Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Bernard Clay, Canon William O’Neill, Mgr Daniel Shanahan, Fr Kevin Lyons, Monica James, Elizabeth Winchester, Veronica McCullough, Dr Brian Quinn, Denis Jordan, Norman Halligan, Clara Donnelly, Catherine Hevey, Thomas Gunn, Eileen Morgan, Florence D’Yos, Clare Fry, Michael Standing, Cecil Ratcliff, Arthur Sanctuary, William Currane, Patrick McCarthy, David Scott-Frame, James Scott, Jeremiah Brennan, John Goodwin-Self, Angelo Nikolla & Maria Lena.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
This Sunday is a momentous day in the history of the Catholic Church in England. John Henry Cardinal Newman will be declared a Saint by Pope Francis, the first Englishman (non-martyr) since the Reformation. Newman lived between 1801-1890. He was brought up as an Anglican, and went to church but did not have a deep faith until - quite suddenly – when he was fifteen, he found a certainty: in that moment he described his faith as more certain than that I have hands and feet. He had a strong sense of the eternal love and mercy of God, and felt called to ministry. At twenty-three he became an Anglican Cleric, and at that time he was very dismissive and critical of the Catholic Church. For his time as an Anglican he was based in and near Oxford, where he preached at St Mary’s, the church attended by many students and professors.
Dear Friends in Christ
This Sunday is a momentous day in the history of the Catholic Church in England. John Henry Cardinal Newman will be declared a Saint by Pope Francis, the first Englishman (non-martyr) since the Reformation. Newman lived between 1801-1890. He was brought up as an Anglican, and went to church but did not have a deep faith until - quite suddenly – when he was fifteen, he found a certainty: in that moment he described his faith as more certain than that I have hands and feet. He had a strong sense of the eternal love and mercy of God, and felt called to ministry. At twenty-three he became an Anglican Cleric, and at that time he was very dismissive and critical of the Catholic Church. For his time as an Anglican he was based in and near Oxford, where he preached at St Mary’s, the church attended by many students and professors.
However, he questioned more and more about the Anglican church, and as he questioned he found himself being treated in quite a hostile way. He studied Catholic theology, especially St Augustine, and he eventually left the Anglican church and became a Catholic. Two years later, aged forty-six, he became a Catholic priest. Later in his life he wrote Apologia Pro Vita Sua (A defence of one’s life) in which he explains the doubts, questions and struggles with which he wrestled, sometimes in very raw and personal ways.
So Newman is a Saint for those who struggle, who have doubts and ask questions; his journey in faith is full of personal challenge. Some of his projects failed. He was often heavily and personally criticised. Therefore he is a Saint whom we can ask for prayers in situations when we have doubts or face challenges, or when we fail and need to start again.
Many of John Henry Newman’s prayers and hymns will be familiar to us, and his Canonisation is an opportunity for us to discover, or rediscover, the profundity of his spiritual and theological writings. Pray above all to him that, through his intercession now as a Saint in Heaven, our Country, so dear to him, may be again evangelised and return to the True Faith of Rome, the Faith of Peter, the Faith of our Fathers!
God bless our land and all of us on this great occasion!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 13th October
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Lawrence de Lobel, RIP (Anniv) (VC)
9.30am Mass Fr Giovani Battistelli, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
11.30am Mass Thomas Patrick Costello, RIP (Anniv)(KC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 14 St Callistus 1, P, M
9.00am Mass Mary Kennedy, RIP (MF)
Tuesday 15 St Theresa of Jesus (Avila) V, Rel, D
9.00am Mass Ann & John Young, RIP (Anniv) (LY)
Wednesday 16 St Margaret Mary Alacoque, V
9.00am Mass Private Intention - Ann & Mary (AC&MP)
Thursday 17 St Ignatius of Antioch Bp, M
9.00am Mass Thomas Henry Gunn, RIP (FM)
Friday 18 ST LUKE, Evangelist
12Noon Mass Private Colin McGregor, RIP (Anniv)(SR)
Saturday 19 Ss John of Brebeuf & Isaac Jogues, Prs & Comps, Mm
10.00am Mass Intentions of Eve Mackay (SD)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 20th October
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil David Thomas, RIP (Anniv) (PT)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Damian Zovaro, RIP (CB)
9.30am Mass Dennis Jordan, RIP (Anniv) (PJ)
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
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 1st December 8.30am to 1.30pm
Our Annual Parish Bazaar is upon us once again and we need your help and generosity. If you have any unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, raffle prizes or bric a brac that you would like to donate, please leave them in the old Baptistry. The Grand Prize Draw tickets will be at the back of the Church from this Sunday, please return them to the Parish Office once you've filled them in. If you would like to help on the day, please contact us. Thank you.
Sue Lawford - 07816 141492
Angela Clements - 07940183452 email angelaclements47@gmail.com
Journey of Faith (RCIA)
A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, starts on Monday 14th October at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (Who is God & Our Desire for God). You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Sea of Voices
Your parish community choir ‘Sea of Voices’ will be holding their annual charity concert at the Gilbert room, Parish Centre on Friday 22nd November from 7.30pm. Tickets at £5 will soon be available and chosen Charity announced. For more information and tickets contact Darrell Binding on 07825686249.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School
Open Day for prospective pupils for entry in 2020
The headteacher will be holding tours for prospective parents on the 7th November at 10am and 2pm for those parents who are interested in applying for a place for their child for September 2020. Please note that because of the number of people that usually attend these events we cannot accommodate children on this tour. There will be opportunities in the coming year for children to get to know the school. Please register you attendance with the office by phone or email on 01702 475689 or office@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk
Present Vacancies
At present the school has vacancies in Reception, year 1, year 2 and year 3. If you are interested in a place please contact the school office in the first instance.
Beginning Experience Weekend
A healing weekend for men and women who are separated, divorced or widowed will be held from 18th to 20th October 2019 at the Domus Mariae Centre, Chigwell, Essex. For more details please contact Freda 01322-838415 or Maura 01322-551503 or email johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk
St Thomas More High School Open Days
Thursday 17th/Friday 18th October 2019 by appointment.
Telephone 01702 344933- for parents who have a son due to transfer to secondary school in September 2020 - come and see the school during a normal school day, meet the staff and pupils.
Parents of boys who wish to apply to St Thomas More School for a place in September 2020 should complete the Local Education Authority single application form (SAF) and fill in the supplementary formation form (SIF) that can be collected from the school or downloaded from the website:
www.st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk
School Admission Forms for Primary & Secondary Schools
Parents wishing to apply to Catholic Schools for the next academic year are required to obtain a Letter of Catholic Practise from their Parish Priest. This must be requested from your Parish Priest in person and only one per child will be issued. We will provide the appropriate form. Please come to the Parish Centre for these on Friday, 18th October between 6pm and 8pm or Sunday, 20th October between 3pm and 4pm.
These are issued only to practising Catholics (i.e. those who attend weekly Mass). Furthermore, this practise of the Faith will be viewed over a period of time and not just the weeks prior to an application. Parish Priests may also look at the date of Baptism, noting those children who have been Baptised soon after birth as compared to those Baptised with proximity to school age. This is a matter of justice to all involved in applying for places in our Schools. Our schools are often oversubscribed and in order to be fair, preference will justly be given to those who live and practise the Faith as well as who contribute to the life of the Church through the various ways in which that support is given. If you are not a practising Catholic this Certificate will not be given; you may still apply to a Catholic School but your application will considered under another category for Admissions.
Bereavement Group
Meets Wednesday, 16th October at 2pm in the Parish Centre, Bernadette Room.
Coach trip to Cambridge
The coach leaves outside Church on Thursday 17th October promptly at 9.30am and from Westleigh schools at 9.35am.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Brian Mountier
Folders: Maureen Ward & Jacky Hoggett
Altar Serving
We would like to recruit some more Altar Servers: anyone post-First Holy Communion age who would like to be trained to serve Holy Mass, or adult servers for weekdays. Please give your names to Father Kevin or send to the parish Office.
Missio APF
Pope Francis has called the whole Church to observe the Extraordinary Month of Mission this October 2019. The Missio magazine for Autumn 2019 is a Special Edition and I have many extra copies, plus Prayer Cards, which I will leave at the back of the Church. There are Daily reflections in the magazine so whether you have a red box or not, I urge you all to take one and pray for the Missions during this special month. Thank you. Joan Caunce (Secretary) 01268 757505.
Canonisation of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman
To celebrate the Canonisation of John Henry Newman, there will be a number of celebrations here at home during the coming days, notably:
Mass of Thanksgiving: Thursday, 17th October, 6.30pm, The London Oratory (Celebrant Vincent Cardinal Nichols)
Vespers: Saturday, 19th October, 3.30pm, Westminster Cathedral
Full details of the events can be found at the special website for the Canonisation:
www.newmancanonisation.com/events-in-england
Dates for your Diary
Monday 14th October Journey of Faith 8pm
Sunday 10th November Blessing of Graves, 3pm (Sutton Road)
Thursday 28th November Forty Hours Prayer 7pm
Sunday 1st December Christmas Bazaar - after 8am Mass
Saturdays 16th & 23rd May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm