Sacred Heart Winter Night shelter
Thank you for your very generous donations to the Winter Night Shelter. We are in great need of: BRAND NEW - Mens underwear, socks, pants, vests. Also jogging trousers, mens flip flops/slippers. Holdalls/rucksacks. Ladies underwear in medium & small.
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!
Unwanted Gift Sale - Sunday 10th February
There will be an unwanted gift sale in the Parish Centre on Sunday 10th February after 8am and 9.30am Masses . If you have any donations please leave them at the back of Church. Breakfast (bacon and sausage rolls) will be available.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Jacky Hoggett & Pauline Jordan
Thank You from Fr Con
Fr Con would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes when he was unwell and for the Christmas presents and cards he received.
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 28th January at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (Penance & Anointing the Sick). 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 Souls 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.
Gilbert Oldham, RIP who died on 19th January. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday 11th February at 2.15pm 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 (Jack) Clifford, Fr Joseph Burns, Canon John Byrne, Vera Plummer,
May Fazio, Elsie Tyrrell, Phyllis Collins, Michael MacDermott, Gloria Dickens, Maud Darnell, Frank Russell, Edward Armitage, William Cooper, Robert Waller, Mark Solecki, Maureen Leyden, Gerard Tait, Andrew (Mel) Kenny, Bridget Carmel, Joyce Ellen Reilly, Noel Calnan, May Ferry, Norah Kelly, Wyndham Richards,
Mary Abel, Florence White, May Keane, William Moroney, Cissie Burnham, Elizabeth Ray, Peter Griffin, William Gannon, Patricia Robinson, Robert Jones, Kathleen Jennett, Francis Faulkner, Mary Quinn & Pamela Woodley.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in christ
This week we are back in what is rather blandly termed Ordinary Time! That is, the period between Christmastide and the start of Lent (6th March). The Gospel of this Sunday relates that most famous of parties: the Wedding at Cana. Actually, I always think that this wedding feast is a good analogy and symbol for what the Church is. God often tells us - especially in the Old Testament - that His Kingdom is one which is like a banquet of rich food and fine wines. If you think about the Catholic Faith, it is a religion that touches all of our senses; which is another reason why it must be the True Faith: because it is incarnational.
Dear Friends in christ
This week we are back in what is rather blandly termed Ordinary Time! That is, the period between Christmastide and the start of Lent (6th March). The Gospel of this Sunday relates that most famous of parties: the Wedding at Cana. Actually, I always think that this wedding feast is a good analogy and symbol for what the Church is. God often tells us - especially in the Old Testament - that His Kingdom is one which is like a banquet of rich food and fine wines. If you think about the Catholic Faith, it is a religion that touches all of our senses; which is another reason why it must be the True Faith: because it is incarnational. God has created us as human beings, not angels, and therefore we LOVE anything that stimulates us: sight, touch, taste, sound and smell. All of these senses are, if you think about them, celebrated in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church. Each of the seven Sacraments use matter to convey the grace and life of God. In the liturgy or divine worship, we use those elements that touch our senses and at the same time bring us into contact with the Deity. We see beauty in Church architecture, art, the sacred vessels, the liturgical vestments and in so many other ways. Think of all those elements we touch during Mass and which feel good to us. The Body and Blood of Jesus received under the appearance of bread and wine, as well as the food of daily life, are a delight to the sense of taste. We worship with the strains and sound of music, especially when it is truly sacred and beautiful, because it elevates our minds and hearts to God. We experience pleasant smell in the church too with the flowers, wax and the lingering fragrance of incense; a church after High Mass is a true celebration for the nose!
The Incarnation is the very marriage of Heaven and earth. In Jesus Christ, heaven and earth, divinity and humanity have met and have married. The result of it is a joyful banquet. This is how we say that the Mass itself, and especially Holy Communion, is a Nuptial thing: in Communion our bodies are intimately united with Jesus Christ in a way far more profound than in any human union. So, there is much to celebrate and rejoice in when it comes to our Faith, and even Ordinary Time can be, and is, a period of rejoicing in what God has done for us in Christ! God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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
Monday 21 St Agnes, V, M
9.00am Mass Sr Imelda, RIP (Anniv) (CK)
Tuesday 22 St Vincent, Deacon, M
9.00am Mass Jaime Lee, RIP (Anniv) (TT)
Wednesday 23 Feria
9.00am Mass Alan Bush, RIP (CB)
Thursday 24 St Francis de Sales, Bp, D
9.00am Mass Barbara Sheaf, RIP (Anniv)
Friday 25 THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL, Ap
12Noon Mass Doreen Rositter, RIP (Anniv)(UO’K)
Saturday 26 SS Timothy & Titus, Bpp
10.00am Mass Intentions of the Lambert Family (LL)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 27th January
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Michael & Margaret Gibbons, RIP (BG)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Grace Millane, RIP (AK)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Cynthia Bush (RB)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
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.