Loving Leigh
The Bishop has asked all parishes to look at how we might care for our surroundings and all who live in it. As stewards of this Home that God has given us we are being asked to care for our environment both on a personal and community level. Can you make your garden more environmentally friendly to both insects and pollinators? Can we reduce our use of precious water by planting more drought resistant plants? We are going to look at the parish grounds to see how we might make it more environmentally friendly.
We also want to look at how we might help our local brothers and sisters in need. The SVP already do a great job with your support in providing food for their operation in Short Street. We are planning to open a Fair Trade stall in the Parish Centre after Sunday Masses to support farmers in developing countries get a fair price for their produce.
We are looking to help with various projects in Southend and will promote them more when they are firmly in place. If you are interested in volunteering in a project or have a project you would like to promote please contact us to chat more. Live Simply Group - Cathy : cathy.sweeney16@btinternet.com Tel. No: 07762 106920
Candles for the Forty Hours’ Prayer
These can be had in the Sacristy (£5) and will burn before the Blessed Sacrament with your intention written on the base. The remaining lamps will be used as the Sanctuary Lamp throughout the coming year.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 20th November—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm Newman Room
Sunday 26th November—Sea of Voices Annual Christmas Concert—3pm Parish Centre
Thursday 30th November—Saturday 2nd December—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Sunday 3rd December—Parish Bazaar
Friday 15th December—Carol Service—Serving the Homeless
Monday 22nd—Saturday 27th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Holy Souls Box
During November we customarily keep the memories of our Beloved Dead in our prayers. Their names will be placed under the Altar by using one of the envelopes at the back of church (please add your name or Gift Aid number) and placing it in the box provided, including an offering if you can, for Holy Souls Masses. In this way, we present them to God in the Masses and Offices during this month of the Holy Souls.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
RCIA will meet on Monday, 20th November and is specifically for those who are not Catholics but who are enquiring with a view to finding out more about the Catholic Faith and Reception into the Church. These evenings begin at 8pm, are held in the Newman Room of the Parish Centre (the door is beside the Memorial Garden) and usually last just over an hour. Names may be given in advance to Fr Kevin or the Parish Office.
Repository Christmas Stock
In addition to our usual stock we will have a selection of Christmas cards from Aid to the Church in Need and some from the Latin Mass Society.
We also have a small selection of Christmas gifts and a variety of Advent Calendars for the Children. Please feel free to come and browse. Any special request, please ask one of the volunteers for help.
Please note the Repository is open after all Masses at weekends only.
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 3rd December, 8.45am - 1.00pm
We are pleased to announce that our Annual Parish Bazaar is back once again and we need your help and generosity. If you have any unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, raffle prizes or bric-a-brac that you would like to donate, please leave them in the Old Baptistry.
If you would like to help on the day, please contact us.
Sue Lawford—07816 141492
Angela Clements—07940 183452—email angelaclements47@gmail.com.
Raffle tickets are now available at the back of church after all masses, or from the Parish office. Please return money and ticket stubs to the Parish office.
SVP Christmas Party
A Christmas Party! Your parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Conference is delighted to announce the date and place of its annual '"Christmas Party" to which all senior members of the parish are most warmly invited!
Our "Christmas Party" is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday, 9th December, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm! Carols, good company and Christmas fare will pleasantly ease you into the seasonal spirit!
If you—or someone you know—would like to join us on this happy parish occasion please call/text Francis O'Brien on 07845 874331. You will be most welcome!
Sea of Voices Annual Christmas Concert
The Sea of Voices Choirs Christmas Concert will be held on Sunday 26th November at the Parish Centre starting at 3pm. Tickets at £5 are available from the Parish Office (9.00am to 1pm weekdays), choir members or Darrell (contact number below). We will also aim to have tickets available at teas and coffees after Sunday masses.
All proceeds are to be donated to Fairhavens (Havens Hospice), in memory of Alice Hood, the late daughter of one of our former choir members.
Raffle prize donations and offers of help with refreshments, etc are very welcome!
Contact Darrell on 07825686249 for tickets and offers of help.
Our Lady of Lourdes PTA
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Nursery are very excited to announce that we have joined up with ‘Leigh Trees’ in their school fundraising scheme. If you are going to buy a Christmas tree this year buying one from Leigh Trees will raise funds for our school.
Simply buy a real Christmas tree, online or in person, and YOU get £10 OFF, and the school PTA will also receive £10 commission for each tree sold.
You can buy online at LeighTrees.co.uk using our personalised Code: olol10 or visit LeighTrees at the A127 Christmas Tree Farm, 579 Prince Avenue, Westcliff on Sea SS0 0JJ, simply mention you are supporting Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. Trees are available from mid-November with deliveries FREE to all SS postcodes from the end of November.
Many thanks for you support, OLOL School PTA
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School & Nursery Vacancy
We are looking for an Early Career Teachers /Qualified Teachers EYFS Full time or Part-time (Maternity Cover), required for January 2024.
Please contact the school office via email at finance@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk or call on 01702 475689 for an application pack.
Closing Date: 21st November 2023
Interview Date: 28th or 29th November
St Bernard's High School Open Evening
St Bernard’s High School—A Catholic Academy for Arts and Science
Open Evening for Prospective Year 12— Thursday 30 November 2023—7.00pm to 9.00pm
We would be delighted to welcome to our Sixth Form Open Evening prospective students who are interested in joining St Bernard’s High School’s Sixth Form in September 2024
We welcome applications to our mixed Sixth Form from students of all faiths and none, who meet our entrance requirements and are seeking a school with a Christian ethos.
‘St Bernard’s High School is a welcoming, inclusive school’. Ofsted 2023
‘Leaders have high expectations of pupils in terms of learning and behaviour. Pupils live up to these expectations.’ Ofsted 2023
‘St Bernard’s High School is an outstanding Catholic school - attainment and progress of students is outstanding’ (Diocesan Inspection, 2017)
www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk, Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7JS
St Thomas More High School Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 23rd November, 6.00-9.00 PM
For families who have students—boys and girls—in year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2024. Come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students. There will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.
Missio Red Boxes
If anyone has a box that needs emptying please let me have it either in person or left in the office by the very latest Sunday 26th November. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary. 01268 757505
St Bernard's High School Vacancies
Reprographics and Display Technician Urgently Required
Part-time 25 hours per week 8.00am-1.30pm Monday-Friday (hours negotiable) Term time + 1 week
Scale 7-12 (pro rata)
The school is urgently looking to recruit a Reprographics and Display Technician ideally from 17 November 2023. We are looking for someone organised and adaptable to ensure the smooth running of our Reprographics Department.
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 this position, please fill in the support staff application form found on our website under https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Exam Invigilators required - as soon as possible
Current Hourly Rate: £10.50
Invigilators should be reliable, responsible, and able to follow instructions in a calm and sensible manner.
A flexible approach to working hours is essential and full training will be provided.
We welcome applications from all denominations or none.
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 this position, please fill in the support staff application form found on our website under https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ and email it torecruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Note: CVs will not be accepted.
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
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School Vacancies
Class Teacher
We are looking to appoint a Class Teacher in KS2 for September 2024. Please visit Essex Jobscene for further details: https://www.essexschoolsjobs.co.uk/Vacancies/Details.aspx?VacancyId=94018 Closing date: Thursday 23rd November 2023 (4pm) Interview date: tbc
Learning Mentor
We are looking to appoint a Learning Mentor Permanent contract. Salary - Point 5 £21,575 FTE (actual salary £11,686) 23 hours, 45 mins a week (8.30am-1.15pm) Term Time only
Please visit Essex Jobscene for further details: https://www.essexschoolsjobs.co.uk/Vacancies/Details.aspx?VacancyId=94015 Closing date: Thursday 23rd November 2023 (4pm) Interview date: tbc
Supply Teachers
We are also looking to build a team of Supply Teachers. Please Contact Mr Parascandolo via info@olorcps.net for further details.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. These appointments are subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.
Office Clerk - Cathedral House
To provide effective and efficient support in relation to administration requirements at Cathedral House.
Hours: 21 hours per week 09.00 until 17.00 (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays).
Start Date: December/January 2024
Salary- £13 per hour
Apply by sending a CV and covering letter (no longer than A4) hr@brcdt.org
Closing date for applications is 5th December 202
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of the Mass this weekend describes a scene which those who heard Jesus would have found very familiar: the transfer of the betrothed from her parents home to her new abode; all conducted in festive mood with an entourage carrying their lamps.
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of the Mass this weekend describes a scene which those who heard Jesus would have found very familiar: the transfer of the betrothed from her parents home to her new abode; all conducted in festive mood with an entourage carrying their lamps. The parable concerns a bridegroom who arrives unexpectedly in the middle of the night. The question is whether the escorting bridal party is ready and prepared to meet him.The bridegroom is Christ. He will come again at some future time. The bridesmaids represent mankind. Some are vigilant while others are careless. The time of waiting is a symbol of our life on earth. The arrival of the bridegroom and the wedding celebrations signify the inauguration of the state of eternal joy in the company of Christ. This parable should bring to our minds that definitive moment of death. Following our judgement by God, some souls enter fully into His presence while others find themselves excluded from the wedding feast forever. The Old Testament makes something quite clear: If a tree falls to the north or the south, the place where the tree falls, there it will lie (Eccl.11:3). At the time of death, the state of our soul is fixed for all eternity. So, this Gospel and this time of November are together reminders to be vigilant as we make the pilgrimage towards eternal life. This weekend is also a moment when we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, as we commemorate the dead of the wars. Everything at this time of the year directs our thoughts towards the Last Things: death, judgement, Heaven, Hell. We owe it to ourselves to live in a state of continued readiness for our encounter with God after death. This is something we could ask our Guardian Angel to remind us of daily, so that we can go forward, like those wise bridesmaids, with lamps brightly burning in joyful hope.
I invite you to the annual Mass for those who have died from our Parish Family in this last year: on Thursday evening at seven o’clock.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale