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
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 24th February at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (Matrimony & Holy Orders). You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.
Lenten Lunches
Due to unforeseen circumstances the lunches which are usually held during Fridays in Lent will not take place this year. We are sorry to disappoint all our loyal supporters but we hope to be back with more delicious soups next year.
Serving the Homeless Sunday Collection
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the recent annual collection. The sum of £1,360 was raised and will be used to support various local homeless projects. We could not exist without your continuing generosity. Thank you. Jo Ronan
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.
APF Missio
The National Novena to St. Joseph will take place from the 10th - 18th March. There are special Novena Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing for the Society and the people who support their work. You are invited to send in your petitions or request a Novena booklet to join in from home by praying the daily Novena prayer. Please write to: Novena Director, St Joseph’s Missionary Society, 58 Cookham Road, Maidenhead SL6 7HT or email: novenamhm@gmail.com.
Thank you. Joan Caunce (Secretary) Tel. no. 01268 757505
Organ Recital
James Devor (Organist Brentwood Cathedral) will give a pre-Lenten OrganRecital on Sunday 23rd February at 7pm. The programme will comprise seven pieces of music from the Baroque to the Modern era; admission free.
Counters and Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Peter Smythe
Folders: Tom O’Callaghan & Rita O’Callaghan
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the January draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 148 Mr I Irwin
2nd Prize £100 153 Mr A Barber
3rd Prize £75 61 Dr A Bullock
4th Prize £50 53 Mrs C O’Brien
5th Prize £25 129 Mrs C Mitchell
The 200 Club continues to provide funds to support the running of the Parish Centre. At the moment we are 27 members short of our target. If you would like to join, forms are available from the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on .01702 558217
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 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
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.
Teresa Hurley RIP
Sheena Evans RIP
Jack Pearson RIP Funeral details to follow
We Pray for our Sick
Adrian Barclay, 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
Canon Aloysius Roche, Fr Gerard Murphy, Mgr Canon Jules van Meenen, Fr Clifford Beecroft, Fr David Chapman, Fr John Wall, Mary Wildman, Joseph Mills, Vincent Sullivan, Dominick Fanning, Maire Callanan, Rodney Lloyd, William Shanahan, Ernest Tobias, Olive Cale, Rose Cook, Amelia Mullins, Roger Billena, Anne Florence, Marie Bartley, Violet Nettle, Mary Sobota, Beau Winter-Myers, Maddalena Forte, Ronald Kitto, Janet Hurley, Michael Nils Irons, John Holland, Violet Smith, Adolphus Miller, Claire Sharpe, Sarah Bent, Emily Norwood, May Cooper, Mabel South, Michael Kiernan, Rose Brookes, Christopher Kolwitz, Joe North, Joshua (Charlie) Peace, Cecil Ford, Harvey Martin, Stephen Fontana, Gertrude Ettershank & Alfred Holding,
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in christ
During these weeks of Ordinary Time between after the Epiphany and before Lent, we hear from the Sermon on the Mount during Sunday Mass. This Sermon contains the pivotal teachings of Our Lord, especially about the way Christians should live in the world. It is addressed us to, His disciples, and to all people of good will. This teaching contains the blueprint for our pilgrimage on earth and the essence of our happiness as we move towards Heaven.
Dear Friends in Christ
During these weeks of Ordinary Time between after the Epiphany and before Lent, we hear from the Sermon on the Mount during Sunday Mass. This Sermon contains the pivotal teachings of Our Lord, especially about the way Christians should live in the world. It is addressed us to, His disciples, and to all people of good will. This teaching contains the blueprint for our pilgrimage on earth and the essence of our happiness as we move towards Heaven. We can reflect on these counsels given us, in the light of the Ten Commandments: Jesus, in His very person, is the fulfilment of all the Laws of the Old Covenant and is their perfection. He comes not to abolish what God established for previous generations, but is the culmination of Revelation. The Twelve Apostles constitute the New Israel and are in themselves the twelve foundation stones of the Church, which is the New Israel.
This Saturday, 22nd February, is the celebration of the See of St Peter, sometimes called the Chair of St Peter. This feast celebrates the fact that Jesus constituted His Church on the faith of the Apostles and gave to Peter the primary responsibility of feeding and sustaining the flock of His followers. Throughout history it is the Pope who has provided the centre of unity in Faith for the body of believers. Peter is the the guarantee of unity with the rest of the Church. With Peter, and under Peter - the Pope - we are sure of belonging to the Church Christ founded and which we profess in the Creed as One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic.
I would remind us all that Lent begins in just around ten days time; we could begin to think about how we are going to live Lent this year…and may God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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 - Lourdes Mass, Brentwood Cathedral, 3pm
Monday 17 Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
9.00am Mass Alan Edwards, RIP (Anniv) (KE)
Tuesday 18 Feria
9.00am Mass Neil O’Keefe, RIP (Anniv) (UO'K)
Wednesday 19 Feria
9.00am Mass Bridie Hehir, RIP (JL)
Thursday 20 Feria
9.00am Mass Intentions of Ian Irwin (MI)
5.00pm Body in Church Paul Broderick RIP
Friday 21 St Peter Damian, Bp, D
11.00am Requiem Mass Paul Broderick, RIP
Saturday 22 THE CHAIR OF ST PETER, Ap
10.00am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (SVP)
12Noon Mass of Thanksgiving Tim & Marta McEvoy
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 23rd February
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Christine Robinson, RIP (SVP)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass Barrington Gray, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
9.30am Mass Jim & Tina Rockell, RIP (Anniv) (K&LW)
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
Bereavement Support Group
Our next meeting is in the Parish Centre, Bernadette Room at 2pm on Wednesday, 19th February.
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.