Dear friends in Christ
This Sunday we hear Saint Luke narrate the story of the Prodigal Son, a parable so well known to us. In this story we hear Jesus describe the tragedy of what happens when we separate ourselves from the love of God.
Dear friends in Christ
Now that we have completed our days of Parish Mission, we give thanks to God for the opportunity we have had at the start of this Lent to be renewed in faith.
Dear friends in Christ
We have begun Lent in the traditional manner: with a day of penance on Ash Wednesday and we are now on the annual pilgrimage towards Easter.
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.
This continues on Monday, 3rd March 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.
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.
By taking part in our events at St Vincent’s Southend, you will directly contribute to life-changing support for vulnerable individuals in Southend. The impact of your involvement reaches far beyond just attending, it helps us provide food, temporary accommodation, mental health support and pathways to employment for those who need it most. Your presence at these events is not just an act of generosity; it is a statement of compassion, leadership and commitment to social good. We applaud you for being part of something so meaningful and making a real difference in the lives of so many.
Why Your Support Matters
By taking part in our events, you will directly contribute to life-changing support for vulnerable individuals in Southend. The impact of your involvement reaches far beyond just attending, it helps us provide food, temporary accommodation, mental health support and pathways to employment for those who need it most. Your presence at these events is not just an act of generosity; it is a statement of compassion, leadership and commitment to social good. We applaud you for being part of something so meaningful and making a real difference in the lives of so many.
Auction Items for Our Events
We are also looking for auctionable items for our events. This could be in the form of products, services, gift vouchers, experiences, or exclusive packages. These items will be auctioned on the night and the funds raised will directly support the life-changing work we do at St Vincent’s Centre Southend. Your donation, big or small, will have an incredible impact and in return, we will ensure your generosity is recognized.
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.
This year’s festival will be on Saurday, 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
We have a parishioner who has become frail and has asked if anyone could give her a lift to Mass. She lives in Leigh and attends the 11.30am Mass.
If you are able to help please contact the Parish office.
Catering Assistant – to start as soon as possible
Part-time, 3 Days Per Week (Wed-Fri), Term Time Only including training days. 10.00am – 2.00pm Scale 2 (£24,027) / pro rata actual salary £6,680
Closing Date: 10 March 2025, 9.00am. Interviews: w/c 10 March 2025
Part Time Cover Supervisor/Bank Supply Teacher
Hours: Casual. Our school is looking to replenish the number of our Cover Supervisors/Bank Supply Teachers who can be contacted for either planned or last minute absence to supervise students in their lessons.
If you are interested, please fill in an application form found on our website under https://www.stbernardswestcliff.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ and email it to recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
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.
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 5
Saturday 22 February
The Chair of St Peter the Apostle
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 23 February
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Holy Souls
9.30am Mass Jim & Teena Rockell, RIP (K&LW)
11.30am Mass Terri Baker, RIP (MW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 24
Feria
8.30am Mass Sr Anna Tracey (AH)
Tuesday 25
Feria
9am Mass Intentions of Sheila Newman (RO’C)
Wednesday 26
Feria
9am Mass John Bernard Holland, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
Thursday 27
Feria
9am Mass Canon Francis Gilbert RIP (FM)
Friday 28
Feria
12Noon Mass Intentions of Pamela Weaver (MR)
Saturday 1 March
St David, Bp
10am Mass Bill Hoggett, RIP (Anniv) (JH)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Maureen Gooding, RIP (VJ)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 2 March
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People the Parish
9.30am Mass Ann Henning, RIP (DJ)
11.30am Mass John Walsh, RIP (MW)
4pm Mass Rosemary Bragard, RIP (JC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
PAULINE SHAW, RIP who died on 10th February. Her funeral service will be at Southend Crematorium on Wednesday, 26th March, 3.30pm.
BOBBY NEWMAN, RIP who died on Thursday 20th February.
Requiescant in pace
Deacon Dwight Hayter, Fr Gerard Murphy, Fr Clifford Beecroft, Fr David Chapman, Fr John Wall, Canon Aloysius Roche, Mgr Jules Van Meenen, Mary Wildman, Joseph Mills, Vincent Sullivan, Dominick Fanning, Maire Callanan, Lloyd Rodney, William Shanahan, Ernest Tobias, Olive Cale, Rose Cook, Amelia Mullins, Roger Billena, Anne Florence, Marie Bartley, Violet Nottle, Mary Sobota, Beau Winter-Myers, Maddalena Forte, Mary Tyson, Ronald Kitto, Janet Hurley, Michael Nils Irons, John Holland, Violet Smith, Adolphus Miller, Claire Sharpe, Sarah Bent, Emily Norwood, May Cooper, Mabel Smith, Micael Kiernan, Rose Brookes, Aoife O’Sullivan, Christopher Kolwitz, Joe North, Joshua (Charlie) Peace, Cecil Ford, Harvey Martin, Gertrude Ettershank, Stephen Fontana, Bruno de Santis, Alfred George Holding, Margaret Carstairs, Paul Vermeulen, Patricia Hopper, Ada Chapp, Jim Acaster, Michael Sheaf & Sylvia Langley.
“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.”
Monday, 24th 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
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.
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of Mary Christine Clark.
Prelude: Voluntary—Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Postlude: Sonata Fugata—Francesco Durante (1684-1755)
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
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.
