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.
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 was 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
First Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
We have begun Lent once again and although the way we can do things this year will have to be adapted, the message is the same: Repent and believe the Gospel!
Dear friends in Christ
We have begun Lent once again and although the way we can do things this year will have to be adapted, the message is the same: Repent and believe the Gospel! These are the words that Jesus lovingly addresses to each one of us. He desires our love, our lives, and our salvation. In order to respond to His loving call we have to go into the wilderness with Him. In the desert places there are few distractions which help us reflect on God’s Word. I have no doubt that many of us have been feeling as though the last year has been spent in the desert: isolation or shielding for many of us, little contact with others, and so very challenging. Even though we can see some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, we have to continue with the present regime for some time still. However, we have been able to keep churches open for Mass and prayer and I hope that as the weeks progress many more of you will feel as able and confident about coming back to Mass as we are about going to the supermarket! Of all the public places that have been able to remain open, our churches have provided some of the safest to attend. It was so uplifting to see such large numbers back at Mass again on Ash Wednesday. For this, we must be grateful to all those who have volunteered to help with the stewarding. As Lent progresses towards Easter, we all need to consider the vital importance of being part of the worshipping Parish Family. We have had the benefit of participating in the Mass online, but this is actually a million miles from actually being present at an intimate meeting with the Risen Jesus. As Easter draws closer I hope this spiritual hunger for Jesus will increase within all of us, and that we will not feel satisfied with any lesser substitute.
As you know, we are preparing to consecrate our Parish—individuals and families—to the protection of St Joseph on 19th March, in this Year dedicated to his honour. Each day at Mass I am giving a reflection on an aspect of his life and virtues as expressed in his Litany. You might follow this by praying the Litany or some other prayer to St Joseph. May this wonderful Patriarch—Foster Father of Our Divine Lord—give us the necessary courage to go forward in the sure knowledge that we have such divine protection and help. With every blessing!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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