Assisi Catholic Trust
WE NEED ONE MORE FOUNDATION TRUSTEE:
Assisi Catholic Trust is currently seeking a foundation Trustee with experience or confidence in HR; to support the development of people strategy or experience to support our flourishing capital strategy covering buildings, digital infrastructure and technology and our asset management plan.
If you, or someone you know, have these skills and a heart for supporting Catholic education, we would love to hear from you. Trustees play a vital role in ensuring strong oversight, value for money and long‑term planning.
If interested, please contact the CSEL, Mrs Ackred, at the registered office of Assisi Catholic Trustoffice@assisicatholictrust.com for an informal discussion.
Bereavement Group at St Helens
A Bereavement Group meet at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helens, Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea on the 2nd Saturday of the month, from 10am to 12Noon, at the parish’s small hall.
St Bernard's High School
ST BERNARD’S HIGH SCHOOL VACANCY
Reprographics Technician—part time 25 hours per week 8.00am-1.30pm Mon-Fri (hours could be negotiable). Term time only plus 1 week.
Start date 13 April 2026.Salary Scale 4-6 (£25,185-£25,989); Pro rata actual salary £14,948-£15,425
You will need to be organised and adaptable to ensure the smooth running of our Reprographics Department and provide support to staff/students, printing for departments i.e. booklets, programmes etc. You will also be responsible for running the school shop, ensuring photocopiers are in working order around the school site and bulk buying of resources.
We welcome applications from all denominations or none. Please complete a non-teaching application form which can be found at the bottom of our Vacancies page and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.
Note: CVs will not be accepted.
Closing Date: 23 February 2026 @ 9.00am
Interviews w/c 23 February 2026
World Day of Prayer 2026
This years World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 6th March at 10.30 am at Kings Road United Reformed Church, 91 Crowstone Road, Westcliff-On-Sea SS0 8LH followed by tea/coffee.
This years’ service is prepared by the women of Nigeria on the theme “I will give you rest, come”.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Over these past weeks we have heard how Jesus, the light of the World, has shone upon us. He shone upon Joseph and Mary, on the Shepherds and the Magi.
Dear friends in Christ
Over these past weeks we have heard how Jesus, the Light of the World, has shone upon us. He shone upon Joseph and Mary, on the Shepherds and the Magi. Then He, that bright morning star hides Himself for years in the little town of Nazareth and lives the same life as His fellow countrymen. In fact He still continues to give light to peoples lives, for during the Nazareth years He has shown us through His hidden life, that ordinary life can and should be made holy. Now, after he leaves Nazareth, and has been baptised in the Jordan, He goes to Capharnaum to begin His public life. The Gospel tells us of the calling of the Twelve. Jesus Christ continues to give light and life to the world, and He can do so through our following of Him, by us being apostles to the people of our time. The joy and hope that comes from our Faith gives light to all our activities, and it is the marvel of Jesus who gives meaning to everything that happens to us and everything we do.
Next weekend we shall welcome Edmund Adamus to our Parish who will make an Appeal on behalf of The Friends of The Holy Land. This Charity, so important in these current days, aims to give help and hope to vulnerable Christians in the land of Our Lord’s birth. I look forward to hearing of the situation there and how we might help them from our abundance.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 2
Saturday 24th January
St Frances de Sales, Bp, D
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 25th January
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Mary Jordan, RIP (MC)
9.30am Mass Anita Lupton, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass For Neuza Sousa, RIP at Christmas (DS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 26th
St Timothy & Titus, Bpp
9am Mass Ruth Lambert, RIP (PL)
Tuesday 27th
St Angela Merici, V
9am Mass Intentions of Joan Caunce (CB)
Wednesday 28th
St Thomas Aquinas, Pr D
9am Mass Mark Solecki, RIP (Anniv) (IS)
Thursday 29th
Feria
9am Mass Madeleine Sighe, RIP (Anniv) (MR)
12.45pm Requiem Mass Charles Moghabghab
Friday 30th
Feria
12Noon Mass Patrick Patridge, RIP (MC)
Saturday 31st January
St John Bosco, Pr
10am Mass Intentions of Joseph Lawrence Conlu
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Carolyn DeSylva, RIP (JR)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 1st February
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass George Herrera Marcucci, RIP (NW)
11.30am Mass Gabriel Mulvihill, RIP (MC)
4pm Mass Peter Griffin RIP (FM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Hibbert Fr Alfred Field, Bp Patrick Casey, Fr John (Jack) Clifford, Canon John Byrne, Kathleen Cook, Phylis Faulkner, Ida Wallace, Bridget McGrath, Huguette Farrelly, Gloria Fletcher, John McCarthy, Vera Plummer, May Fazio, Elsie Terrell, Phyllis Hollis, Michael MacDermott, Gloria Dickens, Maud Darnell, Frank Russell, Edward Armitage, William Cooper, Robert Waller, Mark Solecki, Maureen Leyden, Gerard Tait, Andrew (Mel) Kenny, Andrew Shanahan, Claudio Catino, Carmel Bridget Abi-Aad, Joyce Ellen Reilly, Noel Calnan, May Ferry, Norah Kelly, Wyndham Richards, Mary Abel, Florence White, May Elizabeth Keane, William Moroney, Lizzie Burnham, Elizabeth Ray & Peter Griffin.
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 the intentions of the Harris Family—those living and those deceased.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
CHARLES MOGHABGHAB who died on Saturday, 3rd January. His funeral service will take place on Thursday, 29th January at 12.45pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
KATHLEEN MARY SULLIVAN who died recently.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday 26th January Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 24th May—Visitation and Confirmation—11.30amMass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
11th July—Flower Festival
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Voluntary in a minor—John James (c.1740)
Postlude: Toccata—Daniel Croner 1656-1740)
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The 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. On-line booking is available from Monday, 12th January.
Friends of the Holy Land
On Saturday 31st January/Sunday 1st February, Edmund Adamus of Friends of the Holy Land, will visit our Parish and speak about the work of the charity and the difference it makes to the small Christian population in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza (Palestine) and Jordan.
There will be a retiring collection and he will bring some leaflets/newsletters about the work of FHL. There will also be an opportunity to make a donation by card for your convenience. For more information, visit www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk
Sacrament of Confirmation
This will take place on Sunday 24th May, 2026 during the 11:30 Mass.
Any adult or young adult (who must have reached the age of fourteen by 1st September 2025) may apply. Please send an email with your name and contact details to mrscatherineharris@gmail.com by Friday 6th February, 2026.
OLOL Ladies Group
We meet again on Thursday, 29th January from 10am in the Parish Centre. We plan to have a Social morning, with our own entertainment, so if you have a story to tell, a favourite book or poem or the odd antique to bring along anything is welcome to add to the entertainment, not forgetting all you Art & Crafts people.
All ladies are welcome to join in the fun, but don't worry if you don't have anything to share. Refreshments are available with subs at just £1.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 26th January 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.
Parish Fundraising 200 Club
The winners of the December draw are:
1st Prize £150 151 Mrs J Hurley
2nd Prize £100 93 Miss S Hippard
3rd Prize £75 163 Mr K Wall
4th Prize £25 26 Miss J Gibbons
The funds raised from the 200 Club will now 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. These missionary priests are known as Spiritans.
Please support this fundraising. There are some places available in the 200 Club, and if you wish to join, there is a monthly regular donation of £5. Forms are available at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
SVP Tea Party
The Parish SVP are hosting a Tea party for our elderly Parishioners, on Saturday 14th February between 2pm and 4pm, in the Parish centre. If you would to come along please phone Janet on 07786 901488.
Repository
We are open at weekends after all Masses. We have a few Calendars left, reduced to half price. We also have the new 3 Year Sunday Missal and a small selection of Mantillas ,plus our usual selection of beautiful statues and Rosaries. Any special requests please ask one of the volunteers for help.