Christmas cards and posters
Christmas cards with the schedule of Services and Christmas Posters are available at the back of church. Please take one.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 13th December Journey in Faith (RCIA)
Parish Centre, Bernadette Room—8pm
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
Thank you! From the ‘Serving the Homeless’ Committee
Thank you to all the ladies who attended, and helped with the Wreath making morning on Monday 6th. It was a lovely friendly occasion and raised £225 for Serving the Homeless.
This year, despite not being able to run our normal fundraising events, with your generous help and support we have:
Given £6,500 to HARP for food and general support. HARP now houses over 200 clients and provides almost 6,000 hot meals a year as well as helping clients overcome trauma, learn skills and find work.
Provided an additional £350 worth of turkeys for Christmas dinners at HARP properties.
Given £6,500 to Southend YMCA towards their new housing project which will be giving support to very young vulnerable youngsters in a family style environment.
Provided 42 Christmas bags of ‘goodies’ to the young people who live at, and are looked after by, Southend YMCA.
Given £500 to support the work of the St. Vincent Centre in Southend.
In all, with your help, we have spent approximately £14,000 this year on programmes to support the homeless.
Lourdes Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday, 16th December in the Parish Centre from 10.15am to 12 Noon. Please join us for a fun Christmas Quiz along with festive drinks and nibbles. All women are welcome to an enjoyable and relaxing morning, meeting friends, old and new, over refreshments and chat. Subs only £1, plus a bumper Christmas raffle.
Carol Service - 17th December
You are warmly invited to join us for our annual Carol Service at Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 7pm on Friday 17th December. Please wear a mask. There will be mulled wine and mince pies afterwards, but wrap up warm as the Parish centre will be well ventilated! For those who cannot attend, please join us on the live stream.
We wish you all the blessings of Christmas.
Jo Ronan, Chairwoman
Live Simply recycling
New phone for Christmas? Please don’t throw away your old one because it can be recycled for charity.
The Live Simply group will be providing a collection point in the new year for mobile phones, game/gadgets (such as game -boys, play stations etc), jewellery and used stamps. All of these can provide much needed funds for CAFOD.
Please don’t bring them yet; just hold on to them and we will provide details in the New Year.
HARP’s Urgent Christmas Appeal
For those living on the streets, Christmas can be a very lonely time of year. They feel isolated and at risk at what should be a safe and happy time.
For people that rely on HARP, sometimes we are the only family they can turn to. During the season of giving and spending time with loved ones, please spare a thought – and if you can, a donation – for local people.
Could you give just £10 and make a real difference this Christmas?
By donating to HARP this Christmas, you will provide so much more than a Christmas meal: you will give local homeless people compassion, safety and a friendly smiling face throughout the festive period and beyond.
Just go on the HARP website – www.harpsouthend.org.uk to donate. Alternatively, Linda Wall will collect donations and take them to HARP in time for Christmas. Thank you for all your support.
Brentwood Diocesan Directory
Copies of the 2022 Brentwood Diocesan Directory are now available from the back of church, at a cost of £2.80.
Youth 2000
Why not try something NEW this New Year? Join Youth 2000 at Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green. NEW will be a weekend filled with fun, friendship, inspiring talks and, of course, lots of praise as we welcome in 2022. The retreat will run from Friday 31st December - Sunday 2nd January 2022. Head to www.youth2000.org/new<http://www.youth2000.org/new> today to book your space.
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!
Wednesdays: 15 Dec | 22 Dec (7-8pm UK Time). Free of Charge | LIVE sessions on YouTube.
Info & Registration: https://comeandsee.org/advent
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 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
The Thresholds of Hope
THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What does the Incarnation of Christ mean? takes place by Zoom on Sunday 12th December, 4.00pm–5.00pm. The input and discussion will be led by Fr David Pearce. To join this meeting go to Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk.
St Bernard's High School
St Bernard’s are currently advertising for a Deputy Head Teacher. Full details can be found on their school website: www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
Second Sunday of Advent
The name of St John the Baptist is synonymous with Advent. He is the one chosen by God to be the link between the Old and New Testaments.
Dear friends in Christ
The name of St John the Baptist is synonymous with Advent. He is the one chosen by God to be the link between the Old and New Testaments. He is the man who will prepare the way for the Messiah by calling the world to repentance and purification, so that Christ can enter. Daily at Mass we hear his words, as we are invited to the Banquet of the Lamb: Ecce Agnus Dei…behold the Lamb of God! Whenever we come to Mass we can think of him, as he calls us still to prepare for the coming of Jesus, especially by the inner purification of our lives that comes par excellence through the Sacrament of Reconciliation—Confession.
In the midst of Advent we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady: Wednesday, 8th December. The Church celebrates how Mary was chosen and preserved from Original Sin and personal sin, from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St Anne. Because Lourdes is closely associated with this doctrine of our Faith, each year we ask for Mary’s special protection of our Parish. On Wednesday there will be Masses at 9am and 12 noon. In the evening at 7pm there will be Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Traditionally, we Consecrate the Parish Family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on this feast, entrusting to her maternal Heart all families, individuals and especially the sick and suffering.
On 8th December we conclude the Year of Saint Joseph. This last year has given us the opportunity to better appreciate the life and virtues of the Glorious Patriarch. As Saint Joseph is one of the central figures of Advent, we implore his intercession, that he will ever lead us to Jesus, and that we may remain close to Him. May St John the Baptist, and the Blessed Mother, lead us once again through the days of Advent towards a worthy celebration of the Incarnation. With every blessing!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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
Monday 6
St Nicholas, Bp
9am Mass The Richardson Family, RIP (PS)
Tuesday 7
St Ambrose, Bp, D
9am Mass Frances & Basil Emmerson, RIP (AE)
Wednesday 8
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
9am Mass Mark Kelly, RIP (Anniv) (MS)
12noon Mass—Private Intention
7.00pm Rosary, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary & Benediction
Thursday 9
St Juan Diego
9am Mass Clare Clark, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
Friday 10
Our Lady of Loreto
9am Mass Special Intention
11.30am Funeral Service: Peter Moore, RIP
Saturday 11
St Damasus I, P
10am Mass Fr Geoffrey Pye, RIP (SR)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 12 December
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
5.30pm Vigil Mass Antoinette D’Silva, RIP (CD’S)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Andrew & Mary Murray, RIP (Anniv) (UO’K)
11.30am Mass Richard Collins, RIP (MT)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Brian Drea, Fr Michael Healy, Fr Bernard Pownall, Fr John Lane, Canon Anthony McKentey, Irene Rice, Ryszard Burzynski, Vera Walls, Anne Woods, Hugh Smyth, Anne Reid, Christine Lyons, Barbara Clarke, Brigid Hill, Doris Masters, Ann Dawson, William Johnson, Bruce Pond, John Newton, Thomas O’Hanlon, Mary Alice Ring, Mary Dulcie O’Leary, John Parsons, Walter Scott, Patrick Lyons, Clare Clarke, Karen Anderson, Hilda Eid, Georgina Francis, Ann Dunbar, Ivy Heale, Cecilia Upsher & William Anderson.
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.
EILEEN WASKETT, RIP