Last chance to apply!

Applications for the BCYS Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage CLOSE at midnight on Friday 10th January. The pilgrimage is a wonderful way to experience Lourdes in the company of other young people, serving the ill and elderly, and with tremendous experiences of prayer, reflection and social time. The cost is £600, with bursary funds available. To apply go online to www.bcys.net, create a free account, then register for Summer Lourdes. Places will be allocated on 15th January. Any questions, please email gabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org.

OLL Ladies Group

We next meet on Thursday 9th January at 10.30am in the Parish Centre. To start off the New Year, we welcome a guest speaker from the Citizens Advice Bureau so please come along and support this. It is a voluntary organisation in our town, which provides invaluable support and advice  on a range of queries to people in the Community.  No doubt it will be a very informative session open to all women in the parish. Subs only £1.00, plus a great raffle, coffee & cakes.

Journey of Faith (RCIA)

A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, will continue on Monday 13th January at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (The Holy Spirit & the Sacraments).  You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.

Parish Evangelisation Team Meeting

The next meeting will be on 6th February 2020.  We are always open to new members coming along with new ideas and fresh legs!

White Flower Appeal

The Society for the Protection of Unborn children (SPUC) will be holding its annual appeal next weekend.

SPUC is currently campaigning to stop the decriminalisation of abortion, which means taking abortion outside the law.  This is the most dangerous threat to unborn children and their mothers in decades.

Please be as generous as you can to help us defeat this latest attack on unborn babies and their mothers, and to stop abortion getting even worse in this country by decriminalisation.

Brentwood Catholic Children's Society

The BCCS would like to thank all those who donated gifts and toys in recent weeks.  We have been able to send on many of these donations to children and families in our community, and on their behalf we would like to thank you and wish you all very Happy NewYear.

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.

Sea of Voices Choir

The Choir’s November charity concert performed at the Parish centre raised £600, shared equally between Serving the homeless, the Church Winter Night Shelters and the Southend Street Pastors. Thanks to all who gave their support. 

We are always looking for new members to join our community choir, and plan to hold two concerts in 2020, in Summer and the Winter, so it’s a good time to join! Please contact Darrell on 07825686249 (email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com) or speak to one of the choir for more details. We rehearse most Thursday evenings from 7.45 to 9.30pm. We’re a friendly bunch and don’t bite...we sing!

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.

Dates for your Diary

Saturdays 16th & 23rd May First Holy communions - 10.30am
1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team - 8pm

Sanctuary Lamp

The lamp burns for the deceased members of the O’Keefe Families and the intentions of the living.

We Pray for our Sick

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, Paul Keane, Rosemary Bragard, Pat Lynch,Maureen Gooding, Dympna Addecott, Ben Wilson, Christian Ryan, Mike Rubbert, Tina Doveaston, Addi Brady, 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 Francis Heenan, Canon John Bloomfield, Lena Austin, Lucien Staw, Eric Tarrant, Niall Cooney, Essie Glauda, Mary Herbert, Arthur Jackson, Ivy Whiting, Phyliss Sullivan, Patricia Dear, Sibyl Hardy, Gerald Vickers, Claire Mellish, Minnie Fogarty, Brian McInerney, Blodweh Owen, Louise Marsden, Hester Masi, Walter McGlone, Melissa Overton, John O’Leary, Elizabeth Hancock, Marie Thompson, Doreen Clements, Firmina Bailey, Frances Sims, Bill Shanahan, Terence Foley, Gertrude Culley, Doreen Newcombe, Winifred Hughes, Madelaine Moroney, Clive Allen, Stephana Gallacher, Evelyn Roots, June Dillon, Cyril Jarman, Agness O’Donoghue & Agnes McManus.

May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary & Joseph

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH Sunday 29th December

Saturday 5.30pm Vigil William Underwood, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (Anniv) (SD)
9.30am Mass Ugo Gardin, RIP (Anniv) (MB)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 30 Sixth Day within the Octave of Christmas
9.00am Mass Steve & Agnes McManus, RIP (Anniv) (SW)

Tuesday 31 Seventh Day within the Octave of Christmas
9.00am Mass Anne, Eugene & Vito Siani, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.00-7.00pm Holy Hour, Te Deum & Benediction

Wednesday 1 January MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
12Noon Mass Gregory Power, RIP (Anniv) (MP)

Thursday 2 Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bpp, Dd
9.00am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (Anniv) (CR)

Friday 3 The Most Holy Name of Jesus - First Friday
12Noon Mass Brita Irons, RIP (Anniv) (JV)
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction

Saturday 4 Feria of Christmastide
10.00am Mass Pauline Bradford, RIP (birthday) (TL)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession 

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Sunday 5th January
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Intentions of Graham Addecott (GA)
9.30am Mass  Essie Glauda, RIP Anniv (CC)
11.30am Mass Clare Mellish, RIP (Anniv )(MS)
4.00pm Mass - Frances Ryan, RIP (Anniv)(PR) - Extraordinary Form 
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed

Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Holy Family

The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you all the peace and joy of Our Lord’s Birth

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

Monday 23 Feria
9.00am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM) 
Confessions after Mass 

Tuesday 24 Christmas Eve
9.00am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
Confessions after Mass 

5.30pm Vigil Mass Anthony Comey, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
(preceded by Carols at 5pm)
10.30pm Carols & Readings
11.00pm Mass The People of the Parish

Wednesday 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
8.00am Mass Private Intention
9.30am Mass Private Intention
11.30am Mass Private Intention

Thursday 26 ST STEPHEN, The First Martyr
10.00am Mass Intentions of the Altar Servers & their Families

Friday 27 ST JOHN, Ap, Evangelist
12Noon Mass Lynn Gopee, RIP (SVP) (with the Bishop and Seminarians)

Saturday 28 THE HOLY INNOCENTS , Mm
10.00am Mass John Butler, RIP  (SVP)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession 

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH Sunday 29th December
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil William Underwood, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (Anniv) (SD)
9.30am Mass Ugo Gardin, RIP (Anniv) (MB)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Sanctuary Lamp

The lamp burns for the deceased members of the Widera Family.

Thank You

We would like to say thank you to everyone who has provided support, thoughts and prayers over the past month, following the death of James.  We have been truly lifted by all of the care and kindness shown to us during this most difficult of times.  Please keep us in your prayers. Andrew, Clare, Katie, William & Joseph Rourke.

Counters & Folders

Counters:
23rd December Linda Wall & Brian Mountier
30th December Sheila West & Brian Mountier

Folders:
3rd January Maureen Maguire & Vita de Souza

Altar Servers

Lists are up in the Sacristy for serving over the Christmas period.  Please sign your name against the Masses you are able to serve.