Prelude: Concertado No. 3 sobre Ave maris stella—Gaspar Dos Reis (d. 1674)
Postlude: Farborão e versos do 1 tom—Fr. Martinho García de Olague (17th century)
Responsorial Psalm
Dear friends in Christ
I would like to begin Advent by sharing with you some helpful lines from a sermon on Advent by Monsignor Ronald Knox, preached in 1947:
Everybody knows, even those of us who have lived most unadventurously, what it is to plod on for miles, it seems, eagerly straining your eyes towards the lights that, somehow, mean home.
Prelude: Concertado No. 3 sobre Ave maris stella—Gaspar Dos Reis (d. 1674)
Postlude: Farborão e versos do 1 tom—Fr. Martinho García de Olague (17th century)
Responsorial Psalm
Monday, 14th October—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Thursday 14th November—Annual Requiem Mass 7pm
Friday 22nd November—Sung Latin Requiem Mass 7pm
Thursday 28th-Saturday 30th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Friday 20th December—Sea of Voices Carol Service 7pm
Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists
Saturdays 10th & 17th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Masses
Sunday 1st June 2025—Visitation & Confirmation
Sunday 22nd June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
These Certificates can be collected from the Parish Office 09.00-13.00 Thursday and Friday; this will be the final opportunity this week.
This continues on Monday, 14th October 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.
Are you interested in finding out more about us? If so, why not come along to an informal gathering, have a talk to one of our group, pick up a leaflet and have a cup of tea.
One lady has joined after contacting Aylesford Priory. She had no idea there was a group meeting once a month at Our Lady of Lourdes.
We are meeting on Saturday, 26th October from 3pm to 4pm in the Parish Centre. All welcome—or contact Julie on 01702 330096.
The Holy Father invites all Catholics to support his charity for World Missions through a special collection. To donate use the Mission envelopes (at the back of the Church) and please take a Missio Prayer card. The ways to donate are on the envelope. See also the poster at the back of the Church.
Thank you Joan Caunce Secretary 01268 757505
Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th October by appointment. Telephone 01702 344933 or email office@st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk.
For parents who have a son due to transfer to secondary school in September 2025—come and see the school during a normal school day, meet the staff and pupils.
Parents of boys who wish to apply to St thomas More School for a place in September 2025 should complete the Local Education Authority single application form (SAF) and fill in the supplementary information form (SIF) that can be collected from the school or downloaded from the website.
As we approach the colder months, St Vincent Centre Southend is working to provide much-needed winter clothing for vulnerable men and women in our community. We are reaching out to ask for your assistance in donating warm clothing items, such as coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and other essentials, to help those who are struggling through this difficult season.
St Vincent’s are accepting donations of gently used or new winter clothing at our centre: Unit 9, Victoria Business Park, Short Street, Southend , SS2 5BY
If you are able to assist, please feel free to contact me at 07549128877 or via email at nesperm@svp.org.uk.
Volunteer Drivers
As we approach the colder months, St Vincent Centre Southend is urgently seeking driver volunteers to help us continue providing vital services to those in need. This winter, we are asking you to be the "Door of Hope" for vulnerable individuals and families in our community.
How You Can Help: Food Pickup & Delivery, Furniture Pickup & Delivery, Event Support and More.
If you or anyone in your community can spare an hour a week, you can make a real difference. Your assistance will enable us to keep our doors open to those in crisis, offering them not only essential goods but also the warmth and kindness they so desperately need.
Together, we can be the hands and feet of compassion this winter. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help. We are deeply grateful for any time you can offer.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact us at lilyd@svp.org.uk
Join a group for faithful young adults for faith based discussions. Presentations on relevant theological or ethical issues, evening prayer, exposition and benediction.
If you are interested then contact Max on 07783506474 for more information or to confirm your place. Food and drink will be provided.
The first session: Monday 28th October at 18:30pm in Sacred Heart Church Hall (SS1 2QB) featuring a presentation by Fr. Graham Smith titled: Gender Ideology: A Catholic Perspective.
We are open after Masses every weekend with some new stock including Statues and Rosaries. We have a good selection of cards for various occasions, plus a few books for children.
You are welcome to come and browse and if you do not see what you are looking for please ask one of the Volunteers. NB. The Repository is open at weekends only.
Saying Goodbye, (part of the Mariposa Trust) are coming to Chelmsford in October with a very special Baby loss remembrance and support service (part of a UK and Ireland chain of events). The Mariposa Trust’s core objective is to support people who have lost babies at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy. It was founded in 2012, by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, who saw a critical lack of support for people like them, who had gone through baby loss. With over 258,000 babies being lost yearly in the UK alone, the charity needed to be able to offer not only a comprehensive package of befriending and support but also national baby loss remembrance services (called Saying Goodbye Services), for people to join together and remember the children they had lost. 12 years on, over 200 services have taken place at Cathedrals and Minsters across the UK, US, and France, and 2024 will see 25 services across England, Wales, Ireland, France and the US.
On the 13th October at 6pm, in Chelmsford Cathedral, we will be hosting one of our Saying Goodbye Services and as this is the most local service to you this year we wanted to share this information with you.
So who is the service for?
Anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members' or friends' loss. Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend. We have also extended the services, and gladly welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven't had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility, or for other reasons - but all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is truly a family event for all.
We know that as 1 in 4 women suffer miscarriage and baby loss, you will have contact with a significant number of people who have either personally suffered baby loss, or who have a partner or family member that has, so we wanted to ask if you would help us in promoting the service.
To read more on the charity, please see the Saying Goodbye website, which you can find at: www.sayinggoodbye.org
Liturgy:
Readings of Year B
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 2
Saturday 5
St Faustina Kowalska
5.30pm Vigil Ciaran Fitzgerald, RIP (MT)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 6 October
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Muriel Matthews, RIP (Anniv) (RK)
11.30am Mass Amy Fox, RIP (LL)
4pm Mass Michael Mapson, RIP (CB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 7
Our Lady of the Rosary
9am Mass Elaine & Siobhan Galvin, RIP (F&JO’B)
Tuesday 8
St Osyth, Rel
9am Mass Michael Mapson, RIP (K&LW)
Wednesday 9
St John Henry Newman, Pr
10am Requiem Mass Amy Fox
Thursday 10
St Denis, Bp and his Comps, Mn
9am Mass Intentions of Jacob & Chloe Mosbey (ES)
Friday 11
Pope Saint John XXIII, P
12Noon Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Saturday 12
Ss Ethelburga, Hildelithe and Cuthburga, Rel
10am Mass Moss & Frances Galvin, RIP (F&JO’B)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Thomas Patrick Costello, RIP (Anniv) (KC)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 13 October
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Stephen Hymas, RIP (Anniv) (GM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of Bridget Scholastica Helen D'Cruz (AJ)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Canon Edward Heery, Fr Harold Cahill, Fr Alfred clements, Pope Pus XII, Fr John Dempsey, Fr Patrick Malin, James Wood, Sheelagh Sheridan, Adele Petronius, Ethel Shepherd, Jean Buck, Muriel Matthews, Alan Adamson, Kathleen Lionet, Walter wood, Daphne Sounes, Dympna Addecott, James Roberton, Joyce Mary Pycroft, Henry Hart, Thomas Gunnel, Ronald Ballard, Mary Chin Eng Sawyer, Julia Shields, Amelia Eaglesfield, Mary J Clark, Moira O’Riordan, Francis Gurney, Charles Cutter, Arthur Hooper, Chloe Watts, Valerie Martin, Thomas Patrick Costello, Joan Lucey, Eric Phillips, Irene Earl, Stanley Greaves & Teresa Morton.
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Immaculate, for her person and her intention, and for her to get a job soon.
AMY FOX, RIP who died on Tuesday, 3rd September. Her Requiem Mass will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 9th October followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
MICHAEL MAPSON, RIP who died on Tuesday, 10th September. His Memorial Mass will take place on Friday 15th November 9.30am.
Requiescant in pace
Prelude: Fantasia on "Adore Te Devote"—Alexandre Boely (1785-1858)
Postlude: Fantasia in G Minor—Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Responsorial Psalm
Monday, 7th October—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
Thursday 14th November—Annual Requiem Mass 7pm
Friday 22nd November—Sung Latin Requiem Mass 7pm
Thursday 28th-Saturday 30th November—Forty Hours’ Prayer
Friday 20th December—Sea of Voices Carol Service 7pm
Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists
Saturdays 10th & 17th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Masses
Sunday 1st June 2025—Visitation & Confirmation
Sunday 22nd June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage