Counters and Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Bobby Newman & Emma Beardsell
OUR LADY OF RANSOM CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Governing Body is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated KS1/2 Class Teacher, for our wonderful children, to start in September 2018. This post would suit either an experienced teacher or an NQT. The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Visits to the school are very welcome. Please contact Mr Parascandolo,(Headteacher) via the school office (01268-785741). Application forms and further information are available on the school website www.olorcps.net Closing date: Thursday 26th April, 2018 (4 pm).
Serving the Homeless
On 18th April some of our committee went to the official opening of the White Heather Project at the Bradbury Centre in Southend. The project houses 20 single homeless women in three houses. The project was officially opened by Heather Mills who made a great impression on all of us. Serving the Homeless has supported this project from the planning stage to its fruition, and it was wonderful to see the work being done there.
In June we will be holding our annual Grand raffle and we would welcome donations of items that we could offer as top prizes.
Our next event is a quiz night on Saturday 28th April in St. Margaret's Church Hall in Lime Avenue commencing at 7.30 pm. Tables of 8, £5 per person. If you would like a table, please contact Jo 474062, Nina 472536 or Linda 558217.
Parish/Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes Monday 23rd - Saturday 28th July 20
Five nights (full board) travelling with British Airways via Toulouse and staying at the Grand Moderne Hotel will cost £665 per pilgrim. There are still a few places available. Please ask for more details from the Parish Office.
APF Missio
On the weekend of the 5th/6th May there will be an appeal at all the Masses on behalf of APF.
Flower Festival 16th June 2018
As part of our Evangelisation and Discipleship project, we are organising a festival of flowers to be held on Saturday 16th June. The aim is to involve as many parishioners as possible in decorating all the windowsills in the church. The theme will be, The Saints. Each display to be inspired by the saints portrayed in the stained glass windows. We hope that this event will encourage the people of Leigh to visit our beautiful Church.
We hope that organisations, groups, families or individuals will volunteer to take responsibility for one window display. A list will be available to choose from.
This is not a competition. Please do not feel that you have to be a professional flower arranger to take part! Garden flowers and greenery, together with any symbols or items representing the Saints in the window that you have chosen, would be ideal.
If you are interested in taking part, or would like to know more, please contact:Theresa 335122 or Jo 474062.
Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cakes
Every Monday & Thursday after 9am Mass. Why not pop into the Parish Centre, meet friends and enjoy coffee and cake!
World Day of Prayer for Vocations April 22, 2018
2018 marks the 55th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfil the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest"
(Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission "ad gentes”.
OLOL Women's Group
The next meeting is Thursday 26th April from 10.30pm to 12.30pm. Join us for tea/coffee or come earlier if you wish! Our first ‘Guest’ speaker is our very own Rita Conlon who will give us a fascinating insight into quilt making. Please do come along and support Rita and take a look at her beautiful quilting samples and enjoy a chat/discussion with friends. All women welcome! Cynthia.
Church Cleaning
If you are able to help with cleaning the Church for one hour every four weeks please contact the Parish office. Thank you.
PARISH FUNDRAISING
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the March draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 (76) Ms J Hoggett
2nd Prize £100 (151) Mrs J Hurley
3rd Prize £75 (6) Mrs V Clancy
4th Prize £50 (64) Mrs M Scott
5th Prize £25 (162) Master S McCarthy
The 200 Club continues to provide funds to support the running of the Parish Centre. Forms are available from the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Forming Intentional Disciples Initiative
The important 'follow-up' meeting to our Forming Intentional Disciples parish initiative takes place this coming Tuesday, 24th April, at 7.30pm in the Gilbert Room of the Parish Centre. The meeting will consider the possibility of forming a Parish Evangelisation Team. If you attended all, some or even none of the six earlier preparatory sessions, you are all most welcome - we need your input - as we seek to transform and deepen our faith and the faith of our parish.
Dates for your Diary
12th & 19th May - First Holy Communions
20th May - Confirmation
1st July - Parish AGM
Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
Patricia Abram, RIP and Lorraine Kelly, RIP who died recently.
We Pray for our Sick
John Lavery, Anne Currid, David Gurney, Maureen Gooding, Paul Keane, Mabel Addecott, Christian Ryan, Arthur Mills, Mike Rubbert, Teresa O’Brien, Maureen Deekes, Noel Fagan, 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 Cornw ell, Lorraine Hart, Wyn McCafferty, Linda Dean, Annie Holland, Martin Buckley, Chas Taylor, Martha Braun, Jane Jowers, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, David Askew, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, David Kislingury, Maureen Ward, Irena Solecki, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Rosemary Arscott, Lanto Bellis, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Hugh Isaacs and children Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price, Connie Price, Frazer Gregory, baby Talia Emery and Hattie Seymour.
Please Pray for the Dead on their anniversaries
Canon Thomas Smith, Fr Simon Sullivan, Fr Myles O’Reilly, Mgr George Stokes, George Conridge, Albert Middleton, Clifford Mawer, Gladys Watts, Mary Johnson, Arnold Kyrke-Smith, Thelma Chambers, Michael Abbott, Dorothy (Dolly) Thorp, Mary Bartley, Tony Pycraft, John Joseph Heaphy, Minnie Smith, Elizabeth White, Vincent Hurley, Audrey Lewis, Phyllis Tate, Mary Butt, Eric Pearson, Tom Skellon, Vera de Souza, Elsie Robinson, Mary Fitzgerald, Arthur Bartley, Margaret Makey, Christopher Dowdall, Patricia Burles, Pauline Kidney & Margaret Ashley.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace
Third Sunday of Easter
Dear Friends in Christ
One of the earliest Christian texts of the second century, written by St Justin says: On Sundays there is an assembly in towns or in the country…This is the first day, on which God transformed darkness and matter and made the world; the day on which Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead. The Jewish sabbath gave way to the Christian Sunday from the very beginning of the Church, and from then on every Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection.
Dear Friends in christ
One of the earliest Christian texts of the second century, written by St Justin says: On Sundays there is an assembly in towns or in the country…This is the first day, on which God transformed darkness and matter and made the world; the day on which Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead. The Jewish sabbath gave way to the Christian Sunday from the very beginning of the Church, and from then on every Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection. So from the very start of the Church, Christians have celebrated the Resurrection on Sunday; indeed, they went to great lengths and even danger to themselves in order that they could be together with the Risen Christ at Holy Mass. Some other early texts put it very strongly and say that without the weekly Mass, we could not properly exist. This is a timely reminder to us all, that we need this weekly encounter with Jesus in His Word and in His Sacraments; when we are fed at both the table of the Word and the table of the Sacrament, as St Augustine puts it. Let us encourage each other, those in our families and our friends, to ensure that we keep the Lord’s Day as a time of special observance by renewing ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually, and doing it always by having Holy Mass at the centre.
Our Tuesday evening seminars for Evangelisation and Discipleship have continued throughout Eastertide. We now have a short break before the next phase which is the transition period as we begin to reflect on our pilgrimage so far and discern how best we can harness the fruits of these weeks. I have been very encouraged by the positive response and good numbers that attended these sessions. Please pray for continued fruits from this initiative, that we may, as a result, become more committed intention disciples of Christ as our Parish Family grows and matures. May our faith in the Risen Lord be contagious and inspire others to seek a relationship with Jesus in His Catholic Church.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org