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.
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) 'Awareness Month' - September 2021
The main focus of the St Vincent de Paul Society is visiting and befriending people living in loneliness, isolation or poverty. The people we visit could be the elderly, the homeless, people staying in hospital or care homes, people with mental health issues or offenders. Conference members work on the ground level, face to face with the people they help. The work of the SVP requires resources, with the Society’s greatest resource being its almost 10,000 members. Across the country, the SVP is growing steadily, however we are always on the look-out for new members. Have you considered getting involved? The commitment is to attend, as frequently as you can, a weekly Wednesday evening meeting, 7.30 – 8.30pm, held in our Parish Centre and ideally, your circumstance allowing, making one accompanied visit a week. It is rewarding work, bringing new friendships with both other SVP members and those they visit. If you would like to know more about the SVP or if you are interested in joining the Society, please get in touch with Susan Hibbert, mobile 07957 411373. If you are unable to consider becoming a member please support us with your prayers.
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.
St Bernard's High School - Year 6 Open Mornings
We will be holding Year 6 Open Mornings in October on the following dates,
by appointment only:
Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th & Friday 8th October.
There will be 40 minute tours given between 9.15am - 10am & 10am - 10.45am.
Please note that these mornings are for Year 6 students and parents only.
Appointments will be given on a first come, first served basis.
Please call our Reception on 01701 343583 to book a slot.
St Helen's Catholic Primary School
We are looking for Midday Assistants to join our friendly team as soon as possible. Forms and details are on our website www.st-helens.southend.sch.uk
Any questions please contact Mrs Sears 343823.
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-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings at Mass this Sunday are a call to trust God.
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings at Mass this Sunday are a call to trust God. Isaiah in the First Reading announces the happy return of the Chosen People to their homeland. The Gospel narrates the cure of the deaf man. We ought to see in this miracle an image of how God acts upon our souls. He frees the man from sin. He opens his ears to hear the Word of God and loosens his tongue to praise and proclaim the marvellous works of God. At the moment of our Baptism, the Holy Spirit, the finger of God’s right hand, opens our ears and mouths to hear and proclaim His Word. The prayer towards the end of the Baptismal liturgy asks: May the Lord Jesus, who made the deaf hear and the dumb speak, open your ears to receive His Word and your mouth to proclaim His Faith. St Augustine in commenting on this passage of the Gospel says, that the tongue of someone united to God will speak of the Gospel, will bring to agreement those who divided, will console those who weep. God will be praised Christ will be announced. We need the graces to both hear the Word of God—unimpeded by the noise of the world—and tell of Jesus Christ with all clarity.
As most of our Schools return fully this week for the new academic year, we wish all our students and staff a fruitful time ahead. May their ears and hearts be open to what is being taught, and may their minds and hearts be open to telling of the good things God does for us!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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
Monday 6
Feria
9am Mass Norbert Widera, RIP (CO)
Tuesday 7
Feria
9am Mass Basil Emmerson, RIP (AE)
Wednesday 8
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9am Mass Denis Hippard, RIP (SH)
Thursday 9
St Peter Claver, Pr
9am Mass Intentions of Charlie O'Donnell (L&KW)
4.30pm Body in Church Agnes (Una) Young, RIP
Friday 10
Feria
11.15am Requiem Mass Agnes (Una) Young, RIP
Saturday 11
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10am Mass Intentions of Lucrecia Conlu (LC)
10.30-11am Confessions
11am-5pm Church open for Flower Festival
Sunday 12 September
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Joseph & Stella Gallo, RIP (RG)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Intentions of the Maxfield Family (JL)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Genti & Bonn Shpella and Kristian & Dan (TS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Mgr Canon Michael Wilson, Fr Charles Johnson, Fr Conrad Smith, John Mulhern, Noel Crighton, Anthony Cummins, Judith Davies, Mary Agnes Birkins, Edith Annie Murray, William Peck, Marie Bailey, Francis Ryan, John Burns, Mary Cope, Winifred Gansen, Joseph Manton, William Allen, Jim Hayes, Peter Green & Joseph Thurlow.
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, 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.
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) 'Awareness Month' September 2021
‘Awareness Month’ is our annual opportunity to highlight the SVP’s presence in our parish and community and to promote a deeper appreciation and understanding of our work. This in turn can help people who are in need of support to know how to contact us, and those who may be thinking about joining the Society to take their interest further.
Founded in Paris in 1833 by Blessed Frederic Ozanam with a group of companions, and taking St Vincent de Paul as its patron, the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is a Christ-centred organisation made up of almost 10,000 volunteers across England and Wales. While every local group or ‘Conference’ is unique, our mission is the same; to seek and find those in need, to help them in the spirit of justice and to tackle the causes of poverty where we can.
With Christian values at our core, members of the St Vincent de Paul Society work in a variety of different ways including visiting and befriending the lonely and housebound, supporting locally (and in strict confidence) individuals and families in financial need, as well as supporting SVP Conferences in developing countries with disaster relief efforts and the education of their young people. Should you wish to support this work, SVP envelopes are available at the back of the Church and can be returned via the offertory collection or to the parish office. If you would like to know more about the activities undertaken by our parish Conference please contact: Susan Hibbert mob. 07957411373.
Statement of Bishop Alan Williams for Education Sunday, 2021
Education Sunday is a day on which can we focus on the wonderful work that is done in Catholic schools up and down the country. The last year has been a challenging time for all, as we have had to face the full impact of the pandemic and find new ways to live and work. Only time will show the full impact of the days that our children have had to stay at home and try to study. There are, I fear, some areas of inequality in the provision of the pupils’ learning, which may impinge on their development for some time. Having said that however, I know that the schools in the diocese have worked tirelessly to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the children. On behalf of the diocese, I offer my deep gratitude to our Catholic schools for all that they have done and achieved during the pandemic.
When the Catholic hierarchy was re-established in the ninetieth century, one of the first actions was to establish schools to support the Catholic community and help them overcome the many obstacles, including illiteracy, in the way of so many people. In our times the call to make Education a priority has not diminished in any way. As your bishop I heed the call of Pope Leo XIII given over a hundred years ago when he called on the bishops of the world to carry on “making the young your chief care; press onward in every way your work; and cultivate with enthusiasm and hopefulness whatever good seeds you find: for God, who is rich in mercy will give the increase.”[1]
In recent times some of our schools have had to face hostile approaches from those who do not share our vision for Catholic education. They would want to influence the direction of travel for their own purposes rather than for the benefit of the children and young people in our Catholic schools. Pope Francis writes that “Education is an enterprise that demands cooperation on the part of all involved – the family, the school and social, cultural and religious institutions.”[2] A positive way of achieving this cooperation which, in turn, furthers the vision and tradition of those pioneers, is for our schools to work more closely together by joining Catholic Multi Academy Trusts (CMATs). Whilst this may be in line with thinking coming out of national Government it is also genuinely my firm belief that this is the best future for our schools. It is an opportunity for schools to work together actively and formally to shape the Catholic education system in their locality. It is this approach that will enable high standards of Catholic education to be maintained and where schools can contribute more widely as beacons of good practice in the local community. Indeed, where CMATs have been established in our diocese benefits have already been identified, including financial savings, greater inter-school support and renewal of the mission they share as Catholic schools.
As the pandemic recedes and a growing sense of normality returns, I know that we will be able to move forward collaboratively with the wonderful work of enabling our young people to reach their full potential. I encourage all associated with our Catholic schools, as Pope Francis has said, to “persevere with courage and tenacity”[3]. Once again, thank you to all who work in and support Catholic education whether as pupils, staff, governors or parents. I will keep you in my prayers and ask that you join me in praying for the flourishing of our Catholic School communities.
Yours in Christ and Mary,
Bishop Alan, sm
Bishop of Brentwood
[1] Spectata Fides p.6 1885
[2] Address of his Holiness Pope Francis to participants at the seminar "Education: the global compact"
[3] Ibid
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.