First Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil 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
Monday 22
The Chair of St Peter, Ap
9am Mass Bernard Ward, RIP (Anniversary) (MW)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Tuesday 23
Feria
9am Mass Eric Slough, RIP (US)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Wednesday 24
Feria
9am Mass Winifred McClafferty, RIP (MS)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Thursday 25
Feria
9am Mass Maggie Thomas, RIP (LC)
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
Friday 26
Feria - CAFOD Fast Day
12Noon Mass John Bernard Holland, RIP (Anniversary) (MH)
11.30-1pm Private Prayer
7pm Stations of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 27
Feria
10am Mass Michael Irons, RIP (JV)
9.30-11am Private Prayer
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Second Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Paul White, RIP (LM)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 28 February
8am Mass Caroline Graham-Males, RIP (Anniversary) (SM)
9.30am Mass Elaine Uglietti, RIP & Thelma Booth, RIP (LM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Deacon Sidney Lewis, Canon Aloysius Roche, Fr Gerard Murphy, Mgr Canon Jules van Meenen, Fr Clifford Beecroft, Fr David Chapman, Mary Latham, Mary Asher, Anna McCall, Adolph Figueredo, Mary Keefe, Frank Blaker, Jim Keniry, Mary Wildman, Joseph Mills, Vincent Sullivan, Dominick Fanning, Maire Callanan, Lloyd Rodney, William Shanahan, Ernest Tobias, Olive Cale, Rose Cook, Amelia Mullins, Roger Billena, Anne Florence Marie Bartley, Violet Nottle, Mary Sobota, Beau Winter-Myers, Maddalena Forte, Ronald Kitto, Janet Hurley, Michael Nils Irons, John Holland, Violet Smith, Adolphus Miller, Claire Sharpe, Sarah Bent, Emily Norwood, May Cooper, Mabel Smith, Michael Kiernan & Rose Brookes.
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.
RONALD COOMBS, RIP who died recently.
MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN, RIP who died on 7th February.
FR JOHN O’BRIEN SCA, RIP who died on 18th February.
FR MICHAEL WATERS, RIP who died on 12th February.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Improvisations on Gregorian themes 'Invocabit me' and 'Scapulis suis'
Chorale Prelude on 'Erbarm' dich mein, O Herre Gott' BWV 721 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
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>Communion and submit it no later than Sunday 21st February.
On Monday 22nd February at 6pm the usual first Parent’s meeting will be replaced by a talk given by Fr. Kevin on the Parish Live-stream. You can find this at the bottom of the homepage or on our YouTube channel.
Mass Intentions
You are now able to book Masses online through the Parish website.
Follow the link in Lourdesleigh.org>About>Services — and the Mass Intentions form is halfway down the page. Complete the form with your details and you will receive an email confirmation of the date and time you have selected.
You will only be able to book a Mass if your chosen date has not already been taken. At the moment, we are offering dates up to three months in advance.
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.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the January draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 150 Mr C Wall
2nd Prize £100 28 Mrs D Langley
3rd Prize £75 81 Mrs J M Murray
4th Prize £25 44 Mr P Fisher
Recently we have had problems contacting people who have moved out of the parish but who have won a prize in the monthly draw. If you or a member of your family moves out of the parish, could you please notify Linda Wall, the Administrator of the 200 Club through the Parish Office. Thank you.
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.
From the April issue, parishioners who wish to continue receiving Magnificat will need to subscribe annually by the 28th February either online at catholic-herald.myshopify.com or send a cheque for £47.00, made payable to Magnificat, Catholic Herald Ltd, 8A Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EN.
Church opening time
During Lent the church will be open until the later hour of 10.30 am, Monday to Thursday.
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 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 World Day Of Prayer at 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 st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk for further details, or telephone the school on 01702 344933.
CAFOD’s Lent challenge - ‘Walk for Water’
CAFOD Fast Day is on Friday 26th February. Envelopes are available at the back of church if you would like to make a contribution for the work of CAFOD. Please return the envelopes next weekend.
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: 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)
Missio Red Box Holders
As you know the 19th March is the Feast of St. Joseph. I have displayed a poster on the Notice Board in the Exit lobby. If anyone would like a Novena prayer leaflet to pray the Novena prayer from the 10th March to the 18th March you can request one from the Mill Hill Missionaries (the address is on the poster) or you can E-Mail novenahm@gmail.com.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary, Tel 01268 757505.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Gospel this Sunday
This final Sunday before Lent begins—with the Gospel of the cure of the leper--reminds us of the period of purification that is before us.
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel this Sunday
This final Sunday before Lent begins—with the Gospel of the cure of the leper—reminds us of the period of purification that is before us. The Fathers of the Church saw in that poor leper, an allegory of the leprosy that is sin. Jesus alone makes us whole and pure again. During the forty days of Lent we have the annual God-given time for restoring what is lost or broken and dysfunctional in our lives. Any addictions to sin can be purged; any absence of love can be restored and any distance from God can be breached. Jesus comes to us across the centuries of time and space and is with us—especially in the Sacrament of Confession—to heal and restore us to the dignity of being children of God.
Lent and Ash Wednesday
We shall celebrate the usual three Masses on Ash Wednesday and ashes will be distributed but with a slight adaption: because of the need to do this safely—as with Holy Communion—after the ashes are blest, the Priest will recite a generic formula to all present: Repent, and believe in the Gospel or Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. When we come forward, as for Holy Communion, the Priest will not sign our foreheads but simply sprinkle ash upon our heads. This, in fact, is the ancient tradition of the Church which evolved into the little crosses that we have become familiar with. Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence—a day of penance. This means fasting from the usual amount of food we would consume for those aged eighteen to their sixtieth year and abstinence from meat (or some other food) for all others over the age of fourteen. Every Friday of the year is a day of abstinence. By this practise we identify ourselves with Jesus in His suffering and learn self-control.
The Year of St Joseph
Pope Francis has declared this a special year dedicated to St Joseph to commemorate his being declared Patron Saint of the Universal Church; Blessed Pope Pius IX promulgated this in 1870. We are under his special protection here, as he is the secondary Patron of our Parish Family. Throughout the Church there are many lovely prayers and devotions that are being revived to honour this Saint. One of them is to make the Consecration to St Joseph in the way that many make a Consecration to Our Blessed Lady. One of the suggested ways is to do this on his feastday: 19th March. There are thirty-three days of preparation for this using some of the time-honoured prayers of the Church. In our Parish we could do this beginning this Monday, 17th, which will take us up to his feast. Each day I will give a little meditation on his life and virtues, based upon the titles and invocations that we find in his Litany. You might like to have this Litany to hand to follow the reflections and pray it daily: Litany of St Joseph. By this Act of Consecration, we can be sure that St Joseph will draw us closer to Him—for whom he was foster-father—and continues to be the Protector of Holy Mother Church in these days which need his tender loving protection more than ever. St Joseph will also assist us to live a holy and fruitful Lent as we prepare, once more, for the saving mysteries of Our Lord’s life.
God bless you and help you persevere!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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