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.

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 

Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare Sunday

Dear friends in Christ

We have now entered the second phase of Great Lent. In the first weeks the emphasis is on personal conversion and asceticism. We now move to a consideration of the Cross and Passion of Jesus. The symbol of Moses in the desert raising up the serpent for the salvation of those who were sick (the Gospel of the Mass) reminds us that the standard of the Cross of Christ is the sign of salvation. Perhaps the Cross is something we take for granted, without even giving it a second thought when we bless ourselves. Perhaps we have even become too comfortable with the Cross as an image, a piece of artwork. These next weeks of Lent will recall to our minds how the price of our salvation was paid by the death of Jesus on the Cross. St John Henry Newman reflects on this in his Meditations on the Way of the Cross at the Twelfth Station:

“The Eternal Father determined not to pardon us without a price, in order to show us especial favour. He condescended to make us valuable to Him. What we buy we put a value on. He might have saved us without a price—by the mere fiat of His will. But to show His love for us, He took a price, which, if there was to be a price set upon us at all, if there was any ransom at all to be taken for the guilt of our sins, could be nothing short of the death of His Son in our nature.”

May we continue living these days of Lent in constant gratitude for the price God has paid to save us. Do continue to use the opportunities the Parish provides this Lent for our drawing closer to Our Lord.

May God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare

Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Fourth Sunday of Lent

Saturday 9
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Mass Bernardette Lane, RIP (MH)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 10 March
Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare
8am Mass Maria Horlock, RIP (Anniv) (M&RMcC)
9.30am Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 11
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
9am Mass Intentions of Pat Lambert (MI)

Tuesday 12
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
9am Mass Madeliene Lloyd, RIP (SH)

Wednesday 13
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
9am Mass Michael Saunders, RIP (MC)
7pm Lenten Evening of Reflection

Thursday 14
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
9am Mass Violet Gray, RIP

Friday 15
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
12noon Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (RO’C)
7pm Way of the Cross and Benediction

Saturday 16
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
10am Mass Rev John O'Neill (FM)
10.30am-11.30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
11am First Confessions

5.30pm Vigil Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 17 March
Fifth Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Eric Newman, RIP (Anniv) VA)
9.30am Mass Bernardette Lane, RIP (MR)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (Anniv) (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Fr William Luby, Canon Martin Horkan, Rev Edmund Meyer, Fr Maurice Roche, Therese Ketterer, Joseph Collins, Lionel Clarke, Richard Young, Margaret Houston, Benjamin Dawson, Leo King, Edith Smith, Eileen Greaves, George Burnham, Lydia Upton, Maura Harley, Eric Wilding, Stefan Gyms, Frank Keenan (Sir), Philip Hale, Eleanor Hayes, June Hazel White, Bridget Morris, Nora Thompson, David McGowan, George Conway, James Kennedy, Kathleen Hosford Julian Felix Asselberghs, Catherine Isabel Jago, Anthony Slattery, Mary Russell, Henry McIlwee & Nina Clarke.

We pray for our sick

The Sick List is available on the website main menu, under Worship.

We pray for the sick of our parish

“Father,
by the power of your Spirit
you have filled the hearts of your faithful people
with gifts of love for one another.
Hear the prayers we offer for our relatives and friends.
Give them health of mind and body
that they may do your will with perfect love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”

— Roman Missal: For relatives and friends

Sanctuary Lamp

This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of the family of Theresa Ofulue, RIP (20th Anniversary).

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, 20th March at 12 noon in the Church of Our Lady of Light, Clacton-on-Sea.

MARGARET BARTLE who died recently.

Requiescant in pace

Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass

Introit: Duo—Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703)

Outgoing: Toccata—Johann Speth (1664-1719)

Dates for your Diary

Monday 11th March—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm St Clement Room

Thursdays: March 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

Zofia Todryk, RIP

The Requiem Mass for my mother Zofia will be on Wednesday 13th March 11am at Our Lady Immaculate & St Edmund, Chapel Lane, Withermarsh Green, Colchester, Suffolk, CO6 4TA. Followed by her burial at Burnham on Crouch Cemetery, Southminster Road , Burnham on Crouch CM0 8QE

All oareur welcome to join us after nearby for refreshments at: Swallowtail Restaurant, Foundry Lane Burnham, Yacht Harbour, Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8BL. John Todryk

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.

Gift Aid Envelopes

Please note that boxes of Offertory Gift Aid envelopes for the financial year 2024/2025 are available for collection at the back of Church.

There are also special second collection envelopes for those parishioners who have elected to donate offertory donations by means of a Standing Order.

Thanking you for your continued generosity and support with the finances of the Parish.

Flower & Craft Festival Saturday 6th July 2024

It is time to start preparations for this year’s Flower and Craft Festival! The Theme this year is ‘PRAYER.’

We would love to have as many people as possible to take part. Simply choose a prayer or prayers and think about how that can be illustrated visually with Flowers, Art work, Artefacts, Needlework etc.

The Festival day is always a very inspiring occasion with people from all faiths or none dropping into our beautiful Church. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response that there has been over the last few years to our themes.

If you would like to take part please email me at : mcronan@btinternet.com, or simply speak to me or Theresa.

If you are not sure about a suitable prayer then I have lots to choose from. Jo Ronan

Catholic Parish Summit

The Catholic Parish Summit is taking place in Harrogate from the 12th to the 14th of June with over 1,000 parish leaders from across the country.

Our diocese has booked some places for the Summit which are available to anyone who is interested in attending. These places are free but they are limited and you will need to make arrangements for accommodation while you are in Harrogate. For more information about the Summit please visit their website: https://catholicparishsummit.com/

If you would like to find out more please email Father Dan Mason, the Episcopal Vicar for Parish Renewal at billericay@brcdt.org

Missio Red Box Holders

I have received the Spring 2024 Missio magazines. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church (Usual place). Thank you Joan Caunce Secretary.01268 757505

2024 Caritas Networking Day

Interested in the Catholic response to homelessness, welcoming refugees and migrants, assisting with the Cost of Living Crisis, or tackling the causes and effects of climate change? You are invited to the 2024 Caritas Brentwood Networking Day, Saturday 27th April, 10am – 2.30pm, at the St Edward the Confessor Church Hall, Romford (10-minute walk from Romford Station on the Elizabeth line, Bus routes from London are regular, parking is available but limited and a bike rack is also on site). This day is a chance to be sustained, share ideas and good practices with people from parishes across Essex and East London and hear about charities and resources available. Details and Registration (for free!) at www.caritasbrentwood.org/network<http://www.caritasbrentwood.org/network>

Journey of Faith—RCIA

RCIA will meet on Monday, 11th 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.

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).

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.