Third Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
With the Third Sunday of lent we begin a sequence of three stunning Gospels which will bring us to the start of Holy Week: The Samaritan Woman at the well, the curing of the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Dear friends in Christ
With the Third Sunday of Lent we begin a sequence of three stunning Sunday Gospels which will bring us to the start of Holy Week: The Samaritan Woman at the Well, the Curing of the Man Born Blind and the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead. Each of these narratives, in their own way, prepare us for the Easter Mysteries. Jesus is the One who alone can give us all that we thirst and long for. Although these Gospel passages are long (we normally read the shorter versions!) they reward careful reflection. Jesus desires to draw all people to Himself, and by the miracles he performs, shows us that as God He can bring about marvels in our lives. Commenting on the Gospel of the Samaritan Women on this Sunday, St Augustine writes: She came from a foreign people is part of the symbolic meaning, for she is a symbol of the Church. The Church was to come from the Gentiles, of a different race from the Jews. We must then recognise ourselves in her words and in her person, and with her give our own thanks to God. She was a symbol, not the reality; she foreshadowed the reality, and the reality came to be. She found faith in Christ, who was using her as a symbol to teach us what was to come. She came then to draw water. She had simply come to draw water; in the normal way of man or woman. He was promising the Holy Spirit in satisfying abundance. She did not yet understand. In her failure to grasp his meaning, what was her reply? "The woman says to him: Master, give me this drink, so that I may feel no thirst or come here to draw water." Her need forced her to this labour, her weakness shrank from it. If only she could hear those words: "Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you." Jesus was saying this to her, so that her labours might be at an end; but she was not yet able to understand.
As we hasten through Lent, let us do so with all the desire of that woman who, having found Jesus, wished to be fulfilled for life and eternity, by His very self.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Lent
Sunday 12th March
Third Sunday of Lent
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of 3rd Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Intentions of Rita O'Callaghan (UH)
9.30am Mass Dec'd Parents, Brothers & Sisters of Canon Gilbert, RIP (FM)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (Anniv) (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 13
Feria
9am Mass Bill Hoggett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
Tuesday 14
Feria
9am Mass Robert & Marian Caunce, RIP (JC)
Wednesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Jimmy & Pauline Martin (sick) (AM)
Thursday 16
Feria
9am Mass John, Pat & Peter Moon, RIP (SM)
5pm Body in Church Christine Wise, RIP
Friday 17
Saint Patrick, Bp, Patron of Ireland
9.30am Requiem Mass Christine Wise, RIP
12Noon Mass Rev John O'Neill RIP (FM)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 18
Feria
10am Mass Madeleine Selvini, RIP (Anniv) (FrS)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 19 March
Fourth Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Fr James Anthony Boyle, MHM, RIP (AT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass John McCarthy, RIP (VdS)
9.30am Mass Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (Anniv) (K&LW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr William Luby, Canon Martin Horkan, Fr Donal Donegal, Rev John O’Neill, Benjamin Dawson, Leo King, Edith Smith, Eileen Greaves, George Turnham, Lydia Upton, Maura Hanley, Eric Wilding, Stefan Zyms, Frank Keenan Snr, Philip Hale, Eleanor Hayes, June Hazel White, Nora Thompson, David McGowan, George Conway, James Kennedy, Kathleen Hosford, Julian Felix Asselberghs, Catherine Jago, Anthony Slattery, Mary Russell, Henry McIlwee, Nina Clarke, Alfred Marshall, Dolores Cutter, John Flynn, Gabrielle Haiser, Henry de Souza, Andrew Shanahan, John Moon, Guy Bragard & Eric Newman.
We Pray for our Sick
Bobbi Newman, Paul Watts, 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 Kharas, 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, 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, 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
CHRISTINE WISE RIP who died on 21st January. Her body will be received into the Church on Thursday, 16th March at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday 17th March at 9.30am followed by burial at Hall Road Cemetery.
MARTIN COVENEY RIP who died on Friday, 17th February. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 20th April at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
ROY BUCK RIP who died on 13th February. His Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday 26th April at 2pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday 13th March—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 July—Flower Festival
Gift Aid
The Gift Aid envelopes are available for collection after Mass this weekend. If you cannot see your name there please ask in the Parish Office.
You may wish to use the Parish website to donate on-line, or use the contactless payment facility located at the back of the church. An increasingly popular option is to donate by monthly Standing Order.
If you wish to Gift Aid your donations, please pick up a Gift Aid declaration form which can be found by the envelopes at back of church.
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) 'Awareness Month'
The SVP offers practical care by visiting people in need. This is one way we can put our Faith into action. Presently, we are particularly mindful of members of our parish living now in local care homes who may have lost touch with the parish community. If you know of these - or indeed any others - who would benefit from and welcome a visit from a friendly-face, then please let us know and we will seek to assist. Our Conference also annually organises a Christmas party and Mid-Summer ‘Strawberry Tea’ to bring together socially senior members of the parish community! If you are not already on our guest list but would like to be included or if you know of someone who would enjoy these sociable, festive gathering, please contact Susan Hibbert mob. 07957411373. Should you wish to learn more about the SVP or consider joining us, please contact Francis O’Brien on 07845874331. You can also support our parish Conference financially via the SVP button on the parish website.
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 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
Lenten Reading
At the back of church the Catholic Truth Society stand has a range of small books on prayer and the spiritual life which can be helpful for Lent.
Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies Group
We meet again on Thursday, 16th March in the Parish Centre from 10am. We are very pleased to welcome a Manager from the local Phabulous Cafe on the Leigh Road, together with one of the staff whom they help to move on to permanent employment. Many of us will have enjoyed refreshments at Phabulous and this is a great opportunity to hear in more detail the wonderful work they do, so please do come along and show your support.
All ladies in the Parish welcome with subs just £1 per session plus a fun raffle.
Repository
We have a good selection of cards and gifts for St. Patrick’s day and for Mother’s Day in the Repository so do please feel free to come and browse and perhaps choose that special gift. We are pleased to announce that cards and gifts have arrived for First Holy Communions and you are welcome to look and purchase now or in the coming weeks.
We also stock a selection of Mass cards and religious objects . Please ask if there is a particular request and we will try to help.
Flower & Craft Festival - Saturday 8th July 2023
We have begun the planning for this year’s Flower and Craft Festival. This year the theme is Parables, Miracles, and Proverbs.
We are hoping that more people will be able to take part this year, especially those who can sew or craft! The book of Proverbs and the miracles and parables of Jesus gives you a very wide scope to choose from. We have already had volunteers for flower arrangements for Jesus calms the Storm, The Feeding of the 5,000, The wedding at Cana, and the parable of the Sower.
If you would like to take part or would like more information or ideas contact me on 01702 474062, or email mcronan@btinternet.com
We would love to fill the church with flowers and crafts.
Jo Ronan
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham - Saturday 27th May
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.
Missio Red Box Holders
National Novena to St. Joseph 11th - 19th March 2023. See Poster at the back of Church.
If you would like to receive a Novena booklet, email novenamhm@gmail.com or send to Novena Director
6 Colby Gardens Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 7GZ. Joan Caunce, Secretary 01268 757505
St Bernard's High School Vacancies
MIDDAY SUPERVISOR
Part time – 12.25pm – 1.40pm (Monday - Friday) Term time only
Salary Scale 1
Are you a positive role model with high expectations of children? If you are enthusiastic, flexible, reliable, and genuinely interested in working with children, come join our friendly, hardworking team!
We currently have a vacancy for a lunchtime supervisor to join our team at St Bernard’s High School in assisting management and teaching staff with the supervision of students during their lunch break.
Please complete the final teaching application form found on our website www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk under School Information/Vacancies and email it recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk – please note we do not accept CVs
FOUNDATION GOVERNOR VACANCIES
Have you ever thought about becoming a school governor? Would you like to do something that would enable you to ‘give back’ to your community? St Bernard’s needs you!
Following the long standing support of three of our foundation governors, their terms of office will complete at the end of this academic year. They have each ably supported the school and worked tirelessly in the best interests of students, staff and the wider school community. Therefore, we are keen to recruit foundation governors to continue to support the school in its endeavour to provide all of the children that walk through the doors of St Bernard’s with a holistic, authentic Catholic education that is underpinned by a commitment to further the mission of the Church whilst also maintaining high academic standards. Whilst we welcome all who feel that they would be suitable to this role, we would particularly welcome expressions of interest from potential governors with the following skill sets: Finance, Health and Safety, New Technologies and HR.
If you are interested, please send an email to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
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 March.
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.
Earthquake Relief Charities
Please donate via Aid to the Church in Need or CAFOD websites.