Baptism Preparation Sessions
The next Baptism Preparation Sessions will take place on
Tuesday 5th April, 2022
Tuesday 14th June, 2022
Tuesday 9th August 2022
Tuesday 4th October, 2022
They will take place the Parish Centre at 8pm. For further information, please contact Catherine or Andy Harris on 077333 27295.
Mums, Dads and toddlers coffee mornings
Starting on 24th January Mums, Dads and Carers with pre-school children are invited to get together for coffee and chat in the Parish Centre on Monday mornings from 9.30am until 11 am, during school term times, organised by the Lourdes Ladies group. Toys and books will be provided and we look forward to welcoming you.
Serving the Homeless
We wish to thank all of our parishioners who generously supported Serving the Homeless during 2021. In spite of the pandemic, we were able to give HARP £6851, the YMCA £6500 and the SVP Short Street £600. Our fundraising continues this year and we are already donating £250 each month to HARP for meat and other fresh foods.
Each year Fr Kevin kindly agrees to have a collection after Mass on the last weekend of January. This year this collection will take place next weekend, 29th and 30th January. Please support us as our work with, and support for, homeless and vulnerable people continues.
Our next event will be a Sunday Lunch on 30th January in the Park View Suite in Chalkwell Park. Tickets cost £20 and are available from any member of the Committee or telephone Linda on 01702 558217.
SVP Youth
The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) have set up a community centre in Southend that supports local vulnerable people. OLOL SVP are looking to encourage young people (11-18 years) to become involved with the District SVP at the centre - ‘The St Vincents’ Centre’.
An ‘SVP Youth Gather’ is being arranged for Sunday, 30th January 2022, from 2pm to 4pm at the St Vincents’ Centre, Unit 9, Victoria Business Park, Short Street, Southend SS2 5BY.
If you are a young person (11-18 years) and interested in helping those less fortunate than yourself, please feel invited to come along. Please contact Francis O’Brien 07845 874331 to book a place.
Recycling Sack for CAFOD
A pink sack can be found at the back of the church. Please donate your old mobile phones, jewellery, stamps (used or album collections) and other limited electronic gadgets. Details of accepted items are on the leaflets at the back of church. These will then be recycled and the money raised will go to CAFOD.
Many thanks. Live Simply Group.
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!
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.
Diocesan Vacancies
Head of School
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Maldon
L8 - L12 Required for September 2022.
The Governing Body are seeking to appoint an inspirational, enthusiastic, motivated and dedicated person to help lead St Joseph’s, South Woodham Ferrers which, along with St Francis, Maldon which constitute the Federation of Christ The King.
Deadline for applications: 9:00 am on Friday 28th January 2022. For further information please contact the school office for an appointment on 01621 856698.
Head of School
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers
L8 - L12 Required for September 2022.
The Governing Body are seeking to appoint an inspirational, enthusiastic, motivated and dedicated person to help lead St Joseph’s, South Woodham Ferrers which, along with St Francis, Maldon which constitute the Federation of Christ The King.
Deadline for applications: 9:00 am on Friday 28th January 2022. For further information please contact the school office for an appointment on 01245 321828.
Headteacher
Holy Cross Primary School, Harlow
Starting salary L17 – L23 (£63,745 - £73,660). Required for September 2022.
The Governors of Holy Cross invite applications from experienced, enthusiastic and suitably-qualified practising Catholics, to play a key role in the leadership and management of our school to continue to build on our successes.
Deadline for applications: 12:00 pm on Monday 21st February 2022. For further information please contact Karen Slater, PA to Headteacher, on 01279 424452 to arrange this. Alternatively if you would like an application pack please contact Karen Slater by email: karenslater@holycross-pri.essex.sch.uk.
Further details of these vacancies and other are available from the diocesan website https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies/school-vacancies/
Chorister Day - 29th January
Brentwood Cathedral will be hosting a ‘Be a Cathedral Chorister for a Day’ opportunity for boys aged 8 to 12 on Saturday 29th January 2022. The day will begin at 10.30 with a welcome for families and will end with Choral Vespers at 4 pm, an opportunity for everyone to hear the boys sing. We hope the day will be of interest to all boys who enjoy singing, whatever their prior musical experience. We will be holding a similar day for girls later in the year. For more details and to register a place, please visit www.cathedralbrentwood.org or telephone 01277 265288.
St Thomas More High School Vacancies
Chaplaincy Apprentice
We are seeking to appoint a Chaplaincy Apprentice, a new and exciting role with the opportunity to join the team of staff at St Thomas More High School. Our new Chaplaincy Apprentice will work with our staff to develop the school’s community to provide spiritual and pastoral support to the students at the school, bearing witness to the mission statement and maintaining and enhancing the distinctive Catholic nature of the school. Please see the school’s website for full details www.st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk or telephone Miss Parr, Headteacher’s PA on 01702 344933.
