Kevin Hale
The Most Holy Trinity

Dear friends in Christ

The central dogma and mystery of the Christian Faith is the Blessed Trinity—God is three Persons, equal in divinity, united as God.

The Most Holy Trinity
Kevin Hale
PENTECOST

Dear friends in Christ

Today, as members of the Church born on this day, we can indeed wish each other a happy birthday

PENTECOST
Kevin Hale
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Dear friends in Christ

This period between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrated on Thursday, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday, is a time of especial and intense prayer in the life of the Church.

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Kevin Hale
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Dear friends in Christ

On Thursday we shall mark and celebrate the end of the period of time Jesus spent with His Apostles following His Resurrection.

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Kevin Hale
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Dear friends in Christ

Over these Sundays of Eastertide we hear at Mass from the Book of Revelation.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Dear Friends in christ

We have just concluded the church year, and prepared for Advent with, our Forty Hours Prayer; a time of adoration, praise and petition of Almighty God present in his Son Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.  I thank all those who helped prepare the church and liturgy for those Forty Hours and to our young people who stewarded the all-night vigil through Friday night. Continuing-on from this now, there will be an all-night vigil each First Friday night, organised by our young adults, and with the specific intention of praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our Diocese; I hope many others of you will be able to join with them in the months ahead.

First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent - Sunday 3rd DecEMBER

Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
6.30pm–7.30pm Confession

8.00am Mass Margaret Sheaf, RIP (Anniv)(BS)
9.30am Mass Joe & Joan Hurley - Thanksgiving (MS)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish

4.00pm Mass Intentions of the Herbert Family - Extraordinary Form (JH) 
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 4 Feria
9.00am Mass Patricia & John Moon & Valerie Griggs, RIP (SM)

Tuesday 5 Feria
9.00am Mass Anne Young, RIP (K&LW)

Wednesday 6 St Nicholas, Bp
10.00am Requiem Mass Richard Sparrow, RIP 

Thursday 7 St Ambrose, Bp, D
9.00am Mass Liliana Petrini, RIP (Anniv) & Angelo Petrini, RIP (CP)
8.00pm Devotions & Benediction for the Immaculate Conception

Friday 8 THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY    
9.00am Mass Margaret Farrell, RIP (Anniv) (TF)

Saturday 9 Feria
10.00am Mass Clare Clarke,  RIP (Anniv) (BH)    
10.30am-11.30am    Exposition & Confession 

Second Sunday of Advent - Sunday 10th December

Saturday 5.30pm    Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm    Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Christine Noden, RIP (AC)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Mary & Jim Keeble-60th WeddingAnniversary (KD)
11.30am Mass Paul Emmerson, RIP (Anniv) (AE) 
5.30pm Organ Recital & Advent Reflections

Gaudeamus Christmas Concert, Friday 15th December 2017, 7.30pm

Gaudeamus is a chamber choir of 26 singers based in Leigh-on-Sea. They sing a wide range of music ranging from Renaissance to present day works but are particularly noted for their a capella (unaccompanied) singing.  They will be singing a variety of Christmas carols and also the audience will be invited (and actively encouraged!) to participate in some well-known carols during the concert.
All are welcome.  Tickets will be available at the door for £8. Tea and coffee with mince pies will be served in the hall during the interval.  If you would like more information please contact Nigel Warwick-Brown (member of 9.30 Mass music group) on 07402324626.

THE DEANERY ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Saturday 9th December 2017, 7.30pm at St. Augustine’s Church, St. Augustine’s Avenue, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3JH.  Tickets £5 each (16 and under FREE).  Includes refreshments, mince pies and mulled wine. Tickets may be reserved by calling 07810 707910, visiting our website., https://thedeaneryorchestra.weebly.com or purchased at the door on the evening.  The concert will be a wonderful selection of Christmas and popular music.

HARP

Thank you for your recent generous donations. Currently we have a very high demand for our services and we are desperately short of individual cartons of juice, toothbrushes and roll on deodorant for both men and women. If you could add one of these to your weekly shopping list and leave it in the sacristy it would be greatly appreciated.

Could you spare a thought for those on the streets of Southend this Christmas. Just £10 can bring a little Christmas magic for those who have been through a traumatic time. To donate £10 you can text XMAS09 £10 to 70070, visit harpsouthend.org.uk/Christmas-appeal-2017 or give your donation to Linda Wall.

Social News

SEA of VOICES CHOIR Our community choir will perform in two concerts in December: Saturday 9th December, 4pm  at Prittlewell Priory in a concert organised by the Southend YMCA to help the homeless (Tickets £10) and on Sunday 10th December at 3pm at Nazareth House for residents.  New singers welcome to join the choir for next year – contact Darrell (07825686249).

Journey of Faith (RCIA)

A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, continues on Monday 4th December at 8pm in the Parish Centre with The Holy Spirit & the Life of Grace.  You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.

Catholic Education

Do you support Catholic schools and the right off Catholics to send their children to them?  Then we needy to make your voice heard.

The Government is making a critical decision on whether to overturn the admission cap which prevents Catholic schools from allowing all Catholic pupils to attend.  They have acknowledged that this policy discriminates against Catholics and promised to abandon it, now we need you to tell them not to u-turn on their promise to Catholics.

Visit http://catholicnews.org.uk/education-cap or search for ‘Catholic Education’ in your search engine to write to the Government and urge them to drop their policy which bans new Catholic schools.