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
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.
MISSIO Red Box Holders
I have received the 2023 Missio Calendars. If you have not received one from me personally, please take one from the back of the Church in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505
Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2023
The 2023 Diocesan Directory is now available from the back of the Church—£2.95
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
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
Central to the message of Advent is the prophet Isaiah.
Dear friends in Christ
Central to the message of Advent is the prophet Isaiah. The Mass this Sunday is introduced with his words in the Introit: O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard in the joy of your heart. This is the invitation of Advent: that we heed the voice of the Prophets calling us to prepare the way of The Lord, to make the mountain of God the highest of the mountains, so that all the nations may stream to it. The First Reading of the Mass this weekend is the beautiful description by Isaiah of what the coming of the Messiah will bring. It is worth reading this passage of the Prophet again and again, since it reminds us in these days of turmoil and confusion, of what we hope and wait for. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the people. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.
You may have noticed over the last couple of weeks, a certain amount of external maintenance happening. With a site the size of this one there is always work that needs to be done. Drains and gutters have been cleared and cleaned, and remedial work carried out on the pipework; also some roof work where leaks are occurring. We also had a Fire Inspection which has reminded us of the importance of ensuring the safety of all who use these premises. A certain amount of safety work needs to be carried out. There is always something to do! The statues of the Apostles are now going away, a few at a time, for cleaning and restoring. St Joseph should be back with us before Christmas. Fortunately this work has been covered by a couple of recent legacies for which we are most grateful. Thank you all for your continued generosity, which makes it possible to maintain our buildings and keep them in good order for the glory of God and our edification.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady occurs this week—Thursday 8th—as a jewel in the crown of Advent. By this mystery of Mary’s life, by which she was created as the one perfect human being in the world—without Original Sin— she was prepared to be the Mother of the Messiah. God foresaw this at the start of creation when, after that sin of our first parents, God addressed the Serpent, the Evil One: I will make you enemies of each other, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will stroke its heel. There, at the beginning, God decided that He would create the perfect woman—Mary—to reverse the harm caused by the Evil One. We go to Mary on this lovely feast and ask her to protect us still from the Evil One. On Thursday evening we shall have the praying of the Rosary, Consecration of the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 7pm. This is indeed a Day for us to consecrate ourselves, our Schools, our homes and families to her Immaculate Heart.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday 4th December
Second Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Advent 1
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
Monday 5
Feria
9am Mass PJ, Martin & Tommy Byrnes, RIP (SG)
Tuesday 6
St Nicholas, Bp
9am Mass Mike Rubbert, RIP (SH)
Wednesday 7
St Ambrose, Bp, D
9am Mass Francis & Basil Emmerson, RIP (AE)
2.45pm Requiem Mass DJanet Cheshire, RIP
Thursday 8
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9am Mass Sheila Vaulbert de Chantilly, RIP (Anniv) (LP) 7pm Rosary, Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary & Benediction
Friday 9
St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
12Noon Mass Clare Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (BH)
Saturday 10
Our Lady of Loreto
10am Mass Intentions of Mary Connolly (MI)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 11
Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday
5.30pm Mass Stella & Joseph Gallo, RIP (RG-G)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Peter Wilkinson, RIP (JB)
9.30am Mass Private intentions of Aneta Ausareny (AA)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Brian Drea, Fr Michael Healy, Fr Bernard Pownall, Fr John Lane, Canon Anthony McKinley, Timothy Murphy, Louise de Souza, Maurice Brazier, Agnes Nisbett, Yvonne Lovett, Martha Braun, Irene Rice, Ryszard Burzynski, Vera Walls, Anne Woods, Hugh Smyth, Anne Reid, Christine Lyons, Barbara Clarke, Brigid Hill, Doris Masters, Ana Dawson, William Johnson, Bruce Pond, John Newton, Thomas O’Hanlon, Mary Alice Ring, Mary Dulcie O’Leary, John Parsons, Sheila de Chantilly, Johanna Sadowski, Walter Scott, Patrick Lyons, Clare Clarke, Karen Anderson, Hilda Eid, Georgina Francis & Ann Dunbar.
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
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
Monday 5th December—Journey in Faith-RCIA continues.
Sunday 4th December—Christmas Bazaar
Friday 16th December—Serving the Homeless Carol Service
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Basse de Cromhorne Gaspard Corrette (c. 1703)
Postlude: Fugue in C Friedrich Zachow (1663-1712)
Response to Psalm
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 4th December, 8.45am - 1.00pm
A final reminder that our Annual Parish Bazaar is on Sunday so please do come and support us.
Thank you for all your donations, if you have any cakes or last minute donations please bring them to the Parish Centre on Saturday afternoon or first thing on Sunday.
8.45am start - look forward to seeing you all!
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!
HARP
HARP have now launched their Christmas appeal. They know that times are very hard for families at the moment but, if you can, please donate £10 to support the homeless and vulnerable people in Southend this Christmas.
You can donate online at harpsouthend.org.uk or give your donation to Linda Wall, who will forward it to HARP. Thank you.
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
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 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.