Repository
We are open every weekend after all Masses , so do come and have a browse. We still have a few gifts and cards for First Holy Communions plus cards for Confirmation and other occasions. We also have a stock of Statues and Rosaries. If you do not see what you are looking for please ask one of the Volunteers.
OLOL Ladies Group
We meet again on Thursday May 22nd in the Parish Centre at 9.30 for a prompt start at 10am.
We extend a warm welcome to Jackie Sullens who has moved away from her previous topics and will be giving a talk on ‘The darker side of Victorian London’ which promises to be a fascinating look at some social history. As usual we have a Raffle and refreshments with subs being just £1.
Flower and Craft Festival 2025
This year’s festival will be on Saturday 5th July from 11.00am to 4.30pm.
It is less than 8 weeks now until our Flower & Craft Festival; thank you to everyone who has already committed to taking part. If you have not taken part before please consider doing so this year. It is part of our mission here in Leigh to give local people an opportunity to experience what our Church is all about, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
We are asking you once again to get creative, in flowers, arts and crafts. None of us are professionals, we are not expecting perfection ! There will be plenty of people on hand to help you if you need it.
The theme this year is the hymn,
‘O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy Hand has made…….’
So the focus is on creation, but this year we are also celebrating the opening of our beautiful church 100 years ago. We are also in a Jubilee Year, the focus of which is ‘Hope.’ We are to be pilgrims of hope in our very troubled and dangerous world. So there are many themes to choose from. Photographers, artists, needleworkers, carpenters and gardeners, we would like as many people as possible to be involved in creating a beautiful and powerful message for our local community of Leigh.
We are not asking for professionalism, although professionals are very welcome indeed ! Just your enthusiasm.
If you would like to be involved in creating something for 5th July please contact me at mcronan@btinternet.com or speak to me after 9.30 mass on Sundays.
Jo Ronan
St John Bosco Children’s Camp 2025
For children aged 9-12 years old (school years 5-7), a week of great fun, activities including climbing wall and zip wire, fishing, football, archery and much more, all in a beautiful setting. The Camp has a Catholic ethos, and exists to give children a magnificent holiday. 26th July – 2nd August. For more details, and application information: www.boscocamp.co.uk. The Camp is a special work of Caritas Diocese of Brentwood.
If you are supporting a family to apply from within your parish or school, please do apply very soon to be sure of a place. The direct link for a child’s application is:https://Johnbsoco.formstack.com/forms/bosco_child_application_form_2025
BCCS Summer Luncheon at The Lawn, Rochford
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society presents aSummer Luncheon on Friday 13th June 2025 at The Lawn, Rochford, 12.30 to 3.30pm
Experience the elegance and charm of this magnificent manor house, set amidst stunning grounds, providing an amazing backdrop for a perfect summer luncheon.
Two-course luncheon accompanied by tea and coffee served in the orangery.
Tickets £37.50 each—Book your tickets here: https://form.jotform.com/250612521329348
For further information, contact Julie on 07912 277413 or by email: jabbott@bccs.org.uk
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
On morning/evening we heard those much awaited words from St Peter’s in Rome: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam!
Dear friends in Christ
On Thursday evening we heard those much awaited words from St Peter’s in Rome: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam! Now we rejoice that the Church once again has Peter at the helm in the person of Pope Leo XIV. He is a son of Saint Augustine, being of the Augustinian Order, an American and was a missionary Bishop in Peru. It was indeed moving to hear his first words to Rome and to the world as he spoke of putting Christ at the centre and invoking Mary. The Cardinals have chosen the 267th Successor to Saint Peter, we have prayed, and now the Holy Spirit will continue to keep the Church immersed in the Word of God and the teaching of the Apostles. Pope Leo is our new Universal Shepherd, according to the Heart of Christ, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel: I give eternal life to my sheep. We now pray that in everything Pope Leo says and does he too, will give eternal life to the flock of Jesus Christ. Since Easter Sunday we have been living through some momentous days. The face of the Catholic Church has been so evident and indeed prominent in world news. So many more people have been prompted to discover how they too can become Catholics and be part of the True Faith, the Church established by Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.
This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please remember to pray daily for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. We thank God for all those who have generously offered themselves to Christ and His Church—the young and not so young—that they may be instruments in the hands of the Good Shepherd, and may lead souls closer to the Heart of Christ and ultimately to Heaven!
God bless our Pope, and God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
Preface of Easter 4
The Apostles’ Creed
Saturday 10
Saturday after the Third Sunday of Easter
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass
No exposition or Confessions
5.30pm Mass Edward (Dandy) Dooley, RIP (SW)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourth Sunday of Easter
11th May
8am Mass Sr Mary Juliana, RIP (RM)
9.30am Mass Jim McEvoy, RIP & Mary & Arthur Leftley, RIP (FMcE)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 12
St John Houghton, Pr, M
9am Mass William Hale RIP, (SD)
Tuesday 13
St Erconwald, Bp
9am Mass Holy Souls
Wednesday 14
St Matthias Ap
9am Mass Holy Souls
Thursday 15
Thursday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP Anniv (JC)
Friday 16
Friday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Saturday 17
Saturday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass
No exposition or Confessions
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fifth Sunday of Easter
18th May
8am Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Holy Souls
11.30am Mass Intentions of Susan Griffin (90th Birthday) (PG)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Augustine Davidson, Mgr Canon John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes, Fr James (Jim) McCormack, Fr John William Hayes, Fr Paul Dynan, Mary Jones, Wally Hurst, Philip Wilson, Vera Sarah Fogarty, Frederick Leslie Freeman, James McEvoy, Charlotte Anderson, Robert King, Patrick O’Sullivan, Joyce Wilkinson, Iris Amner, John Lyons, Mrs Constance Newton, Dorothy Kyrke-Smith, Margaret Philp, Joseph Edwards, John Smith, Eileen Rosina Hood, Gerald Clarke, Mrs Winifred Craig, Francis Thomas, Roma Morgan, John Rivens, Arthur Mills, Emma Jane Hobbs, Alfred Warner, Philip Everett, Amy Ehn, Bridget Hamblion, Pauline Cousins, Jacqueline Rogers, Florence West, Ellen O’Leary, Agnes Theresa Brady & Edward Petronis.
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.”
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
MARJORIE JAY who died on 10th April. Her funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium on Wednesday, 14th May at 1.30 pm.
Requiescat in pace
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 17th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
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
Sunday 14th September Parish Centenary Celebration 3pm
Music at 11.30am mass
Incoming: Chorale Prelude—Georg Phillip Telemann (1681-1767)
Outgoing: Marche Pontificale—Charles Gounod (1818-1893
Susan Griffin's 90th Birthday
You are warmly invited to celebrate Susan Griffin’s 90th Birthday on Sunday 18th May in the Parish Centre, following the 11.30am Mass. Join us for tea, cake, and good company as we give thanks for Susan’s wonderful milestone. All are welcome!
SVP Awareness Month
Awareness Month is our society's opportunity to highlight the SVP's presence in our parish and community and to promote an understanding of our work. This, in turn, can help people in need of support to know how to contact us, and for those considering joining the Society to make enquiries about joining our local Group/Conference.
Founded in Paris in 1833 by Frederick Ozanam and companions and taking Vincent de Paul as their patron. With Christian values at our core, members of the SVP work in a variety of ways, including visiting and befriending the lonely and housebound, supporting locally (and in strict confidence) individuals and families in financial need.
If you would like to learn more about the SVP, or consider joining us, please contact Sallie Pollock 07450 277956, alternatively, leave a message with the Parish office on 01702 478078.
You can support our parish Conference financially via the SVP button on the parish website.
Repository
The Repository is open after all Masses at the weekend. With First Holy Communions approaching, we have a lovely selection of gifts and cards, so please take time to come and browse.
We also have Mantillas for sale, plus a large selection of various cards, Rosaries and statues and a few copies left of the new yearly Missal.
Missio Red Boxes
On behalf of Missio I wish to thank you all who contributed either via the Red Boxes or Direct giving - Direct Debits or online donations. Our Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph donated £4875.34 (£2035.25 via the Red Boxes and £2840.09 via Direct giving) in 2024. Please see the Thank you Poster at the back of Church. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Third Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
On this Octave of Easter we renew the joy of our celebration of the Resurrection of The Lord!
Dear friends in Christ
Over the last two weeks we have witnessed extraordinary scenes since the death of Pope Francis, his funeral and burial, the nine days of mourning and soon the preparations for the Conclave to elect his successor. Before this we heard tremendous accounts in the media of the surge in numbers of people coming to the Catholic Church over Holy Week and Easter. The age-old adage is true that all publicity is good publicity and quite so when it comes to our holy religion! As we approach the Conclave this week, it is important to remember—amidst all the secular media hype—that the Church does not think in terms of liberal/conservative, progressive/traditional. There is one virtue required: fidelity to Christ and His Church. The Cardinals are not electing a successor to Pope Francis; they electing the Successor of Peter!
In the Gospel we hear of the miraculous catch of fish. The Apostles had been working hard all night for a catch but had caught nothing. As soon as Jesus comes and tells them where to look, they find that miraculous haul of fish—one hundred and fifty three of them! The Fathers of the Church tell us that that was the known number of species of fish in the world at that time, and that we should see in that number the universality of salvation i.e. that Christ has come to save everyone and that the Church—God’s divinely appointed means to bring about this salvation— must therefore gather everyone in. Furthermore, it reminds us that when Christ is on board, the results will always be abundant and beyond our meagre expectations.
Having laid my Father to rest with my Mother this week, I thank you for the many messages of condolence, prayers and Masses offered for him. His Funeral was, like the manner of his life, serene and dignified; I was grateful for the presence of a number of my Brother Priests. A former renowned Bishop of Salford—Thomas Holland—used to to say that the parents of the priest are trumpeted onto the shores of eternity…it’s a pious thought, but one I hope might be true!
Let us pray for the Church in these days ahead, that with Christ at the helm, we shall soon have a new Successor of Peter, to guide the Church through the waters of this world, and bring many souls to Heaven!
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Easter
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
Preface of Easter 3 The Apostles’ Creed
Saturday 3
SS Philip & James, App
10am Mass Susan Tisi, RIP (LB)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Mass William Dennis Hale, RIP (LL)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Third Sunday of Easter
4th May
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Dec'd Parents, Brothers & Sisters of Canon Gilbert, RIP (FM)
11.30am Mass Cathy Sanders, RIP (Anniv) (RS)
4pm Mass Richard Coleman, RIP (JC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 5
Monday after the Third Sunday of Easter
10am Mass Tadhg Gallagher, RIP (GM)
Tuesday 6
St John Payne, Pr, M
9am Mass Valerie Quinn, RIP (Anniv) (TQ)
Wednesday 7
Wednesday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Intentions of Tyrone Scott (sick) (SH)
Thursday 8
Thursday after the Third Sunday of Easter
9am Mass In Thanksgiving (IS)
Friday 9
Friday after the Third Sunday of Easter
12Noon Mass Private Intention (KH)
Saturday 10
Saturday after the Third Sunday of Easter
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass
No exposition or Confessions
5.30pm Mass Edward (Dandy) Dooley, RIP (SW)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourth Sunday of Easter
11th May
8am Mass Sr Mary Juliana, RIP (RM)
9.30am Mass Jim McEvoy, RIP & Mary & Arthur Leftley, RIP (FMcE)
11.30am Mass the People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction