Serving the Homeless—200 Club
Dear member of Serving the Homeless 200 Club
Please note that the final draw will take place on Monday 18th December 2023. On that date the balance of all monies received into the 200 Club Account will be divided in half, with 50% to be distributed as prize money and 50% transferred to the Current Account of Serving the Homeless.
Please remember to cancel your Standing order by the end of December. Any monies received into the 200 Club Account after the 18th of December will be transferred to the Current Account of Serving the Homeless to form part of the final distribution.
Thank you all for your magnificent support over the last 30 years.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
RCIA will meet on Monday, 18th December 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.
Interested in a Vocation to the Priesthood?
Evenings for Vocations enquirers
We are planning to continue the Evenings for Vocations enquirers in the new year on Tuesdays 6th February, 5th March, 9th April, 7th May and 4th June. Canon John Harvey has kindly agreed to host the evenings at the Cathedral.
Vocations Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden
This is a day pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden in North London.
Repository during Advent
We are open as usual after all Masses at weekends only. We still have a small selection of Christmas cards and gifts, plus Advent Calendars. If you do not see what you are looking for please ask one of the volunteers for help.
We apologise that we do not have cards from the Latin Mass Society due to the suppliers re-printing problems.
A very big ‘thank you’ to everyone who visited our stall at the Parish Bazaar, plus the very positive and encouraging comments we received.
St Helen's Catholic Primary School
Headteacher vacancy at St Helen’s Catholic Primary School required for September 2024 – Due to the current headteacher taking the decision to retire after 20 years in the post, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspiring and creative leader to join the team at St Helen’s Catholic Primary School. Further information and application documents can be found on the following websites – www.st-helens.southend.sch.uk and www.assisicatholictrust.com.
Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2024
The 2024 Diocesan Directory now available from the back of the Church—£2.95
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
Missio Red Box Holders
I have received the Missio Calendar 2024. If you have not received one personally from me, please take one from the back of the Church, on the ledge, usual place.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Vote for Charity Film Awards
All our supporters, please vote and share for our St Vincent's Southend Video clip for the Charity Film Awards as we have been nominated as the Charity supporting people in our community.
Hearts without Homes | Smiley Charity Film Awards
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
One of the central figures of Advent is the Prophet Isaiah.
Dear friends in Christ
One of the central figures of Advent is the Prophet Isaiah. He proclaims that God is both the judge and the saviour. This means that God has a plan to make all things right in the end, and that a necessary part of that process is declaring what is not yet right. The judgment of God declares what is broken; the promise of God is to heal. The message of the book of Isaiah to the world is that there is indeed a Saviour, the Messiah, who has humbly, painfully, and gloriously won salvation for sinners and for all who would trust in Him.This hope would be embodied through God's servant, Emmanuel, who will one day establish a new Israel and God's Kingdom on Earth. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. As we make haste through Advent to the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, may his message resonate together with that of Saint John the Baptist, as they call us to help establish the Kingdom of Christ here and now.
I am so grateful to all those who contributed to the Christmas Bazaar last Sunday. A great deal of effort goes into the arranging of this by a small group of helpers who year-by-year organise this event. I thank also those who have contributed to the Bazaar with gifts, the buying of Draw tickets, or by supporting it on the day. The Bazaar realised almost £2,000 and I am proposing that we support two important Charities this year: Aid to the Church in Need (which is carrying-out tremendous work in Ukraine and the Middle-East) and Mary’s Meals (which aims to ensure every child receives one daily meal in their place of education, and that those who have more than they need share with those who lack basic necessities). If you would like to make further donations to these Charities, you can find more information in their websites: https://acnuk.org/ and https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/our-story. I commend both of these charitable works to your generosity as we approach Christmas.
May God bless us as we make this gentle but determined movement through the Advent season!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Advent I
Saturday 9
St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
5.30pm Vigil Mass Joseph & Stella Gallo, RIP (RG-G)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 10 December
Second Sunday of Advent
8am Mass Caroline Goeghegan, RIP (GG)
9.30am Mass Lucrecia Conlu, RIP (JC)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 11
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
9am Mass Meg Cheeseman, RIP (RO'C)
Tuesday 12
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
9am Mass Fr Bernard O'Brien, RIP (RO'C)
Wednesday 13
St Lucy, V, M
9am Mass Alan Myles, RIP (CB)
Thursday 14
St John pf the Cross, Pr, D
9am Mass Fr Bernard O'Brien, RIP (SH)
Friday 15
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
12Noon Mass Mary Morgan, RIP (EM)
7pm Serving the Homeless Carol Service
Saturday 16
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
10am Mass Maria Louisa Page, RIP (Anniv) (LS)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 17 December
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
8am Mass John McCarthy, RIP (Anniv) (M&RMcC)
9.30am Mass Hilary Barry, RIP (MI)
11.30am Mass Winnie McClafferty, RIP & Noel Dixon, RIP (A-MM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr John Evers, Fr Bentley, Karen Anderson, Hilda Eid, Georgina Francis, Ann Dunbar, Francis Mullan, Ivy Heale, Cecilia Upset, William Anderson, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland, Peter D’Angerville, Bernard Duane, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Evelyn Joyce, Doreen Murphy, Clarice Bregazzi, Thomas McInnerney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Mayfield, Paul Corpe, Mary McQuaid, Francis O’Neill, Eileen Byczynski, Larraine Moore & Maria Page.
We Pray for our Sick
Carol Emerson, Kitty Lydon, Isabel Coombs, Lucy Moreno, Jose Luis Lira, Richard Poole, Pamela Uglietti, Michael Mapson, Deana Ince, Susan Griffin, Gy Rampersaud, Mary O’Sullivan, Ian Spacie, Bobby Newman, Paul Watts, Christine Reid, Rose D’Souza, Jimmy & Pauline Martin, James Fegan, David Lesley, 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.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamps burn for the intentions of the deceased members of the McGeoghegan Family and Susan Griffin and Family.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
Mrs SUZANNE (SUE) REYNOLDS who died on 7th November. Her body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 20th December at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 21st December at 2pm, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescat in pace
OLL Ladies Group
Our last meeting for this year is on Thursday 14th December from 10am in the Parish Centre. Do come along and join in the Festive fun with some seasonal morsels and a glass of Prosecco.
We are looking forward to a relaxed morning with a chance to catch up with friends old and new. As usual subs are £1, plus a super Christmas Raffle.
Serving the Homeless Carol Service
Please join Serving the Homeless for our final Carol Service on Friday 15th December at 7pm to help us to celebrate what has been achieved over the last 33 years.
We are hoping that many of you will be able to be a part of our final event before we disband in January.
You are invited to
‘Carols for Christmas’
Friday 15th December at 7pm
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Leigh on Sea
A combined local initiative of, Catholic, Anglican and Methodist Churches in Leigh; Supporting Southend YMCA, HARP, and St Vincent’s Centre Southend
Please join us for carols with the ‘Sea of Voices Choir’ and YMCA
And afterwards for mulled wine and mince pies in the Parish Centre
Donations to Serving the Homeless Charity no. 1018354
Dates for your Diary
Monday 11th December—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm Newman Room
Friday 15th December—Carol Service—Serving the Homeless
Monday 22nd—Saturday 27th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
HARP
As we approach this festive time of year, particularly after what has been a really challenging year for so many people, our thoughts often turn to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
The ongoing cost of living crisis has forced many people to make difficult decisions about whether to eat, heat or pay their rent. As a result, more and more people have been forced into homelessness in Southend and Essex. Many of those people are currently sleeping rough or sofa surfing, not knowing where their next meal will come from, without a safe place to call home or family to turn to for support.
This is why we are extremely grateful for the support you’ve provided us with in the past. I wanted to thank you for this and ask if you could support us again this Christmas? A gift of just £10, or whatever you can afford, will help us do more for people who need us.
You can donate online at harpsouthend.org.uk or give your donation to Linda Wall who will pass it on to HARP