HARP
This year, Christmas might feel a bit different to usual. But most of us can still look forward to a cosy festive break spent celebrating as best we can, in homes where we can feel safe, warm, and comforted.
Many people struggling with homelessness have already endured the coronavirus pandemic without a safe place to live. And now, Christmas will be spent in cramped bed and breakfasts, sleeping in cars, or in temporary, precarious accommodation alone and isolated.
No one should have to cope with such misery and stress – let alone at this time of year.
Christmas is regarded as the season of giving, and spending time with loved ones, so I ask you to please spare a thought – and if you can, a donation – for local homeless people this Christmas.
Just £10 can bring a little Christmas cheer to our homeless and vulnerable people.
By donating to HARP this Christmas, you will provide so much more than a Christmas meal – you will give local people who are homeless compassion, safety and a friendly smiling face throughout the festive period and beyond.
You can donate online at www.harpsouthend.org.uk or leave your donation in the office, marked for the attention of Linda Wall.
CAFOD World Gifts 2020
You can investigate alternative gift ideas at www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts. Gifts can be made for education, health, water or other Cafod project areas. All help to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters in many communities around the world.
First Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
We are on the threshold of a new year in the life of the Church.
Dear friends in Christ
We are on the threshold of a new year in the life of the Church. Advent Sunday brings us to the start of our remote preparation for Christmas, by reminding us to be vigilant in the wake of the second coming of Christ. The most important part of Advent is that we use the time to nurture within ourselves the desire for salvation; the need of our Saviour. To realise this we shall need to battle with vigilance in these days that lead to Christmas. Throughout most of this year we have been told repeatedly to be vigilant in the face of an unseen enemy: a virus that has decimated countries and communities around the globe. It can be viewed as a symbol of the Evil One, who never sleeps but who is seeking-out whoever is drowsy and not alert. We have to live our Christian lives with at least the same vigilance with which we are living through this pandemic; ensuring that we do not put ourselves at risk of falling prey to contagion. During Advent the Church, through Her Prophets and Saints, calls us to be watchful because we do not know the day or the hour when the Son of God will return. Living this vigilance will help us to concentrate on those areas of life that are most vital: our prayer and relationship with God; sacramental life and our repentance in the Sacrament of Penance, Confession; practical charity towards those who are in need of our material support. Living a heightened awareness of the things of God at this time, will help us not to be drawn into what for many is, a huge secular and materialistic binge. In many ways the experience of this year has forced us to focus on what is most necessary and essential. We must continue in this vein throughout Advent, so that our rejoicing at the Birth of Jesus, will be an expression of joy born of interior reform.
From Wednesday of this week we know that public worship may resume in our churches. As before, when we came out of a lockdown, we shall need to continue to follow the Covid protocols to ensure that our churches continue to be the safest of places to gather. Please use the online booking system, as before, to reserve places at Mass each week. Volunteers for stewarding are also vital!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
First Sunday of Advent
Church is open for Private Prayer only until 2nd December
Mass and Holy Hour are online only until 2nd December
Saturday 28 November
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jack Vesey, RIP (Anniversary) (SV)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 29 November
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Holy Hour: Rosary & Benediction
Monday 30
St Andrew, Ap, Patron of Scotland
9am Mass Andrew & Mary Murray, RIP (Anniversary) (UO)
11am Requiem Mass Dorothy Bailey, RIP
NO Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Tuesday 1
Blessed John Beche, Ab, M
9am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
11-12 Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Open for worship in person
Wednesday 2
Feria
9am Mass Derek Timothy, RIP (Anniversary) (BT)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Thursday 3
St Francis Xavier, Pr
9am Mass Deceased members of the Moon Family (SM)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Friday 4
St John Damascene, Pr D First Friday
11am-1pm Private Prayer
12 noon Mass Intentions of Una Slough (US)
7-8pm Holy Hour & Benediction
Saturday 5
Feria
10am Mass Dympna Addecott, RIP (MR)
9.30-11.30am Private Prayer
Exposition 10.30-11.30am
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Second Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 6 November
8am Mass Intentions of Phyl Cassin & Family (PO’S)
9.30am Mass Doreen Cassidy, RIP (YM)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Lena Young (CB)
4pm Mass Intentions of Elizabeth Fitzgerald (MI) Ex form - No general Communion 5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Francis Branney, Fr Bartholomew (Bat) Lynch, Fr James (Pat) Hannon, Thomas Slattery, Patricia Manvell, Ronald Slater, Ann McGinty, Eileen Vaughan, Mrs Elinor Watters, Vera Spelling, Marie Sanctuary, Dilwyn Morgan, David Aldridge, Ethel Knight, Kathleen Dawson, Mrs Pat Ballard, William Kerry, Leonard Coventry, Derek Timothy, Terence Slattery, Val Brown, Delia Fleming, Liliana Petrini, Timothy Murphy, Louise De Souza, Maurice Brazier, Agnes Nisbett, Yvonne Lovett, Martha Braun, Irene Rice, Ryszaard Burzynski & Vera Walls.
We Pray for our Sick
Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, 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.
COVID: Guidelines for Public Worship (Copy)
Our church will reopen for public worship again this Wednesday — please try your best to observe the guidance:
book a place online for Mass, one booking will accommodate up to three adults or two adults and two children from the same family (you might ask anyone who does not have internet if you could book for them)
do not come to the church if you or anyone living with you has Corona-virus symptoms
before entering church wear a face covering
sanitise your hands upon entry and exit
use the QR code at the entrance for Test and Trace
keep a safe distance from others using only the pews designated
do not touch or kiss statues, candle stands or other objects that others may come in contact with
when receiving Holy Communion, remove your face covering before receiving in the hand and do not move away from the Altar until It has been consumed
any weekly offerings can be left in one of the baskets at the back of church and preferably use one of the online, contactless or standing order methods of giving.
Thank you for your continued co-operation with these guidelines — this will ensure the church is a safe environment for everyone.
First Holy Communion
If your child is in Year 3 or above and you would like them to make their First Holy Communion next Spring, please complete the form on the Parish website.
Music at 11.30am mass on Sunday
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Brentwood Diocesan Directory
The 2021 Brentwood Diocesan Directory is now available from the back of church at a cost of £2.80. Please leave your money in one of the baskets at the back of church or use one of the online or contactless methods of giving.
Serving the Homeless
If you are thinking of ordering from Amazon please consider registering with Smile Amazon and mention Serving the Homeless as your charity.
Log into Amazon.co.uk
Open a new tab by pressing the+button at the top of the screen.
Open Smile.Amazon.co.uk then return. A screen appears in the middle of your current screen. Choose a charity or search by inputting Serving The Homeless.
Press ok for STH and each transaction's profit of 0.5% will come to STH.
You must open with Smile.Amazon.co.uk for STH to benefit.
We have just donated £1,500 to SVP at Short Street and £300 to Harp to buy their Turkeys for Christmas.
Southend Cemetery Information
Southend Council will shortly be undertaking maintenance and improvement works at the Catholic Cemetery in Southend. There are notices to grave owners advising that the grass area is going to be renovated and all plants/mementos on the grass will need to be removed or they will be taken away and eventually destroyed. The deadline for removal is 31st January 2021.
Christmas Concert — Friday 18th December 6.30pm
Serving the Homeless is pleased to announce that our annual Christmas Concert has gone online this year! On Friday 18th December you will be able to access it via You tube, (details will be on OLL website). We were able to film at Our Lady of Lourdes and the other churches involved in ‘Serving the Homeless’ during October, thanks to Tim Browne. He kindly offered his services, to film the various participants separately and then edit it into a film for us. We hope that you will find it a wonderful way to start your Christmas celebration. Our thanks to Fr Kevin and all the other clergy and parishioners who took part.
Over the years STH has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support local projects. It supported the development of the Day and Night Shelter that was eventually to become HARP raising £70,000 to buy the freehold of the Valkyrie Road site and later sponsoring two rooms at the new Bradbury Centre at a cost of £10,000. It purchased properties used by Acorn and more recently by HARP to house clients. It spends £250 per month on food used to provide meals for the homeless at the Bradbury Centre. It financed the start-up costs of 3 of the Churches winter shelters; it has supported numerous individuals with temporary accommodation, travel expenses and equipment. It has supported the development of accommodation for young people by Southend YMCA. Even during the recent pandemic it has continued to finance Westcliff SVP society in providing meals for the 100 rough sleepers put into temporary accommodation by Southend Council. We are also providing turkeys for Christmas lunches at the HARP properties, and delivering Christmas parcels to all of the young people at the YMCA over Christmas.
At Christmas our Carol concert is normally followed by mulled wine and mince pies. However, this year we ask you to embrace technology and join us from home, although you may like to have your mince pies and wine to hand!
We wish you all the blessings of the Christmas season.
Jo Ronan, Chairwoman, Serving the Homeless
Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
The final Sunday of the Church's year is a celebration of the Universal Kingship of Christ.
Dear friends in Christ
The final Sunday of the Church's year is a celebration of the Universal Kingship of Christ. Not an earthly, social or political kingdom since the reign of Christ is first and foremost over our hearts and minds. This feast invites us to allow Christ to take centre-stage in our lives; to let Him reign in all the facets of life. Normally we follow this feast each year with our Days of Solemn Eucharistic Adoration or Forty Hours’ Prayer. As this is not possible this year we shall have to defer it to a later date. However, the daily Holy Hour from 6-7pm over this month of lockdown will have the cumulative effect of being a similar period of adoration, even if we cannot attend the church in person or have a prolonged time. Be assured that each evening during this hour of adoration you are all present in my prayer before Jesus on the Altar. You might continue to join me each evening for the Rosary and silent recollection with Jesus who is enthroned as King at the heart and centre of our Parish Family.
This particular Sunday each year is also National Youth Sunday. We remember our young adults on this Day and ask God to bless them with an increase of faith and commitment to His Church. You will find some helpful resources for reading and reflection here, produced by our National Youth Service: https://nationalyouthsunday.com
Priests are encouraged to have some days each year for a spiritual retreat, a time of silence and more intense prayer and reflection. As I would normally do this around this time, I plan to spend between Monday afternoon and Friday morning making my retreat. As it isn't possible to go away for this time I shall endeavour to undertake a retreat at home in The Presbytery. I will keep the weekly schedule as normal but I will not be available - apart from emergencies - during these days. I assure you of my special prayer during this time and I ask you to pray for me, that these days may be one of increased grace and spiritual fruitfulness for my salvation!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
Church is open for Private Prayer only
Mass and Holy Hour are online only
Saturday 21 November
5.30pm Vigil Rene Bragard, RIP (Anniversary) (RB)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 22 November
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Holy Hour: Rosary & Benediction
Monday 23
St Clement, I, P, M
9am Mass Jon Marshall, RIP (Anniversary) (AM)
11-12 Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Tuesday 24
Ss Andrew Dung-Lac, Pr & Companions, Mm
9am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (CR)
11-12 Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Wednesday 25
St Catherine of Alexandria, V, M
9am Mass Gareth Lewis, RIP (JL)
11-12 Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Thursday 26
Feria
9am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (JC)
11-12 Private Prayer
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Friday 27
Feria
11-12 Private Prayer
12 noon Mass Holy Souls
6pm Holy Hour with Rosary
Saturday 28
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10am Mass Pietro Tisi, RIP (Anniversary) (T&VT)
11-12 Private Prayer
First Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jack Vesey, RIP (Anniversary) (SV)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 29 November
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Holy Hour: Rosary & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Mgr Edward Watson, Canon Martin Hancock, Fr Anthony Robson, Fr John Aydon,, Fr Patrick Bennett, Deacon Anthony Collings, William Lewis, Harry Stanley, Constance Dobson, Enos (Alan) Ash, Tina Kentish, Jonathan Marshall, Kathleen McKee, James Carns, Dr Harry Maher, Thomas Mulholland, John Holmes, Bernard Harvey, Elizabeth Watson-Lamb, Marie Wilkes, Gilbert Blanch, Veronica Billena, Clifford Pollard, Matthew Browning, John Sidney Clements, Peggy Jeffries & Jack Vesey.
We Pray for our Sick
Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, 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.
Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
Barbara Terry, RIP who died on Friday 23rd October.
Dorothy Bailey, RIP who died on Wednesday 4th November. Her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday 30th November at 11am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
First Holy Communion
If your child is in Year 3 or above and you would like them to make their First Holy Communion next Spring, please complete the form on the Parish website.