Dates for your Diary
Monday 8th January—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm Newman Room
Monday 22nd—Saturday 27th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Repository
We are open again this weekend and look forward to seeing you all. We have a selection of Mass and Sympathy cards, plus Statues and other religious objects.
If you don’t see what you are looking for, please ask one of the volunteers. We are open weekends only.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
If returning to school expenses in the new year are a worry for you please contact the parish SVP on 07845874331.
The Society is always available to help families or individuals experiencing financial difficulty. All matters are dealt with confidentially. The society appreciates the continued support it receives from our parish community.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
RCIA will meet on Monday, 8th January 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.
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
Interested in a Vocation to the Priesthood?
Evenings for Vocations enquirers in the new year will be held 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.
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.
Bake for Heroes
Adam Carstairs, on behalf of Royal Mews Dental Practice, would like to thank everyone who attended the Bake For Heroes event. A total of £395.33 was raised for Help For Heroes! Thank you so much.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Dear friends in Christ
Renewed greetings for this Christmas season! Wishing you all every health, grace and blessing for 2024!
Dear friends in Christ
Renewed greetings for this Christmas season! Wishing you all every health, grace and blessing for 2024!
As we conclude the year and look ahead to a new year, we are ever conscious of the uncertainties of life and, that we need to entrust everything to God. We begin the New Year entrusting to the maternal intercession of Our Blessed Mother—the year always begins with the feast in honour of her Divine Motherhood. It is clear that God wishes us to seek the help of His Mother as we hasten along the paths of this life. In the Incarnation she gives us Jesus, and her vocation until the end of time is to continually make him better known and loved. May Mary be our Helper and Guide as we continue the pilgrimage of life towards our heavenly homeland.
As always at this time, I extend my gratitude to all of you for your help and support throughout the last year. I am particularly grateful for your many greetings, kind gifts and Christmas Offerings that have been sent-in. It is always a huge cause of joy that so many of the Parish Family collaborate together in making the celebration of Christmas something beautiful. This includes those who clean and decorate the church, to those involved in the liturgical celebrations, to the many unseen acts of kindness that are done. It was so gratifying to see the numbers at the Masses much as they were pre-pandemic. Thank you all very much and be assured of my continued desire to serve you as your Priest and Father in Christ, as long as God allows!
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Christmas 1
Saturday 30
Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
5.30pm Vigil Mass Steve & Agnes McManus, RIP (Anniv) (SW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 31 December
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Anthony Hayes, RIP (SMcC)
11.30am Mass Sheila Johnson, RIP (D&SC)
6pm Holy Hour: Te Deum & Benediction
Monday 1 January
Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
12noon Mass Allan & Evelyn Thomson, RIP (RK)
Tuesday 2
Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bpp, Dd
9am Mass Maureen Regan, RIP (Anniv) (CR)
Wednesday 3
Feria of Christmas Time
9am Mass Sheila Van De Yyver, RIP (JS)
Thursday 4
Feria of Christmas Time
9am Mass Lucille Tarrobal, RIP
Friday 5
Feria of Christmas Time—First Friday of the month
12Noon Mass Joseph Gallo, RIP (RG-G)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 6
Feria of Christmas Time
10am Mass Terence & Maisie Renehan, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass David Bartholomeusz, RIP (Anniv) (BC)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 7 January
The Epiphany of the Lord
8am Mass Yvonne Ashwell Rivens, RIP (JL)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Mr & Mrs Jose Conlu, RIP (LC)
4pm Mass Intentions of John O’Brien (DS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Brian Reeves, Pope Benedict XVI, Canon Patrick McKenna, Fr Francis Keenan, Canon John Blomfield, Fr Jim Wilkinson, Fr Denis Cantwell, George Lane, Leslie Dawson, Mary Reilly, Michael McGaughey, Thomas Woolcott, Francis Hayes, John Sinclair, Mrs Joan Gubbins, Kate Lessons, Kathleen Lewin, Gregory Power, Maureen Guihen, Emily Swann, Mary O’Toole, Annie French, Jules O Deuss, Ethel Milo, Simon Burgoyne, Violet Jackson, Millicent Ransom, Joseph Hazell, Eileen Murray, Maureen Regan, Helen Cotton, Peter Quinn, Charles D’Souza, Len Gardner, Hannah Flintoff, Eileen Bull, Frances Ryan, Britt Irons, Len Plummer, Anthony Ryan, Hilda Edwards, Walter Burden, Ricky (Lola) Clarke, Marie Fitzakerly, Frances Keenan, Lena Austin, Lucien Star, Eric Tarrant, Niall Cooney, Essie Glauda, Mary Josephine Herbert, Arthur Jackson, Ivy Whiting, Phyllis Sullivan, Patricia Dear, Sibyl Hardy, Gerald Vickers, Claire Mellish, Duncan Boyle, & John Harley.
We Pray for our Sick
Tony Bullock, Michael Doherty, 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 Lamp burns for the deceased members of the McManus and West families.
Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass
Incoming: Noel—Jean-Francois Dandrieu (1682-1738)
Outgoing: Prelude for New Year BWV 605—J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
ARTHUR BERNARD COUGHLAN who died on 8th December. His Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, 11th January at 11am followed by committal at Basildon Crematorium.
ANTHONY SANSOM who died peacefully at home on Friday, 22nd December.
Requiescant in pace
Crib Offerings
The CRIB offerings this year are for the work of the Brentwood Catholic Childrens Society—BCCS.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
If returning to school expenses in the New Year are a worry for you please contact the parish SVP on 07845874331.
The Society is always available to help families or individuals experiencing financial difficulty. All matters are dealt with confidentially. The society appreciates the continued support it receives from our parish community.
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
Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!
The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!
May the Christ Child bring His peace and the warmth of His presence to all those suffering from warfare and violence.
Msgr Kevin Hale