Cleaners
We are looking for Cleaners to work Monday to Friday 3:45pm-6:45pm ideally or 6:00am-8:30am. If these hours would suit you and you would like to find out more, please see the school’s website for full details and an application form or telephone the school on 01702 344933 and ask for Mrs Newman, HR Co-ordinator.
Be part of the Walsingham House Team 2022/2023
If you are 18+ and looking for an exciting gap year opportunity, then a year on the Walsingham House Team could be for you. Spend a year as a volunteer in a thriving young Catholic Community, working with thousands of young people from Essex and East London. We are looking for inspiring individuals who want to share their faith with other young people and are also looking to learn new skills, grow deeper in their own faith and enjoy a challenge.
For more information please contact Joseph Beattie, manager of Walsingham House, by emailing josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org or calling 01277 373959. There is more information about our work on our website (www.bcys.net) and social media @Brentwoodcys
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.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
According to our Christian Tradition, there are three manifestations of God in Christ: the Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the Miracle at Cana.
Dear friends in Christ
According to our Christian Tradition, there are three manifestations of God in Christ: the Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the Miracle at Cana. In each of these three occasions we see God revealing Himself to the world. St John in the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday tells of the first of the miracles Jesus performed. It was done at the behest of His Mother. Mary is the one who notices that there is a problem and she goes to Jesus to ask Him to do something about it. Mary is a mother who is more attentive to all our needs than any mother on earth ever has been or ever will be. The miracle takes place because Our Lady has interceded; it happens only because of her petition. Why do Mary's prayers have such efficacy before God? The prayers of the Saints are the prayers of servants, whereas those of Mary are the prayers of a mother, whence they receive their efficacy and authoritative character. As Jesus' love for his mother is limitless she cannot ask for anything without being heard (St Alphonsus). This miracle is a sign of the great abundance of God’s goodness to His people, especially when we realise that the amount of wine produced was between 100 and 160 gallons! For those first disciples of Jesus—and St John was one of them—this would have helped them take a step further towards their faith in Him. Do whatever he tells you are the words of Our Lady in the Gospel. There could be no better words, no more profitable advice.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time—Peace Day
5.30pm Vigil Mass Jean Baker, RIP (KP)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Joe de Lobel, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Michael Rubbert (MR)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 17
St Anthony, Ab
9am Mass Mick Toomey, RIP (MI)
Tuesday 18
Feria
9am Mass Pat Reidy, RIP
Wednesday 19
St Wulstan, Bp
9am Mass Intentions of Henry Gover
Thursday 20
St Fabian, P, M
9am Mass Intentions of Cynthia Bush (Lourdes Ladies Group)
Friday 21
St Agnes, V, M
12Noon Mass Frances Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) & the Little Family (AE)
Saturday 22 January
St Vincent, Deacon, M
10am Mass Anne & John Young, RIP (T&RO’C)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 23 January
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Sir David Amess, RIP (SM)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Joanna, Eve & Paul
11.30am Mass Mr Michael Toomey, RIP (JS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Gilbert Basil Pearson, Fr Neville Banks, Fr Kenneth Green, Canon Charles Kuypers, Mgr Canon David Donnelly, Fr John Meehan, Bp Bernard Ward, Fr Christopher Quirke, Pope Benedict XV, Gordon Wallen, Brigid Connolly, Violet Read, Gabriel Craven, Patrick Connolly, Brenda Campbell, Germaine Cave-Palmer, Renée Warburton, Robert Garson-Gratidge, Mrs Breeds Hayes, Bridget Kelly, Maud Reddy, Catherine Woods, Eugene Regan, Barry Anderson, Anne Ryan, Bernard Leonard, Gilbert Oldham, John F. Dillon, Ilene Axson, Dora Maria Trieste Arhott, Teresa Moule, Courtney Choat-Kelly, Kathleen Goddard, Hubert A. Conolly, Jimmy Baker, Catherine Morris, Frances May Emmerson, John Mansfield, Rose Nice, Isabel King and Conor Patrick Hartley-Anderson.
We Pray for our Sick
Gerry Clark, 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, 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
The lamps burn for the intentions of Gareth Lewis, RIP & Olivia Chesney, RIP.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Chi non crede - Andrea Antico (c1480-1539)
Postlude: Magnificat quarti toni - Girolamo Cavazzoni (c1525-1577)
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 25th May Visitation of the Bishop & Confirmation
Saturdays 14th & 21st May First Holy Communion Masses