goats: those who chose to do good and those who omitted to. It reminds us that our individual particular judgment will be based upon the way we responded to the needs of those who call upon it. The so-called Corporal Works of Mercy derive from this Gospel of Christ the King.
On Thursday we shall begin our Annual Solemn Days of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. These three days - or Forty Hours - are at the heart of our Parish year, even though they occur on the final three days of the liturgical year. The Church asks that in every place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, there be an extended period of exposition and adoration of the Eucharist each year. I ask you to sign the lists for Watching at the back of church so that all of the time slots are covered from Thursday evening until Saturday afternoon. Candles which will burn – and be used also throughout the year as the sanctuary lamp – can be had from the Sacristy for five pounds. This year we will continue our prayer and adoration through the night of Friday. Our young adults will organise this but it would be important if some adults were also present at some of the times. Access will be gained through the door on the north side of the church (the courtyard/car park) which will be locked for security but someone will be on duty to allow access. Let us pray that these hours of uninterrupted prayer will be a time of contemplation and grace for the whole Parish Family, especially for the sick, the suffering, the housebound and those with any particular difficulty.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING - Sunday 26th NOVEMBER
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Rene Bragard, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Eileen Egan, RIP (WMcH)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Anne Young, RIP (CB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 27 Feria
9.00am Mass Lilian & Jim Fegan, RIP (Anniv) (JC)
Tuesday 28 Feria
9.00am Mass Pietro Tisi, RIP (Anniv)(A&VT)
Wednesday 29 Feria
11.00am Requiem Mass Anne Clancy, RIP
Thursday 30 ST ANDREW, Ap
7.00pm Mass Opening Mass of Forty Hours - Intentions of Fr Stephen Morrison,
Abbot Hugh Allan & Fr Kevin Hale (MH)
Exposition continues until midnight
Friday 1 December Bl John Beche, Ab, M
Exposition resumes from 7am
12Noon Mass Intentions of the CWL
3.30pm Benediction for Children & Families
8.00-9.00pm Preached Holy Hour
Exposition throughout the night
Saturday 2 Our Lady on Saturday
7.00am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (CR)
4.00pm Closing Benediction of the Forty Hours
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
First Sunday of Advent - Sunday 3rd December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Margaret Sheaf, RIP (Anniv)(BS)
9.30am Mass Joe & Joan Hurley - Thanksgiving (MS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4.00pm Mass Intentions of the Herbert Family - Extraordinary Form (JH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Nazareth House - Sunday 10th December at 3pm
All are invited to the Christmas Carols Concert in the Chapel at Nazareth House to a celebration of Christmas. The celebration will include two choirs, Readings by children, traditional readings as well as congregation singing of Carols. Mulled wine and mince pies to follow. Free entry with donations to Nazareth House accepted.
HARP
Thank you for your recent generous donations. Currently we have a very high demand for our services and we are desperately short of individual cartons of juice, toothbrushes and roll on deodorant for both men and women. If you could add one of these to your weekly shopping list and leave it in the sacristy it would be greatly appreciated.
Social News
SEA of VOICES CHOIR Our community choir will perform in two concerts in December: Saturday 9th December, 4pm at Prittlewell Priory in a concert organised by the Southend YMCA to help the homeless (Tickets £10) and on Sunday 10th December at 3pm at Nazareth House for residents. New singers welcome to join the choir for next year – contact Darrell (number below).
PARISH NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Tickets available for this annual event. Disco from 8pm to 12.15am. Tickets £5 adults (Family tickets £20) available from Phyllis (07969465518) and Darrell (07825686249).
Christmas Bazaar, Sunday 3rd December 2017
Many thanks for all your donations so far, but we are still in need of bottles and good quality unwanted gifts. Also don't forget to return your raffle tickets to the Parish office. If you haven't picked up any yet, they are at the back of the Church today and throughout the week. Please join us after all Masses next Sunday for delicious refreshments and Christmas bargains! On the day Cynthia would love to have your cake donations. Last week, I suggested that the CWL were manning the cake stall, but they are working elsewhere on the day, it's Cynthia who is in charge of cakes. Sorry about that Cynthia. Please come and join us next Sunday.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the October draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 184 Mrs A Peoples
2nd Prize £100 199 Mr J McEvoy
3rd Prize £75 72 Mrs P Mansfield
4th Prize £50 30 Mrs N Richardson-Shii
5th Prize £25 144 Mrs N Bridgeman
The 200 Club continues to provide funds to support the running of the Parish Centre. We would still like more members, so why not consider giving a subscription as a Christmas present? Forms are available from the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Catholic Women's League - An Afternoon of Music
Everyone is welcome to join Alan Bush who is presenting Classical music on Monday 27th November, 2-4pm, including refreshments,
Serving the Homeless
Serving the Homeless are holding a Christmas Wreath Making Morning on 12th December at 10am at Highlands Methodist Church, Sutherland Boulevard, Leigh-on-Sea. Coffee and mince pies will be served and you are guaranteed to take home a lovely christmas wreath. Tickets £15 (£10 to charity) from Nina 472536.
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 27th November at 8pm in the Parish Centre with The Paschal Mystery & Resurrection. You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Sheila West
Folders: Amanda Phipps & Clare English
Dates for your Diary
Thursday 30th Nov - Sat 2nd December - The Forty Hours Prayer
Sunday 10th Dec Advent Organ Recital by James Devor 5.30pm (with Benediction)
Friday 15th Dec Carols with the Gaudeamus Choir - 7.30pm
Friday 29th Dec Mass with the Bishop and seminarians of our Diocese - 12Noon
DAYS OF SOLEMN EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
The Forty Hours’ Prayer
Thursday 30th November – Saturday 2nd December 2017
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
We Pray for our Sick
Renata Butler, Mike Rubbert, Teresa O’Brien, Derek Timothy, Maureen Deekes, Noel Fagan, Patricia Abram, Tina Doveaston, Pat Lynch,Rose Craft, Addi Brady, 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, Janet Woods, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch,Roy Widdecombe, Lynne Hilkene, Johanna Lynch, Thomas Corrigan, Maria Clark,June Moncaster, Sheila McBrearty, Anthony King, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Edward Martin, Johnnie Pool, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Barbara Sheaf, 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, 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 Dead on their anniversaries
Fr Anthony Robson, Fr John Aydon, Fr Patrick Bennett, Fr Francis Branney, Fr Bartholomew (Bart) Lynch, Fr James (Pat) Hannon, Gilbert Blanch, Clifford Pollard, Matthew Browning, John Sidney Clements, Peggy Jefferies, Thomas Slattery, Patricia Manvell, Ronald Slater, Ann McGinty, Eileen Vaughan, Mrs Elinor Watters, Vera Spelling, Marie Sanctuary, Dillwyn Morgan, David Aldridge, Ethel Knight, Kathleen Dawson, Mrs Pat Ballard, William Kerry & Leonard Coventry.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in christ
What is happening in the elements at this time of year is reflected by the Church in the way we focus on the Last Things. The Gospel of this Sunday reminds us that there will be a Judgment at the end: the Final Judgement and a particular judgement for each one of us. That will be the moment when we render an account of our lives so that we understand the eternity that awaits us. Christian art has often depicted the Final Judgment as very dramatic, with bodies swirling around in the sky and angels blowing their trumpets.
Dear Friends in christ
What is happening in the elements at this time of year is reflected by the Church in the way we focus on the Last Things. The Gospel of this Sunday reminds us that there will be a Judgment at the end: the Final Judgement and a particular judgement for each one of us. That will be the moment when we render an account of our lives so that we understand the eternity that awaits us. Christian art has often depicted the Final Judgment as very dramatic, with bodies swirling around in the sky and angels blowing their trumpets. All of this has a biblical precedent, as in the Book of the Apocalypse and St Paul to the Thessalonians, which we heard last week at Mass. These images should not alarm us, but rather help prepare us, for that moment. We are going to be judged by the God of infinite mercy and this gives us confidence but also the determination to live our lives in sight of our last end.
Next weekend is the final Sunday of the liturgical year and the feast of Christ the King. Following this we have our annual Solemn Days of Eucharistic Exposition, just before the start of Advent. As we conclude the Centenary Year of our Diocese at this time, it is a moment for us to give great thanks to God for all of the blessings received, not just in the last year, but throughout the entire history of our Diocese. This year for the Forty Hours there will be adoration throughout the night hours of Friday (1st). Please think about giving some time during the night to the adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I will explain next week how to gain access securely to the church during the night hours if you are able to come along. In the meantime, you might begin to sign-up for Watching before the Blessed Sacrament during those days; the lists are at the back of church. I wish you all a very blessed week ahead!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 19th November
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Raymond de Chantilly, RIP (CO’B)
9.30am Mass Deceased Relatives of the Wall Family (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Tim & Betty O’Leary, RIP (WMcH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 20 Feria
10.15am Requiem Mass Margaret Anne Convey, RIP
Tuesday 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00am Mass James Gallacher, RIP (K&LW)
Wednesday 22 St Ceciia, V, M
9.00am Mass Eileen Egan, RIP (WMcH&)
Thursday 23 St Clement 1, Pope, M
9.00am Mass John Marshall, RIP (Anniv)(AM)
Friday 24 Ss Andrew Dung Lac, Pr & Comps, Mm
12Noon Mass John Kidney, RIP (G&JA)
Saturday 25 St Catherine of Alexandria, V, M
10.00am Mass Gareth Lewis, RIP (JL)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING - Sunday 26th November
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Rene Bragard, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Eileen Egan, RIP (WMcH)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Anne Young, RIP (CB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction