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
Christmas 2022
4th Sunday of Advent
Saturday 17
5:30pm Vigil Mass
6:30 Holy Hour: Exposition
Sunday 18
8am Mass
9:30 Mass
11:30 Mass
5:30pm Holy Hour: Vespers & Benediction
Monday 19
9am Mass
Confessions after Mass
Tuesday 20
9am Mass
Confessions after Mass
St Peter Canisius
Wednesday 21
9am Mass
Confessions after Mass
Thursday 22
9am Mass
Confessions after Mass
St John of Kanty
Friday 23
12 noon Mass
Confessions after Mass
Saturday 24
10am Mass
Confessions after Mass
The Nativity of the Lord
Saturday 24
5:30pm Vigil Mass
8:30 Carols & Readings
9 Night Mass
Sunday 25
8am Dawn Mass
9:30 Dawn Mass
11:30 Day Mass
St Stephen
Monday 26
10am Mass
St John
Tuesday 27
10am Mass
The Holy Innocents
Wednesday 28
9am Mass
St Thomas of Canterbury
Thursday 29
9am Mass
The Holy Family
Friday 30
12 noon Mass
Saturday 31
10am Mass
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Sunday 1 January
8am Mass
9:30 Mass
11:30 Mass
5:30pm Holy Hour: Vespers & Benediction
“Wishing you the Blessings of Christ at Christmas and the New Year”
Third Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
On the Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete—the Church gives us to reason for the joy that we should have in these days of Advent: it is the closeness of our Saviour.
Dear friends in Christ
On the Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete—the Church gives us the reason for the joy that we should have in these days of Advent: it is the closeness of our Saviour. The Mass this Sunday begins: Gaudete semper in Domino…Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. I spoke last weekend about how our Country, for the first time in a Census, has shown that Christians are not in a majority. This was a source of glee for the National Secular Society. Although more and more people are drifting from their Christian moorings, we need to remember that nature abhors a vacuum and when the populace says they believe in nothing, they very soon begin to believe in anything! As Catholics we have a lot to be positive and joyful about. After all, we have given our society the basis of healthcare, education, law and immigration policy. The only reason we can focus on the poor and marginalised is because Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us to. But this has not stopped our Faith being attacked in the public square. We know that only too well, when it comes to the pressing ethical issues of our times. A world without God or religious faith, would be a dark world indeed. Jesus came to bring light to our darkness by His Incarnation. But any restoration of faith and confidence must begin with baby steps. These steps start with bringing our children to Mass weekly and observing Christian feast days and celebrations in a Christian manner: prayer in the home, and small acts of charity and service to our neighbour. It also means living a joyful life, despite the challenges. As Christians we still have a lot to be joyful about!
Our thanks for all of you who contributed in any way to the Christmas Bazaar last Sunday. Many of you gave gifts, purchased Draw tickets and came along on the morning to support the Parish. I am so grateful also, to the small group of helpers who, each year manage to make this event both profitable and enjoyable—thank you all! We raised almost £2,000 and I am proposing to send half of the proceeds to help the suffering people of Ukraine. (via Aid to the Church in need). They are in desperate need of heat and warm clothing this Winter and our tiny effort can unite us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Faith this Christmas.
You are invited to take a Christmas poster from the back of church and place it in a window at home, to remind those around us that we are about to celebrate the Birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Christmas Masses and Confessions schedule will be sent to you this coming Wednesday.
Next Sunday, the final Sunday of Advent, it is the tradition to bless the figures of the Baby Jesus for our Cribs at home. We invite you to bring your Crib figure to Mass next weekend, so that they can be blessed at the end of the Mass.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday 11th December
Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Advent 1
5.30pm Mass Joseph & Stella 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
Monday 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe
9am Mass Anne Young, RIP (KC)
Tuesday 13
St Lucy, V, M
9am Mass Intentions of Mark Craig-50th birthday (AC)
Wednesday 14
St John of the Cross, Pr, D
9am Mass John Jarvis, RIP (VJ)
Thursday 15
Feria
9am Mass John & Anne Young, RIP (KC)
Friday 16
Feria
10am Requiem Mass Maureen Gooding, RIP
12.45pm Requiem Mass Reginald Johnson, RIP
7pm Carol Service for Serving the Homeless
Saturday 17
Feria
10am Mass Anthony Comey, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 18
Fourth Sunday of Advent
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
9.30am Mass Adrian Ausareny, RIP (AA)
11.30am Mass Jean Ann Humphreys, RIP (MC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr Bentley, Ivy Heale, Cecilia Upsher, William Anderson, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Evelyn Joyce, Doreen Murphy, Clarice Bugazzi, Thomas McInerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Mayfield, Mary McQuaid, Francis O’Neill, Eileen Byczynski, Larraine Moore, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Alice Chapman & Barbara Althorpe.
We Pray for our Sick
Rose D’Souza, 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
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.
PETER HAIGH RIP who died on Thursday, 1st December. His Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 18th January at 11am followed by committal at Basildon Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary lamp burns for Peter Griffin, RIP and the intentions of Maryann and David.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Vieux Noël - César Franck (1822-1890)
Postlude: Sinfonia (Cantata No. 29) - J S Bach (1681-1750) arr. Marcel Dupre (1886-1971)
Response to Psalm
Dates for your Diary
Monday 12th December—Journey in Faith-RCIA continues.
Friday 16th December—Serving the Homeless Carol Service
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.
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.
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.
OLL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday 22nd December in the Parish Centre, to which all ladies in the Parish are welcome.
We are very pleased to welcome back Rory and Niall Windass who will entertain us with some beautiful songs and music for our Christmas celebration. As we will be enjoying some Christmas Fayre with seasonal food and a glass of something “bubbly ,“ we are asking ladies to arrive promptly at 10.15 am, in order to be seated comfortably to enjoy your food and wine whilst listening to the festive music.
There will also be plenty of time to enjoy our special Christmas Raffle, meet up with friends new and old, with our usual subs of just £1.00 Not been for a while? No problem, but in order to cater for everyone please just mention your interest to Cynthia or Jan. We look forward to seeing you all to give thanks for another successful year and celebrate the coming of Christmas.
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
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).
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