St Thomas More Alumni Annual Dinner

The multi-re-scheduled St Thomas More Alumni Dinner will finally be taking place on Saturday 8th October at 7.30pm, after a number of false starts following the relaxation of rules after the pandemic. Open to all former pupils and staff, the evening will take place at the school in Kenilworth Gardens. Tickets cost £25. Visit www.stmalumniuk.co.uk for full details.

Baptism Preparation Dates

The next Baptism Preparation Evenings will take place on:

6th December, 2022

7th February, 2023

18th April, 2023

6th June, 2023

8th August, 2023

3rd October, 2023

Always on a Tuesday evening 8 pm - 9:30 pm

If you would like any further information, please contact either Andy or Catherine Harris on 07742433589 or 07733327295 respectively.

Missio-Red Box Holders

I have received the Autumn Missio Magazines. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church in the usual place.

If you have a box which needs emptying please let me have it personally or leave it in the Parish Office for me to collect. Thank you Joan Caunce Secretary. 01268 757505.

40daysforlife

40daysforlife are holding a peaceful, prayerful witness outside Marie Stopes International an Abortion provider. We are there to offer services of help to women in crisis pregnancies.

Please come and pray on Wednesday 28th September, 11.30am at Southend Medical Centre, Marie stopes International abortion provider, 50-52 London Road, Southend SS1 1NX.

For more information contact Mary & Francis Connolly 07478765010

If you have been hurt by Abortion please contact www. rachelsvineyard.org.uk Pam: 0785-1331816

Bereavement Support Group

The Group meets on the third Tuesday of every month in the Parish Centre (Bernadette room) at 2pm. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 18th October.

The Group is open to people who have experienced loss and Bereavement and who feel they might find sharing their experience with others in a confidential and caring environment. We try to ensure that nobody is under any pressure to talk but participants are gently encouraged to express their feelings supported by other Group members and experienced Counsellors. If further information is required please contact the Parish Office or phone Cynthia on 01702 477384 with your name and contact number.

Children's Liturgy

Our Sunday Children's Liturgy is split into two groups. The first group is for children attending Reception class and Infants. The second group is designed for juniors.

We are still looking for volunteers to lighten everyone's load! if you are interested, why not come along to one of the sessions to see what happens? Sam Miller 07879676341

St Bernard's High School

St Bernard’s High School are offering an opportunity for Year 6 parents/carers to visit the school during a normal teaching day on the following dates between 9.30am and 11.00am:

Monday 3 October

Wednesday 5 October

Thursday 6 October

The visits will be done by appointment only so time slots can be booked via our main reception on 01702 343583.

Silent Weekend Retreat 'My Lord and my God' Friday 4th-Sunday 6th November

Led by Fr Martin Boland, Dean of Brentwood Cathedral. Venue: Sion Community, Brentwood. Our theme focuses on how closeness to Christ enables us to develop a deeper level of intimacy with Him. It enables us to recognise Jesus more readily in our lives and acknowledge Him both in private and in public. This silent weekend retreat offers us the opportunity to spend time with the Lord in quiet prayer and reflection. 40-HOURS of CONTINUOUS Adoration, guidance & ministry included. For more information or to book, visithttps://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ or email allegra.mutanda@gmail.com

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

The last week has been an historic one: the death of Queen Elizabeth and the Accession of a new King and also a new Prime Minster. The Gospel of this Sunday relates the parable of the worldly-wise steward; Jesus praises him because he had an eye to the future. It should remind us of our judgement; that, whoever we are—prince or pauper—we will be judged on the way we have lived our lives on this earth and the way we have used the gifts given to us. Everything we have on this earth: our material possessions, relationships, our health and life itself, are all to be used for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.

On Monday the Nation will mourn and give thanks to God for the gift of a great Monarch whose long reign was an example of selfless service. We have witnessed one of the great eras of our national history. As Christians, filled with the hope of the Resurrection, we look forward with optimism to the next epoch. Pray for King Charles III that, after the example of his mother, he will be a good example of Christian Faith, devotion and service. As we have seen the many tributes over these last days to the life of the late Queen, we recall her own Faith in Jesus Christ which informed and guided her seventy years on the Throne. Here you will find a lovely résumé of the relationship of Queen Elizabeth II with all the Popes she encountered during her reign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HefLq55XU4c

It was lovely to see so many parishioners turn-out for the Requiem Mass last Friday, which was announced at short notice, and so all the more encouraging because of the spontaneous response. Our new Member of Parliament and local Councillors were in attendance. Let us now pray for our country, the new Monarch, our Government, and our new Prime Minister. God save the King!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 18th September
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time—Home Mission Sunday

Liturgy:
Readings Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 4

5.30pm Mass Elizabeth Pallis, RIP (NL)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Samuel & Johanna Beech, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Renata Butler (RO’C)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 19
St Theodore of Canterbury, Bp
9am Mass Sarah Louise Clarke, RIP (SH)

Tuesday 20
St Andrew Kim Tae-Gon, Pr & Paul Chong Ha-sang, & Comps, Mm
9am Mass Christine Keenan, RIP (JS)

Wednesday 21
St Matthew, Ap, Evangelist
9am Mass James Fogarty, RIP (FM)
1.30pm Requiem Mass Marjorie Hook, RIP

Thursday 22
Feria
9am Mass Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)

Friday 23
St Pius of Pietrelcina, Pr (Padre Pio)
12 Noon Mass Intentions of the Young, Hall & Bush Families, RIP (LY)

Saturday 24
Our Lady of Walsingham
10am Mass Margaret Philomena Forde, RIP (FM)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 25
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Val Tisi, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Maureen Maguire (RO’C)
11.30am Mass Michael Rubbert, RIP (CO’B)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Canon Frederick Gahagan, Fr John Ryan, Mary Collins, Elizabeth Parsons, James Hale, John Watters, Anna Marie Ronan, John Fazio, Lilian John, Dora Loker, Margaret White, Ann Maureen Walker, Mark Wilson, Moira Costello, George Hobbs, Josh Overton, Winifred Lawson, Frederick Tewkesbury, Lilian Craven, Helen Bainbridge, James Fogarty, Charles Osborne, Marie Hall, Mary Byrne, José Costan, Joyce Mary Wright, James Perry, Henry Bennett, Ethel Bubel, Kathleen Young, Mary de Souza, Robert Swainson, Douglas Hair, Fred Cornwell, Catherine Major, Alfred Gardener, Jane Catherine Lacey, John Houlihan & Andres Louis Hinbest.

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

CANON PATRICK SAMMON RIP Parish Priest of Wanstead and Provost of the Cathedral Chapter.

MARJORIE HOOK RIP who died on Thursday, 18th August. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 21st September at 1.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

CATHERINE LANE RIP who died recently.

Requiescant in pace

Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday

Prelude: God's time is the best-J.S. Bach

Postlude: Religioso-Kenneth Gange

Response to Psalm

Dates for your Diary

Monday 19th September—Journey in Faith-RCIA commences.

Thursday 24th—Saturday 26th November
Annual Solemn Days of Eucharistic Exposition

First Holy Communion 2023

Please be reminded that if you have submitted a form for your child to make their First Holy Communion this academic year, there will be a Parent's Meeting on Wednesday 5th October at 8pm in the Parish Centre.

Certificate of Catholic Practice for Schools

If you are applying for a place in a Catholic School for your child you may wish to include a Certificate of Catholic Practice. As our local Schools are currently undersubscribed with Catholics, the need for this Certificate is not as pressing as it has been previously. However, if you wish your application to be endorsed then these Certificates may be obtained from the Parish Office either on a Thursday or Friday morning between 10am—1pm.

Relics of St Bernadette

The relics of St Bernadette will come to our diocese in October. This is a wonderful opportunity to pray with the woman to whom Our Lady chose to appear in Lourdes. Here are the details:

BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL
Sunday 16 October
11 am: Relics of St Bernadette arrive.
11.30 am: Holy Mass, celebrated by Bp Alan.
6.30 pm: Holy Mass, led by the Youth Service.
9 pm: Cathedral closes.
Monday 17 October
6 am: Cathedral opens.
9.15 am: Holy Mass
12 noon: Relics of St Bernadette leave.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, WANSTEAD
Tuesday 18 October
10 am: Relics of St Bernadette arrive.
11 am - 3 pm: Time reserved for pre-booked school groups.
7.30 pm: Holy Mass, celebrated by Bishop Alan
12 midnight: Church closes.
Wednesday 19 October
6 am: Church opens.
9 am: Relics of St Bernadette depart.

You are welcome to come to pray before the relics outside reserved times for schools. If possible, book your visit through the national website: stbernadette.org.uk Whether you book or not, you may have to queue

Flower & Arts Festival 2022

A huge thank you to all who took part this year. As always it was a very peaceful and prayerful experience on Saturday, with many people commenting on how much they appreciated and enjoyed it.

Special thanks to Jan Lewis who kept the kitchen going all day and to all those wonderful cooks who baked so many lovely cakes for the refreshments. Your efforts were really appreciated, in fact all the cakes disappeared by the middle of the afternoon, even though we thought that we were going to have far too many!

However, if the Festival is to continue in its present form, we will need more people to offer their services both on the day and for the clearing up afterwards. At the moment the work falls to far too few people.

OLL Ladies Group

We meet on Thursday 22nd September in the Parish Centre at 10am. All ladies in the Parish are welcome for what promises to be an interesting morning.

Many of you may have stopped and admired those amazing knitted arrangements on the top of the red pillar boxes around Town? Well, we are delighted to announce we have managed to book Mrs. Lin Catling the creator of all those lovely and original designs, so we hope to give her a very warm welcome.

Our Meetings always include refreshments, a fun Raffle plus £1.00 subs. New members are always welcome.

NB: Excursion to Tiptree : if you have booked a place this is your final chance to pay the £20 coach fare please either by cash or cheque made payable to Jan Lewis.