Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Arthur Cowd, Bp Brian Foley, Canon Wilfrid Thompson, Fr Francis Greenan, Fr Francis Wilson, Canon John Byrne, Fr Brian Reeves, Canon Patrick McKenna, Fr Jim Wilkinson, Fr Denis Cantwell, Robert Kitsch, Teresa Evans, Mary Fitzroy, Roland Glazebrook, David Middleton, Mario Piacentini, Elsie Osborne, Mary Heather, Teresa Riley, Elizabeth Astall, Jessica Wilson, Basil De Neuman, Mary Higgins, Anthony Nesnas, Bridget McDonald, Julia Upsher, Eddie Gillman, Clare Whomes, Douglas Hurley, Charles Stokes, Lynda Quinlivan, Guido Lauria, Janet Newby, Michael Manning, John Furley, Amelia Eaglesfield, James O’Donnell, Flor Perez de Pina, P.A. Holcombe, Mrs Beeching, Francis Gibson, Deirdre Gray, James Keefe, Doris Swinney, Joseph Dologhan, Audrey O’Connell, Nora Phillips, Catherine Rankilor, Doreen Foley, Adrian Dann, Francis Cook, Peter Whale, Frederick Ross, Stephen McManus, Anna Siani, David Scott-Frame, Sylvia Sippitt, George Lane, Leslie Dawson, Mary Reilly, Michael McGaughey, Thomas Woolcott, John Sinclair, Joan Gubbins, Kate Lessons, Kathleen Lewin, Gregory Power, Maureen Guihen, Emily Swann, Mary O’Toole, Annie Friend, Jules Deuso, Ethel Milo, Simon Burgoyne, Violet Jackson, Millicent Ransom, Jose Hazell, Eileen Murray, Maureen Regan, Helen Cotton, Len Gardner, Hannah Flintoff, Eileen Bull, Frances Ryan, Brita Irons, Len Plummer, Anthony Ryan, Hilda Edwards, Walter Burden & Ricky (Lola) Clarke.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Third Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in Christ
The liturgy of this Gaudete Sunday bids us to be joyful because the coming of our Saviour is near at hand. This is the underlying mood of Advent; not one of penitence, but one of joyful expectancy as we await the Birth of Jesus. Last week in my Homily I reminded us that Advent has three dimensions: looking backwards (the history of salvation and the Prophets) and looking forward (to the return of Jesus) and living in the present moment. The present is the most important time, as this is the only time we have for certain in which to live holiness of life.
Dear Friends in Christ
The liturgy of this Gaudete Sunday bids us to be joyful because the coming of our Saviour is near at hand. This is the underlying mood of Advent; not one of penitence, but one of joyful expectancy as we await the Birth of Jesus. Last week in my Homily I reminded us that Advent has three dimensions: looking backwards (the history of salvation and the Prophets) and looking forward (to the return of Jesus) and living in the present moment. The present is the most important time, as this is the only time we have for certain in which to live holiness of life. As we enter the second half of Advent, we need to try and hear the voice of God more clearly. Doing this in the lead-up to Christmas is very difficult given all of the diversions that we encounter. We have so many things on our mind. If we can but find that desert space - the silence needed - then we will hear the voice of God calling us to reform our lives once again. It is never too late; God’s grace is always more powerful than all our human weaknesses, addictions and attachments.
The most important way that we reform ourselves, especially before the great festivals of the Church, is by a humble and sincere reception of the Sacrament of Penance, Confession. Over the next days there will be very ample opportunities for this Sacrament. Please go to the Sacrament, and if it has been a long time since your last Confession, tell the priest and he will help you. Try not to put-it-off or leave it to the last minute; nothing is ever solved by putting-off what is essential in life and even more so, when it comes to our spiritual lives, the health of our eternal souls.
At 5.30pm and 9.30am Mass next weekend, we invite you to bring the figures of the Infant Jesus which will be blest at the end of Mass ahead of placing them in our Cribs on Christmas Day.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Third Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in Christ
The liturgy of this Gaudete Sunday bids us to be joyful because the coming of our Saviour is near at hand. This is the underlying mood of Advent; not one of penitence, but one of joyful expectancy as we await the Birth of Jesus. Last week in my Homily I reminded us that Advent has three dimensions: looking backwards (the history of salvation and the Prophets) and looking forward (to the return of Jesus) and living in the present moment. The present is the most important time, as this is the only time we have for certain in which to live holiness of life.
Dear Friends in Christ
The liturgy of this Gaudete Sunday bids us to be joyful because the coming of our Saviour is near at hand. This is the underlying mood of Advent; not one of penitence, but one of joyful expectancy as we await the Birth of Jesus. Last week in my Homily I reminded us that Advent has three dimensions: looking backwards (the history of salvation and the Prophets) and looking forward (to the return of Jesus) and living in the present moment. The present is the most important time, as this is the only time we have for certain in which to live holiness of life. As we enter the second half of Advent, we need to try and hear the voice of God more clearly. Doing this in the lead-up to Christmas is very difficult given all of the diversions that we encounter. We have so many things on our mind. If we can but find that desert space - the silence needed - then we will hear the voice of God calling us to reform our lives once again. It is never too late; God’s grace is always more powerful than all our human weaknesses, addictions and attachments.
The most important way that we reform ourselves, especially before the great festivals of the Church, is by a humble and sincere reception of the Sacrament of Penance, Confession. Over the next days there will be very ample opportunities for this Sacrament. Please go to the Sacrament, and if it has been a long time since your last Confession, tell the priest and he will help you. Try not to put-it-off or leave it to the last minute; nothing is ever solved by putting-off what is essential in life and even more so, when it comes to our spiritual lives, the health of our eternal souls.
At 5.30pm and 9.30am Mass next weekend, we invite you to bring the figures of the Infant Jesus which will be blest at the end of Mass ahead of placing them in our Cribs on Christmas Day.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Third Sunday of Advent
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
Monday 16 Feria
9.00am Mass Robert & Ione Waite, RIP (Anniv) (NB)
Confessions after Mass
Tuesday 17 Feria
9.00am Mass Henry Hendriksen, RIP (LW)
Confessions after Mass
Wednesday 18 Feria
9.00am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (CB)
Confessions after Mass
Thursday 19 Feria
9.00am Mass Joan Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (CH)
Confessions after Mass
Friday 20 Feria
12Noon Mass John Butler, RIP (MM)
Confessions after Mass
Saturday 21 Feria
10.00am Mass Intentions of Eileen Wilson - 95th birthday (EW)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sunday 22nd December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Bernadette Perry, RIP (RIP)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Maurice Bartley, RIP (Anniv) (CC)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of the Irwin Family (CS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Confessions after all Masses
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2020
In order to try and get the best deal possible, we are now planning a seven day pilgrimage, 18th to 25th November 2020. The tour will start in Galilee and end in Jerusalem, staying at 4-Star hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberias.
The cost will be approximately £1500/£1600 per person (depending on numbers), there is a single room supplement of approximately £550. The price includes half board, 23kg hold/10kg hand luggage, meals and beverages on flights, an air-conditioned bus in Israel/Palestine, entrance fees, English speaking guide, hotel porterage, gratuities for guide/hotel staff.
Anyone interested might like to indicate this to the Parish Office.
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.
Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir
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 Southchurch 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.
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 Southchurch 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!
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.
Brentwood Diocesan Directory
These are now available from the back of Church at a cost of £2.80.
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.
Bereavement Support Group
We meet next Wednesday 18th December in the Parish Centre, Bernadette Room from 2pm. This is an opportunity for anyone experiencing bereavement and loss to have some support in a confidential and friendly environment. Enquiries: cynthiabush11@googlemail.com or elizabeth.dex@btinternet.com.
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 fair-trade 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.
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.
Landings - Welcoming Home Inactive Catholics
The new Landings Programme will begin on Thursday, 6th February. Catholics who have been away from their church and faith sometimes find it daunting to come back on their own, not knowing what has changed since they have been away. Landings is designed to help them back into parish life. If you have a family member, a friend or a neighbour who is an inactive Catholic please take an information leaflet for them from the back of the church, say a prayer for them and invite them to come home. Your invitation may be all it takes.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Mary Cook & Jacky Hoggett
Folders: Jane Trower & Clare English
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 16th December at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (The Last Things). You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Dates for your Diary
Saturdays 16th & 23rd May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
First Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm