Dates for your Diary

Monday 14th November—Journey in Faith-RCIA continues.

Thursday 17th November 7pm
Annual Parish Requiem for the deceased of the last year

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

Sunday 4th December—Christmas Bazaar

Friday 16th December—Serving the Homeless Carol Service

Serving the Homeless

The Committee are now selling tickets for their big Christmas hamper raffle. Tickets cost £1, or £5 for a book of tickets. If you would like to buy some, please see a member of the Committee or ring Linda on 01702 558217.

Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 4th December, 8.45am - 1.00pm

We are pleased to announce that our Annual Parish Bazaar is back once again and we need your help and generosity. If you have any unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, raffle prizes or bric-a-brac that you would like to donate, please leave them in the Old Baptistry.

If you would like to help on the day, please contact us.

Sue Lawford - 07816 141492, Angela Clements - 07940 183452, email angelaclements47@gmail.com. Thank you.

Baptism Preparation

Due to unforeseen circumstances the preparation planned for 6th December, 2022 has been moved to Tuesday 13th December, 2022 from 8 - 9:30 pm.

Journey in Faith-RCIA

The Monday evening sessions of our Journey in Faith—RCIA—continue. Week-by-week we shall explore the Catholic Faith as set-out by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These evenings are suitable especially for those thinking of becoming a Catholic or for anyone who wants to know more about their Catholic Faith. 8-9.15pm in the Newman Room of the Parish Centre (entrance beside the Memorial Garden).

Tea/Coffee Mornings in the Parish Centre

Please join us for tea, coffee and cake in the Parish Centre after the 9am Mass on Mondays and Thursdays and after the 8am, 9.30am and 11.30am Masses on Sundays.

MISSIO Red Box Holders

If you have a box that needs emptying please either give it to me personally or leave it in the Parish Office for me to collect. Due to the current problems with lack of Banking facilities please let me have the boxes by the 27th November at the latest. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505.

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 15th November.

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 07783 094312 with your name and contact number.

St Thomas More High School Sixth Form Open Evening

Thursday 24th November, 6.00-9.00pm

For families who have students – boys and girls - in year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2023. Come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students. There will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.

London Marathon 2023

Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society has a number of Gold Bond Charity places for runners in the LONDON MARATHON taking place on SUNDAY 23rd April 2023. If you are an experienced runner or someone who would value the opportunity to participate in this renowned event please contact Damian Dillon for further details on 07912 308000 / ddillon@bccs.org.uk. The closing date for completed applications is Friday 11th November and please note that there is a minimum sponsorship requirement of £1800 (excluding Gift Aid). If you have been lucky enough to secure your own running place through the ballot, we would invite you to join us and run for Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society. The London Marathon is a unique opportunity to raise much needed funds for the Diocesan Children’s Society and perhaps achieve a lifetime ambition at the same time.

World Youth Sunday 20th November 2022

World Youth Sunday is a unique opportunity to celebrate the role and significance of young people in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, along with the global Church.

A representative of The Brentwood Catholic Youth Service will be speaking about their work, and holding second collection on this weekend. (you can also donate online at www.bcys.net/donate )

Anything you can give is so greatly appreciated, as any money raised will go towards supporting those in need of financial support to go on pilgrimages and to events, as well as allowing us to continue running our events, provide support and training to those working with young people and so much more.

And of course, please do pray for all young people in your parish, in our Diocese and around the world.

Bin a tin for Vin

The St Vincent Centre is doing wonderful work in Southend helping the poorest amongst us.

You can help the food bank there by bringing a tin of something with you when you come to mass and putting it in VINNIE'S BIN, which will be in the OLD BAPTISTERY.

This will be emptied twice weekly.

St. Vincent de Paul Society(SVP), Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph

OLL Ladies Group

The Ladies Group will meet in the Parish Centre on Thursday 17th November from 10.15 am All Ladies in the Parish are welcome. Our guest Speaker this week is a welcome return of the very talented Anne Emerson who will be presenting some of her own craft work and telling us about “ The crafty Emersons “ which is a tale of the multi talented Emerson family past and present. Please join us so we can give Anne a huge welcome.

Refreshments are available at no cost. Subs are just £1.00 per Meeting , plus a small contribution to our fun Raffle.

A Christmas Party!

Your Parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Conference is delighted to announce the date and place of its annual '"Christmas Party" to which all senior citizens of the parish are most warmly invited!

Our "Christmas Party" is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday, 10th December, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm! Carols, good company and Christmas fare to get you into the seasonal spirit!

If you - or someone you know - would like to join us on this happy parish occasion please call/text Francis O'Brien on 07845 874331. You will be most welcome!

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage, led by Bp Alan, will take place from Monday 24 – Saturday 29 July.  All are welcome, including those of us who need assistance.  Details regarding booking and costs will follow soon.

Knock Pilgrimages

Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 29th May 2023, led by Bishop Alan Williams.  £699.00 per person sharing.  Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board.  All entertainment and excursions included.  Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. 

Single supplement £150.00.  Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. 

Calais light Help Needed

Spaces are now open for the next car convoy to volunteer at @Care4Calais, which is an amazing grass-roots charity delivering essential aid and support to refugees living in the worst conditions across Northern France and Belgium.

Volunteers will work in their warehouse sorting clothes and preparing its vital services for distribution. (currently in need of DARK ADULT WINTER COATS - please text clare mason 07757138345 if you have any!) Calais Light volunteers also get the unique and humbling opportunity to go out and meet refugees to offer solidarity and kindness as well as aiding Care4Calais with its distribution process. For more information go to:https://www.caritasbrentwood.org/charity/calais-light/

We need your help!

Serving the Homeless has been working in the parish for over 30 years but our present committee members are all getting older. We need some younger people to join us in our fundraising efforts which support Southend YMCA, HARP and St Vincents Centre

New members on the committee would be very welcome. We meet once a month for about an hour to plan events.

However, if committees are not your thing, maybe you could offer to give practical events at our fundraising events eg at our Wine Tasting at St Margaret’s in October we could have done with more support with setting out tables, chairs, food etc. and with the clear up afterwards.

On 16th December we are having our annual Carol Service at Our Lady of Lourdes and help with the refreshments afterwards would be greatly appreciated. At present we aim for a fundraising event every 2 months, and if you could help with just one, it would help us to continue operating.

If you would like to help, or join the committee please contact Jo 01702  474062,  Or Linda   01702 558217

Or email ninabridgeman@btinternet.com

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

The liturgy of this Sunday draws our attention in particular to one of the truths contained in the Creed—the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. The whole of the Bible is saturated with the hope of the resurrection. At the time of our Lord’s life on earth, most people believed in this truth. Sacred Scripture teaches us that death was not part of God’s original plan for mankind. It is the consequence of the sin of our first parents. Through the resurrection, Jesus Christ demonstrated His power over death. By the act of His resurrection, Jesus has taken away the sting of death and made His death the act of our redemption. To resurrect means to lift up something that has fallen down, to bring back to life what was dead, to restore life to what has become dust. The Church has always taught that the resurrection of Jesus is the basis of Christian Faith. She also has consistently believed in the resurrection of our physical bodies in which we live, subsist and move. The soul will then be reunited with it’s proper body. If we are to experience the resurrection of the body after death and judgement, it follows that we should take care of both body and soul. Of course, the more care should be taken of our soul, the immortal principle of man, but we cherish also the body which in this life is a temple of the Holy Spirit. As we pray in this month for the Faithful Departed—our beloved dead—we call to mind God’s many blessings which enable us, even now on earth, to enjoy the promises of the world to come.

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 6th November
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Month of the Holy Souls

Liturgy:
Readings Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 3

5.30pm Mass Mae Pinsent, RIP (Anniv) & Ints of Ann-Marie Rothwell (JH)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Intentions of Darragh Family (MD)
9.30am Mass Jan Andre, RIP (IS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4pm Mass Assunta Cotgrove, RIP (AM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 7
St Willibrord, Bp
9am Mass Gerry Kelly, RIP (JA)

Tuesday 8
Feria
9am Mass Samuel & Johanna Beech, RIP (Anniv) (JC)

Wednesday 9
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
9am Mass Holy Souls

Thursday 10
St Leo the Great, P, D
9am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (MI)

Friday 11
St Martin of Tours Bp
12Noon Mass Intentions of Michael & Margaret Gibbons (JG)
7pm Old Rite Requiem (sung)

Saturday 12
St Josaphat Bp, M
10am Mass John Owen, RIP (Anniv) (AO)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 13
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

5.30pm Mass Maria Keen, RIP (D&JL)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (SD)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Arthur Leftley (SL)
11.30am Mass Deceased of the Wars
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction