Dear friends in Christ
Once again this week we hear from the Prophet Amos after his return from the desert of Samaria. he finds the leaders of the chosen people wholly given over to the pleasures of the world, which he describes in details before telling them their destiny: exile!
Dear friends in Christ
The Prophet Amos in the first reading of the Mass this weekend, thunders against the exploitation of the poor by ruthless profiteers; as also in the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the unjust steward who is forced to give an account to his master.
Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we have a break in the liturgy from the Sundays in Ordinary Time to celebrate the Triumph of the Cross, which is celebrated each year on 14th September and which replaces the normal Sunday liturgy.
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of Mass this Sunday speaks of the requirements Jesus makes for following Him.
Liturgy:
Preface of Sunday 4
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 27
St Vincent de Paul, Pr
10am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Intentions of Anita Lupton
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
28 September
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Rebecca Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (IR)
11.30am Mass John Butler, RIP (RB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 29
St Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
9am Mass Intentions of Michael Darragh (MD)
Tuesday 30
St Jerome, Pr, D
9am Mass Intentions of Terri Wright (AW)
Wednesday 1 October
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, V, D
9am Mass Liam Dunne, RIP (A-MC)
4.30pm Body in Church Michael Satelle, RIP
Thursday 2
The Holy Guardian Angels
No 9am Mass
10am Requiem Mass Michael Satelle, RIP
Friday 3—Cafod Fast Day
Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus—First Friday
12Noon Mass Janet Weale, RIP (Anniv) (AW)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 4
St Francis of Assisi
10am Mass Alan Ward, RIP (ML)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Special Protection for Family
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
5 October
8am Mass Private Intention (JL)
9.30am Mass Paul Sutton, RIP (JP)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4pm Mass Private Intention
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Pope John Paul I, Fr Bernard Wakeling, Fr Michael Hopkins, Canon William O’Neill, Fr Michael Hopkins, Elizabeth Barker, Arthur Sanctuary, Mary Fletcher, Charles Bartley, Madeleine Beckett, Edith Riley, Vera Osborne, Mark Hillson, Peter Vella, James Gallacher, Ethel Bartley, Annie Thompson, Annie LeVay, Lily Bartley, Patrick Quinn, John Martin, Percy Sentinel, William Spedding, Ronnie Olliffe, Margaret Price, Rudolph Banocy, Sarah Duffy, colleen Worley, Sophie Shapiro, Eileen Pearson, Ursula turner, John Butler, Kathleen Jetton & Tom Atkinson.
“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.”
MICHAEL PATRICK SATELLE who died on Monday, 8th September. His body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 1st October at 4.30pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 2nd October at 10am, followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery..
ANNA PUCINO who died on Monday, 15th September. Her funeral Service will be held at 9.30am on Friday 10th October , followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
ALAN WARD who died on Thursday, 18th September, His Requiem mass will take place at 11am on Monday, 27th October followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
LAKSHMAN PERREIRA who died on Wednesday, 10th September. Funeral details to follow.
Requiescant in pace
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of the Lambert Family.
Monday 29th September Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Thursday 6th November Parish Requiem 7pm
Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
These Certificates can be collected from the Parish Office 09.00-13.00 each Thursday and Friday over the coming weeks.
Prelude: In F—Johann Krieger (1649-1725)
Postlude: Sonata per Organo—Giovanni Pergolesi (1710-1736)
This Fast Day, Cafod returns its focus to striving to provide safe drinking water for communities. Cafod’s work - giving practical support & advice to help communities establish & maintain safe wells - enables women & children avoid the often dangerous walks to find water & also gives children the time to go to school. Please continue to pray for Cafod & if you are able to make a donation for their work, you can do so through gift aid envelopes or the electronic donation device at the back of church.
You can find out more about Cafod’s work online https://cafod.org.uk/fundraise/family-fast-day?form=givetoharvest2025
The winners of the draw this month are:
1st Prize £150 104 Mr C Regan
2nd Prize £100 150 Mr C Wall
3rd Prize £75 57 Mrs S Phillips
4th Prize £25 23 Mrs A Burry
The funds raised from the 200 Club will now contribute 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.
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.
This continues on Monday, 29th September 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.
The next meeting for the Young Vincentians will take place in the Parish Centre this Monday, 29th September from 5.15pm. Young Vincentian Committee.
Some new stock has arrived, including Olive Wood Crucifixes, a selection of beautiful Rosaries and some small statues. We have a few Mantillas left in stock and 1 or 2 copies of the new Sunday Missals.
Please come and browse, the Volunteers are happy to help with any queries if you don’t see what you are looking for. Please note the Repository is open after all Masses at the weekend. On weekdays Mass cards can be purchased from the Parish Office.
Celebrate your faith
This year our parish mission enlivened our faith and in September we will be celebrating a hundred years of our parish’s worship & witness in Leigh. So what better time to go deeper into our faith, growing in understanding & knowledge?
From September until Easter 2026 there will be an opportunity to watch & discuss a series of video talks by Brant Pitre, author of books like Jesus the Bridegroom & Jesus & the Last Supper. He is a very lively & engaging speaker who can open our hearts & minds to the depths & treasures of our faith.
We will be holding regular meetings in the parish centre but for those who want to join in from home it’s possible to buy audio & video versions of the talks from www.brantpitre.com.
Normally meetings will run from 7 to 9.30 pm to give ample time for a break, questions & discussion. It would be helpful to bring with you whatever you use for making notes. No need to book – just come!
Ist October The Case for Jesus - “Who do you say I am?”
This talk has something for everyone - if you want to deepen your understanding of Jesus; if you are sometimes not sure how you would answer this question; if you are hesitant about explaining your belief in Jesus to someone who challenges it.
It looks at questions such as
Are the Gospels history or fiction?
Did Jesus claim to be God?
Is Jesus divine in all four Gospels? Or only in John?
What is the evidence for the Resurrection?
22nd October A Biblical Explanation of the Mass
Pope Benedict XVI said that in order for Christians to actively and fruitfully participate in the Mass we must understand “the meaning of the signs contained in the rites” . In this talk Brant Pitre helps us towards this understanding by explaining the biblical meanings of the most significant moments of the Mass.
12th & 26th November, 10 December
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent
If sometimes Advent gets lost in all the preparation for Christmas these talks, which focus on the Sunday Mass readings for Advent, will enable us to understand its deeper meaning & so lead us to a fuller, joyful celebration of Christmas.
If you’d like to know more please contact Heather Ward, 07885 737393, heatherward55@gmail.com
We kindly ask for your support with food donations to St Vincent’s Centre, Southend a trauma-informed centre bringing hope, help and opportunity to our community’s most vulnerable.
Every can, packet or fresh item offers more than food. Your kindness restores dignity, lifts spirits and shows those struggling that someone cares. Many people who visit us face real hardship and your donation becomes a lifeline and a message of hope.
We are truly grateful for every contribution, big or small.
Thank you so much, from everyone at St Vincent’s Centre Southend and those whose lives you help change.
I have received the Autumn 2025 Missio magazines. If you have not been given one by me personally please take one from the back of the Church (in the usual place). If you have boxes that need empyting please let me have them ASAP. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary
After 27 years the organisation for former pupils and staff members of St Thomas More High School in Westcliff has decided to hold one last Annual Dinner. It will take place in the school on Saturday 11th October. Guest Speaker will be Tony McDonald (headteacher 1981-85) and the cost for a four-course meal will be £30. Full details are available on the Alumni website: www.stmalumni.co.uk
Monday 29 September to Thursday 2 October, Monday 6 October, Wednesday 8 October and Thursday 9 October from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Invitation by appointments only, please contact the school reception to book Office@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Tel: 01702 343583 www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
