Catholic Universe & Catholic Times
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Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
August is the month traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Until 1969, when Pope St Paul VI reorganised the Roman Calendar, the Octave Day (22nd August) now celebrated as the Queenship (or Coronation) of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1944 (now celebrated on the Saturday after the Feast of the Sacred Heart). Why not pray this Litany (composed by St John Henry Newman soon after his reception into the Catholic Church in 1845) each day during August?
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, according to the heart of God, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, organ of the Holy Spirit, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnate, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, immaculate from thy creation, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, full of grace, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, throne of glory, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, most humble, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonising, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, Pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
V/. Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart:
R/. Make our hearts according to the Heart of Jesus.
Let us pray. O most merciful God, Who, for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the miserable, wast pleased that the Most Pure Heart of Mary should be most like in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Thy Son, Jesus Christ: grant that we who commemorate this sweet and loving Heart may, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin, merit to be found according to the Heart of Jesus. Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Pray for the Repose of the Souls
Michael Regan, RIP who died recently.
Richard Wallner, RIP who died recently.
We Pray for our Sick
Margaret Owens, Russell Short, Paul Bloomberg, Marie Karaf, Richard Collins, Christine Reid, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, Anne Owen, Adrian Barclay, Patricia Ann Darroch, Peggy Larman, Sylvia Langley, Patricia Vanner, Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, 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, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Keith Maliff & children, Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Connie Price, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price & Frazer Gregory.
Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Pope Paul VI, Deacon Frederick Wall, Fr Henry Tilley, Fr David Coghlan, Fr Hugh Verity, Max Button, Margaret Ring, Cecelia Newton, Phyllis Fairman, John Higgins, Maureen Mann, Walter Owen, Stella Blackburn, Sister Vincent, Catherine Hayes, Timothy O’Shea, Anthony Poulton, Denise MacDermott, Jim Collins, John Sandford, Phyllis Burke, Arthur Holdstock, Phylis Glazebrook, Peter Matthews, Clarice Gannon, Margaret Taylor, Sheila Mazzag, Teresa Baxter, Lilian Sutton, Andrea Uglietti & Maria Figg.
St Bernard's Virtual Open Evening
Due to the recommendations of the DFE we are not holding an Open Evening for Year 5 students who wish to make an application for September 2021 intake. To view our tour of the school, parents should log on to www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk and then go to Admissions and Virtual Open Evening. If they wish to apply to us they must complete our Supplementary Information Form and send it to the school with supporting documentations, as per the admissions policy, before the 31st October 2020. Documents are available under Admissions, Key 3 & 4 on our website along with our Admission Policy 2021-2022 and 2021 Supplement Information Form.
If any parent has any queries on admissions they can email or telephone our Admissions Officer at cls@stbernards.southend.sch.uk or 01702 608004.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
We are entering what would normally be the Summer holiday season: our Schools have closed for their break and those who are fortunate enough, may be escaping to a holiday destination
Dear friends in Christ
We are entering what would normally be the Summer holiday season: our Schools have closed for their break and those who are fortunate enough, may be escaping to a holiday destination. This week would normally be our Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage but like everything else in life at the moment, it has been postponed. At least we may be able to spend these weeks in relative calm at home, enjoying the environment of where we are fortunate enough to be living.
The Gospels of these current Sundays are the parables which Saint Matthew has recorded about the Kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us in the manner of not only a great teacher but as the supreme teacher; and He uses not just abstract theological language which we can't relate to, but examples from everyday life, especially by using the parables which, like poems and songs, are multi-layered and inexhaustible in their meaning. The Kingdom of God is everything and, like the treasure hidden in the field or the pearl of great price, we must do everything we can to possess it. We already live within that Kingdom by our incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church, but this is only the anticipation of what we shall experience at the end of our lives. Let us continue to strive with every greater determination for our crown.
Our thanks to all those who have generously given of their time and effort to provide the stewarding at Masses and cleaning afterwards. We can think about introducing another Sunday morning Mass later in August if there are sufficient volunteers, so please sign-up on the website for helping and for booking places at Mass. It is crucial that we all observe the Guidelines for attending Mass which includes keeping a safe distance and not gathering outside church after Mass. Please look-out for those who have no internet connection and who may be feeling isolated in these days and may need help booking and coming to Mass.
On this coming Saturday, 1st August, Paschal Uche will be ordained a priest for our Diocese in Brentwood Cathedral. As with all ceremonies during this period, it will be a quiet affair with only immediate family attending. Nevertheless it is the Sacrament that is paramount and he asks our prayers as he receives priestly consecration. He has been appointed Assistant Priest in the Parish of Colchester.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary time
Saturday 25 July
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — livestreamed
Sunday 26
8am Mass Vivien Clancy, RIP (CF)
11.30am Mass Brian Jones, RIP EC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction — livestreamed
Monday 27
Feria
9am Mass Canon Vincent Berry, RIP (KH)
Tuesday 28
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Tony Halpin (DT)
Wednesday 29
St Martha
9am Mass Intentions of the Lambert Family (LL)
Thursday 30
St Peter Chrysologus, Bp, D
9am Mass Intentions of Stan & Maeve Senior (60th Wedding Anniversary) (MS)
Friday 31
St Ignatius of Loyola, Pr
12 noon Mass Intentions of Brian Holt (SG)
Saturday 1 August
St Alphonsus Liguori, Bp, D
No Morning Mass or Exposition
Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — livestreamed
Sunday 2
8am Mass Jim Monahan, RIP (Anniv)(JA)
11.30am Mass Peter Griffin, RIP (SG)
4pm Mass Canon Christopher Tuckwell, RIP - Ex. Form — no general Communion at this Mass
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction — livestreamed
St Bernard's Virtual Open Evening
Due to the recommendations of the DFE we are not holding an Open Evening for Year 5 students who wish to make an application for September 2021 intake. To view our tour of the school, parents should log on to www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk and then go to Admissions and Virtual Open Evening. If they wish to apply to us they must complete our Supplementary Information Form and send it to the school with supporting documentations, as per the admissions policy, before the 31st October 2020. Documents are available under Admissions, Key 3 & 4 on our website along with our Admission Policy 2021-2022 and 2021 Supplement Information Form.
If any parent has any queries on admissions they can email or telephone our Admissions Officer at cls@stbernards.southend.sch.uk or 01702 608004.
Serving the Homeless
Our Grand Summer Raffle is well under way with at least 18 hampers to be won. The draw will take place at our September Committee meeting. Tickets cost £5 per book and are available from Linda Wall 01702 558217 or any member of the Committee. Thank you for all your support.
Vivien Clancy, RIP
Some prayer cards in memory of Vivien Clancy are available at the back of the church; you are welcome to help yourselves.
Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Harding, Fr Michael O’Sullivan, Daisy Houlihan, Frederick James Hardy, Mrs Pearce, David Bavin, Margaret Hughes, Bertha Dokk-Olsen, Emma Alexander, Mirren Button, Basil Hall, Ruth Lambert, Rory Forge, Leo Francis Ring, Paul Swann, Irene (Molly) Kerry, Irene Hall, Caroline Richards, Mary Ellen Fiddles, Eleanor Lawson, Sylvia Gosling, Ethel Warwick, Olive Scott-Hansen, Winifred Bailey, Bernard Martin, Frances Murray & Teresa Fitzgerald.
We Pray for our Sick
Margaret Owens, Russell Short, Paul Bloomberg, Marie Karaf, Richard Collins, Christine Reid, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, Anne Owen, Adrian Barclay, Patricia Ann Darroch, Peggy Larman, Sylvia Langley, Patricia Vanner, Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, 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, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Keith Maliff & children, Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Connie Price, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price & Frazer Gregory.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are hearing some of the parables of Jesus, as recorded by St Matthew, over these current Sundays
Dear friends in Christ
We are hearing some of the parables of Jesus, as recorded by St Matthew, over these current Sundays. Why did Jesus speak to the crowds in parables and not just tell them directly what He wanted them to know and learn? He Himself says that the mysteries of God are not for everyone and that for some they need to be told as simple metaphors; it reminds us, that before God we have to be very simple, uncomplicated, like children, so that we can learn the things of God well. The parable of the wheat and the weeds this Sunday is easy for anyone to grasp. In any part of the world, but especially in the Middle East, the problem of weeds, or cockle, is a serious one, and even more serious when you can’t distinguish one from the other. The Fathers of the Church, for example St John Chrysostom, understood the weeds to be a metaphor for false doctrine, which is not easy to distinguish from the Truth. This is true above all at the beginning, because it is proper to the devil to mix falsehood with the Truth; and if error is allowed to flourish it always has catastrophic effects on the people of God. This parable has lost none of it’s relevance for our time: many people are confused; many Christians have fallen asleep and have allowed the enemy to sow bad seed with total impunity. All Truth now seems up for questioning and debate, everyone seems to have their own ‘truth'. If we are to be faithful to the requirements of our Catholic vocation, we need to be continually awake and alert so that the Evil One does not come and sow cockle — the seeds of falsehood and error — alongside the truth that Christ and His Church have communicated to us. Let us keep this vigilance by using the Word of God, and the perennial teachings of Holy Church, before our eyes; keeping ourselves informed and well-formed in the tenets of our Catholic Christian Truth: keeping our eyes on Jesus.
It has been beautiful to see many more of the Parish coming back to church and Mass after all these weeks. Many are still nervous about going out and venturing too far from home; enclosed spaces are still precarious places for many of us. However, we are ensuring that the church building is safe and hygienic and we hope that many more will feel comfortable and able to be at Mass again in the coming weeks. If we are attending, it is very important that we continue to observe the guidelines carefully, especially the social distancing. Thank you to our volunteers who have been stewards and cleaners: without this help we could not keep the church ready in the way we need to. As the weeks go on, I hope that we can introduce another Sunday morning Mass and the Vespers and Benediction; this will depend upon demand and the availability of volunteers for stewarding and cleaning, as well as ensuring there is adequate time between the Masses for ventilation. From this Monday we will change the times when the church is open since the times around Mass seem most popular for visits. The more volunteers we have the more we can keep our buildings ready for the worship of Almighty God. If you can help, please go to the website and sign-up there.
Thank you all once again and God bless you in this coming week!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 18 July
5.30pm Vigil Mass Andrew Regan RIP (Anniversary) (R)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — livestreamed
Sunday 19
8am Mass Intentions of Bill & Josie Russell RIP (Anniversary) (JL)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition & Benediction — livestreamed
Monday 20
St Apolinaris, Bp, M
9am Mass Canon John Taylor RIP
Tuesday 21
St Lawrence of Brindisi, Pr, D
9am Mass Fr William Wells RIP
Wednesday 22
St Mary Magdalene
9am Mass Frank Edgeley RIP (Anniversary) (SN)
St Bridget of Sweden, Rel
Thursday 23
9am Mass Msgr John Coghlan RIP
St Charbel Makhlouf, Pr
Friday 24
12 noon Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield (FM)
St James, Ap
Saturday 25
10am Mass Canon John Ducket RIP (DCA)
10.30am Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — livestreamed
Sunday 26
8am Mass Vivien Clancy RIP (CF)
11.30am Mass Brian Jones RIP (EC)
5.30pm Holy Hour: Vespers & Benediction — livestreamed
Revised Church Opening Times
From Monday 20 July the church is open weekdays as follows:
Monday-Thursday
9am-11am
9am Mass
Friday
11am-1pm
12 noon Mass
Saturday
10am-11.30am
10am Mass
10.30am Holy Hour
You may visit freely for private prayer
You must book to attend Mass
Guidelines for attending Mass
The Mass is mostly what you are familiar with. However, to ensure we keep within the Government guidelines on religious services, there are some changes we have to make. We ask for your assistance in complying with these.
The most notable changes are at Communion
Before the Priest starts to administer Holy Communion he holds up the Host and says “The Body of Christ” — we all respond “Amen”
As Communion begins the Stewards position themselves at the front in the centre aisle and on the wings
The queue is a single file — family groups may remain together, but separate groups must maintain 2m distance from the person in front
The Stewards indicate to each pew when they should make their way to the priest — please wait for the Steward!
We start with the centre pews, from the front
Once the centre aisles have finished, we continue with the south aisle from the front: go to the back of the church, down the centre aisle to the priest, then return to your seat
Finally, the north aisle also begins from the front — go to the back of the church, down the centre aisle to the priest, then return to your seat
As you approach the priest at the prie-dieu at the front, please remain standing and with arms outstretched — the priest will also have his arms outstretched and place the Host into your hand
Communion may not be received on the tongue
Communion blessings cannot be given
Communion is in silence: as he gives you the host, the priest will not say “The Body of Christ”
As you receive the Host in your hand, do not respond — do not say “Amen”
General points
At the end of Mass the Stewards indicate when you should leave — from the back of the Church, starting with the centre pews, then each wing
Exit out of the south and north wing doors
As you leave, maintain 2m distance from other people
Do not loiter or socialise as you exit
The Stewards are here to guide you through the changes — please follow their directions!
Keep children with you at all times
There are no toilets available: none in Church, and the Hall is closed — please return home if needed
Please keep to these guidelines! If we cannot follow them, the church must close again.
Thank you for your understanding.
St Bernard's Virtual Open Evening
Due to the recommendations of the DFE we are not holding an Open Evening for Year 5 students who wish to make an application for September 2021 intake. To view our tour of the school, parents should log on to www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk and then go to Admissions and Virtual Open Evening. If they wish to apply to us they must complete our Supplementary Information Form and send it to the school with supporting documentations, as per the admissions policy, before the 31st October 2020. Documents are available under Admissions, Key 3 & 4 on our website along with our Admission Policy 2021-2022 and 2021 Supplement Information Form.
If any parent has any queries on admissions they can email or telephone our Admissions Officer at cls@stbernards.southend.sch.uk or 01702 608004.