Sick and Housebound
For much of the last two years it has been extremely difficult to make home visits to our sick and housebound either in their homes or our local care establishments. Sometimes it has been possible only with difficulty and risk to attend the dying at home and in hospital. Now that restrictions are relaxed it will be possible again to resume those periodic visits to the sick and housebound to bring them the Sacraments. Sadly, over this period many of our Parish Family have gone to their eternal rest. If you know of someone—a relative or friend—who is housebound or in a Home and would appreciate receiving the Sacraments, please give their names to Fr Kevin, so that arrangements can be made for one of the priests to visit and minister to them.
Confessional Box
Frequent users of the Confessional Box will have noticed that it has been given a much-needed makeover! The interior has been been made more soundproof, and the ambience more dignified, as befits the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation—Confession. The hope is that it will receive even greater use!
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Canzon quarta del quarto tono naturale
- Giovanni Battista Fasolo (c1600-1659)
Postlude: Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig (Choral and Variation 2) BWV 768
- J S Bach (1865-1750)
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 25th May Visitation of the Bishop & Confirmation
Saturdays 14th & 21st May First Holy Communion Masses
Sacrament of Confirmation
The Bishop will be visiting our Parish on Wednesday, 25th May and will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on those eligible. If you are fourteen years of age, or above, from the end of August 2021, (i.e. Year 10 or above) and wish to be Confirmed in May, please send your name with this request to Fr Kevin before the end of January.
Loving our planet ( A day of prayer and reflection for our planet)
The Live Simply group invite you to a day of prayer and reflection on Saturday, 19th February from 10am-4pm at St Clements Church, Leigh-on-Sea. The day will focus on topics such as: Pollution and waste; the land and agriculture; Wildlife; Humankind; What can we do?
Each theme will last for approximately one hour and be led by people from various churches in Leigh.
Please come for all or part of the day.
Mums, Dads and Toddlers Coffee Mornings
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.
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.
OLL Ladies Group
The next Meeting is on Thursday 3rd February in the Parish Centre from 10.15am to 12Noon. Our guest speaker is Jim the Beekeeper who, apart from giving a very interesting talk about his Bees, will also be selling some of his delicious honey!
All ladies in the Parish are welcome, subs are only £1 per Meeting plus tea, coffee cake on offer in a very friendly environment. So come along and meet friends old and new………
Vicariate for Adult Formation
Thresholds of Hope Question: What do the Martyrs teach us about the life of faith?
Input will be given by Fr Paul Keane, Vice Rector at Oscott seminary, Birmingham on Sunday, 30th January 4pm–5pm
To join this Zoom meeting simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
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.
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.
Diocesan Vacancies
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.
Other positions currently available include:
Catholic Schools Executive Leader (CSEL), Our Lady of Grace Trust, Newham - applications close 11th February, required for September 2022.
Headteacher, Holy Cross Academy, Harlow, effective from September 2022, applications close 21st February, required for September 2022.
Further details of these vacancies and others are available from the diocesan website https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies/school-vacancies/
St Vincent's Southend Charity Dinner & Auction
Would anyone in the Parish be interested in gathering people from OLOL for our Black Tie event. We have tables available of 4 or 8. It is focused on bringing people together and businesses that may be like minded in what the SVP does.
Saturday 26th February at The Boatyard, 6.30 for 7pm with live band. Tickets for 3 course meal, plus welcome drink £80. Black Tie.
For tickets and more information please contact southendenquiry@svp.org.uk or ring 01702 592980.
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.
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.
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.
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