Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
CATHERINE BAREWISH, RIP who died on Saturday 2nd June. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Tuesday 19th June at 2pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
ARTHUR MILLS, RIP who died on Monday 14th May. His body will be received into the Church on Tuesday 19th June at 5pm and his Requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday 20th June at 10.45am, followed by committal at Southend Cemetery.
PETER SLOAN, RIP who died on Wednesday 6th June. His Requiem Mass will be held on Monday 18th June at 2.00pm.
BARBARA ADAMS, RIP who died on Thursday 7th June. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Monday 2nd July at 10.00am, followed by committal at Southend Cemetery.
BRIDIE SATELLE, RIP who died on Saturday, 9th June. Her body will be received into the Church on Wednesday 27th June at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will be held on Thursday 28th June at 10.30am.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Jacky Hoggett & Eileen Wilson
Folders: Angie Martin & Joseph Martin
Children’s Liturgy
A big thank you to Carol Carlile for all her hard work and dedication in organising Children’s Liturgy for the last 15 years. I am the new person who is taking over organising it and if anyone would like to volunteer - it involves 9.30 Mass once every six weeks (all liturgical papers & ideas given) - please contact me on
01702 428990. Thanks.
Sam Miller
The Annual Kwasnica Meal at East (33 Alexandra St, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1BW)
The Annual Kwasnica meal at East to raise funds for us to go to Lourdes with the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service is back! We will be spending a week in the service of sick and elderly pilgrims as well as having the opportunity to deepen our own faith. However, we need to pay for our own travel and accommodation. To help us on our way, please join us for a scrumptious 'all you can eat' Chinese meal, raffle (donations welcome) and great company. Tickets will be £14 (adult) and £6.50 (child) and are available on the door. Drinks are additional. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there! For more information please contact Amy on 07847517148.
Many thanks.
Joseph, Rachel and Jacob Kwasnica.
The Two Elizabeths - Elizabeth Dunlop & Elizabeth Upsher
Pupils & Guests present: A Summer Afternoon Concert on Sunday 1 July 2018 in aid of Havens Hospices
Tickets cost £10.00 (inc cake and tea ) Please note the time—2.00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, St Helen’s Road, Westcliff SS0 7JP
Please ring Elizabeth 01702 347369 to book your seats. (Please do book in advance for catering purposes). All profits go to Havens Hospices. We look forward to seeing you there!!!!
OLL ‘Leigh Ladies Group’
The above group will meet on Thursday 21st June, 10.30 - 12.30 in the Parish Centre, when we look forward to an interesting talk on ‘The Hillside Animal Sanctuary’ & ‘Horses of World War I’. Come & join us for refreshments & social company.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Evangelisation Team
The first meeting of the Parish Evangelisation Team (PET) was held on Thursday, 7th June, with thirty parishioners attending. One objective of the PET is to help strengthen the faith and formation of those present and to this end we started with a short, informative talk on our need to pray if we seek to deepen our relationship with God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Another PET objective is to encourage us in identifying opportunities to share our faith with others and some members described the ordinary, everyday situations they had taken to share their faith along with a hand of friendship. Congratulated were the organisers of our parish Flower Festival (Saturday 16th June) for initiating this occasion with its intention of drawing newcomers into our beautiful church, hopefully sowing seeds of curiosity, maybe faith! Since we have all received the Lord’s command , ‘Go make disciples of all nations..’, all parishioners are considered members of the PET and all are invited to its meetings, to be held in the Parish Centre on the first Thursday of each month (with the exception of August), 8-9pm.
Next meeting: Thursday, 5th July.
Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cakes
Every Monday, Wednesday (by the Carmelites) & Thursday after 9am Mass. Why not pop into the Parish Centre, meet friends and enjoy coffee and cake! Tea/Coffee Rotas are now available for collection at the back of Church.
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.
St Thomas More Alumni Memorial Mass & Social
The annual St Thomas More Alumni Memorial Mass & Social will take place at 8pm on Thursday 21st June in the school at Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff. All past pupils, governors and members of staff are invited to attend to remember those deceased members of the school community and, after the Mass, enjoy a few drinks and a sumptuous buffet whilst renewing acquaintances with past school friends and former teachers/colleagues.
APF Boxholders
I have received the Summer 2018 Missio magazine. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the church in the usual place. If you have not had your box opened in the last six months would you please leave it in the office or give it to me personally. (Not relevant of course to those people who took a box recently at the appeal). Thank you.
Joan Caunce, Secretary 01268 757505.
Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life
The parish has received a number of invitations to this Mass which Bishop Alan will be celebrating in the Cathedral on Saturday 14th July at 4pm. If you are celebrating a significant anniversary this year and would like to receive an invitation, please speak to the parish priest.
I would also like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to another event occurring about the same time: a two-day conference taking place at St Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill, entitled ‘Understanding Sex and Gender’ aimed particularly at those involved in education. For information visit
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in christ
The First Reading of the Mass this weekend tells of the expulsion of our first parents from paradise. This is a sign that men and women would come into the world in a state of separation from God; we call it Original Sin. They lost the inheritance that they should have left to their descendants; the consequences of their sin of disobedience were immediately experienced by the offspring of Adam and Eve: Cain killed Abel out of envy. In the same way all evil, be it personal or social, finds it origin in the sin of the first man. Baptism completely forgives the guilt and the punishment of Original Sin, but it does not free us from its effects.
Dear Friends in Christ
The First Reading of the Mass this weekend tells of the expulsion of our first parents from paradise. This is a sign that men and women would come into the world in a state of separation from God; we call it Original Sin. They lost the inheritance that they should have left to their descendants; the consequences of their sin of disobedience were immediately experienced by the offspring of Adam and Eve: Cain killed Abel out of envy. In the same way all evil, be it personal or social, finds it origin in the sin of the first man. Baptism completely forgives the guilt and the punishment of Original Sin, but it does not free us from its effects. Man remains prone to error and to death; Original Sin was a sin of pride. Each of us falls into the same temptation of pride when we seek to occupy - in society, in our private lives, in everything - the place that belongs to God. When we see ourselves confronted with a world that sometimes seems to be profoundly disturbed, we cannot simply fold our arms and shrug like a person overwhelmed by a situation about which he can do nothing. We may not be capable of making great life-changing decisions, but we do have to play our part in those matters that God has put within our reach, so as to give life and our world a Christian orientation and purpose.
The first Meeting of our Parish Evangelisation Team (PET) took place on Thursday and a number of good ideas have been aired which we can explore in the months ahead. Everyone in the Parish is part of this Team since the work of spreading the Faith is a work for all of us. The PET will meet every first Thursday of the month, 8-9pm. Last Sunday, our Corpus Christi Procession was another sign of our witness and evangelisation and as ever, it was good to see how many people came along to profess Faith in Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Thank you to all those who participated and helped: the Altar Servers, Catechists, Tilbury Brass Band and the Ladies who provided the Tea afterwards.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tenth sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 10th June
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Isaac Family (JR)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Gwendoline Underwood, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
9.30am Mass Final Mass of Thanksgiving for all First Holy Communicants
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 11 St Barnabus, Ap
10.00am Requiem Mass John Kelly, RIP
Tuesday 12 Feria
9.00am Mass Carol Nixon, RIP (MI)
5.00pm Body in Church: Henry Herbert RIP
Wednesday 13 St Anthony of Padua, Pr, D
10.00am Requiem Mass Henry Herbert, RIP
Thursday 14 Feria
9.00am Mass Sister Mary Barry, RIP and Friends (CC)
Friday 15 Feria
12Noon Mass Intentions of Bridget McLaughlin (AT)
Saturday 16 St Richard of Chichester, Bp
10.00am Mass Margaret Saunders, RIP (CC)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
ELEVENTH Sunday in ordinary Time - Sunday 17th June
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Bertha & Tony Nesnas, RIP (SC)
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Claire Melish, RIP (MS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Brian Mountier
Folders: Pauline Jordan & Maureen Ward
Serving the Homeless
At our Afternoon Tea on 14th June we will be saying goodbye and wishing a happy retirement to Gill Garwood, the CEO of HARP. A presentation will be made to her from STH. Also there will be the new CEO, Jacky Squires. If you would like tickets, costing £12 each, please contact Nina Bridgeman on 01702 472536.
Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cakes
Every Monday, Wednesday (by the Carmelites) & Thursday after 9am Mass. Why not pop into the Parish Centre, meet friends and enjoy coffee and cake! Tea/Coffee Rotas are now available for collection at the back of Church.
Flower Festival - Saturday 16th June
The Church will remain open all day on Friday 15th June for people to come and install their window displays. We would be grateful for any donations of flowers from parishioners to be left in the old baptistry on Friday. Thank you. Jo & Theresa
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.
On Holy Communion
The Church teaches us that the Mass is the source and summit of the Christian life. From this follows the essential importance of our participation at the Mass every week; this is not simply a precept of the Church but a commandment of God Who wills His People join together in worship every Sunday, the Lord's Day. The best and ultimate expression of our participation is Eucharistic Communion. Our Holy Communion with Christ at Mass is an expression of our faith in His real presence in the Sacrament; it signifies our communion with one another; and it is an assent to the full body of teaching of the Catholic Church; this is the meaning of the Amen we pronounce at the moment of reception. There are often people at Mass who cannot receive for various reasons, either because they are not Catholic, have not received first Holy Communion or because there are spiritual obstacles which have not been overcome. Each of us participates in the Mass according to our capacity, but it is our presence at Mass that is important wether or not we receive Holy Communion. There has evolved the custom, for those not receiving, to come forward and with a clear indication (e.g. arm placed on our shoulder) to receive the sign of the Cross; this is not precisely a blessing - the blessing is given to everyone at the end of Mass - but a symbol of the touch of Christ at that moment.
In preparation for Holy Communion, if we are receiving, we should have fasted from food and drink (except water) for one hour. This is not necessary if we are elderly or have to take medicine. Above all, it is necessary that we be in a state of grace; this means that if we are conscious of serious sin we should have gone to sacramental Confession first.
In receiving Holy Communion the universal norm of the Church is reception upon the tongue; in England there is the Indult (a special permission) for receiving Communion in the hand as well. Whichever form we choose, it is important that we indicate clearly and receive with proper care and reverence. Before we receive, we should make an act of adoration in recognition of the One we are receiving; this takes the form of a genuflection or deep bow as the person in front of us is receiving. St Augustine reminds us: Adore first, what you are to receive. If receiving upon the tongue, the proper manner is to extend our tongue so that the Sacred Host can be placed upon it easily; the Host should not be pecked-at or snatched with the lips; moving targets are also difficult to communicate! If receiving in the hand, this is done by placing one hand upon the other, receiving the Host in the palm and then placing it into the mouth carefully before moving away. Children especially, are asked to ensure that they raise their hands to a suitable height and stand close to the priest or extraordinary minister. The Host should not be snatched or walked-away with; we ask everyone to be vigilant in this. When receiving the Blood of Christ from the chalice, we take the chalice carefully with both hands, sip, and carefully return it. In whichever manner we receive we pronounce a distinct and audible Amen.
The period after Holy Communion is for private prayer, and if there is a Communion chant or hymn, this is followed by a period of silent thanksgiving. It is a help and kindness to everyone else at Mass if a prayerful silence is observed, remembering that this time is an intimate moment of Communion with Jesus, our Lord and God. Those who have not received Communion might like to make what is called a Spiritual Communion at this point, using a formula such as: I wish Lord to receive You now, with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your most holy Mother received You, and with the spirit and fervour of the Saints.
There is nothing greater in the whole of our Catholic Faith that the Presence of Jesus with us at Mass and in Holy Communion. We can never grow too-used to this Gift and Mystery and by continually reminding ourselves of Who it is we receive, then we will approach the Altar with ever greater awareness, faith and devotion.