Second Sunday of Advent
Dear friends in Christ
The figure of Saint John the Baptist permeates Advent like a water mark.
Dear friends in Christ
The figure of Saint John the Baptist permeates Advent like a water mark. He it is who called, and still calls, the world to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. This he did during his lifetime and now he calls us from Heaven to prepare a way for the Lord! Let us heed this imperative, purify our lives, and prepare with godly devotion for the feasts ahead.
Monday, 8th December is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Situated in the heart of Advent, this great Marian doctrine celebrates how Mary was preserved from all sin from the moment of her conception, thus making her the worthy tabernacle of God. Mary’s Immaculate Conception helps us prepare for Christmas when, through the power of the Holy Spirit, she gives birth to our Divine Saviour. On Monday evening there will be prayed the Holy Rosary, Litany of Loretto, Consecration of the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Benediction, at 7.00pm.
The Parish Bazaar will be held this Sunday morning from 8.00 until 13.00. Do call into the Parish Centre to support this work of Charity which we organise each year. As before, we shall divide the profits between the Catholic Charities our Parish supports.
Wishing you the continued graces of the Advent season!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Preface 1 of Advent
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 6 December
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
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 & Frances 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
Monday 8
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9am Mass Sheila de Chantilly, RIP (Anniv) (LC)
7pm Holy Rosary, Litany of Loretto,
Consecration of the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary & Benediction
Tuesday 9
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
9am Mass Clare Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (IR)
Wednesday 10
Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
9am Mass Paddy Connolly, RIP (MI)
12Noon Requiem Mass Emily Root, RIP
Thursday 11
Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
9am Mass Intentions of Richard Poole (sick) (AC)
Friday 12
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
12Noon Mass Lucille Tarrobal, RIP
Saturday 13 December
St Lucy, V, M
10am Mass Bernard Ward, RIP (MW)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Joseph Pallis, RIP (EK)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
14 December
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Vivien Payne, RIP (VP)
11.30am Mass John Butler, RIP (RB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Michael Healy, Fr John Lane, Canon Anthony McKinley, Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn Magrath, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Bernard Pownall, Barbara ClarkeBrigid Hill,Doris Masters, Ana Dawson, William Johnson,Bruce Pond, John newton, Thomas O’Hanlon, Mary Alice Ring, Mary Dulcie O’leary, John Parsons, Sheila de Chantilly, Johanna Sadowski, Arthur coughlan, Walter Scott, PatrickLyons,Clare Clarke, Karen Anderson, Hilda did, Georgina Francis, Ann dunbar, Francis Mullan, Ivy heal, Cecilia Upsher, William Anderson, Marie O’Carroll, John Burke, Ronald Clarke, Eugene Grant, Alexander Black, Baby Felicity Garland & Peter D’Angervllle.
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.”
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for all the dead in the Ibekwe/Ebere’s Family.
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
Sunday 7th December—Christmas Bazaar 8am to 1pm
Monday 8th December Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
12th December—Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent 7pm Parish Centre
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
Thank you to all parishioners who attended our Annual ‘Carols and cake’ concert last weekend —we raised over £500 for the Hearing Help Essex Charity. We will sing again this coming weekend at the parish Christmas Bazaar (Sunday 7th December) from 10.30am.
Next Thursday 11th December some choir members will be caroling with musical accompaniment inside Leigh rail station for Southend YMCA—we welcome any parishioners who would like to sing with us (carol sheets will be provided) from 4.30pm for an hour that evening. We will also be singing at Royal Mews dentist practice in Southend for Charity on Friday 12th December from 2pm.
Our final sing will be at the Annual Carol service on Friday 19th December from 7pm, along with the congregation and YMCA musicians/singers.
Please note the car park will be closed from 2pm on 19th December.
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 7th December, 8.30am - 1.00pm
We look forward to seeing you at the Bazaar this Sunday 7th December, running all morning from 8.30am until 1pm. Come along for breakfast and a little shopping too! Draw tickets are still available at the back of church!
Please bring cake donations to the Parish Centre during the day on Saturday or early Sunday morning.
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
All 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
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
This 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.
We 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.
2025 Crib Donations
Christmas is a very busy and joyful time for us at BCCS. However, we are mindful that for some families, this season can be challenging, overshadowed by family tensions, loss, or financial hardship.
With thanks to the generous support of your parish community, we are proud and grateful to continue our work helping children and families in need. Our ability to carry on this vital mission depends on the remarkable financial support we receive from parishes and our community across the Diocese.
All funds raised from crib collections throughout the Diocese will help us sustain this important work, supporting vulnerable children and families who seek our help.
Julie Abbott, Head of Voluntary Income
BCCS - Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society
Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2026
The 2026 Diocesan Directory is now available from the back of the Church—£3.20. If you wish to pay by card, select Repository. Cash will be accepted in the Parish Office, which is open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.
MISSIO Red Boxes
I have received the Missio Calendars for 2026. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the usual place at the back of the Church.
Please do not leave any Missio boxes from now until the end of January 2026. Thank you
Joan Caunce, Secretary, 01268 757505
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 8th 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
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.
New Balance and Strength Training Class for Seniors
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, 8th December from 5.15pm. Young Vincentian Committee.