July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Christ
One particular devotion in the Catholic Church connected to the Passion of Jesus Christ is the honouring of his Precious Blood. It is a recognition of Jesus’ sacrifice and how he spilled his blood for the salvation of humanity. Furthermore, this blood is made present through the gift of the Eucharist and is something we can consume at Mass, along with the body of Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine.
Over time the Church developed various feasts of the Precious Blood, but it wasn’t until the 19th century when a universal feast was established.
During the First Italian War for Independence in 1849, Pope Pius IX went into exile to Gaeta. He went there with Don Giovanni Merlini, third superior general of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood.
While the war was still raging, Merlini suggested to Pope Pius IX that he create a universal feast to the Precious Blood to beg God’s heavenly aid to end the war and bring peace to Rome. Pius IX subsequently made a statement on June 30, 1849 that he intended to create a feast in honour of the Precious Blood. The war soon ended and he returned to Rome shortly thereafter.
On August 10 he made it official and proclaimed that the 1st Sunday in July will be dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Later, Pope Pius X assigned July 1 as the fixed date of this celebration.
After Vatican II the feast was removed from the calendar, but a votive Mass in honour of the Precious Blood was established and can be celebrated in the month of July (as well as most other months of the year).
For these reasons the entire month of July is traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood, and Catholics are encouraged to meditate on the profound sacrifice of Jesus and the pouring out of his blood for humanity.
Below is the opening prayer of the votive Mass, as well as an additional prayer that can be used as our own personal meditation or prayer during July.
O God, who by the Precious Blood of your only Begotten son have redeemed the whole world,
preserve in us the work of your mercy,
so that, ever honouring the mystery of our salvation,
we may merit to obtain its fruits.
Through our lord Jesus Christ, your son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Summer Fete - Sunday 14th July -12.30pm to 3.30pm
Please come and join us for our school summer fete. There will be many stalls, entertainment, BBQ and inflatable fun!
Catholic Parenting - Engaging and re-engaging your children in the Faith
30th September 2019, 8-10pm at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Eastwood.
In this day and age, passing on our Catholic faith to our children comes with its challenges. How can we offer our children the best opportunity to understand and develop their relationship with God in a way that will sustain their practice of faith through to their adult life? How do we, as parents, navigate the aspects of our faith that are counter cultural and answer the difficult questions our children have about the teachings of our church?
The Diocesan Department for Marriage and Family Life have put together a workshop to support parents who are looking for ideas to raise their young children as faithful Catholics, or opportunities to re-engage older children and teenagers where there might be a struggle. This will be a chance to meet other parents facing the same challenges, to ask questions and hear some tried and tested ideas.
You can register for this event via the Eventbrite link below, or by e-mailing anna.mccormick@dioceseofbrentwood.org. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/catholic-parenting-southend-tickets-65116123077?ref=estwenivtefor001.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 22nd-Saturday 27th July Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
First Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm
Please Pray for the Souls of
Nicolette “Niqui” Denkmayer, RIP who died on Saturday, 6th July. Her Funeral Service will be held at Southed Crematorium on Monday 15th July at 10.40am.
Mary Kennedy, RIP. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 7th August at 2.15pm.
We Pray for our Sick
Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, Sheena Evans, Janet Weale, Charlotte O’Neil, Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, Mark Shepherd, Eileen Bines, Frank Bramley, Mark Hartley, Canon Daniel Harnett, 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, Georgina Cornwell, Annie Holland, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, Irena Solecki, Lanto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Richard Collins, 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 Daniel Harnett, Fr Edmund Dobson, Fr James McEvoy, Kathleen Scaife, Margaret Simpson, Monica Gray, Patricia Armstrong, Josephine Russell, Ronald Gibson, Robert Wright, Margarita Ekers, Mary James,Andrew Wardle, Hope Bailey-Pillow, Madeleine Bullock-Jarman, Joan Slattery, Norah Jordan, Donald Joyce, Ellen Gardner, Joseph Ketterer, James Dawson, Andrew Regan, Mabel Buckley, Bill Prior, Margaret May Orme, David Finnigan, Reginald Copley, Caroline Hardy, Kathleen Butt, Jane Bickmore & Charles Fletcher.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
The image in the liturgy of this Sunday shows us the disciples being sent out in pairs to announce the Kingdom of God. Wherever they went miracles occurred as the blind received their sight, lepers were cleansed, sinners were moved to repentance. Even after so many centuries, we can still see that the world is in need of the peace that only Christ can give. We don’t need to look far to see the results of this lack of peace: race and class struggles, struggles between ideologies and political parties; terrorism and warfare, riots, disputes, and all kinds of violence. How can we explain such lack of peace?
Dear Friends in Christ
The image in the liturgy of this Sunday shows us the disciples being sent out in pairs to announce the Kingdom of God. Wherever they went miracles occurred as the blind received their sight, lepers were cleansed, sinners were moved to repentance. Even after so many centuries, we can still see that the world is in need of the peace that only Christ can give. We don’t need to look far to see the results of this lack of peace: race and class struggles, struggles between ideologies and political parties; terrorism and warfare, riots, disputes, and all kinds of violence. How can we explain such lack of peace? There are many possible explanations, which range from original sin to our own personal defects, but ultimately it is only by inviting God into every situation on this earth that we can live lives of peace and concord. The Christian who lives by faith is a person of peace who spreads serenity around them; people feel at ease with them and others will seek their company. We can each play our part by bringing into every situation the peace of Christ, a peace that the world alone cannot give.
I hope as many of you as possible will attend all or part of the parish meeting this Sunday evening followed by the garden party. This is not a business meeting, but a chance to celebrate our parish life, look back in thanksgiving over the last year, and look forward to trusting in God’s providence. It begins at 6.15pm in the Parish Centre.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 7th July
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Michael O’Donnell, RIP (C&JO'B)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Christine O’Leary, RIP (BH)
11.30am Mass Alison Shepherd, RIP (Anniv) (KH)
4.00pm Mass Jim McEvoy, RIP (K&LW) - Extraordinary Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 8 Feria
9.00am Mass Ted Wilson, RIP (Anniv) (EW)
Tuesday 9 St Augustine Zhao Rong, Pr and his Comps, Mm
9.00am Mass Queenie Bartley, RIP (CC)
Wednesday 10 Feria
9.00am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (JC)
2.30pm Funeral Service: Anthony Cummins, RIP
7.00pm Mass School Leavers
Thursday 11 ST BENEDICT, Ab
9.00am Mass Annette Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
Friday 12 Feria
12Noon Mass Vivien Clancy from her Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren
Saturday 13 St Henry, Holy Roman Emperor
10.00am Mass Eric Newman, RIP (CC)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 14th July
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Jenny Moscardini, RIP (CB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Bill & Josie Russell, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
9.30am Mass Patricia Armstrong, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
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
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Jane Trower & Clare English
Catholic Singles
This is an organisation which helps single Catholics of all ages (over 18 years) meet other single Catholics, either one to one or through social events. For further information visit www.catholicsingles.org.uk or tel. 0161 941 3498.
Bereavement Group
This will be held in the Parish Centre (Bernadette room), on Wednesday, 17th July at 2pm (we meet on the third Wednesday of every 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.
APF Boxholders
If your box has not been opened in the last six months would you please hand it in to the office or give it to me personally. I have now received the Summer Missio magazines. If you have not already received one please pick one up from the back of the church in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce (Secretary) Tel 01702 757505.
Brentwood Catholic Children's Society
Children and families are now able to access direct therapeutic support in one of our clinics. Sessions take place after school or at an evening clinic at our counselling suites in Rayleigh. Our highly experienced counsellors provide support directly to the whole family or to children and adolescents on a 1:1 basis. If you are concerned that your child may need someone to talk to, please contact Catherine on cmunns@bccs.org.uk. There is a sessional charge, so please enquire.
ACROSS Southend 2020 Pilgrimage to Lourdes
17th to 26th September 2020, costing approximately £750.00 (subject to minor change) in a 3* hotel adapted to the needs of individuals with limited or no mobility. Travel is by Jumbo Ambulance. If you would like to travel as a volunteer or you require assistance to travel or would like further information please email southendacross@gmail.com or call Anita on 07889 416481.
Leigh on Sea Lay Carmelites
Coach going to Aylesford Priory on Sunday 14th July, to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Holy Mass at 11.30 am. Talk in the afternoon. Rosary Procession and Benediction at 3.30 pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Coach leaves 9am from the bus stop opposite the church, Fare £15.00. To book seat on the coach please telephone Bernadette on 01702 421891/07963300518. All welcome.
Children's Liturgy
We are looking for volunteers to help at 9.30am mass for Children's Liturgy. We split into three groups whilst running the session and help/guidance is always given for every session. It would mean a commitment of approx an hour every six weeks. Please contact Sam- 01702 428990 or pop along on a Sunday morning to see what happens.