Please pray for the repose of the soul of
DAVID LESLEY who died on Saturday, 14th March.
Funeral details to follow.
Requiescat in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday 23 March
Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 16 May
10:30am First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 24 May
11:30am Confirmation Mass
Sunday 7 June
4pm Corpus Christi Procession
11 July
Flower Festival
Sunday 19-Friday 24 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, is: yes—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.
Wednesday 25 March 7.30-9pm in the Parish Centre.
Want more info? Contact Heather on 07885 737393 or at heatherward55@gmail.com
Gift Aid Envelopes
The Gift Aid Offertory and Special Charity envelopes for the Financial Year 2026-27 are at the back of Church.
A new set of numbers have been used—your new number may be different to this year’s.
Young Vincentians
“Our next meeting is 5:15pm Monday 23 March”
Flower & Crafts Festival 2026
Saturday 11 July
We ask for your help to make the day a success. The theme this year is The Beatitudes. There are 8 beatitudes and we would like each to be represented in flower displays, art work, crafts... Please consider taking part—especially if you have not before. If you can sew, knit, embroider, paint, draw, craft, arrange flowers—then we need you!
The Festival is a way of opening ourselves up to a wide group of people of various religious persuasions—or 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, or find Theresa or myself in the Lady Chapel after the Family Mass on Sunday.
Jo Ronan
RCIA: Journey of Faith
Our Journey of Faith continues
8pm Monday 23 March
Newman Room, Parish Centre
This is for people 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. We appreciate if you notify us in advance if you’re attending (but it’s not needed).
Fr Kevin or the Parish Office.
Seniors Exercise & Balance Class
10am Tuesdays
Parish Centre
£6
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 well enough, I will let you know to resume.
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.
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
Parish Fundraising 200 Club
The winners of the February draw are:
£150 Mrs N Richardson-Shii 30
£75 Mrs M Devine 69
£50 Mrs M Tisi 188
£25 Mrs C Haldenby 118
The funds raised from the 200 Club now contribute to the overall costs of the tuition and expenses of trainee priests. On completion of their formation, they take mission appointments strengthening the Church within Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. These missionary priests are known as Spiritans. This month the 200 Club has been able to donate £1000 to support these missionary priests through Aid to the Church in Need.
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. Or you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School & Nursery
We warmly invite families to visit our wonderful school and see first-hand the engaging and supportive learning environment we provide. Arranging a visit is a great opportunity to see the school in action, meet our staff, and experience our welcoming community.
If you would like to book a tour, please contact the school office who will be happy to arrange a visit.
Repository News
Easter cards are now available. First Holy Communion and Confirmation cards and gifts will be in stock after Easter.
OLL Ladies Group
Our next meeting is on Thursday 24 March in the Parish Centre. Please arrive before 10am so we have a good start. As this our last Meeting prior to Easter we will be having Arts and Crafts for Easter, for example: Flower arrangements, Easter cards or whatever your inner Artist inspires you to make! To relax and chat we will be having Hot Cross buns and maybe one or two Easter surprises. Come along and enjoy some early Easter peace and joy . Subs are just £1 per session and new members are always welcome.
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
As we are now at the half-way point of Holy Lent, the Church slightly eases the rigours of these days with this Lætare Sunday which anticipates the happiness of Easter, as the opening words of the Mass proclaim, together with lighter coloured vestments and music.
Dear friends in Christ
As we are now at the half-way point of Holy Lent, the Church slightly eases the rigours of these days with this Lætare Sunday which anticipates the happiness of Easter, as the opening words of the Mass proclaim, together with lighter coloured vestments and music. Last week the Gospel was the Samaritan Woman at the Well, this Sunday the cure of the Man Born Blind. The whole of our Christian lives is an effort to believe more deeply and see the Person of Jesus more vividly. That man, blind from birth, had his sight restored. Once his eyes are opened, he is able to see Jesus and make a profession of faith in His divinity, His Godhead. The miracle is a symbol of how God in Christ restores the eyes of our faith so that we can proclaim our faith in the True God. Jesus uses mud to anoint the eyes of the Blind Man, he uses created material to effect the miracle. Similarly in the Sacraments, God uses matter such as water, oil, bread and wine, as the means whereby grace—the life of God—is communicated to us in the Church. God continually uses ordinary and human means to communicate his divine life to us. We are hearing this Gospel, on this Sunday, to remind us of the essence of this season. Lent is a period of enlightenment for those who are preparing to enter the Church this Easter or Pentecost. It is also a period of increased light for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.
During this week shall celebrate two important Saints for our Parish: Saint Patrick on Tuesday and Saint Joseph on Thursday; both are patrons of the Parish Family. The original church building (the old Parish Hall demolished in 2012) was dedicated to these two Saints. When Canon Francis Gilbert built our present edifice, he wished it to be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Saint Patrick was lost from the new dedication but his statue in the church today is a reminder of his original patronage of our Parish. May these two Saints intercede for us in a special way this week, and bring us closer to Christ in his Passion and Death.
Please pray for our Bishop—Alan Williams—who this weekend reaches a significant birthday by which he is required to submit his resignation to Our Holy Father, the Pope. We now begin the important process of discerning and awaiting a new Pastor for our Diocese, perhaps later this year.
We pray also for Father Cornelius Joyce who celebrates his ninetieth birthday next Saturday; may God bless him and reward him for his generous priestly service.
We remember all Mothers this Sunday as Mother’s Day always occurs on Lætare Sunday which neatly reminds us of the joy of Motherhood and the gratitude owed to our earthly mothers who are mirrors and icons of God’s Mother, who is our heavenly Mother too.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year A
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of 4th Sunday of Lent
Saturday 14th March
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 15th March
Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare
8am Mass Marie Murphy, RIP & Intentions of Peter Murphy (BM)
9.30am Mass Joyce Foy, RIP (A-MM)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (Anniv) (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 16th
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
9am Mass John, Pat & Peter Moon RIP (SM)
Tuesday 17th
St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland
9am Mass Rev John O'Neill, RIP (FM)
Wednesday 18th
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Mass 9am Eric Newman, RIP (Anniv) (VA)
Thursday 19th
SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH
9am Mass Intentions of Lee Dickson
Friday 20th
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
12Noon Mass Intentions of Joseph Lawrence Conlu
7.00pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 21st March
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
10am Mass Fr Cornelius Joyce—90th Birthday (LW)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 22nd March
Fifth Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Intentions Fr Cornelius Joyce (MR)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Philomena Griffin (S&DC)
11.30am Mass Alex Murphy, RIP (LL)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Martin Horkan, Fr Donal Donegan, Fr Sidney Williams, Rev John O’Neill, Fr Justin Dawson, Fr James Earley, David McGowan, George Conway, James Kennedy, Kathleen Horsford, Julian Felix Asselborough, Catherine Isabel Jago, Anthony Slattery, Mary Russell, Henry McIlwee, Nina Clarke, Alfred Marshall, Dolores Cutter, John Flynn, Gabrielle Haiser, Henry De Souza, Andrew Shanahan, John Reynolds, John Moon, Guy Bragard, Eric Newman, Doreen Wall, Margaret Foster, Maru Blundell,, Dorothy Burke, Lesley Dorey, Edmund P Easterly, Francis Spratt, Francis Joseph Foley, Edward Hance, Agnes Edward, Catherine Davis, Ann Whiteley, John Fowler, Denis Reid, Nora McLeod, Imelda Maguire, Bernard Cody & Violet Day.
We pray for our sick
The Sick List is on the website, 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.”