First Sunday of Advent
Having celebrated our Days of Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration during these last three days of the liturgical year, we are introduced into the season of joyful preparation and expectation—Advent.
Dear friends in Christ
Having celebrated our Days of Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration during these last three days of the liturgical year, we are introduced into the season of joyful preparation and expectation—Advent. These four weeks preceding Christmas, reminds us of the entire history of the world before the coming of the Redeemer. During this season, we live both in view and hope of the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the world, and also His coming in time—the Incarnation. The best means of making this preparation is by personal prayer. This will enable us to make the appropriate preparation for Christmas, so that we do not become overly engrossed in earthly things, as the prayer in the Advent Mass expresses: for even now as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures.
An excellent prayer at this time is the Angelus: in this simple recalling of the Word become flesh we are drawn into the the greatest reality in human history and prepare ourselves for the mystery of Christ’s Birth.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 27th November
First Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Advent 1
5.30pm Mass People of the Parish
6.30-7.30 Confessions (no exposition)
8am Lilian & Jim Fegan, RIP (Anniv) (JC)
9.30am Mass Patrick Comey, RIP (MC)
11.30am Mass Paddy McCrarren RIP (CS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 28
Feria
9am Mass Pietro Tisi, RIP (Anniv) (TT)
Tuesday 29
Feria
9am Mass Fr Patrick Sammon RIP (A-MC)
Wednesday 30
ST ANDREW, Ap, Patron of Scotland
8.45am Mass Rose de Souza - 100th Birthday (MF)
Thursday 1st December
Blessed John Beche, Ab, M
9am Mass Valerie Tisi, RIP (SH)
Friday 2
Feria—First Friday
12Noon Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from after Mass until Holy Hour 7-8pm
Saturday 3
St Francis Xavier, Pr
10am Mass Dessie McGonigle, RIP (A-MC)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 4
Second Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Mass Sally Fitzgerald, RIP (JF)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Mike Rubbert, RIP (MR)
11.30am Mass Thomas Byrnes, RIP (SG)
4.00pm Special Intention for Robin A Draper (CJD)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 599 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Postlude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 - J S Bach
Response to Psalm
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Aydon, Fr Patrick Bennett, Deacon Anthony Collings, Fr Francis Branney, Fr Bartholomew (Bart) Lynch, Fr James (Pat) Hannon, Clifford Pollard, Matthew Browning, John Sidney Clements, Peggy Jeffries, Jack Vessey, Thomas Slattery, Patricia Manvell, Ronald Slater, Ann McGinty, Eileen Vaughan, N Elinor Watters, Vera Spelling, Angela Lingard, Marie Sanctuary, Dilwyn Morgan, David Aldridge, Ethel Knight, Kathleen Dawson, Pat Ballard, William Kerry, Leonard Coventry, Derek Timothy, Terence Slattery, Val Brown, Delia Fleming & Liliana Petrini.
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.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
PATRICK BURKE RIP who died on Tuesday, 25th October. His Funeral will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 30th November at Southend Crematorium.
DJANET CHESHIRE RIP who died on Monday, 31st October. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 7th December at 2.45pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
MAUREEN GOODING RIP who died on Friday, 28th October. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 16th December at 10am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
REGINALD JOHNSON RIP who died recently. His Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 16th December at 12.45pm followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Thursday 24th—Saturday 26th November
Annual Solemn Days of Eucharistic Exposition
Monday 28th November—Journey in Faith-RCIA continues.
Sunday 4th December—Christmas Bazaar
Friday 16th December—Serving the Homeless Carol Service
Sea of Voices Choir Christmas Concert
Our community choir ‘Sea of Voices’ will be holding their re-instated annual Christmas Concert on Saturday, 10th December at the Lourdes Parish Centre, commencing 7pm. A raffle will be held and refreshments available during the interval.
All proceeds will be shared between the SVP’s Vincent Centre in Southend and BCCS (Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society). Tickets at £5 are available from Darrell on 07825 686249, choir members after Sunday Masses at the Teas & Coffees, as well as from the Parish Office or you can email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com
Raffle prizes also gratefully received. Thank you!
Bereavement Support Group (1)
CURRENTLY we meet monthly on a Tuesday afternoon in the Parish Centre. We are aware that this time may not be convenient for everyone who feels they need support following the loss of a loved one. We are therefore considering a possible change of day and time. For example Saturday morning or afternoon or a weekday morning or evening might be more convenient for people.
If interested please give your name, contact details, and preference of day/ time to the Parish Office. Thank you.
Repository
This is situated in the Old Baptistry at the rear of the Church. If we are to reopen, Volunteers will be needed to help out on a Sunday morning each week. It is proposed to have a Rota of Parishioners who would be able to help on a fortnightly or 3 weekly basis: For example, one person to look after/serve at the Repository before/after Vigil Mass Saturday and after 9.30 Mass/before 11.30 Mass on Sundays. Anyone interested please give your name and contact details to the Parish Office.
Free Jesse Tree Booklet for Families
The Jesse Tree is a wonderful resource for families to prepare for Christmas during Advent, telling the story of God's unfolding plan of salvation through the ancestors of Jesus Christ. A free, printable Jesse Tree booklet containing daily short scripture passages, simple reflections and prayers, as well as tree ornaments are available for all families in the Diocese of Brentwood by following this link: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/marriage-family-life/family-life/
St Bernard's High School
A Catholic Academy for Arts and Science
Milton Road, Westcliff on Sea
Essex
SS0 7JS
Tel: 01702-343583
E-mail: zmb@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Exam Invigilators
The School is looking to recruit further Exam Invigilators to join its bank of staff who oversee examinations in the School. Full training will be provided.
Hourly rate: £10.00
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.
If you are interested, please fill in a non-teaching application form found on our website under https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/School Information/Vacancies and email it tozmb@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Many thanks for your help.
Kind regards
Mrs Z Booker
HR Lead & PA to the Headteacher
St Bernard’s High School
Milton Road
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex SS0 7JS
Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2023
The 2023 Diocesan Directory is now available from the back of the Church—£2.95
Carols & Readings for Christmas
You are invited to
‘Carols and Readings for Christmas’
Friday 16th December at 7pm
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Leigh on Sea
Please join us for carols with the
‘Sea of Voices Choir’ and YMCA
And afterwards for mulled wine and mince pies in the Parish Centre
Donations to ‘Serving the Homeless’
A combined local initiative of, Catholic, Anglican and Methodist Churches in Leigh; Supporting Southend YMCA, HARP, and St Vincent’s Centre Southend
Charity no. 1018354
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage, led by Bishop Alan Williams, will take place from Monday 24—Saturday 29 July. All are welcome, including those who need assistance.
The cost is £790 per person sharing, flying British Airways from Heathrow Airport and staying at the Hotel Moderne.
If you are interested, please leave your name and contact details with the Parish Office.
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.
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