First Holy Communion 2022

If you wish your child to make their First Holy Communion in May 2022, and they are in Year 3 or above, please ensure the online form is completed and submitted by 30th September 2021.

Please note that if your child was not baptised at Our Lady of Lourdes, you will need to provide a copy of their Baptismal Certificate. Please send this to the communion e-mail, which is communion@lourdesleigh.org.

Further details regarding meetings etc. will be published in the weekly newsletter. 

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 September. 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 558217 with your name, contact details and names of your guests.

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 once again in the Parish Centre, which will start on 30th September and run for 8 weeks. They can contact the Landings Team for further information on landings@lourdesleigh.org.

Lourdes Ladies Group

The long awaited reopening of OLL Ladies Group is coming this week and we are looking forward to welcoming all members, old and new, at the Parish Centre on Thursday 9th September at 10.15 am.

Our new season has a very interesting and varied programme and to start us off in style, we have non other than the well known Paul Clancy to entertain us with his magic tricks!

All women in the Parish are welcome to enjoy tea , coffee and cake and a good chat. Subs only £1 per session.

Sea of Voices Choir

Our choir plans to recommence singing from Thursday 23rd September in the Parish Centre, which will be open from 7.30pm but starting the singing at 8pm, finishing by 9.30pm for the time being.

An email was recently sent out to all members giving an update that the committee would be meeting to discuss a Choir risk assessment. The draft Risk Assessment will be emailed out to all returning members in due course, giving them the opportunity to give feedback on the measures we plan to put in place for everyone’s safety. Attendees will pay £3 per session, as previously, and sheet music will be provided.

The plan is to put on a Christmas concert in December - as always, we are ambitious! - so we will sing some old favourites and some new songs will be added to our repertoire.

We already have some re-joiners and new singers who want to sing with us, so if you would like to join us (no auditions!) please contact Darrell ( email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com ) or speak to other choir committee members at church: Carole Symons, Jacqui Henderson or Adam Carstairs.

Thank you. Darrell Binding.

Baptisms

We congratulate the parents of Eleanor Mac Mahon and Aurora Quinn who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.

Tea/Coffee Mornings

With effect from 6th September, coffee, tea and cake will be served in the Parish Centre after the 9am Mass on Mondays and Thursdays. Please come and join us!

Magnificat

For the month of September only, you can have free access to the digital version of MAGNIFICAT.

We hope that you will want to subscribe for the printed version and invite you to do so. Visit the dedicated page for more information.

In order to subscribe to the printed version from October, you will need to order by the 12th September 2021.

For more details please contact
margaret@catholicherald.co.uk
or 0203 882 9432

Vacancies at St Bernard's

We have a number of support staff vacancies that we are trying to fill at present. Full details and an application form can be found on our website:  www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

Even though at Mass this weekend we resume the reading of St Mark’s Gospel, I will be concluding my reflections on the Mass; the fifth and final one in the series. I hope to say something about the Communion and Concluding Rites of the Mass. This was deferred because of Our Lady’s Assumption two weeks ago with the proper liturgy for that celebration. Even though we are hearing St Mark at Mass this Sunday (we concluded the sixth chapter of St John last week) he nevertheless teaches us something about how we must approach God in the Mass with pure hearts. Part of our preparation for participation in the Mass requires us to be attuned to the things of God; to have a clear conscience before receiving Holy Communion, and to do so with a pure intention. This may mean that we need to be purified in the Sacrament of Penance so that we do not receive Our Lord in a state of serious sin. Just as the Jewish Law required its adherents to go though external rites of purification, so these symbolise the purity of heart necessary for approaching God in the Eucharist. All of the recent Homilies are available on the Parish YouTube channel. My hope is that these meditations have given us again an occasion to pause and consider, in more depth, what we do when we come to Holy Mass; how the Sunday celebration is at the pinnacle of all we are and do; and that our greater love of the Blessed Eucharist will instil within us a desire for Heaven.

During this coming week a number of our priests will be moving to take-up their new appointments around the Diocese; several are retiring as Parish Priests. We offer them all our prayerful good wishes for the future. Fr Jean-Claude Selvini—retiring Parish Priest of Hainault and known to many of you—will be coming to live in the Parish here. We warmly welcome Fr Jean-Claude and look forward to him becoming involved in Parish life: celebrating one of the Sunday Masses and being available for some limited pastoral duties.

For many, this Bank Holiday weekend is the last before a return to work, especially our Schools; so, I wish everyone who is returning, a blessed and fruitful year ahead!

As from the first Friday in September, we will resume our monthly day of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which is for the intentions of the Parish each month. This will be from after the midday Mass until Holy Hour and Benediction from 7-8pm.

Msgr Kevin Hale

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

Monday 30
Ss Margaret Clitherow Anne Line & Margaret Ward, Mm
10am Mass Intentions of Florian and Dawid Massalski (AA)

Tuesday 31
St Aidan, Bp and Saints of Lindisfarne
9am Mass Michael Edwards, RIP (Anniversary) (KE)

Wednesday 1 September
St Sebbi, King of the East Saxons
9am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP (SM)

Thursday 2
Feria
9am Mass Charles Doherty, RIP (MD)

Friday 3
St Gregory the Great, P, D - First Friday
12noon Kim Kelly, RIP (MW)
12.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament concluding with
Holy Hour & Benediction 7-8pm

Saturday 4
St Cuthbert, Bp,
10am Mass Intentions of Rudy Navarra
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 5 September

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

5.30pm Vigil Mass Intentions of the de Souza Family (AdS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Intentions of Margaret Kelly (MH)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Peter & Marie Murphy - 60th Wedding Anniversary (OC)
4pm Mass Helen Hiscock, RIP (1962 Missal)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Canon John Sloane, Canon John Walsh, Canon Cyril Shepherd, Fr Patrick Cavanagh, Vera Goldman, Margaret Knight, Antoni Byczynski, Campbell Coe, Gladys Robson, Doris Bree, Catherine Marriott, John Flemming, Pat Moon, Celia Peace, Frederick John Lea, John Harris, Harry Hammond, Kathleen Law, Victor Parrish & Anne Hall.

We Pray for our Sick

John Murphy, 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.

We pray for the Repose of the Soul of

AGNES (UNA) PHILOMENA YOUNG, RIP who died on recently. Her Body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 9th September at 4.30pm and her Requiem mass will be celebrated on Friday, 10th September at 11.15am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

Music at 11.30 Mass on Sunday

Prelude: Largo (Voluntary VII, Op. 6) - Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

Postlude: Fantasia in C minor, BWV 562 - J S Bach (1685-1750)

March for Life

The March for Life will take place on Saturday 4th September 2021. A number of indoor events for children, teens and adults will take place from 10am until 1pm in The Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3DW. The March to Parliament Square, will start outside The Emmanuel Centre at 1.30pm. There will be a number of Pro-Life speakers at Parliament Square, including Bishop John Keenan who will travel all the way from Scotland to attend this very important event. For more details see: www.MarchForLife.co.uk

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. 

Baptisms

We congratulate the parents of Freddie Ralph & Harry John Tollady who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their family as they grow in His knowledge and love.

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? 

1. Follow and share Kenny's journey on Facebook (St Vincent's Centre, Southend - Short Street).

2. Get a group of people to start him off in the morning and send him off.

3. Visit Kenny's Just Giving page via the link on our Facebook page and make a donation.

4. If you are physically able to, why not join Kenny on part of his walk?

5. Get a company/ business involved in sponsoring Kenny's journey!

6. Can you wash his clothing on the way - Pick up and drop off ASAP so will need a dryer.

7. 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.