Bereavement Support Group
We are pleased to announce that the Bereavement Support Group has re- started and meets every third Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 17th May.
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.
Monthly Evenings for Vocation Enquirers
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 7th June at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Fr Gary Dench.
For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
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. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey and Fr. National Museum. Single supp £100.
Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is fully protected by ATOL T7613.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the oldest in Christian art; and the liturgy of this Sunday centres around this image.
Dear friends in Christ
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the oldest in Christian art; and the liturgy of this Sunday centres around this image. The sacrifice of the Shepherd has brought us back to life: By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls, as St Peter wrote. The early Church had a special affection for the image of the Good Shepherd and have left us countless testimonies of it in the Catacombs as well as on many ancient buildings, murals, reliefs, mosaics and sculptures. The statue of Jesus in our Memorial Garden is a copy of one such image, dating from the second century, and found in the Roman Catacombs. The Readings of the Mass this Sunday have us reflect on the tender mercy of our Saviour so that we can reflect on the rights He acquired over each one of us by His death. It is also a Day for us to remember in prayer, the shepherds that God has given us, to guide us and keep us in His name.
This Fourth Sunday of Easter is the Day of Prayer for Vocations; the Day when we pray especially for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. Let us ask God with a renewed fervour for the gift of Priests and Religious who will renew the Church and the world in His image. It is a fact, that nowadays the majority of vocations are no longer young people from our Catholic families, at least in these Islands. Sound Marriages and family life will always produce abundant fruit for the good of the Church. There are indeed many realities that distract young people from the pursuit of the religious life, especially in the West today, but this should not deflect us from encouraging young people to follow Christ in the exclusive service of His Church. I am daily filled with gratitude for the vocation I received from God and which was nurtured through my family and the example of the priests I knew whilst growing-up. We can pray that we do not completely lose this vision of the part our Marriages and families play in this noble work.
Last Sunday during his Regina Cæli message in Rome, Pope Francis reminded pilgrims that today is the beginning of the month dedicated to the Mother of God. I would like to invite all the faithful and communities to pray the Rosary for peace every day in May. My thought goes to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, “Mary’s city,” barbarically bombed and destroyed. Let us take-up the weapon of prayer—especially of the Holy Rosary—and pray in our homes and families for peace: in the world, in the Church and in our hearts.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 8 May
Fourth Sunday of Easter—Day of Prayer for Vocations
MONTH OF OUR BLESSED LADY
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Easter 3
5.30pm Mass Tony & Eileen Byczynski, RIP (JR)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Intentions of Irena Solecki (60th birthday) (IS)
11.30am Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (AS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 9
Feria
9am Mass Kathleen Farrell, RIP (Anniv) (MR)
Tuesday 10
St John De Avila, Pr, D
9am Mass Intentions of Sister Mary Juliana (RM)
Wednesday 11
Blessed John Rochester, Pr, M
9am Mass John Maguire, RIP (MM)
Thursday 12
St John Houghton Pr, M
9am Mass Jim McEvoy, RIP (Anniv) (FM)
5pm Body in Church Peggy (Lilian) Larman, RIP
Friday 13
St Erconwald, Bp
10.15am Requiem Mass Peggy (Lilian) Larman, RIP
Saturday 14
St Matthias, Ap
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 15
Fifth Sunday of Easter
5.30pm Mass Toni Clary, RIP & Monica Turner, RIP (JR)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Emily Elizabeth March, RIP (FM)
9.30am Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (OLL)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Brian Grady, Canon John Duckett, Fr Augustine Davidson, Mgr Canon John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes, Fred Parsons, Arthur Chadwick, Anthony Camelo, Patrick Shanahan, Peggy Choppin, Mary Donovan, Michael McDermott, Cestan Szymczak, Margaret Park, May Downey, Mary Jones, Wally Hurst, Philip Wilson, Vera Sarah Fogarty, Frederick Leslie Freeman, James McEvoy, Charlotte Anderson, Robert King, Patrick O’Sullivan, Joyce Wilkinson, Iris Amner, John Lyons, Mrs Constance Newton, Dorothy Kyrke-Smith, Margaret Philp, Joseph Edwards, John Smith, Eileen Rosina Hood, Mrs Winifred Craig, Francis Thomas, Roma Morgan, John Rivens & Arthur Mills.
We Pray for our Sick
David Lesley, Gerry Clarke, Tony Tisi, Ann Owen, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 & baby Forest Gallagher.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
PEGGY (Lilian) LARMAN, RIP who died on 12th April. Her body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 12th May at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 13th May at 10.15am, followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
MALCOLM CHESHIRE, RIP who died on Monday, 7th March. His Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 23rd May at 1.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
CHRISTINE KEENAN, RIP who died suddenly on Friday, 22nd April.
DOMINIC DE SOUZA, RIP who died on Wednesday, 27th April.
VALERIE TISI, RIP who died on Friday, 29th April. Her body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 26th May at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 27th May at 10.30am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Saturdays 14th & 21st May—First Holy Communion Masses
Wednesday 25th May—Visitation of the Bishop & Confirmation
Sunday 19th June—Corpus Christi Procession
Saturday 10th September—Flower Festival
Good Shepherd Sunday
This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday when we are invited by the Church to pray in a particular way for a vocation to the priesthood. Please pray for Vocations and for those who are training for the priesthood.
OLL Ladies Group
We next meet on Thursday 12th May in the Parish Centre from 10.15 am. All ladies in the Parish welcome.
This week we have a repeat of a favourite session “Show and tell'“, so if you have that odd antique lurking in the attic, a once loved book, photo, a memory to share , the list is endless……… don’t be shy……come along and tell us all about it. Nothing to share.? No problem, just come along and enjoy a good social morning and meet friends old and new.
Subs only £1.00 which includes tea, coffee and cake, plus an optional Rafflle for an additional £1.00 donation.
Serving the Homeless
The Committee are currently organising an Afternoon Tea to be held on Wednesday 11th May in the Park View Suite in Chalkwell Park, 2.15 pm for 2.30 pm. Tickets cost £15 and can be purchased from Nina on 07528 502543 or Linda on 07769 708231.
Bereavement Support Group
We are pleased to announce that the Bereavement Support Group has re- started and meets every third Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 17th May.
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.
Monthly Evenings for Vocation Enquirers
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 7th June at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Fr Gary Dench.
For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
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. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey and Fr. National Museum. Single supp £100.
Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is fully protected by ATOL T7613.
Third Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
On each occasion that the Apostles encounter Jesus after the Resurrection, they are confronted with His physicality.
Dear friends in Christ
On each occasion that the Apostles encounter Jesus after the Resurrection, they are confronted with His physicality. He is truly alive and in his human body—but because it is a glorified body, they have difficulty in recognising Him. In order to convince them that it is truly Himself, He allows them to touch his wounds, and He eats with them. Because of this, the Apostles are convinced that their faith in the Risen Christ is not the result of mere wishful thinking, or enthusiasm or imagination, but of facts which they themselves are able to confirm repeatedly. Jesus in His appearances, adapts with a marvellous consideration, to their state of mind and the varied situations of those to whom He reveals Himself. He does not treat them all the same but by different ways He leads them to certainty about His Resurrection and about the fact that He is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Our Lord wants to give us every possible guarantee, to that throughout the ages, our faith can rest on solid foundations.
This Sunday we begin the Month of May, Mary’s own month. As ever, let us resolve from the start, to offer each day to her as a special sign of our love and affection. We are children of Mary—especially so in our Parish—let us, like children, give the simplest of tokens of this devotion: honouring her images and statues; praying the Rosary and her Litany each day well; speaking to her in loving conversation and telling others about the important role she has in the life of the Church and in our personal lives. Whoever honours the Mother will be loved very much by the Son!
You will see that the shrine of St Joseph has been installed—but not completed—as it still has to be decorated; thanks to those benefactors who made the work possible in his honour.
May God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale