Relics Tour
As a reminder, the relics will be visiting Brentwood Cathedral on 16/17 October and Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead on 18 October. Those wishing to attend should register through the tour website in order to manage numbers safely: (https://stbernadette.org.uk) Registration - St Bernadette
Sharing the Church's Story Conference
This Conference aims to bring people together for an experience of profound personal renewal and to be equipped for mission. With world-class speakers, including Bishop Robert Barron, panels, and moments of powerful prayer and worship, we are excited for what God will do through this event. The Conference takes place on Saturday 17th September in London, to find out more about this important conference and to book go to www.sharingthechurchsstory.com
Bereavement Support Group
The Bereavement Support Group will not be meeting during August, but If further information is required please contact Cynthia on 01702 477384 or the Parish Office.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 20th September at 2pm.
Parish Administrator Vacancy at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen, Westcliff.
The successful applicant will ideally be an administrator with substantial experience in office organisation. They must have excellent communication and Microsoft office skills, including Word and Excel and financial experience.
Hours: 16 hours per week.
Apply by sending a CV and covering letter (no longer than A4) to westcliff@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Closing date for applications is 30th August 2022 and Interviews to take place 13th September 2022.
Children's Book Workshop and Stage Event
A dance and drama workshop next Tuesday, 23rd August 1-2pm, based on one of a Parishioners children’s books ‘The Butterfly Who Wouldn’t Open Her Wings’
Full costumes provided for children participating. Fully qualified dance teacher and children will take part in the production also. This will be a magical and learning experience for children teaching the importance of silence, stillness and kindness
Come and experience one of my most beloved and magical books from page to stage with light up Butterflies and a sad Mister Caterpillar. With a full classical music score.
Booking is essential via the Leigh Community Centre Limited spaces available and parental supervision is required. Ages 4-9 years.
Children's Liturgy
We are hoping to start children's liturgy at 9.30am Mass every Sunday in September. It will be open for children aged 3-11, Pre-School to Year 6.
To lighten the load of all involved, we would be grateful for more volunteers from the parish family. We are hoping to offer liturgy on a rota basis, perhaps volunteering once a month. Help and support will always be given and the plan is to split children into an infant and junior group, run by two adults for each session. If you feel you have an hour once a month to offer, please contact Sam Miller - 0787 967 6341.
Retrouvaille: A Programme for Couples Struggling in their Marriages
Help Your Marriage – Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille is a programme to support couples who have difficulties in their marriage. It brings a positive focus, new hope and helps nourish and grow your marriage. Tens of thousands of couples headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. The programme helps spouses uncover or re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. It helps them through difficult times whether they are disillusioned or in deep misery. There is no group therapy or group work. For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the next programme commencing with a Virtual weekend on 13 - 16 October 2022 or a Face to Face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 24 - 26 February 2023, call or text 07887 296983 or 07973 380443 or email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com - or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Transylvania: Religion, History & Culture
Fr Eduard Fartan from Holy Family in Benfleet is organising a Pilgrimage to Transylvania from 18th - 25th October 2022. The tour will include many beautiful churches and monasteries often set amongst the stunning Romanian countryside and focus on the melting pot of ancient cultures that have been present in the area. The cost will start be £850 for one place in a double room, with an additional charge of £165 for single occupancy. Flights, half board at 3 and 4 star hotels, travel in Romania and tour guides are included in the price. For more information or to register your interest please send an email to benfleet@dioceseofbrentwood.org
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate a major festival in the Church: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate a major festival in the Church: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven. From the fifth century Christians have held that Mary was taken body and soul into Heaven. In other words, God gave the highest of all privileges to His Mother at the end of her life, and did so simply because she was His Mother and He loved her so much. The Assumption of Mary was eventually made a dogma of Catholic Faith in 1950. In the Preface of the Mass we pray: Today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into Heaven as the beginning and the image of your Church coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people. The Assumption of Mary is a wonderful precursor of our own resurrection. It is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus, who will refashion our frail bodies after the pattern of His own glorious body, as St Paul says. This Solemnity reminds us, and renews the joy of, Easter and the Ascension. It is also a great sign and source of hope for eternal life and our future glory with God and His Mother. Today our prayers and petitions to her are of loving trust. May she who has gone before us into Heaven, continue to call us heavenwards to that glory and reward prepared for the Children of God!
