Journey of Faith (RCIA)
A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, continues on Monday 9th December at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (Mary and the Saints). You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2020
An eight day pilgrimage (including one overnight flight), departing on the evening of 1st November 2020, is being planned, flying with El Al from Heathrow. The tour will start in Galilee and end in Jerusalem, staying at 4-Star hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberias. Anyone interested might like to indicate this to the Parish Office. Fuller details will follow shortly.
Dates for your Diary
Friday 13th December Serving the Homeless Carol Concert 7.30pm
Sunday 14th December Children’s Gift Mass 9.30am
Saturdays 16th & 23rd May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm
We Pray for our Sick
Sheena Evans, Peg Larman, Alice Hennessy, Ian Irwin, Sylvia Clancy, Vita D’Souza, Patricia Vanner, 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, Austin Butler, Paul Keane, John Lavery, Christine Robinson, Rosemary Bragard, Maureen Gooding, Dympna Addecott, Pat Lynch, Christian Ryan, Mike Rubbert, Tina Doveaston, Addi Brady, Ben Wilson, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Rose Craft,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, Ianto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Richard Collins, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Keith Maliff & 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 Pownall, Fr John Lane, Canon Anthony McKenley, Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Ann Dawson, William Johnson, Bruce Pond, John Newton, Thomas O’Hanlon, Mary Ring, Mary O’Leary, John Parsons, Walter Scott, Patrick Lyons, Clare Clarke, Karen Anderson, Hilda Eid, Georgina Francis, Ann Dunbar, Ivy Heale, Cecilia Upsher, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Joyce & Doreen Murphy.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
First Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in christ
This Advent begins a new year in the life of he Church and also a special Year: the Bishops of England and Wales 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. On the front of the Newsletter we have reproduced a detail from an altar piece which now hangs in the National Gallery, London. It sets the tone both for Advent and for this special Year of the Word. St Jerome is depicted beside the central figure of Advent - St John the Baptist he in turn points to the Cross to the Saviour who is to come and for whom he is the forerunner. Let this Advent be a genuine time of reflection of the Word of God.
Dear Friends in Christ
This Advent begins a new year in the life of he Church and also a special Year: the Bishops of England and Wales 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. On the front of the Newsletter we have reproduced a detail from an altar piece which now hangs in the National Gallery, London. It sets the tone both for Advent and for this special Year of the Word. St Jerome is depicted beside the central figure of Advent - St John the Baptist he in turn points to the Cross to the Saviour who is to come and for whom he is the forerunner. Let this Advent be a genuine time of reflection of the Word of God. Two practical suggestions for this Advent: before and after Holy Mass let us try and maintain an atmosphere of silent recollection, as we prepare for Mass and make a thanksgiving afterwards. Before Mass reflect on the Readings - which is God speaking to us - that we are going to hear. After Mass, prolong the joy of Holy Communion in silent prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus who has come to us. The second suggestion is, remember that Christmas begins with Christmas; try and avoid the unnecessary celebrations that we are inevitably drawn into in these days before Christmas. There are twelve days of Christmas celebrations; our Cribs and decorations should go up towards the end of Advent and remain in place until at least the Epiphany, 6th January. In this way we live-out the Christian calendar with it’s own unique tones of fasting and feasting, recollection and rejoicing. May The God who Speaks to Us especially in this Year ahead, draw us by the sacred mysteries of His Incarnation, to a renewed love of His Holy Word.
May we all live a blessed Advent!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
First Sunday of Advent
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sunday 1st December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Intentions of Rose D'Souza (MF)
6.30pm–7.30pm Confession
8.00am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Jack Vesey, RIP (Anniv) (SV)
11.30am Mass Derek Timothy, RIP (Anniv)(BT)
4.00pm Mass Intentions of the Irwin Family (MM) - Latin EF
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 2 Feria
10.00am Requiem Mass James Rourke, RIP
Tuesday 3 St Francis Xavier, Pr
9.00am Mass Pietro Tisi, RIP (Anniv) (T&VT)
5.00pm Body in Church Rene Solecki, RIP
Wednesday 4 St John Damascene, Pr
11.45am Requiem Mass Rene Solecki, RIP
Thursday 5 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Jean de Chantilly (LC)
Friday 6 St Nicholas, Bp
12Noon Mass John Butler, RIP (LY)
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00-9.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
Saturday 7 St Ambrose, Bp, D
10.00am Mass Basil & Frances Emerson, RIP (AE)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sunday 8th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Saverio Pucino, RIP (GP)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Sybil Swann, RIP (MW)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Gerard Clarke (BH)
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
The Year of the Word
Some booklets are available at the back of Church, which are a useful resource in this year ahead. The God who Speaks to us contains some helpful material about the Bible.
