Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies Group

We next meet on Thursday 2nd February at 10am in the Parish Centre, all ladies welcome.  

We are very pleased to welcome Jo Ronan  back who will be presenting one of her fascinating talks on Local History—this time it will be about Charles Booth and the beginnings of his Mission in Hadleigh.    There will be plenty of time to meet friends old and new over refreshments and enjoy our regular raffle. Subs are just £1.

German language students

Would anyone who lives in the Leigh/Westcliff area, be interested in hosting German language students for four nights? If you can help, please contact Dot 01702 473678 or Kathy 07814426208 for further details.

BCCS

The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society is an established children’s charity delivering vital mental health services in schools throughout the diocese and in our specially adapted therapy rooms in Billericay. Currently we are seeking to appoint new trustees to our Board to help guide and develop our work. Further information is available on our website https://www.bccs.org.uk/who-we-are/our-trustees/ or please email Bernadette our Director at bfisher@bccs.org.uk who will be happy to discuss this important role with you.

Sick & Housebound

If you have have a family member, or are aware of someone who is sick or housebound and would wish to receive any of the Sacraments, please advise Father Kevin.

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School & Nursery

If your child is eligible to attend Nursery, please clink on the link below to find more information about Our Lady of Lourdes School Nursery

World Day of Prayer Friday 3rd March

This year’s World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 3rd March at 10.30am at St alban’s Church, St Johns Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JY, followed by tea/coffee. Car parking is available at North Road and Cliffs Pavilion car parks.

All are welcome to this years’ Service which is prepared by the women of Taiwan on the theme ‘I have heard about your faith’

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 21st February.

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.

Third Sunday in Ordinary time

Dear friends in Christ

In the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday, Saint Matthew reminds us of the prophecy of Isaiah which said that the Messiah would give light to the whole world. The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light…Jesus brings the radiance of truth to the world, and a supernatural clarity to minds which no longer want to remain in darkness, ignorance and error. As he begins his public ministry, Jesus called His first Apostles as He went along the Sea of Galilee. He infuses a new light into their lives. Fishermen from Galilee, they followed Him and in turn enlightened the lives of others. We too are called to go after Him and bring the same light and life of Jesus to those we meet. Most of the time this will not need the use of clever words to convince the world, but simply by the witness of a holy life: a life lived in accordance with the Gospel. This is manifest in the considerate way we treat others, the integrity with which we do our professional work, the example of fidelity in our marriage and family relationships, the detachment from this world. All of these virtues, lived-out before the world are the most eloquent demonstration of a friendship with Jesus Christ. In the face of all of the troubles, tragedies and dramas that are being played-out around us, we can still have a serene confidence that God is in control.  I love some words of Saint Thomas More: The times are never so bad that a good man can make shift to live in them.

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 22nd January
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 2

5.30pm Vigil Mass Essie Glauda, RIP (Anniv) (KC)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Eric Major, RIP (Anniv) (PM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Rose De Souza - 100th Birthday (SVP)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 23
Feria
9am Mass Members of the Spacie Family (I&VS)

Tuesday 24
St Francis de Sales, Bp, D
9am Mass Alan Bush, RIP (CB)
5pm Body in Church John McCarthy, RIP

Wednesday 25
The Conversion of St Paul, Ap
9am Mass Mark Holden, RIP (PH)
11am Requiem Mass John McCarthy, RIP

Thursday 26
Ss Thomas Aquinas, Pr, D
9am Mass Ruth Mary Lambert, RIP (21st Birthday) (LL)

Friday 27
St Angela Merici, V
12Noon Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)

Saturday 28
St Thomas Aquinas, Pr, D
10am Mass Mark Solecki, RIP (Anniv) (IS)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 29 January
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

5.30pm Vigil Mass Pat Poulton, RIP (PO’C)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

8am Mass Tim McCarthy, RIP (Anniv) (PM)
9.30am Mass Ints Amnesty International (VS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Pope Benedict XV, Bp Arthur Doubleday, Fr John O’Sullivan, Fr John Hibbert, Fr Alfred Field, Bp Patrick Casey, Rose Nice, Isobel King, Conor Patrick Hartley-Anderson, Doreen Troughton, Mary Vermeulen, John Dillon, T. Fitzpatrick, Mary Lilian Clarke, Ellen Rose Brooks, Sarah Mann, William Hands, Barbara Sheaf, Kathleen Cooke, Phyllis Faulkner, Ida Wallace, Bridget McGrath, Huguette Farrelly, Gloria Fletcher, Vera Plummer, May Fazio, Elsie Tyrrell, Phyllis Collins, Michael McDermott, Gloria Dickens, Maud Darnell, Frank Russell, Edward Armitage, William Cooper, Robert Waller, Mark Solecki, Maureen Leyden, Gerard Tait, Andrew ‘Mel’ Kenny, Andrew Shanahan & Claudio Catino.

We Pray for our Sick

Christine Reid, Rose D’Souza, Jimmy & Pauline Martin, Ben Dench, James Fegan, Muriel Matthews, 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.

Sanctuary Lamp

This week the Sanctuary lamps burn for the intentions of Tommy Burns, RIP and the deceased members of the Rockell Family.

We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of

JOHN McCARTHY RIP who died on Saturday, 17th December. His body will be received into the church on Tuesday, 24th January at 5pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 25th January at 11am followed by burial at Herongate Wood Cemetery, Brentwood.

TERENCE (TERRY) VICTOR LESLIE MARTYN RIP who died on Tuesday 20th December. His funeral service will take place on Thursday, 26th January at Basildon Crematorium at 2.30pm.

JOHN HARLEY RIP who died on 6th January. His Requiem Mass will take on Wednesday, 8th February at 9.15am followed by committal at Southend Cemetery.

FRANCIS JOHN MULLAN RIP who died on 10th December. His funeral service will take place on Wednesday, 8th February at Southend Crematorium at 2.40pm.

CHARLES D’SOUZA RIP who died on 2nd January. His Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 13th February at 11.30am and committal will take place at Basildon Crematorium at 4pm.

MARIA FITZAKERLEY RIP who died recently. Funeral details to follow.

Requiescant in pace

Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday

Prelude: Prelude in F minor—Charles Burney, (1726-1814)

Postlude: Offertoire—Jean-Francois Dandrieu (11682-1738)

Response to Psalm

Sacrament of Confirmation

This will take place on Pentecost Sunday, 28th May. Any adult or young adult (who must have reached the age of fourteen by 1st September 2022) may apply. Please send an email with your name and contact details to mrscatherineharris@gmail.com by Ash Wednesday, 22nd February.

Deanery of Southend Lent Talks 2023

Wednesday evenings at 7pm—Eastwood Parish—St Peter’s

59 Eastwood Road North, Leigh on Sea SS9 4BX

Questions & Answers facilitated by Fr Jeff Woolnough

March 1st Fr Graham Smith
The Gospel According to John

March 8th DVD Presentation
Dr Scott Hahn—The Eucharist in Scripture
Part One—The Lamb’s Supper

March 15th DVD Presentation
Dr Scott Hahn—The Eucharist in Scripture
Part Two—The Fourth Cup

March 22nd DVD Presentation
Dr Scott Hahn—The Eucharist in Scripture
Part Three—Consuming the Word

Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes-Monday 24th-Saturday 29th July

The Parishes of Wickford, Leigh-on-sea, Southend & Prittlewell will travel together to join with the Brentwood Diocesan Pilgrimage in Lourdes (£790 per adult sharing)

Package Inclusions: Return flights with British Airways from Heathrow including 23kg hold-luggage, 5 nights full-board in the 4* Grand Hotel Moderne (closest to the shrine), fully guided with walking tour & full religious itinerary.

Please register your interest before 30 January 2023. Please register your details (name, number of seats requested, contact number & email address) with the Parish Office before 30 January 23.

Online booking forms will be available from 01 February 2023. Limited places available!

Serving the Homeless Collection Saturday 28th/Sun 29thJanuary

I would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 30+ years. During this time, with your help, we have been able to support many young people in the area into safe accommodation and support. You have allowed us to fund programmes run by Southend YMCA, HARP and more recently the St Vincent Centre. We spend between £16-17,000 annually on training courses, food supplies, white goods and building programmes carried out by these organisations.

I know that it is a difficult time for many people but if you are able to make a donation at our annual collection, I can promise you that your support will make a very real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

With very best wishes for the New Year,

Jo Ronan( Chairwoman, Serving the Homeless)

Sick & Housebound

If you have have a family member, or are aware of someone who is sick or housebound and would wish to receive any of the Sacraments, please advise Father Kevin.

World Day of Prayer Friday 3rd March

This year’s World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 3rd March at 10.30am at St alban’s Church, St Johns Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JY, followed by tea/coffee. Car parking is available at North Road and Cliffs Pavilion car parks.

All are welcome to this years’ Service which is prepared by the women of Taiwan on the theme ‘I have heard about your faith’