Music at 11.30am Mass on Christmas Day
Prelude: In Dulci Jubilo BuxWV 197 - Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Postlude: Finale (Symphony I) - Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Response to Psalm
Serving the Homeless Committee
A huge ‘Thank you!’ from the Serving the Homeless Committee
Firstly thanks to all who turned out on a bitterly cold evening for our Carol Concert on 16th December, and to Fr Kevin who hosted the evening. We raised £700 in donations on the night.
This year, with your generous help and support,
We have:
Given HARP £300 per month for food ; £1,683 for a Defibrillator at the Bradbury Centre and £3,500 for meaningful activities and general support. In addition, we also provided approximately £500 worth of turkeys for Christmas dinners at HARP properties.
HARP now houses over 220 clients and provides almost 6,000 hot meals a year as well as helping clients overcome trauma, learn skills and find work. Their Bluebird Project which will house and provide training for a further 50 clients is now almost complete. In total we have given HARP £9,033.60 this year.
Seen the Southend YMCA new housing project come to fruition. This will house very young vulnerable youngsters in a family style environment. We have been able to provide £7,600 to this project this year.
Provided 40 Christmas bags of ‘goodies’ to the young people who live at, and are looked after by, Southend YMCA.
Financed 2 nights emergency hotel accommodation for a young person while they were found support.
Given £1,000 to support the work of the St. Vincent Centre in Southend.
In all, with your help, we have spent approximately £17,633 this year on programmes to support the homeless.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the November draw are as follows:
1st Prize £150 69 Mrs M Devine
2nd Prize £100 129 Mrs C Mitchell
3rd Prize £75 144 Mrs N Bridgeman
4th Prize £25 30 Mrs N Richardson-Shii
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.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
If returning to school expenses are a worry for you please contact the parish SVP on 07845874331. The Society is always available to help families or individuals experiencing financial difficulty. All matters are dealt with confidentially. The Society appreciates the continued support from our parish community.
OLL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on 5th January from 10.15am in the Parish Centre .
To start off the New Year, we are delighted to announce that our guest Speaker is Councillor Bernard Arscott, who will talk about his experiences as a member of Southend Council and also as a member of our local Town Council in Leigh on Sea. Many of you will know Bernard as a well known member of our Parish, and in particular as the Parish M.C. We hope many ladies in the Parish will be there to give Bernard a warm welcome! As ever all ladies welcome with subs of just £1 plus our usual fun raffle.
We wish everyone a Blessed and peaceful Christmas and hope to see you all at the start of another happy New Year.
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 17th January.
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.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
As we enter the final week of Advent, our hearts and thoughts go to St Joseph in a particular way.
Dear friends in Christ
As we enter the final week of Advent, our hearts and thoughts go to St Joseph in a particular way. He is the silent companion of Mary throughout the story of the Nativity. But despite his silence in the Gospels, we can glean a great deal about this important Saint. St Joseph’s whole glory and happiness lay in his knowing how to understand what God wanted of him and in his having faithfully carried it out to the end. The Gospel of the Mass on this Sunday before Christmas shows us how he understood the Will of God for him and, without questioning or deliberating, took Mary to himself and supported her through the difficult time ahead. We read in a Sermon by St Augustine that: St Joseph not only claims the name of father, but has a greater claim to it than any other. How was he a father? All the more effectively, the more chaste the paternity. Some thought that he was the father of our Lord Jesus Christ in the same way as other fathers who beget their sons of the flesh and do not receive them only as the fruit of a spiritual love. This is why St Luke says: ‘he was thought to be the father of Jesus.’ Why only thought to be? Because thought and human judgement refer to what is usual among men. And our Lord was not born of Joseph’s seed. Yet of the piety and love of Joseph a son—who was the Son of God—was born to him of the Virgin Mary.
Let us think of St Joseph very close to Mary in these days, and as we look upon his image—beautifully restored in our church in time for Christmas—let us ask his prayers for our families. We ask him to inspire strong and godly models of fatherhood, who will teach and form their children in the ways of virtue and holiness.
God bless you all in this week!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday 18th December
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Advent 2
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
Monday 19
Feria
9am Mass Graham Addecott, RIP (AK) Confessions after Mass
Tuesday 20
Feria
9am Mass Dec’d Members of the Chantilly & Holland Families (LC) Confessions after Mass
Wednesday 21
Feria
9am Mass Bernadette Perry, RIP Confessions after Mass
Thursday 22
Feria
9am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (MI) Confessions after Mass
Friday 23
Feria
12.Noon Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI) Confessions after Mass
Saturday 24
10am Mass Peter Wilkinson, RIP (JB)
10.30-11.30am Confessions
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
5.30pm Vigil Mass Sybil Mary Swann, RIP (MTD) Preceded by Carols 5pm
9pm Night Mass The People of the Parish Preceded by Vigil of Readings & Carols 8.30pm
Christmas Day 25
8am Mass Private Intention
9.30am Mass Private Intention
11.30am Mass Private Intention
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr William Guinevan, Fr Arthur Cowd, Bp Brian Foley, E Parker, Paul Emmerson, Sylvia Walton, Gladys Symons, Mabel Walmsley, John Baigent, Anthony Fleming, Bernard Murphy, Paola Murch, Mary Poole, Peter Robson, Christopher Maybe, Mabel Carter, Francis Brady, Eleanor Dillon, William Smith, Grace Greiner, Veronica Barrett, Cathy Baker, Robert Kirsch, Teresa Evans, Roland Glazebrook, David Middleton, Mario Piacentini, Elsie Osborne, Mary Heather, Teresa Riley, Winifred McClafferty, Elizabeth Astall, Jessica Wilson, Basil DeNewman, Mary Higgins & Anthony Nesnas.
We Pray for our Sick
John McCarthy, 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
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.
MARIA LOUISA PAGE RIP who died on Friday, 16th December.
Requiescant in pace
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Tambourin sur un Noel Provencal Michel Corrette (18th,c.)
Postlude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Johann Walther (18th.c.)
Response to Psalm
Christmas Altar Serving
If you are available to serve over the Christmas period, please add your name to the list in the Sacristy or email me at b.c.arscott@hotmail.co.uk.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
If returning to school expenses are a worry for you please contact the parish SVP on 07845874331. The Society is always available to help families or individuals experiencing financial difficulty. All matters are dealt with confidentially. The Society appreciates the continued support from our parish community.
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.
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.
OLL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on 5th January from 10.15am in the Parish Centre .
To start off the New Year, we are delighted to announce that our guest Speaker is Councillor Bernard Arscott, who will talk about his experiences as a member of Southend Council and also as a member of our local Town Council in Leigh on Sea. Many of you will know Bernard as a well known member of our Parish, and in particular as the Parish M.C. We hope many ladies in the Parish will be there to give Bernard a warm welcome! As ever all ladies welcome with subs of just £1 plus our usual fun raffle.
We wish everyone a Blessed and peaceful Christmas and hope to see you all at the start of another happy New Year.
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