The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you every grace, peace and blessing this Christmastide.
Christmas Message
The Priests of the Parish join in wishing you every grace, peace and blessing this Christmastide.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface 2 of Advent
Saturday 20
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
5.30pm Vigil Peggy Ingham, RIP (FM)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourth Sunday of Advent
21 December
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Winnifred McClafferty, RIP & Noel Dixon, RIP (Anniv) (A-MM)
11.30am Mass Bernardette Perry, RIP
Confessions after all of the Sunday Masses
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 22
Weekday of Advent
9am Mass Sister Pierina, RIP (JS)
Confessions after Mass
Tuesday 23
Weekday of Advent
9am Mass Harrison Nada, RIP (LK)
Confessions after Mass
Wednesday 24
Christmas Eve
9am Mass Grace McDonagh, RIP (AC)
Confessions after Mass until 11am
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls (Night Mass Readings) Carols from 5.00pm
8.30pm Vigil of Readings & Carols
9pm Night Mass The People of the Parish
Thursday 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
8am Mass Private Intention (Dawn Mass)
9.30am Mass Private Intention (Dawn Mass)
11.30am Mass Private Intention (Day Mass)
Friday 26
St Stephen, the First Martyr
10am Mass Altar Servers and their Families
Saturday 27
St John, Ap, Ev
10am Mass John McDonagh, RIP (AC)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Peggy Ingham, RIP (Anniv) (FM)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 28 December
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
8am Mass Madeleine & Roland Selvini, RIP (J-CS)
9.30am Mass Assunta Cotgrove, RIP (AMcC)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Arthur Cowd, Bp Brian Foley, Canon Wilfred Thompson, Fr Francis Greenan, Fr Francis Wilson, Mabel Carter, Francis Brady, Eleanor Dillon, William Smith, Grace Greiner, Veronica Barrett, Cathy Baker, Robert Kirsch, Teresa Evans, Roland Glazebrook, David Middleton, Mario Piacentini, Anthony Sansom, Elsie Osborne, Mary Heather, Teresa Riley, Winifred McClafferty, Elizabeth Astall, Jessica Wilson, Basil De Neuman, Mary Higgins, Anthony Nesnas, Bridget McDonald, Julia Upsher, Eddie Gillman, Clare Whomes, Douglas Hurley, Charles Stokes, Lynda Quinlivan, Guido Lauria, Janet Newby, Michael Manning, John Furley, Amelia Eaglesfield, Flor Perez de Pina, P.A. Holcombe, Mrs Beeching, James O’Donnell, Francis Gibson, Mary Fitzroy, Deirdre Gray, James Keefe & Leonora Maguire.
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.”
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the deceased members of the Cook Family.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 5th January Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Repository
The Repository will close on the weekends following Christmas and New year and re-open the weekend of 10th/11th January. As usual on weekdays, Mass cards can be purchased from the Parish Office.
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The proposed 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 £910 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is £245, 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.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
The next meeting will be on Monday, 5th January 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.
Baptisms
We congratulate the parents of Florence Nash and Tyra De Castro who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School & Nursery
We have a vacancy for a Nursery Learning support assistant, working 8:30am - 3:30pm with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. Pay scale 3-4, £18,379 - £18,668 (FTE £24,796-£25,185) 38 weeks of the year. The role is to start early to mid January with applications to be submitted by 7th January and interviews to be held on 9th January. Applications can be found on the school website or by contacting the school office –office@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk
We also have a vacancy for a Breakfast club assistant, 7 hours and 30 minutes per week - 7:15am - 8:45am (Monday, - Friday) Payscale 4 - £4,308 38 weeks of the year - term time only Start Date: 5th January 2026 We are looking to appoint a hardworking and enthusiastic member of staff to support our expanding wrap-around care breakfast club at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Nursery, which is a member of the Assisi Catholic Trust.
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
Liturgy:
Preface 1 of Advent
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 13 December
St Lucy, V, M
5.30pm Mass Joseph Pallis, RIP (EK)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
14 December
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Vivien Payne, RIP (VP)
11.30am Mass John Butler, RIP (RB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 15
Monday of the Third Week of Advent
9am Mass Mary Morgan ,RIP (Anniv) (EM)
Tuesday 16
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
9am Mass Deceased Members of Richardson Family (JS)
Wednesday 17
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
9am Mass Intentions of the Ward & McFarlane Families (MW)
Thursday 18
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
9am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE)
Friday 19
Friday of the Third Week of Advent
12Noon Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield RIP (FM)
Saturday 20 December
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
10am Mass Maria Luisa Page RIP (Anniv) (LS)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Peggy Ingham, RIP (FM)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fourth Sunday of Advent—
21 December
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Winnifred McClafferty RIP & Noel Dixon, RIP (Anniv) (A-MM)
11.30am Mass Bernardette Perry RIP Confessions after all of the Sunday Masses
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Gerard Kerr, Fr William Guinean, Fr Bentley, Bernard Dunne, Mary Slattery, Sallie Walker, Patrick Sheehan, Angela Evelyn Joyce, Doreen Murphy, Clarice Bugatti, Thomas McInereney, Francis Gavin, Anthony Troughton, Charles Hughes, John Maxfield, Paul Corpe, Mary McQuaid, Francis O’Neill, Eileen Byczanski, Larraine Moore, Maria Page, Kevin Shanahan, Herbert Marriott, Evelyn Tobias, Ronald Buckley, Patricia Bishop, Andrew Hills, Mary Hurley, Alice Chapman, Barbara Althorpe, John McCarthy, Miss E Parker, Paul Emerson, Sylvia Walton, Gladys Symns, Mabel Walmsley, John Baigent, Anthony Fleming, Bernard Murphy, Paola Murch, Mary Poole, Peter Robson, Christopher Mabey & Terry Martyn.
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.”
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Anthony Fleming, RIP.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 15th December Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Friday 19th December—Annual Carol Service 7.00pm
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The proposed 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 £910 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is £245, 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.