Please pray for the repose of the soul of
MIKE WORSLEY, formerly of this Parish, who died on Wednesday, 10th June. His Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, 13th July at 10.45am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
KITTY LYDON who died on Firday, 19th June. Funeral details to follow.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 11 July
Flower Festival
Saturday 11 July
3pm Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life, Brentwood Cathedral
Wednesday 15 July
9.30am OLOL Leavers Mass
Sunday 19-Friday 24 July
Lourdes Pilgrimage
DAY FOR LIFE (Assisted Dying Bill)
This Sunday is designated Day for Life by our Bishops. Each year we are asked to pray and reflect in a particular way on the value of human life and how it is our duty as Catholics to uphold and guard this most precious of gifts. More information can be found on the website of the Bishops’ Conference here
The Assisted Dying Bill is going to return to Parliament in the Autumn and it is imperative that we bombard our Members of Parliament with petitions to vote against the introduction of this Bill which would make assisted suicide a reality. You will find a link for more information here
Parish Funding—200 Club
The winners of the May draw are:
1st Prize £150 68 Mr A Cousins
2nd Prize £100 185 Mrs E Humpage
3rd Prize £75 194 Mrs A Hayter
4th Prize £25 13 Mrs C Harris
The funds raised from the 200 Club now contributes 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 and are part of 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. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Food Donations
Please add any donations to the SVP box in the Repository. DRY GOODS only please, hygiene items also welcomed.
Dani Cauchi, who leads the St. Vincents center in Southend gave a talk recently explaining the SVP Centre are able to offer a discounted food market service, for those in need. Any contribution is appreciated. Thank you.
Sallie Pollock SVP @ OLOL
MISSIO Red Boxes
I have received the summer Missio magazines. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Internal Vacancy -Deputy Director OF Education– Cathedral House
An internal vacancy has arisen for a Deputy Director of Education to join the Education Department at Cathedral House, Brentwood. The position is a permanent full-time role , working term time only plus 5 days. The start date for the role will be around January 2027 or earlier.
The Diocese serves a network of 90 schools: comprising 72 primary and 18 secondary schools, providing for the formation and educational needs of some 40,000 children and young people. The role of Deputy Director of Education is an inspiring, rewarding and fulfilling position. The successful candidate will join a dedicated and committed team at a significant time for the education sector, for Catholic education nationally, and for the schools and colleges across our own Diocese as we look to serve Bishop Alan and the mission of our Church with Christ as the foundation of our entire educational enterprise. As Deputy Director you will be expected to establish good relationships with each authority as well as engaging with the Regional Director, DfE, and Ofsted so that our schools and their staff are well served. The role offers the opportunity to utilise your existing skills, gifts and talents in new and innovative ways as we look to preserve and protect our distinctive educational heritage and history whilst forming and co-constructing an authentically Catholic educational landscape for the future.
We are looking for someone who has:
Extensive leadership experience in an education context, at Headteacher/Deputy level in school/academy/diocesan leadership or local authority/SIP setting
A strong grasp of current educational issues (including CMATs’ evolving role within the parish, diocese and local community)
A deep knowledge and understanding of Catholic education as structured in this country
A requirement of the post is that applicants must be practising Catholics. If you would like to apply for this role please forward your CV to hr@brcdt.org.
Initial approaches will be treated in strict confidence. Closing date: Monday 29 June at 5 pm, interviews will be carried out in July.
Flower & Crafts Festival 2026
Saturday 11 July
It is getting closer..... Thank you to all those parishioners who have already volunteered to take part. To make the day a success we now need to make sure that we encourage friends and neighbours to visit on 11th July. Some people are very nervous of entering a church and need an invitation to do so. Please try to be pro-active in advertising the event and of course make sure that you visit yourself.
On the day we will need people in the church to welcome visitors and also we need donations of cakes and biscuits to serve as refreshments in the Parish Centre. Cake makers we need you! These can be dropped off on Friday morning 10th July or on Saturday morning itself.
This is our chance to open up our wonderful church to our local community, to let people explore what it means to be a Christian. Our theme this year of The Beatitudes can be seen as a handbook for our Christian life.
Jo Ronan
Talks on the Gospels
Jesus opens the Scriptures to his disciples
Let Him do this for you through these inspirational talks from Brant Pitre
Monday mornings 10.30am in the Parish Centre
June 29th, July 13th The Gospel of Matthew
Wednesdays 7.30pm in the Parish Centre
June 24th, July 8th & 22nd The Four Gospels
Mass of Thanksgiving for Marriage and Family Life
Bishop Alan Williams will preside at the annual Mass at Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday, 11th July at 15.00; followed by a Reception.
If any married couples—with their family—would like to participate in this celebration, please let fr Kevin know and he will give you a formal invitation. We would like to invite especially any couples who are celebrating a significant anniversary of Marriage this year.
St John Bosco Children’s Camp—Summer 2026
Children’s Summer Camp places are filling fast! Applications are open for children currently in school year 5 – 7 (i.e. aged 9-12 in August 2026) to spend a week at camp. 25th July – 1st August or 1st – 8th August. Activities include archery, fishing, AquaPark visit, football, kayaking and much more. The camp is especially for children who may not otherwise have a summer holiday. Suggested donation £200, but full bursaries are available. All application details and full information are at www.boscocamp.co.uk. Places are going quickly – you are encouraged to apply this week.
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 22nd June from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
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.
St Bernard’s High School
Vacancy for a Learning Support Assistant—Full time, term time only (37 hours per week)
For details, please visit our website: www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk under School Information/Vacancies.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
Vacancy for a Learning Support Assistant - Early Years
For details, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/olorcps.net/olor-website/school-info/vacancies
St Bernard’s High School
Open Evening for Year 5 Students (Starting Year 7 in September 2027)
Thursday 9 July 2026 5.30pm to 8.30pm
We would be delighted to welcome Year 5 girls and their parents/carers to our Open Evening. This is an evening for girls wishing to join Year 7 in September 2027.
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.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of Mass this Sunday we hear about the vastness of the harvest but with few labourers available to reap it.
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel of Mass this Sunday we hear about the vastness of the harvest but with few labourers available to reap it. The same is the case in the world and Church today: there are too few labourers for the work to be done. The harvest will be lost if there is no one to go out and gather it. So there is a pressing need for us to be Christians filled with joy that is effective in bringing souls to Christ. We are all involved and implicated, since God can use any of us right where we are: students at university, workers on the shop-floor, teachers, politicians and social workers…all of us trying to build-up God’s Kingdom and together make a difference. We can make many excuses for not bringing others to Christ—lack of means, inadequate formation in the Faith, busy lives. However, God continues reminding all of us in these times that the harvest remains great and the labourers few. As Saint John Chrysostom once preached: There is no one colder than a Christian who is uninterested in the salvation of others. You must not use your poverty as an excuse. The widow who gave her mite will accuse you…Nor should you use your lack of knowledge as an excuse. The Apostles were unlettered men..and do not use your poor health as an excuse. Timothy was frequently ill. Each of us can be useful to our neighbour if we do all that we can. We might also ask: what am I doing to win vocations to Christ and His Church, to the Priesthood and Religious Life? Let us ask God for the grace to promote and encourage the call of God, directed perhaps to people we are in contact with daily. Let us live our vocation with great trust and constancy.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 13th June
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
5.30pm Vigil Mass Arthur Joseph Mills, RIP (DL)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 14th June
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Eoin Hall, RIP (CMcH)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Maureen Swallow, (D&SC)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 15th
Feria of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Intentions of Sean & Rebecca Moseby (ES)
Tuesday 16th
St Richard of Chichester, Bp
9am Mass Intentions of Jessica Moseby (ES)
Wednesday 17th
Feria of Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Holy Souls
Thursday 18th
Feria of Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Paul Hiscock RIP
Friday 19th
St Romuald, Ab
12Noon Mass Intentions of Rory Neale-McKenzie (GD)
Saturday 20th June
St Alban, M
10am Mass Flavio & Maria Diana, RIP (LM)
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 21st June
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Andrea & Pamela Uglietti, RIP (LM)
9.30am Mass Tom & Benitta Skellon, RIP (RM)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction