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.

Christmas Decorations 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.

The Thresholds of Hope Theologian

Trevor Lopez is training to be a doctor but he has also just begun a course in theology. To find out why he has decided to deepen his Catholic Faith by studying theology go to https://youtu.be/QPhjz-oY_bY or video resources on www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

Bible Studies on the Advent Sunday Gospels

Mauro Iannicelli will break-open the forthcoming Advent Sunday Gospels with in-depth teaching and stimulating questions. As a result, you will experience Sunday Mass in a new way!

Three Wednesdays: 8 Dec | 15 Dec | 22 Dec (7-8pm UK Time). Free of Charge | LIVE sessions on YouTube.

Info & Registration: https://comeandsee.org/advent

The Thresholds of Hope

THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What are the unique insights of Catholic Social Teaching? takes place by Zoom on Sunday 5th December 4.00–5.00pm The input and discussion will be led by Fr Dominic Howarth, Episcopal Vicar for Youth Ministry and Pastoral Care. To join this meeting go to Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk All Welcome.

First Sunday of Advent

Dear friends in Christ

We begin Advent with the image above of Christ in Majesty (the Baptistry in Florence). The first part of Advent directs our thoughts and desires to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This will happen at the end of time when He will gather everyone to Him for the final judgement. We profess this truth every week at Mass when we pray the Creed: He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and His kingdom will have no end. As we hasten towards the celebration of the Nativity at the end of Advent, it is wise for us to remember that the Christian is called to live in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. All of these words we hear weekly at Mass, but like so much that is over-familiar, they cease to make an impact on our lives. Advent is the call—made from the heart of the wilderness—for us to change our lives; to be ready and vigilant; and to live always in hope of the moment when God will come to judge the world and our lives. The first Christians would pray: Come, Lord Jesus with great expectation. Let these days not distract us from the things of God, but serve to call us, and focus our gaze, on Jesus.

May God help each of us to prepare, by inner purification, to celebrate His coming again, and His birth in time.

Msgr Kevin Hale

First Sunday of Advent

5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Confessions

8am Mass Ignatius & Flora (Rosemary), RIP (DS)
9.30am Mass Sir David Amess, RIP (SM)
11.30am Mass Eileen Wilson, RIP (L&KW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 29
Feria
9am Mass Holy Souls

Tuesday 30
St Andrew, Ap, Patron of Scotland
9am Mass Simon Lee, RIP (PS)

Wednesday 1 December
Blessed John Beche, Ab, M
9am Mass Sarah-Louise Clarke, RIP (SH)

Thursday 2
Feria
9am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)

Friday 3
St Francis Xavier, Pr
12Noon Mass Special Intention of Rory Andrew Neal-McKenzie (CD)
12.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament concluding with
Holy Hour & Benediction 7-8pm

Saturday 4
St John Damascene, Pr, D
10am Mass Fr David Irwin, RIP
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 5 December

Second Sunday of Advent

5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Holy Souls
9.30am Mass Sir David Amess, RIP (LW)
11.30am Mass Richard Campbell-Carr, RIP (MT)
4pm Mass Lucrecia Conlu, RIP (JC) (1962 Missal)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Pastoral Letter for the First Sunday of Advent

My dear People,

On this, the First Sunday of Advent, we embark on a journey together with the Universal Church. Every diocese throughout the world has been invited by Pope Francis to walk the Synodal Pathway. The journey begins now and will conclude in Rome in 2023.

The Holy Father invites us to enter this Synodal Journey, moving towards greater Communion, Participation and Mission within the Church. These three themes reflect both our calling and ultimately our destination as Catholic Christians.

We begin in Advent, a season of listening, reflected in the most perfect example of Our Blessed Mother, Mary. Listening was central to the Annunciation. God speaks to Mary; she loves God and she listens to him with an open heart and a willingness to participate in His plan. Later, at the Visitation, Mary cares for and listens to her cousin, Elizabeth. Our Lady shows us what it means to be fully attentive to God and to neighbour.

Now it is our turn. We are being asked to pray together, to talk with, and listen to each other, and to share our dreams for a future Church that is enhanced by communion, participation and mission.

The Holy Father has made it clear that each diocese ought to tailor the pathway to their unique, local situation and with this in mind I would like to encourage you to undertake this task within your Parish Partnerships. These were established as part of our Stewards of the Gospel process, which led, three years ago in the Advent of 2018 to the publication of our Vision Document: Shaping Our Future.

As a diocese, we now have some experience of collective discernment of the will of the Holy Spirit, as the common theme of listening together runs between the Stewards of the Gospel process and the Synodal Pathway. Pope Francis puts it beautifully, saying, “Our journeying together is what most effectively enacts and manifests the nature of the Church as the pilgrim and missionary People of God”. My hope is that the Synodal pathway will help us to discern and implement our own vision and manifest our missionary nature.

Now I urge you to come together in your Parish Partnership; to pray and to dream of the future of our church, to listen with care and respect to one another, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your conversations.

Everyone should be included in this prayerful listening and discernment and there will be notices in your parish bulletin or on social media with further information.

As we journey together in our pilgrimage to the house of God our Father, I invite you to use the Synod Prayer which will be available in print form and also on diocesan and parish web sites.  Attributed to St Isidore of Seville (560-636), it has been traditionally used at Councils and Synods for hundreds of years. This version has been designed specifically for the Church’s Synodal Pathway. Please pray it, inviting the Holy Spirit into your busy lives and homes and know that I will be praying for you also.

Yours in Christ and Mary,

+Alan Williams, sm

Bishop of Brentwood

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Fr Patrick Bennett, Fr Francis Branney, Fr Bartholomew (Bart) Lynch, Fr James (Pat) Hannon, John Sidney Clements, Peggy Jeffries, Jack Vesey, Thomas Slattery, Patricia Manvell, Ronald slater, Ann McGarity, Eileen Vaughan, Mrs Elinor Watters, Vera Spelling, Marie Sanctuary, Dilwyn Morgan, David Aldridge, Ethel Knight, Kathleen Dawson, Mrs Pat Ballard, William Kerry, Leonard Coventry, Derek Timothy, Terence Slattery, Val Brown, Delia Fleming, Liliana Petrini, Timothy Murphy, Louise De Souza, Marie Brazier, Agnes Nisbett, Yvonne Lovett & Martha Braun.

We Pray for our Sick

Noel Conroy, 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

PETER MOORE, RIP. His funeral will be held on Friday, 10th December at 11.30am followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.

OLIVIA CHESNEY, RIP. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 16th December at 2.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

HELEN WILLIAMS, RIP

EILEEN WASKETT, RIP

Dates for your Diary

Monday 29th November Journey in Faith (RCIA)
Parish Centre, Bernadette Room—8pm

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

Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday

Prelude: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 559 - J S Bach (1685-1750)

Postlude: Fantasia on 'Veni Emmanuel' - Alec Rowley (1892-1958)

Memory Book for Sir David Amess

A memory book is being arranged for Sir David's family. We kindly ask Sir David's friends and colleagues to spare a moment to write a memory about him. This can be anything that puts a smile on one's face—a short story, a funny anecdote, or anything else that reflects the character that Sir David was. 

The book will be available to sign in the Sacristy on Tuesday, 30th November and Wednesday, 1st December between 10am-1pm. 

We thank you in advance for your contribution.

Lourdes Ladies Group

Our next Meeting is on Thursday, 2nd December  in the Parish Centre from 10.15am to 12 Noon. The tables are turned this time for a ‘Show and Tell’ morning!  We are inviting Ladies to bring an item which has a particular story or meaning for them and talk about it for a few minutes – don’t be shy………… Please come along and show your support. 

All women are  welcome to an enjoyable and relaxing morning, meeting friends, old and new, over refreshments and chat. Subs only £1, plus a fun raffle.

Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 5th December, 8.45am - 1.00pm

Our Annual Parish Bazaar is next weekend. 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.

Please do not donate used electrical goods. However, we are desperately in need of unwanted items - no jumble please!

If you would like to help on the day, please contact us.

Draw tickets are now available at the back of the Church.

Sue Lawford - 07816 141492, Angela Clements - 07940 183452, email angelaclements47@gmail.com. Thank you.

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.

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.

The Thresholds of Hope

THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What are the unique insights of Catholic Social Teaching? takes place by Zoom on Sundays 28th and 5th December 4.00–5.00pm The input and discussion will be led by Fr Dominic Howarth, Episcopal Vicar for Youth Ministry and Pastoral Care. To join this meeting go to Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk All Welcome.

Inauguration of Advent Service

This Sunday 28th November at 4.00 pm in Brentwood Cathedral. Presider: Bishop Alan Williams with the Brentwood Cathedral Choir. This is a beautiful and uplifting way to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christ’s birth and for that time when He will come again.