Please pray for the repose of the souls of
MICHAEL COLMAN LUCEY who died on Wednesday, 14th February. His Requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday, 20th March at 10.45am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
ISABEL COOMBS who died on Wednesday, 17th January. Her body will be received into the church on Thursday, 21st March at 4.30pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 22nd March at 10am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
GEORGINA CORNWELL who died on Monday 19th February. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Monday, 25th March at 11am followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
FR JOHN TAYLOR who died on 2oth February. His Requiem Mass will be on Wednesdsay, 2oth March at 12 noon in the Church of Our Lady of Light, Clacton-on-Sea.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday 4th March—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm St Clement Room
Thursdays: March 7th, 14th & 21st—'The Chosen’ 7pm Parish Centre
Wednesdays: March 13th & 20th;
Lenten Evenings of Reflection—7-8.30pm
Saturdays 11th & 18th May—First Holy Communion Masses
Sunday 19th May—Sacrament of Confirmation
Saturday 6th July—Flower Festival
Monday 22nd—Friday 26th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Vocations evening for enquirers
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5 March at Brentwood Cathedral. The speaker will be Deacon Frank Westcott.
For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires: vocprom@brcdt.org
LENTEN EVENINGS OF REFLECTION
Wednesday, March 13th—Fr Graham Smith PP Southend: How to be Holy
Wednesday, March 20th—Fr Stephen Morrison OPræm PP Peckham: The Kingship of Christ in the Passion
To include a preached meditation by a guest speaker, Eucharistic Adoration, Compline, Benediction and Confessions. These will be held in the church from 7–8pm followed by refreshments and a bookstall in the Parish Centre.
OLL Ladies Group
We meet next Thursday, 7th March at 10am in the Parish Centre. All ladies and new members are all welcome. We look forward to one of our very popular quiz mornings presented by Jan Lewis who has prepared a book quiz in recognition of National Book Week, so you all have plenty of time to mull over all your favourite Authors.. If you are not a bookworm just come along and enjoy the company, with refreshments and a fun raffle.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
RCIA will meet on Monday, 4th March 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 St Clement 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 after all Masses at weekends so please feel free to come and browse our new stock. We are pleased to say we now have a large collection of Rosaries to suit all tastes/ages, plus a selection of Statues and Candles.
Just arrived are new Cards for Mass intentions, Sympathy, Get Well, Birthday etc. For the early bird we have some Easter and Mother’s Day cards, plus gifts and cards for Baptism. If you do not find what you are looking for please ask one of the Volunteers.
National Novena to St. Joseph: 10th to 18th March 2024
Every year the Mill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St. Joseph with a Special Novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God' blessing for the intentions of all those who support their work. Please see the poster at the back of Church with more information. Thank you. Joan Caunce (Secretary).
BCCS Anniversary Afternoon Tea
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society will be hosting a very special Anniversary Afternoon Tea at the Roslin Beach Hotel, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday 23rd April 2024 at 1pm for service at 1.30pm. They are delighted that Bishop Alan, BCCS President, will be attending as guest of honour. Tickets for the event are £34.00 per person and should be purchased before Monday 8th April directly from their event webpage: www.bccs.org.uk/get-involved/events/ Once you have purchased your tickets, please advise Julie of any special dietary requirements or seating requests by contacting her by email jabbott@bccs.org.uk or call her on 07912 277413. Guests will be seated at tables of 12.
Organ Loft cleaner required
Would you be able to spare an hour a week between 10am and 1pm, to help clean our organ loft? Whichever day suits you, and it doesn’t have to be the same day every week!
If you can help, please contact the Parish office on 01702 478078 or email office@lourdesleigh.org.
Loving Leigh
Following on from the Bishop's request to respond to the needs of our environment and our brothers and sisters we are proposing to initiate the following projects with your help.
Fair Trade - we will sell Fair Trade products after Sunday Masses once a month beginning on Sunday March 17th. Please support our brothers and sisters who work hard to provide goods for us.
Environment - We are looking for donations of any environmentally friendly plants for the church gardens (both drought resistant and pollinators)
Volunteers needed - We are planning to work with 2 organisations (SAVS and Your Family) who need volunteers in a number of different areas allowing individudals to use their skills and expertise.
Street Pastors - Asking for volunteers who will be trained to work on the streets of Southend. They also need a treasurer.
Southend University - We plan to operate a Homework Club in the Parish Centre one day a week between 3.30-5.00pm to support young people who do not have the facilities at home to do their homework. The University will provide some mentors but if one or two parishioners could also support this initiative on a rota basis that would be great.
We hope that by putting our faith into action that we are responding to the example of Jesus and the words of our Pope.
If you are willing to help in any of the above ventures or just want to know a little more about them please ring Cathy on 07762 107920 to find out more.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham - Saturday 25th May 2024
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.
We will be sharing a coach with Sacred Heart Parish. If you would like to book a seat please leave your name and contact details with the Parish office.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School
Are you looking for a Nursery for your 2 to 4 year old?
Contact us to look around our learning environment!
office@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk 01702475689
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School is located in Leigh's heart along Manchester Drive, a short walk from the London Road.
Our welcoming community school is perfect for children starting Nursery in 2024.
We're proud of our family feel, which spans generations, and our vast grounds for children to play.
Excelling in music, sport, science, and a balanced curriculum, we're the ideal place for your child to flourish.
Thinking about your child as they grow, our children transition easily and happily into our Reception classes. Our children achieve well in KS2, with many children moving on to the Catholic secondary schools.
40 Days for Life
40 days for life is a witness to human life praying and peacefully offering help to vulnerable women and girls. Southend City On Sea Marie Stopes International is an Abortion DIY Pills provider. Join us over the Lenten period till Friday 22nd March. Contact Mary Connolly 07478765010 Madrecasita8@gmail.com
St Bernard's High School—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.
Second Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
To encounter Christ is to encounter ourselves.
Dear friends in Christ
To encounter Christ is to encounter ourselves. That is, not as we are, but as we are to become. Jesus, in revealing His glory, reveals also the glory that is to be ours. The apostles, privileged to witness the Transfiguration, certainly knew Jesus better as a result. The human veil over His divinity was for a moment lifted and they beheld his heavenly splendour. They also beheld the upward call of every Christian. Saint Augustine says that the transfigured Christ reveals what His body is to become. We are to be transfigured as well. The purpose of everything in our faith—of all doctrines and sacraments—is to make us glow more and more brightly. To encounter Christ is to encounter ourselves. When we behold His glory, we learn our lofty calling and goal. When we listen to His words, we learn the path to such glory.
Please keep in your prayers those who are preparing for the Sacraments during this Lenten season: the thirty young adults who will begin preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation this Sunday. The fifty children preparing for their First Confession and First Holy Communion. The nine members of the Parish Family who were presented to the Bishop last Sunday in our Cathedral for the Easter Sacraments of Initiation. May Christ and His Blessed Mother enfold them in their divine love! And may God bless all of you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Lent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Second Sunday of Lent
Saturday 24
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Violet Gray, RIP & Lucille Tarrabal, RIP
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 25 February
Second Sunday of Lent
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Lucrecia & Jose Conlu, RIP
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 26
Monday of the Second Week of Lent
9am Mass John Bernard Holland, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
Tuesday 27
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
9am Mass Tony, Brita & Michael Irons, RIP (JV)
Wednesday 28
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
9am Mass Madelaine Sighe, RIP (Anniv) (MR)
7pm Lenten Evening of Reflection
Thursday 29
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
9am Mass Canon Francis Gilbert, RIP (FM)
Friday 1 March
St David, Bp—First Friday of the Month
12noon Mass Bill Hoggett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
12.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until
7pm Way of the Cross and Benediction
Saturday 2
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
10am Mass Bernadette Lane, RIP (K&LW)
10.30-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Fr Richard Moroney (Northampton) (PM)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 3 March
Third Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Henry O'Callaghan, Special Intention
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Janet Weale, RIP (TW)
4pm Mass Violette Gray, RIP
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who has supported the 200 Club this year. The results of the January draw are as follows:
1st Prize £150 121 Mrs A Craig
2nd Prize £100 88 Mrs R O’Callaghan
3rd Prize £75 134 Mr D Little
4th Prize £25 89 Mr J Murphy
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.