First Holy Communicants
The following children made their First Holy Communion last Saturday, 10th October:
Jacob Davey-Bulmore, Amelia Field, Esme Fielder, Lily Graham-Ward, Lois Graham-Ward, Aidan Griffin, Chloe Hanford, Caitlin Haswell, Kayden Jegapriyan, Niamh Jones & Darcey Joslin.
Reception of Holy Communion
When you come up for Holy Communion, unloop your mask before taking the Host, move to the side, consume It, and replace your mask before returning to your seat.
November Dead List
Envelopes for the November dead list are at the back of the church. Please place names and offering in the box provided, also at the back of church. Throughout November there is a weekly Mass for the Holy Souls and those whose names are placed under the Altar are remembered in these Masses and Offices.
Letter of Catholic Practice
If you require a Letter of Catholic Practice for School admission for the next academic year, and you are a practising Catholic, please send your child’s full name, address, telephone number and date of birth to the Parish Office. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
St Helen's Catholic Primary School
St. Helen’s Catholic Primary School, Westcliff are looking to appoint enthusiastic and motivated class Teaching Assistants to start Novomber/Dececember 2020.
Full details on school website www.st-helens.southend.sch.uk or please contact Mrs Sears on 01702 343823.
Closing date: Midday 3rd November.
Missio Red Box
If you have a box that needs to be emptied please either give it to me personally or leave it in the office at church, no later than than the 22nd November. I have received the Autumn Mission Today magazines and l will leave these and the emptied boxes on the ledge by the exit door. Thank you. Joan Caunce Secretary 01268 757505
Mary's Meals
Mary’s Meals www.marysmeals.org.uk feeds over 1.6 million young children one good meal every school day. We feed in some of the world’s poorest communities including Malawi, Liberia, Haiti, India & Niger.
Hello friend,
The orchard by my house is burdened with apples again. This beautiful sight makes me think how sometimes we long for fruitfulness. We yearn for the days of breakthrough like a child yearns for Christmas. We crave those key moments in our lives – the wedding day, the birth of a child, or that big success at work.
Does God love us more on these days of personal victory? It can feel like that. Sometimes we might even think our fruitfulness is what causes God to love us. Instead, Jesus tells us in John 15:4 that we are fruitful when we abide in Him.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
Apple trees do not question their worthiness or ability to produce enough apples – they do not compare themselves to other apple trees. When we abide in Jesus, we rest as sons and daughters in the loving arms of a Father who will never let us down. It is in these moments of intimacy with the Lord that we can bear great fruit.
Like so many in the Mary’s Meals family, I have played my part in many small projects in my time as a volunteer and staff member. It is of everlasting comfort to me to know that the fruitfulness of these projects is not based on my own abilities.
We have spent decades longing for the moment of breakthrough when every child can receive a daily meal in school. And in that yearning, God keeps surprising us with little moments on the journey that we never expected. Moments such as Veronica, who was one of the first children to receive Mary’s Meals in school in Malawi, graduating from university, or when we began serving meals to children in war-torn Syria. When we abide in Christ, we can find a renewed sense of hope and joy in the unforeseen gifts, the daily breakthroughs and the victory of victories that is our salvation.
I have a new habit now in my working from home routine; whenever I have a particularly hard task to do for Mary’s Meals – a task that sometimes feels far beyond me – I put on Christian music and I remember that I am His adopted son. And while I carry out that task in my home, next to the orchard that continues to produce an abundance of fruit, I abide with Him.
God bless,
Joseph Black,
Head of Major Giving and Partnerships
Rosary Whirlwind British Isles - October 2020
Join us for daily online Rosary at 8pm
www.rosaryonthecoast.co.uk
31st October - National Rosary Relay Rally (9am to 9pm)
1st November - on-line Rosary led y Bishop John Keenan at 8pm
More information at www.walsingham.org.uk or email antonia@walsingham.org.uk
“I want you to know that in this kind of warfare, the battering ram
has always been the Rosary”
St Dominic
Retrouvaille - A programme for couples struggling in their marriages
Rediscover Your Marriage – Retrouvaille offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse and a loving relationship in your marriage. Tens of thousands of couples headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. The programme helps spouses uncover or re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. It has saved many hurting marriages, even bringing reconciliation to couples that have already separated or divorced. There is no group therapy or group work.
For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the next programme commencing with a Virtual weekend on 12th -15th Nov 2020, call or text 07887 296983 or 07973 380443 – or email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com - or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The first reading and Gospel of this Sunday speak of salvation in terms of a splendid banquet. God invites us, but as a gracious Host, never coerces us.
Dear friends in Christ
The first reading and Gospel of this Sunday speak of salvation in terms of a splendid banquet. God invites us, but as a gracious Host, never coerces us. It is an invitation to intimacy so that we can share in the divine life of God Himself. We hear in the Gospel of the serious consequences of rejecting the invitation by making lame excuses. St Augustine exclaims: Help us, Lord, to disown our vain excuses. We want to attend the banquet…Don’t allow our pride or sensuality or attachment to idle curiosity to get in the way of our attendance. Make sure that we show up…Who, after all, is going to be there? Beggars, the sick, the crippled, the blind…we will arrive as the poor people that we are. We have been invited by the wealthy One who became poor for our sake, thereby enriching the poverty of the poor. We will come as sick people, since we need the Divine Doctor to cure our ills (Sermon 112.8).
These weeks and months continue to be a challenge for us in the way we have had to adjust in our personal, family, social and professional lives. We have also struggled in our Parishes to keep Faith alive with ever more creative ways of continuing the rhythm of prayer. I appreciate that there are very many of you who are still anxious about mingling with others, and many of you for health reasons need to self-shield. The numbers coming to Mass continue to be encouraging but it would be good to see those of you whom I have not seen since last March! Our parishes are COVID-safe and whether we attend on a weekday or a Sunday, what is really important, especially during the crisis of this pandemic, is that we are nourished and strengthened by the grace of the Lord in His Sacraments. Also by the witness of the Parish Family coming together around Jesus in the Eucharist. Attending online has been a huge bonus but it is not the same as actually participating in the Liturgy with our brothers and sisters and receiving Holy Communion. Online is not the same as ‘inline’ and being there in person. It’s not the same as actually receiving Jesus in Holy Communion together with the other members of the worshipping community. We still do require Stewards for helping before Masses and for cleaning the benches afterwards. Thank-you to everyone who has given of their time and effort generously for this work, but we could do with some more volunteers; just go to the website and click the ‘volunteer’ button!
This Sunday evening I shall be Confirming the group of our young adults who should have been Confirmed at Pentecost. Please pray for them and their Sponsors, that by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, they may continue in fidelity to Jesus Christ and His Church throughout their lives. Also for our First Communicants and their families, as during this month we are celebrating those Masses each Saturday morning.
Do continue to rely on the power of the Holy Rosary, especially in this month of October: as families and as individuals we should be praying for the many needs we have at the moment and for the protection of Mary over us in these fraught days. May Almighty God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 10 October
5.30pm Vigil Mass Mary Daly, RIP (Anniversary) (ES)
6.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confession available: Lady Chapel
Sunday 11
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Thomas Patrick Costello, RIP (KC)
11.30am Mass William & Eileen Pearson, RIP (SP)
5.30pm Confirmation Mass
Monday 12
Ss Ethelburga, Hildelithe & Cuthberga, Rel
9am Mass Laurence de Lobel, RIP (Anniversaries) (VC)
Tuesday 13
St Edward the Confessor, King
9am Mass Jean Buck, RIP (SB)
Wednesday 14
St Callistus I, P, M
9am Mass Intentions of Paul & Margaret Johnstone, RIP (F&JO’B)
Thursday 15
St Teresa of Jesus (Avila) V, Rel, D
9am Mass John & Anne Young, RIP (LY)
Friday 16
St Hedwig, Rel
12Noon Mass Vivien Clancy, RIP (C&JO’B)
Saturday 17
St Ignatius of Antioch, Bp, M
10am First Holy Communion Mass - Private Intention
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Michael Barry, RIP (MI)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confession available: Lady Chapel
Sunday 18
8am Mass Intentions of Eve Mackay (SD)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Ian Irwin (MI)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for our Sick
Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Paul Bloomberg, Marie Karaf, 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, 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, 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.
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Dempsey, Fr Patrick Malin, Mgr Matthias kearney, Mgr Canon Michael McKenna, Canon Roderick Grant, Mgr Canon Christopher Creede, Mary J Clark, Moira O’Riordan, Francis Gurney, Charles Cutter, Arthur Hooper, Chloe Watts, Valerie Martin, Thomas Patrick Costello, Joan Lucey, Eric Phillips, Irene Earl, Stanley Greaves, Teresa Morton, Winifred Archer, Adele Gumbo, Caroline Cussen, Annie Dune, George Masi, Kathleen Lionnett, Eva Riley, Christopher Adams, Francis Jones, Martha Tanner, Phyllis Koch, John Young, John Murray, Anne Young, Olga Ballard, Mary Aitken, Mary Smith, Florence Cody, Ada Redington & Patricia Kendall.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
Colleen Worley who died on Friday, 2nd October. May she rest in peace.
Dympna Addecott who died on Wednesday 7th October. May she rest in peace.
Confirmandi 2020
The following will be Confirmed this Sunday, 11th October:
Elizabeth Ambrose, Luis Ayerbe, Hannah Barnett, Daniella Coombs, Finlay Grant, Charlotte Haswell, Patrick Kane, Anita Lebioda, Alex Mason, Gabriella Parascondolo, Hannah Payne, William Peck, Bel Reddington-Haroun, Finn Reddington-Haroun, Erin Rothwell, Matilda Seymour, Ava Sparham & Honor Stone.
First Holy Communicants
The following children made their First Holy Communion last Saturday, 3rd October:
Nico Artemi, Kristian Beasley, Sophia Bell, Emily-Grace Bentley, Harry Bentley, Thomas Blake, Benedict Brooks-O’Brien, Sophia Burston, Edward Cammidge & Joshua Chessher.
Letter of Catholic Practice
If you require a Letter of Catholic Practice for School admission for the next academic year, and you are a practising Catholic, please send your child’s full name, address, telephone number and date of birth to the Parish Office. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
Rosary Whirlwind British Isles October 2020
Join us for daily online Rosary at 8pm on 13th October
www.rosaryonthecoast.co.uk
31st October - National Rosary Relay Rally (9am to 9pm)
1st November - on-line Rosary led y Bishop John Keenan at 8pm
More information at www.walsingham.org.uk or email antonia@walsingham.org.uk
“I want you to know that in this kind of warfare, the battering ram
has always been the Rosary”
St Dominic
Mary's Meals
Mary’s Meals www.marysmeals.org.uk feeds over 1.6 million young children one good meal every school day. We feed in some of the world’s poorest communities including Malawi, Liberia, Haiti, India & Niger.
Hello friend,
The orchard by my house is burdened with apples again. This beautiful sight makes me think how sometimes we long for fruitfulness. We yearn for the days of breakthrough like a child yearns for Christmas. We crave those key moments in our lives – the wedding day, the birth of a child, or that big success at work.
Does God love us more on these days of personal victory? It can feel like that. Sometimes we might even think our fruitfulness is what causes God to love us. Instead, Jesus tells us in John 15:4 that we are fruitful when we abide in Him.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
Apple trees do not question their worthiness or ability to produce enough apples – they do not compare themselves to other apple trees. When we abide in Jesus, we rest as sons and daughters in the loving arms of a Father who will never let us down. It is in these moments of intimacy with the Lord that we can bear great fruit.
Like so many in the Mary’s Meals family, I have played my part in many small projects in my time as a volunteer and staff member. It is of everlasting comfort to me to know that the fruitfulness of these projects is not based on my own abilities.
We have spent decades longing for the moment of breakthrough when every child can receive a daily meal in school. And in that yearning, God keeps surprising us with little moments on the journey that we never expected. Moments such as Veronica, who was one of the first children to receive Mary’s Meals in school in Malawi, graduating from university, or when we began serving meals to children in war-torn Syria. When we abide in Christ, we can find a renewed sense of hope and joy in the unforeseen gifts, the daily breakthroughs and the victory of victories that is our salvation.
I have a new habit now in my working from home routine; whenever I have a particularly hard task to do for Mary’s Meals – a task that sometimes feels far beyond me – I put on Christian music and I remember that I am His adopted son. And while I carry out that task in my home, next to the orchard that continues to produce an abundance of fruit, I abide with Him.
God bless,
Joseph Black,
Head of Major Giving and Partnerships