Nazareth House
Part of the chapel roof has collapsed and needs urgent attention. Can you help? We are looking for a roofer to do the work as well as funds to pay for it. If you would like to help, please contact Sister Madeline at Nazareth House on 01702 787646.
Westcliff Resident needs a lift to Church
Michael Regan, senior resident of Westcliff on Crowstone Road, needs a lift to church on Sunday for 8am mass. If you can help please contact the Parish Office.
The Bethlehem Nativity Group
A missionary from Bethlehem,The Holy Land will visit us on the weekend of 7th-8th September to briefly talk about the Holy Land and sell religious articles made out of Olive Wood from the Holy Land to help and support the poor Christian families, (“when you help the poor you help our Lord”).
First Holy Communion 2020
If you have a child going into Year 3 in September and would like them to make their First Holy Communion in 2020, please complete the on-line Registration Form available from the Parish Website under Sacraments and return it to the Parish office no later than Friday 6th September.
There will be a parent’s meeting on Thursday 26th September at 8pm in the Parish Centre for those parents who have registered their child for First Holy Communion in 2020.
We Pray for our Sick
Lyn Gopee, Vita D’Souza, Patricia Vanner, Denise Gianelli, Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, Sheena Reeves, 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, 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, Sharon Levill, Georgina Cornwell, Annie Holland, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, 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
Fr Bernard Collings, Canon John Sloane, Col Ernest Petter, Bernard Squires,John Lowndes, Louise Newman, Veronica Maguire, Alan Tate, Mary (Molly) Horn, Stella Stanley, William Pearson, Peter Scott, Kathleen Shanahan, Charles Capon, Nellie Aynsley, Marjorie Clarke, Sheila King, Marian Payne, Vivien Payne, Martin Payne, Vera Goldman, Margaret Knight, Antoni Byczynski, Campbell Coe, Gladys Robson, Doris Bree & Catherine Marriott.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
Fire is frequently used in the bible as a symbol of the love of God, a love which works to cleanse mankind of its impurity. Jesus says in the gospel of the Mass this Sunday that He has come to cast fire upon the Earth and that He wished it were already kindled. Love finds its ultimate expression in Christ himself for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. The Lord wants the fire of His love to set alight our hearts, to light them up completely. He loves each one of us with a personal love, as if each one of us were the only object of His love.
Dear Friends in Christ
Fire is frequently used in the bible as a symbol of the love of God, a love which works to cleanse mankind of its impurity. Jesus says in the gospel of the Mass this Sunday that He has come to cast fire upon the Earth and that He wished it were already kindled. Love finds its ultimate expression in Christ himself for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. The Lord wants the fire of His love to set alight our hearts, to light them up completely. He loves each one of us with a personal love, as if each one of us were the only object of His love. The fundamental truth of our existence is that God loves me. Everything else pales in importance. We show our love for God in many ways and the Holy Spirit will give us many inspirations as to how we can do this. There are so many times when we say no to love, perhaps without paying much attention. It is then that we learn how to make acts of sorrow for our lack of love. One of the ways we show love for God is precisely by seeking out his divine mercy especially in the sacrament of Confession. Saint Thomas Aquinas says: he who does not truly repent, does not truly love; obviously, when we love another person we suffer at having offended them. This is one of the effects of real love. Most of all, in front of the Tabernacle, when we adore Christ, we will receive light and strength to love and to be sorry. Do we speak to Jesus about what we love in our life, those who are precious to us, our family and friends, and about our work and our life? No one ever goes away from Jesus empty-handed.
We have just celebrated last Thursday, the great solemnity of Mary’s Assumption into Heaven; we look to her and with her towards Christ as she draws us into deeper union with him. May God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 18th August
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Bernadette Perry, RIP (Anniv) (KH)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass David Clark, RIP (AC)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of Richard & Mary Poole (AC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 19 St John Eudes, Pr
9.00am Mass Alf & Mary Johnson, RIP (Anniv) (CM)
Tuesday 20 St Bernard, Ab, D
9.00am Mass Canon Vincent Hurley & Fr Andrew Hurley, RIP (Anniv)(JH)
Wednesday 21 St Pius X, P
9.00am Mass Intentions of Don & Margaret Keith (50th Wedding) (MK)
Thursday 22 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00am Mass Thomas Walsh, RIP (Anniv)(MC)
Friday 23 St Rose of Lima, V
12Noon Mass John & Pat Moon & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
Saturday 24 ST BARTHOLOMEW, Ap
10.00am Mass Tom & Rita O’Callaghan - 60th Wedding Anniversary (JA)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 25th August
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Eugene Renehan, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Linda Wall (KW)
11.30am Mass William Pearson, RIP (Anniv) (SP)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
Counters & Folders
Counters: Jacky Hoggett & Eileen Wilson
Folders: Bobby Newman & Sue Hibbert
Westcliff Resident needs a ride to church
Michael Regan, senior resident of Westcliff on Crowstone Road, needs a ride to church on Sunday for 8am mass. If you can help please contact the Parish Office.
Foundation Governors & Trustees
It is that time again when we begin to look forward to next academic year and we are looking to recruit Catholic individuals who share our passion and mission for Catholic education, that might consider serving at a local level as a Foundation Governor of St Thomas More High School or at Trust Level as a Trustee of the Assisi Catholic Trust. If you think you have the skills (particularly safeguarding, finance, human resources or legal background), dedication and motivation we would love to have you on board. Please do speak to either your Parish Priest or contact Mrs Gemma Ackred, Headteacher at St Thomas More High School and Chief Accounting officer for The Assisi Catholic Trust (gackred@assisicatholictrust.com) to find out more about the roles we have available. I really hope many of you will consider your potential to serve our schools in this way and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Serving the Homeless Annual Draw
We still have some tickets left for our 'Hamper Bonanza.' There are six hampers to be won. Tickets can be bought from committee members after Sunday masses or phone Jo Ronan 474062. Prizes will be drawn at the beginning of September.
Barleylands Fun Walk - Brentwood Catholic Children's society
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society is inviting families to join us at the Barleylands Fun Walk on Sunday 8th September 2019 to increase awareness of our work. This is a great fun, family event with a choice of walks on the Barleylands site in Billericay, the longest being no more than 2 miles and a shorter walk which is suitable for children & toddlers. There will be stalls serving cakes/biscuits and ice-cream available from 12pm and the community walk will start at 12.45pm & finish around 2pm. This is an ideal opportunity for families or parish groups to get together and have a fun afternoon while raising much needed funds for BCCS’. For a sponsorship form and more information, please go to https://www.bccs.org.uk/fundraising-and-events or contact Julie on jabbott@bccs.org.uk Look out for our BCCS pitch at the start line and come and say hello!
Coffee Morning
Coffee and cakes will continue to be served in the Parish Centre every Thursday after morning Mass throughout the summer. Everyone welcome!
Bereavement Group
This will be held in the Parish Centre (Bernadette room), on Wednesday, 21st August 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.
Evangelisation - Why/What/How? - Michael Dopp
Michael Dopp is an inspirational Canadian speaker who has presented for 18 Diocese and over 50 parishes and apostolates, as well as Catholic ministries such as CCO, NET, and Cursillo. He has led presentations for priest, deacons, university students, prayer groups, RCIA, sacramental preparation groups, adult faith formation and more. Michael will be touring the UK in October and Brentwood Diocese have taken the opportunity to book him to come and speak. He has very kindly accepted the invitation and we are privileged to host him for this one off event at Brentwood Cathedral Hall on Friday, 4 October 2019 from 14.30pm to 21.00pm. If you would like to attend this event it can be booked via Eventbrite or email adeleangel@dioceseofbrentwood.org. There is a small donation requested of £5 to cover his expenses. Spaces are limited.
Silent Weekend Retreat
From 6pm Friday 11th October until 2pm on Sunday 13th October 2019 at Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9BX. Guest Speaker: Canon David Oakley.
Our theme this year is 'Silence & the Scriptures'. We chose this theme in line with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales who have designated 2020 as ‘The God Who Speaks’: A Year of the Word to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Verbum Domini – Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation on ‘The Word of the Lord’, and the 1600th anniversary of death of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. 2020 will be a year of celebrating, living and sharing God’s word. This silent weekend retreat is a great opportunity to take time out with the Lord in prayer and reflection. 40-Hours Adoration, Silence and Prayer form part of the weekend.
For more information or to book email admin@sioncommunity.org.uk / allegra.mutanda@gmail.com Call 01277 211015 or visit www.sioncommunity.org.uk
Tea on the Terrace
Save the date! 21st September at 2.30pm in the Parish Centre. Come and enjoy a superb Afternoon Tea & meet friends old and new. Tickets at only £8 adults and £25.00 for a family, will be on sale after all Masses weekend of 24th/25th August..