Gift Aid Envelopes
Please note that boxes of Gift Aid envelopes for the forthcoming tax year 2022/2023 are now available at the back of the Church. Would you advise the Parish office if you do not find your numbered box.
Alternative methods of making donations can be made online via the Parish website or by using the contactless payment facility. You may also wish to open a Standing Order and forms are also available.
Thank you for your continued support.
Adult Confirmation
If there are any adults within the Parish who, for whatever reason, have not been Confirmed and would wish to be when the Bishop visits us on Wednesday, 25th May, then please give you name to Fr Kevin.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham - 28th May 2022
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’.
We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.
If you would like to come please contact the Parish office. Depending on the numbers going we may be able to arrange a coach to be shared by local Parishes.
Your Parish SVP
The SVP ( St Vincent de Paul Society) is a Christ-centred organisation with a mission to seek and find those who are in need, to help them in the spirit of justice and to tackle the causes and effects of poverty where it can. Members visit and befriend people living in loneliness and isolation, be they elderly, homeless, hospitalised or in care-homes, people with mental health issues or offenders. Our funds have become depleted through coming to the aid of families and individuals during the course of the pandemic but you can assist our endeavours by donating to your parish SVP group via our parish website - you can also now 'Gift Aid' any such donation at no additional cost to yourself! Our parish SVP group meets regularly in the Parish Centre for an hour or so on a Wednesday evening - we also seek new, committed members! Should you be thinking of joining us or wish to know more, please contact Francis O'Brien on mob: 07845874331 or email: obrjam@btinternet.com . Thank you for any help you can give!
Bereavement Support Group
We are pleased to announce that the Bereavement Support Group will start again on Tuesday, 22nd March and will meet every third Tuesday of each month.
The Group is open to all men and women who have experienced loss and bereavement and are welcome to join us in a warm, friendly and confidential environment. We will meet in the Bernadette room, Parish Centre, and sessions begin promptly at 2pm. Refreshments are available.
If further information is required please contact: Cynthia on 01702 477384.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the February draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 41 Mr S Ravinet
2nd Prize £100 184 Mrs A Peoples
3rd Prize £75 78 Mr Martin O’Brien
4th Prize £25 24 Miss A Emmerson
Please remember: if you move house, please notify me of your change of address. Yet again, we have had two families move away without notifying us of their new address and we have been unable to process their winning cheques.
We are still looking for new members. The subscription is £5 per month, either by cash, cheque or direct debit. If you would like to join, please fill in a form which can be found at the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Rosaries for Vietnam
A parish in Vietnam has asked for rosaries! If you have any additional rosaries (full and intact!) at home in cupboards or drawers and would like to respond to this request, please place the rosaries in the box we have placed at the back of the Church for this purpose. We are collecting up until Sunday, 3rd April, after which we shall parcel up the donations and send them to our fellow Catholics in Vietnam! Thank you if you are able to help!
Brentwood Catholic Children's Society
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society has several charity Gold Bond places for the TCS London Marathon taking place on the iconic London course on Sunday 2rd October 2022. If you would like to be considered for one of our places and think you could raise a fundraising total of £1800 before Gift Aid, please email Julie jabbott@bccs.org.uk All information is available on our website where our application form can be downloaded: https://www.bccs.org.uk/fundraising-and-events/all-events/tcs-london-marathon
Please note that the closing date for applications is Friday 8th April.
Save the Date! Saturday 3rd September 2022.
The March for life (M4L) will take place on Saturday 3rd September 2022. The theme this year is ’10 Million Too Many’ since to date around 10 million children have been legally aborted in the UK.
Vicariate for Adult Formation
THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What does it mean to talk about Christ as our Redeemer? Input will be given by Mgr John Armitage on Sunday 20th March 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. via Zoom. To join this Zoom meeting simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go towww.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
Walsingham House Team 2022/23
Be part of the Walsingham House Team 2022/23: If you will be 18+ in September, and are looking for an exciting gap year opportunity, deepening teamworking and practical skills in a context of youth leadership, and developing your faith, then a year on the Walsingham House Team could be perfect for you. For more information please contact Joseph Beattie, by emailing josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org or calling 01277 373959. There is an open afternoon from 2-4pm on Sunday 10th April; for more information and to register, go to www.bcys.net/events/whopenday/
Is God calling you to be a Priest?
The next Enquirers’ Evening for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5th April at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Mgr Kevin Hale.
For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Live Simply Recycling Sack
Last chance to de clutter and raise funds for CAFOD! Our recycling sack is nearly full and we will be sending it off in a couple of weeks.
Many thanks to all who have donated their old phones, watches, cameras, game consoles and used stamps.
If you have any of these items which you no longer use, please place them in the pink sack at the back of the Church and CAFOD will earn much needed money. Live Simply Group
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.
Staff Vacancy - St Thomas More
St Thomas More High school are looking to recruit a part time receptionist, Wednesday – Friday, 8am – 4pm. If this is of interest, please contact recruitment@st-thomasnore.southend.sch.uk or telephone the school on 01702 344933.
Pilgrimage to Knock
Fully escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd May 2022. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Lunches on days out. Wheelchair accessible rooms. Single room supplement £100. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613.
Universe Catholic Weekly
The Universe Catholic Weekly is thrilled to announce that we have launched our new online newspaper with the full support of our first subscriber none other than His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
Order your Digital 4 weeks FREE trial supply by calling Michelle on 0743 661 7650 or email: michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk
Second Sunday in Lent
Dear friends in Christ
We make the pilgrimage through Lent each year confident that we shall arrive at the glory of the Resurrection.
Dear friends in Christ
We make the pilgrimage through Lent each year confident that we shall arrive at the glory of the Resurrection. This is the reason for proclaiming the Gospel of the Transfiguration on this Second Sunday. The Apostles were weighed-down by events; Jesus wishes to reassure them, by this moment of glory, of the final end of the Passion—His glorification. We are living through dark days at the moment in Europe. But through all of the horrors of war and bloodshed we have hope. The hope of the Christian could be expressed as an acronym: Having Only Positive Expectations! When we strive to live by hope, we see everything in supernatural terms; we see the world and life itself, as God sees it. This does not mean that we are naive or oblivious to the world around us, rather, that we see the reality around us through faith-tinted glasses.
During this coming week we will celebrate the two Saints who have been foundational for our Parish: Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph. The original church (the previous Parish Hall) had this joint-dedication. When the present church building was constructed in 1925 it was dedicated to: Our of Lourdes & Saintt Joseph. Saints Patrick and Joseph remain very much our intercessors since they show us models of hope and courage: St Patrick a model of faith and a great evangeliser and St Joseph, the man of faith who had custody of the two greatest treasures our world has known: Jesus and Mary. We seek their intercession at this time, that they may instil hope and trust within us. Hopefully the promised shrine to St Joseph will be completed in the near future, a gesture to mark the Year of St Joseph that has just passed.
Please pray for all those for whom Lent is the intensive preparation for the Sacraments: those who will be Received into the Church at Easter; our young adults for Confirmation; the First Communicants and engaged couples.
May God bless you all and keep us safe under His protection!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Lent
Second Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Anita Robinson, RIP (LM)
9.30am Mass Special Intentions of The Nye Family (SM)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 14
Feria
9am Mass Intention of Neville Houchin, RIP (AC)
Tuesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Intention of Robert Condon, RIP (T&RO’C)
Wednesday 16
Feria
9am Mass Intention of John, Pat & Peter Moon, RIP (SM)
10.30am Requiem Mass Mary Rigden, RIP
Thursday 17
SAINT PATRICK, Bp, Patron of Ireland
9am Mass Intention of Rev John O’Neill, RIP (FM)
Friday 18
Feria
12Noon Mass Eric Newman, RIP (VA)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 19 March
ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
10am Mass Intentions of Maura Irwin
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 20 March
Third Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Mass Guy Bragard, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Antony Mills, RIP (SM)
9.30am Mass Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (Anniv) (L&KW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction