Catholics plan mass-rosary prayer around the British coast
On Sunday, April 29, at 3:00pm parishioners and priests from the Southend deanery will gather on the beach at the Crowstone, Chalkwell Beach at the bottom of Chalkwell Avenue to pray the rosary. This prayer event is taking place all around the coast in the UK. The date will mark 50 years since the Abortion Act coming into effect. Organisers say the mass-rosary prayer will help combat the “present threats to faith, the dignity of the human person and to peace”, and encourage a “re-flourishing of our Faith”. The organisers said.“We believe that if the rosary is prayed by about a million along the borders of the country, it may not only change the course of events, but open hearts of our compatriots to the grace of God,” If you want to know more then please visit https://www.rosaryonthecoast.co.uk
Gift Aid Envelopes
New boxes of envelopes for those in the Gift Aid Scheme will be available for collection on 10th/11th and 17th/18th March. If you wish to gift aid your weekly offering by using envelopes, please complete a Gift Aid Form, available at the back of Church, and either hand it in to the Parish office or place it in the offertory collection. You will then receive a box of envelopes for your weekly collection.
Thank you from ‘Serving the Homeless’
We have our Annual General meeting on 12th March at 7.30 at St. Margaret’s Church Hall, Lime Ave Leigh. We would welcome anyone who would like to find out more about what we do. (But don’t worry you won’t be forced to join!) Our next event is a meal at East on 22nd March at 7.30. Tickets are £15 and are available from Linda, 558217, Theresa, 335122 or from Jo 474062.
Closure of Catholic Women’s League
We are very sad to announce that due to a decline in numbers the above has sadly closed. The CWL has had a presence in the Parish, along with Westcliff, for approximately 96 years. It is hoped to continue some of our popular events such as Lenten Lunches and the Afternoon Tea. In due course, it may be possible to start a new group open to all women in the Parish. Watch this space for more information!
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.
Lenten Lunches
These popular lunches started again on Friday 16th February, 12.30pm to 2pm in the Parish Centre and continue throughout Lent. For £5 come and enjoy homemade soup, bread and fruit. All proceeds to charity.
Missio
The National Novena to St Joseph will take place from 10th to 18th March 2018 at St Joseph’s Church in Maidenhead and at Herbert House, Freshfield, Liverpool. Each year the Mill Hill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St Joseph, their patron, with a special Novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing on their Society and the missionary outreach of the Church, as well as for the intentions of all those who support their work. You are invited to send in your petitions and/or to request a Novena booklet to enable you to join in from home by praying the daily Novena prayer. Please write to Fr Liam Cummins MHM, St Joseph’s Missionary Society, 58 Bookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7HT, or email novenamhm@gmail.com.
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 5th March at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Matrimony & Holy Orders. You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
EVANGELISATION & DISCIPLESHIP PROJECT
Thank you so much for your support for this initiative which we hope will produce confidence and growth in our Parish community. If you couldn't make the first meeting, DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! You will still be welcome at our next meeting on Tuesday 6th March at 7:30pm in the Gilbert Room when we will begin studying Sherry Weddell's book Forming Intentional Disciples together. This programme has transformed and deepened the faith of many people. For those who already intend to come to the next meeting, why not start your evangelisation training now by inviting two other people from the parish to join you at the next meeting? Please remember to pray for this ongoing initiative.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
Pamina Edgeley, RIP who died recently. Her body will be received into the Church at 5pm on Wednesday 7th March and her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday 8th March at 9.30am.
We pray for our sick
Anne Currid, David Gurney, Maureen Gooding, Paul Keane, 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, Mary Boyce, Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Dympna Addecott, Janet Woods, Lynne Hilkene, June Moncaster, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch, Maria Clark, Sheila McBrearty, Anthony King, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Edward Martin, Johnnie Pool, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Josephine Griggs, Noel Kolb,Colleen Worley, Antonella McConalogue, Fr Jean Laurent Marie, Dawn Deleigh, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornwell, Lorraine Hart, 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
Mgr Patrick O’Donnell, Fr Brian Galvin, Fr Francis Hastings, Fr Malachy Kelly, Canon Joseph Whitfield, Fr Thomas Lawton, Fr John Gordon, Fr Edmund Meyer, Fr Maurice Roche, Mgr Canon David Michael Corley, Margaret Ellis, May Perkins, Esperanza Reyers, Bernard McCarthy, Ena Bartley, Mary Smith, Doris Conner, Danielle Sutherland, Sandra McGran, Philip Thomas, Anthony Conlon, Hannah Harris, Stanley Rumsey, John Burke, Miss Sidney Compton, Edward Baigent, Elsie Killman, Janet Harris, Teresa Rumsey, Henry Delaney, John Button, Constance Ryan, Joyce Quinn, Pamela Jones, Peggy Choppin, Vincent Ingham, Christopher Tyler, Joe Swann, Therese Ketterer, Joseph Collins, Lionel Clarke & Richard Young.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Second Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends in christ
The Gospel on the Second Sunday of Lent each year, calls to our minds the rare moment when Jesus is revealed to the Apostles as God in all His glory: the Transfiguration. Until that moment they had only seen His human nature, but now, before the Passion and Calvary, Jesus wishes to show them something of who He really is so that their faith in Him would not be shattered, The Preface of the Mass this Sunday expresses it liturgically: He revealed His glory to the disciples to strengthen them for the scandal of the cross. His glory shone from a body like our own, to show that the Church, which is the body of Christ, would one day share His glory.
Dear Friends in christ
The Gospel on the Second Sunday of Lent each year, calls to our minds the rare moment when Jesus is revealed to the Apostles as God in all His glory: the Transfiguration. Until that moment they had only seen His human nature, but now, before the Passion and Calvary, Jesus wishes to show them something of who He really is so that their faith in Him would not be shattered, The Preface of the Mass this Sunday expresses it liturgically: He revealed His glory to the disciples to strengthen them for the scandal of the cross. His glory shone from a body like our own, to show that the Church, which is the body of Christ, would one day share His glory.
It is this sight of Jesus in glory that helped them through what was to come. It is also an encouragement for us that, after the Cross and suffering, there is the glory of Heaven. When in our dark moments we experience desolation we are encouraged by this thought too.
On Tuesday we launched our Parish programme for Evangelisation and Discipleship. There was a very encouraging turn-out for the first session and we have now initiated a process of Parish formation which will aim at making us more confident and effective Disciples of Jesus Christ, better able to proclaim and communicate the Truths of our Catholic Faith. If you couldn’t make the Meeting you can still join-in the process which continues over the coming weeks; please see the further details in this Newsletter.
Last Sunday in Brentwood Cathedral, Candidates from all over the Diocese gathered for the Rite of Election. During this liturgy those preparing for the Sacraments in our Parishes over the coming months were presented to the Bishop and prayer offered for their new life in Christ. Please keep those from our our own Parish Family especially in mind as we all continue to use this Lenten season for a deepening of our faith and devotion in Christ and His Church. May God bless us all in this Lenten pilgrimage towards Easter!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Second Sunday of Lent
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass John Holland, RIP (Anniv)(MH)
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Intentions of the Rubbert Family (R&TO’C)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 26 Feria
9.00am Mass Michael Irons, RIP (Anniv) (JV)
3.00pm Funeral Service Rosina Hammond, RIP
Tuesday 27 Feria
9.00am Mass Canon Anthony McKentey, RIP (LL)
Wednesday 28 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Dympna & Grahame Addecott, RIP (R&TO’C)
Thursday 1 March ST DAVID, Bp, Patron of Wales
9.00am Mass Bill Hoggett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
Friday 2 First Friday
6.30am Mass Aoife O’Sullivan, RIP (MO’S)
12Noon Mass Intentions of CWL
12.30pm Exposition after Mass
8.00pm-9.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
followed by Exposition until midnight for Vocations
Saturday 3 Feria
10.00am Mass Derek Timothy, RIP (K&LW)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT - Sunday 4th March
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Adrian Dann, RIP (K&LW)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Sandie Hippard - Special Intention (K&LW)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Ann O’Connell, RIP (MD)
4.00pm Mass Kathleen Kelly, RIP - Ex Form (M&MD)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Southend Deanery in the Diocese of Brentwood
A series of Four Lent Talks at Nazareth House-Thursday Evenings in Lent, beginning at 7.30pm - ending with devotions and Benediction - Priests available to hear Confessions.
Thursday March 1st
Brian Holt-President of the Comitium for the Legion of Mary
‘Be it done unto me…’
Thursday March 8th
Fr. Graham Smith, Parish Priest of Southend and Prittlewell
Diocesan Director of Vocations
'Here I am Lord’
Thursday March 15th
Speaker to be confirmed:
The Pastoral Formation of our Young People
Abbotswick and Beyond…
Baptism Course
The next Baptism Course will be held on Tuesdays 6th and 13th March at 8pm in Parish centre. Please telephone Diane Watts on 01702 478396.
Mass Intentions
When a Mass is requested, we will allocate a date if you specifically request one (e.g. an anniversary or similar), otherwise the intention will be written in the Mass Intention Book, and it will be offered when it comes round in the order in which they are booked. Please indicate if you would be happy if the Mass is celebrated outside the Parish (especially in cases where there are many requests for the same person; the Mass can often be offered by another priest sooner).
Hopefully this will prevent the diary from becoming full weeks ahead, especially when someone requires a date urgently for someone.
Gift Aid Envelopes
New boxes of envelopes for those in the Gift Aid Scheme will be available for collection on 10th/11th and 17th/18th March. If you wish to gift aid your weekly offering by using envelopes, please complete a Gift Aid Form, available at the back of Church, and either hand it in to the Parish office or place it in the offertory collection. You will then receive a box of envelopes for your weekly collection.