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!
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
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
Church Courtyard Parking
Please use only the allocated bays for parking in the courtyard of the church. If there are no vacant bays this means the courtyard is full. You can also use on-road parking! Please DO NOT double-park or block-in others. Also, please do not drive across the West doors of the church. These directives are for the health and safety of everyone.
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.
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/
Holy Souls Box
During November we customarily keep the memories of our Beloved Dead in our prayers. Their names can be placed under the Altar by using one of the envelopes at the back of church and placing it in the box provided, including an offering if you can, for Holy Souls Masses. In this way, we present them to God in the Masses and Offices during this month of the Holy Souls.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 20th December.
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.
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
In these final days of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to meditate on the final things—truths presented to us in the Readings of the Mass on these current Sundays.
Dear friends in Christ
In these final days of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to meditate on the final things—truths presented to us in the Readings of the Mass on these current Sundays. Life is short and our encounter with Jesus Christ is near. At some time in the future He will come in glory, and there will be the resurrection of our bodies. These considerations should serve to make us more detached from things of earth and more attached to things of God. It should move us to use our God-given time well and do our best to teach others about the truths of the next life. We must live with our eyes fixed on Heaven, our ultimate and permanent homeland. At the same time we need to have our feet firmly planted on this earth. Everything we do—our work, our recreation, our family life—should all be done with the intention of giving glory to God.
On Thursday evening we will celebrate our annual Parish Requiem for those who have died in the last year. Please try to come along to this Mass and pray—with those who have lost friends and family during the year—for their eternal repose. There is no work of charity in the Church comparable to the assistance we give to the Holy Souls, who are aided by our prayers, to enter the glory of Heaven. As there are so many reminders in this month of November of eternity, let us do our best to keep our eyes fixed on that goal where Jesus awaits us with the Communion of Saints, the family of the Church.
This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, as it’s the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day, 11th. Traditionally we visit our local cenotaphs and war graves at this time and the 11.30am Mass on Sunday is a Requiem for the dead of the World Wars and subsequent conflicts, especially in Ukraine. We give thanks to God for the sacrifice of so many lives, given so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have as a result.
Next Sunday—feast of Christ the King—is the World Day of Youth. At the vigil Mass on Saturday, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School will participate in a special way to mark this annual celebration and also so that we can give thanks with them for the Good outcome of their recent OFSTED inspection.
Our Annual Days of Solemn Exposition of The Blessed Sacrament begin on Thursday week, 24th. As always I would ask you to start signing the lists for Watching which are at the back of church; you may also purchase a lamp from the Sacristy/Parish Office which will burn during the Forty Hours.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 13th November
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Month of the Holy Souls
Liturgy:
Readings Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 4
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
Monday 14
Feria
9am Mass Evelyn Shevket, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
Tuesday 15
St Albert the Great, Bp, D
9am Mass Pearl Scaife, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
Wednesday 16
St Edmund of Abingdon (Rich), Bp
9am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (Anniv) (IS)
Thursday 17
St Elizabeth of Hungary
9am Mass Tom Lydon, RIP (SH)
7pm Mass Parish Requiem for those who have died in the last year
Friday 18
Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter & Paul, App
12Noon Mass Holy Souls
Saturday 19
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10am Mass Deceased members of the Wall & Rockell Families L&KW)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 20
Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
5.30pm Mass Rene Bragard, RIP (Anniv) (RB)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Frank Maguire, RIP (MM)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Frances Scott (MR)
11.30am Mass People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Terence Howes, Fr James Allis, Fr Richard (Dick) Ashton, Fr John Harden, Fr Edwin Sheehan, OFM, Joan Read, Albert Rogers, Janet Conway, John Owen, Rene Solecki, John Cavanagh, Jack O’Riordan, Vincent Kelly, John O’Neill, Kathleen McIlwee, Richard Sparrow, Louisa Hurst, Sydney Pullen, Myriad Hubbard, Mary Capon, John Cousins, Ethel Donnison, Luciana Garuti, Edna Hutchings, Edith McCouat, Kathleen Macauley, Mrs Alice Kelly, Jack Hosmer, Florrie Peck, Charlotte Roberts, Bert Russell, Maureen Deeks, John Chiswick, George Livermore, Celia Ashley, Marcia Clarke, James Rourke, Agnes Fitzgibbons, Emily Hariet-Upcroft, Boleslaw (Charlie) Czogalik & Peggy Ingham.
We Pray for our Sick
Jimmy & Pauline Martin, Ben Dench, James Fegan, Muriel Matthews, Charles D’Souza, 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, Bradley & children: Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Connie Price, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price, Frazer Gregory & baby Forest Gallagher.