England to be Rededicated to Our Blessed Lady
This Re-dedication on 29th March is a both a personal promise of the people of our country, and a renewal of the entrustment vows made by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey in 1381. King Richard sought the protection of Our Lady in the face of great political turmoil. At this point, England received the title ‘Mary’s Dowry’; meaning that England was ‘set aside’ as a gift, a dowry, for Our Lady under her guidance and protection.
On Sunday 29th March at 12noon, The Re-dedication will take place throughout the country. As King Richard II once gave England as a gift to Our Lady, so we are invited to give ourselves, as the people of this country, to Mary. We respond to this invitation on the day of Re-dedication in two ways; by making a personal promise (the “Angelus Promise” in which we proclaim our own “Yes” in union with Mary through the words of the Annunciation) and a communal entrustment (this Act of entrustment of England to the Virgin Mary is a prayer of profoundly historic and spiritual nature, bringing together the prayers of surrender and dedication that have echoed through our history). Our personal promise brings us closer to Mary, the first disciple of Christ. In this we unite in her joy by following her openness to God’s call. Our communal entrustment unites us together as the people of our country in prayer, by renewing the vows of dedication made to Mary by our ancestors.
All parishes, schools and Catholic organisations in the country are invited to become a host for this dedication.
This re-dedication takes place during our Year of the Word – the God Who Speaks, at the time when we celebrate God’s Word becoming Flesh. Resources and more information can be found at the national site, cbcew.org.uk
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Peter Smyth
Folders: Maureen Maguire & Vita DeSouza
Sacred Heart Night Shelter
We need new ladies pants size 10 and 12, mens jeans/joggers and jumpers. Please leave donations in the Sacristy. Thank you.
Organ Recital
James Devor (Organist Brentwood Cathedral) will give a pre-Lenten Organ Recital on Sunday 23rd February at 7pm. The programme will comprise seven pieces of music from the Baroque to the Modern era; admission free.
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.
Mr Rock & Roll, Charity Night
Join us on Saturday, 29th February, in the Parish Centre for an evening of music and fun. Paul Adamson will be presenting music from the era of rock and roll and there will be an American themed supper. Bring your own drinks. Tickets £10 Phone Linda 01702 558217, or Jo 01702 474062. In aid of Homeless Projects in Southend.
OLL Ladies Group
We next meet on Thursday 20th February from at 10.30am to 12.30pm, in the Parish Centre. We have a guest speaker, Colin Banks, who will give a talk on ‘My life of hats’. Why not come along and find out what this is all about and enjoy an interesting and enjoyable morning. Subs £1.00 plus a Raffle.
International Eucharistic Congress 14th-21st September 2020
This will be in Budapest in September. There we will join many thousands of pilgrims, at the invitation of the Holy Father, who will send a delegate to preside over the devotions, talks, and activities, all centred around the Blessed Sacrament. The Bishops of England and Wales have prepared a package, in conjunction with Tangney Tours, which includes a 5 and a 7 night option, staying in very nice hotels (half-board), as well as providing access to all events (including lunches provided), which means that the package is very complete.
Mgr Kevin Hale, will be leading the group from the Diocese. Go to www.iec.tours for all information, including booking.
Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
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 23rd 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 body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 20th February at 5pm. 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. Her body will be received into the Church on Wednesday, 26th February at 5pm. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Thursday 27th February at 11am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Robin Rea-Allison, RIP who died recently.
Teresa Hurley, RIP who died recently.
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 John Joyce, Fr Thomas O’Connor, Fr Archibald O’Brien, Deacon Sidney Lewis, Amy Read, John Armstrong, Doreen O’Leary, Alice McGiff, Jon McCarthy, Ernest Treston, Eleanor Walsh, Veronica Collins, Mark Bragard, Michael Fitzgerald, Maire Beckwith, Douglas Ellegard, Ernest Bullock, Anthony Hillier, Leo Forge, Peggy Stevenson, Branko Deyanovitch, Hugh McHattie, Elizabeth Callow, Vera Thompson, Christopher Purcell, Neil O’Keefe, Constance Anne, Christopher Keville, Theresa Daniels, Maria Calame, Amy Cutforth, Eileen Ditton, Grace Angwin, Anthony Warwick, Pamina Edgeley, Mary Latham, Mary Asher, Anna McCall, Adolph Figueredo, Mary Keefe, Frank Blaker & Jim Keniry.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary time
Dear Friends in Christ
The Gospels over these Sundays in Ordinary Time are taken from the great Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says that His followers have to be salt and light to the world. This means that we have to be the presence of Jesus Christ by virtue of our example to all people at all time. Light and salt are necessary so that life is possible; without light we do not see, without salt there is no savour. The Christian is called upon to be both the illumination of the way forward in the world and give good flavour to life's situations. The teaching Jesus gives us is given so that we may have joy in this life and lead others by His, and our example, to life eternal.
