Christmas Offerings
As there is no collection at Masses at present, please place any Christmas Offerings in the baskets at the back of church. They may also be posted through The Presbytery letter box; made online or by means of the contactless device at the back of church. Please use the Christmas envelopes if you have them in your box and always state your Gift Aid number. Many thanks!
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the November draw are as follows:
1st Prize £150 148 Mr I Irwin
2nd Prize £100 134 Mr D Little
3rd Prize £75 1 Mr J Peoples
4th Prize £50 99 Mrs E Gurney
5th Prize £25 3 Mr M Diggines
Owing to the fall in membership, from January the number of prizes will drop to four. These will be £150, £100, £75 and £25.
Third Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
The second half of Advent introduces us into the joy of the Incarnation.
Dear friends in Christ
The second half of Advent introduces us into the joy of the Incarnation. The birth of Jesus into our world is the source of all joy and happiness. Even if throughout most of this year we have experienced trials, heaviness of heart and anxiety, the coming of Jesus at Christmas is a moment to reflect on how God wants to reassure us that He is close. Happiness is the hallmark of a Christian. Ours however, is not just any kind of happiness, it is the conviction that our Saviour has come amongst us and that, despite all the worries and uncertainties we face, we have a foundation in Faith that is not transitory or illusory. To have the certainty that God is our Father and He has given us His Son to light-up our way on earth, is the heart of the Christian life. It is not difficult to imagine the joy of Joseph and Mary in these days of Advent, radiant with joy as they awaited His birth.
This Christmas will inevitably—like Easter—be like none other we have experienced. The restrictions that have been placed on our freedoms will feel debilitating and frustrating. However, this gives us the opportunity to focus on what is most central and essential at this time. The reduction in the amount of time that we can spend socialising might help us to spend more time in contemplation of the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh. Please remember to book for all Masses, and especially the Christmas Mass, online. We have to be very strict about this in order to ensure that proper distancing is observed and that the church is Covid-safe for everyone. If you find that the Masses are all booked-up for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, then remember that we have been given the dispensation by our Bishops to celebrate our Christmas Mass on any day during Christmas week. All of this makes us joyful for what we have, never to take it for granted, and look forward to future celebrations of the mysteries of our Faith.
God bless you and your families!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Advent - 'Gaudete' Sunday
Saturday 12 December
5.30pm Vigil Mass Fidelis & Lourdes Mary Pallis, RIP (Anniversaries) (DL)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 13 December
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Carl Balcazar, RIP (PB)
11.30am Mass Charles & Mark Kelly, RIP (MS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 14
St John of the Cross, Pr, D
9am Mass John Jarvis, RIP (VJ)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Tuesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Dympna Addecott, RIP (T&RO’C)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Wednesday 16
Feria
9am Mass Pierina Kavanagh, RIP (TT)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Thursday 17
Feria
9am Mass Deceased members of Kevin & Linda Wall’s Families (K&LW)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Friday 18
Feria
12Noon Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniversary) (AE)
11.30am-1pm Private Prayer
Saturday 19
Feria
10am Mass Michael Edwards, RIP (KE)
9.30-11.30am Private Prayer
Exposition 10.30-11.30am
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Fourth Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Vigil Intentions of Grace McNamee (CS)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday 20 December
8am Mass Con Parker, RIP (FO’B)
9.30am Mass Maria Keen, RIP (DL)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr Bentley, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Evelyn Joyce, Doreen Murphy, Clarice Bugazzo, Thomas McInerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Maxfield, Mary McQuaird, Francis O’Neill, Eileen Byczynski, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Alice Chapman, Miss E Parker, Paul Emmerson, Sylvia Walton, Gladys Symons, Mabel Walmsley, John Bargent & Anthony Fleming.
We Pray for our Sick
Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Marie Karaf, 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.
Bookings for Christmas Masses
As from the publication of last week’s Newsletter, you can book a place at Christmas Mass. You must book a place online if you wish to attend — without an online booking you will not be able to enter the church due to Covid restrictions. When booking a place, one booking will accommodate up to two adults and two children, or four adults from the same household. However, most places have now been reserved, though there are some available on Christmas morning.
Please note
The Bishops have decreed that we may celebrate the Incarnation on any day during the Christmas Octave in this extraordinary year, that is: we can celebrate our Christmas Mass any day between 24th December and 1st January.
Christmas Posters
Christmas posters are available at the back of the church if you would like to take one and place it in a window at home to remind others in your neighbourhood that this time is about the Birth of Jesus Christ.
Gifts for BCCS this Christmas
Usually, we support the Brentwood Catholic Children Society at this time as in the Gift Mass. In lieu this year we have set up a donation page that will enable you to support the work this Charity does online. The Charity provides councillors who work in our School as well as providing a wide range of support services to Schools across the Diocese of Brentwood. The link for the page is:
https://visufund.com/our-lady-of-lourdes-christmas-present-drop
If you would like to donate please select the donate tab and follow the instructions.
Serving the Homeless Christmas Carol Concert
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 https://youtu.be/MAsYbYQuCOA
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.
If you wish to donate the link is www.paypal.me/ServingtheHomeless
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 Lady of Lourdes Primary School
Is your child due to start school in September 2021? We know that choosing your child’s primary school is an important decision. We’d love for you to send us your questions about starting school!
In the absence of being able to show you around the learning environment that we are so proud of, please send us any questions that you have for our Headteacher, Sally Nutman, or our EYFS Reception team.
Please see our website or social media to send us a question and look at our answers to yours and others’ questions!
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.
Missio Red Box
I have received the Missio 2021 Calendars. Please take one, plus a copy of the Autumn Missio magazine from the back of the church in the usual place (Ledge by the exit door). If you have boxes to be emptied please keep them until January. Thank you.
I wish you all a very happy and Holy Christmas.
Joan Caunce, Secretary 01268 757505.
COVID: Guidelines for Public Worship
Our church will remain open for public worship, if we can keep it safe — 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.
Facebook page
The Parish Facebook page needs a couple of people to keep an eye on it, answer questions and keep it up-to-date.
If you could help, please contact Fr Kevin.
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
Saint John the Baptist is a central figure in this Advent-time. He was sent to prepare to the world for the arrival of the Messiah and he speaks powerfully to us still.
Dear friends in Christ
Saint John the Baptist is a central figure in this Advent-time. He was sent to prepare the world for the arrival of the Messiah and he speaks powerfully to us still. The Baptist called the people of that time back to basics: repentance, prayer, solidarity with others, making the world fit for God again. During these last months we have had much time to focus on what is most necessary in our lives. Indeed, our first sentiment should always be thanksgiving: for our life, for our family and relationships, and for membership of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church. These are no small benefits and despite the fact that we may be experiencing a heaviness of heart at recent events, our thanksgiving to God should be constant. We have been given so much and therefore we must never forget to raise-up our hearts and hands in profound gratitude to the God who gives us everything we need and Who keeps us in existence. St John the Baptist can remind us, as we progress through Advent, that it is our relationship with Christ that is paramount.
THE prayer of Advent is The Angelus. In this prayer—which we offer in the morning, noon and evening-time—we recall the announcement of the great news of the Incarnation. St Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God; Mary accepts what God is asking and for which she has been prepared from the start of time; the Word then becomes flesh in her womb. Try to recall this greatest of moments in salvation history faithfully each day and so live with joyful hope and expectation, the coming of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Tuesday (8th) is the great Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. She was conceived sinless, redeemed by Christ from the first moment of her existence, and so created by God as a fitting dwelling place for the Word Incarnate. As I do each year, I shall consecrate the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the end of Mass on Tuesday. Try to make this offering also in your homes and families, so that in spite of all the uncertainties that we face, we may be placed under the protecting mantle of God’s Mother and our Mother also.
May Christ and Mary be with you all in these Advent days!
Msgr Kevin Hale