Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 14 February
St Cyril, M & St Methodius, B
5.30pm Vigil Mass Tony Trigg, RIP (Anniv) (AT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 15 February
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Intentions of Peter Murphy (BM)
9.30am Mass Elaine MacDonald, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 16
Feria
9am Mass Canon Francis Gilbert RIP (FM)
Tuesday 17
The Seven Founders of the Service Order
9am Mass Rosennie Sandoval, RIP (MW)
Wednesday 18
Ash Wednesday—Day of fasting & abstinence
Mass 9am Neil O'Keefe, RIP (UO)
Mass 12 Noon Intentions of Bridget Scholastica Helen D'Cruz (AJ)
Mass 7pm The People of the Parish
Thursday 19
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
9am Mass John & Pat Moon RIP (SM)
Friday 20
Friday after Ash Wednesday
12Noon Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (Anniv) (CS)
7.00pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 21
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
10am Mass Margaret Philomena Brannan, RIP (DB)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr John Joyce, Fr Thomas O’Connor, Fr Archibald O’Brien, Fr John Taylor, Deacon Sidney Lewis, Patricia Garnett, Anthony Ashwell-Rivens, Elaine Macdonald, Mary Rigden, Amy Read, John Armstrong, Doreen O’Leary, Alice McGiff, John McCarthy, Ernest Treston, Eleanor Walsh, Veronica Collins, Mark Bragard, Michael Fitzgerald, Maire Beckwith, Douglas Ellegard, Ernest Bullock, Anthony Hillier, Peggy Stevenson, Branko Deyanovitch, Hugh McHattie, Leo Forge, Elizabeth Callow, Vera Thompson, Christopher Purcell, Neil O’Keefe, Martin Coveney, Robert Bautista, Mrs Constance Anne, Christopher Keville, Jeanie Reeves, Georgina Cornwall, Theresa Daniels, Maria Calame, Amy Cutforth, Eileen Ditton, Grace Angwin, Anthony Warwick, Pamina Edgeley, David Johnson, Christina (Bobby) Newman, Mary Latham, Mary Asher, Anna McCall, Adolph Figueredo, Mary Keefe & Frank Blaker.
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
ROSSENIE SANDOVAL who died recently.
Requiescat in pace
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Nun sei willkommen, Jesus, lieber Herr—Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
Postlude: Passacaglia in D minor BuxWV 161—Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Dates for your Diary
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
Lent
Ten suggestions for what to give up this Lent—and what you can replace them with:
đźš« Give up snacking.
âś… Take up a short prayer like The Jesus Prayer whenever you feel hungry.
đźš« Give up gossip.
âś… Build up others with kindness instead.
đźš« Give up takeaway or eating out.
âś… Cook all of your meals instead.
đźš« Give up Netflix, Disney+ AppleTV, and other streaming services.
âś… Watch Christian films or TV shows like The Chosen instead.
đźš« Give up social media.
âś… Spend more time in prayer instead.
đźš« Give up secular books.
âś… Read spiritual books instead.
đźš« Give up snoozing your alarm.
âś… Get up as soon as your alarm goes off
đźš« Give up going to bed late.
âś… Make sure you get 7 or 8 hours sleep instead.
đźš« Give up your headphones.
âś… Be aware of your surroundings instead.
đźš« Give up making unnecessary purchases.
âś… Give any money you would have spent to charity instead.
Which of these will you try this Lent? Whatever you choose, make sure you’re actively seeking out God instead of replacing one bad habit with another.
Days of Fasting and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only days of obligatory fasting throughout the world (Can. 1251). The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year (Can. 1252).
According to Canon Law, abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year (Can. 1252).
Those under 14 years of age, the sick, the elderly and frail, pregnant women, are not required to abstain.
Lent Parish Talks
Nourishing our faith this Lent
Do you want this Lent to be a bit more than giving-up chocolate or alcohol?
Do you sometimes wonder what it really means to say you have a relationship with Jesus?
Would you like a deeper appreciation of Jesus’ Passion, death & resurrection & its meaning for our lives?
If your answer to any of these questions, or questions like them, then why not come along to our Lenten series of talks by the Scripture scholar Brant Pitre, running in the daytime & in the evening? No need to book.
Jesus the Bridegroom: Unveiling the Love of Christ in the Passion and the Sacraments
Monday 23rd February 10.30 – 12.00, following coffee in the Parish Centrel after Mass.
Wednesday 25th February 7.30 – 9pm in the Parish Centre
1. The Jewish Roots of Holy Week: The 7 Last Days of Jesus
Offered in 2 ways – fortnightly or as a retreat/study day
Saturday 7th March retreat/study day
10 am – Mass
10.30 – 11.00 Exposition
11.00 – 11.15 Welcome, tea/coffee in the Parish Centrel
11.15 – 12.45 1st talk & discussion
12.45 – 1.30 Shared table lunch
1.30 – 3.00 2nd talk & discussion
3.00 – 3.30 Prayer
3.30 – Tea/coffee & depart
If you can’t make it for the whole day come for the morning or afternoon.
Mon 9th March 10.30—12.00 following coffee in the Parish Centre after Mass.
Mon 23rd March 10.30—12.00 following coffee in the Parish Centre after Mass.
Wednesday 11th March 7.30–9pm in the Parish Centre
Wednesday 25th March 7.30–9pm in the Parish Centre
Want more info? Contact Heather 07885 737393, heatherward55@gmail.com
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 ÂŁ910 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is ÂŁ245, 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.
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/
Brentwood Cathedral Lenten Lectures
These will take place at Brentwood Cathedral Parish Hall commencing Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 7.30pm
The theme this year is: “What does it truly mean to be Catholic?” This invitation is to the whole Diocese of Brentwood. All Welcome!
Talk 1 Wednesday 25th February. Abbot Hugh Allan, O Praem.
“I Believe…” Living and Proclaiming the Catholic Faith—7.30pm
Talk 2 Wednesday 4th March. Rev Msgr Kevin Hale, VG.
Being Catholic and the call to holiness as seen in the lives of some recently canonised saints—7.30pm
Talk 3 Wednesday 11th March. Mr Mauro Iannicelli.
Prayer as the Foundation of our Catholic Life—7.30pm
Talk 4 Wednesday 18th March Rev Msgr John Armitage.
The uniqueness of Catholicism for British Society—7.30pm
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.
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”.
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.
Painting of Our Lady of Lourdes Church
One of our parishioners, Izzy Butler, who is also an Artist, will be displaying her latest painting, acrylic on canvas, in the Parish Centre for a week or two from this weekend, as then it travels to an Exhibition elsewhere!
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Our Lord tells us in the Gospel that we are the salt of the earth and light of the world.
Dear friends in Christ
Our Lord tells us in the Gospel that we are the salt of the earth and light of the world. He says this to each and every one of us who wants to follow Him. Salt gives flavour and makes food more pleasant, and light shows the way out of darkness. When we look around us, it is not difficult to see the results of mankind not living as the salt and light of Christ. But when we do live as salt and light in the midst of the world, we can transform the world from the inside. As G K Chesterton said: The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. Saint John Paul II reminds us of this in a Homily given in 1983: In some way you lend Him your face, your heart, your whole person, when you are convinced, dedicated to the good of others, faithful servants of the Gospel. Then it will be Jesus who attracts people. But if you were to be weak and evil-minded, you would obscure His true identity and would give no honour to Him at all.
It is not too soon to start thinking about Lent which begins in just ten days time; the time of radical penance and renewal. Start to plan how we will live these forty days of Lent so as to be more profoundly the salt and light our world needs right now.
Wednesday is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes—Patroness of our Parish and Diocese. We celebrate Mass with our Primary School in the morning, asking that Our Blessed Mother continues to watch over us, draw us closer to Jesus and show us how to live as ever more dedicated members of His Church.
May our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette pray for us!
Msgr Kevin Hale