Sr Helen's Parish, Westcliff is celebrating its 150th Anniversary in May with the following events
On Friday 24th May there will be a mass at 5:30pm followed by a special dinner with Bishop Alan Williams at 7pm in celebration of all the couples who were married at St. Helen’s Church over the years. Tickets are £30. Please contact the office on 01702 342324 for tickets.
On Saturday 25th May from 6 to 8.15pm there will be a concert featuring beautiful songs, instrumentals and dance by talented young people from Brentwood Diocesan schools and churches. No tickets required but there will be an opportunity to make a donation. Coffee and cake will be available in the hall during the interval.
On Saturday 26th May there will be an International Food Festival starting with a cultural show at 12pm. Adult £8/ Children £3 (please contact the office on 01702 342324 for tickets).
APF Boxholders and Direct Donators
On behalf of Missio, I wish to gratefully thank you all for your very generous contributions in 2018. The total donations came to £3,331.26 (£1,531.26 from the Red Boxes and £1,818 from Direct donations). Please see the ‘Thank You’ poster at the back of the Church. You can see Missio’s Website for further details of their work. If anyone should wish a Red Box do not hesitate to contact me. Joan Caunce, Secretary 01268 57505.
Bereavement Group
It has been considered for some while now that a Bereavement Support Group could start-up in the Parish. This would be for any men and women who have experienced loss and bereavement in the past, and will begin in the Parish Centre (Bernadette room) on Wednesday 22nd May at 2pm and thereafter each month. All are welcome to join us in a supportive, friendly and confidential environment. Enquiries to : elizabethdex@btinternet.com or cynthiabush11@googlemail.com or if you prefer just contact the Parish Office.
Save the Date: Saturday 11th May!
March for Life UK is happening in London. Join thousands of other pro-lifers in creating awareness of the hurt and damage abortion causes and helping to promote a culture of life. Inside festival (LifeFest19) 9.30am - 1.30pm, booking required. The march starts at 2pm (no booking required). For more information see posters/leaflets, go to marchforlife.co.uk or call 07773501721/ 0788550511.
Sharing Hope in Crisis
The Sharing Hope in Crisis team are offering a day for you to hear how they approach situations. This seminar is designed to help you know what to say - and what not to say - to someone facing difficulty and to compassionately share the love of Jesus Christ with those who need it most. The event takes place at the Conference Centre Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 18th May from 9am to 4.30pm. There are only 80 places available so please do sign up as soon as you can. Go to Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sharing-hope-in-crisis-seminar-tickets-58994806053 or email adeleangel@dioceseofbrentwood.org Refreshments are provided, please bring a packed lunch. There is no charge for the event but there will be an opportunity to make a donation to cover costs.
Coffee Volunteers
Volunteers are needed urgently for the coffee morning every Thursday after the morning Mass, which should only take about an hour of your time.. After over four years, Cynthia is taking a break . If interested, please contact Phyllis Sadowski as soon as possible.
Reframe
Three workshops to assist our Parish in its work of evangelisation. These will be held in the Parish Centre.
Workshop 1 - Saturday 25th May 11am - 3pm
How to defend the faith without raising your voice
Workshop 2 - Saturday 8th June 11am - 3pm
Religious Freedom / Love & Sex
Workshop 3 - Saturday 22nd June 11am - 3pm
Defending the Unborn / Assisted Suicide
Put these dates in your diary, more details to follow.
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima will be celebrated at Nazareth House, London Road, Southend on Sea on Monday, 13th May. Mass will be at 4pm, followed by a Procession at 4.45pm.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Jacky Hoggett & Eileen Wilson
Folders: Bobby Newman & Sue Hibbert
Enquirers' Evening
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 7th May at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. Deacon Gary Dench, who is soon to be ordained to the priesthood will join us and give us some input. Please contact Fr Mark Swires - vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information.
Men's Weekend Retreat from 10th to 12th May 2019
‘Lord teach us to pray’. A retreat for men of all ages who desire to draw closer to God in prayer. Book online at www.sioncommunity.org.uk/mens-weekend-retreat.html or email for a booking form to admin@sioncommunity.org.uk
Good Shepherd Sunday
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is the annual Day of Prayer for Vocations, especially to the Priesthood and Religious Life. Do keep this intention in mind by having Masses offered, making Holy Hours and keeping this intention in your Rosaries and daily personal prayer.
Serving the Homeless
The Committee of Serving the Homeless are organising a quiz night on Saturday 11th May at 7.30 pm in St Margaret’s Church hall, Lime Avenue, Leigh. Tables of 8, £5 per person. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. To book a table please ring Linda 558217 or Nina 472536.
Dates for your Diary
Saturdays 11th & 18th May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
Sunday 19th May Visitation and Confirmation
Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th June Flower Festival
Sunday 23rd June Corpus Christi Procession - 4pm
Sunday 7th July Parish AGM 6.30pm
Monday 22nd-Saturday 27th July Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
First Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm
We Pray for our Sick
Jim McEvoy, Bill O’Connell, Sheena Evans, Janet Weale, Charlotte O’Neil, Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, 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, Wyn McCafferty, Antonella McConalogue, Eddie McConalogue, David Clark, Georgina Cornwell, Annie Holland, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, 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, Connie Price,Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price & Frazer Gregory.
Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Patrick Palmer, Canon Basil Booker, Fr John O’Callaghan, Canon Brian Grady, Fr Augustine Davidson, Mgr Canon John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes, Elizabeth McCarthy, John Brown, Petronella Jennett, Mary Deyong, Arthur Leftley, Bertha Nesnas, May Hardie, Mabel Salter, Dorothy Hosmer, 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.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Second Sunday of Easter — Divine Mercy
This is the Octave Day of the Resurrection and the Feast of Divine Mercy. We renew the joy of the Resurrection on this Sunday as we celebrate the incalculable gift of Divine Mercy which Jesus bequeathed to His Church on the evening of Easter Day: Peace be with you…receive the Holy Spirit...those whose sins you forgive they are forgiven. Each year we have the Devotions in honour of the Divine Mercy in our Parish; they begin this Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm and this year it is extended also to our Deanery who will be joining us. There will be a number of local Priests available for the Sacrament of Confession.
Dear Friends in Christ
This is the Octave Day of the Resurrection and the Feast of Divine Mercy. We renew the joy of the Resurrection on this Sunday as we celebrate the incalculable gift of Divine Mercy which Jesus bequeathed to His Church on the evening of Easter Day: Peace be with you…receive the Holy Spirit...those whose sins you forgive they are forgiven. Each year we have the Devotions in honour of the Divine Mercy in our Parish; they begin this Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm and this year it is extended also to our Deanery who will be joining us. There will be a number of local Priests available for the Sacrament of Confession.
I renew my thanks for all those who assisted in the preparation and celebration of the Holy Week ceremonies; many of you work tirelessly, especially behind the scenes, to ensure the dignified and noble celebration of the Mysteries of our Redemption. I am, as always, indebted to all those who help me. So too, I thank you for your kind Easter greetings, cards, gifts and Easter Offerings.
You may like to know that the facility of live-streaming the Liturgies from our church has been a great comfort, since we started it last September, too many of our housebound and those far away. A number of families have told me how their loved-ones, who cannot get to Mass any longer, can join with us at home via the Parish website. Also, I was pleased to hear that Cam-streamer, who provide this facility, are so impressed with our Livestream, that they have added it to their global gallery as an example of good streaming practice!
Next weekend someone from the Aid to the Church in Need will speak at the Masses about the work of this splendid global Papal Charity which gives practical assistance to our suffering brothers and sisters in places where the Church is suffering persecution. This comes at a poignant time, having just seen the atrocities committed against Catholics in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Thank you all for the constant support of your prayers; I assure you all of a daily memento of all your intention in my offering of the Holy Mass!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org