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.
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 continuing 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.
Christmas Dinner – 27th December 2017
Once again this year we will be hosting Christmas dinner at Sacred Heart Primary School on the 27th December as it was such a lovely occasion last year celebrating with some friends old and new. If you are on your own that day and would like to join us for turkey and all the trimmings then please contact the school office on 534546 to reserve a place. We will be serving dinner about 1.00pm If you require transport please advise the office. Look forward to seeing you, Sally Nutman, friends and family.
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.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Bob Hall & Sandra Hippard
Folders: Tom O’Callaghan & Rita O’Callaghan
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 11th December at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Mary and The Saints. 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 of Catholics to send their children to them? Then we need 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 15th Dec Carols with the Gaudeamus Choir - 7.30pm
Friday 29th Dec Mass with the Bishop and seminarians of our Diocese - 12Noon
Please Pray for the Repose of the Soul of
Derek Timothy, RIP who died on Saturday 2nd December. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday 18th December at 10am followed by burial at Hall Road Cemetery, Rockford.
We Pray for our Sick
Graham Addecott, Christian Ryan, Arthur Mills, Mike Rubbert, Teresa O’Brien, 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, Lynne Hilkene, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Roy Widdecombe, 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 Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr Bentley, Karen Anderson, Hilda Eid, Georgina Francis, Ann Dunbar, Ivy Heale, Cecilia Upsher, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Joyce, Clarice Bragazzi, Thomas McInerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Maxfield, Mary McQuaid and Francis O’Neill.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
First Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in christ
We have just concluded the church year, and prepared for Advent with, our Forty Hours Prayer; a time of adoration, praise and petition of Almighty God present in his Son Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I thank all those who helped prepare the church and liturgy for those Forty Hours and to our young people who stewarded the all-night vigil through Friday night. Continuing-on from this now, there will be an all-night vigil each First Friday night, organised by our young adults, and with the specific intention of praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our Diocese; I hope many others of you will be able to join with them in the months ahead.
Dear Friends in christ
We have just concluded the church year, and prepared for Advent with, our Forty Hours Prayer; a time of adoration, praise and petition of Almighty God present in his Son Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I thank all those who helped prepare the church and liturgy for those Forty Hours and to our young people who stewarded the all-night vigil through Friday night. Continuing-on from this now, there will be an all-night vigil each First Friday night, organised by our young adults, and with the specific intention of praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our Diocese; I hope many others of you will be able to join with them in the months ahead.
Having kept vigil in prayer with Christ we are ready for the start of Advent when the exhortation to us is: stay awake and stand ready! The countdown has begun for The Nativity of Our Lord, but first we must consider in this initial part of Advent the vigilance required of us as Christians living, as we do, as strangers in a foreign land. As exiles from our homeland, we have to give hope to the people of our time. As we approach the festive season, let’s ensure that we live this vigilance so as not to be drawn excessively into the materialism of the world around us, but transform it, and be transformed ourselves, by the brighter light that is our Saviour.
Next Sunday (10th) the Second Sunday of Advent, in place of the usual Vespers, there will be an Organ Recital given by James Devor - Organist Brentwood Cathedral - with Advent reflections, concluding with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; 5.30pm. This is an excellent way of entering musically and spiritually into this season of preparation for the Nativity.
God bless you as we begin a new season and year in the life of the Church!
Msgr Kevin Hale
✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent - Sunday 3rd DecEMBER
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
6.30pm–7.30pm 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
Monday 4 Feria
9.00am Mass Patricia & John Moon & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
Tuesday 5 Feria
9.00am Mass Anne Young, RIP (K&LW)
Wednesday 6 St Nicholas, Bp
10.00am Requiem Mass Richard Sparrow, RIP
Thursday 7 St Ambrose, Bp, D
9.00am Mass Liliana Petrini, RIP (Anniv) & Angelo Petrini, RIP (CP)
8.00pm Devotions & Benediction for the Immaculate Conception
Friday 8 THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
9.00am Mass Margaret Farrell, RIP (Anniv) (TF)
Saturday 9 Feria
10.00am Mass Clare Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
Second Sunday of Advent - Sunday 10th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Christine Noden, RIP (AC)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Mary & Jim Keeble-60th WeddingAnniversary (KD)
11.30am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
5.30pm Organ Recital & Advent Reflections