Brentwood Diocesan Directory 2018
These are now available from the back of the church at a cost of £2.75p.
Live Simply Group
You are invited to join the Live Simply group each Monday from 10.15am to 11.45am in the Parish Centre to discuss the Sunday Gospel and how it applies to our everyday life, using material from CAFOD and Laudate Si.
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.
THE DEANERY ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Saturday 9th December 2017, 7.30pm at St. Augustine’s Church, St. Augustine’s Avenue, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3JH. Tickets £5 each (16 and under FREE). Includes refreshments, mince pies and mulled wine. Tickets may be reserved by calling 07810 707910, visiting our website., https://thedeaneryorchestra.weebly.com or purchased at the door on the evening. The concert will be a wonderful selection of Christmas and popular music.
Mass for Vocations
A Mass for those enquiring or discerning a vocation to the priesthood will be at Our Lady of Lourdes at Leigh on Sea at 12:00pm on the feast of St. Thomas Becket, the 29th December 2017. All are welcome to come and pray for vocations and to meet our seminarians.
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.
Could you spare a thought for those on the streets of Southend this Christmas. Just £10 can bring a little Christmas magic for those who have been through a traumatic time. To donate £10 you can text XMAS09 £10 to 70070, visit harpsouthend.org.uk/Christmas-appeal-2017 or give your donation to Linda Wall.
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 (07825686249).
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.
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society Gift Mass
There will be a Gift Mass on Sunday 17th December at 9.30am. Please write clearly on the gift whether it is for a boy or girl and what age range it would suit. Gifts for teenagers would also be much appreciated and if you are struggling with ideas, then Gift Vouchers are always very welcome.
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 4th December at 8pm in the Parish Centre with The Holy Spirit & the Life of Grace. You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
APF Boxholders
I have received the 2018 Calendars. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the church in the usual place. thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary 01268 757505.
Catholic Education
Do you support Catholic schools and the right off Catholics to send their children to them? Then we needy to make your voice heard.
The Government is making a critical decision on whether to overturn the admission cap which prevents Catholic schools from allowing all Catholic pupils to attend. They have acknowledged that this policy discriminates against Catholics and promised to abandon it, now we need you to tell them not to u-turn on their promise to Catholics.
Visit http://catholicnews.org.uk/education-cap or search for ‘Catholic Education’ in your search engine to write to the Government and urge them to drop their policy which bans new Catholic schools.
Diocesan Plan
You may like to read the first draft of a document for our Diocesan restructuring by following this link: http://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/bishop/
There are also some hard copies at the back of church.
Dates for your Diary
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
We Pray for our Sick
Arthur Mills, 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 Brian Drea, Fr Michael Healy, Fr Bernard Pownall, Fr John Lane, Delia Fleming, Terence Slattery, Val Brown, Liliana Petrini, Timothy Murphy, Louise De Souza, Maurice Brazier, Agnes Nisbett, Yvonne Lovett, Irene Rice, Ryszard Burzynski, Vera Walls, Anne Woods, Hugh Smyth, Barbara Clarke, Brigid Hill, Doris Masters, Ann Dawson, William Johnson, Bruce Pond, John Newton, Thomas O’Hanlon Mary Alice Ring, Mary Dylcie O’Leary and John Parsons.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
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