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
Paul Bakers Charity Row
Parishioner Paul Baker is rowing from Grimsby to Ramsgate in July this year to raise money for Children in Need and the SVP Centre in Southend. If you would like to donate please go to the donation page:
https://givewheel.com/fundraising/7721/conquer-the-coast-f0r-children-in-need-row/
Summer Fete Helpers Wanted at OLOL School—Saturday 5th July, 12-3.30pm
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make our summer fete a fantastic event! Whether you can lend a hand with setup, run a stall, or help throughout the day we’d love to have you on board.
We’re also welcoming outside stall holders who would like to join and have a stall.
If you’re interested in supporting or taking part, please get in touch—we’d love to hear from you! Please email pta@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
This period between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrated on Thursday, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday, is a time of especial and intense prayer in the life of the Church.
Dear friends in Christ
This period between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrated on Thursday, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday, is a time of especial and intense prayer in the life of the Church. We imitate Mary and the Apostles in these nine days, as they prepared in prayer for the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. It is therefore appropriate that our Bishop visits the Parish this Sunday for the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation on sixteen young adults. We thank God for the presence of an Apostle with us, as Bishop Alan comes to confirm us in the Faith of the Apostles, the Faith of the Catholic Church. We pray for our young people, their Sponsors and families, as they receive their third Sacrament of Initiation, empowering them to be full, adult, active members of the Holy Catholic Church.
As we approach the end of the Easter season next weekend, some words in a sermon of Saint Augustine could resonate with us: Because there are these two periods of time – the one that now is, beset with the trials and troubles of this life, and the other yet to come, a life of everlasting serenity and joy – we are given two liturgical seasons, one before Easter and the other after. The season before Easter signifies the troubles in which we live here and now, while the time after Easter which we are celebrating at present signifies the happiness that will be ours in the future. What we commemorate before Easter is what we experience in this life; what we celebrate after Easter points to something we do not yet possess…Therefore, brethren, we urge you to praise God. That is what we are all telling each other when we say Alleluia. You say to your neighbour, “Praise the Lord!” and he says the same to you. We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each of us urges the other to do. But see that your praise comes from your whole being; in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions.
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
Preface of The Ascension
The Apostles’ Creed
Saturday 31
Dedication of the Cathedral Church of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Seventh Sunday of Easter
1st June
8am Mass Gilberte Cook, RIP (MC)
9.30am Mass Caroline Geoghegan, RIP (MI)
11.30am Mass MASS OF EPISCOPAL VISITATION & CONFIRMATION—Michael Frentz, RIP (LL)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 2
Monday after the Seventh Sunday of Easter
9am Mass James Aquilina, RIP (MA)
Tuesday 3
St Charles Lwanga and Comps, Mm
9am Mass Anna & Glynn's dec'd Family members (AF)
Wednesday 4
Wednesday after the Seventh Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Intentions of Susan Griffin (90th Birthday) (CB)
Thursday 5
St Boniface, Bp, M
9am Mass Michael & Teresa O'Brien, RIP (MI)
Friday 6
Friday after the Seventh Sunday of Easter—First Friday
12Noon Mass Emily Elizabeth March, RIP (FM)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 7
Saturday after the Seventh Sunday of Easter
10am Mass John Pembroke, RIP (MW)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Intentions of Rory Neal-McKenzie (CJD)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
PENTECOST
8th June
8am Mass Julie Emerson, RIP (Anniv) (GM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Marjorie Jay, RIP (JS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Martin Nott, Bp John Petit, Canon Eric Goldingay, Canon Jerome Deady, Rev Donald Clover, Stephanie Horwood, Kit Nafziger, Dr Nigel Warburton, Stella May Hale, Jonas Acton, Ida D’Eath, Dorothy Winyard, Catherine Barewish, Terry Wison, Charles Mann, Thomas Connolly, Elsie Hale, Lee Schiller, Joan Holdstock, Gladys Hanger, Anthony Cummins, Dr Jack Hesketh-Beasley, Alice Quinlan, Margaret Gibson, Mrs Anne Hughes, Mollie Cosgrove, Margaret Kenny, Kathleen Owen, Kathleen Denyer, John Mudd, Peter Gerald Sloan, Bridie Satelle, Bertram Barrett, May Lobb, James McKeon, Edith Turner, Richard Charles Neagle, Laura Pauline Groves & Barbara Adams.
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.”
Dates for your Diary
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
Mini Vinies
The next meeting for the Mini Vinies will take place in the Parish Centre on Monday, 2nd June from 5.15pm to 6.45pm. Mini Vinie Committee.
OLOL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday 5th June from 9.30am for a prompt start at 10am. We are very pleased to welcome John Disney, one of our Parishioners, who has kindly agreed to give a talk on his Volunteer work along our seafront.
John volunteers for the National Coastwatch and will be telling us exactly what this is, its history and what it does now. There will be a short Video and some fascinating information.
All ladies are welcome and subs just £1 per session.
NB We have a regular Raffle but are very low on prizes so donations very welcome (thank you but no chocolates!! )
Parish Centre
Please note that there will be no teas and coffees after each Mass this weekend.
Paul Bakers Charity Row
Parishioner Paul Baker is rowing from Grimsby to Ramsgate in July this year to raise money for Children in Need and the SVP Centre in Southend. If you would like to donate please go to the donation page:
https://givewheel.com/fundraising/7721/conquer-the-coast-f0r-children-in-need-row/
SVP Strawberry Tea
The Parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul ) is delighted to announce the date of its forthcoming annual 'Strawberry Tea ' to which all senior citizens of the parish are invited.
Our Strawberry Tea is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday 14th June, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm. If you would like to join us, please call Janet Markham 07786 901488. You will be most welcome.
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
Summer Fete Helpers Wanted at OLOL School—Saturday 5th July, 12-3.30pm
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make our summer fete a fantastic event! Whether you can lend a hand with setup, run a stall, or help throughout the day we’d love to have you on board.
We’re also welcoming outside stall holders who would like to join and have a stall.
If you’re interested in supporting or taking part, please get in touch—we’d love to hear from you! Please email pta@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk
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
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School & Nursery
Our family friendly nursery welcomes children from 2-4 years old. Our experienced team provide opportunities for all children to learn through play, inside and outside the classroom. We are pleased to offer spaces from September. Please contact the school office on 01702 475689 to book your visit.
BCCS Summer Luncheon at The Lawn, Rochford
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society presents a Summer Luncheon on Friday 13th June 2025 at The Lawn, Rochford, 12.30 to 3.30pm
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
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
On Thursday we shall mark and celebrate the end of the period of time Jesus spent with His Apostles following His Resurrection.
Dear friends in Christ
On Thursday we shall mark and celebrate the end of the period of time Jesus spent with His Apostles following His Resurrection. This moment is the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Although we no longer have the physical body of Jesus on this earth, nonetheless He remains with us in the presence of the Blessed Eucharist, which is His Presence, par excellence among all the other ways he is present on earth. Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation.
Next Sunday we shall welcome the Bishop—Alan Williams—to our Parish for his three-yearly Visitation. During the day he will meet priests and people and during the 11.30am Mass confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on sixteen young adults. The Bishops are the successors of the Apostles and our Bishop is the chief shepherd of our Diocese of Brentwood. He comes amongst us as the first teacher of the Faith, to encourage us and confirm us in the faith of Jesus Christ. He is also a wonderful link for us with the Universal Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, the Pastor of Pastors! May the visit of Bishop Alan be for us a reminder that we are part of the greater family of the Church, founded on the profession of Saint Peter’s faith, and handed-down from generation to generation. Please pray for those being Confirmed: their Sponsors and families to whom we are grateful for their support and encouragement. I thank their Catechists who have prepared them too. Also, thanks to those who prepared our First Communicants this year and for all who had any part in the First Communion Masses these past two weekends: the children who read and provided the music and those who prepared the refreshments.
God bless our Pope, our Bishop and all of you!
Msgr Kevin Hale