St Helen's Parish, Westcliff-on-Sea 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.
Sacrament of Confirmation
We offer our prayers and good wishes to those who are Confirmed this Sunday in our Parish:
Angelin Joe Anand, Celiena Joe Anand, Samuel Browne, Joshua Bryan,
Roman Burzotta, Christopher Butler-Cole, Mary Conway, Ruby Craddock, Romaine Craik, Alex Dalley, Tilly Dobson, Stevie Fallon, Yasmin Louise Gentilezo, Catherine James, Madaline Kane, Pablo Kelsey, Isibeal Lynch-Wyatt, Davis Mathew, Joseph Porter, William Rourke, Daniel Sadler, Vinay Soares, Jack Stevenson, Alexander Stewart, Gabriella Symons, Georgia Trower
May the Holy Spirit be their Guide as they become fully initiated, adult members of Holy Church.
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.
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.
HARP
A very sincere thanks for all your recent donations especially the financial contributions during the Lenten period.
This month's wish list: individually wrapped biscuits, small packets of crisps. UHT milk, men's and ladies' socks, men's boxer shorts (small and medium) also ladies knickers (small and medium). These must be new.
Fourth Sunday of Easter - Sunday 12th May World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Dear Friends in Christ
Next Sunday is the occasion of the Visitation of the Bishop, Alan Williams, to our Parish. This takes place every three years and it is also the occasion when the Bishop will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on twenty-six young adults, during 11.30am Mass. The visit of our Bishop is the same as the visit of one of the Apostles, since he is a direct descendent of one of the Twelve. We shall welcome him with the devotion of his spiritual children and look forward to his words of encouragement to us. The Bishop is the first Teacher of the Faith in our Diocese and has the pastoral care and oversight of Clergy, Religious and Faithful, some 240,000 Catholics in ninety Parishes. Please pray for his intentions daily, as the work of a Bishop is both vital and huge within the Church today. I frequently assure the Bishop of our prayers for his intentions. One of the great consolations of a Shepherd is the knowledge that his flock are supporting him through the prayers and sacrifices of their lives.
Dear Friends in Christ
Next Sunday is the occasion of the Visitation of the Bishop, Alan Williams, to our Parish. This takes place every three years and it is also the occasion when the Bishop will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on twenty-six young adults, during 11.30am Mass. The visit of our Bishop is the same as the visit of one of the Apostles, since he is a direct descendent of one of the Twelve. We shall welcome him with the devotion of his spiritual children and look forward to his words of encouragement to us. The Bishop is the first Teacher of the Faith in our Diocese and has the pastoral care and oversight of Clergy, Religious and Faithful, some 240,000 Catholics in ninety Parishes. Please pray for his intentions daily, as the work of a Bishop is both vital and huge within the Church today. I frequently assure the Bishop of our prayers for his intentions. One of the great consolations of a Shepherd is the knowledge that his flock are supporting him through the prayers and sacrifices of their lives.
One of our continuing efforts for Evangelisation is an initiative that we are launching entitled Reframe. There will be three workshops to assist our Parish in this work on the following dates, and covering issues that affect many of us in the Church:
Saturday 25th May 11am - 3pm How to defend the Faith without raising your voice!
Saturday 8th June 11am - 3pm Religious Freedom /Love & Sex
Saturday 22nd June 11am - 3pm Defending the Unborn /Assisted Suicide
These will be held in the Parish Centre so please put these dates in your diary now!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - Sunday 12th May
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Thanksgiving for the Spacey Family (VS)
9.30am Mass Arthur Mills, RIP (DL)
11.30am Mass Frederick Freeman, RIP (Anniv) (DF)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 13 St Erconwald, Bp; Our Lady of Fatima
9.00am Mass Maureen Murray, RIP (T&RO’C)
Tuesday 14 ST MATTHIAS, Ap
9.00am Mass Private Intention (BH)
Wednesday 15 Feria
9.00am Mass Martha Braun, RIP (GM)
Thursday 16 Feria
9.00am Mass Ernest Cheeseman, RIP (CC)
Friday 17 Feria
12Noon Mass Lilian & Jim Fegan, RIP (JC)
Saturday 18 St John I, P, M
10.30am Mass First Holy Communion Mass
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - Sunday 19th May
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Thanksgiving to all the Priests of the Parish (B&MH)
9.30am Mass Kevin & Theresa Quinn (Golden Wedding - Thanksgiving) (BH)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Carmel O’Leary & Florence Ryan (CH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
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
Fr James (Jim) McCormack, Fr John William Hayes, Charlotte Anderson, Robert King, Patrick O’Sullivan, Joyce Wilkinson, Iris Amner, John Lyons, Constance Newton, Louis Bussell, Dorothy Kyrie-Smith, Margaret Philp,
Joseph Edwards, John Smith, Eileen Rosina Hood, Winifred Craig, Francis Thomas, Roma Morgan, John Rivens, Arthur Mills, Emma Jane Hobbs, Alfred Warner, Philip Everett, Amy Ehn, Bridget Hamblion, Pauline Cousins, Florence West, Ellen O’Leary, Agnes Theresa Brady, Edward Petronis, Michael Jones,
Charles Cutter, William Ross, Eric Jeffries, Lily Mead, Michael McNamara & John Kelly.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Dates for your Diary
Saturdays 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
Positions at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School
The Governors of our school now invite applications for the following positions:
We are looking for a bright, talented and passionate teacher who can inspire our learners. The position could be KS1 or KS2. There may be the potential for an additional responsibility for the right candidate.
We are looking for a fixed term maternity cover teacher in KS1 or KS2. We are looking for an excellent teacher to enable our excellent learners. There is the possibility that this role could become permanent.
We welcome applications from NQTs who can demonstrate their potential and enthusiasm for teaching and learning.
Please contact the School Office via email at office@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk or call on 01702 475689 for an application pack. Visits to the School are welcomed.
Closing date: 13th May 2019
Interview date: Tuesday 14th May/Wednesday 15th May
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.
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.
OLL Ladies Group
Next Meeting Thursday, 16 May from 10.30 in Parish Centre. All women in Parish welcome so come along make new friends and enjoy another of our great fun quiz mornings.
Coffee Rota
Help urgently needed for volunteers on Thursday after 9am Mass otherwise this popular social/COFFEE time will finish at the end of May. Please contact Phyllis Sadowski to add your name as a volunteer.
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.