Pamina Edgeley, RIP who died on Tuesday 20th February. Her body will be received into the Church at 5pm on Wednesday 7th March and her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday 8th March at 9.30am.
Sanctuary Lamp
The lamp burns for the deceased members of the Caunce Family.
Please Pray for the Dead on their anniversaries
Mgr Canon Jules van Meenen, Fr Clifford Beecroft, Fr David Chapman, Fr John Wall, Fr Gerard Murphy, Anne Florece, Marie Bartley, Violet Nottle, Mary Sobota, Beau Winter-Myers, Maddalena Forte, Ronald Kitto, Janet Hurley, Michael Nils Irons, John Holland, Violet Smith, Adolphus Miller, Claire Sharpe, Sarah Bent, Emily Norwood, May Cooper, Mabel Smith, Michael Kiernan, Rose Brookes, Christopher Kolwitz, Joe North, Joshua Peace, Cecil Ford, Harvey Martin, Gertrude Ettershank, Stephen Fontana, George Holding, Paul Vermeulen, Patricia Hopper, Ada Chapp, Jim Acaster, Michael Sheaf, Miss A Till, Amy Wood, Margaret Blissett, Catherine Byrne, Ruby Ravinet, Giovanni Puglisi, Patricia McBreaty, Michael Flynn & Aoife O’Sullivan.
May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace.
First Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends in christ
Lent begins each year with the account of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. We enter these Forty Days spiritually with Him, seeking inner purification and conversion. Each of us has need of this process as does the whole Church at this time. However, holiness begins with each of us individually and resolutely turning again toward The Lord. The way we do this is personal, but because we are members of Christ’s Body, the Church, it is also achieved as a family. May each of us live these days of grace with the realisation that we are children of God, Who calls us into deeper relationship with Him here and now, by prayer, fasting and works of mercy.
First Sunday of Lent
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
Monday 19 Feria
11.00am Requiem Mass Barbara Sheaf, RIP
Tuesday 20 Feria
9.00am Mass Margaret Martin & Patrick Nolan, RIP (AM)
Wednesday 21 Feria
9.00am Mass Fr Anthony McKentey, RIP (UO’K)
Thursday 22 THE CHAIR OF ST PETER
9.00am Mass Intentions of Teresa O’Brien (Rosary Group)
Friday 23 Feria
6.30am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (MI)
12Noon Mass Intentions of Juan Ayerbe (CB)
8.00pm Stations of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 24 Feria
10.00am Mass John Mansfield, RIP (Anniv)(PM)
NO Exposition & Confession
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT - Sunday 25th February
Saturday 5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession
8.00am Mass John Holland, RIP (Anniv)(MH)
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, Fred & Doreen Wall, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Intentions of the Rubbert Family (R&TO’C)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
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…
Sea of Voices Community Choir
Because of marriage preparation courses in the parish centre for the next four weeks our parish community choir will temporarily move to Leigh Baptist church for the first two Wednesdays (21st & 28th February) and then to the Stables the following two Wednesdays (7th & 14th March).
We are still looking for parishioners and local singers to join in the fun and we are a friendly bunch. We don’t bite, we sing! Contact Darrell 07825686249 or find us on Facebook as Sea of Voices. First timers can have a free taster session then it’s £5 to join and £3 subs when attending choir.i
Counters & Folders
Counters: Linda Wall & Sheila West
Folders: Jane Trower & Clare English
St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) – Request for transport
The SVP should appreciate it if someone would be willing to volunteer to give a lift on a regular basis to two parishioners (who live near each other) to either the 8am or 11.30am Mass on Sundays and home again. If you can help kindly contact parish office (01702 478078). Thank you.
Vocation and Mission Alive Active weekend at Nazareth House
This will be held after the 10am Masses on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th February 2018. All parishioners are most welcome to visit.
St Thomas More Alumni Annual Dinner
The annual St Thomas More Alumni dinner will take place on Saturday 24th February at the school. Open to all past pupils and former/current members of staff. Five-course meal for only £26.00, plus plenty of wine and beer and a guest speaker. Full details at www.stmalumni.co.uk or email pdstmoldboys@blueyonder.co.uk.
Rich Meal/Poor Meal - Saturday 24th February in Parish Centre
A Lenten Global Dining Experience with a difference! 9% of the world owns 86% of the wealth. 70% share less than 3% of the world's wealth. Are you up for an interesting challenge this Lent? 6.30pm for 7.00pm in Parish Centre. £5 a ticket. Please contact Jim 07986538578, Fran 07981741788 or Cathy 07762107920 to reserve a place. Live Simply Group.
Church Premises Manager, St Clement’s, Leigh-on-Sea
£16-£20,000 Pro Rata. Undertaking/organising planned and reactive maintenance of the church building and church yard. Email mac@mac-jude.uk for a Job Description. Closing Date 2nd March 2018.
Parish/Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes Monday 23rd - Saturday 28th July 2018
Five nights (full board) travelling with British Airways via Toulouse and staying at the Grand Moderne Hotel will cost £665 per pilgrim. Please indicate your interest by putting your name on the list in the Parish Office.
Adoremus: National Eucharistic Congress September 2018
If you are interested in attending the National Eucharistic Congress being held in Liverpool from 7th-9th September 2018 further details and booking forms are available from the Parish Office.
Lenten Lunches
These popular lunches started again on Friday 16th February, 12.30pm to 2pm in the Parish Centre and continue throughout Lent. For £5 come and enjoy homemade soup, bread and fruit. All proceeds to charity.
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.
Facebook Page
We now have a parish Facebook page which we hope will provide a social media hub for news of events in our wonderful, vibrant Catholic community, please visit and "like" the page at https://www.facebook.com/LeighCatholics/
Dates for your Diary
21st, 28th February ) Marriage Preparation
7th - 14th March )
12th & 19th May First Holy Communions
20th May Confirmation
Church Security
Following on from what Fr Kevin wrote in the Newsletter recently about a number of 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 until early evening, 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. After this time the church will locked as normal. 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.