Fairtrade—Sunday 9th March—8.30am-11.30am
The Fairtrade stall will resume this sunday—9th March. Please come and support this initiative, helping our brothers and sisters around the world who struggle to survive. Fairtrade products are sold to give the farmers, together with other projects a fair price for their work. Products are produced in a sustainable way, helping to look after our common home. The Pope is asking us to be 'Pilgrims of Hope' to others and this is a great way of demonstrating that. Thank you for all the support you have given us to date.
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 10th March—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
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—24th May 2025
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. 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 transport to and from Walsingham please leave your name and contact details at the Parish office, as Sacred Heart are organising a coach.
Coach leaving Sacred Heart at 7:30am
Pick up at Our Lady of Lourdes at 7:45am
Arrival Walsingham 11am
Depart Walsingham 5pm
Arrival Our Lady of Lourdes 8:15pm
Arrival Sacred Heart 8:30pm
£24 per adult - Children under 16 go free
Mini Vinies
The next meeting for the Mini Vinies will take place in the Parish Centre on Monday, 10th March from 5.15pm to 6.30pm. Mini Vinie Committee.
Assisted Suicide Bill update
Last year, MPs narrowly voted to support Kim Leadbeater’s dangerous assisted suicide Bill at Second Reading.
There’s still time to stop it.
The Independent newspaper, shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill made it clear they did so only to allow time for further debate or they have concerns that mean they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading.
With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading.
With more awareness of the serious risks, arising from the committee stage, many MPs could change their position.
If enough do, we can defeat this Bill at Third Reading and stop it from becoming law.
You can make a difference right now, by contacting your MP, to say, vote NO, at Third Reading.
It only takes a couple of minutes of your time, using our easy-to-use tool, which you can access by clicking the button below.
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 10th 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 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.
Feast of St Joseph 19th March 2025
The National Novena to St. Joseph will take place from the 10th—18th March 2025 at St. Josephs Church in Maidenhead, for the intentions of all those who support their work. Masses are at 10am every day of the Novena, except Sunday when it is 11am. These Masses will be available to Zoom via the Mill Hill website.
See Poster at the back of the Church for website details and to request a Novena prayer booklet.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Can you help?
We have a parishioner who has become frail and has asked if anyone could give her a lift to Mass. She lives in Leigh and attends the 11.30am Mass.
If you are able to help please contact the Parish office.
Knights of St Columba Pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory in Jubilee Year
Join us on Sunday 29th June at Aylesford Priory for an open-air Mass – Lunch (bring a pack lunch or use The Friars Restaurant) – in the afternoon join us on the Rosary Walk through The Friars beautiful grounds by the banks of The River Medway and finishing with Benediction. A coach will leave Sacred Heart Church at 8:30am and pick-up opposite Nazareth House at 8:40am, Our Lady of Lourdes at 8:50am and at Tarpots Corner at 9:10am. We depart Aylesford at approximately 4pm. The coach costs £20 per adult and children under 16 go free. Please book your place by contacting Sandy Rand 07470 820994. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
St Vincent's Centre Southend upcoming events
By taking part in our events at St Vincent’s Southend, you will directly contribute to life-changing support for vulnerable individuals in Southend. The impact of your involvement reaches far beyond just attending, it helps us provide food, temporary accommodation, mental health support and pathways to employment for those who need it most. Your presence at these events is not just an act of generosity; it is a statement of compassion, leadership and commitment to social good. We applaud you for being part of something so meaningful and making a real difference in the lives of so many.
Why Your Support Matters
By taking part in our events, you will directly contribute to life-changing support for vulnerable individuals in Southend. The impact of your involvement reaches far beyond just attending, it helps us provide food, temporary accommodation, mental health support and pathways to employment for those who need it most. Your presence at these events is not just an act of generosity; it is a statement of compassion, leadership and commitment to social good. We applaud you for being part of something so meaningful and making a real difference in the lives of so many.
Auction Items for Our Events
We are also looking for auctionable items for our events. This could be in the form of products, services, gift vouchers, experiences, or exclusive packages. These items will be auctioned on the night and the funds raised will directly support the life-changing work we do at St Vincent’s Centre Southend. Your donation, big or small, will have an incredible impact and in return, we will ensure your generosity is recognized.
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.
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
This Sunday is the last before the start of Lent—in the traditional calendar Quinquagesima Sunday—fifty days until Easter!
Dear friends in Christ
This Sunday is the last before the start of Lent—in the traditional calendar Quinquagesima Sunday—fifty days until Easter! So the countdown is on as we approach Lent which prepares us for Easter. Saint Paul in the second reading of the Mass this Sunday, teaches us that after death our bodies will be clothed in immortality, as death is finally conquered by Jesus Christ. We are not simply flesh and bones—matter—but we possess an immortal nature which will come to fulness of life at the resurrection of the body. Lent is a reminder that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is why we focus a little more on this important truth during these forty days ahead. By expressing prayer of the body through our various penitential acts, we ensure that we keep in mind the relative importance of these temples God has give us for just a time. This Lent is an important one, since it occurs during a Jubilee Year. If we have not already done so, we might like to take-up some of the suggestions that the Church has proposed to us for this Year of Hope (see separate item). I remind you also that in just over a week we shall begin the Parish Mission. Essentially during Lent, we want to bring our wills into union with what God wills for us. Each day of Lent can be like a blank sheet which we can fill in with an account of wonderful things. We may start with good intentions, but our holiness will be seen in the way that we persevere day by day in prayer, self-sacrifice and good deeds. May God bless us in this time of special grace and conversion. May we arrive at Easter with hearts and minds renewed!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 6
Saturday 1 March
St David, Bp
10am Mass Bill Hoggett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Maureen Gooding, RIP (VJ)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 2 March
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People the Parish
9.30am Mass Ann Henning, RIP (DJ)
11.30am Mass John Walsh, RIP (MW)
4pm Mass Rosemary Bragard, RIP (JC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 3
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Don & Ann Craig (AC)
Tuesday 4
St Casimir
9am Mass Intentions of Sr Anna Tracy (AH)
Wednesday 5
Ash Wednesday—Day of fasting & abstinence
9.30am Mass Laurie Williamson, RIP (SW)
(with the Primary School attending)
12Noon Mass Albert Thomas Cook, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
7pm Mass The People of the Parish
Thursday 6
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
9am Mass Intentions of the Alworth Family (CO’M)
Friday 7
Friday after Ash Wednesday
12Noon Mass Patrick McSharry, RIP (RC)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 8
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
10am Mass Tom O'Callaghan, RIP (Anniv) (RO’C)
10.30-11.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession 11.00am First Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Private Intention (MS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 9 March
First Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Intentions of Bob Sighe (MR)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Joseph Swann, RIP (Anniv) (MW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Mgr Canon Patrick O’Donnell, Fr Brian Galvin, Fr Francis Hastings, Canon Joseph Whitfield, Fr Malachy Kelly, Miss A Till, Amy Rosetta Wood, Margaret Blissett, Catherine Byrne, Ruby Ravinet, Giovanni Puglisi, Patricia McBreaty, Michael Flynn, Patricia Sellers, Hugh Gallacher, Maria Vanden Heavel, Patricia Church, Margaret Ellis, May Perkins, Esperanza Reyes, Margaret Bartle, Bernard McCarthy, Ana Bartley, Mary Smith, Doris Conner, Danielle Sutherland, Sandra McGran, Philip Thomas, Anthony Conlon, Hannah Harris, Johnathan Grindley, Stanley Rumsey, John Stephen Burke, Miss Sydney Compton, Edward Baigent, Elsie Killman, Janet Harris, Malcolm Cheshire, Teresa Rumsey, Henry Delaney, John Button, Constance Ryan, Joyce Quinn & Pamela Jones.
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 deceased members of the Rockell Family.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
BOBBY NEWMAN, RIP who died on Thursday 20th February. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 4th April at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescat in pace
Jubilee Year
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.
Days of Fasting and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only days of obligatory fasting throughout the world (Can. 1251). The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year (Can. 1252).
According to Canon Law, abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year (Can. 1252).
Those under 14 years of age, the sick, the elderly and frail, pregnant women, are not required to abstain.