Lift to Mass?
Two of our Parish pensioners need a lift to Sunday Mass. They live in: Thames Drive & Marine Parade
Two of our Parish pensioners need a lift to Sunday Mass. They live in Thames Drive & Marine Parade
If you could help, please call. Thank you.
Pat Mansfield
01702 479795
Homelessness Sunday, 28 January
Serving the Homeless is our local ecumenical Charity which supports Homelessness projects in Southend. There will be a second collection this week, following all the Masses, for Serving the Homeless.
Serving the Homeless is our local ecumenical Charity which supports Homelessness projects in Southend. There will be a second collection this week, following all the Masses, for Serving the Homeless. Please be as generous as you can.
Jo Ronan
Diocese Restructure
Bishop Alan suggests how we might restructure the Diocese to evangelise effectively. In particular, he suggests our parish will have a priest in residence who also serves St Peter’s in Eastwood. Bishop Alan asks us to study the document and discuss it with family, friends and fellow parishioners.
Bishop Alan suggests how we might restructure the Diocese to evangelise effectively. In particular, he suggests our parish will have a priest in residence who also serves St Peter’s in Eastwood. Bishop Alan asks us to study the document and discuss it with family, friends and fellow parishioners.
Saturday 17 February 10.30am Parish Centre
We will watch Bishop Alan’s video message then discuss it. This is only the first Formal Proposal — we will continue to consult and discuss. If unable to attend, I would appreciate your thoughts in writing to obrjam@btinternet.com or to the parish office. I will convey our thoughts to Bishop Alan.
Many thanks
Francis O’Brien
Steward of the Gospel
Parish & Diocesan Pilgrimage
Monday 23-Saturday 28 July
- Travel with British Airways via Toulouse
- Stay at the Grand Hôtel Moderne for 5 nights full board
Monday 23-Saturday 28 July
Lourdes, France
- Travel with British Airways via Toulouse
- Stay at the Grand Hôtel Moderne for 5 nights full board
- £665
Please add your name to the list in the Parish Office
200 Club — December draw
- £150 Mr P Haldenby
- £100 Mr G Dillon
- £75 Mrs D Troughton
- £50 Mrs T Parascandolo
- £25 Mrs C Regan
- £150 Mr P Haldenby 12
- £100 Mr G Dillon 79
- £75 Mrs D Troughton 122
- £50 Mrs T Parascandolo 186
- £25 Mrs C Regan 104
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 present? Forms are available from the back of the church — or call me.
Linda Wall
01702 558217
Finance Office, Brentwood: Vacancy
The Finance Office at Cathedral House, Brentwood are looking for a Human Resources & Operations Officer. Payroll experience is essential. The role is 3 days/week.
The Finance Office at Cathedral House, Brentwood are looking for a Human Resources & Operations Officer. Payroll experience is essential. The role is 3 days/week. Contact finance-recruitment@dioceseofbrentwood.org for job description and person specification. Apply by 2 February.
Third Sunday in Ordinary time
The Gospels of these initial weeks of Ordinary Time present us with a rich plan and programme for the work of evangelisation. This is the essential work of the Church and we all exist as part of Her so that we can bring others into this Mystery of Christ and His Church. I think it is fair to say that this is something which every single Catholic finds challenging and there are so many ways that we can go about it.
Dear Friends in Christ
The Gospels of these initial weeks of Ordinary Time present us with a rich plan and programme for the work of evangelisation. This is the essential work of the Church and we all exist as part of Her so that we can bring others into this Mystery of Christ and His Church. I think it is fair to say that this is something which every single Catholic finds challenging and there are so many ways that we can go about it. In essence it means, like those first disciples of Christ, meeting Jesus, hearing Him and moving-in with Him. Jesus, through His Church, wants everyone to come to the knowledge of God and be saved. This is something that I would like us to reflect on during 2018. At the Parish Council Meeting last Thursday, we discussed a plan for the Parish in which we hope to increase our sense of discipleship; grow in prayer/spiritual life; increase devotion to Jesus the Blessed Sacrament and Mass; attain an attitude of conviction and authenticity in our Parish Family witnessing to our Faith; move from a feeling of inhibition regarding faith to a feeling of freedom and confidence. This can happen in a two-pronged way: internal evangelisation, which consists of evangelising parishioners, regular and occasional Mass attenders, so as to become confident and intentional disciples of Jesus Christ. We intend to achieve this by forming a core group of focused & knowledgeable parishioners to run regular events aimed at various different areas of faith formation. Using the Parish feedback gained from the Stewards of the Gospel initiative, we can immediately identify areas that require immediate attention. We also hope to ensure that we have a team of catechists working in the Parish who are committed and intentional disciples of Christ and can then influence every area of parish evangelisation in an orthodox, informed and intentional way that will foster a deeper knowledge of the faith across the various stages of spiritual development and allow you to have greater confidence in the work being carried out in your parish community.
