Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
We are now well into this Jubilee Year which began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
Dear friends in Christ
We are now well into this Jubilee Year which began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. There are a number of the important features to a Jubilee Year which include special graces which the Church makes available to us. One of these is the Jubilee Year Indulgence.
Throughout the centuries there have been numerous misunderstandings of what an indulgence is and its significance to Jubilee Years. An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain defined conditions through the Church’s help when, as a minister of redemption, she dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions won by Christ and the saints (Indulgentarium Doctrina 1).
Contrary to wider opinion an indulgence is not a ‘get out of jail free card’. When we sin, we incur the liability of guilt and of punishment. Neither are indulgences negating the once for all victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death; they are granted through the merits of Jesus Christ. Indulgences also have their roots in Sacred Scripture (the Bible). A good scriptural look at the topic can be found here: https://www.catholic.com/tract/primer-on-indulgences
The doctrine and practice of indulgences is closely linked to our understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Jesus told his disciples: As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20:21-23). He also promised his Church the power to bind and loose on earth, saying, Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18). The Lord grants the Church the authority to bind and to loose, which includes removing temporal penalties. An indulgence can be plenary or partial. A partial indulgence covers part of the punishment due for sins; a plenary indulgence covers all of it as if the person had just been baptised. The practice of indulgences has inherited some myths over the centuries. You can find out more about the myths surrounding indulgences here: https://www.catholic.com/tract/myths-about-indulgences
The usual conditions for obtaining an indulgence are:
Detachment from sin i.e. must detest sin including venial (minor) sin
Complete some form of work that includes a physical task (these are usually decided in advance by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Church) make a profession of faith (usually the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed)
Offer prayers for the intentions for the Pope (usually an Our Father and Hail Mary)
Make a sacramental Confession*
Receive Holy Communion (usually at Mass, if able)*
*Usually within 15 days before or after the completion of the prescribed work. Although it is recommended that it is better to make Confession before the work to be in a state of grace.
The ‘Jubilee Indulgence’ is specific to a Jubilee Year. Plenary indulgences obtained during the Jubilee Year can also be applied to souls in purgatory making it possible to obtain two plenary indulgences in a day with one being applied to the deceased. For the Jubilee Year 2025 the indulgence has a focus on pilgrimage as “Pilgrims of Hope”. The indulgence can be obtained by completing any of the following acts (work) as part of the usual conditions listed above:
Make a pilgrimage to any designated church or place such as Rome or one of three churches in our Diocese: Brentwood Cathedral, the Shrine of Our Lady of Light at the Catholic Church in Clacton-on-Sea; St Antony of Padua Church, Forest Gate.
Perform works of mercy, such a visiting the sick, giving help to those who are homeless or hungry.
Undertaking penance, such as abstaining from some food or drink, giving up the use of social media, and regaining the sense of Friday abstinence.
Attending a retreat or a Parish Mission.
I hope that his outline of one important aspect of this Jubilee Year will inspire and encourage you to be generous with Our Lord and so gain and enjoy the spiritual benefits our Mother the Church offers us in these days of Jubilee.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 1
Saturday 18
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
5.30pm Vigil Deceased relatives of the Kelly Family (MS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 19 January
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Peter Nobbs, RIP (CS)
9.30am Mass John & Pat Moon RIP (SM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 20
St Fabian, P, M
9am Mass James & Marcus Aquilina, RIP (MA)
Tuesday 21
St Agnes, V, M
9am Mass Frances Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
Wednesday 22
St Vincent, De, M
9am Mass Thomas Henry Gunn, RIP (FM)
Thursday 23
Feria
9am Mass Leonora Maguire, RIP (JH)
Friday 24
St Frances de Sales, Bp, D
12Noon Mass Alan Bush, RIP (CB)
Saturday 25
The Conversion of St Paul, Ap
10am Mass Agnes O'Brien, RIP (RO'C)
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 26 January
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Daniel Ibekwe RIP, (Anniv) (EI)
9.30am Mass Special Intention of Maria Abreu (DA)
11.30am Mass Ruth Lambert, RIP (LL)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Mgr Canon David Donnelly, Fr John Meehan, Bp Bernard Ward, Fr Christopher Quirke, Pope Benedict XV, Bp Arthur Doubleday, Fr John O’Sullivan, Fr John Hibbert, Anne Ryan, Bernard Leonard, Gilbert Oldham, Georgina Cornwall, John F Dillon, Ilene Axson, Dora Arnott, Teresa Moule, Courtney Choat-Kelly, Kathleen Goddard, Hubert A Conally, Jimmy Baker, Catherine Morris, Frances May Emmerson, John Mansfield, Charles Paterson, Christine Wise, Rose Nice, Isabel King, Conor Anderson, Doreen Troughton, Mary Vermeulen, John Dillon, T. Fitzpatrick, Mary Lilian Clarke, Ellen Rose Brooks, Sarah Mann, William Hands, Barbara Sheaf, Kathleen Cooke, Phylis Faulkner, Ida Wallace, Bridget McGrath, Huguette Farrelly, Gloria Fletcher & John McCarthy.
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 living and deceased relatives of the Hiscock Family.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
LEONORA MAGUIRE, RIP who died on Friday, 27th December. Her body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 5th February at 4.30pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 6th February at 10.15am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
SUSAN JANE O’NEILL, RIP who died on 18th December. Her funeral will take place on Tuesday, 21st January at Southend Crematorium, West Chapel at 2pm.
ROSEMARY BRAGARD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 14th January. Her body will be received into church on Wednesday, 13th February at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will be on Thursday 14th February at 10am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Requiescant in pace
Word on Fire Conference London 21/22 February
The Word on Fire Institute are holding a two day Conference in the Excel Centre in London—February, 21st & 22nd—on Evangelisation and Culture. Bishop Robert Barron is the keynote speaker. You can find the details with the link below and also how to book for one or both of the days. Father Kevin will be attending.
Sacrament of Confirmation and Visitation
This will take place on Sunday 1st June, 2025. Any adult or young adult (who must have reached the age of fourteen by 1st September 2024) may apply. Please send an email with your name and contact details to mrscatherineharris@gmail.com by Friday, 21st February, 2025.
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Cromorne sur la Taille (Messe pour les Couvents)—François Couperin (1668-1733)
Postlude: Plein Jeu & Fugue sur la Trompette (Messe pour les Couvents)—François Couperin
Mini Vinnies
If, as a young Parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, you are interested in becoming a member of the Mini Vinnie Club, please leave your name and contact details in the Parish office. It is open to children from Years 4 to Year 7.
We will be pro-active in supporting the Parish through a variety of ways and will be linked to the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in the Parish community.
Margaret Sullivan
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 20th January—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists
Saturdays 10th & 17th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Masses
Sunday 1st June 2025—Visitation & Confirmation
Sunday 22nd June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Saturday 5th July—Flower Festival
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Monday 8th September Centenary of the Opening of our Church
Lourdes Jubilee Year Pilgrimage
The Pilgrimage to Lourdes, flying with BA, will depart Heathrow on Monday 21st July 07.35am—Arrive Toulouse 10.25am, returning on Saturday 26th July 10.45am—arriving at 11.45am.
The 5-night package price is £895 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is £225, staying at the 4 star Grand Hotel Moderne Soubirous (closest to Sanctuary).
This includes 5 nights full-board and return luxury coach transfer from Lourdes airport to the hotel.
Please leave your name and contact details with the Parish Office soon, as places are limited.
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 20th January 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.
Reading at Weekend Masses
"Christ is always present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church" [Second Vatican Council]. With the new Lectionary being a fresh chance to hear Christ speaking to us, bringing us together with others, now could be an opportunity to use your talents to read at Mass?
Readers at weekend Masses generally read in pairs every 4 or 5 weeks, and are only rostered to read at the Mass they normally attend. Rotas are flexible so you can always swap if something comes up and you are unable to read on a weekend. The opportunity to read is available to both children and adults. Training / practice are available if you've not read before or are returning to reading.
If you're interested, please contact Jackie Sullens (j.sullens@btinternet.com) who'll be happy to explain what's involved and to arrange some practice so you can consider further whether you'd like to join our group of readers. Thank you.
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.
Vacancies at St Bernard's High School
COVER & MEDICAL OFFICER
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week (7.00am – 3.00pm), term time only plus one week
Scale 9 – 12 (£26,409 – £27,711, pro-rata actual salary £23,198 – £24,341)
Closing Date: 20 January 2025, 9.00am
Interviews: w/c 20 January 2025
Start date: Ideally 10 February 2025
Calling all early risers! Are you a confident, personable, reliable individual with a strong administrative background? If so, then this role might be for you!
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Cover and Medical Officer who will be responsible for arranging the daily supply cover for teaching staff who are absent, as well as supporting students with their medical needs. Ideally you will be experienced (not essential), and be organised and pro-active, liaising with agencies, staff, students and parents.
PART-TIME LIBRARIAN
Hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week (8.00am – 4.00pm), term time only
Salary Scale 7-12 (£25,584 - £27,711, pro-rata actual salary £13,337 - £14,446)
Closing Date: 22 January 2025, 9.00am
Interviews: TBC
Start date: Ideally 10 February 2025
Calling all reading enthusiasts!
We are seeking to appoint a Librarian to job-share with our current part-time Librarian.
You will work alongside our current part-time Librarian to maintain an engaging environment for our students for the development of reading, wider literacy learning and the joy of reading for pleasure. Previous experience ideal but not essential.
If you are interested in either of these roles and would like more details, please look at the job description found on our school website (www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies)
If you would like to apply, please complete the Support Staff Application Form found on the Vacancies page on our website and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.
Baptism of the Lord
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although He had no need for Baptism, He submitted to this public ritual in the way He did with other requirements of the law. He also shows us in this moment, the humility that is necessary for us to undergo this rebirth. The day we were Baptised was the most important day in our lives, because it was the day when we became a child of God and entered the life of the Church. Many people have the custom of celebrating their Baptism date with a renewal of the Baptismal vows and even lighting the candle that was presented to them on that occasion. Do we know the date of our Baptism? Do we thank God daily for the gift of His Divine life? This feast is surely the moment for us to renew our thanksgiving for such a momentous grace. In a Homily for Christmas, Pope Saint Leo the Great says: Thanks to the Sacrament of Baptism, you have been turned into a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not ever let it happen, that you drive away so noble a guest by your evil deeds, or ever again submit to the power of the demon: for the price you were bought with is the blood of Christ.
Baptism makes us part of the People of God; we are not isolated individuals, but part of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, members of the family of God, the family of the Church. For this reason, each year on this feast we invite those who have been recently Baptised as infants, to come to the evening service for a special blessing. We also on this occasion confer a Miraculous Medal on those children as a token of the special protection we can receive from Our Blessed Mother, protection we need in order to live as children of God in a world that can be so hostile to what we profess. God bless all those who will also be Baptised within our Parish Family here within the coming year. May God bless all of us who have received this consecration through water and the Holy Spirit.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Baptism of the Lord
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of The Baptism of the Lord
Saturday 11
Weekday of Christmas Time
10am Mass Intentions of Kathleen Burke (RO’C)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Steve & Agnes McManus, RIP (Anniv) (SW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 12 January
The Baptism of The Lord
8am Mass Intentions of Maria Cook (SD)
9.30am Mass Bernardette Lane, RIP (Anniv) (MM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Blessing of recently Baptised babies & Benediction
Monday 13
St Hilary, Bp, D
9am Mass James & Marcus Aquilina, RIP (MA)
Tuesday 14
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Gerry & Rosemary Dillon(RO’C)
Wednesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Roland Selvini, RIP (JL)
Thursday 16
Feria
9am Mass Brigid Connolly, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
Friday 17
St Antony, Ab
12Noon Mass Alison Costello, RIP (F&JO'B)
Saturday 18
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Eileen McCarthy, RIP (RO’C)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Deceased relatives of the Kelly Family (MS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 19 January
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Peter Nobbs, RIP (CS)
9.30am Mass John & Pat Moon RIP (SM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction