New Balance and Strength Training Class for Seniors
Our Exercise Class is held on Tuesday mornings, 10-11.00 am in the Parish Centre for a seated/standing exercise class. The class is designed for seniors to improve balance and core strength and to help prevent falls, and is done to music.
It is run by Val Herron who has already run a couple of classes for the Lourdes Ladies Group, so will be known to some of you. She will charge £6 per session and provides any equipment that is needed.
Our next class will be on Tuesday 11th November.
Please contact Jo 01702 474062, or email mcronan@btinternet.com if you are interested.
Samaritans Purse Shoebox Appeal 2025
CWL Westcliff were overwhelmed by the support for our appeal across the parish and deanery. Many thanks to all who supported our fundraising - we raised a total of £1964 which we made up to £2000. This means we were able to buy 80 Shoeboxes online for children in need across the world. Thank you so much for bringing a smile to the face of a child this Christmas.
Repository
We have some new stock including beautiful Rosaries, a selection of Children’s Rosary bracelets and a large selection of cards. We also have new statues, Christmas cards and calendars.
Of particular interest we have a Statue of Saint Anne with the child Mary plus a large Statue of Saint Padre Pio. The latter might be of interest to Schools as Saint Pio is said to be very popular with young people.
The Repository is open after all Masses at weekends only.
SVP Food Donation Box
We are collecting for much needed food donations, cans, pasta, cereal, UHT milk, packets of hot chocolate, coffee, pasta sauce, chocolate spread/jam, tins of custard, gravy granules etc. Please leave all donations in the SVP box at the back of church (in the old Baptistry). Thank you.
Headteacher Vacancy
Headteacher vacancy at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Benfleet, Essex, required for April 2026 – Due to the current headteacher taking the decision to retire from the post, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspirational, ambitious and innovative Headteacher to join the team at Holy Family Catholic Primary School. Further information and application documents can be found on the following websites – HFCPS Website - Job Vacancies and Vacancies – Assisi Catholic Trust.
Midday Play Assistant Vacancy
The Local Governing Committee of Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School is looking to appoint a Midday Play Assistant to oversee the children eating lunch and to encourage play activities with them so that their lunchtime is an enjoyable, sociable, learning experience. You will be required to work for 8.75 hours per week (11.30am-1.15pm each lunchtime) to be paid on Point 2 (approx £12.26 per hour) during term time.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This appointment is subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.
St Bernard's Sixth Form Open Evening
THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2025—FROM 6.30PM TO 8.30PM—Headteacher's Talk at 6:45PM
View our facilities and speak with teachers and staff about our courses and the opportunities we offer. We offer a large range of subjects achieving excellent results including GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, MATHS, MEDIA
STUDIES, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, BIOLOGY, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS.
Sea of Voices Choir Annual Christmas Events
Our annual Christmas charity concert (‘Carols & Cakes’) will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Parish Centre from 3pm. Tickets will be available very soon (a supply will be at the Parish office) or from choir members. The proceeds will be donated to Hearing Help Essex Charity.
Once again, we welcome any kind donations of raffle prizes, homemade/shop bought cakes and help with teas and coffees etc. Please contact Darrell on 07825686249 email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com.
OLOL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday 20th November in the Parish Centre for a prompt 10am start.
We are very pleased to have Jan, our favourite Quiz person, setting the questions for another exciting Quiz morning. All ladies are welcome, so do come along and you might just beat the champions! Subs are just £1 plus a Raffle and refreshments.
NB We are very short of Raffle prizes so any contributions will be gratefully received, and thanking you all in advance!!
Candles for the Forty Hours’ Prayer-Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th November
These can be had in the Sacristy (£5) and will burn before the Blessed Sacrament with your intention written on the base. The remaining lamps will be used as the Sanctuary Lamp throughout the coming year.
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The proposed Pilgrimage to Lourdes next year, flying with BA, will depart Heathrow on Monday 19th July 17.05pm—Arrive Toulouse 20.05pm, returning on Saturday 24th July 19.05pm—arriving at 19.50pm.
The 5-night package price is £910 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is £245, 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.
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
This weekend, in a rare departure from the usual Sundays of Ordinary Time, we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Pope’s Cathedral in Rome: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran.
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend, in a rare departure from the usual Sundays of Ordinary Time, we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Pope’s Cathedral in Rome: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran. If you ever visit this church, you will see on the outside wall the Latin inscription, beneath a Papal tiara and crossed keys: Holy Lateran Church, Mother and head of all churches in the city and the world. This is one of the first churches built by Christians following the early persecutions. It was constructed under the Emperor Constantine and is the first Western church to have the invocation of The Saviour. Thus, it takes the place of the usual Sunday liturgy. Among the Jews, the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem was considered an important anniversary, because of the holiness and dignity of the Temple—the place where God made His presence known. Our churches are places where the members of Christ congregate to pray and worship together. Above all, we find there the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle, which makes our Catholic churches unique. Truly the world would be a different place had Christ not remained with us in this way. This feast then, is a moment to renew our own devotion to those places where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and where we can go and seek His presence, in the beauty of holiness. We have just celebrated in September the centenary of the opening of our own church. May the celebration of this feast of the Pope’s Cathedral this weekend, remind us of how we are united in our worship with all our brothers and sisters throughout the Catholic world!
This Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, the 11.30am Sung Mass will be a Requiem for all those who have died in the World Wars and recent conflicts. May God have mercy upon the souls of all the Faithful Departed, and bring them to the eternal light of His life and glory.
Msgr Kevin Hale
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Liturgy:
Readings for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica of St John
Preface of the Dedication of a Church
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 8 November
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
9 November
8am Mass Nicholas Flach, RIP (Anniv) (MF)
9.30am Mass George Wislocki, RIP (Anniv) (PW)
11.30am Mass The Dead of the Wars
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 10
St Leo the Great, P, D
9am Mass Pauline Godfrey, RIP (MI)
Tuesday 11
St Martin of Tours, Bp
9am Mass Intentions of Monica Swanton (AS)
Wednesday 12
St Josaphat Bp, M
9.30am Requiem Mass Carolyn de Sylva, RIP
Thursday 13
Feria
10.30 Requiem Mass Colin Cheeseman, RIP
Friday 14
Feria
12Noon Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (Anniv) (IS)
Saturday 15 November
St Albert the Great, Bp, D
10am Mass Marjorie Jay, RIP (JS)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Alfredo Tisi, RIP (Anniv) (MT)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
16 November
8am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (SD)
9.30am Mass Deceased Members of the Wall Family (K&LW)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Denis Petry, Fr Terence Howes, FrJames Allis, Fr James Ethrington, Francis Whelan, Dorothy Stuart, Sydney Hamilton, Thomas Horner, Dr Gerry Leyden, Marie Daniels, Sidney Hempstead, Pearl Scaife, Lucy Tombleson, Jean Lucey, Donald Galvin, Eileen Stanshall, Anne Britt, Isobel Good, Joan Read, Albert Rogers, Janet Conway, John Owen, Rene Solecki, John William Cavanagh, Jack O’Riordan Vincent Kelly, John O’Neill, Kathleen McIlwee, Richard Sparrow, Louisa Hurst, Sydney Pullen & Myriad Hubbard.
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
CAROLYN DE SYLVA who died on Thursday, 25th September. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 12th November at 9.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
COLIN CHEESEMAN who died on Sunday 26th October. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 13th November at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the deceased members of the McManus, West and Dooley families.
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Dessus de Tierce par accords—Gaspard Corrette (c.1700)
Postlude: Grave—Matthias van den Gheyn (1721-1785)
Dates for your Diary
Monday 10th November Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
12th & 26th November, 12th December—Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent 7pm Parish Centre
Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Sunday 30th November—Sea of Voices Christmas Charity Concert 3pm
Sunday 7th December—Christmas Bazaar 8am to 1pm
Friday 19th December—Annual Carol Service
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Volunteer needed
Do you have an hour a week to spare,? We are looking for a volunteer to help clean the back of the church, by the Baptismal Font.
If you feel you could help, please email the Parish office with your details—office@lourdesleigh.org. Thank you.
Young Vincentians All Saints Evening
The Leigh on Sea Young Vincentians invite you to an All Saints Evening for families.
Date: Friday, 14th November
Time: 6-8pm
Venue: Parish Centre
Entry: £1 per family
Please bring your own food/nibbles and drink. Children are invited to dress up as Saints and there will be some young entertainment!
If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation, please leave this in the Parish Office.
All money raised will go to support those in need and will be given to the St Vincent De Paul Society.