External evangelisation consists of outreach and faith formation for those who do not yet know Christ through different approaches. I hope over the coming months some of this will become clearer in reality but above all we pray for that we all become more faithful and intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Week in Ordinary Time
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 20
5.30pm Vigil Anne Young†
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
Sunday 21
8am Mass Frances Emmerson†, anniversary
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Andrew & Mary Murray†
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
St Vincent, Deacon, Martyr
Monday 22
9am Mass Sister Imelda† anniversary
Weekday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 23
9am Mass Special Intention of Myrna Walton
St Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Wednesday 24
9am Mass Joseph Healey†
10.30am Newman Room Mothers' Prayers
The Conversion of St Paul, Apostle
Thursday 25
9am Mass Patrick Burke†
7pm Contemplative Prayer
Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops
Friday 26
12noon Mass Ruth Lambert†
St Angela Merici, Virgin
Saturday 27
10am Mass Maureen Regan†
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Jack van der Ploeg†
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
Sunday 28th January
8am Mass Barry Bevan†
9.30am Mass Marian Solecki† anniversary
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Homelessness Sunday — January 28th
There will be a second collection next week, following all the masses, for ‘Serving the Homeless.’ This is our local ecumenical Charity which supports Homelessness projects in Southend. Please be as generous as you can.
Facts on homelessness in England in 2017, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- There has been a rise of 32% in local authority ‘actions’ on homelessness since 2009/10
- 60% of local authorities are struggling to find social tenancies for their homeless clients.
- 50% find it difficult to help people into privately rented accommodation
- 85% of local authorities are finding it difficult to help single people aged 25-34 into accommodation
- 94% said that they expect the situation to get worse this year.
- The loss of a private tenancy accounted for 31% of those accepted as homeless in 2017.
- 40,000 people were evicted by private landlords in 2017; 4 out of 5 were ‘no-fault’ evictions — there was no complaint against the tenant. They were evicted because they were low income tenants and the landlords could charge more rent if they evicted them.
Jo Ronan
Serving the Homeless
Parish/Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Monday 23rd - Saturday 28th July 2018
Five nights (full board) travelling with British Airways via Toulouse and staying at the Grand Moderne Hotel will cost £665 per pilgrim. Please indicate your interest by putting your name on the list in the Parish Office.
Counters & Folders
Counters Bob Hall & Sandra Hippard
Folders Tom O’Callaghan & Rita O’Callaghan
The Renewal and Restructuring of our Diocese
For a few weeks now we have been in receipt of the ‘First Formal Proposal’ document and DVD/video message from Bishop Alan. The Proposal and video message are available on the Diocesan website: dioceseofbrentwood.net/bishop. We would ask everyone who has internet access to view the documents and message by this means. Additional ‘hard copies’ for those unable to read/view it online are being requested from the Diocese. If you require a hard copy please let me know by phoning 01702 552373, giving your address and postcode, or leave a request at the parish office. The Proposal shares with us some of the thoughts Bishop Alan and his team have as to how the Diocese might restructure itself in the future to ensure that we can more effectively evangelise, sharing with faith and confidence the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ within our parishes as well as surrounding communities. The Proposal specifically refers to the place of our own parish in any forthcoming restructuring. We are being asked by the Bishop to take time to carefully and prayerfully study the document and discuss it with family, friends and fellow parishioners. An opportunity is being arranged for us to come together as a parish family to share views, hopes and any concerns in relation to the Proposal, with our response in due course being conveyed to the Diocese. Bishop Alan stresses that this is a ‘first’ Formal Proposal; a lot more discussion and consultation will yet be required! A Parish Meeting is being arranged for 10.30am on Saturday, 17th February, 2018 (commencing after the 10am Mass) in the Parish Centre. The Bishop’s video message will be shown on that occasion. For any unable to attend on 17th February, I would be grateful to receive your thoughts in writing via the parish office or by email to obrjam@btinternet.com.
Many thanks.
Francis O’Brien
Steward of the Gospel
Dates for your Diary
- Wednesday, 14th February Ash Wednesday
- 21st, 28th February Marriage Preparation
- 7th, 14th March Marriage Preparation
- 12th & 19th May First Holy Communions
- 20th May Confirmation
Sacrament of Confirmation
Anyone who wishes to begin preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation should send their name to Fr Kevin by the end of February together with an email address. Applicants should have reached their fourteenth birthday by the end of August 2017.