Kevin Hale
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

The liturgy is a lesson in vigilance this Sunday: because the enemy never rests, and love never sleeps.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

The message of the liturgy of this Sunday is stark: our life on earth is brief!

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

We have just completed, and returned from, our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel recounts the arrival of Jesus to visit his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus at Bethany. Jesus would often stop at their house to rest and eat with them. He felt at home there, surrounded by their warmth and affection.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the world's best known and loved stories.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We pray for our sick

Anne Currid, David Gurney, Maureen Gooding, Paul Keane, Mabel Addecott, Christian Ryan, Arthur Mills, Mike Rubbert, Teresa O’Brien, Maureen Deekes,  Noel Fagan, Patricia Abram, Tina Doveaston, Pat Lynch,Rose Craft, Addi Brady, Ben Wilson, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Brita Irons, Eileen Wilson, Patricia Spikin, Sandra Fagan, Edna Wallace, Beryl Dixon,Nan Carrit, Nick Evans, Vicky Jack, Lyn Gopee, Margaret Harrington, Mary Boyce, Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Dympna Addecott, Janet Woods, Lynne Hilkene, June Moncaster, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch,  Maria Clark, Sheila McBrearty, Anthony King, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Edward Martin, Johnnie Pool, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Josephine Griggs, Colleen Worley, Antonella McConalogue, Fr Jean Laurent Marie, Noel Kolb, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornwell, Lorraine Hart, Dawn Deleigh, Wyn McCafferty, Linda Dean, Annie Holland, Martin Buckley, Chas Taylor, Martha Braun, John Lavery, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, David Askew, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, David Kislingury, Maureen Ward, Jane Jowers, Irena Solecki, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Rosemary Arscott, Lanto Bellis, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer,Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith and children Thomas Ball, Liam Davis,Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Lucy Price, Connie Price, Mary Isherwood, Frazer Gregory, baby Talia Emery and Hattie Seymour

Please Pray for the Dead on their anniversaries

Fr Archibald O’Brien, Deacon Sidney Lewis, Canon Aloysius Roche, Fr Thomas O’Connor, Fr Gerard Murphy, Ernest Bullock, Anthony Hillier, Peggy Stevenson, Branko Deyanovitch, Hugh McHattie, Elizabeth Callow, Leo Forge, Vera Thompson, Christopher Purcell, Neil O’Keefe, Robert Bautista, Constance Anne, Christopher Kelville, Theresa Daniels, Eileen Ditton, Maria Calame, Amy Cutforth,  Grace Angwin, Anthony Warwick, Mary Latham, Mary Ashes, Anna McCall, Adolph Figueredo, Mary Keefe, Frank Blaker, Jim Keniry, Mary Wildman, Joseph Mills, Vincent Sullivan, Dominick Fanning, Maire Callanan, William Shanahan, Ernest Tobias, Olive Cale,  Rose Cook, Amelia Mullins & Roger Billena.

May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.

Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes

Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes

Dear Friends in christ

This weekend we are celebrating in our Parish the Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes. When 11th February falls on a Sunday we have the opportunity to celebrate this feast on a larger scale. This date marks the day of the first of eighteen apparitions of Mary to Bernadette in 1858. We commend to Our Blessed Mother each year on this day, all the members of the Parish Family, especially the sick and suffering and those in any special need. Following 11.30am Mass this Sunday there will be a drinks reception in the Parish Centre; all are welcome!

Solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES - Sunday 11th February 

Saturday 5.30pm    Vigil Carmen Ashley, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
6.30pm–7.30pm    Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Martin Densham, RIP (McH)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Tony Trigg, RIP (Anniv) (AT)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 12 Feria
9.00am Mass Ewan Lane, RIP & Family (CR)

Tuesday 13 Feria
9.00am Mass Jennifer Garrett, RIP  (Anniv)(JH)

Wednesday 14 Ash wednesday Day of Fasting & Abstinence
9.00am Mass Pam Martini, RIP (MR)
12Noon Mass Liliana & Angelo Petrini, RIP (CP)
8.00pm Mass Holy Souls        

Thursday 15 Feria
9.00am Mass Elaine MacDonald, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
3.00pm Requiem Mass Catherine Dodd, RIP    

Friday 16 Feria
6.30am Mass Private Intention
9.15am Funeral Service Gloria Fletcher, RIP
12Noon Mass Intentions of Christine Curtis (KP)
8.00pm Stations of the Cross & Benediction

Saturday 17 St Scholastica, V
10.00am Mass Alex Mc Farlane Jnr,  RIP (Anniv)(MW)    
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession 

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - Sunday 18th February 

Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Mrs Bridie Conneely, RIP (MM)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Guy Bragard, RIP (GB)
9.30am Mass Neil O’Keefe, RIP (Anniv) (UO)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
6.15pm Body in Church Barbara Sheaf, RIP

The Southend Deanery in the Diocese of Brentwood

Presents a series of Four Lent Talks at Nazareth House-Thursday Evenings in Lent, beginning at 7.30pm - ending with devotions and Benediction - Priests available to hear Confessions.
 

 ‘The Ministries to which we are called’ Thursday February 22nd

Fr. Gerry Drummond, Parish Priest of Rochford and Hockley and Catholic Chaplain to Southend Hospital.

The Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying  Thursday March 1st

Brian Holt-President of the Comitium for the Legion of Mary ‘Be it done unto me…’

Thursday March 8th Fr. Graham Smith, Parish Priest of Southend and Prittlewell Diocesan Director of Vocations

‘Here I am Lord’ Thursday March 15th
Speaker to be confirmed: The Pastoral Formation of our Young People Abbotswick and Beyond…

 

A First Formal Proposal for the Renewal and Restructuring of our Diocese - Stewards of the Gospel

For a few weeks now we have been in receipt of the ‘First Formal Proposal’ document and DVD/video message from Bishop Alan.  The Proposal and video message are available to view on the Diocesan website: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/bishop. If you require a hard copy please let me know (01702 552373) or leave a request at the parish office.  The Proposal shares with us some of the thoughts Bishop Alan and his team have as to how the Diocese might restructure itself in the future to ensure that we can more effectively evangelise, sharing with faith and confidence the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ within our parishes as well as surrounding communities.  The Proposal specifically refers to the place of our own parish in any forthcoming restructuring.  We are being asked by the Bishop to take time to carefully and prayerfully study the document and discuss it with family, friends and fellow parishioners.  An opportunity is being arranged for us to come together as a parish family to share views, hopes and any concerns in relation to the Proposal, with our response in due course being conveyed to the Diocese.  Bishop Alan stresses that this is a ‘first’ Formal Proposal;  a lot more discussion and consultation will yet be required!  A Parish Meeting is being arranged for 10.30am on Saturday,
17th February, 2018 (commencing after the 10am Mass) in the Parish Centre.  The Bishop’s video message will be shown on that occasion.  For any unable to attend on 17th February, I would be grateful to receive your thoughts in writing (via the parish office) or by emailing:  obrjam@btinternet.com.  Many thanks.

Francis O’Brien - Steward of the Gospel

Presentation Evening - Evangelisation and Discipleship

The Gilbert Room of the Parish Centre, Tuesday 20th February 2018 at 7.30pm
Pope Francis tells us in Evangelii Gaudium that: “The Church which ‘goes forth’ is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice.  An evangelising community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, He has loved us first (cf 1 Jn 4:19)”.  As we move forward as a Parish with our Stewards of the Gospel initiative and following on from our Parish Mission, Father Kevin invites you to come and hear about an exciting new initiative being launched in our parish soon. Learn about discipleship and the joy of evangelisation.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Anyone who wishes to begin preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation should send their name to Fr Kevin by the end of February together with an email address.  Names need to be sent in BEFORE THE START OF LENT which is when the preparation begins.  Applicants should have reached their fourteenth birthday by the end of August 2017.

Church Security

Following on from what Fr Kevin wrote in the Newsletter last weekend about a number of recent incidents of theft and vandalism in the church, and mindful of the need to balance the desire for access to the church and security, it has been decided that the church will remain open from early morning until 1pm. After that time access can be had to the church using the door on the north side of the building (from the courtyard) and by using an access code which can be obtained from the Parish Office.  It is vitally important that this code not be written down but memorised; it should not be generally disclosed, otherwise the whole object of the exercise will be undermined. We will review how this works in a couple of months time. In the meantime, do continue to be vigilant during the times that the church is open.