Good News! The reverse Advent calendar is back!
The Live Simply group has been asked to support men from Chelmsford prison who, having served their sentence, will be released without having homes to return to.
The reverse Advent calendar is a way to give rather than receive in the days approaching Christmas. Each day, a small item can be collected which could make all the difference to a homeless person. Full details on the leaflet. Further inquiries: Cathy 07762 107920 or Fran 07981 741788.
Knights of St Columba
We are organising a Christmas Painting competition of an event occurring around the Nativity for school year groups 3-4 and 5-6. Entries certified as to age group by a Catechist or teacher to Brian Dillon, ℅ Sacred Heart Church, 418 Southcurch Road,Southend, SS1 2QB by 31st January 2020. Judges will be: Fr Graham Smith, a teacher from Sacred Heart School and the Grand Knight of Council 192, Southend.
Leigh Orpheus Male Choir
We are a friendly group which bring together men of all ages in the local area to sing and perform at various events and are looking to recruit new members. You are welcome to come along and try us out by sitting in on, or taking part in, a rehearsal. Call our recruitment line 07754 673600 to find out more.
Christmas Carol Concert
Sunday, 8th December at the Nazareth House Chapel, starts at 3pm. Two choirs - refreshments afterwards in the hall.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the September draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 152 Mr D Binding
2nd Prize £100 16 Mrs S Chantilly
3rd Prize £75 114 Mr N Warwick-Brown
4th Prize £50 97 Mr C Lawrence-Clarke
5th Prize £25 174 Mrs S Lawford
The 200 Club continues to provide funds to support the running of the Parish Centre. At the moment we are 27 members short of our target. If you would like to join, forms are available from the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Enquirers' Evening
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 3rd December at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires - vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School
Christmas Fayre - Saturday 7th December, 11am-2pm. There will be a range of crafts, games, refreshments, stalls and more! Please join us if you can.
Christmas Wreath Making - Monday 2nd December, 7-10pm at OLOL School
We are very lucky to have a local florist coming in to teach us how to make a Christmas wreath. The cost is £50. £20 of this goes directly back to the school. If you would like to book a place please emailpta@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk This is as a great fundraiser for the school so please support us if you can.
Parish Christmas Bazaar Sunday 1st December 8.30am to 1.30pm
This weekend is the Christmas Bazaar! Thanks again for all of your fabulous donations, if you still wish to donate, we are in need of bottles for the bottle stall, alcoholic or otherwise, and cakes to be delivered to the parish centre Saturday afternoon or first thing Sunday morning. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
HARP
Our grateful thanks for all your recent donations of food and clothing. At this time of the year we think of the vulnerable people in our community, not having a safe place to call home or not knowing where the next meal will come from. HARP have now launched their Christmas appeal – could you sponsor a Christmas meal for £10? They hope to provide 250 meals for homeless and vulnerable people over the festive period. You can do this online at www.harpsouthend.org.uk, leave your donation in the office or give it to Linda Wall.
CAFOD World Gifts for Christmas
If you are looking for an alternative Christmas gift that can transform peoples lives, take a look at CAFOD's World Gift ideas. As well as being able to buy a fairtrade gift for a member of your family, you can give a gift to someone in a developing country, such as providing a school starter pack for a child, helping to plant a tree or buy a family a chicken or goat. Take a look at their website and see what you think. Thank you. https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/search?q=christmas+gifts
Counters & Folders
Counters: Jacky Hoggett& Eileen Wilson
Folders: Pauli ne Jordan &Maureen Ward