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.
Third Sunday of Lent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of Lent 1
Saturday 22
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
5.30pm Vigil Frank & Moira Keenan, RIP (Annivs) (FK)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 23 March
Third Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (JL)
9.30am Mass Gabrielle Eileen Haiser, RIP (Anniv) (MH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 24
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
9am Mass Tadeusz Warchoł, RIP (AW)
Tuesday 25
THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
9am Mass Timothy McCarthy, RIP (K&LW)
Wednesday 26
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
9am Mass David Kislingbury, RIP (JL)
Thursday 27
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
9am Mass Veronica Redhouse, RIP (Anniv) (MR)
Friday 28
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
12Noon Mass Paddy Connolly, RIP (MI)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 29
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
10am Mass Fr John McCollough, RIP (Anniv) (FrS)
10.30-11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil Colleen Mary Green, RIP (JG)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 30 March
Fourth Sunday of Lent—Lætare
8am Mass Rev Fr Michael Kidney, RIP (JL)
9.30am Mass Patrick Ignatius, RIP (Anniv) (RP)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon Arthur Holmes Fr John Sherlock, Mgr Canon Alfred Giilbey, Fr Denis Hall, Fr Joseph Tunney, Fr John McCullough, Fr Henry Peace, Marie Nicholas, Peter Gough, John Rombaut, Boleslaw Bendkowski, Mary Hardy, Nancy Mali, Ethel Bull, Jessie Carlyon, Sarah Armstrong, Marian Preston, Kathleen Robinson, John Head, Edmund Thompson, Maura Keenan, Kirk Waltraud, Lily Dawson, Kenneth May, Allan Thompson, Derek Taylor, Victor Moule, Kathleen Farrell, Terence Larman, Leo Winter, Jane Adamson, Herbert Maddocks, Pamela Shenstone, Anne Jennett & Colleen Mary Green.
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 all the dead in Obigwe’s family.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
BOBBY NEWMAN, RIP who died on Thursday 20th February. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 4th April at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
DAVID KISLINGBURY, RIP who died on Friday, 7th March. His body will be received into the church on Tuesday, 8th April at 4pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 9th April at 10am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
TIMOTHY McCARTHY who died on Sunday, 2nd March. His Requiem Mass will be take place on Friday, 11th April at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
PAULINE SHAW, RIP who died on Monday, 10th February. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, 23rd April at 3.30pm at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Weddings
Congratulations to Azaria Nichols & Dylan Carter who were married here on Saturday, 15th March.
OLOL Ladies Group
Our next meeting is on Thursday, 27th March at 10am in the Parish Centre, when Liz Payne will be making a welcome return visit, to talk about her work with ‘Southend in Sight’, the local sight loss charity who assist adults, children and families with advice, equipment and social activities.
All ladies are very welcome to come and relax in good company over tea or coffee & biscuits; £1 subs per meeting, plus a Raffle.
Life in the Spirit Seminars 2025 Brentwood Diocese
The Life in the Spirit Seminars are designed as an introduction to a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. They provide an opportunity for you to find out more about that life, and to be helped in taking the first steps of a new, dynamic relationship with the living Lord.
Mini Vinies
The next meeting for the Mini Vinies will take place in the Parish Centre on Monday, 24th March from 5.15pm to 6.45pm. Mini Vinie Committee.
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who currently supports the 200 Club. Over the past few years, the money raised from this account has been used to help pay for the redecoration of the reredos, also the bells, as well as other maintenance work. It has now become apparent that the boiler in the Presbytery will need to be renewed so future funds will be allocated to this.
During the last twelve months we lost a number of members. Would you consider joining the 200 Club? If so, forms are available at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
The winners of the draw this month are:
1st Prize £150 193 Mrs B Parascandolo
2nd Prize £100 33 Mrs S Diggines
3rd Prize £75 81 Mrs J Murray
4th Prize £25 159 Mr M West
Lenten Talks
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 24th March—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre
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
Gift Aid Envelopes
The Gift Aid boxes containing Offertory and Charity envelopes for the financial year 2025/2026 are available for collection at the back of the Church.
Special collection boxes are also available for donors who contribute by Standing Order. They contain only charities designated by the Diocese, including Christmas and Easter offerings.
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 24th 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 Shroud of Turin Exhibition
Join us on Thursday 10th April at Sacred Heart Church Hall from 7pm for a talk on The Turin Shroud. On the following Monday 14th April, at the beginning of Holy Week, we travel with Father Graham by coach to view a full-sized replica of The Turin Shroud and explore the exhibition at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
The coach leaves Sacred Heart Church at 10am, St John Fisher Church at 10:10am, London Road opposite Nazareth House 10:20am and Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 10:35am. Adults £20 – Children under 16 travel free.
The Exhibition is free to enter. Please contact Sandy Rand 07470 820994 to book your place.
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 coach.
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
Missio Red Boxes
I have received the Spring 2025 Missio magazines. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church on the ledge in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Director of Education
Bishop Alan is seeking to appoint a Director of Education to promote and implement his vision for Catholic education within the Diocese. This is an inspiring, rewarding and fulfilling position as the Diocese serves a network of 90 schools, providing for the formation and educational needs of some 40,000 children and young people.
The successful candidate will have extensive leadership experience in an education context, a strong grasp of current educational issues (including CMATs’ evolving role within the parish, diocese and local community); excellent leadership and management skills; and a deep knowledge and understanding of Catholic education as structured in this country.
Closing date for applications: Monday 7 April at 12 Noon
More information here: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/diocese/working-for-us/
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.