Please pray for the repose of the soul of

Mr KENNETH BIEBUYCK who died on 20th October. His body will be received into the church on Tuesday, 5th December at 4.30pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 6th December at 11am, followed by committal at Upminster Cemetery.

Mrs SUZANNE (SUE) REYNOLDS who died on 7th November. Her body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 20th December at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 21st December at 2pm, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

Requiescant in pace

Responsorial Psalm at 11.30am Mass

Serving the Homeless Carol Service

Please join Serving the Homeless for our final Carol Service on Friday 15th December at 7pm to help us to celebrate what has been achieved over the last 33 years.

We are hoping that many of you will be able to be a part of our final event before we disband in January.

Parish Fundraising

Thank you to everyone who supports the Parish 200 Club. The results of the October draw are as follows:

1st Prize       £150       22     Miss V DeSouza

2nd Prize     £100      154    Miss I Solecki

3rd Prize      £75        1         Mr J Peoples

4th Prize      £25        200    Mrs S Griffin

We are still looking for new members. The subscription is £5 per month, either by cash, cheque or direct debit. If you would like to join, please fill in a form which can be found at the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217.

HARP

As we approach this festive time of year, particularly after what has been a really challenging year for so many people, our thoughts often turn to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

The ongoing cost of living crisis has forced many people to make difficult decisions about whether to eat, heat or pay their rent. As a result, more and more people have been forced into homelessness in Southend and Essex. Many of those people are currently sleeping rough or sofa surfing, not knowing where their next meal will come from, without a safe place to call home or family to turn to for support.

This is why we are extremely grateful for the support you’ve provided us with in the past. I wanted to thank you for this and ask if you could support us again this Christmas? A gift of just £10, or whatever you can afford, will help us do more for people who need us.

You can donate online at harpsouthend.org.uk or give your donation to Linda Wall who will pass it on to HARP

Dates for your Diary

Monday 4th December—Journey in Faith (RCIA) continues—8pm Newman Room

Sunday 3rd December—Parish Bazaar

Friday 15th December—Carol Service—Serving the Homeless

Monday 22nd—Saturday 27th July 2024—Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 3rd December, 8.45am - 1.00pm

Thank you for so many lovely donations towards our Annual Parish Bazaar, which is this weekend. It’s not too late to donate any unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, raffle prizes or bric-a-brac, please leave them in the Old Baptistry.

Please bring cake donations to the Parish Centre during the day on Saturday or Sunday morning.

If you would like to help on the day, please contact us.

Sue Lawford—07816 141492
Angela Clements—07940 183452—email angelaclements47@gmail.com.

Raffle tickets are still available at the back of church after all masses.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CAN ONLY TAKE CASH!

SVP Christmas Party

A Christmas Party! Your parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Conference is delighted to announce the date and place of its annual '"Christmas Party" to which all senior members of the parish are most warmly invited!

Our "Christmas Party" is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday, 9th December, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm! Carols, good company and Christmas fare will pleasantly ease you into the seasonal spirit!

If you—or someone you know—would like to join us on this happy parish occasion please call/text Francis O'Brien on 07845 874331. You will be most welcome!

Sea of Voices Community Choir Concert

Thanks to everyone who attended our fundraising Christmas concert last Sunday afternoon as well as donations of raffle prizes. We raised a fantastic £700 for Havens Hospices in memory of Alice Hood, RIP.

The choir next sings at the ‘Serve the Homeless’ Carol concert in the Church on Friday 15th December, starting at 7pm.

Repository Throughout Advent

Please take a few minutes to visit us and browse our selection of Christmas cards and Calendars, plus a nice selection of Advent Calendars for the children. We also have a selection of Christmas candles and small religious items for children and adults. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please ask one of the volunteers for help, and we also look forward to seeing many of you at the Parish Christmas Bazaar.

Journey of Faith—RCIA

RCIA will meet on Monday, 4th December 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.

Cathedral Events 2023

Serving the Homeless—200 Club

Dear member of Serving the Homeless 200 Club

Please note that the final draw will take place on Monday 18th December 2023. On that date the balance of all monies received into the 200 Club Account will be divided in half, with 50% to be distributed as prize money and 50% transferred to the Current Account of Serving the Homeless.

Please remember to cancel your Standing order by the end of December. Any monies received into the 200 Club Account after the 18th of December will be transferred to the Current Account of Serving the Homeless to form part of the final distribution.

Thank you all for your magnificent support over the last 30 years.

Brentwood Diocesan Yearbook 2024

The 2024 Diocesan Directory now available from the back of the Church—£2.95

Office Clerk - Cathedral House

To provide effective and efficient support in relation to administration requirements at Cathedral House.

Hours: 21 hours per week 09.00 until 17.00 (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays).

Start Date: December/January 2024

Salary- £13 per hour

Apply by sending a CV and covering letter (no longer than A4) hr@brcdt.org

Closing date for applications is 5th December 2023

Our Lady of Lourdes PTA

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Nursery are very excited to announce that we have joined up with ‘Leigh Trees’ in their school fundraising scheme. If you are going to buy a Christmas tree this year buying one from Leigh Trees will raise funds for our school. 

Simply buy a real Christmas tree, online or in person, and YOU get £10 OFF, and the school PTA will also receive £10 commission for each tree sold. 

You can buy online at LeighTrees.co.uk using our personalised Code: olol10 or visit LeighTrees at the A127 Christmas Tree Farm, 579 Prince Avenue, Westcliff on Sea SS0 0JJ, simply mention you are supporting Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. Trees are available from mid-November with deliveries FREE to all SS postcodes from the end of November.

Many thanks for you support, OLOL School PTA

BIN A TIN FOR VIN

The St Vincent Centre is doing wonderful work in Southend helping the poorest amongst us.

You can help the food bank there by bringing a tin of something with you when you come to mass and putting it in VINNIE'S BIN, which will be in the OLD BAPTISTERY.

This will be emptied twice weekly.

St. Vincent de Paul Society(SVP), Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph

Pilgrimage to Knock

Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock & Co Mayo, 7th April 2024. £899.00 pps. Price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 5 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Lunch on three days. All entertainment, excursions and transport included.

Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick & Ashford Castle. Single supplement on Enquiry. Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Liturgy:
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Saturday 25
St Catherine of Alexandria, V, M

5.30pm Vigil Mass Maria Keen, RIP (DL)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 26 November
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Meg Cheeseman RIP (AE)
11.30am Mass Nora Thompson, RIP (DT)
5pm Body in Church Patricia Bower, RIP
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 27
Feria
10am Requiem Mass Patricia Bower, RIP

Tuesday 28
Feria
9am Mass Pietro Tisi, RIP (Anniv) (TT)

Wednesday 29
Feria
9am Mass Holy Souls

Thursday 30
St Andrew, Ap, Patron of Scotland
NO MORNING MASS
7pm Opening Mass of Forty Hours’—Intentions of Rose D’Souza (MF)
Exposition continues until 11pm

Friday 1 December
Blessed John Beche, Ab, M
Exposition resumes from 7am
12Noon Mass Dec'd Members of the Moon Family & Valerie Griggs, RIP
3.45pm Benediction for Children & Families
7pm-8pm Preached Holy Hour
Exposition until 11pm

Saturday 2
Saturday Memorial of BVM
Exposition resumes from 7am
10am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (MI)
10.30-11.30am: Confessions
4.00pm Closing Benediction of the Forty Hours’

5.30pm Vigil Mass Pamela Conway, RIP (JC)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

Sunday 3 December
First Sunday of Advent
8am Mass Fr Kevin's Intentions (MW)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Bill & Moya Campbell, RIP (LL)
4pm Mass Ints of Relatives of Andrew Philip Moore (FM)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction