Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
We continue our reading of the Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Dear friends in Christ
We continue our reading of the Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. This week Saint Matthew relates an important truth with the wheat and the weeds. Jesus explains how the Truth of His Word can easily become mixed-up and confused with falsehoods and erroneous teachings. The early Fathers of the Church say that it is often difficult to distinguish the truth from falsehood because as St John Chrysostom says: it is proper to the devil to mix falsehood with truth; and when error is allowed to flourish it always results in catastrophic effects on the people of God. So the parable has lost none of its relevance for today where almost every truth of the Catholic Faith is called into question. Let these words of the Gospel be a call to alertness on our part, that amidst the winds of discussion and debate, the good wheat of Christ’s doctrine and of His Church, may always be distinguishable.
This Wednesday we have the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Our Blessed Lady and grandparents of Our Saviour. In celebrating their memory in the liturgy, the Church draws our attention to the importance of the family of Our Lord and at the same time emphasises the vital value of family life centred on Jesus. So too, the place of grandparents in the family hierarchy. Very often grandparents are the means whereby the Faith is kept alive, strengthened and communicated from one generation to the next. If you are a grandparent, ask for intercession of Joachim and Anne, that you may be courageous and strong in being channels of grace for the strengthening of family life in your children and their offspring.
As we begin the School holidays, we hope and pray that the weeks ahead will be a genuine time of rest and recreation, especially if you are fortunate enough to be going away. Let us never forget the supreme importance of the Sunday Mass wherever we are and that our first and vital duty is the worship of God in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. With more free time available, participating in weekday Mass would also be something I strongly encourage.
As we depart for our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes—with a large number of Parishioners and young adults from Leigh—be assured of the prayers we shall offer at Mary’s Sanctuary. I shall be offering Holy Mass for the intentions of our Parish Family.
May God and His Blessed Mother bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 6Sunday 23 July
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
8am Mass Intentions of Marie Rubbert (RO'C)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Carol Paine-80th birthday (AT)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 24
St Charbel Makhluf, Pr
9am Mass Ian Irwin, RIP (SG)
Tuesday 25
St James, Ap
9am Mass Roger Brown, RIP (SM)
Wednesday 26
Ss Joachim & Anne, Parents of the BVM
9am Mass Eileen Bines, RIP (MH)
Thursday 27
Feria
9am Mass Fr Cornelius Joyce—Diamond Jubilee (MR)
Friday 28
Feria
12 Noon Mass Patrick McCrarren—RIP 1st (Anniv) (AS)
Saturday 29 July
Ss Martha, Mary & Lazarus
10am Mass Caroline Goeghegan, RIP (MI)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 30 July
Seventeenth 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 Muriel Coverdale, RIP (PL)
9.30am Mass Eileen Bines, RIP (SVP)
11.30am Mass Ian Irwin, RIP (CO’B)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Boardman, Fr Michael Hannan, Fr Dermot Moore, Fr James Cooney, Fr John Harding, Fr Godfrey Anstruther, Fr John Jones, Leonard Betts, Arthur Koch, william Rhodes, David Hall, Eva Bartley, Silvester Smolarczyk, Marie Ann Brand, John Maguire, Stefan Nowacki, John O’Brien, Gertrude Mortelman, Daisy Houlihan, Frederick James Hardy, Mrs Pearle, David Bavin, Margaret Hughes, Bertha Dokk-Olsen, Emma Alexander, Anne Owen, Mirren Button, Dorothy Pogue, Basil Hall, Ruth Lambert, Rory Forge & Richard Wallner.
We Pray for our Sick
Benjamin Dench, Eva Paviour, Gy Rampersaud, Mary O’Sullivan, Ian Spacie, Bobby Newman, Paul Watts, Christine Reid, Rose D’Souza, Jimmy & Pauline Martin, James Fegan, Muriel Matthews, David Lesley, Kenneth Biebuyck, Zach Stokes, Andrew Stokes, Noel Conroy, Marjorie Jay, Paul Sutton, John Murphy, Jennifer Biebuyck, Moira Scott, Jill Yates, Leonora Maguire, Brian Mountier, Renata Butler, Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Russell Short, Marie Kharas, Garry Pearman, Patricia Ann Darroch, Patricia Vanner, Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, Charlotte O’Neil, Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, Mark Shepherd, 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 Poole, 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, Florence Hownam & 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
JIMMY McCRIMMON RIP who died on Wednesday, 14th June. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, 2nd August at 11am, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
CHRISTIANE DUVAL, RIP who died on Friday, 30th June. Her Requiem Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Monday, 24th July at 2pm.
JANET WEALE RIP who died on Saturday, 15th July. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Thursday, 3rd August at 2.15pm followed by committal at Basildon Crematorium.
EDMUND TODRYK RIP
Requiescant in pace
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the deceased members of the O’Brien Family.
Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Pastorella in D—Johann Nauss (1690-1764)
Postlude: Voluntary in G—William Boyce (1710-1779)
Responsorial Psalm
Repository
The Repository is now closed for the Summer and will re-open in early September with a selection of new stock, gifts and cards.
Site Manager - Cathedral House
The successful applicant will identify and carry out effectively, routine and reactive maintenance tasks, regular health and safety checks and other general duties associated with the management of buildings and grounds comprising the Cathedral House and the Brentwood Parish.
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £23,000 - £27,000 p/a depending on experience
Start Date: ASAP
Apply by sending a CV and covering letter (no longer than A4) recruitment@brcdt.org
Closing date for applications is 14th August 2023
London Marathon 2024
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society has a number of Gold Bond Charity places for runners in the LONDON MARATHON taking place on SUNDAY 21st April 2024. If you are an experienced runner, or someone who would value the opportunity to participate in this renowned event, please contact Damian Dillon for further details on 07912 308000/ddillon@bccs.org.uk.
The closing date for completed applications is Friday 28th July and please note that there is a minimum sponsorship requirement of £1800 (excluding Gift Aid).
If you have been lucky enough to secure your own running place through the ballot, we would invite you to join us and run for Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society. The London Marathon is a unique opportunity to raise much needed funds for the Diocesan Children’s Society and perhaps achieve a lifetime ambition at the same time.
St Bernard's High School
Exam Invigilators
The school is looking to recruit further Exam Invigilators to join its bank of staff who oversee examinations in the school. Training will be given.
Hourly rate: £10.50
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.
If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please fill in a non-teaching application form found on our website under https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Contactless Payments/Offerings
The contactless device is now permanently situated at the back of the church and may be used for Offertory and Second Collection offerings, Repository payments, candles, SVP and other stipends.
BIN A TIN FOR VIN
The St Vincent Centre is doing wonderful work in Southend helping the poorest amongst us.
You can help the food bank there by bringing a tin of something with you when you come to mass and putting it in VINNIE'S BIN, which will be in the OLD BAPTISTERY.
This will be emptied twice weekly.
St. Vincent de Paul Society(SVP), Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph
Bereavement Support Group
If you are in need of individual or Group Counselling and support, please leave your name and contact details with the Parish Office. All enquiries received in strict confidence.
Missio Red Box Holders
I have received the Summer 2023 Missio Magazines. If you have not received one from me personally, please take one from the back of the Church on the ledge in the usual place. Thank you.
Joan Caunce, Secretary
01268 757505
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the June draw are as follows:
1st Prize £150 108 Mr & Mrs M Mapson
2nd Prize £100 9 Mr S Pearson
3rd Prize £75 94 Mrs A Thompson
4th Prize £25 185 Mrs E Humpage
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.
First Holy Communion 2024
If your child is going into Year 3 or above and you wish for them to make their First Holy Communion, please submit the application by Friday 8th September 2023.
This should be done via the parish website, under Sacraments - Communion
(https://lourdesleigh.org/sacraments)
The first meeting for parents will be on Wednesday 13th September at 8pm in the Parish Centre.
The Knights of St Columbia National Relic Tour
We are delighted to announce that the Diocese of Brentwood will be graced with the presence of esteemed relics during the Knights of Saint Columba National Relic Tour 2023. From July 30th to August 12th, we welcome you to witness and venerate the sacred relics of St. Columba of Iona, St. Andrew the Apostle, and St. Margaret of Scotland.
These relics, rich in spiritual significance, offer a unique opportunity for personal reflection and communion with these revered saints. Join us in this profound spiritual journey as we celebrate their enduring legacies. Stay tuned for more details and event schedules. Let us come together in faith and embrace the blessings of this extraordinary experience! Please see the timetable below dates, times and places the Relics can be viewed throughout the Diocese.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
St Matthew’s Parable of The Sower is one of the best known of the stories told by Jesus.
Dear friends in Christ
St Matthew’s Parable of The Sower is one of the best known of the stories told by Jesus. God hopes we will be good soil that will receive His grace and bear fruit. The greater our generosity towards God, the better and more abundant will be the fruit we produce. The only thing that matters, comments St John, Chrysostom, is that we should not be a beaten-down thoroughfare, or rocky ground, or thorns, but that we should be good soil… Our hearts must not be the path from which the enemy, like the birds, snatches the seed, trodden on the foot by passers-by. Our hearts must not be the rocky ground where the shallowness of the soil causes the seed to germinate immediately, so that it is scorched by the sun. Our hearts must not be a thistle-bed of human passions, strangled by the care of this world. (Sermon 101,3)
Anyone, whatever our lives have been in the past, are able to become soil that is prepared to receive God's grace. Any soil could become rich land, although previously it may have been nothing but desert, because God's grace never fails us, and His care is greater than that of the most expert farmer. Once grace has been given, the results depend only on us, who are free to correspond or not. The ground is good, the sower is the same, and the seeds are the same in each case. Nevertheless, how is it that one gives a hundredfold, another sixtyfold and another thirtyfold? We can see that the difference depends on the person receiving it, for even when the soil is good, there is a great deal of difference between one patch of ground and another. You can see that neither the farmer, nor the seed is at fault, but the soil on which the sowing was done. This is not a result of nature, but of the disposition of the will. (St John Chrysostom, loc.cit)
We could daily examine our lives and ask ourselves if we correspond well with the graces God gives us. He has given us so much, and has a right to expect much back in return.
May God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale