Fourth Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Vigil Mass William Underwood, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass For Leigh on his 40th birthday (AR)
11.30am Mass Winifred McClafferty, RIP (Anniv) (AM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 20
Feria
9am Mass Dec'd members of the Moon Family & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)
Confessions after Mass
Tuesday 21
Feria
9am Mass Bernardette Perry, RIP (KH)
Confessions after Mass
Wednesday 22
Feria
9am Mass Anna Kilcoyne, RIP (UO)
Confessions after Mass
Thursday 23
Feria
9am Mass Anthony Comey, RIP (M,C&MC)
Confessions after Mass
10.45am Requiem Mass Angela Lingard, RIP
Friday 24
Feria
9am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP & Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
Confessions after Mass
5.30pm Vigil Mass Dr John Scarr, RIP (AC)
8.30pm Christmas Carols & Readings followed by
9pm Night Mass The People of the Parish
Saturday 25
Christmas Day
8am Mass Private intention
9.30am Mass Private intention
11.30am Mass Private intention
Sunday 26 December
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
8am Mass Anna Kilcoyne, RIP (PL)
9.30am Mass Intentions of David Hudson (JD)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr William Guinevan, Fr Arthur Cowd, Bp Brian Foley, Canon Wilfrid Thompson, Gladys Symons, Mabel Walmsley, John Baigent, Anthony Fleming, Bernard Murphy, Paola Murch, Mary Poole, Peter Robson, Christopher Maybe, Mabel Carter, Francis Brady, Eleanor Dillon, William Smith, Grace Greiner, Veronica Barrett, Cathy Baker, Robert Kirsch, Teresa Evans, Roland Glazebrook, David Middleton, Mario Piacentini, Elsie Osborne, Mary Heather, Teresa Riley, Winifred McClafferty, Elizabeth Astall, Jessica Wilson Basil DeNeuman, Mary Higgins, Anthony Nesnas, Bridget Mcdonald, Julia Upsher, Eddie Gillan, Clare Whomes, Douglas Hurley, Charles Stokes, Lynda Quinlivan, Guido Maria, Janet Newby & Michael Manning.
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.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of the Beech & Fegan Families and Anthony Fleming, RIP.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
ANGELA MARY LINGARD, RIP. Her funeral service will take place on Thursday, 23rd December at 10.45am followed by burial at Bowers Gifford Cemetery.
EILEEN WASKETT, RIP. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 5th January at 12.45pm followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
JOHANNA SADOWSKI, RIP. Her funeral service will take place on Monday, 10th January at 3.20pm at Southend Crematorium West chapel.
SHEILA DE CHANTILLY, RIP. Her body will be received into the church on Thursday, 13th January at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 14th January at 10.45am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
COVID Precautions
From Friday 10th December face coverings became compulsory in most public indoor venues, including places of worship, following recent new strains of the virus. We do ask everyone to continue to be vigilant by taking the necessary sanitary precautions when in church: sanitising your hands and respecting the space of others. There has been a further clarification sent from our Bishops with regard to singing in places of worship: HM Government guidance states that “There is a reasonable excuse for someone to remove a face covering when it is reasonably necessary for them to sing, for example, if they are singing as part of a choir, or during a service, rehearsal or for a performance.”
The current Church guidance states that congregational singing should take place with face coverings in place and choirs and soloists may sing without such coverings. As the Church moves towards Christmas celebrations which often involves carol services and other singing events, it is strongly recommended that congregational singing within church buildings continues with the applied face coverings, however, please remember to remove your mask before taking communion.
Altar Servers
Lists are up in the Sacristy for serving over the Christmas period. Please sign your name against the Masses you are able to serve. Thank you.
The 10am Mass on Monday, 27th December, will be offered for the Altar Servers and their families; including enrolments into the Guild of Saint Stephen.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Choral Prelude on Rorate Caeli - Jeanne Demessieux (1921-1968)
Postlude: Le Verbe (from La Nativité du Seigneur) -
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 25th May Visitation of the Bishop & Confirmation
Saturdays 14th & 21st May First Holy Communion Masses
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.
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.
Christmas cards and posters
Christmas cards with the schedule of Services and Christmas Posters are available at the back of church. Please take one.
Journey in Faith (RCIA)
The Journey in Faith sessions resume on Monday, 10th January in the Parish Centre at 8pm.
Missio Red Box Holders
I have received the Missio 2022 Calendars. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the church in the usual place on the ledge.
I wish you all the Blessings and Peace of Christmas.
Thank you Joan Caunce 01268 757505
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!
Wednesdays: 22 Dec (7-8pm UK Time). Free of Charge | LIVE sessions on YouTube.
Info & Registration: https://comeandsee.org/advent
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
Third Sunday of Advent
Joy and hope are the central themes of Advent and even more so on this Gaudete Sunday when the liturgy of the Mass reminds us that Christian joy is a result of the Incarnation, the coming of God into our world.
Dear friends in Christ
Joy and hope are the central themes of Advent and even more so on this Gaudete Sunday when the liturgy of the Mass reminds us that Christian joy is a result of the Incarnation, the coming of God into our world. When we enter our church, we are often struck by the scenes of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Canon Francis Gilbert—who had our church built and is buried in the front garden of the Presbytery—had a great devotion to everything Marian. Hence the Lourdes Grotto which he had constructed in the church after a visit to Lourdes which so moved him. The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are very central to this Advent-time. Beginning with the Annunciation of Mary by St Gabriel behind the Tabernacle, they move us through the stages of the Incarnation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth; the Adoration of the Magi; the Presentation of Jesus and the Finding in the Temple. Each of these Gospel miniatures express a joy that comes to mind whenever we think about them or prayerfully meditate on them in the Rosary.
As we progress through the second part of Advent we reflect on all the circumstances surrounding the Birth of Our Lord. We do this with Mary and Joseph, as they await in faith for the coming of the Messiah. We have the simple custom of the Blessing of the figures of Jesus for our Cribs next Sunday. If the children would like to bring the figures of Infant Jesus, we will bless them at the end of the Masses, ready for them to be placed in our Cribs on Christmas Day.
Thanks to all those who supported our Bazaar last Sunday. Very many of you gave gifts which could be sold and despite the constrained times in which we are living it was an enjoyable morning! We raised £1,500 and we are grateful to those who helped with the organisation of the occasion and so generously gave of their time too!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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
Monday 13
St Lucy, V, M
9am Mass Intentions of Sandra Hippard (SH)
Tuesday 14
St John of the Cross, Pr, D
9am Mass Bridie Clinton, RIP (KH)
Wednesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Margaret Canty-Randall, RIP (CB)
Thursday 16
Feria
9am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield (FM)
2.30pm Requiem Mass Olivia Chesney, RIP
Friday 17
Feria
12Noon Mass Anna Kilcoyne, RIP (LL)
Saturday 18
Feria
10am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 19 December
Fourth Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Vigil Mass William Underwood, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass For Leigh on his 40th birthday (AR)
11.30am Mass Winifred McClafferty, RIP (Anniv) (AM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr Bentley, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Evelyn Joyce, Doreen Murphy, Clarice Bregazzi, Thomas McInerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Maxfield, Mary McQuaid, Francis O'Neill, Eileen Byczynski, Larraine Moore, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Alice Chapman, Barbara Althorpe, Miss E Parker, Paul Emerson & Sylvia Walton.