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.
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
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
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.
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).
Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2023
The 2023 Diocesan Directory is now available from the back of the Church—£2.95
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.
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.
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.
If interested please give your name, contact details, and preference of day/ time to the Parish Office. Thank you.
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
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.
Warm Space at Wesley
Wesley Methodist Church, Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1SJ are open two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-4pm. The entrance will be from the car park or through the front door when the sanctuary area is open.
Newspapers and books will be provided as well as free tea and coffee for guests and they hope to have advice leaflets available.
If you need a warm space, or know others who might benefit from this service, just turn up and have a good, warm and peaceful day.
To volunteer to help, or for more details, please contact Geoff Fulford on 01702 714213 or email: fulford.family@btinternet.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/
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