FREEMASONRY
The Bishop has written to the Clergy of the Diocese drawing our attention to a recent document from Rome signed by Cardinal Victor Fernandéz, Prefect of the Dicastery for The Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope Francis. This document reaffirms Freemasonry as being a proscribed organisation for Catholics and membership carries the penalty of excommunication. This prohibition dates back to Pope Clement XII, who formally condemned it in a Papal Bull of 1738. For further information please see:
Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes-Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th July
The parishes of Leigh-on-Sea, Southend & Prittlewell are considering a joint trip to participate in the Brentwood Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. As in previous years, we will fly with British Airways from Heathrow to Toulouse.
We are currently gauging the interest within our parish community. The package price will be finalised and communicated before the end of January. Please be informed that single rooms will be limited this year.
Please register your interest before 25th January. Please register your details (name, number of seats required, a contact number & an email address) with the Parish Office. Online booking forms will be available from 1st February 2023. Limited places available!
Sacrament of Confirmation
This will take place on Pentecost Sunday, 19th May, 2024. Any adult or young adult (who must have reached the age of fourteen by 1st September 2023) may apply. Please send an email with your name and contact details to mrscatherineharris@gmail.com by Ash Wednesday, 14th February, 2024.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 15th January—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm Newman Room
Wednesday: February 21st, 28th, & March 13th & 20th;
Lenten Evenings of Reflection—7-8.30pm
Monday 22nd—Saturday 27th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Baptisms
We congratulate the parents of Bella Meredith, Jamie Boissezon, Melania Mikolajczyk, Dillon Winter, Freya Murphy, Leo Platt, Julia Ashley-Chelton, Bradley Acton, Jessica Acton & Daniela Scetti who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
RCIA will meet on Monday, 15th 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.
Repository
We are open 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.
World Day of Prayer
This year’s World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 1st March at 10.30am. at Avenue Baptist church, Milton Road, Westcliff-On-Sea SS0 7JX followed by tea/coffee. Car parking is available at North Road and Cliffs Pavilion car parks.
This years’ service is prepared by the women of Palestine on the theme “I beg you, bear with one another in love”.. We are very fortunate to have the children from St Helen's primary school to take an active part in the service. We invite everyone to join us in praying for peace in the Holy Land.
St Joseph's, Canvey Island Headteacher vacancy
Headteacher vacancy at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Canvey Island, required for September 2024.
The Assisi Catholic Trust are looking to appoint an inspirational, ambitious and innovative Headteacher for this rewarding leadership role who will drive rapid school improvement and ensure a broad curriculum is provided that is rooted in Gospel values.
Further information and application documents can be found on the following websites – St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - A Good Catholic School - Vacancies (stjosephscanvey.net) and www.assisicatholictrust.com
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
The Epiphany of The Lord
Dear friends in Christ
The feast of The Epiphany of Our Lord has a twofold significance: Christ is made manifest to the world in the persons of the Wise Men and then follows the call to worship.
Dear friends in Christ
The feast of The Epiphany of Our Lord has a twofold significance: Christ is made manifest to the world in the persons of the Wise Men and then follows the call to worship. Most of the great representations in art depict these facets of Epiphany. This is a mystery that is recalled to our eyes every time we enter our church building: the central panel of the Reredos shows Mary presenting the Child Jesus to the Magi—and to us. This representation is directly above the Tabernacle, so the link to adoration is very evident. St Mathew tells us that upon entering the house where the Child and His Mother were, they fell down upon their knees and worshipped Him. The gifts they offered also represent the desire to give generously to God in the elements we employ for the sacred liturgy. Let us learn from these men how to live a sense of amazement in the presence of God. They would only have seen a poor child with his parents, nothing much to recognise on the surface. If we had been there, would we have seen through the eyes of faith, the revelation of God? We need to be attentive, lest we pass-by the glory and the beauty of God in our midst. Let a sense of amazement in the face of God, ever move us to awe and worship.
The celebration of the Baptism of Jesus follows on Monday. Normally this is the occasion for the Blessing of Newly Baptised Children, and this Sunday evening we shall indeed have this Benediction as usual, distributing to them the Miraculous Medal—sign of the protection of our Heavenly Mother.
With my renewed greetings, good wishes and blessing for the start of 2024!!
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Epiphany of The Lord
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of The Epiphany of the Lord
Saturday 6
Feria of Christmas Time
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
Monday 8
The Baptism of the Lord
9am Mass Ellen Walsh, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
Tuesday 9
Feria
9am Mass Dave Pollock, RIP (PL)
Wednesday 10
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of the Speirs Family (DS)
Thursday 11
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Maria Cook (SD)
11am Funeral Service Arthur Bernard Coughlan
Friday 12
St Aelred of Rievaulx, Ab
12Noon Mass David Bartholomeusz, RIP (Anniv) (BC)
Saturday 13
St Hilary, Bp, D
10am Mass Intentions of Edwina Pentelow (CS)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Tim McCarthy, RIP (SMcC)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 14 January
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Essie Glauda, RIP (Anniv) (KC)
9.30am Mass Eric Major, RIP (Anniv) (PM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon John Bloomfield, Canon Francis Dobson, Minnie Fogarty, Brian McInerney, Blodweh Owen, Louise Alexandra Marsden, Hester Masi, Walter McGune, Melissa Overton, John O’Leary, Elizabeth Hancock, Firmina Rose Bailey, Frances Sims,Bill Shanahan, Terence Foley, Gertrude Culley, Doreen Newcombe, Winifred Hughes, Madeline Moroney, Clive Vincent Allen, Stephen Gallacher, Evelyn Roots, June Dillon, Cyril Jarman, Agness O’Donoghue, Agnes McManus, Catherine Ramsay, Hubert Carlyon, Mary Tomlinson, Ryan Allen, Margaret Bonsor, Juan Billena, Mabel Payne, Joe Delobel, Leslie George Murray, Derrick Whithil-Smith, Mary Cooper, Tim McCarthy, Lily Jessie Johnson & Eileen Watson.
We Pray for our Sick
Valerie Quinn, 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 Lawrence family.
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. His body will be received into the church on Tuesday, 6th February at 4.30pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 7th February at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass
Incoming: Prelude Jean-Francois Dandrieu (1682-1738)
Outgoing: Improvisation on "We three Kings"—David Lasky (20th. century)
OLOL Ladies Group
Wishing all our members a very happy and healthy New Year!
A very warm welcome back on Thursday 11th January from 10am in the Parish Centre. As usual new members are very welcome. Subs are £1 per Meeting, plus a fun Raffle. Refreshments are included.
To start off the New year we have a guest Speaker who is a volunteer/guide at the Rayleigh Windmill. We hope to give Trevor Rand a very warm welcome, he will be bringing a selection of pictures and giving a talk on the history of the Windmill so we are looking forward to an interesting morning.