40 Days for Life
Starting from Ash Wednesday 22nd February to Friday 31st March
We are holding a peaceful, prayerful witness outside Southend medical centre MSI (Marie Stopes International) an Abortion provider.
We are there to offer help to women in crisis pregnancies.
Please come and pray.
For more information about times please contact Mary & Francis Connolly 07478765010.
If you have been hurt by Abortion please contact www. rachelsvineyard.org.uk Pam: 0785-1331816
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.
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
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.
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.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
In the Beatitudes—the Gospel for this Sunday—Jesus gives us a road map for life
Dear friends in Christ
In the Beatitudes—the Gospel for this Sunday—Jesus gives us a road map for life. The Ten Commandments of the Old Covenant that God gave to His people, provided a definitive guide as to how to live according to what tells us will achieve our happiness and well-being here on earth. Often these were obeyed out of a sense of fear of God and a sense of retribution if they were disobeyed. They are, if you like, the instructions of the Maker to help us function properly—in our relation to God and neighbour. Jesus comes as the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament and in the Sermon on the Mount, gives us the means whereby we can be fulfilled on earth. Blessed means fortunate, and in each of the Beatitudes Jesus begins by promising us happiness and pointing out the way of achieving it. If you ever look at the pavement around the Baptismal Font of our church, you will see that it has the form of an eight-pointed star. The intention of this was to show that the grace of Baptism flows out to all points of the compass, that the grace of God and salvation is universal for those who seek it. It is also a reminder of the eight Beatitudes which lay-out for us the path on earth which will bring us happiness, and ultimately salvation in Christ. As we listen again to the Gospel this Sunday, we should recall that the truly Blessed person is the one who is poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, pure, peaceable, persecuted—in a word—eager for the things of God.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 29th January
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 3
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
Monday 30
Feria
9am Mass Agnès Watkins, RIP (Anniv) (JW)
Tuesday 31
St John Bosco, Pr
9am Mass Intentions of Shelagh Barwick (MR)
Wednesday 1 February
Feria
9am Mass Patrick Burke, RIP (KH)
Thursday 2
The Presentation of the Lord—Candlemas
9am Mass Betty Moran, RIP (AC) Preceded by the Blessing and Procession of Candles
Friday 3
St Anne Line, M; St Blaise P.M.
12Noon Mass Intentions of Marie Rubbert (RO'C) Followed by the Blessing of St Blaise
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until Holy Hour 7-8pm
Saturday 4
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10am Mass Reginald Johnson, RIP (RO'C)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 5 February
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Eileen Kerrigan, RIP (F&JO’B)
9.30am Mass Andrew & Mary Murray, RIP (Anniv) (UO’K)
11.30am Mass Dr. Noel Hayter, RIP (GM)
4pm Mass Intentions of Aaron Mulhern (AH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John (Jack) Clifford, Fr Joseph Burns, Fr Enda Keenan, Fr Eric Bindloss Smith, Carmel Bridget Abi-Aad, Joyce Ellen Reilly, Noel Calnan, May Ferry, Norah Kelly, Wyndham Richards, Mary Abel, Florence White, May Keane, William Moroney, Cissie Burnham, Elizabeth Ray, Peter Griffin, William Gannon, Patricia Robinson, Robert Jones, Kathleen Jennett, Francis Faulkner, Mary Quinn, Pamela Woodley, Myrtle Conridge, Edward Atherton, Florence Miller, James Kerr, Teresa Phelan, John Dickens, Bernard Pycroft, Miss Eyre, Winifred Wallen, Michael John Shrapnel, Teresa O’Brien, Lilian Abbott & Elizabeth Judge.
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 return of faith of Leela Patchai.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
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.
CHRISTINE WISE RIP who died on 21st January. Funeral details to follow.
ETHNA WITHERS RIP who died recently.
Requiescant in pace
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Prelude: Voluntary in G—Henry Heron (1725-1795)
Postlude: Larghetto—Peter Prelleur (1705-1741)
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.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 30th January—Journey in Faith-RCIA continues
Saturdays 13th & 20th May—First Holy Communion Masses 10.30am
Sunday 28th May—Pentecost Sunday—Confirmation Mass 11.30am
Sunday 11th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Saturday 8th/Sunday 9th September—Flower Festival
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!
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
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)
Repository
The Repository will re-open on the weekend of 4th/5th February. This is situated at the rear of the Church in the old Baptistry and will be open following the 5.30pm Vigil Mass and after the 9.30am and 11.30am Masses on Sundays.
We have a good selection of cards and small gifts. Over the next few weeks we hope new stock will be arriving in time to celebrate those special occasions of St.Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter. If you can’t see what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to ask. After Easter, cards and gifts should be available in time for First Holy Communions and Confirmation.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the December draw are as follows:
1st Prize £150 93 Miss S Hippard
2nd Prize £100 32 Mr S Harwood
3rd Prize £75 120 Mr F Lawrence
4th Prize £25 170 Mrs J Caunce
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