Journey in Faith (RCIA)
The Journey in Faith sessions continue on Mondays. These evenings are for those wishing to discover more about the Catholic Faith with a view to Reception into the Church. If you know anyone who is interested in learning more about our Faith and wishing to become Catholic, please direct them to Fr Kevin or these evenings. They will be in the Parish Centre and begin at 8pm.
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 5th December, 8.45am - 1.00pm
We are pleased to announce that our Annual Parish Bazaar is back once again and we need your help and generosity. If you have any unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, raffle prizes or bric-a-brac that you would like to donate, please leave them in the Old Baptistry.
If you would like to help on the day, please contact us.
Sue Lawford - 07816 141492, Angela Clements - 07940 183452, email angelaclements47@gmail.com. Thank you.
Missio - Red Box Holders
If anyone has a Red Box that has not been emptied in the last 12 months, please give them to me personally or leave them in the Parish Office, no later than the 28th November. Thank you.
Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505
Tea/Coffee Mornings in the Parish Centre
Please join us for tea, coffee and cake in the Parish Centre after the 9am Mass on Mondays and Thursdays and after the 8am, 9.30am and 11.30am Masses on Sundays.
We look forward to seeing you again!
OLL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday, 18th November in the Parish Centre from 10.15am to 12Noon. Our guest speaker is none other than Francis O,Brien, who will be giving a talk on his recent Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This promises to be a very interesting programme and an opportunity to listen to one of our Parishioners own experiences of this famous pilgrimage walk. Please come along and show your support.
All women welcome to an enjoyable and relaxing morning, meeting friends, old and new, over refreshments and chat. Subs only £1, plus a fun raffle.
Christmas Decoration Morning
Join us in the Parish Centre on Monday, 6th December from 10.30-12-30pm for a morning of crafty fun.
Make your own wreath and tea light decorations. All materials will be supplied, but it would be helpful if you could bring your own secateurs. This is not a professional demonstration, but a chance to have a go and have some fun. You will be able to take home some original decorations!
Tea/coffee & cakes will be provided.
£10 per head with profits going to ‘Serving the Homeless.’
As numbers are limited please ring Jo 474062 or Theresa 620043 to book a place.
St Thomas More High School
Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 25th November 6pm-9pm - Headteacher to talk 7pm
For families who have students – boys and girls - in year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2022. Come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students.
There will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.
Days of Solemn Eucharistic Adoration—"Forty Hours” Prayer
This begins next Thursday, 25th November with the Mass at 7pm and continues until the Closing Benediction on Saturday at 4pm.
The lists for Watching are at the back of the church which we ask you to fill-out; please ensure there are two names at each of the thirty minute slots. Candles which can burn before the Blessed Sacrament can be got from the Parish Office. You might like to put one for a special intention and names can be written on the base.
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings of the Mass this Sunday speak of unselfish generosity: the widow who brings Elijah the only food she had to live on, and the Gospel of the Widow’s mite.
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings of the Mass this Sunday speak of unselfish generosity: the widow who brings Elijah the only food she had to live on, and the Gospel of the Widow’s mite. These are symbols—expressions—of the generosity of God, who continues to pour out his life and love for us, especially in the Holy Mass. We are also conscious of this outpouring of God’s charity in the world around us. Many have been following with interest the events of the last week at Cop26 in Glasgow. Commentators have seen this as a pivotal moment for our planet and there are renewed expectations as a result of this Conference. Each of us can play our part in showing loving concern for the gift of the created world. We are the stewards of God’s creation and individually we can do something, however small.
Within our own Parish we have implemented changes which help the environment and reduce waste. Several years ago we installed low energy lighting in the church, reducing energy and costs by sixty per cent. The new Parish Centre, notwithstanding its traditional appearance, has been designed to the most modern standards. The heating of the building is provided by hot-water underfloor heating throughout, powered by air-source heat pumps, which take the warmth from the outside air, even in the depth of winter, to heat the building to a comfortable level. Apart from the electricity needed to power the pumps, this is a totally renewable energy source. The underfloor heating is installed in a way that it can be replaced at the end of its life without disruption to the walls and structure. Lighting is by energy-saving fittings, most of the main areas are illuminated with LED spotlights, which give a high-quality of light at minimum energy consumption. The hot water is provided by a gas-fired condensing boiler. Both internally and externally maintenance costs are kept to a minimum, with no external cyclical painting required at all. Internally, high quality and durable natural surfaces require minimal and infrequent attention. In October 2015, Southend Borough Council gave the Parish Centre an Award for outstanding architecture. On a weekly and daily basis we have worked to become paper-free and so the weekly Newsletter is delivered online to over a thousand subscribers. Publicity for forthcoming events can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In our own small way we are being custodians of God’s beautiful creation.
Please continue to pray for our beloved Faithful Departed in this Month of the Holy Souls. On Friday there will be a Requiem for Sir David Amess and the following Friday—19th—a sung Requiem, for departed parishioners, according to the Missal of 1962. In all of this, and above all, may God be praised!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Norbert Widera, RIP (SW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Gerry Kelly, RIP (Anniversary) (JA)
9.30am Mass Deceased relatives of the Wall Family (L&KW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4pm Mass Jean Cooke, RIP (KF) (1962 Missal)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 8
Feria
9am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (Anniversary) (JC)
Tuesday 9
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
9am Mass Holy Souls
Wednesday 10
St Leo the Great, P, D
9am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (MI)
Thursday 11
St Martin of Tours, Bp
9am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (SD)
Friday 12
St Josaphat, Bp, M
12Noon Mass Anna & Vito & Eugene Siani, RIP (RB) 7pm Requiem Mass for Sir David Amess MP RIP
Saturday 13
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10am Mass John Owen, RIP (Anniversary) (AO)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 14 November
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jerzy (George) Wislocki, RIP (Anniversary) (PW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP Anniversary) ((IS)
9.30am Mass Aloysius DeSouza, RIP (FdS)
11.30am Mass The Dead of the Wars
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Cardinal John Carmel Heenan, Fr William Philpot, Deacon Norman Wiseman, Canon Denis Petry, Fr James Etherington, Bernard Fulham, Bridget Curtis, Tom Doran, Robert Drew, Clare Murphy, Emma Harley, Francis Whelan, Dorothy Stuart, Sydney Hamblon, Thomas Horner, Dr Gerry Leyden, Marie Daniels, Sidney Hempstead, Pearl Scaife, Lucy Tombleson, Jean Lucy, Donald Galvin, Eileen Stanshall, Anne Britt, Isobel Good, Joan Read, Albert Rogers, Janet Conway, John Owen & Rene Solecki.
We Pray for our Sick
Marjorie Jay, Paul Sutton, 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, 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, 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.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
ALBERT RICE, RIP
HELEN WILLIAMS, RIP
OLIVIA CHESNEY, RIP
Dates for your Diary
Monday 8th November Journey in Faith (RCIA)
Parish Centre, Bernadette Room—8pm
Friday 12th November Requiem Mass for the Repose of the soul of
Sir David Amess, RIP—7pm
Friday 19th November Solemn Sung Mass in the Old Rite—7pm
Thursday 25th—Saturday 27th November
Annual Days of Eucharistic Exposition
Sunday 5th December Christmas Bazaar—8.45am to 1pm
Friday 17th December Serving the Homeless Carol Service—7pm
Wednesday 25th May Visitation of the Bishop & Confirmation
Saturdays 14th & 21st May First Holy Communion Masses
Sir David Amess, RIP - Funeral Arrangements
Friday, 12th November 7pm—Requiem Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church—all welcome.
Monday, 22nd November 1pm—St Mary’s Church, Prittlewell (an Ecumenical Funeral Service)—invitees only.
Tuesday, 23rd November 10.30am—Westminster Cathedral Requiem Mass—invitees only.
200 Club
Can we ask parishioners who are in the 200 Club to notify the Parish Office and the Administrator of the 200 Club when you move to a different address. Sadly another cheque has gone astray in the post, which is the third time this year. Please check that your contact details are up-to-date.
Serving the Homeless
As many parishioners will know, the Committee had to cancel the wine tasting in October. To help our income we have a set up a Christmas raffle, tickets for which are now available. They cost £5 per book and are available from any Committee member or please ring Linda on 01702 558217. Prizes include Christmas hampers and many other gifts.
Journey in Faith (RCIA)
The Journey in Faith sessions continue on Mondays. These evenings are for those wishing to discover more about the Catholic Faith with a view to Reception into the Church. If you know anyone who is interested in learning more about our Faith and wishing to become Catholic, please direct them to Fr Kevin or these evenings. They will be in the Parish Centre and begin at 8pm.
The Thresholds of Hope Questions
THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTIONS are a series of talks for adults who want to grow in understanding and confidence when questioned or speaking about their Catholic Faith.
The next Thresholds of Hope Questions take place by Zoom on Sunday 7th November 4.00 – 5.00 p.m.: What does it mean to talk about morality? These talks will be given by Fr Martin Boland, Dean of Brentwood Cathedral. To join this meeting go to Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk