First Holy Communion 2022
If you have a child going into Year 3 in September and would like them to make their First Holy Communion in 2022, please complete the on-line Registration Form, available on the Parish Website under Sacraments, and return it to the Parish office no later than Thursday, 30th September.
If your child was not Baptised at Our Lady of Lourdes, please submit a copy of their Baptismal Certificate (scan or photocopy).
Further details regarding meetings etc. will be published in the weekly newsletter.
Fundraising for St Vincent de Paul (SVP England & Wales)
1 MAN - 27 DAYS - 400 MILES
Sounds like the start of a trailer for the latest blockbuster but in fact, this is the epic challenge set down by one of our intrepid volunteers to raise funds to support the work we, St Vincent's Centre, Southend do with the homeless and most vulnerable in our community.
At 8am on Saturday 28th August 2021, Kenny Carmichael will leave Southend on the adventure of a lifetime, walking to Land's End with nothing but an 85 litre rucksack on his back and a tent!
Having witnessed friends and family suffer with mental health problems, Kenny signed up as a volunteer with the SVP (St Vincent de Paul) in 2020. Seeing the incredible work the charity does within the community, supporting up to 300 people a month, he felt moved to do more and so his extraordinary plan evolved.
So how can you get involved?
Follow and share Kenny's journey on Facebook (St Vincent's Centre, Southend - Short Street).
Get a group of people to start him off in the morning and send him off.
Visit Kenny's Just Giving page via the link on our Facebook page and make a donation.
If you are physically able to, why not join Kenny on part of his walk?
Get a company/ business involved in sponsoring Kenny's journey!
Can you wash his clothing on the way - Pick up and drop off ASAP so will need a dryer.
Join us in seeing Kenny off from our centre in Short Street at 8am on Saturday 28th August and enjoy a free BBQ breakfast (please let us know you are coming by contacting us on 01702 5929800.
If you would like to know more about Kenny's Walk for Wellbeing, please check out our Facebook page or feel free to contact us at the centre on 01702 595280! I have attached what we have achieved for our last month at the centre and the pamphlets for the even.
Here are the links to get involved and understand the challenge further.
JustGiving Daniel Cauchi is fundraising for St Vincent De Paul Society (SVP England and Wales) (justgiving.com)
Facebook: This is where we will be doing daily video clips (11) St Vincent's Centre, Southend - Short Street | Facebook
Thank you in advance for your support and I invite you to come and see the centre at some stage. I will be happy to show you around.
Flower & Arts Festival - Saturday 11th September 11am-4.30pm
A huge thank you to everyone who has accepted the challenge! We now have photographs, hangings and tapestries to accompany our flower displays for the festival on 11th Sept. We also have volunteers to provide refreshments on the day. So now we need you.
Please come along on the day to support us and bring friends, family and neighbours, especially those who do not attend any church.
We would also like help with welcoming people who come into the church. In the past we have had some wonderful conversations with visitors who have wanted to learn about us. So if you can spend some time just being a welcoming presence it would all help to provide a more reflective experience in our beautiful church.
We would also welcome donations of flowers on the morning of Friday 10th September to supplement the displays.
Thanks again to all who have contributed already.
Serving the Homeless are holding a wine tasting evening in conjunction with Vino Vero of Leigh Road at St Margaret’s Hall, Leigh-on-Sea on Saturday, 9th October. Tickets are £20 and include cheese and nibbles, as well as a range of wines to taste in a fun and lively format. Tables are for six to eight people, so you can book a table or, if you are coming as an individual or smaller group, please let us know and we will add you to another table. To book please ring Linda on 01702 558217with your name, contact details and names of your guests.
Thomas Maxfield - Brave the Shave 'Thank you'
I just wanted to thank Fr. Kevin and all the Parishioners who donated to my fundraiser in memory of my Aunt Caroline. The final total raised was £1,125. I'm so grateful for all the support I have received and I am slowly getting used to my short haircut.
God bless Thomas
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The final segment of the Eucharistic Discourse in the Gospel of St John is read for us at Mass this Sunday.
Dear friends in Christ
The final segment of the Eucharistic Discourse in the Gospel of St John is read for us at Mass this Sunday. Jesus throws down the gauntlet. They complain about His teaching them that He is the Bread of Eternal Life and that we must feed on Him. Many of the Jews walked away, incredulous and repelled by such teaching. So Jesus wants to know who His true disciples will be and challenges the Twelve, asking them: Will you also go away? It is Peter who speaks for the rest: To whom shall we go, You alone have the words of eternal life. They recognise in Jesus the Saviour of the world. Every time we attend Holy Mass we too affirm our hope in eternal life and that Jesus Himself feeds us on His Word and on His Sacrament. Through the Eucharist, Jesus teaches us to look upon the present with the eyes of eternity. We find in the Holy Eucharist the strength we need to undertake what remains of our journey to the Father’s house. The Holy Eucharist is an eternal pledge to us.
It assures us of Heaven. This is the dowry sent to us by Heaven as a promise that one day it will be our resting place. What is more, Jesus Christ will cause our bodies to rise again with greater glory, insofar as we have frequently and reverently received Him in Holy Communion (St John Vianney).
I will conclude my reflections on the Mass next weekend—after the wonderful interlude of Mary’s Assumption last Sunday—as we think about the Eucharistic Prayer this weekend and finally the Communion Rite.
I wish you all a blessed week ahead and God’s blessing!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Philip O'Connor, RIP (CM)
9.30am Mass Thomas Walsh RIP, (Anniversary) (MC)
11.30am Mass Tom & Rita O'Callaghan (Wedding Anniversary) (JA)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 23
St Rose of Lima, V
9am Mass Margaret McFarlane, RIP (Anniversary) (MW)
Tuesday 24
St Bartholomew, Ap
9am Mass Intentions of Maura Irwin (UO)
Wednesday 25
St Louis
9am Mass Eugene Renehan, RIP (Anniversary) (MH)
Thursday 26
Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Pr
9am Mass Intentions of Emma Harris & Milo Challis (CH)
Friday 27
St Monica
12noon Margaret Owens, RIP (Anniversary) (SO)
Saturday 28
St Augustine, Bp, D
10am Mass Marion Payne, RIP (Anniversary) (VP)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 29 August
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jose Conlu, RIP
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Rita O'Regan, RIP (CM)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Cynthia Bush (SG)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr George Gresley, Fr Sean Sheils, Canon Vincent Cameron, Fr Bernard Collings, Teresa Griffiths, Anne McCarthy, Ronald Abnett, Eileen Shears, Christopher Poulain, John Ryan, Valerie Griggs, Marian Hart, Dorothy Scott, Stephen McGough, Stephen Cornell, Margaret Acaster, Col Ernest G Petter, Bernard Squires, John Lowndes, Louise Newman, Veronica Maguire, Margaret Owens, Alan Tate, Mary (Molly) Frances Horn, Basil Emmerson, Stella Stanley, William Pearson, Peter James Scott, Kathleen Shanahan, Charles Capon, Nellie Aynsley, Marjorie Clarke, Sheila King, Marian Payne, Vivien Payne & Martin Payne.
We Pray for our Sick
Mary Monaghan, Jennifer Biebuyck, Moira Scott, Jill Yates, Leonora Maguire, Brian Mountier, Renata Butler, Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Marie Karaf, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, 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.
First Holy Communion 2022
If you have a child going into Year 3 in September and would like them to make their First Holy Communion in 2022, please complete the on-line Registration Form, available on the Parish Website under Sacraments, and return it to the Parish office no later than Thursday, 30th September.
If your child was not Baptised at Our Lady of Lourdes, please submit a copy of their Baptismal Certificate (scan or photocopy).
Further details regarding meetings etc. will be published in the weekly newsletter.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707)
Postlude: Intrada - Grayston Ives (b. 1948)
Baptisms
We congratulate the parents of Grace Ashley-Chelton, Joseph Beeter, Freddie Knipe, Oscar Edmunds, Theodore Denison, Phoebe Kadwill, Zadie Clark-Abdullah, Remi Perham, Jackson Hennessey, Leo Hanby, Violet Hanby, Elsie Hanby, Albie Hanby, Isla Rippingale, Xavier Skileter & Gisèle Skileter who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.
Serving the Homeless
The Committee of Serving the Homeless are planning to hold a Wine Tasting evening on Saturday 9th October so please save the date. The local wine shop Vino Vero will be supplying the wines and one of the staff will give a short talk about each of them. The event will be held in St Margaret’s Church Hall in Lime Avenue, which is a large, airy room. There will be tables of 6 to 8 people. Tickets will cost £20 per person, to include a cheese and nibbles supper.
If you would like to register your interest in coming, either as an individual, couple or a group, please ring Linda on 01702 558217.
Flower Festival - 11th September 2021
Thank you to everyone who has already agreed to contribute to the Flower festival this year. The Theme is “I AM” (as in I Am the Good Shepherd; the Light of the World; The Way, Truth, & Life etc.) This was the theme that we had chosen for last year, but due to the pandemic it did not take place. The Festival will again, hopefully, coincide with the Leigh Art Trail. I am pleased to say that we have already have some Art, Photography and Needlework, as well as flower arrangements promised by parishioners to illustrate the themes. We need more people to take part, particularly to do flower arrangements.
So we are calling all parishioners to help us to create a beautiful and prayerful event to be shared with our community.
Any donations collected on the day will go towards ‘Serving the Homeless’ projects.
For those interested a list of all the quotations will be available. You can email me at: mcronan@btinternet.com
Please let me know if you are planning to take part.
Jo Ronan (Chair, Serving the Homeless)
March for Life UK
The Annual March for Life UK event will take place on Saturday 4th September in Central London from approximately 10 am – 4.30 pm. A coach will leave from Priory street/East Hill, Colchester at 8am stopping at London road, Colchester, Witham, Chelmsford and Brentwood. The cost will be £20 per person (babies go free). Less if we have a full coach. To ask about coach details or book a seat, please contact Justin Nathan at eph890@gmail.com or on 07540 050814. Please do not leave a voice message but I will respond to text or whatsapp messages.
We recently had the highest ever annual abortion figures in the UK (last year saw 210,860 abortions in England and Wales) as well as the introduction of home/DIY abortions. Let’s do our part in turning the tide in our nation. More information is available at marchforlife.co.uk or form Isabel on 07773 501721/ izzyvs@gmail.com
Our Lady of Ransom School - Office Manager Vacancy
The school is looking to recruit an Office Manager from September 2021.
Hours 7.45am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday in term time plus 10 additional days.
Scale 7 Points 19-21 (approximately £13.21 - £13.74 per hour)
Please refer to the school website www.olorcps.net for further details.
Closing date: 27th August, 2021
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear friends in Christ
This year we have the opportunity to celebrate the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday.
Dear friends in Christ
This year we have the opportunity to celebrate the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday. Since the fifth century, the church has held implicitly the belief in the Assumption of the Blessed Mother; body and soul, into Heaven. It can be deduced from the Liturgy, from pious documents and the writings of the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church. Popular piety and art have frequently depicted Mary in the midst of clouds carried aloft by the Angels. Saint Thomas Aquinas sees, in these angelic interventions on behalf of those who have left the earth and are already on the way to heaven, a manifestation of the reverence the angels and all creatures render the glorified body of Mary. The Preface for the Mass of this Day summarises the dogma of Mary’s Assumption:
For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people; rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvellously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of all life.
The Assumption of Mary is a wonderful reminder of our own resurrection. It is made possible through Christ rising from the dead. Today on this Solemnity, our prayers are full of confidence. Our advocate rose up to heaven, so she will arrange for our salvation as Mother of the Judge, the Mother of Mercy (St Bernard). One day, if we are faithful, we will contemplate Jesus and Mary whom we have invoked so many times in this life. Wishing you every blessing on this most lovely of Mary’s feast days!
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5.30pm Vigil Mass Kathryn Shepherd, RIP (SW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Frank Mann, RIP (Anniversary) (RM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Tony Griffin (Intentions on a Special Occasion) (SG)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 16
St Stephen of Hungary
9am Mass Raymond de Chantilly, RIP (Anniversary) (LC)
Tuesday 17
Feria
9am Mass Bernardette Perry, RIP (Anniversary) (KH)
Wednesday 18
St Helena, Widow
9am Mass Intentions of Maura Irwin - Special Birthday (PL)
Thursday 19
St John Eudes, Pr
9am Mass Fr Andrew Hurley, RIP (Anniversary) & Canon Vincent Hurley, RIP (Anniversary) (JH)
Friday 20
St Bernard, Ab, D
12noon John, Agnes & Susan Watkins, RIP (Anniversary) (JW)
Saturday 21
St Pius X, P
10am Mass Christine Wallner, RIP (GW)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 22 August
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Philip O'Connor, RIP (CM)
9.30am Mass Thomas Walsh RIP, (Anniversary) (MC)
11.30am Mass Tom & Rita O'Callaghan (Wedding Anniversary) (JA)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Peter Prendergast, Canon Vincent Hurley, Fr Andrew Hurley, Arthur John Watkins, Frank Mann, Hugh Palmer, Helen Louise Enright, Dr Anna (Reggie) Kemmerling, Carmen Georges, Bridie Corrigan, Francis Bartley, Mary Attersley, Bernadette Perry, Andre Lince, Raymond Vaulbert de Chantilly, Annie Gallacher, John Walmsley, Margaret McFarlane, John Power, Edwin Martin, Catherine McGowan, Noreen Selet, Edward Chavner, Charles Roots, Mary Theresa Johnson, Denise Gianelli, Rocco Forgione, Agnes Harding, Dainie Seebold, Edith Seymour, Mary Saegar, Rhoda Addecott & Doreen Spaul.