Dear Friends in Christ
The Gospels over these Sundays in Ordinary Time are taken from the great Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says that His followers have to be salt and light to the world. This means that we have to be the presence of Jesus Christ by virtue of our example to all people at all time. Light and salt are necessary so that life is possible; without light we do not see, without salt there is no savour. The Christian is called upon to be both the illumination of the way forward in the world and give good flavour to life's situations. The teaching Jesus gives us is given so that we may have joy in this life and lead others by His, and our example, to life eternal.
Tuesday, 11th February is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes; Patroness of our Diocese and our Parish. This date commemorates the first of eighteen apparitions of Mary to St Bernadette in the course of 1858. It is a moment to remind ourselves again of the simple and direct message of Our Lady at Lourdes: pray and do penance. At Lourdes today, Mary points the way to her Son. This is never more true than in the many miracles that take place there - physical and spiritual - that occur daily. However, it is generally during the Eucharist Processions and Benediction of the Sick that these phenomena occur; telling us that Jesus gives these extraordinary graces at the behest of His mother, just as he worked the first miracle at Cana. This feast is a good day for us to renew our love of God’s Mother, prepare for the Rededication of England to her on 29th March, and pray for the intentions of our Diocese and Parish at this time. On Tuesday Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School will be at the Parish Mass at 9.30am; in the evening there will be a short liturgy of Rosary and Benediction at 8pm to honour Our Blessed Mother.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 9th February
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil John & Irene Barry, RIP (Anniv) (BF)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Joe & Sybil Swann, RIP (MD)
9.30am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (L&KW) - Presentation of FHC Photos
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 10 St Scholastica, V
9.00am Mass Bernard Ward, RIP (Anniv)(MW)
Tuesday 11 OUR LADY OF LOURDES
9.30am Mass Tony Trigg, RIP (Anniv) (AT) - with OLOL School
8.00pm Rosary & Benediction
Wednesday 12 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Bob & Eileen Condon (T&RO’C)
Thursday 13 Feria
9.00am Mass Jennifer Garrett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
Friday 14 SS CYRIL, Monk & METHODIUS, Bp
12Noon Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (FS)
Saturday 15 Saturday Memorial of BVM
10.00am Mass Elaine MacDonald, RIP (Anniv)(JH)
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 16th February
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Intentions of Margaret Huish (MR)
9.30am Mass Intentions of the Rourke Family (MR)
11.30am Mass Bill Sullivan, RIP (MR)
NO 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.
England to be Rededicated to Our Blessed Lady
This Re-dedication on 29th March is a both a personal promise of the people of our country, and a renewal of the entrustment vows made by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey in 1381. King Richard sought the protection of Our Lady in the face of great political turmoil. At this point, England received the title ‘Mary’s Dowry’; meaning that England was ‘set aside’ as a gift, a dowry, for Our Lady under her guidance and protection.
On Sunday 29th March at 12noon, The Re-dedication will take place throughout the country. As King Richard II once gave England as a gift to Our Lady, so we are invited to give ourselves, as the people of this country, to Mary. We respond to this invitation on the day of Re-dedication in two ways; by making a personal promise (the “Angelus Promise” in which we proclaim our own “Yes” in union with Mary through the words of the Annunciation) and a communal entrustment (this Act of entrustment of England to the Virgin Mary is a prayer of profoundly historic and spiritual nature, bringing together the prayers of surrender and dedication that have echoed through our history). Our personal promise brings us closer to Mary, the first disciple of Christ. In this we unite in her joy by following her openness to God’s call. Our communal entrustment unites us together as the people of our country in prayer, by renewing the vows of dedication made to Mary by our ancestors.
All parishes, schools and Catholic organisations in the country are invited to become a host for this dedication.
This re-dedication takes place during our Year of the Word – the God Who Speaks, at the time when we celebrate God’s Word becoming Flesh. Resources and more information can be found at the national site, cbcew.org.uk
Sacred Heart Night Shelter
Ladies cotton long sleeved tops required. Please leave donations in the Sacristy.