Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 9th February from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
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”.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
The Governors of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Hornchurch, are seeking to appoint an inspirational and dedicated Head Teacher. Closing date: Friday 6th March 2026 at 5pm / Interview Date: Friday 20th March2026. Enquiries can be made by email to admin@stmcps.co.uk, or phone 01708 448430.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The Beatitudes form the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday.
Dear friends in Christ
The Beatitudes form the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday. Blessed means graced by God and in each one of the Beatitudes Jesus tells us how we can receive grace and happiness from God. Our Lord points to the ways that can lead to limitless happiness in eternal life, and also happiness in this life. Poverty of spirit, a hunger for justice, for mercy, for purity of heart, and bearing rejection for the sake of the Gospel—all these are manifestations of the same attitude of soul: abandonment in God. We can ask for these graces and virtues even when those around us seem to be on a vastly divergent path. Saint Basil says we should not consider the rich man fortunate solely because of his riches, or the powerful man because of his authority and dignity, the strong man because of his bodily health or the learned man because of his eloquence. All these things can be instruments of virtue for those who use them rightly, but in themselves they do not hold the secret of happiness (cf his Homily on Envy). When in our search for happiness we attempt to follow other ways, other than those willed by God, we find that our journey ends in sadness and frustration. The Beatitudes, taken as a whole, point to the same ideal—holiness. This Sunday as we listen to these words in the Gospel, may we be moved to desire holiness, to seek holiness and live holiness in all the facets of life.
This weekend we welcome Edmund Adamus to our Parish. I have invited him to come and speak on behalf of the Charity The Friends of the Holy Land. He will tell us something about the situation there and the plight of our bothers and sisters in the Middle East. There will be an opportunity to show our practical support and charity in a retiring collection.
May God bless you all.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 3
Saturday 31st January
St John Bosco, Pr
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
Monday 2nd
The Presentation of the Lord
9am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP (SM)
Preceeded by the Blessing and Procession of candles
Tuesday 3rd
St Anne Line, M
9am Mass Fr Derek Lance (Northampton) (PM)
The Blessing of St Blaise after Mass
Wednesday 4th
Feria
9am Mass Barrington Gray, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
Thursday 5th
St Agatha, V, M
9am Mass Henry Kane, RIP (JA)
Friday 6th
SS Paul Miki and Comps, Mm—First Friday
12Noon Mass James Lesley, RIP (D&RL)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 7th February
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Joan Barr, RIP (PL)
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 8th February
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Marie Murphy, RIP (Anniv) (BM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of Fredarick Freeman (DF)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Joseph Burns, Fr Enda Keenan, Fr Francis Richardson, Fr Eric Bindloss-Smith, William Gannon, Patricia Robinson, Robert Jones, Kathleen Jennett, Francis Faulkner, Mary Quinn, Pamela Woodley, Myrtle Conridge, Edward Atherton, Florence Miller, James Kerr, Teresa Phelan, John Dickens, Bernard Pycroft, Mrs Winifred Wallen, Michael John Shrapnel, Teresa O’Brien, Lilian Abbott, Elizabeth Judge, Margaret O‘Connor, Robert Robertson, Margaret Pearson, John Hanna Manna, Victor Maguire, Joseph Ruggiero, Barbara Blaker, Charles Taylor, Henry Moores & Catherine Burn.
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 deceased members of the O’Brien Family.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 2nd February Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 24th May—Visitation and Confirmation—11.30am Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
11th July—Flower Festival
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
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.
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.
Friends of the Holy Land
This weekend, 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
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 2nd February 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.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—23rd May 2026
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come please leave your name and contact details with the Parish Office.
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.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
The Governors of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Hornchurch, are seeking to appoint an inspirational and dedicated Head Teacher. Closing date: Friday 6th March 2026 at 5pm / Interview Date: Friday 20th March2026. Enquiries can be made by email to admin@stmcps.co.uk, or phone 01708 448430.
Fruition—Fair Trade Fruit from Columbia
Saturday 14th February 7.30-9.00pm at The Lounge, The Stables, Leigh Road Baptist Church
This charity, Fruandes, was set up 20 years ago to support those living in extreme poverty in Columbia. The farmers are supported and paid a fair price for their produce. Today Fruandes generates fair trade income for 384 families.
The founder Giovanni Porras will be talking about the work they do and give us a taste of the delicious dried fruit they produce.
Please come along and support this event and our brothers and sisters in Columbia.
For more information contact Cathy on 07762 107920
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 2nd February from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.