Sacrament of Confirmation
This will take place on Pentecost Sunday, 31st May. Any adult or young adult (who must have reached age of fourteen by 1st September 2019) may apply. Please send an email requesting the Sacrament to Fr Kevin.
Flower Festival 2020
We will be holding a Flower Festival in the church again this year on 6th June. The Theme for this year is “I AM” (as in I Am The Good Shepherd; Light of the World; The Way, Truth, & Life etc.) As 6th June is also the start of the Leigh Art Trail, we thought that this year we should expand to include Art, Photography, Needlework, Woodwork etc., based on the theme, as well as flower displays.
So we are calling on everyone to help us to create a beautiful and prayerful event to be shared with our community. For those interested a list of all the quotations will be available. You have four months to get creative! Jo & Theresa.
Southend Deanery Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Monday 27th July - Saturday 1st August 2020)
Led by Monsignor Kevin Hale and joining the Brentwood Diocesan Pilgrimage (£725 per person sharing). Direct flights to Lourdes from Stansted including 20kg hold-luggage and 5 nights Full-Board in 4* Grand Hotel Moderne (closest hotel to Shrine). Booking forms available from the Parish Office. All enquiries & bookings will be handled by Mrs Susan Baillie (St Helens Parish - Westcliff-on-Sea) - Tel: 01268 750752 / Mob: 07979 746707) Limited places available!
Vocations Evening for those interested in the Priesthood
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 4th February at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires - vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org.
Counters & Folders
Counters: Sheila West & Brian Mountier
Folders: Jane Trower & Clare English
Annual Lourdes Mass
The Annual Lourdes Mass will be celebrated by Msgr Kevin Hale at Brentwood Cathedral on Sunday 16th February at 3pm. This is an opportunity to give thanks for graces received in Lourdes and to seek prayers for the sick. During the Mass, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated.
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 3rd February at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (The Mass). 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
There are a few places still available for our seven day pilgrimage, 18th to 25th November 2020. Information leaflets and Booking Forms are available from the Parish office. The tour will start in Galilee and end in Jerusalem, staying at 4-Star hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberias.
The cost will be £1580 per person, with a single room supplement of £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. Please return your Booking Form as soon as possible, together with a non-refundable deposit of £300 per person.
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 232rd February Organ Recital - 7pm
Sunday 29th March Consecration of England to Mary - 3pm St Peter’s Church, Eastwood
Saturdays 16th & 23rd May First Holy Communions - 10.30am
1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm
Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
Paul Broderick, RIP who died on Wednesday, 29th January. His Requiem Mass will be held on Friday 21st February at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Agnes Watkins, RIP who died on Thursday, 30th January. Funeral details to follow.
We Pray for our Sick
Patricia Ann Darroch, Peg Larman, 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, Breege McCaffrey, 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 Eric Bindloss Smith, Fr Francis Richardson, Fr Alan Wilcox, Kathleen Jennett, Francis Faulkner, Mary Quinn, Pamela Woodley, Myrtle Conridge, Edward Atherton, Florence Miller, James Kerr, Teresa Phelan, John Dickens, Bernard Pycroft, Winifred Wallen, Michael Shrapnel, Teresa O’Brien, Lilian Abbott, Elizabeth Judge, Margaret O’Connor, Robert Roberton, Margaret Pearson, John Hanna Manna, Victor Maguire, Joseph Ruggiero, Barbara Blaker, Henry Moores, Catherine Burn, Modge Ditton, Emma Oldham, Veronica Read & Peter Heritage.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ
St Matthew, this Sunday, reflects in his Gospel the words of the Prophet Isaiah who said that the Messiah would give light to the whole world. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light….Like the newly risen sun, Jesus brings the radiance of Truth to the world, and a supernatural clarity to minds which no longer want to remain in a state of darkness, ignorance and error. St Matthew also tells us that once Jesus began His public life, the first men to receive the powerful influence of his light were those disciples whom he called as he walked along the sea of Galilee.
Dear Friends in Christ
St Matthew, this Sunday, reflects in his Gospel the words of the Prophet Isaiah who said that the Messiah would give light to the whole world. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light….Like the newly risen sun, Jesus brings the radiance of Truth to the world, and a supernatural clarity to minds which no longer want to remain in a state of darkness, ignorance and error. St Matthew also tells us that once Jesus began His public life, the first men to receive the powerful influence of his light were those disciples whom he called as he walked along the sea of Galilee. Their names are rehearsed in the Roman Canon of the Mass. We often wonder why this long list of Saints has been retained in the first of the Eucharistic Prayers; it is so that we call them to mind so as not to forget their example and their sacrifice. The early Christians loved to remember those who had handed the Faith on to them. When someone does us a great service or a great act of kindness, we can never stop thinking of them and thanking them. It is the same with the Apostles and the Saints: their memory is kept alive by us so that we never forget that we have received the most precious gift of Faith because of their endurance. Let us ask Our Lady for the fortitude and simplicity needed to live like those first Christians, in the middle of the world without being worldly, and to be the light of Christ within our own profession and environment.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Third Sunday in Ordinary time
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 26th January
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Intentions of Sheila de Chantilly - 91st birthday (T&RO’C)
9.30am Mass James Rourke, RIP (BH)
11.30am Mass Jennifer Garrett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 27 St Angela Merici, V
9.00am Mass Intentions of the Lambert Family (LL)
Tuesday 28 St Thomas Aquinas, Pr, D
9.00am Mass Mark Solecki, RIP (Anniv)
Wednesday 29 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Eileen Wilson - 65th Birthday (EW)
Thursday 30 Feria
9.00am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (UO’K)
Friday 31 St John Bosco, Pr
12Noon Mass Andrew & Mary Murray, RIP (Anniv) (UO’K)
Saturday 1 February Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10.00am Mass John Butler, RIP (C&JO’B)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Sunday 2nd February
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
9.30am Mass William Nicholas, RIP (BH)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Charlie & Rose D’Souza (MF)
4.00pm Mass Miriam Gardner, RIP (AG) - Ex Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed
Lent Talks at St Peter's, Eastwood Road North, Leigh SS9 4BX Presented by our Deanery Clergy
Four Gospels - One Jesus - In the year of ‘The God who speaks’
Weds 4th March The Gospel according to Mark – Fr Paul Fox
Weds 11th March The Gospel according to Matthew - Fr Gerry Drummond
Weds 25th March The Gospel according to Luke –Fr Eduard Fartan
Weds 1st April The Gospel according to John - Fr Graham Smith
All presentations begin at 8pm. Host & Facilitator Fr Jeff Woolnough
Evenings conclude with Night Prayer and Benediction - Confessions heard.
Tea and Coffee available with Lenten Bookstall
Homelessness Sunday - Annual Appeal 1st/2nd February 2020
Next Sunday we will be holding our annual appeal. In 2019 with the help of your donations, participation in events and membership of the 200 club, we were able to:
Spend £250 per month on fresh meat, milk and cheese to provide meals at all the properties run by HARP, (5,580 meals were provided in July alone) and collect large amounts of dried foods and clothing and toiletries from participating churches each week to be given to HARP clients.
Give our annual donation of £3,500 for HARP’s transition programmes. This year it is helping to pay for a Mental Health liaison worker, helping clients overcome trauma, learn skills and find work. HARP now houses nearly 200 clients.
Provide £400 to fund the installation of CCTV at a HARP property dealing with very vulnerable clients.
Provide £2,100 to fund a trip to Scotland for clients to work with a rewilding project.
Provide £1,500 to St. Helens Church Westcliff towards the cost of 20 sleeping bags, bag liners, roll mats, pillows, etc. and to replace an oven in order to set up a new night shelter from 6th December.
Purchase £150 worth of underwear for the Night shelters to distribute.
Provide emergency 2 night hotel accommodation for an elderly couple left homeless.
Provide £5,000 to Southend YMCA for their building programme.
Provide Christmas bags of ‘goodies’ to the 40 young people who live at, and are looked after by, Southend YMCA. ( All aged 17-21) and £200 worth of Argos vouchers to be used as rewards or for emergency supplies.
In all, we spent approximately £16,500 on your behalf in 2019. Thank you for your continuing generosity. Jo Ronan, Chairwoman, Serving the Homeless.
Lift to Church
One of our Parishioners is now in a care home in Southend and would be very grateful for a lift to Mass on a Sunday. If you are able to help please ring his nephew, Doug Addecott, on 07900 681767. Thank you.
St Bernard's High School - Vacancies
Milton Road, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 7JS Tel: 01702-608005, Fax: 01702-390201, E-mail: sjc@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Exam Invigilators – Summer 2020. The School is looking to recruit further Exam Invigilators to join its bank of staff who oversee examinations in the School. Full training will be provided. Hourly rate: £8.72. Deadline for applications: Wednesday 12 February 2020, 9.00am.
Midday supervisor Required ASAP. The School is looking to appoint an additional Midday Supervisor to assist management and teaching staff with the supervision of students during their lunch break. This may be in the Dining Hall, playground or around the school buildings. Hours: 12.30pm – 1.40pm, Monday – Friday, Term time only Pay Scale: 1:71 (currently £9.00 per hour) Deadline for applications: Wednesday 5 February 2020.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment. Further details/application form on our website: www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Brian Mountier
Folders: Angie Martin & Joseph Martin