Third Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
In an early text by Saint Justin, Martyr, c.150 AD we read: On Sundays there is an assembly of all who live in towns or in the country... This is the first day, on which God transformed darkness and matter and made the world; the day on which Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead.
Dear friends in Christ
In an early text by Saint Justin, Martyr, c.150 AD we read: On Sundays there is an assembly of all who live in towns or in the country... This is the first day, on which God transformed darkness and matter and made the world; the day on which Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead. The Jewish Sabbath gave way to the Christian Sunday from the very beginning of the Church, and from then on, every Sunday we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection. Saturday was the day dedicated to Yahweh in the Old Testament. God himself instituted it and commanded the Israelites to abstain from certain tasks on that day in order to honour him properly. It was also the day on which the family got together to celebrate the end of the captivity in Egypt. As time passed, the rabbis complicated the divine precept, so that by the time of Jesus there had come into being a series of oppressive and meticulous prescriptions that bore no relation to what God had laid down about the Sabbath.
The feast-days of Israel, and particularly the Sabbath, were a sign of the Divine Covenant and the people's way of expressing their joy at being God's property and the object of His choosing and His love. That is why every feast-day was linked to a salvation event. Yet these feast-days contained only the promise of a reality which still had to take place. With the Resurrection of Our Lord the Sabbath gives way to the reality which it had foreshadowed—the Christian celebration. Our Lord himself speaks of the kingdom of God as a great banquet offered by a king on the occasion of the wedding of his son, through whom we are invited to share in the messianic benefits. With Christ there arises a new and superior cult, because now we have also a new Priest, and a new Victim is offered.
We are called to witness to the Resurrection each and every Sunday by our primary duty of celebrating Holy Mass as a Parish Family and then spending time with our families, engaged in those activities that genuinely renew us in mind, body and spirit.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Easter
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Easter 3
Saturday 13
Saturday after the Second Sunday of Easter
5.30pm Vigil Mass Christine Keenan, RIP (Anniv) (FK)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 14 April
Third Sunday of Easter
8am Mass Deceased Relatives of the Lewis Family (JL)
9.30am Mass John Adams, RIP (HR)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 15
Monday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Martin Payne, RIP (Anniv) (VP)
Tuesday 16
Tuesday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Alex Clark, RIP (SH)
Wednesday 17
Wednesday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Phillip & Susan Maxfield—25th Wedding Anniversary (SM)
Thursday 18
Thursday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Theresa Ofulue, RIP (20th Anniv) (PO)
Friday 19
Friday after the Third Sunday of Easter
12Noon Mass Albert Thomas Cook, RIP (Anniv) (SD)
Saturday 20
Saturday after the Third Sunday of Easter
10am Mass Roland Clark, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
10.30-11.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Mass Intentions of Rosemary Bragard (Birthday) (RM)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 21 April
Fourth Sunday of Easter
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Flora Ignatius, RIP (Anniv) (RP)
11.30am Mass Colin Haworth, RIP (RB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Owen Fitzgerald, Fr John O’Mahoney, Fr William Donelan, Fr George Duckett, Fr Joseph McEntee, Fr Anthony Colebrook, John Clements, Ian Walker, John Adams, Agnes Dorothy Ransom, Martin Payne, Peter Abel, James Kennedy, Sebastiano Marino, Stephen Bendall, Orla Shapiro, Antonio Capone, Mary Ellen O’Driscoll, Kenneth Sigovallan, Doris McEvoy, Cecelia Spindly, Wilfred Walton, Phyllis Osment, Beryl Rombaut, Mary Kirk-Smith, Anna Rose, George Andrews, Millicent Howell, Albert Thomas Cook, Thomas Corcoran, Violet Dagnell, Louisa Hucks, Harold Horam, Ellaline Stenfalt & Magdalena Schenbel.
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.”
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 15th April—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm St Clement Room
Saturdays 11th & 18th May—First Holy Communion Masses
Sunday 19th May—Sacrament of Confirmation
Sunday 23rd June—Fortieth Anniversary Mass of Fr Kevin Hale 11.30am
Saturday 6th July—Flower Festival
Monday 22nd—Friday 26th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass
Incoming: Voluntary for flute—William Hine (1687-1730)
Outgoing: Basse De Trompette—Gaspard Corrette (early 18th. century)
Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity
Declaration of the Holy See on some aspects of the Dignity of Human Life, including gender issues.
It can be read here:
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html
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
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 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.
If you would like to come please contact 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.
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>
Cleaner Required
Would you be able to spare an hour a week between 10am and 1pm, to help clean the Lady Chapel ? 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.
Art Exhibition
There will be a stunning Exhibition of Portraiture and some other subject matter by Parishioner Austin Butler at the Leigh Community Centre commencing Monday 15th April until Friday 24th May. Art walls are the large stairwell wall and the upstairs hallway. Austin has won National Awards for his painting. Full colour catalogues available and information at the Exhibition.
Second Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
The Octave Day of Easter renews our joy and hope in the Resurrection of Our Lord
Dear friends in Christ
The Octave Day of Easter renews our joy and hope in the Resurrection of Our Lord! The Gospel calls to our minds and hearts the moment on that same evening when Jesus confers His power to forgive sin on the Church. The Apostles are given the Divine mandate to forgive sins in His name. Since the year 2000 we celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy this Sunday. It was this Day that year that St Pope John Paul II Canonised Sister Faustina Kowalska announcing her as a modern day Apostle of Divine Mercy. As we listen again to the words of Jesus addressed to the Apostles on that evening of the Resurrection in the Upper Room, let us ask ourselves if we are generous in approaching Jesus and seeking His Divine Mercy often.
Our prayerful good wishes go to the eight who were initiated into the Church last weekend during the Easter Vigil; this Sunday during 11.30am Mass Tommy Brunning and Katelyn Gallacher will be Baptised, Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion. Pray for all of them that, they may be faithful to what they promise and receive what is promised to them!
Thank you for the many personal greetings I have received this Easter and for your many kind gifts as well as the generous Easter Offerings. As we celebrate the Easter season over the coming weeks, may we always do so fully conscious of the privilege we have, of belonging to the Catholic Church, the Church founded by and on Jesus Christ—our glorious Catholic Faith!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Easter—of Divine Mercy
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Easter 1
Saturday 6
Saturday within the Octave of Easter
5.30pm Vigil Mass Linda McDonald, RIP (AT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 7 April
Second Sunday of Easter—of Divine Mercy
8am Mass Simone Dann's Intentions (MC)
9.30am Mass Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (Anniv) (K&LW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
2.30pm Devotions for The Divine Mercy
Monday 8
The Annunciation of the Lord
9am Mass Intentions of Bob & Barbara Braden-Brown (CF)
Tuesday 9
Tuesday after the Second Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Ian Irwin, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
Wednesday 10
Wednesday after the Second Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Frank & Barbara Blaker, RIP (JH)
4.30pm Body in church Fr John McCollough
Thursday 11
St Stanislaus, Bp, M
10am Requiem Mass Fr John McCollough
Friday 12
Friday after the Second Sunday of Easter
12Noon Mass Mr A. Macdonald (JM)
Saturday 13
Saturday after the Second Sunday of Easter
10am Mass Armo Collini, RIP (RT)
10.30-11.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Mass Christine Keenan, RIP (Anniv) (FK)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 14 April
Third Sunday of Easter
8am Mass Deceased Relatives of the Lewis Family (JL)
9.30am Mass John Adams, RIP (HR)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Deacon Geoffrey Piper, Fr Thomas Adkins, Fr Anthony Lawson, Fr Patrick Donohoe, Canon Owen O’Neil, Mary McKenzie, Michael Maloney, Miriam Cunniffe, Marjorie Pollard, James Tully, John Welham, Laurence Westwood, Will Coveney, Robert Ellis, Anthony Irons, Clare Ann Houlihan, James Poskitt, Mary McKeever, Esther Martin, Frances Phillips, Ian Irwin, Christopher Bennett, Francis Hoe, Patrick Manning, Patricia Logan, Frank Nagle, Winifred Duffield, Patricia Abram, Jean Connolly, Lilian Larman, May Provera, Andrew Trayner & Eileen Goodwin-Self.
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.”
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for all the souls in purgatory, especially abandoned souls.