OLL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday 9th May from 10am in the Parish Centre. As usual subs are just £1, with no extra charge for refreshments. We like to keep our popular Raffle going but we are in need of some donations of prizes. If any of you ladies can help, please bring your gifts to the next Meeting.
So………..next week we have a welcome return of one of our ‘Show and Tell’ sessions, so please don’t be shy, you may have a story to tell, ie about your life, your career etc. or a favourite book , picture, antique, the list is endless so we are looking forward to an interesting and fun packed morning!!
Vocations Evening for Enquirers
The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 7th May at Brentwood Cathedral. The speaker will be Fr Patrick Daly.
For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires: vocprom@brcdt.org
Companionship Care for the Elderly
Would you be able to spare some time to help with emotional support, companionship, engagement in activities, assistance with daily tasks?
Simply put, supporting the overall health and well-being of seniors, making their life joyful with social connection and engagement.
If so, please contact me on 07707470006—Monika Magda.
APF Missio
On behalf of Missio I wish to thank all the Parishioners who donated to Missio during the year 2023 either by the Red Box or direct giving. Our Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph donated £4490. 52 ( £1964.25 via the Red Boxes and by direct giving £2526.27). Please see Thank you poster at the back of the Church. Joan Caunce Secretary.
Fairtrade
A Fairtrade stall will be in the Parish Centre this Sunday 5th May 8.30—11.30am. Please come and see us before or after Mass to buy your teas, coffees and more while supporting our brothers and sisters in the developing world.
Also come and join fellow parishioners for tea and biscuits at the same time.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic School
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly-motivated class teacher in KS1/2 to join our friendly and dedicated team. The post would suit an experienced or newly qualified teacher who is either a practising Catholic or willing to support the strong Catholic ethos of our school.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.
Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. For more details please contact Mr. Parascandolo (Head Teacher) via the school office (01268 785741) For an application form please visit the school website www.olorcps.net
Closing date: Thursday 9th May 2024 (4pm)
Interview date: tbc
We reserve the right to call for interview and appoint prior to the closing date.
Repository Notice
We are open after all Masses at the weekend so do come along and browse.
We have a new stock of Holy Communion gifts and cards, plus cards for Confirmation and other special occasions. We also have a selection of Statues and Rosaries, plus a few new books for children.
If you do not see what you are looking for please ask one of the volunteers.
Walsingham House Vacancies
Retreat Manager for Walsingham House at Abbotswick: Walsingham House are seeking to appoint a Retreat Manager for Walsingham House. The Retreat Manager will work to ensure the smooth and efficient running of retreats and leading the volunteer team. This is a live in position and ideal for someone with previous experience in youth ministry. Full details, including background information and how to apply, can found at www.bcys.net/news/vacancies/ The closing date is Friday 24th May.
Programme Leader for Walsingham House at Abbotswick: Walsingham Hosue are seeking to appoint a Programme Leader. The successful applicant will work alongside the Retreat Manager helping to lead retreats for the schools and parishes of our diocese. Full details, including background information and how to apply, can be found at www.bcys.net/news/vacancies/ The closing date is Friday 24th May.
St Vincents Centre, Southend
At St Vincent Centre Southend, we are dedicated to providing trauma-informed, compassionate, and non-judgmental support to the vulnerable and those in need in our community. A significant number of the individuals and families we assist are facing homelessness, living in supported housing, isolated, or experiencing poverty.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School & Nursery Site Assistant Vacancy
Please follow the link below for details.
Cleaner Required
Would you be able to spare an hour a week between 10am and 1pm, to help clean our church ? 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.
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 on Saturday 25th May.
Sacred Heart are running a coach leaving the Sacred Heart Church at 7am, picking up in the lay-by at St John Fisher at 7.10am, and outside Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh at 7.30am.
You will arrive in time for Confessions, the open-air Mass, lunch, the procession to the Abbey Grounds where Benediction will take place. You should arrive back in the Southend area at approximately 8pm.
The price is £20 per Adult and children 15 or younger free of charge. Please contact the parish office on 01702 478078 to book your seats on the coach.
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.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of this Sunday St John paints another beautiful icon for us of Jesus as The Vine.
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of this Sunday St John paints another beautiful icon for us of Jesus as The Vine. It is another of the great I AM statements of Jesus—I am the true Vine and my Father is the Vinedresser. When we look at any vine, it is difficult to distinguish where one branch starts and another ends, the intertwining and interweaving of the branches is an analogy of how those who are Baptised are grafted on to Jesus; we are part of Him and organically one with Him. This image of a 15th-century icon from Crete embodies this entire theology in artistic form. Jesus is literally represented as the grapevine, the fruitful plant rooted in the soil. The Biblical text shown in Greek directly below him quotes today’s Gospel. Grape leaves and bunches of grapes further identify the Biblical allusion, set on the traditional golden background (indicative of the heavenly). The plant’s tendrils sustain fourteen persons: the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, and assorted Apostles and Evangelists. We are part of that same company, part of the Family of Christ and His Church. As we continue the celebration of the Resurrection in these days of Eastertide, we do so conscious of our divine filiation—that we are children of God—and therefore can live in the hope and optimism that faith in the risen Jesus gives us.
This week begins the month of May: may our continued love and affection for the Mother of God be expressed in many small tokens of piety for her who is Patroness of our Parish Family.
With every blessing!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Easter 5
Saturday 27
Saturday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter
5.30pm Vigil Mass Valerie Tisi, RIP (Anniv) (TT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 28 April
Fifth Sunday of Easter
8am Mass Fr John McKeon, RIP (MB)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Peter & Carol Moon, RIP (SM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 29
St Catherine of Siena, V, D
9am Mass John Gompers, RIP(MI)
Tuesday 30
Tuesday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Vincent Foy, RIP (Anniv) (A-MM)
Wednesday 1 May St Joseph The Worker 9am Mass Frances Emmerson, RIP (AE)
Thursday 2
St Athanasius, Bp, D
9am Mass Priests for discernment and strength (ML)
Friday 3—First Friday
SS Philip and James, App
12Noon Mass Georgina Cornwall, RIP (SVP)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 4
The English Martyrs
10am Mass Intentions of Gerry & Rosemary Dillon (60th Wedding Anniv) (PL)
10.30-11.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Mass Armo Collini, RIP (TT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 5 May
Sixth Sunday of Easter
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Terence Michael O'Neill, RIP (MW)
11.30am Mass Jose Manuel, RIP (SM)
4pm Mass Roy & Marjorie Worsley, RIP (JC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Brian O’Higgins, Fr John Kennedy, Canon Thomas Norris, Fr Feargus Saurin, Fr Andrew Dorricott, Tom Skellon, Patricia Burley, Pauline Kidney, Margaret Ashley, Rose Faulkner, Jeremiah Lucey, Francis (Frank) Mansfield, Valerie Tisi, Winifred Sentinel, Edith Pet,Margaret Randall, Brigid Behn, Margaret Rose McKay, Lucy Dann, Jo Hopkins, Jessie Aubury, Joseph Chapp, Michael Livermore, Alfred Pavitt, Johanna Colgate, Lilian Currie, Hannah Lee, Peter Burry, Sarah Jane Coyne, Ronald Owen Turner, Wilhelmina Chalk, Leslie Porter, Anita Dawson, David Mccluskey & Sybil Figueredo.
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 the intentions of Jane & Francis O’Brien.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
FATHER GEORGE TOWLER who died on Thursday, 4th April at Frimley Park Hospital near Ascot. Details of his funeral will follow once arrangements have been made.
HENRY CRAWFORD HILL who died on Thursday, 28th March. His Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 15th May at 11.30 am followed by committal at Southend Cemetery.
FR DEREK POWNEY who died recently.
Requiescant in pace