Gift Aid

Boxes of Gift Aid envelopes for the financial year 2021/22 are now available for collection.

If you wish to join the Gift Aid scheme and do require an envelope for your weekly offering, you can complete the necessary declaration either online lourdesleigh.org/gift-aid or alternatively there is a form at the back of the Church which, when completed, should be returned to the parish office.

An alternative to envelope use would be to set up a Standing Order, an enquiry form is available on the Parish website. Alternatively a Standing Order mandate form is available at the back of the Church.

Headteacher Vacancy at St Bernard's High School

St Bernard’s High School are advertising for a Headteacher. If you would like more information please follow the link https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/page/?title=Vacancies&pid=38

Brentwood Catholic Children's Society - New Trustees

We at the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (bccs) are seeking to appoint new members to our Board of Trustees to help guide and support our work. It is important for us to maintain a broad, diverse Board of Trustees that brings a wide range of expertise and ages to the table. Experience as a trustee is not required as a full induction programme will be provided. We are particularly keen to attract the input of youth trustees (age 18 +) to ensure our provision and services remain contemporary and there is no upper age or gender limitation to the role. Please read our full Trustee Advert and Role Description on our website https://www.bccs.org.uk/who-we-are/trustees and contact our Director, Bernadette Fisher bfisher@bccs.org.uk for more information.

CAFOD Walking for Water - 400,000 Step Challenge

During the 40 days of Lent I have been walking in solidarity with people like Abdella who must walk for hours every day to ensure his family have water. To date my efforts have raised £861 to help build a well in his village. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all who have supported me both financially and in prayer. It has been a privilege.
Cathy (Sweeney)
CAFOD Volunteer
There is still time to donate at: walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/walking-for-water221

Foundation Governors

With a number of Governors in their last term of office at St Bernard’s we are looking to appoint further Foundation Governors to work alongside our Governors before they finish. We are particularly interested in people with a Finance/Premises background. All Foundation Governors must be practising Catholics and be supported in their application by their Parish Priest. Anyone interested should contact Sue Clancy (Clerk to the Governors) sjc@stbernards.southend.sch.uk

Easter Greetings

The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you the blessings of the Risen Jesus!

May the light of Christ rising in glory, fill your minds and hearts with His new life!

Thanks be to God that we have arrived joyfully at another Easter and after what has seemed a long Winter!

As we joyfully enter this Easter season there is a double reason for our optimism: the Risen Christ and the hope of better times ahead. I do thank you for the example of tenacity you have shown me during the passed days of Lent which have prepared us for the celebration of the Paschal season. Even if the ceremonies of Holy Week have been somewhat reduced and restricted this year, it was so much better—from my perspective—than last Holy Week during which I was alone in a deserted church! But I never do all of this alone, and so I am thankful to the many parish workers who prepare the church, clean it so thoroughly, arrange the liturgical elements--such as the flowers and linen—the Altar Servers and the musicians who played and sang for the Triduum (our two Organists and two Cantors). To all, who devoted such time and care to ensure the liturgy is truly the best we can offer God. Let us celebrate the Easter Octave now—as we are supposed to—as one single feast lasting the week. May the joy that Mary experienced at seeing the Risen Jesus, also fill our hearts and minds throughout the year ahead.

Msgr Kevin Hale

Easter Sunday

8pm Paschal Vigil & First Mass of Easter The People of the Parish

Sunday 4 April
8am Mass June White, RIP (SH)
9.30am Mass Alida Elizabeth Booth, RIP (LM)
11.30am Mass John Joseph Butler, RIP (L&SS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 5
Monday within the Octave of Easter
10am Mass Lilian Kathleen Emily Hippard, RIP (SH)
9.30-11am Private Prayer

Tuesday 6
Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
9am Mass Tony Irons, RIP (JV)
8.30-10am Private Prayer

Wednesday 7
Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
No morning Mass or Private Prayer due to Requiem Mass

Thursday 8
Thursday within the Octave of Easter
9am Mass Intentions of Maria Cook (SD)
8.30-10am Private Prayer

Friday 9
Friday within the Octave of Easter
12Noon Mass Margaret Owens, RIP (G&JA)
11.30-1pm Private Prayer

Saturday 10
Saturday within the Octave of Easter
10am Mass Private Intentions (LLG)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel

Second Sunday of Easter - of Divine Mercy

5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel

Sunday 11 April
8am Mass Adrian Ausareny, RIP (AA)
9.30am Mass Marie Sfeit, Josephine Achtar & Joseph Steir, RIP (SD)
11.30am Mass Kathleen Young, RIP (LY)
2.30pm Divine Mercy Devotions & Benediction
No Vespers

Headteacher Vacancy at St Bernard's High School

St Bernard’s High School are advertising for a Headteacher. If you would like more information please follow the link https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/page/?title=Vacancies&pid=38

Church Heating

There have been some issues with the church boiler and heating system over the last weeks which involved a broken valve and pump. The heating engineers have proposed that it is more cost effective to not replace the broken parts but now replace the boiler which is almost thirty years old. Thankfully the weather is improving but apologies if the church isn’t the normal cosy temperature we are used to!

We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of

SYLVIA LANGLEY, RIP who died on 28th February.

MICHAEL O’BRIEN, RIP who died on Maundy Thursday afternoon

Covid Guidelines

Thank you to everyone who has helped keep the Church a safe environment during the pandemic. Please continue to remember to follow the procedures in Church, and the directions of the Stewards at Communion time and for exiting at the end of Mass.

Foundation Governors

With a number of Governors in their last term of office at St Bernard’s we are looking to appoint further Foundation Governors to work alongside our Governors before they finish. We are particularly interested in people with a Finance/Premises background. All Foundation Governors must be practising Catholics and be supported in their application by their Parish Priest. Anyone interested should contact Sue Clancy (Clerk to the Governors) sjc@stbernards.southend.sch.uk

Music for Holy Saturday & Easter Sunday

Holy Saturday
Toccata (Symphonie V) - Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Easter Sunday
Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541 - J S Bach (1685-1750)

Landings for Returning Catholics

If there is a member of your family, a neighbour or a friend who has been away from the church for a while please invite them to the next Landings program. We are running the program via Zoom, which will start on 8th April and run for eight weeks. They can contact the Landings Team on landings@lourdesleigh.org. A member of the team will contact them with further details.

We Pray for the Dead their Anniversaries

Fr Ronald Roberts, Canon Charles Loughran, Deacon Geoffrey Piper, Fr Thomas Adkins, Catherine Dace, Nora White, Charles Thompson, Elizabeth Tyrell, Bernard Foley, Peggy Cockerell, Robert Lee, Kitty Stanley, Patricia Quinn, Patrick Dunbar, Dr Ronnie Shapiro, Lesley Drayton, Rene Sanctuary, Harry McNally, Rose Mary Brinkley, Donald Cussen, Mary McKenzie, Michael Maloney, Miriam Cunniffe, Marjorie Pollard, James Tully, John Pelham, Laurence Westwood, Will Coveney, Robert Ellis, Anthony Irons, Clare Ann Houlihan, James Poskitt, Mary McKeever, Esther Martin, Frances Phillips & Christopher Bennett.

We Pray for our Sick

Michael O’Brien, Renata Butler, Norbert Widera, Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Marie Karaf, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, Anne Owen, Patricia Ann Darroch, Peggy Larman, 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.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Dear friends in Christ

Unlike last Holy Week, this year we can celebrate the liturgy with the presence of parishioners, albeit with restricted numbers. This is the most important time of the year; the whole of Lent has been moving towards the three days—or Paschal Triduum—of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. As I have already explained, some of the elements of the Holy Week ceremonies will be reduced or omitted in order to comply with the pandemic restrictions. For example, on this Palm Sunday only the priest will read the shorter form of the Passion of St Mark; on Thursday there will simply be the celebration of Holy Mass without the procession and watching at the Altar of Repose; on Friday there won't be a general veneration of the Cross; and the Easter Vigil will be shortened with fewer readings. However, we shall still celebrate the mysteries of our Redemption with calm and dignity and those who cannot manage to be present in the church may follow on the livestream.

I refer you to the weekly schedule for all of the times of the Holy Week services. You will see that there will be a priest available each day for the Sacrament of Penance—Confession—which is a most important Sacrament in preparation for the Easter celebration. Please take a poster from the back of church which will remind others in your area of the sacred nature of this Week; also a blest palm.

Let us walk with Our Lord in faith and devotion during these days ahead, so that we may rejoice with Him at the Resurrection!

One of of my favourite passages on the Passion is from a Sermon of St Gregory Nazianzen:

So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel. If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief, acknowledge your God. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen. Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in his blasphemy. If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his crucifixion, and ask for Christ’s body. Make your own the expiation for the sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshipped God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ’s body for burial. If you are one of the Marys, or Salome, or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.

God bless you all this Holy Week.

Msgr Kevin Hale

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel

Sunday 28 March
8am Mass Sylvia Langley, RIP (LLCG)
9.30am Mass Private Intention (LLG)
11.30am Mass Patrick Brennan, RIP (AH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 29
Monday in Holy Week
9am Mass Intentions of Rory Neil McKenzie (GD)
Confessions after Mass
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer

Tuesday 30
Tuesday in Holy Week
9am Mass Intentions of Una O’Keefe (G&JA)
Confessions after Mass
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer

Wednesday 31
Wednesday in Holy Week
9am Mass Patrick Ignatius, RIP (Anniversary) (RM)
Confessions after Mass
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer

Thursday 1 April
Maundy Thursday
9am Office of Lauds
8.30-10.30am Private Prayer
7pm Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper Sylvia Langley, RIP (SH)
Confessions after Mass

Friday 2
Good Friday
9am Office of Readings and Lauds
10am Way of the Cross
Confessions after Way of the Cross
3pm Solemn Liturgy of Our Lord’s Passion
7pm Way of the Cross
Confessions after Way of the Cross

Saturday 3
Holy Saturday
9am Mass Office of Readings and Lauds
10-11am Confessions
8pm Paschal Vigil & First Mass of Easter The People of the Parish

Easter Sunday

Sunday 4 April
8am Mass June White, RIP (SH)
9.30am Mass Alida Elizabeth Booth, RIP (LM)
11.30am Mass John Joseph Butler, RIP (L&SS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Pope John Paul II, Fr Joseph Tuohey, Canon William Toft, Winifred Edith Lawson, Ellen Mary O’Connor, Hugh Devine, Kathleen (Kit) Collins, Ann Turner, Frederick Duggans, Bessie Higley, Sheila Townsend, Veronica Redhouse, Bartholomew Guihen, Geraldine Gwilliam, Herbert Robertson, Mary Leonard, Marjorie Nolan, Eugene Read,Winifred Maguire, Albert Thorne, Ronald Black, Daisy Spicer, Vera Stuart, Lt Cdr James Scott, Marjorie Bowen, Leslie Poole, Stella Finn, Jean Bethell, Vi Coveney, Christine Fisher, Donald McMahon, Catherine Nelson & Baby Ben Blaker.

We Pray for our Sick

Michael O’Brien, Renata Butler, Norbert Widera, Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Marie Karaf, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, Anne Owen, Patricia Ann Darroch, Peggy Larman, 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.