We Pray for our Sick
Bill Sullivan, 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, John Lavery, Christine Robinson, Rosemary Bragard, Paul Keane, Pat Lynch,Maureen Gooding, Dympna Addecott, 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, Georgina Cornwell,Antonella McConalogue, Eddie McConalogue, Sharon Levill, 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 William Guinevan, Clarice Bugazzi, Thomas McInerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Maxfield, Mary McQuaid, Francis O’Neill, Eileen Byczynski, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Alice Chapman, Miss Parker, Paul Emmerson, Sylvia Walton, Gladys Symons, Mabel Walmsley, John Baigent, Anthony Fleming, Bernard Murphy, Paola Murch, Mary Poole, Peter Robson, Christopher Maybe, Mabel Carter, Francis Brady, Eleanor Dillon, William Smith, Grace Greiner, Veronica Barrett & Cathy Baker.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in Christ
This season of Advent is given as a timely reminder to us each year that we need to be prepared; vigilant for the moment when God will come to Judge the living and the dead. This moment for each of us is known only to God, but He does not wish us to be caught-out. The figure of St John the Baptist was sent before the Birth of Jesus, to prepare the ancient world for His arrival. This call to conversion is meant to be heard echoing down the ages and is no less urgent now than when it was first delivered. Let us watch and pray that we may not be found drowsy or wanting when God calls us.
Dear Friends in Christ
This season of Advent is given as a timely reminder to us each year that we need to be prepared; vigilant for the moment when God will come to Judge the living and the dead. This moment for each of us is known only to God, but He does not wish us to be caught-out. The figure of St John the Baptist was sent before the Birth of Jesus, to prepare the ancient world for His arrival. This call to conversion is meant to be heard echoing down the ages and is no less urgent now than when it was first delivered. Let us watch and pray that we may not be found drowsy or wanting when God calls us.
There are always a good number of people to whom we owe our gratitude in the life of the Parish Family: last weekend during our Forty Hours’ Prayer we celebrated the Night of Light when during the annual Leigh pageant we invited passers-by into the church to light a candle or make a prayer intention before the Blessed Sacrament exposed for adoration. Over five hundred men, women and children came into the church for this and we should keep the prayer intentions they made in our hearts; God alone knows how any hearts were touched and moved to find Him. Our thanks to the members of the Evangelisation Team who organised this and members of the Sion Community for their back-up.
We held our Parish Bazaar also last weekend, and I am very grateful to the faithful Team who helped organise it all. Also, the many Parishioners who donated goods and who came to support it on Sunday morning. We raised just over £1,900 which we shall use for the ongoing upkeep of the Parish Centre and also donate a portion to Aid to the Church in Need.
God bless you and thank you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Second Sunday of Advent
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
Monday 9 THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
9.00am Mass Clare Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
Tuesday 10 Feria
9.00am Mass Margaret Farrell, RIP (Anniv) (TF)
Wednesday 11 St Damasus 1, P
9.00am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
Thursday 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
9.00am Mass Raymond de Chantilly, RIP (LC)
Friday 13 St Lucy, V, M
12Noon Mass Intentions of Sandra Hippard (SH)
Saturday 14 St John of the Cross, Pr, D
10.00am Mass John Jarvis, RIP (VJ)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Gaudete - Sunday 15th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Eileen Byczynski, RIP (Anniv) (JB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
9.30am Mass Intentions of the Butler Family (CS) - Gift Mass for BCCS
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
St Thomas More High School Carol Service
This will be taking place at 7.00 pm on Thursday 12th December at St Peter’s Catholic Church. We hope that you and your family will be able to join us on this night to help celebrate the true meaning of Christmas as part of our Christian Community. There will also be an opportunity to socialise at the end of the service over some refreshments. Donations of mince pies, bottles of wine or festive refreshments would be appreciated for after the service; these can be left at the school reception.
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.
Brentwood Catholic Children's Society Gift Mass
There will be a Gift Mass on Sunday 15th December at 9.30am. Please write clearly on the gift whether it is for a boy or girl and what age range it would suit. Gifts for teenagers would also be much appreciated and if you are struggling with ideas, then gift vouchers are always very welcome.
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.
Sacred Heart Winter Night shelter
Items now being requested are: new adult sized socks and pants, jogging bottoms, and toiletries. A box has been placed in the sacristy – marked ‘Sacred Heart Night Shelter’ - where donations can be placed. Thank you in anticipation for any help you can give!
Christmas Carol Concert
Sunday, 8th December at the Nazareth House Chapel, starts at 3pm. Two choirs - refreshments afterwards in the hall.
Brentwood Diocesan Directory 2020
These are now available from the back of Church at a cost of £2.80.
Penitential Service
There will be a Penitential Service at St Helens Church, Milton Road, Westcliff on Sea on Wednesday, 11th December from 7pm to 9pm.
Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
Fully escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, led by Bishop Alan Williams. 25th May 2020. £649.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights in Knock House Hotel with breakfast and dinner. All entertainment and excursions included. Lunches on days out. Single supplement £100. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613.
Year of the God Who Speaks - the Gospel of Matthew
Fr Adrian Graffy will lead an exploration of the Gospel of Matthew, the lectionary gospel for Sundays in 2020, from 7 pm until 8.30 pm on Wednesday 15th (changed from 22nd) January, and Wednesday 29th January at the Catholic Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park.
Admission is free, but please book your place by email to GPstudydays@gmail.com Copies of the recently published ‘Revised New Jerusalem Bible’ will be on sale for £30 (reduced from the normal price of £39.99). Full details and video of earlier talks available on www.whatgoodnews.org
OLL Ladies Group
Next Meeting 12th December from 10.30am. Come and enjoy a Festive morning of fun, music, quiz, plus some delicious seasonal fare with Prosecco. PLUS our fantastic bumper Christmas Raffle. All women in Parish welcome. Subs £1.00 plus Raffle.
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: Linda Wall & Peter Smythe
Folders: Angie Martin & Joseph Martin
Carols & Readings for Christmas
Join us in the church on Friday, 13th December at 7.30pm for a short service of carols and readings for Christmas, followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Parish centre. Our ‘Sea of Voices’ choir and YMCA musicians will be taking part. Any donations received will go to support YMCA, HARP and the Churches Winter Shelters projects. Jo Ronan, Serving the Homeless.