Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Henry to fulfil his vocation for his person and intentions.
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 16th March—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 24th May—Confirmation Mass 11.30am
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
11th July—Flower Festival
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
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.
Mon 23rd March 10.30—12.00 following coffee in the Parish Centre after Mass.
Wednesday 25th March 7.30–9pm in the Parish Centre
Want more info? Contact Heather 07885 737393, heatherward55@gmail.com
Brentwood Cathedral Lenten Lectures
This will take place at Brentwood Cathedral Parish Hall 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 4 Wednesday 18th March Rev Msgr John Armitage.
The uniqueness of Catholicism for British Society—7.30pm
Gift Aid Envelopes
The Gift Aid Offertory and Special Charity envelopes for the Financial Year 2026/27 are now available for collection at the back of Church.
Please note that a new set of numbers have been used and your new envelope number may not necessarily be the same as those existing in this present financial year.
Young Vincentians
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our cake sale last weekend. We raised £236 for SVP!
We love running fundraisers to help those in need and we are proud to say that in our first year as the Young Vincentians Group we also raised £800 through our All Saints evening back in November.
Young Vincentians Committee.
Flower & Crafts Festival 2026
This year the Flower & Crafts festival is on Saturday 11th July. Once again we are asking for your help and contributions to making the day a success.
This year the theme of the Festival is The Beatitudes. There are 8 beatitudes and we would like each to be represented in flower displays, art work, crafts, etc.
Please do consider taking part, especially if you have not considered doing so before. If you can sew, knit, embroider, paint, draw, craft, do flower arrangements; then we need you!
The Festival is a way of opening ourselves up to a wide group of people of various religious persuasions and none. Each year we host some people who have never been in a church before.
This is part of our Christian witness.
If you would like to take part or would like to know more , contact me by email, mcronan@btinternet.com Or have a chat with me or Theresa after the 9.30am Sunday mass in the Lady Chapel.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 16th March 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.
Repository News
Easter cards are now available. First Holy Communion and Confirmation cards and gifts will be in stock after Easter.
Seniors Exercise & Balance Class
You are invited to join the Exercise & Balance Class for Seniors which is held every Tuesday morning in the Parish Centre. The class starts at 10am and lasts one hour. Exercises are done to music and each session costs £6.
MISSIO Red Boxes
Please do not bring any red boxes to the church until further notice. As soon as I am recovered and well enough, I will let you know.
A supply of Missio Magazines will be at the back of the church this weekend in the usual place. Please take one. Thank you. Joan Caunce
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. Sacred Heart are running a coach, and the cost will be £25 per adult, children under 16 go free.
Leaving Sacred Heart Church at 7am, picking up at St John Fisher at 7:10am and Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh, at 7:25am. We expect to be back in the Southend area by 8pm. Please phone Sandy Rand 07470 820994 to book your seat. Book early to secure your place. Thank you.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
Inclusion Lead (SENDCo)
MPR/UPR + TLR2 | Full Time | Permanent | Start ASAP
Our Catholic primary school, part of the Assisi Catholic Trust, is seeking an experienced SENDCo to join our leadership team. You will lead and develop high-quality SEND provision, ensuring ambitious outcomes for all pupils in line with statutory guidance.
Essential:
Successful SENDCo experience
NASENCo (or willingness to complete)
Strong knowledge of inclusive practice
Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. To arrange a visit or an informal conversation with the Headteacher, please contact the school office.
For further details and an application form, please visit the school website: www.olorcps.net or the Essex Jobscene advert
Closing date: Monday 13th April 2026, 12pm
Interview date: w/c 20th April 2026
We reserve the right to call for interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Please note: we do not accept CVs or applications from agencies.
Southend Catholic Pilgrims
7 Days Pilgrimage to Italy Roma, Greccio Province of Rieti & Assisi—£1496.50 per person
From Thursday 8th October to Wednesday 14th October 2026
Organised by Salvatore Burzotta Tel: 07753 203129
Led by Father Jeff Woolnough PP St Peters Eastwood
Please contact Salvatore for further information
School Vacancies in Brentwood
Class Teacher – St Antony’s Catholic Primary School, Woodford Green
Deadline for applications: 12:00 noon Thursday 19th March 2026
Deputy Headteacher – Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School, Chelmsford
Deadline for applications: 12:00 noon Friday 20th March 2026
Deputy Headteacher – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Tilbury
Deadline for application: 12:00 noon Friday 10th April 2026
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
Teacher of Religious Education—September 2026—Pay Scale – TMS/UPS
Are you an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher with the skills, confidence and energy to make a positive impact on the lives of our students?
We are seeking to appoint an RE teacher to join our highly successful RE department. If you are a teacher with excellent subject knowledge and strong teaching skills, if you can build positive relationships with staff and all learners and you are committed to raising the attainment of your students then please send your application to us.
St Bernard's High School is a Catholic girls’ school from Years 7-11 with a co-educational Sixth Form. Our school is ranked one of the top schools in Southend, and we are in the top 20% of schools across the country for our progress with students and our outcomes. We offer our students an environment where they can excel academically, personally and spiritually. It is a warm and welcoming school where our Catholic values underpin our day-to-day life.
All new staff are supported within the positive ethos of this happy and high performing school, and to this end all staff complete an applicable induction training programme. The community at St Bernard’s welcome applications from teachers of all faiths or none.
Please complete the final teaching application form found on our website www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk under School Information/Vacancies – please note we do not accept CVs.
Closing Date: 16 March 2026 at 9.00am
Interviews: w/c 16 March 2026 or 23 March 2026
Third Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings over the next three Sundays begin to lead us into the mysteries of our salvation in Christ: The Woman at the Well this weekend, the Healing of the Man Born Blind next Sunday and finally the Raising of Lazarus form the Dead.
Dear friends in Christ
The Readings over the next three Sundays begin to lead us into the mysteries of our salvation in Christ: The Woman at the Well this weekend, the Healing of the Man Born Blind next Sunday and finally the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead. In each of these Gospel narratives, we are being lead from the darkness of sin and death towards the light of the Resurrection. For this reason, these passages from the Scripture are ideal helps in the preparations for those who are to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Blessed Eucharist. In a beautiful sermon of Saint Augustine on the Samaritan Woman whom Jesus meets at the Well he concludes: What is this water that he will give if not the water spoken of in Scripture: With you is the fountain of life? How can those feel thirst who will drink deeply from the abundance in your house? He was promising the Holy Spirit in satisfying abundance. She did not yet understand. In her failure to grasp his meaning, what was her reply? The woman says to him: 'Master, give me this drink, so that I may feel no thirst or come here to draw water.' Her need forced her to this labour, her weakness shrank from it. If only she could hear those words: 'Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you.' Jesus was saying this to her, so that her labours might be at an end; but she was not yet able to understand.
We know, with the hindsight and insights of faith and history, that Jesus has come to give us life abundantly, and by our Baptism, we share on earth the life we look forward to possessing in all its fullness in eternity. As we approach the mid-way point of Lent, we renew our faith and hope in the promise of eternal life and ask for grace to daily persevere in fidelity to our place in the Church.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale