St Thomas More Advent Service
Wednesday 20th December, 7pm start. We warmly welcome friends of the school to join us as we prepare for the feast of Christ’s incarnation with word and music. If you would like to attend please contact Mrs Lorna Davies:
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 Sacred Heart Primary School will be hosting Christmas dinner on 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
A huge thanks to everyone who has supported Serving the Homeless this year. We wish all of you every blessing this Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
Our first event in 2018 will be a Sunday lunch on Homelessness Sunday, 28th January at Affinity Restaurant, London Road, Leigh at 12.30 pm. Tickets cost £20 and are available from Jo 474062, Linda 558217 or Nina 472536.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Bobby Newman & Emma Beardsell
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.
Penitential Services
Our Lady of Ransom, Rayleigh Monday 18th December at 8pm
St Helens, Westcliff-on-Sea Thursday 21st December at 7pm
Please pray for the Repose of the Souls of
Anne Reid, RIP who died on Wednesday 6th December. Her body will be received into the church at 5pm on Wednesday 20th December and her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday 21st December at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Canon Anthony McKentey, RIP. His Requiem Mass will be held at 11.30am on Friday 22nd December at Priory Street, Colchester.
We Pray for our Sick
Graham Addecott, Mabel 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 William Guinevan, Fr Arthur Cowd, Bp Brian Foley, Scott Walker, Patrick Lyons, Clare Clarke, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Miss E Parker, Paul Emmerson, Sylvia Walton, Gladys Symons, Mabel Walmsley, John Bargent, Anthony Fleming, Bernard Murphy, Paola Murch, Mary Poole, Peter Robson, Christopher Mabey, Mabel Carter, Francis Brady, Eleanor Dillon, William Smith, Grace Greiner, Veronica Barrett, Cathy Baker, Robert Kirsch, Teresa Evans, Roland Glazebrook, David Middleton, Mario Piacentini, Elsie Osborne, Mary Heather & Teresa Riley.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in christ
The central figures of Advent are the Old Testaments Prophets and St John the Baptist, who is the bridge between the Old and the New. He appears at this point in Advent to help us focus on what is most important at this time, and at all times: Jesus, the Lamb of God. He does this by calling us to repentance and the Church takes-up this call by exhorting us to a change of heart through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Over the days before Christmas, there will be ample opportunities for us to go to the Sacrament. Apart from the advertised hours in our own Parish, there will be a Penitential Service in Rayleigh this Monday at 8pm and on Thursday at Westcliff 7pm.
Dear Friends in christ
The central figures of Advent are the Old Testaments Prophets and St John the Baptist, who is the bridge between the Old and the New. He appears at this point in Advent to help us focus on what is most important at this time, and at all times: Jesus, the Lamb of God. He does this by calling us to repentance and the Church takes-up this call by exhorting us to a change of heart through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Over the days before Christmas, there will be ample opportunities for us to go to the Sacrament. Apart from the advertised hours in our own Parish, there will be a Penitential Service in Rayleigh this Monday at 8pm and on Thursday at Westcliff 7pm.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Parish Bazaar last Sunday, in whatever capacity. Our Lady of Lourdes School, for sending out copies of the poster with grand prize draw tickets to all the families, as well as all other stall holders, and helpers. So many of you donated goods and bought raffle tickets; and the dedicated band of helpers who organised the stalls. £2,330 was raised. We shall send a portion of this to Aid to the Church in Need which is the Pope’s own Charity for the relief of suffering Christians in regions where the Church is persecuted; a very deserving Charity since the plight of our suffering brothers and sisters in the Faith is often forgotten. The other proceeds can be used towards the running costs of the Parish Centre. Currently the expenses of the Parish Centre exceed what we receive in hire costs and donations, so this extra cash is very helpful; thank you very much!
This Sunday evening at 5.30pm there will be an Organ Recital with Advent readings/reflections to help us enter into the spirituality of this Season more prayerfully; the Recital will be played by James Devor, Organist at Brentwood Cathedral.
Next Sunday there will be the Advent Gift Mass when you may bring along a gift for a child in need which is distributed after by the Brentwood Catholic Children's Society. These are presented during the Offertory of the Mass at 9.30am; please mark the outside clearly the age suitability of the gift.
Thank you and may God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Second Sunday of Advent
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
Monday 11 St Damasus 1, P
9.00am Mass Intentions of Joe & Joan Hurley (UO’K)
Tuesday 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
9.00am Mass Kevin Hopley, RIP (KD)
Wednesday 13 St Lucy, V, M
9.00am Mass Anne Young, RIP (T&RO’C)
Thursday 14 St John of the Cross, Pr, D
9.00am Mass John Jarvis, RIP (VJ)
Friday 15 Feria 9.00am
Mass Intentions of Salvatore Burzotta (B&MH)
Saturday 16 Feria
10.00am Mass Ione & Robert Waite, RIP (MB)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
Third Sunday of Advent - Sunday 17th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil William Underwood, RIP (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Intentions of Joe & Joan Hurley (LY)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Mya Strzetelska - Special Intention (MS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cakes
Every Monday & Thursday after 9am Mass. Why not pop into the Parish Centre, meet friends and enjoy coffee and cake!
Christmas Cake & Fortnum & Mason Wine Hamper
Tickets for the above two prizes are now available for purchase from the Parish Office. £1 per ticket. The draw will be made on Sunday 17th December in the Parish Centre.
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.