Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 14 February
8am Mass Christopher John Thresham, RIP
9.30am Mass Madelaine Sighe, RIP (Anniversary) (MR)
11.30am Mass Winifred McClafferty, RIP (AMM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 15
Feria
9am Mass Elaine MacDonald, RIP (Anniversary) (JH)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Tuesday 16
Feria
9am Mass Peter Brian Grubb, RIP (Anniversary) (PG)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Wednesday 17
Ash Wednesday—Day of fasting & abstinence
9am Mass Intentions of Michael O’Sullivan (PO’S)
12Noon Mass Holy Souls
8pm Mass Henry de Souza, RIP (Anniversary) (LD’S)
8.30-10am Private Prayer
Thursday 18
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
9am Mass Neil O’Keefe, RIP (Anniversary) (UO’K)
8.30-30am Private Prayer
Friday 19
Friday after Ash Wednesday
12Noon Mass Fr Tony Miller, RIP (PM)
11.30-1pm Private Prayer
7pm Stations of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 20
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
10am Mass Intentions of Margaret Huish (MR)
9.30-11am Private Prayer
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
First Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Sister Rosemary, RIP (MM)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 21 February
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, RIP (Anniversary) (LW)
11.30am Mass Pamela Warnock, RIP (MM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Listen to Litaniae de Sancto Josepho
A glorious setting of the words of the Litany of St Joseph
A glorious setting of the words of the Litany of St Joseph by the 17c Austrian Composer Heinrich Ignaz Biber.
The Litaniae de Sancto Josepho performed by Cantus Cölln, Concerto Palatino & Konrad Junghänel is rather lovely.
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Joyce, Fr Thomas O’Connor, Fr Archibald O’Brien, Joan Stanley, Malcolm Atkinson, Patricia Garnett, Anthony Ashwell-Rivens, Elaine MacDonald, Amy Read, John Armstrong, Doreen O’Leary, Alice McGiff, John McCarthy, Ernest Treston, Eleanor Walsh, Veronica Collins, Mark Bragard, Michael Fitzgerald, Maire Beckwith, Douglas Ellegard, Ernest Bullock, Anthony Hillier, Peggy Stevenson, Branko Deyanovitch, Hugh McHattie, Leo Farge, Elizabeth Callow, Vera Thompson, Christopher Purcell, Neil O’Keefe, Archibald O’Brien, Robert Bautista, Constance Anne, Christopher Keville, Jeanie Reeves, Theresa Daniels, Maria Calame, Amy Cutforth, Eileen Ditton, Grace Angwin, Anthony Warwick & Pamina Edgeley.
We Pray for our Sick
Norbert Widera, 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, 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, Bradley & children: Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Connie Price, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price & Frazer Gregory.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
CLAUDIO CATINO, RIP who died recently.
ANDREW SHANAHAN, RIP who died tragically in a car accident on 28th January.
DANNY COX, RIP who died recently.
IAN SKEETS, RIP who died on 28th December.
RUBY WINDASS, RIP who died on 9th February.
Stations of the Cross & Benediction
During Lent there will be the Way of the Cross, concluding with Benediction, at the earlier hour than usual of 7pm.
Church opening time
During Lent the church will be open until the later hour of 10.30 am, Monday to Thursday.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Communion: on the hymn tune 'Bread of Heaven' - C H Trevor (1895-1976)
Ciacona in E minor BuxWV 160 - Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
First Holy Communion 2021
If you have a child in Year 3 or above and would like them to make their First Holy Communion this year, please complete the online registration form available from the Parish website under ‘Sacraments’ and submit it no later than Sunday 21st February. Please note that you must include a copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate when submitting this form.
The usual first Parent’s meeting will be replaced by a talk given by Fr. Kevin on the Parish YouTube channel (accessible by clicking the ‘Live’ button on the website homepage) on Monday 22nd February at 6pm.
MAGNIFICAT
The March issue of MAGNIFICAT is now on sale at the back of the church. The March edition will be the last time you will be able to purchase the MAGNIFICAT from this church.
As from the April issue, parishioners who wish to continue receiving MAGNIFICAT will need to subscribe annually by the 28th February either on line at: https://catholic-herald.myshopify.com/ or send a cheque for £47.00, made payable to Magnificat, to Catholic Herald Ltd., 8A Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EN.
A Journey of Lenten Prayer for 2021
Copies of the Lenten Booklet, Walk with Me, are now available at the back of Church at £1 each. For safety, the booklets are all wrapped separately. Please pay for these online in the usual way, stating what your payment is for. Alternatively, put your money in the box provided. Thank you.
World Day of Prayer
The World Day of Prayer Service would normally be taking place on Friday 5th March. This years’ service is prepared by the women of Vanuatu on the theme “Build on a Strong Foundation”. Given the current problems of scheduling a public service in a church the local committee in Southend have put together a video of the service which can be viewed, at any time, on YouTube. Here is the link
If you enjoy the service and would like to donate to World day of Prayer please go to their website Homepage | World Day Of Prayer (wwdp.org.uk) . Your gifts are then sent across the world to help those in need. We hope you enjoy the service and thank you for watching.
St Thomas More High School
We are looking to recruit to our team of Learning Support Assistants to work alongside Teachers and specific students with particular needs. This is a one year contract. If this role might be of interest to you, please visit the school’s website www.st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk for further details or telephone the school on 01702 344933.
CAFOD’s Lent challenge - ‘Walk for Water’
As a CAFOD School’s Volunteer unable to get into schools to fundraise and promote awareness of CAFOD’s work, I have decided to rise to their challenge of walking 40,000 steps throughout Lent to raise money for our brothers and sisters who do not have the precious gift of water flowing from a tap, especially important during this pandemic.
If you feel you are able to donate to my fundraising effort I would be very grateful and feel spurred on through your support. Thank you in advance. Cathy (Sweeney)
You can donate at: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/walking-for-water221
Our Lady of Ransom School Rayleigh
The Governors are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated full time class teacher to join our friendly and dedicated team from 1st September, 2021. Full details and an application form can be obtained from the school website www.olorcps.net/school-info/vacancies.
Closing date: Monday 15th March 2021 (4pm)
Mass 11th February - Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
Mass is available for catch-up on Youtube.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The opening chapters of the Gospel of St Mark give us clear and concise insights into the mission of Our Lord.
Dear friends in Christ
The opening chapters of the Gospel of St Mark give us clear and concise insights into the mission of Our Lord. He begins by proclaiming that the Kingdom of God has come and then gives the signs by His miracles of healing. Every one of us stands in need of healing. This need comes about by our response to hearing the words of Jesus. He has come to address dysfunction at every level: social and personal. Indeed, we may reflect back over almost a year in which we have seen so many cases of suffering in mind, body and soul. We think of the tragic loss of life that has occurred and all those families—many known to us—who have experienced the loss of ones they love. Jesus comes to heal, as much now as He did when He walked on this earth. Healing comes in many forms but the reality is that life is finite, it has a limit, and the ultimate healing for the Christian believer is the healing which comes at death. Death is the final healing which ends the suffering of life on earth. It is a healing, because it brings us into communion with the One who is the object of all our loves and desires. This last year has taught us to let-go of many things that we thought were so precious and needful. There is only one thing necessary: to love God and be united with Him. This relationship will help us navigate all of the trials and pitfalls of life and give us the serenity only He can provide.
With just one more weekend now before Lent—Ash Wednesday is 17th—we ought to be giving some consideration to our personal Lenten discipline, otherwise it will creep-up on us before we know it! We might feel that we have had enough mortification over the last months without inventing more penance, but we all still need the period of Lent to prepare well for Easter. One of the exercises I suggest we could do during Lent in this Year of St Joseph, is prepare to make a Consecration to this great Saint and Patriarch. Begin on Monday 15th February and end on the Solemnity of St Joseph, 19th March. Over thirty-three days we could invoke his intercession by a prayer such as his Litany. An excellent resource I found for this is the new book: Consecration to St Joseph by Fr Donald Calloway; you can find it on Amazon. It will give you a great insight into the Saint and help you perform a great spiritual work this Lent.
Thursday is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes, our Patroness. Commemorating the date of the first apparition (there were eighteen) in 1858. This is a day on which we can call on the help of our heavenly Mother for protection of our sick and suffering, and all of us, who call upon her help at this time.
May Jesus, Mary and Joseph assist us!
Msgr Kevin Hale