Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
At Mass this Sunday we hear from the final instalment of chapter six of Saint John.
Dear friends in Christ
At Mass this Sunday we hear from the final instalment of chapter six of Saint John. Many of the Jews had walked away from Jesus after His telling them the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist, only his closest disciples remain. To whom shall we go, they say You alone have the message of eternal life. We have been reflecting on the parts of the Mass, and the Mystery of the Blessed Eucharist, these past weeks.We have come to see that in the Blessed Eucharist we are given the very means of salvation, since it is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ who is God. The Mass, as St Thomas Aquinas reminds us, is the most perfect act of all religion. Jesus Christ as both the Priest and Victim—the one who offers and the one Who is offered—gives Himself for us and we can receive Him sacramentally in Holy Communion. (My reflections on the Mass over the last four weekends can be revisited on our YouTube channel—LourdesLeigh—perhaps an aid for insomia!).
I love the story of Archbishop Francis Xavier Van Thuan who was the Archbishop of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and who was imprisoned in North Vietnam, in solitary confinement for thirteen years for his faith. During his captivity, a copy of the New Testament was smuggled into the prison for the Catholic inmates. To share God’s word among themselves, the prisoners tore the New Testament into small sections, which were then distributed. Each prisoner committed their piece to memory. At sunset, they would take turns reciting aloud the passage they had memorised. After his release, Archbishop Van Thuan reflected on how profoundly moving it was to hear the Word of God recited with such deep faith in the midst of silence and darkness. He remarked that in those moments, the presence of God in his Word was deeply experienced. The prisoners’ action of tearing up the New Testament into sheets and passing them around reminds us of what happens at Mass. The Blessed Eucharist is broken and distributed to us in small pieces, so that all can receive the life of God. The prisoners shared the bread of the Word because they had no access to the Bread of the Eucharist. We are fortunate to have access to both!
At Mass, Jesus offers us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. Let us renew our belief in this as we come to the conclusion of this series of reflections. Let us examine ourselves as to the manner in which we receive Jesus in Holy Communion: worthily, reverently, faithfully.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 4
Saturday 24
St Bartholomew, Ap
5.30pm Vigil Kathleen & Peter Sheridan, RIP (AMcN)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 25 August
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Eugene & James Renehan, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
9.30am Mass Margaret Owens, RIP (Anniv) (SO)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 26
Bl Dominic of the Mother of God, Pr
10am Mass Basil Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
Tuesday 27
St Monica
9am Mass Intentions of Andy & Catherine Harris (30th Wedding Anniv) (CH)
Wednesday 28
St Augustine, Bp, D
9am Mass Margaret Canty-Randall, RIP (Anniv) (CB)
Thursday 29
The Passion of St John the Baptist
9am Mass Marian Payne, RIP (VP)
Friday 30
Ss Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line & Margaret Ward,Mm
9.30am Requiem Mass Mary Henderson, RIP
NO MIDDAY MASS
Saturday 31
St Aidan, Bp and Saints of Lindisfarne
10am Mass Valerie & Ian Spacie's 60th Wedding Anniv (VS)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 1 September
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass John Jarvis, RIP (Anniv) (VJ)
9.30am Mass Ann Jurico, RIP (SB)
11.30am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP (SM)
4pm Mass Helen Hiscock, RIP
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Bernard Collins, Canon John Sloane, Fr Colin Watling, Col Ernest G Petter, Bernard Squires, John Lowndes, Louise Newman, Veronica Maguire, Margaret Owens, Alan Tate, Mary Francis (Molly) Horn, Basil Emerson, Stella Stanley, William Pearson, Peter James Scott, Kathleen Shanahan, Charles Capon, Nellie Ainsley, Marjorie Clarke, Sheila King, Marian Payne, Vivien Payne, Martin Payne, Vera Goldman, Margaret Knight, Anton Byczynski, Campbell Coe, Gladys Robson, Doris Bree & Catherine Marriott.
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 those who asked for my prayers, especially Kitty and Kevin.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
MARY HENDERSON, RIP who died in Ireland last month. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 30th August at 9.30am followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
ROBERT DRESNER, RIP who died on Monday, 5th August. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 5th September at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
GY RAMPERSAUD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 6th August. His Funeral service will take place on Wednesday, 11th September at 1pm followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Requiescant in pace
Music at 11.30am
Prelude: Adagio, Allegro—John James (c.1745)
Postlude: Fugue—Thomas Adams (1785-1858)
Responsorial Psalm
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 23rd September—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Thursday 28th-Saturday 30th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Friday 20th December—Sea of Voices Carol Service 7pm
Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists
First Holy Communion 2025
If your child is going into Year 3 or above and you wish for them to make their First Holy Communion in May 2025, please submit the application by Friday 6th September.
This should be done via the parish website, under Sacraments - Communion
(https://lourdesleigh.org/sacraments)
Sea of Voices Summer Concert
Our parish community choir has been working on holding a late Summer concert at the Parish Centre. This will be held on Sunday 29th September from 3pm with funds raised going to a charity (to be announced). We also plan to have some form of buffet and refreshments included in the price. Tickets will be available soon with further details.
The choir is on its Summer break currently but returns to rehearsals on Thursday 29th August from 7.45pm. Contact Darrell 07825686249 for details.
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This begins on Monday, 23rd September 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
The Repository will re-open next weekend 31st August/1st September, after our summer break.
We have cards for all those special occasions so please browse and come early to avoid disappointment. One of the volunteers will be happy to help if you do not see what you are looking for. We also have a selection of Statues and Rosaries, plus a few new books for children.
Please note that the Repository is open after all Masses at the weekends.
Homeless Shelter
At this moment the details are a little sketchy, but we have been asked if we would be able to put a team of volunteers together to run a homeless shelter this coming winter. The shelter is likely to run from December through to the end of March 2025. The shelter will be central and not at the Sacred Heart Church. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Parish office by email in the first instance to record your interest. southend@brcdt.org
As more information becomes available, we will of course share. Thank you.
March for Life UK - Saturday 7th September
Morning Events: 10.00am-1.00pm The Emmanuel Centre, SW1P 3DW
In the morning of March for Life we will be hosting a ‘Pro-life Health Summit’ 10.30-12.30 in The Emmanuel Centre where a variety of healthcare specialists will be looking in greater detail at our theme ‘Abortion isn’t Healthcare’.
Mass: 11.00am St George’s Cathedral, Southwark
The March: 1.30pm From The Emmanuel Centre
Ends at Parliament Square 4.30pm.
Contact: Isabel 07773 501721 or Ben 07885 505116 or info@marchforlife.co.uk
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
We come to that section in the reading of chapter six of St John’s Gospel where the Jews will not accept that Jesus can give us Himself as food for eternal life
Dear friends in Christ
We come to that section in the reading of chapter six of St John’s Gospel where the Jews will not accept that Jesus can give us Himself as food for eternal life. This has always been the crossroads in history: those who accept Jesus as God and believe He can give us Himself in the Eucharist; and those who do not or will not believe Him. The artwork this week is a reproduction of the fresco of the Disputation of The Holy Sacrament, in the famous Raphael Rooms of the Vatican. Raphael used this painting to show the mystery of the Holy Trinity, what the Catechism terms the most fundamental and essential teaching in the hierarchy of faith (CCC234) while, at the same time, revealing the true, real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. In a clear, truly beautiful, and contemplative way, Raphael catechised every person who has ever laid eyes on this masterpiece. By drawing a direct, vertical line through the Three Divine Persons to the earthly presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, viewers can see these fundamental truths of our Catholic Faith. In a time when most of the lay people of the Catholic Faith were illiterate, Raphael, and others, were commissioned by religious leaders to create masterpieces that spoke to the deep truths of our Faith. Saints, Popes, Philosophers, all point to Jesus on the Altar as the ultimate Truth. Art, at this time, held not just an artistic power, but a catechetical power. No wonder the art of the Renaissance is considered to be so powerfully rich. Perhaps it is due to the True, the Good, the Beautiful that it shows. As fellow Renaissance painter Michelangelo states, Every beauty which is seen here on earth by persons of perception, resembles, more than anything else, that Celestial Source from which we all are come. As we continue our reflections on the Eucharistic Mystery at Mass, we might pray for a renewed faith and sense of awe in the presence of this great Mystery—God-with-us!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 3
Saturday 17
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
5.30pm Vigil Michael Lockey, RIP (IO’G)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 18 August
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Intentions of Don Craig & Richard Poole (AC&MP)
9.30am Mass Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 19
St John Eudes, Pr
9am Mass Canon Vincent Hurley, RIP & Fr Andrew Hurley, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
11am Funeral Service Tony Downey, RIP
Tuesday 20
St Bernard, Ab, D
9am Mass Doug Garrett, RIP (JH)
Wednesday 21
St Pius X, P
9am Mass Intentions of Anita Lupton (K&LW)
Thursday 22
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9am Mass Thomas Walsh, RIP (MC)
Friday 23
St Rose of Lima, V
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Saturday 24
St Bartholomew, Ap
10am Mass Sean MacCarthy, RIP (F&JO’B)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Kathleen & Peter Sheridan, RIP (AMcN)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 25 August
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Eugene & James Renehan, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
9.30am Mass Margaret Owens, RIP (Anniv) (SO)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Peter Prendergast, Canon Vincent Hurley, Fr Andrew Hurley, Fr George Gresley, Fr Sean Sheils, Canon Vincent Cameron, Fr Arthur Ryan, Annie Gallacher, John Walmsley, Margaret McFarlane, John Power, Marjorie Hook, Edwin Martin, Catherine McGowan, Noreen Selet, Edward Chavner, Charles Roots, Mary Theresa Johnson, Denise Gianelli, Valerie Huntley, Rocco Forgione, Agnes Harding, Diane Seebold, Edith Seymour, Mary Saegar, Rhoda Addecott, Doreen Spaul, Teresa Griffiths, Anne McCarthy, Ronald Abnett, Agnes Una Young, Eileen Shears, Christopher Poulain, Sadie Marlow, John Ryan, Valerie Griggs, Marian Hart, Dorothy Scott, Stephen McGough, Stephen Cornell & Margaret Acaster.
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 relief and release of the soul of Daniel Ibekwe.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
TONY DOWNEY, RIP who died on Wednesday, 24th July. His Funeral Service will take place on Monday, 19th August at 11am.
ROBERT DRESNER, RIP who died on Monday, 5th August. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 5th September at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
MARY HENDERSON, RIP who died in Ireland last month. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 30th August at 9.30am followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
GY RAMPERSAUD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 6th August. His Funeral service will take place on Wednesday, 11th September at 1pm followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Requiescant in pace