Serving the Homeless
In June we will be holding our annual Grand raffle and we would welcome donations of items that we could offer as top prizes.
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. There are still a few places available. Please ask for more details from the Parish Office.
Flower Festival 16th June 2018
Thank-you to everyone who has volunteered to take on a window display for the Flower Festival, or to help with the refreshments.
Nearer the time, we will be asking people who are not already doing a display to contribute some flowers or garden greenery to help with the displays.
Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Jo & Theresa
OLOL Women’s Group
Following another successful morning, the Women’s Group will next meet on Thursday 10th May from 10.30am. Enquiries or offers of guest speaker please contact Cynthia Bush on twobushes@talktalk.net
Counters & Folders
Counters: Sheila West & Eileen Wilson
Folders: Angie Martin & Joseph Martin
SHIPS – Stewards of the Gospel Host Impromptu Prayer Support
On Wednesday 9th May at Saint Helens, Westcliff, between 7pm and 10pm. The evening will include Mass, a shared Fayre in the hall to present all related groups from our Deanery. The evening will conclude with Adoration, intercessions and a simple Benediction with Father Joseph. Please direct all enquiries to Andrew Downey 07722 043074.
Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cakes
Every Monday & Thursday after 9am Mass. Why not pop into the Parish Centre, meet friends and enjoy coffee and cake!
Parish Centre - call for help one hour per week
To keep the Parish Centre looking pristine and clean, we are looking for some more volunteers to help support the existing cleaning team. No heavy lifting involved. If you are able to help, your support would be much appreciated. Please contact the Parish Office or Steve on 0792 939 1890. Thank you.
Kwasnica Quiz Night - Saturday 12th May 2018
It is that time of year when the Kwasnicas start fundraising again. This year three of us are off to Lourdes with the BCYS (Brentwood Catholic Youth Service). It is a week of service (assisting the sick and elderly pilgrims by pushing wheelchairs and engaging in conversations etc.) and spiritual growth. We gain through giving. However, as you may remember from previous years, the young people do need to pay for their own travel and accommodation. So to begin our fundraising, please get your friends and family and join us for a fabulous evening of trivia courtesy of Mr Andy Abel - Quiz Master extraordinaire! Tickets cost £5, please pay at the door. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. 7:30 pm start in the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Centre. Many thanks, Joseph, Rachel and Jacob.
Gift Aid
Thank you to all those Parishioners who gift-aided their offerings last tax year 2017/18. In order to save on postage and printing, we will only be providing letters to those Parishioners who require one to complete their tax return for HMRC. If you require a letter, please email the Parish Office at office@lourdesleigh.org.
If there are any changes to your circumstances, such as change of address or you are no longer a tax payer, please advise the gift aid organiser via the Parish office. Thank you.
Dates for your Diary
12th & 19th May - First Holy Communions
20th May - Confirmation
1st July - Parish AGM
Requirements for Catholic Marriage; Divorce and Remarriage
Divorce is not in itself a bar to receiving Holy Communion and the Church accepts that in some circumstances Catholics may need to initiate divorce proceedings to protect their rights in civil law. However the Church presumes that all marriages are valid and bind until death, unless and until nullity is proven, or a dissolution of the bond on the grounds of non-consummation, or in favour of the Faith is granted (where one or both parties was not baptised). A Catholic who marries outside the Church, without permission from the Bishop (dispensation from the canonical form of marriage), is still free in the eyes of the Church, because the Church’s law has not been observed, but the appropriate documents must be produced to show this. However, Register Office marriage does bind non-Catholics. A priest cannot book a marriage when one of the parties has been divorced without proof that he or she is now canonical free.
Equally the Church cannot bless a marriage which she regards as invalid, and those who are in a marriage the Church considers irregular are not feee to receive Holy Communion or absolution. A recent letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith states: ‘In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ, the Church affirms that a new union cannot be recognised as valid if the preceding marriage was valid. If the divorced are remarried civilly they can find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God’s law. Consequently, they cannot receive Holy Communion as long as this situation persists.’ The letter also recognises that this is a heavy burden, one that needs the support of the Catholic community. In addition to the personal contact with one’s parish priest, support may be found in the Association of Separated and Divorced Catholics. Anyone, Catholic or
non-Catholic, wishing to enquire about the possibility of a declaration of nullity, or dissolution with regard to a former marriage, should initially contact the Brentwood Diocesan Tribunal Office for further information and help on 01277 265283.
Church Access
Because of recent problems with theft and vandalism, the church is locked at 1pm each day. After that time it is possible to gain access through the door on the north side, using the security keypad, the number for which can be obtained from the Parish Office; please do not disclose the number to third parties.
APF Missio
This weekend, 5th/6th May, we welcome Mrs Eileen Tompkins who will appeal at all the Masses on behalf of APF (red boxes).
We Pray for our Sick
Rosemary Bragard, Mark Wilson, Noel Kolby, John Lavery, Anne Currid, David Gurney, Paul Keane,Maureen Gooding, 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, Maria Clark,Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch, Sheila McBrearty, Anthony King, Chas Taylor, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Johnnie Pool,Edward Martin, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Josephine Griggs, Hugh Isaacs,Colleen Worley, Dawn Deleigh, Antonella McConalogue, Fr Jean Laurent Marie, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornw ell, Lorraine Hart, Wyn McCafferty, Linda Dean, Annie Holland, Martin Buckley, 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, Lanto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Rosemary Arscott, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, 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 Brian Grady, Fr Augustine Davidson, Mgr John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes, Petronella Jennett, Mary Deyong, Arthur Leftley, Bertha Nesnas, Mary Hardie, Mabel Salter, Dorothy Hser, Denys Hale, Charles McLaughlin, Fred Parsons, Arthur Chadwick, Patrick Shanahan, Peggy Choppin, Mary Donovan, Michael McDermott, Cestan Szymczak, Margaret Park, May Downey, Mary Jones, Wally Hurst, Philip Wilson, Vera Fogarty, Frederick Freeman, Charlotte Anderson, Robert King, Patrick O’Sullivan, Joyce Wilkinson, Iris Emner & John Lyons.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Dear Friends in christ
The image of the vine, which Jesus uses to describe the union of us with Him, is an image that would have been very familiar to anyone who heard Him. We sometimes see vines in this country, and the interweaving of the branches is a clear picture of how it is with those who are living in Christ. As St Paul says: It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me. The intertwining of our two lives gives us the courage and confidence we need as we live the life of Faith.
Dear Friends in christ
The image of the vine, which Jesus uses to describe the union of us with Him, is an image that would have been very familiar to anyone who heard Him. We sometimes see vines in this country, and the interweaving of the branches is a clear picture of how it is with those who are living in Christ. As St Paul says: It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me. The intertwining of our two lives gives us the courage and confidence we need as we live the life of Faith. The next stage in our plan for Intentional Discipleship for Evangelisation was discussed last Tuesday evening during the transition meeting; as result we are forming a Parish Evangelisation Team that will work together with me and look at ways in which we can extend the Gospel and our Catholic Faith across our Parish Family and local Community. Please continue to pray for the spiritual and lasting fruits of our endeavours.
One such act of witness and evangelisation in our land is the Rosary on the Coast taking place this Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Right around the British Isles, Catholics will gather to pray the Holy Rosary in hundreds of locations for Faith, Peace and Life in our land. There is a dedicated website which gives full details of all the places where this will be taking place and in our own Parish we will gather on the Esplanade at The Crowstone, bottom of Chalkwell Avenue to pray. It is anticipated that thousands will turn-out around the country to pray in a united act of witness. Please do all you can to come along this Sunday afternoon to pray.
May God and His Blessed Mother bless us!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter - Sunday 29th April
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Diana Underwood, RIP (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (CR)
9.30am Mass Barbara Sheaf, RIP (BH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 30 St Pius, P
9.00am Mass Intentions of Ian & Maura Irwin (B&MH)
Tuesday 1 May St Joseph the Worker
9.00am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)
Wednesday 2 St Athanasius, Bp, D
9.00am Mass Bernard Harte, RIP (AOB)
Thursday 3 SS PHILIP & JAMES, App
9.00am Mass Intentions of David Sullivan (UO’K)
5.00pm Body in Church Patricia Abrams, RIP
Friday 4 THE ENGLISH MARTYRS - First Friday
11.00am Requiem Mass Patricia Abrams, RIP
1.00pm Exposition until
8.00pm-9.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
followed by Vigil until midnight (young people) for Vocations
Saturday 5 Feria
10.00am Mass Daniel Carr, RIP (AH)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
SIXTH Sunday of Easter - Sunday 6th May
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Eileen Mishtall, RIP (MB)
9.30am Mass Private Intention for I.R. (BH)
11.30am Mass Rose Cobey, RIP (MC)
4.00pm Mass Intentions of Anna Wiktorska (AW) - Ex. Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Serving the Homeless
In June we will be holding our annual Grand raffle and we would welcome donations of items that we could offer as top prizes.