Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp burns for Michael Hart, RIP and the deceased members of the Angus Family.
Pastoral Letter Marking the 10th World Meeting of Families
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This Sunday marks the end of the Year of the Family which Pope Francis inaugurated in 2021. The conclusion of this Year is marked by a gathering in Rome, the 10th World Meeting of Families, and as part of his Sunday Angelus Pope Francis will bless all families throughout the world.
One of the greatest insights of the Second Vatican Council is that everyone is called to holiness – to become a saint. In this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 9.51-62) Jesus gives a clear if challenging message about the urgency of following Him - whoever we are and whatever the cost.
But holiness does not simply equate with one particular way of life. Pope-emeritus Benedict once said that there are as many paths to heaven as there are people. Though it is always Jesus Christ, ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’ who leads the way and opens the door, our journey is unique to each one of us. If we try and follow another person’s path, we will soon lose our way and grow disheartened. Instead, we must allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit on the path that is meant for us.
Depending on our own particular vocation, our work or our family life should not be an obstacle to holiness but rather the very means by which God wants to make me holy.
We all find ourselves in very challenging times - including war in Europe and increasing economic uncertainty. Pope Francis in his Letter to Married Couples [2021] recalled Jesus’ miracle of the calming of the sea and said, “Marriage, as a vocation, calls you to steer a tiny boat – wave-tossed yet sturdy, thanks to the reality of the sacrament – across a sometimes stormy sea. Let us never forget, though, that by virtue of the Sacrament of Matrimony, Jesus is present in that boat; he is concerned for you and he remains at your side amid the tempest”.
Whenever we find ourselves in stormy waters we have the wonderful guarantee that Christ, Who alone fills us with joy, is always with us.
With all good wishes and prayers,
In Christ and Mary,
+Alan Williams, sm
Bishop of Brentwood
Consecration to Jesus through Mary
Angelus and Family Blessing 26th June
On Sunday 26th June, Pope Francis will close the X World Meeting of Families with his Sunday Angelus. As a parish, we will join the Holy Father in prayer for Marriage and Family Life with the Angelus and a blessing of families at the end of the 11.30am Mass.
Annual Mass for Marriage and Family Life
Bishop Alan will celebrate the annual Mass for Marriage and Family Life at the Cathedral in July. The parish have received several invitations, intended for couples who have celebrated significant wedding anniversaries this year or have been recently married. If you would like to attend, please contact the parish office for more details.
This Mass will be offered for the intentions of families around the Diocese. If you have a particular intention for this day, please complete the form on the website : https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/marriage-family-life/x-world-meeting-of-families/
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Improvisation on the chant 'Omnes gentes plaudite manibus'
Postlude: Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Strawberry Tea - Saturday, 9th July
Your parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Conference is delighted to announce the post-pandemic return of its annual 'Strawberry Tea' to which senior citizens of the parish are most warmly invited! Our Strawberry Tea is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday, 9th July, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm! If you would like to join us on this happy parish occasion please call Janeth Markham on 07786 901488. You will be most welcome!
Missio - Red Box Holders
I have received the Summer Issues of the Missio Magazine. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church in the usual place on the ledge. If anyone has a box ready for emptying, please let me have it personally or leave it in the office for me. The Nat. West bank in Leigh is closing at the end of August so I would like to get as many boxes as I can dealt with by then.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretar,. 01268 757505.
Flower Festival - 10th September 2022
It is time to be creative again! Thank you to all those who have already said that they want to take part.
The theme of the Flower and Arts & Crafts festival this year is Christian Feasts and Festivals. Like last year we would like people to create a flower arrangement, or tapestries, paintings, photographs (or any type of craft work) on the theme chosen.
The main topics will be: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Holy Family, Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christ the King, Pentecost, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, All Saints & All Souls Day, St Peter & Paul.
There are of course other special feast days you can choose. In Anglican churches Harvest festivals are prominent whilst there are several special feast days for Our Lady in the Catholic church.
Many people who visit during the festival have no religious background and we want to present a powerful and prayerful message about Christianity.
Please let me know which theme or themes you will be doing and in what medium. (mcronan@btinternet.com)
Thanks, Jo Ronan
Pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory - Sunday, 17th July
Pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory for the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sunday 17th July. Mass at 11.30am.
Talk on Carmelite Spirituality 2.30pm.
Procession and Benediction 3.30pm.
Followed by Scapular Enrolment.
Please bring packed lunch Coach leaves Our Lady of Lourdes Church 9am.
To book phone Margaret 07805 432159
Bereavement Support Group
The Bereavement Support Group meets every third Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 19th July.
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.
Choral Director Vacancy - The Diocese of Brentwood Schools Singing Programme
We are seeking to appoint a Choral Director, this is a new and exciting post which is part of the National School Singing Programme.
Further information about the role can be found on the website
Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 4 July 2022.
BCCS Relay100
Last year, volunteers took part in the Diocesan relay from parish to parish for Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (BCCS) and we have done it again!
The Bishop launched the whole event on May 9th, and I volunteered to do the Lady of Lourdes leg again to St.Helen’s Westcliff which I completed on 22nd June. Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners raised over £100 last time for our leg last year but the most important thing is that BCCS covers all the parishes and shows the importance of the work they do for children.
It is not too late to sponsor me, by either using my sponsorship form - available at teas & coffees after 9.30am and 11.30am Sunday masses from 21st May or by going online to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/relay100 If appropriate, please use gift aid for your donation.Please mention my name and Relay 100 in the sponsorship note as a reference so that BCCS can trace your donation online.
You can also donate by BACS at Account: Brentwood Catholic Childrens Society; Account Number: 31094130; Sort Code: 40 13 22. Again please quote BCCS Relay100 and my name D Binding. Thank you so much for your support. Darrell Binding
St Bernard's High School - Open Evening
Open Evening for Year 5 Students
(Prospective Year 7 in 2023)
Wednesday 6 July 2022
6.00pm to 9.00pm
We would be delighted to welcome Year 5 girls and their parents/carers to our Open Evening. This is an evening for girls wishing to join Year 7 in September 2023.
We are also offering an opportunity for parents/carers to visit the school during a normal teaching day, dates will be published on our website later this academic year.
St Bernard’s High School offers selective places based on success in the CSSE selective tests and non-selective places according to faith-based admissions criteria. (Please see school website for full details.)
‘The school is welcoming and inclusive. In 2015, many pupils made significantly better progress than other pupils nationally’ Ofsted 2016
'The gifted, able and talented programme provides challenging enrichment across all year groups and is acknowledged by the NACE Award' Ofsted 2016
‘St Bernard’s High School is an outstanding Catholic school… Attainment and progress of students is outstanding’ (Diocesan Inspection, 2017)
www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk, Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7JS Tel: 01702 343583
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
Walsingham House Abbotswick
We are looking for young people to join our team next year, you’d live and work as part of the community at Walsingham House at Abbotswick, helping to run retreats for young people aged 10 -18. Our retreats are a mix of prayer, games, discussions and workshops. If you have an interest in working with young people in the future, are enthusiastic, hardworking, involved with your faith and enjoy working with others then please get in touch.
We will provide you with leadership development which will give you skills that will help in your future. We aim to accompany you in your faith journey and enabling you to share that with others. In addition to this your accommodation and meals are included along with a weekly stipend. Through team training, holidays and a week in Lourdes we aim to build a wonderful community.
If you would like to visit or find out more do get in touch, you are always welcome, just email Joe at josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org
We look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will consider taking a gap year with us.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi
Dear friends in Christ
Of all the feasts that are dear to the hearts of faithful Catholics, it is that which we celebrate this weekend—Corpus Christi—the Body and Blood of Christ.
Dear friends in Christ
Of all the feasts that are dear to the hearts of faithful Catholics, it is that which we celebrate this weekend—Corpus Christi—the Body and Blood of Christ. What are we celebrating? The truth that God became man, lived amongst us, and before his Passion left us His abiding presence in the Blessed Eucharist. As each successive generation of the Church grew in faith and appreciation of this Sacrament, it became more and more evident that the Eucharist is THE Mystery of Faith; that it is given for our strength and nourishment here on earth as we journey towards Heaven. It is celebrated each Sunday—the Lord’s Day—when as the Family of the Church we gather and make present again the Eucharistic Sacrifice. It is an abiding Presence, which means that it remains even after the Mass is concluded. Christians have understood that this is so that those who are deprived of the Eucharist, for whatever reason, can receive Jesus outside of Mass: the sick and those in prison, for example. From the Middle ages onwards—a period of enormous faith and growth of theology in the Church—it became apparent that reserving the Blessed Sacrament in our churches was of supreme benefit. There we can go to pray face-to-face with Our Lord in the Tabernacle. We encounter Him there in his Real Presence. In periods of Eucharistic exposition we can adore Him and receive the help and inspiration we need to live our Christian lives more faithfully. Let us make this Feast— The Feast of Feasts—an occasion once again to express our Eucharistic piety in all the appropriate ways. The Procession which goes onto the street on Sunday afternoon is a small public act of our desire to make Jesus known; to bring Him outside of the walls of our church, and show others how much we love our God, made flesh in this way. Let us not disappoint him!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi
Sunday 19th June
The Body & Blood of Christ—Corpus Christi
MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of the Holy Eucharist
5.30pm Mass Janet Elizabeth Bull, RIP (Anniv) (AB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Christine Keenan, RIP and her family (KF)
11.30am Mass Ray & Teresa Parascandolo, RIP (Anniv) (PP)
4pm Procession of the Blessed Sacrament (No Vespers today)
Monday 20
St Alban, First Martyr of England
9am Mass Tom O’Callaghan, RIP (K&LW)
Tuesday 21
St Aloysius Gonzaga, Rel
9am Mass Joseph & Stella Gallo, RIP (RGG)
Wednesday 22
SS JOHN FISHER, Bp & THOMAS MORE, Mm
9am Mass Tom & Benita Skellon, RIP (RM)
Thursday 23
NATIVITY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
9am Mass Betty Gray, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
Friday 24
THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS
12Noon Mass William Armstrong, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
7-8pm HOLY HOUR & BENEDICTION
Saturday 25
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
10am Mass Intentions of Pamela Playle (L&KW)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 26
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Mass Guy Bragard, RIP (RB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Julie Emerson, RIP (GM)
9.30am Mass Dominic DeSouza, RIP (CB)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Vincent Dutton, Fr Edward Thomas, Audrey Conlon, Angelo Camilleri, John Callaghan, Brenda Dorey, Alfre Mansell, Kathleen Michael, Micheal Woolcott, Bridget Parsons, Eileen Ketterer, Angela Balcombe, David Gurney, Mary Wright, Doreen Faux, Patricia Larman, Francis Woodward, Sidney Baldwin, Anthony Gwatkin, Francesco Antonio Ciccone, Peter Liddell, Rosemary Conway, Frank Cope, Marie Patricia Kidd & Margaret Smith.
We Pray for our Sick
David Lesley, 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, 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.