Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Dialogue—Francois Couperin (1668-1733)
Postlude: Basse de Trompette—Gaspard Corrette (early 18th century)
Flower & Craft Festival 2025
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Flower & Craft Festival this year.
The church looked stunning and with the beautiful musical backdrop provided by Marion a wonderful atmosphere was created, which so many of our visitors commented on. For many, as always, this was their first visit to the church, and some were quite nervous to enter, so thank you to all the meeters and greeters that made everyone feel welcome.
These were some of the comments left in our visitors book;
"It's very beautiful, creates a lovely atmosphere. It's a pleasure to be here."
"A beautiful display and music which moves the heart and soul. Thank you very much for an unforgettable experience."
"It's our first visit to the church and what an amazing display! We enjoyed the different interpretations and celebration of flowers."
"Lovely, thanks so much for welcoming us."
Huge thanks also to Jan and the ladies who kept our visitors supplied with refreshments all day.
About £400 was taken in cash donations on the day which will be given to HARP.
Once again thanks to all who took part and to those who brought friends and family to the church.
Jo & Theresa
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Dear friends in Christ
The words of Our Lord in the Gospel of this Sunday offer us two considerations: firstly He tells us that there is a vast harvest of souls in the world that need to be brought to God
Dear friends in Christ
The words of Our Lord in the Gospel of this Sunday offer us two considerations: firstly He tells us that there is a vast harvest of souls in the world that need to be brought to God. The harvest is rich but the labourers are few. The apostolic work of the Church on earth is huge. We must constantly remember that each one of us is an apostle, placed in the midst of the world, where we live and work, in order that we may bring about the greatest amount of good. We do this by the simple example of our lives; lives lived in fidelity to Christ and His teaching. Our lives are but a very short time for doing good; let us resolve as we hear these words at Mass this weekend, to live our Faith to the full, and be sowers of goodness and truth wherever we go.
The other consideration is how Jesus sent forth the seventy-two disciples to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. Wherever they went miracles occurred time and again: the blind recovered their sight, lepers were cleansed, sinners moved to repentance. Wherever they went they carried with them this peace of Christ. This is because the charge they are given is: Whatever house you enter, first say,’Peace be to this house”. And as a son of peace lives there, your peace will rest upon him…The Church will repeat this message until the end of time. Today there is a pressing need for the world to experience this peace. It begins with ourselves: being at peace in our hearts, living in peace with our family and friends, and doing all we can to be sowers of peace and harmony wherever we go.
The Flower Festival in the church this weekend is a celebration of the glory of God, expressed in the beauty of His creation. We thank all those who helped to organise, and those who contributed, to a glorious display of colour to the glory of the Almighty.
This Friday—feast of Saint Benedict, Patron of Europe—The Campion School Schola will visit the Parish and sing at the midday Mass. This is the third time the School have visited our Parish (previously on a Sunday) and their musical zeal and enthusiasm greatly enhances and dignifies the celebration of Holy Mass.
We continue to remember all those affected by the tragedy in Chalkwell Park last Saturday afternoon. We pray that Christ, the Good Shepherd, will bring those families His healing and consolation at this time.
May Christ, the Prince of Peace, bless you all and keep you in His peace.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy: Readings Year C
Preface of Sunday 1
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 5
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Intentions of Kastriot Mika
10.30—11.00m Confessions
5.30pm Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (CB)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
6th July
8am Mass Intentions of Susan Wood & Family (AK)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Neuza Sousa, RIP (TH)
4pm Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (K&LW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 7
Feria
9am Mass World Peace (IS)
Tuesday 8
Feria
9am Mass Alison Shepherd, RIP (Anniv) (CH)
10.30am Requiem Mass Kathleen Wilson, RIP
Wednesday 9
St Augustine Zhao Rong and his Comps, Mm
9am Mass For the families of the children that were hurt in Chalkwell Park (IS)
Thursday 10
Feria
9am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (JC)
Friday 11
St Benedict, Ab
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS) With the Schola Cantorum of the Campion School singing
Saturday 12
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Michael Wade, RIP (DB)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Margaret Kelly, RIP (Anniv) (MS)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
13th July
8am Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Patricia Armstrong, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Thomas Barrett, Fr Peter Brady Canon Francis Gilbert, Fr Walter Walsh, Joseph Bonds, Dorothy Blaker, Ronald Albert Conner, Niqui Denkmayer, Brian Finnigan, Dorothy Burder, Susan Hayes, Alison Shepherd, Elizabeth (Lily) Dean, Mary Kennedy, Maurice Mulcahy, Benita Skellon, George King, Margaret Smith, Patricia Cavanagh, Ted Wilson, John Hardy, Paddy Shanahan, William O’Neill, Selwyn Lewis, Ita McCullough, Ian Spacie, Joan Gendall, Felix Keenan, Annie Harriet Briggs, Maria Chadun, David Dilley, Mary Bray, Irene Harvey, Margaret O’Callaghan, Elsie Maczka, Stanislaus Dulewicz & Michael O’Connell.
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 souls of
ANGELA SANGSTER who died on Wednesday, 4th June. Her Requiem Mass will be held on Friday, 18th July at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
KATHLEEN WILSON who died on Wednesday, 11th June. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday, 8th July at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
JOHN CAFFERTY who died on Monday, 16th June. His Funeral will take place on Friday, 18th July at 1.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
PAMELA UGLIETTI who died on Thursday, 19th June. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 30th July at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Friday 11th July—feast of St Benedict, Patron of Europe. The Schola of The Campion High School will sing at the midday Mass
Sunday, 20th July—Sea of Voices Summer Concert 3pm
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Monday 8th September Centenary of the Opening of our Church
Sunday 14th September Parish Centenary Celebration 3pm
200 Club—A new focus on Vocations in Nigeria
For many years, our 200 Club has been an important way for our Parish to raise funds for various worthwhile causes (and a fun opportunity for participants to be the lucky winner of monthly cash prizes!)
The Parish Finance Committee has, after due research and consideration, decided to focus our 200 Club funds on a new project—Aid to the Church in Need’s project in Nigeria to provide support for vocations to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, whose missionary priests are known as Spiritans. Nigeria is an important front line of the Church’s struggle in the face of violent ideology and persecution. Our fundraising will contribute to the overall costs of the tuition and expenses of trainee priests who, on completion of their formation, will be available for mission appointments strengthening the Church within Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, we have our own experience of the Spiritans in our Diocese so it would be a good way of showing our gratitude and support to them.
There are some spare places available in the 200 Club. If you wish to join with a monthly regular donation of £5, forms are available at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Sea of Voices Summer Concert
Tickets for £5 are now available for our Summer charity concert at the Lourdes Parish Centre on Sunday 20th July, 3pm, from the Parish office (Monday to Friday mornings) or from Darrell (contact below). Proceeds will go to Age Concern Southend.
Offers of help with refreshments and donations of raffle prizes are very welcome; please contact Darrell Binding 07825686249.
Mini Vinnies
The next meeting for the Mini Vinnies will take place in the Parish Centre on Monday, 14th July from 5.15pm to 6.45pm. Mini Vinnie Committee.
Weekday Readers
Reading at weekday Mass - Volunteers welcome
Readers participating in the Liturgy of the Word play an essential role in the Mass, and the parish is looking for more volunteers to read.
On average people read about once every 2 weeks, and the rota is flexible to fit in with holiday and other commitments. You don't have to have read before and training can be provided. If you want to experience what reading would be like before deciding whether to read regularly, a one-off reading opportunity can be arranged too.
So if you would like to find out more and give reading a try, please go to the volunteering page on the website and send us your details Volunteer (lourdesleigh.org) and Jackie Sullens will be in touch. Thank you.
Faith, Friends and Food
Bringing together men within our Parish bonded by their common faith in our One Triune God and His One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. What is this?
Men only group, 18+
Learning more about your faith and prayer life
Being more active within your Parish
Contributing ideas, volunteering
Socialising, food, drinks
Once a month
Widening your social circle to include other Catholics.
We are forming a new Parish men’s group for those who are wanting to form new friendships within our Parish and to generally learn more about their faith and to contribute ideas and to help. Whether you are fresh out from leaving college, taking care of your family, new to the Parish, retired and everything in between you are welcome to come along.
There’s no commitment, just a want to bring together men within our parish bonded by their common faith inner One Triune God and his One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church.
For any questions about the group, or if interested and would like to attend our once monthly meet-ups, or would like to find out more, then please contact Martin on 07515931567.
MISSIO Red Boxes
I have received the Summer Issue of Mission Today. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church ( on the ledge in the usual place). If you have a box that needs emptying please give it to me personally or leave in the office and I will collect it. Thank you.
Joan Caunce Secretary 01268 757505
St Thomas More Open Evening
St. Thomas More High school - open evening, Thursday, 10th July 4.00p.m. to 7.00p.m. - for families who have a son due to transfer to secondary school in September 2026 - come and see the school, meet the staff and pupils.
The Headteachers talk will begin at 5.30pm.
Parents of boys who wish to apply to St. Thomas More School for a place in September 2026 should complete the local education authority single application form (saf) and fill in the supplementary information form (sif) that can be collected at the open evening.
If you are unable to come to the open evening, please contact the school in order to get the supplementary information form. The form can also be downloaded from the school web site:-
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
ERCOL Table & Chairs
One of our parishioners has an Ercol table and four chairs which they no longer need. If you are interested, please contact Mrs Isaacs on 01702 713195.
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.
SS PETER & PAUL, App
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate the memory and lives of Saints Peter and Paul—the two foundations stones of Holy Church.
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate the memory and lives of Saints Peter and Paul—the two foundation stones of Holy Church. In Peter we see the image of the Church as founded on his profession of faith; in Paul we see the Church as missionary, going out to bring the Gospel of salvation to all mankind. The iconography of these two Apostles reminds us of these dimensions of the Church: Peter holds the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and Paul the scroll representing the teaching of his Letters to the various Christian Communities to which he wrote. I always feel an uplift when I see their statues on the tower of our Church: Peter is looking south, towards Rome, and Paul looks in the opposite direction, gazing out to the rest of the world, to where he would go as a missionary at the service of God’s Word.
It is the person of the Pope who embodies all of this for us today. It has been an exciting two months since the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as he continues to make his mark upon the Church in all of the facets of ecclesiastical life.
Why did he want to be called Leo XIV? He himself explains the choice of name:
I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’ addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.
We have been blest with our new Holy Father, who exhibits such a love of Christ and His Church. He seems so very conscious of inhabiting a role that is greater than his person and seems determined to manifest this in his words and actions. For our part, let us pray that he will be given strength from above, to persevere and fulfil what Jesus told Peter: Confirm the faith of your brethren.
Finally, I recall the first words of Our Holy Father, immediately following his election and as he was presented to the world on 8th May:
I thank my brother Cardinals, who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a Church, united, ever pursuing peace and justice, ever seeking to act as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, in order to proclaim the Gospel without fear, to be missionaries. I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, “With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.” In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us.
Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.
God bless our Pope, the Church and all of us, as we celebrate the origins and foundational pillars of the Church this weekend!
Msgr Kevin Hale
SS PETER & PAUL, App
Liturgy:
Readings of 29th June
Preface of SS Peter & Paul
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 28
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
10am Mass Annie Laura Levan, RIP (FM)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Intentions of Teresa (MrsW)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
SS Peter & Paul, App
29th June
8am Mass Gareth Lewis, RIP (Anniv) JL)
9.30am Mass Patrick Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (IR)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 30
The First Martyrs of the See of Rome
9am Mass John Butler, RIP (RB)
Tuesday 1 July
St Oliver Plunket, Bp, M
9am Mass Sheila Creegan, RIP (AS)
Wednesday 2
Feria
9.30am Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (JL)
OLOL School Leavers Mass
Thursday 3
St Thomas, Ap
9am Mass Frank Clancy, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
Friday 4
St Elizabeth of Portugal
12Noon Mass James Cornelius Forde, RIP (FM)
First Friday—Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 5
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Intentions of Kastriot Mika
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (CB)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
6th July
8am Mass John Wood, RIP (AK)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Neuza Sousa, RIP (TH)
4pm Mass Pamela Uglietti, RIP (K&LW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction