St Bernard's High School
St Bernard’s High School is holding a careers fair on Wednesday 19th April, 8:00am – 3:30pm and we are looking for delegates to support our school community. We are keen to introduce role models to our students to raise aspirations and hope the event will give them the opportunity to speak with delegates about their industries and careers. Please contact hli@stbernards.southend.sch.uk if this is something you would like to be a part of.
LEARNING MENTOR VACANCY
Five Days Per Week, Term Time Only, 8.00am – 4.00pm, Scale 6 – 11 (£20,043 - £22,129 pro rata)
An opportunity has arisen for a Learning Mentor to join our Pastoral Team. We are looking for someone to work alongside our Learning Mentor Team supporting identified students.
You will be joining a successful, friendly and supportive department within a high- performing school, supporting students from Years 7 – Y11. An interest in SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) is desirable but not essential.
For further information please see our website: www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
All new staff are supported within the positive ethos of this happy and high performing school, and to this end all staff complete an applicable induction training programme. The community at St Bernard’s welcome applications from people of all faiths or none.
Please complete a non-teaching application form which can be found on our website under School Information/Vacancies, and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk. Please note that CVs will not be accepted.
Closing Date: 16 April 2023, 12.00pm Interviews: tbc
MIDDAY SUPERVISOR VACANCY
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
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
Fourth Sunday of Lent - Lætare Sunday
Dear friends in Christ
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is Lætare Sunday from the opening words of the Entry Antiphon: Rejoice, Jerusalem!
Dear friends in Christ
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is Lætare Sunday from the opening words of the Entry Antiphon: Rejoice, Jerusalem! Even though we are only halfway through Lent, we are encouraged on this day to be joyful. Joy and the Cross are not incompatible; penance and self-sacrifice bring us into a joyful relationship with Jesus—at least they should. In the Gospel of this Sunday we shall hear another of those stunning miracles Jesus performs in order to bring us to the submission of faith. The Man Born Blind is a symbol of all those who live without seeing God, those who are spiritually blind. Once our eyes are opened, we see everything more clearly. We see, as it were, with supernatural vision. As we approach the celebration of the Paschal Triduum, and many throughout the Church prepare for the Easter Sacraments, let us allow ourselves to be led by the light of Jesus to deeper faith and trust in Him.
On Monday we have the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, secondary Patron of our Parish (please note the earlier time of Mass—8am) it has been transferred from 19th so that we can celebrate it. Saint Joseph plays a central and vital role in the work of the Incarnation and he remains for us today a model of the Christian virtues. We name him Foster Father of Jesus, Patron of the Universal Church, Spouse of the Mother of God…if you go to the page “Joseph” on the website you will find there the lovely Litany in his honour; also a link to a beautiful setting of this prayer by the Baroque composer--Heinrich Ignaz Biber.
May Saint Joseph watch over and protect us as we entrust ourselves and our families to his powerful intercession. On this Sunday we give thanks for the gift and grace of motherhood and for our own mothers in particular!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare Sunday
Sunday 19th March
Fourth Sunday of Lent Lætare Sunday
Liturgy:
Readings Year A
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of 4th 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
Monday 20
St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8am Mass Rev Msgr Anthony McDermott, RIP
Tuesday 21
Feria
9am Mass Charles D’Souza, RIP (TT)
Wednesday 22
Feria
9am Mass Fr James Anthony Boyle, RIP (JL)
Thursday 23
Feria
9am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)
Friday 24
Feria
12Noon Mass Charles D’Souza, RIP (JL)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 25
The Annunciation of the Lord
10am Mass Eric Newman, RIP (VA)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 26 March
Fifth Sunday of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Frank & Moira Keenan, RIP (Anniv) (FK)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Dec'd Members of the Fegan Family (JC)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Leonora Maguire & Family (JH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Sidney Williams, Canon Arthur Holmes, Fr John Sherlock, Fr Justin Dawson, Fr James Earley, Fr Henry Peace, Doreen Wall, Margaret Foster, Mary Blunder, Dorothy Burke, Lesley Dorey, Edmund Easterly, Francis Spratt, Francis Joseph Foley, Edward Hance, Agnes Edward, Catherine Davis, Ann Whiteley, John Fowler, Doris Reid, Nora McLeod, Imelda Maguire, Bernard Cody, Violet Day, Ernest Hardy, Fred Hopkins, Ted Wheeler, Katerina Deyanovitch, John Archer, Paul Reid, Maud Phyllis King, Marie Nichols, Peter Gough, John Rombaut, Coleslaw Bendkowski, Mary Hardy, Nancy Mallif, Ethel Bull, Sarah Armstrong, Marian Trent, Kathleen Robinson, John Head, Edmund Thompson, Maura Keenan, Waltraud Kirk & Jessie Carlyon.
We Pray for our Sick
Bobby 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
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
Holy Communion from the Chalice
The Bishops of England and Wales have said that Communion from the Chalice—the Precious Blood—may be resumed from Easter. Our Bishop has stated that this is a permission and not mandatory. The Chalice was suspended at the start of the pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. Many of us are understandably still being vigilant with regard to further contagion. The teaching of the Church is that when we receive Holy Communion, Christ is present whole and entire—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—under either kind. By receiving under one species we do not receive less of Christ or less grace. Receiving from the Chalice obviously emphasises the sacramental sign—of eating and drinking the Body and Blood of The Lord. The counsel I am receiving is that we could reintroduce the Chalice prudently and cautiously once it is clear that the majority of parishioners are content that Covid, Influenza and other diseases are not communicable. It would seem unwise to reintroduce this practice and then have to withdraw it with the approach of Winter. Furthermore, our extra-ordinary ministers of Holy Communion need to be satisfied that this is once again safe, since they will need to purify and consume what remains in the Chalice; I am not happy asking others to do something that I would not be prepared to do myself, given the potential attendant health risks. The Southend Deanery have also discussed this and have jointly made this decision too for the other Parishes.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 20th 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
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Jacques Boyvin (1649-1706)
Postlude: Basse de Trompette-Gaspard Corerette (c.1770)
Responsorial Psalm
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) 'Awareness Month'
At the St Vincent de Paul Society we are aware that poverty exists beyond where we can immediately see. Members can be found helping others at the SVP’s St Vincent’s Centre, Short Street, Southend, volunteering in the recently opened St Vincent’s charity shop (nr. Chalkwell Park), as well as visiting people in their own homes, in care homes, hospitals or in prisons. In some of these instances, being a member of the SVP can be a challenge, but it is also rewarding work, seeking and finding those in need, giving support with compassion, and responding where the need is greatest. As a member you always have the support and assistance of your Conference and the wider national Society. 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.
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.
Deanery of Southend Lent Talks 2023
Wednesday evening at 7pm—Eastwood Parish—St Peter’s
59 Eastwood Road North, Leigh on Sea SS9 4BX
Questions & Answers facilitated by Fr Jeff Woolnough
March 22nd DVD Presentation
Dr Scott Hahn—The Eucharist in Scripture
Part Three—Consuming the Word
Repository
We have a good selection of cards and gifts 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.
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.
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.
Earthquake Relief Charities
Please donate via Aid to the Church in Need or CAFOD websites.
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
St Bernard's High School
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
CAREERS
If you are interested in careers, follow the link to St Bernard’s School.