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.
When coming to Holy Communion you are reminded that if you wish to receive on the tongue then you should come last in the queue; everyone should please remember to remove masks before receiving. This is to ensure practicality and reverence for the Sacred Host and avoid mishaps.
16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
As part of the worldwide consultation ahead of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, to be held in October 2023, the Diocese of Brentwood has launched the first stages of its Synodal Pathway. Each parish has been asked to make contributions by the end of January and it is important that voices from our parish are heard.
We are therefore asking parishioners and regular worshippers to reflect on a short series of questions, under the Synod themes of communion, participation and mission and to submit their responses online.
Please visit LourdesLeigh.org/synod for full details.
Journey in Faith (RCIA)
The Journey in Faith sessions resume on Monday, 10th January in the Parish Centre at 8pm.
Feast of the Holy Family
Dear friends in Christ
I wish you all the blessings of this Christmas Season!
Dear friends in Christ
I wish you all the blessings of this Christmas Season!
The Sunday following Christmas Day is a celebration of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, Joseph. God chose to initiate the redemption of the world from the midst of a human family. This feast is a moment for us to give thanks for our own families through which we have come to know and love God and His Mysteries
Thankfully we are able to celebrate Christmas with more solemnity than we could last year! I am grateful for all of the help that has been provided to make this Christmas both joyful and beautiful. So many parishioners work quietly away ensuring that the church and the administration of the Parish continues efficiently. I am grateful to all of you who contribute to this, as well as all of the extra help that has been given during the last year and throughout the pandemic, to keep the church open, clean, and safe.
I thank you very much for your many greetings, prayers, gifts and Christmas offerings which have been a great support and joy to me! I have missed seeing many of you personally in this last year but hopefully, as we move ahead and life becomes brighter, more of us may feel confident to emerge from isolation and shielding.
May the coming year—by the grace of God--be filled with optimistic hope as we continue to live united in the bonds of faith and charity.
I wish you all a happy New Year and every blessing for 2022!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Feast of the Holy Family
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
Monday 27
St John, Ap, Evangelist
10am Mass Intentions of the Altar Servers and their Families
Tuesday 28
The Holy Innocents, Mm
9am Mass Lyn Peters, RIP (CS)
Wednesday 29
St Thomas of Canterbury, Bp, M
9am Mass Sir David Amess, RIP (CS)
Thursday 30
Sixth Day within the octave of Christmas
9am Mass Steve & Agnes McManus, RIP (Anniv) (SW)
Friday 31
Seventh Day within the octave of Christmas
12Noon Mass Yekky Sannie-Lamptey, RIP (AC)
6.00pm Holy Hour, Benediction & Te Deum for the end of year
Saturday 1 January
Mary, Mother of God
12noon Mass Irene Hurst, RIP (LC)
Sunday 2 January
Second Sunday after the Nativity
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (Anniv) (CR)
9.30am Mass Yvonne Kiernan, RIP (JA)
11.30am Mass Gregory Power, RIP (MP)
4pm Mass Tai Ba Do, Paul Do Dinh Chiuong, Hguyen Duc Doam & All Souls (EP)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead their Anniversaries
Fr Francis Greenan, Fr Francis Wilson, Canon John Byrne, Fr Brian Reeves, Fr James Duffy, Fr Jim Wilkinson, John Hurley, Amelia Eaglesfield, Flor Perez de Pina, P.A. Holcombe, Mrs Beeching, James O’Donnell, Francis Gibson, Mary Fitzroy, Deirdre Gray, James Keefe, Doris Swinney, Joseph Dologhan, Audrey O’Connell, Catherine Rankilor, Doreen Foley, Nora Phillips, Adrian Dann, Francis Cook, Peter Whale, Frederick Thomas Ross, Stephen McManus, Ana Siani, David Scot-Frame, Sylvia Sippitt, Louis Mooney, George Lane, Leslie Dawson, Mary Reilly, Michael McGaughey, Thomas Woolcott, John Sinclair, Joan Gubbins, Kate Lessons, Kathleen Lewin, Gregory Power & Maureen Guihen.
We pray for our Sick
Roland Clark, Kenneth Biebuyck, Zach Stokes. Andrew Stokes, 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
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.
Sanctuary Lamp
The lamp burns for the deceased members of the McManus and West Families and Kathryn Shepherd, RIP.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
One of the preludes to the Nativity is the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.
Dear friends in Christ
One of the preludes to the Nativity is the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. We meditate on this during the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary and it is present before our eyes in the reredos of our church, to the left of the Tabernacle. We ponder here the charity that motivated Our Blessed Lady to go with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. It is so beautiful that John the Baptist—in the womb of Elizabeth—leaps with joy at his proximity to Jesus in the womb of Mary. This exquisite finesse of the two women teaches us how to live in the presence of the Incarnate Word. Very soon we shall be celebrating again the Birthday of Our Saviour. We want to do this with Christian faith and devotion, even if the majority of people around us may not even be aware of the significance of this Mystery we celebrate. Let us make that room for Jesus, even if since the first Christmas night He has found it difficult to find a place to welcome Him. Let us come to Christmas Mass with the simplicity of Mary and Joseph, so conscious of the meaning of this Birth; so aware also of how much it has changed the world and our lives. The Incarnation has made it possible for us to live on earth as the children of God. Mary and Elizabeth remind us of this—in the Visitation—and together they teach us the lessons of divine love.
God bless you all in this final week of Advent and for the forthcoming celebration of Christmas!
Msgr Kevin Hale
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.