God bless you all and keep you under the protection of His glorious Mother.
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday 14th August
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Liturgy:
Readings of the Solemnity
The Nicene Creed
Preface of The Assumption
5.30pm Mass Norbert Widera, RIP (Anniv) (C&SF)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Mary Leftley, RIP (L&KW)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Charles de Souza-99th birthday (MF)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 15
Feria
9am Mass Frank Mann, RIP (Anniv) (RM)
Tuesday 16
St Stephen of Hungary
9am Mass Margaret McFarlane, RIP (Anniv) (MW)
Wednesday 17
Feria
9am Mass Bernardette Perry, RIP (Anniv) (KH)
Thursday 18
Feria
9am Mass Raymond de Chantilly, RIP (Anniv) (LC)
Friday 19
St John Eudes, Pr
12Noon Mass Fr Andrew Hurley & Canon Vincent Hurley, RIP (Annivs) (JH)
Saturday 20
St Bernard, Ab, D
10am Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (KC&BY)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 21
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Mass Michael Rubbert, RIP (K&LW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Una Young, RIP (Anniv) (LR)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Rita O’Callaghan (JA)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Stephen Keane, Canon Peter Prendergast, Canon Vincent Hurley, Fr Andrew Hurley, Fr John Cairns, Magdalaine Rubick, Philippa Soggee, Jean Kerr, Philomena Stone, Arthur John Watkins, Frank Mann, Hugh Palmer, Helen Louise Enright, Dr Anna (Reggie) Kemmerling, Carmen Georges, Bridie Corrigan, Francis Bartley, Mary Attersley, Bernadette Perry, Andre Lince, Raymond Vaulbert de Chantilly, Annie Gallacher, John Walmsley, Margaret McFarlane, John Power, Edwin Martin, Catherine McGowan, Noreen Selet, Edward Chavner, Charles Roots, Mary Theresa Johnson, Denise Gianelli & Rocco Forgione.
We Pray for our Sick
David Lesley, 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, Johnny 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, German Morfin, 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
ANNE SHIRLEY OWEN, RIP who died on Wednesday, 27th July. Her body will be received into the church on Thursday, 25th August at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 26th August at 11am followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
FR RICHARD ROWE, RIP who died peacefully in hospital on Friday, 5th August. His funeral will take place on Thursday, 25th August at 11.30 am at the Anglican church of St John the Baptist with Our Lady and St Laurence, Thaxted where Fr Richard was Parish Priest for some years before becoming a Catholic. His body will be received into the church at 4.30 pm on Wednesday 24th August.
Requiescant in pace
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Couplet, fugue sur la trompette - François Couperin (1668-1733)
Postlude: Magnificat quarti toni - Girolamo Cavazzoni (c.1525-1577)
Response to Psalm
First Holy Communion
If your child is in Year 3 or above and you would like them to make their First Holy Communion in May 2023, please submit the online form which can be found on the parish website under Sacraments - Communion.
Please note that the deadline for submitting forms is Monday, 5th September 2022.
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 10th September—Flower Festival
Monday 19th September—Journey in Faith-RCIA commences.
Children's Liturgy
We are hoping to start children's liturgy at 9.30am Mass every Sunday in September. It will be open for children aged 3-11, Pre-School to Year 6.
To lighten the load of all involved, we would be grateful for more volunteers from the parish family. We are hoping to offer liturgy on a rota basis, perhaps volunteering once a month. Help and support will always be given and the plan is to split children into an infant and junior group, run by two adults for each session. If you feel you have an hour once a month to offer, please contact Sam Miller - 0787 967 6341.
Parish Administrator Vacancy at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen, Westcliff.
The successful applicant will ideally be an administrator with substantial experience in office organisation. They must have excellent communication and Microsoft office skills, including Word and Excel and financial experience.
Hours: 16 hours per week.
Apply by sending a CV and covering letter (no longer than A4) to westcliff@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Closing date for applications is 30th August 2022 and Interviews to take place 13th September 2022.