This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Anita Lupton, RIP.
Music at 11.30am Mass
Prelude: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hir BWV 731 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Postlude: Intrada- Grayston Ives (b. 1948)
Dates for your Diary
Monday 17th November Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
26th November & 12th December—Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent 7pm Parish Centre
Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Sunday 30th November—Sea of Voices Christmas Charity Concert 3pm
Sunday 7th December—Christmas Bazaar 8am to 1pm
Friday 19th December—Annual Carol Service
Saturday 16th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 7th June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Sunday 19th to Friday 24th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Sea of Voices Choir Annual Christmas Events
Our annual Christmas charity concert (‘Carols & Cakes’) will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Parish Centre from 3pm. Tickets will be available very soon (a supply will be at the Parish office) or from choir members. The proceeds will be donated to Hearing Help Essex Charity.
Once again, we welcome any kind donations of raffle prizes, homemade/shop bought cakes and help with teas and coffees etc. Please contact Darrell on 07825686249 email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com.
Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 7th December, 8.30am - 1.00pm
We’re getting ready for our Parish Christmas Bazaar, and we need your help to make it a wonderful success! This year the Bazaar will be on Sunday 7th December, running all morning from 8.30am until 1pm. Put the date in your diary and come along for breakfast and a little shopping too! Draw tickets are now available from the church office or the back of church after all masses!
If you are free to offer an hour or two on the day, please call or message Sue on 07816 141492.
Donations Needed for Our Parish Christmas Bazaar
Alll donations are most welcome but we’re especially looking for donations of:
Unwanted bottles of alcohol – perfect for our bottle tombola and raffle prizes.
Unwanted jewellery – costume or fine, to add sparkle to our jewellery stall.
Unwanted toiletries – always popular on our “Smellies” stall!
If you have any of these items tucked away at home, please consider donating them to support the Parish.
Donations can be left in the old Baptistry. If you need us to collect, (locally), just give us a call
Sue 07816 141492 Angela 07940 183452
Every contribution helps – and together, we can make this year’s Bazaar the best yet!
Thank you for your generosity and continued support.
Journey of Faith—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 17th November 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.
Celebrate our Faith Together
26 November & 10 December - 7pm in the Parish Hall
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
Young Vincentians
The next meeting for the Young Vincentians will take place in the Parish Centre this Monday, 17th November from 5.15pm. Young Vincentian Committee.
Certificates of Catholic Practice
These Certificates can be collected from the Parish Office 09.00-13.00 each Thursday and Friday over the coming weeks.
New Balance and Strength Training Class for Seniors
Our Exercise Class is held on Tuesday mornings, 10-11.00 am in the Parish Centre for a seated/standing exercise class. The class is designed for seniors to improve balance and core strength and to help prevent falls, and is done to music.
It is run by Val Herron who has already run a couple of classes for the Lourdes Ladies Group, so will be known to some of you. She will charge £6 per session and provides any equipment that is needed.
Our next class will be on Tuesday 11th November.
Please contact Jo 01702 474062, or email mcronan@btinternet.com if you are interested.
Samaritans Purse Shoebox Appeal 2025
CWL Westcliff were overwhelmed by the support for our appeal across the parish and deanery. Many thanks to all who supported our fundraising - we raised a total of £1964 which we made up to £2000. This means we were able to buy 80 Shoeboxes online for children in need across the world. Thank you so much for bringing a smile to the face of a child this Christmas.
Repository
We have some new stock including beautiful Rosaries, a selection of Children’s Rosary bracelets and a large selection of cards. We also have new statues, Christmas cards and calendars.
Of particular interest we have a Statue of Saint Anne with the child Mary plus a large Statue of Saint Padre Pio. The latter might be of interest to Schools as Saint Pio is said to be very popular with young people.
The Repository is open after all Masses at weekends only.
SVP Food Donation Box
We are collecting for much needed food donations, cans, pasta, cereal, UHT milk, packets of hot chocolate, coffee, pasta sauce, chocolate spread/jam, tins of custard, gravy granules etc. Please leave all donations in the SVP box at the back of church (in the old Baptistry). Thank you.
Headteacher Vacancy
Headteacher vacancy at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Benfleet, Essex, required for April 2026 – Due to the current headteacher taking the decision to retire from the post, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspirational, ambitious and innovative Headteacher to join the team at Holy Family Catholic Primary School. Further information and application documents can be found on the following websites – HFCPS Website - Job Vacancies and Vacancies – Assisi Catholic Trust.
Midday Play Assistant Vacancy
The Local Governing Committee of Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School is looking to appoint a Midday Play Assistant to oversee the children eating lunch and to encourage play activities with them so that their lunchtime is an enjoyable, sociable, learning experience. You will be required to work for 8.75 hours per week (11.30am-1.15pm each lunchtime) to be paid on Point 2 (approx £12.26 per hour) during term time.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This appointment is subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.
St Bernard's Sixth Form Open Evening
THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2025—FROM 6.30PM TO 8.30PM—Headteacher's Talk at 6:45PM
View our facilities and speak with teachers and staff about our courses and the opportunities we offer. We offer a large range of subjects achieving excellent results including GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, MATHS, MEDIA
STUDIES, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, BIOLOGY, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS.
Sea of Voices Choir Annual Christmas Events
Our annual Christmas charity concert (‘Carols & Cakes’) will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Parish Centre from 3pm. Tickets will be available very soon (a supply will be at the Parish office) or from choir members. The proceeds will be donated to Hearing Help Essex Charity.
Once again, we welcome any kind donations of raffle prizes, homemade/shop bought cakes and help with teas and coffees etc. Please contact Darrell on 07825686249 email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com.
OLOL Ladies Group
Our next Meeting is on Thursday 20th November in the Parish Centre for a prompt 10am start.
We are very pleased to have Jan, our favourite Quiz person, setting the questions for another exciting Quiz morning. All ladies are welcome, so do come along and you might just beat the champions! Subs are just £1 plus a Raffle and refreshments.
NB We are very short of Raffle prizes so any contributions will be gratefully received, and thanking you all in advance!!
Candles for the Forty Hours’ Prayer-Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th November
These can be had in the Sacristy (£5) and will burn before the Blessed Sacrament with your intention written on the base. The remaining lamps will be used as the Sanctuary Lamp throughout the coming year.
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026
The proposed Pilgrimage to Lourdes next year, flying with BA, will depart Heathrow on Monday 19th July 17.05pm—Arrive Toulouse 20.05pm, returning on Saturday 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.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
CAROLYN DE SYLVA who died on Thursday, 25th September. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 12th November at 9.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
COLIN CHEESEMAN who died on Sunday 26th October. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 13th November at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace