The Word on Fire Institute are holding a two day Conference in the Excel Centre in London—February, 21st & 22nd—on Evangelisation and Culture. Bishop Robert Barron is the keynote speaker. You can find the details with the link below and also how to book for one or both of the days. Father Kevin will be attending the Friday evening.
Flower & Craft Festival 2025
This year’s festival will be on Saurday,t 5th July from 11.00am to 4.30pm. We are asking you once again to get creative, in flowers, arts and crafts.
The theme this year is the hymn, ‘O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy Hand has made…….’
So the focus is on creation, but this year we are also celebrating the opening of our beautiful church 100 years ago. We are also in a Jubilee Year, the focus of which is ‘Hope.’ We are to be pilgrims of hope in our very troubled and dangerous world. So there are many themes to choose from. Photographers, artists, needleworkers, carpenters and gardeners, we would like as many people as possible to be involved in creating a beautiful and powerful message for our local community of Leigh.
We are not asking for professionalism, although professionals are very welcome indeed ! Just your enthusiasm.
If you would like to be involved in creating something for 5th July please contact me at mcronan@btinternet.com or speak to me after 9.30 mass on Sundays.
Jo Ronan
Feast of St Joseph 19th March 2025
The National Novena to St. Joseph will take place from the 10th—18th March 2025 at St. Josephs Church in Maidenhead, for the intentions of all those who support their work. Masses are at 10am every day of the Novena, except Sunday when it is 11am. These Masses will be available to Zoom via the Mill Hill website.
See Poster at the back of the Church for website details and to request a Novena prayer booklet.
Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—24th May 2025
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.
If you would like transport to and from Walsingham please leave your name and contact details at the Parish office, as Sacred Heart are organising a church.
Coach leaving Sacred Heart at 7:30am
Pick up at Our Lady of Lourdes at 7:45am
Arrival Walsingham 11am
Depart Walsingham 5pm
Arrival Our Lady of Lourdes 8:15pm
Arrival Sacred Heart 8:30pm
£24 per adult - Children under 16 go free
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This next RCIA will be on Monday, 24th February 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.
World Day of Prayer
This year’s World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 7th March at 10.30 am at St Saviour’s Church, Kings Road, Westcliff-On-Sea SS0 8LL followed by tea/coffee.
This years service is prepared by the Christian women of the Cook Islands on the theme ‘I made you wonderful’.
We are very fortunate to have the children from St Helen's Primary School to take an active part in the service. We invite everyone to join us in praying together.
We are also holding a coffee-singalong concert at St Clement’s Church in aid of funds for this year’s World Day of Prayer service. 10.30 am.—concert (45 minutes) by The Two Elizabeths will start at 10.40am, followed by coffee, homemade cakes, bring and buy. All welcome—entry is free.
Repository
We are open after all weekend Masses. From this weekend we have Mantillas in stock in Black lace or white lace . Also why not be an ‘early bird’ and browse our stock of special cards for Mothers Day and Saint Patrick’s Day.
We will shortly also have a selection of Easter cards plus a good selection of cards for Masses, Birthdays, Get well cards etc. Please come along and browse our stock. If you cannot find what you want please ask one of the Volunteers.
Cleaner Required
Would you be able to spare an hour a week between 10am and 1pm, to help clean our church ? Whichever day suits you, and it doesn’t have to be the same day every week!
If you can help, please contact the Parish office on 01702 478078 or email office@lourdesleigh.org.
Brentwood Catholic Youth Service—Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage 19th—26th July 2025
Open to anyone in school year 10 and above. Join the BCYS for our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, supporting the adult pilgrimage in a week of prayer, service and fun!
All details can be found at www.bcys.net/events. Funding and bursary opportunities are available.
St Bernard's High School Vacancies
Part Time Food & Nutrition Technician
Two Days Per Week (14 hours a week), Term Time Only 8.30am-4.00pm
Scale 5-6 (£24,790 - £25,183) / pro rata actual salary £8,042 - £8,169)
We are seeking to appoint a pro-active and enthusiastic Food & Nutrition Technician to support the smooth running of our friendly Technology department. Experienced technicians desirable but not essential.
You will be preparing materials/ingredients and maintaining equipment to ensure the teaching environment is kept to a high standard. The technician will ensure stock control is managed, and materials/ingredients are prepared for classes to assist teaching staff. The technician will also work alongside department members to support learning for students and provide general support to the teacher in the classroom environment.
Receptionist
Five Days Per Week, Term Time Only Plus Two Weeks, 8.30am – 4.30pm Scale 7-12 (£24,294 - £26,421)/pro rata actual salary £21,852 - £23,766)
We are seeking to appoint a full-time Receptionist to join our friendly admin team at St Bernard’s High School. The Receptionist will be the face of the school, as the first point of contact either by phone or once on site. You will provide a professional receptionist service to the school as well as secretarial support to teaching staff. If you have the ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively, be committed to maintaining confidentiality at all times, and be able to deal with difficult situations effectively, come join our team.
Pastoral Support Assistant
Five Days Per Week, Term Time Only, 8.00am – 4.00pm Scale 7 –12 (£24,294 – £26,421) (Pro rata actual salary £20,827 – £22,650)
An opportunity has arisen for a Pastoral Assistant to join our Pastoral Team. We are looking for a positive, enthusiastic and approachable professional to support Heads of Year and work alongside Learning Mentors supporting identified students. You will be joining a successful, friendly and supportive department within a high-performing school, supporting students from Years 7 – Y13. You will need to be able to work flexibly and provide support, motivation and guidance to students. You will liaise with our Heads of Year and Learning Mentors with pastoral concerns and investigations of incidents.
St Bernard’s High School is a vibrant Catholic girl’s school from Years 7-11 with a co-educational mixed Sixth Form. Our school is ranked one of the top schools in Southend, and we are in the top 20% of schools across the country for our progress with students and our outcomes. It is a warm and welcoming school where our Catholic values underpin our day to day life.
Exam Invigilators
The school is looking to recruit further Exam Invigilators to join its bank of staff who oversee examinations in the school. Training will be given.
Hourly rate: £10.50
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.
If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please fill in a non-teaching application form found on our website underhttps://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
St Vincent’s Centre Southend Market
We are excited to announce that St Vincent’s Centre Southend is bringing our Market to St Helen's Catholic Church, Westcliff (27 Milton Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 7JP) every Thursday, starting on Thursday 27th February.
🕘 Market Opening Hours:
Morning: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Afternoon: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 3
Saturday 8 February
St Jerome Emilian
5.30pm Vigil Holy Souls
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 9 February
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Martin Joslin, RIP (Anniv)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Glen Ecketh, RIP (LL)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 10
St Scholastica, V
9am Mass Carmen Ashley, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
7pm Vigil of Our Lady of Lourdes—Holy Rosary & Benediction
Tuesday 11
Our Lady of Lourdes, Principal Patroness of the Diocese
9.30am Mass Tony Trigg, RIP (Anniv) (AT) with children from OLOL school
Wednesday 12
Feria
9am Mass Ian Spacie, RIP (VS)
Thursday 13
Feria
9am Mass Jennifer Garrett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
5pm Body in church Rosemary Bragard
Friday 14
St Cyril, M & St Methodius, B
10am Requiem Mass Rosemary Bragard
NO MIDDAY MASS
Saturday 15 February
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Elaine MacDonald, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Edward (Dandy) Dooley, RIP (SW)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 16 February
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Marie O'Sullivan, RIP (AS)
9.30am Mass John & Pat Moon, RIP
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Parish Mission 17th-21st March
Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph, Leigh-On-Sea
Led by Fr Dominic O’Toole CSSR & Fr Royston Price CSSR
Monday: Prayer
Tuesday: Confession
Wednesday: St Joseph
Thursday: Our Lady
Friday: Vocation
7pm service each night, lasting around an hour
Masses during the day
Opportunity for Confession
Save the date now and come along, as your attendance will make all the difference!
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Bernard Manning, Pope Pius XI, Fr Donald Mills, Fr John Garrett, Fr Charles Snell, Rev William Smith, Alice Whitfield, Eugenie Ballard, Doris Wenninger, Edmund O’Sullivan, Patrick Jennett, Charles Oldham, John Armstrong, Victor Gosling, Carmen Ashley, John Young, Bernard Ward, Mary Stevens, Catherine Shanahan, Gordon Watts, Jessie Hempstead, Annie Jackson, Monica Crighton, Cajetan Soares, Tony Trigg, Eric Wallen, Mary Mulhern, Mary Gleeson, Patrick O’Donnell, Martin Ryan, Daphne Rickard, Ivy Spratt, Christina Riddell, Jack Pearson, Roy Buck, Joan Stanley, Malcolm Atkinson, Michael Lucey, Patricia Garnett, Anthony Ashwell-Rivens, Elaine Macdonald & Mary Rigden.
We pray for our sick
The Sick List is available on the website main menu, under Worship.
We pray for the sick of our parish
“Father,
by the power of your Spirit
you have filled the hearts of your faithful people
with gifts of love for one another.
Hear the prayers we offer for our relatives and friends.
Give them health of mind and body
that they may do your will with perfect love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Michelle Disney, RIP
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
ROSEMARY BRAGARD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 14th January. Her body will be received into church on Thursday, 13th February at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will be on Friday 14th February at 10am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.
OLIVE CHRISTINE YEMS, RIP who died on Tuesday, 30th December. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, 19th February at Southend Crematorium at 12.30pm.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 10th February—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
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
Saturday 5th July—Flower Festival
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Monday 8th September Centenary of the Opening of our Church
Sacrament of Confirmation and Visitation
This will take place on Sunday 1st June, 2025. Any adult or young adult (who must have reached the age of fourteen by 1st September 2024) may apply. Please send an email with your name and contact details to mrscatherineharris@gmail.com by Friday, 21st February, 2025.