World Youth Sunday - 20th November
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.
The Brentwood Catholic Youth Service will be speaking about their work, and holding a second collection this weekend. (you can also donate online at www.bcys.net/donate )
Your support is 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 the young people in your Parish, in our Diocese and around the world.
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/
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.
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 (2)
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.
Parish Fundraising
PARISH FUNDRAISING
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the October draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 121 Mrs A Craig
2nd Prise £100 77 Mrs R DeSouza
3rd Prize £75 175 Miss F DeSouza
4th Prize £25 35 Mrs T Wright
We are still looking for new members. The subscription is £5 per month, either by cash, cheque or direct debit. If you would like to join, please fill in a form which can be found at the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Dear friends in Christ
The final Sunday of the liturgical year celebrates the kingship of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Dear friends in Christ
The final Sunday of the liturgical year celebrates the kingship of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thus the year ends on a high-note. In this feast we rejoice that Christ is King of the entire Universe. That He reigns over this world and above all, over our hearts and minds. Our task is to make the reign of Christ a reality in all of the settings of this world. Only when His reign is definitely established will there be peace on earth.
This Sunday is also the Day of Youth celebrated throughout the Church. Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School will participate at the Vigil Mass on Saturday and provide the Readings and music. This is an occasion for us to give thanks to God for the presence of young people in the Church—especially in our Parish Family—and also to celebrate their work and recent achievements.
We end the final week of the liturgical year this week with our three days of Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of Forty Hours as it is often called. The idea each year is that every Parish should have the opportunity of adoring Christ in the Blessed Eucharist in a more prolonged and solemn manner. The Forty Hours comes from the notion of the time Jesus spent in the tomb after His death on Good Friday to His Resurrection on Easter Day; during those hours the Church kept watch with Her Lord at the tomb. So too, in these days this week, we can come and spend time with Him who is the centre of our life, the centre of our world, the King of the Universe. Please sign the lists for Watching at the back of church and ensure that there are two names in each thirty-minute period. May these days, as every year, be a source of grace and blessing for us, our homes and families and for the need of the Church and our world at this time.
May Christ the King bless us and all our endeavours as we strive to establish His kingdom on earth.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Sunday 20th November
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Month of the Holy Souls
Liturgy:
Readings Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of 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
Monday 21
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9am Mass Jadwiga Osotowicz, RIP (CB)
Tuesday 22
St Cecilia, V, M
9am Mass Holy Souls
Wednesday 23
St Clement I, P, M
9am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (CR)
Thursday 24
St Andrew Dung-Lac, Pr & Comps, M
NO MORNING MASS
7pm Mass Opening Mass of Forty Hours’
Intentions of Jimmy & Pauline Martin (AM)
Exposition continues until 11pm
Friday 25
St Catherine of Alexandria, V, M
Exposition resumes from 7am
12Noon Mass Mary Byrnes, RIP (SG)
3.45pm Benediction for Children & Families
7pm-8pm Preached Holy Hour
Exposition until 11pm
Saturday 26
Saturday Memorial of BVM
Exposition resumes from 7am
10am Mass Intentions of Caroline Gee (RM)
10.30-11.30am: Confessions
4.00pm Closing Benediction of the Forty Hours’
Sunday 27
First Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Samuel & Johanna Beech, RIP (Anniv) (JC)
9.30am Mass Patrick Comey, RIP (MC)
11.30am Mass Paddy McCrarren, RIP (CS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr James Lindbergh, Mgr Edward Watson, Canon Martin Hancock, Fr Anthony Robson, Finbar Hayes, Ada Mundy, Brian Slattery, Josephine Phelps, Paul Pearman, William Shanahan, Rene Bragard, Victor Gubbins, Anne Jordan, Patricia Breslin, William Lewis, Harry Stanley, Constance Dobson, Enos (Alan) Ash, Tina Kentish, Jonathan Marshall, Kathleen McKee, James Carns, Dr Harry Maher, Thomas Mulholland, John Holmes, Bernard Harvey, Elizabeth Watson-Lamb, Marie Wilkes, Gilbert Blanch & Veronica Billena.
We Pray for our Sick
Eileen Gurney, John Cooper, Jimmy & Pauline Martin, 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, 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.