BCYS Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage 20th – 27th July 2019
Join the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service in Lourdes this Summer as we travel alongside the diocese, assisting the elderly and infirm on their annual pilgrimage.
Alongside this we also run a retreat, daily Masses and excursions for the young people, as well as experiencing the Lourdes Torchlight Procession and Blessed Sacrament Procession.
Places will be allocated to ensure as many parishes and schools as possible from the diocese are represented and applications will remain open until 31st January 2019. Where we receive a large number from one school or parish, places will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. Please be aware, this event is always heavily oversubscribed.
The pilgrimage is open to anyone currently in school year 10 and above and the cost will be around £570 (TBC). For all information and the chance to apply, please visit www.bcys.net/events or for any queries, please emailgabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Brentwood Catholic Children's Society
The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society is holding an Anniversary Charity Ball to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of its founding. The Charity Ball is their largest and most glamorous event of the year and takes place at The Rayleigh Club, Hullbridge on Saturday 9th March. Tickets are on sale now, costing £55 per person, which will include a drinks reception and three course dinner along with a full evening of entertainment. Guests will be seated on tables of 12, making it the perfect opportunity to get together with friends, family or colleagues, have a fantastic night out whilst at the same time raising vital funds for BCCS. As tickets for this event sell out quickly, please contact Julie asap to avoid disappointment: 01268 784544 / 07912277413 / jabbott@bccs.org.uk
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the December draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 22 Miss V deSouza
2nd Prize £100 35 Mrs T Wright
3rd Prize £75 62 Mrs A Sangster
4th Prize £50 118 Mrs C Haldenby
5th Prize £25 140 Mrs Diane Watts
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.
Sacred Heart Winter Night Shelter
Thank you for your very generous donations to the Winter Night Shelter. We do not need any more warm clothes, thank you, but are in great need of: new small/medium sized ladies and mens socks, pants and vests and holdalls/rucksacks.
There is a box in the sacristy – marked ‘Sacred Heart Night Shelter’ - where donations can be placed. Thank you in anticipation for any help you can give!
Serving the Homeless - Homelessness Sunday 27th January 2019
There will be a second collection on 26th/27th January following all the masses, for ‘Serving the Homeless.’ This is our local ecumenical Charity which supports Homelessness projects in Southend. We were able to spend over £15,000 on projects last year which helped individuals out of homelessness.
The 2018 report on Homelessness from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals that:
• 70% of local authorities had difficulties finding social housing for homeless people last year, while a striking 89% reported difficulties in finding private rented accommodation. As housing supply dwindles rents are outstripping wages and benefits. Therefore, the majority of local councils in England are struggling to find any stable housing for homeless people in their area.
40,000 people were evicted by private landlords in 2017; 4 out of 5 were ‘no-fault’ evictions, i.e. where 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.
• There are currently 78,000 homeless households in England in temporary accommodation and, if current trends continue, more than 100,000 such households will be trapped in temporary accommodation by 2020.
• The problem of rising homelessness is not limited to London. 40% of London councils, 76% of councils in the Midlands, 70% of councils in the south and 62% of councils in the north, all said that the numbers of homeless families and individuals seeking help were rising. Our own local problems are visible every day on our streets and in our emergency night shelters.
Please be as generous as you can. Jo Ronan, Chairwoman Serving the Homeless.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Eileen Wilson
Folders: Jane Trower & Clare English
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 21st January at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (Baptism & Confirmation). You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Free Home Library Service
If you are housebound and enjoy reading, or know someone who finds it difficult to get out and about, you are able to have large/small print books, videos, talking books, cd’s delivered to your home fortnightly, completely free of charge.
Please contact the Community Development Team at Home Delivery Service on 01702 534123.
Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes - Monday 22nd July to Saturday 27th July 2019
Five nights (full board) travelling from Stansted to Lourdes with Ryanair and staying at the Grand Moderne Hotel will cost £665 per pilgrim (this includes one 20g suitcase per passenger, plus one hand-luggage bag). Outbound flight departs at 13.10/arrives 16.10 and return flight departs Lourdes at 11.10am/arrives 12.10pm. Please collect an information sheet/booking form from the Parish office.
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 10th February
Diocesan Mass for Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day celebrated by the Bishop - 3pm
Saturdays 11th & 18th May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
Sunday 19th May Visitation and Confirmation
Monday 22nd-Saturday 27th July Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of
June Dillon, RIP who died on Thursday 10th January. Her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, 7th February at 2.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
We Pray for our Sick
Sheena Evans, Charlotte O’Neil, Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, Janet Weale, Mark Shepherd, Eileen Bines, Frank Bramley, Mark Hartley, Gillian Oldham, Basil Emmerson, Austin Butler, Christine Robinson, John Lavery, Paul Keane,Rosemary Bragard, Rose Craft, Maureen Gooding, Dympna Addecott, Pat Lynch, Christian Ryan, Mike Rubbert, Tina Doveaston, Addi Brady, Ben Wilson, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Nan Carrit, Eileen Wilson, Patricia Spikin, Sandra Fagan, Edna Wallace, Beryl Dixon, Nick Evans, Vicky Jack, Lyn Gopee, Mary Boyce, Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Janet Woods, Lynne Hilkene, June Moncaster, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Maria Clark, Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch, Anthony King, Chas Taylor, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Johnnie Pool, Edward Martin, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Hugh Isaacs, Josephine Griggs, Colleen Worley, Dawn Deleigh, Lorraine Hart, Linda Dean, Antonella McConalogue, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornwell, Wyn McCafferty, Annie Holland, Ivor & Joanne Knight, David Clark, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, David Kislingury, Maureen Ward, Irena Solecki, Lanto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Mick Cordingley and children Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price, Connie Price & Frazer Gregory.
Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Meehan, Bp Bernard Ward, Fr Christopher Quirke, Pope Benedict XV, Bp Arthur Doubleday Fr John O’Sullivan, Fr John Hibbert, Fr Alfred Field, Bp Patrick Casey, Mgr David Donnelly, John F. Dillon, Ilene Axson, Dona Arnott, Teresa Moule, Courtney Choat-Kelly, Kathleen Goddard, Hubert Conolly, Jimmy Baker, Catherine Morris, Frances Emmerson, John Mansfield, Rose Nice, Isobel King, Conor Anderson, Mary Vermeulen, John Dillon, T. Fitzpatrick, Mary Clarke, Ellen Brooks, Sarah Mann, William Hands, Barbara Sheaf, Kathleen Cooke, Phylis Faulkner, Ida Wallace, Bridget McGrath, Huguette Farrelly & Gloria Fletcher.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace
The Baptism of the Lord
Dear Friends in christ
In today's feast we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John in the waters of the Jordan. Though He Himself had no stain to be washed away, He wished to submit Himself to this rite as He submitted Himself to the other requirements of the Law. As a human being He submitted Himself to the laws that ruled and governed the lives of the people of Israel who had been chosen by God to prepare the way for the Redeemer. By His baptism Jesus left for us the sacrament of Christian baptism, directly instituted by Christ. In baptism we receive faith and grace. The day we were baptised was the most important day of our lives. Before we received baptism we were outside the locked gates of Paradise, unable to produce even the smallest supernatural fruit.
Dear Friends in Christ
In today's feast we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John in the waters of the Jordan. Though He Himself had no stain to be washed away, He wished to submit Himself to this rite as He submitted Himself to the other requirements of the Law. As a human being He submitted Himself to the laws that ruled and governed the lives of the people of Israel who had been chosen by God to prepare the way for the Redeemer. By His baptism Jesus left for us the sacrament of Christian baptism, directly instituted by Christ. In baptism we receive faith and grace. The day we were baptised was the most important day of our lives. Before we received baptism we were outside the locked gates of Paradise, unable to produce even the smallest supernatural fruit. Today our prayer is one of thanksgiving to God for this totally undeserved gift and to rejoice in the countless good things He has lavished upon us. As Saint Irenaeus wrote in the second century: Thanksgiving is the very first emotion that should be born in us in response to our baptism; the second is joy. Never should we think of our baptism without deep feelings of thanksgiving. Baptism brings into action something greater than any other good: grace and faith, perhaps, eternal salvation. We have to thank our parents and godparents who brought us, when maybe just a few days or weeks after we were born, to receive this first of the Christian sacraments.
Traditionally on this Sunday we renew the vows and promises of our baptism. It is also the Sunday when those babies baptised in the last year in our Parish receive a special blessing and the Miraculous Medal during the evening Service and Benediction. May God bless them and all of you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
The Baptism of the Lord
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Sunday 13th January
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Jack Vesey, RIP (BH)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Tim McArthy, RIP (Anniv) (PM)
11.30am Mass Grace Millane, RIP (LD)
5.30pm Blessing of Babies & Benediction
Monday 14 Feria
9.00am Mass Eric Major, RIP (Anniv) (PM)
Tuesday 15 Feria
11.00am Requiem Mass Brita Irons, RIP
Wednesday 16 Feria
9.00am Mass Patrick Farrell, RIP (Anniv)(TF)
Thursday 17 St Anthony, Abbott
9.00am Mass Lesley Mansfield, RIP (PM)
Friday 18 Feria
12Noon Mass Maureen Crawley, RIP (KP)
Saturday 19 St Wulstan, Bp
10.00am Mass Sheila Liggins, RIP (AW)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 20th January
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Frank Maguire, RIP (MW)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Frances Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Maureen Deekes, RIP (BH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
Reverse Advent Calendar
The Live Simply Group would like to thank all those who responded so generously to this appeal. 26 completed backpacks have been donated and distributed via the RC prison chaplain to those who, having completed their sentence, leave prison with no home to go to. Other gifts of money, toiletries and clothing will be well used by the Churches Winter Night shelters.
Costa/Greggs gift cards can be an excellent way to help those on the streets without enabling an addiction problem. Thank you once again.
BCYS Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage 20th – 27th July 2019
Join the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service in Lourdes this Summer as we travel alongside the diocese, assisting the elderly and infirm on their annual pilgrimage.
Alongside this we also run a retreat, daily Masses and excursions for the young people, as well as experiencing the Lourdes Torchlight Procession and Blessed Sacrament Procession.
Places will be allocated to ensure as many parishes and schools as possible from the diocese are represented and applications will remain open until 31st January 2019. Where we receive a large number from one school or parish, places will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. Please be aware, this event is always heavily oversubscribed.
The pilgrimage is open to anyone currently in school year 10 and above and the cost will be around £570 (TBC). For all information and the chance to apply, please visit www.bcys.net/events or for any queries, please emailgabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Lourdes Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is at 10.30am on Thursday 17th January when we welcome Guest Speaker Mr. Keith Price, a local from Great Wakering, who will be sharing his gardening experience along with some beautiful slides. All gardeners and non-gardeners are welcome!
Please note: This Meeting is an opportunity to put your name forward for our planned visit to the Houses of Parliament in May. Numbers are limited so don't miss out.