Marriage Matters
Some of you will be familiar with the short weekly scripture reflections for married couples, produced by Brian and Maureen Devine of our diocese. These have been reissued with a new foreword from Bishop Bosco MacDonald.
The reflections for Year A are attached in word and pdf format. The reflections for all years are available at https://www.marriagecare.org.uk/how-we-help/two-in-one-flesh/
St Marys Catholic Primary School
The Governors of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Hornchurch, are seeking to appoint an inspirational and dedicated Head Teacher from April 2026. Closing date: Friday 9th January 2026 at 5pm / Interview Date: Friday 23rd January 2026. Enquiries can be made by email to admin@stmcps.co.uk, or phone 01708 448430.
Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine & County Mayo
Led by Bishop Alan Williams. Monday 15th June 2026. £799pps. Price includes flight from London Stansted, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock Shrine, Ballintubber Abbey, Fr. Peyton Centre & Kylemore Abbey. Single supplement on Enquiry.
Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
First Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
We now begin a new year in the life of the Church.
Dear friends in Christ
We now begin a new year in the life of the Church. This Sunday—the First of Advent—heralds the start of a year when we shall once more trace the events of salvation starting with the Prophets through to the Birth of Jesus, His Life, Death and Resurrection, right up to the birth of the Church at Pentecost. This liturgical calendar we live-out in parallel with the calendar of normal world-time and events, but through the celebration of the mysteries of our Faith, we make holy all human activity.
During each Advent we have the double challenge of living our faith in preparation for the coming of Christ at the end of the world and also of preparing to celebrate his Birth when he comes in time—the Incarnation. We need to pray for the grace to keep watching, to be vigilant, so that the cares and events of this world do not overtake us, nor cloud our vision as we strain ahead, always looking to the moment when this world and this life are dissolved. Then shall we finally come to live that life for which we pray daily in the Mass, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The family of the Diocese of Brentwood unites in sorrow at this time following the death of Bishop Thomas McMahon on Monday morning; he was in his ninetieth year but had been sick for some months. This is a personal sadness for me since I received Priestly Ordination at his hands in 1984. He was our longest serving Bishop, from 1980 to 2014. His Requiem Mass will be offered in Brentwood Cathedral on Tuesday, 16th December. However, numbers will be restricted, so if you wish to attend you might ask me. May he rest in peace.
I wish you every blessing for a new year, for this Advent season, and for a truly vigilant preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord.
Msgr Kevin Hale
First Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Preface 1 of Advent
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 29 November
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
5.30pm Mass Joseph Pallis, RIP (DL)
6.30-7.30pm Confessions NO EXPOSITION
First Sunday of Advent
30 November
8am Mass Holy Souls
9.30am Mass Intentions of Rose D'Souza (MF)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 1 December
Monday of the First Week of Advent
9am Mass Valerie Griggs & Dec'd Members of the Moon Family (SM)
Tuesday 2
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
9am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
Wednesday 3
St Francis Xavier, Pr
9am Mass Carolyn de Silva, RIP (AC)
Thursday 4
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
9am Mass Michael Rubbert, RIP (MR)
Friday 5—First Friday
Friday of the First Week of Advent
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 6 December
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
10am Mass Lucrecia Conlu RIP, Lucille Tarrubal, RIP & Jose Conlu, RIP
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Second Sunday of Advent
7 December
8am Mass Basil Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
9.30am Mass Alan Brown, RIP (FG)
11.30am Mass Lakshman Perreira, RIP (PL)
4pm Mass Frederick & Betty Clark, RIP
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
The Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Canvey Island, is looking for new Foundation Governors in this exciting time of improvement and change in the life of their school. If you are interested, please contact the Chair of Governors, JoAnna, on: jfleming@stjosephscanvey.net.”
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Bartholomew (Bart) Lynch, Fr James (Pat) Hannon, Fr Brian Drea, Fr James Hannon, Ann McGerity, Eileen Vaughan, Mrs Elinor Watters, Vera Spelling, Angela Lingard, Peter Haigh, Marie Sanctuary, Dilwyn Morgan, David Aldridge, Ethel Knight, Kathleen Dawson, Mrs Pat Ballard, William Kerry, Leonard Coventry, Derek Timothy, Terence Slattery, Val Brown, Delia Fleming, Liliana Petrini, Nick James, Timothy Murphy, Louise De Souza, Maurice Brazier, Agnes Nisbett, Yvonne Lovett, Martha Braun, Irene Rice, Ryszaard Burzynski, Vera Walls, Anne Woods, Hugh Smyth, Anne Reid & Christine Lyons.
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
EMILY MARY ROOT who died on Friday, 14th November. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 10th December at 12Noon followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescat in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday 1st December Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
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
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The proposed Pilgrimage to Lourdes next year, flying with BA, will depart Heathrow on Sunday 19th July 17.05pm—Arrive Toulouse 20.05pm, returning on Friday 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.
Sea of Voices Choir Annual Christmas Event
Our annual Christmas charity concert (‘Carols & Cakes’) will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Parish Centre from 3pm. Tickets are now available from 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.
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 7th December, 8.30am - 1.00pm
We’re getting ready for our Parish Christmas Bazaar, and we need your help to make it a wonderful success! This year the Bazaar will be on Sunday 7th December, running all morning from 8.30am until 1pm. Put the date in your diary and come along for breakfast and a little shopping too! Draw tickets are now available from the church office or the back of church after all masses!
If you are free to offer an hour or two on the day, please call or message Sue on 07816 141492.
Donations Needed for Our Parish Christmas Bazaar
Alll donations are most welcome but we’re especially looking for donations of:
Unwanted bottles of alcohol – perfect for our bottle tombola and raffle prizes.
Unwanted jewellery – costume or fine, to add sparkle to our jewellery stall.
Unwanted toiletries – always popular on our “Smellies” stall!
If you have any of these items tucked away at home, please consider donating them to support the Parish.
Donations can be left in the old Baptistry. If you need us to collect, (locally), just give us a call
Please bring cake donations to the Parish Centre during the day on Friday, Saturday or early Sunday morning.
Sue 07816 141492 Angela 07940 183452
Every contribution helps – and together, we can make this year’s Bazaar the best yet!
Thank you for your generosity and continued support.
Repository
We now have a selection of Advent Calendars for children and for Adults a selection of New Year Calendars, plus Christmas cards. We have a few Mantillas for sale and a few copies of the 3 year Sunday Missal available, plus our usual stock of beautiful Rosaries and Statues.
Please come and browse, if you have any queries the Volunteers will be happy to assist you.
Please note that next weekend 6th-7th December we will be having a Repository stall at the Christmas Bazaar so please come and visit us for your cards and gifts.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 1st December 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.
Celebrate our Faith Together
10 December - 7pm in the Parish Hall
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent
If sometimes Advent gets lost in all the preparation for Christmas these talks, which focus on the Sunday Mass readings for Advent, will enable us to understand its deeper meaning & so lead us to a fuller, joyful celebration of Christmas.
If you’d like to know more please contact Heather Ward, 07885 737393, heatherward55@gmail.com
New Balance and Strength Training Class for Seniors
The class has finished early for Christmas due to Val's heavy workload commitments in December.
We will start the classes again on Tuesday, 6th January at 10.00am. If you have not been yet, but would like to give it a try, join us on 6th January. Each session is £6.00 and all equipment is provided.
Young Vincentians
The next meeting for the Young Vincentians will take place in the Parish Centre this Monday, 1st December from 5.15pm. Young Vincentian Committee.