Dear friends in Christ
This period between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrated on Thursday, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday, is a time of especial and intense prayer in the life of the Church.
Dear friends in Christ
On Thursday we shall mark and celebrate the end of the period of time Jesus spent with His Apostles following His Resurrection.
Dear friends in Christ
Over these Sundays of Eastertide we hear at Mass from the Book of Revelation.
Dear friends in Christ
On morning/evening we heard those much awaited words from St Peter’s in Rome: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam!
DR DONALD HENRY CRAIG who died on Monday, 12th May. His body will be received into the church on Thursday, 29th May at 4.15pm and his funeral service will take place in the Church on Friday, 30th May at 1pm followed by cremation at Southend Crematorium.
NEUZA SOUSA who died on Thursday 1st May. Her funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium on Wednesday, 28th May at 3 pm.
Requiescant in pace
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for the intentions of Mark Kelly, RIP.
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
Sunday 14th September Parish Centenary Celebration 3pm
Let us offer our good wishes and prayers for our children who received their First Holy Communion over the last two weekends:
Alara Soares, Heidi Bennetto, Alex Hanford, Violet Wright, Ted Bloxham, Elizabeth Bonnar-Watts, Lola Finch, Dominic Myall, Clara Lynch, Ava Hilditch, Finlay Lippe, Sophie Smith, Max Hockley, Aurelia Fragnito-Dey, Jack Chilvers, Frederick Beetar, Indigo Gillan, Ava Chessher, Mabel Binns, Clement Hall, Jacob Cornwell, Betty Boo Ballestrieri, Hanna Galarowicz, Oliver Ibbotson, Mario Ohia, Hugo Azevedo, William Tucker, Esme Felton, Joscelyn Curran, Andreas Clutton, Henry Ward, Hugo Wright, Isaac Hines, Matthew Bonnar-Watts, Heidi Spillet, Orla O’Rourke Batten, Luka Mulcahy, Jasmine Cotgrove, Ella Cross, Naula Tait, Lola Weaver, Amelia Nikolla, Roxanne Amoore, Eugene Manning, Matilda-Mae Street, Isabella Binns, Millie McHugh, Henry Binns, Rosie Daly, Ciara Foley, Enid Walker, Molly Mernagh, Daniel Barrett, Anna-Marie Ohia, Brogan Norris, Rory Scott, Harrison Curran & Nicholas dos Santos Rodrigues.
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, and especially recently, we have 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 28 Mrs D Langley
2nd Prize £100 192 Mrs M Rubbert
3rd Prize £75 4 Mrs C Sweeney
4th Prize £25 116 Mrs A M Rothwell
Incoming: Prelude God the Father be with us—Georg Telemann (1681-1767)
Outgoing: Toccata—Johann Speth (1664-1719)
This year’s festival will be on Saturday 5th July from 11.00am to 4.30pm.
It is less than 8 weeks now until our Flower & Craft Festival; thank you to everyone who has already committed to taking part. If you have not taken part before please consider doing so this year. It is part of our mission here in Leigh to give local people an opportunity to experience what our Church is all about, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
We are asking you once again to get creative, in flowers, arts and crafts. None of us are professionals, we are not expecting perfection ! There will be plenty of people on hand to help you if you need it.
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 Parish SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul ) is delighted to announce the date of its forthcoming annual 'Strawberry Tea ' to which all senior citizens of the parish are invited.
Our Strawberry Tea is being held in the Parish Centre on Saturday 14th June, commencing at 2pm and concluding at 4pm. If you would like to join us, please call Janet Markham 07786 901488. You will be most welcome.
Our family friendly nursery welcomes children from 2-4 years old. Our experienced team provide opportunities for all children to learn through play, inside and outside the classroom. We are pleased to offer spaces from September. Please contact the school office on 01702 475689 to book your visit.
The focus of the St Vincent de Paul is visiting and befriending people living in loneliness, isolation , or poverty. Those we visit might live in their own homes, or Residential, or Nursing homes. Members engage at ground level, face to face with people they help. The work of the SVP require resources, the greatest resource being its almost 10,000 members, across the country. However we are always on the lookout for new members. Would you consider getting involved?
The commitment is to attend as frequently as you are able at a fortnightly Wednesday evening meeting 7.30-9.00pm. in the Parish Centre and ideally make one accompanied visit a week.
If you would like to know more about the SVP please contact either Sallie Pollock 07450 277956 or the Parish office 01702 478078 and leave a message. You can also support our Parish Conference financially via the SVP button on the parish website.
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make our summer fete a fantastic event! Whether you can lend a hand with setup, run a stall, or help throughout the day we’d love to have you on board.
We’re also welcoming outside stall holders who would like to join and have a stall.
If you’re interested in supporting or taking part, please get in touch—we’d love to hear from you! Please email pta@ourladyoflourdes.southend.sch.uk
For children aged 9-12 years old (school years 5-7), a week of great fun, activities including climbing wall and zip wire, fishing, football, archery and much more, all in a beautiful setting. The Camp has a Catholic ethos, and exists to give children a magnificent holiday. 26th July – 2nd August. For more details, and application information: www.boscocamp.co.uk. The Camp is a special work of Caritas Diocese of Brentwood.
If you are supporting a family to apply from within your parish or school, please do apply very soon to be sure of a place. The direct link for a child’s application is:https://Johnbsoco.formstack.com/forms/bosco_child_application_form_2025
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society presents a Summer Luncheon on Friday 13th June 2025 at The Lawn, Rochford, 12.30 to 3.30pm
Two-course luncheon accompanied by tea and coffee served in the orangery.
Tickets £37.50 each—Book your tickets here: https://form.jotform.com/250612521329348
For further information, contact Julie on 07912 277413 or by email: jabbott@bccs.org.uk
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
Preface of Easter 5
The Apostles’ Creed
Saturday 17
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Fifth Sunday of Easter
18th May
8am Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (JC)
9.30am Mass Neuza Sousa, RIP (DA)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Susan Griffin (90th Birthday) (PG)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 19
Monday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Vivien Clancy, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
Tuesday 20
Tuesday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Elaine Nora Egodawela, RIP (Anniv) (NE)
Wednesday 21
Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Rene Solecki, RIP (IS)
Thursday 22
Thursday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
9am Mass Thomas Walshe, RIP (MC)
Friday 23
Friday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
12Noon Mass Roland Clark, RIP (MC)
Saturday 24
Saturday after the Fifth Sunday of Easter
10am Mass Intentions of Joseph Collingwood & Rachel Peacock (PC)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Andrzej Marian Sasiadek, RIP (Anniv) (TS)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sixth Sunday of Easter
25th May
8am Mass Intentions of Brett Mackay (SD)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Emma Williamson, RIP (LL)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Canon Thomas Clarke, Canon Michael Fitzpatrick, Fr Brendan Sheppard, Mgr (Canon) William O’Grady, VG, Fr Henry Peace, Fr Charles Carless, Fr Austin Thorburn, Michael Jones, Charles Cutter, William Ross, Eric Jeffries, Lily Mead, Michael McNamara, John Kelly, Richard William Walker, Vivien Clancy, Dorothy Maxwell, Anna Perkins, Robert Gammon, Zoe Conroy, Joseph Dray, Brian Webb, Mrs Gertrude Caden, Henry James Herbert, Christopher Buckingham, Eileen Hart, Murray Grant-Browning,Minnie Rowland, Derrick Amner, Cliff Falkus, Andrzej Sasiadek, Lyonel Winyard, Monica-Rose Smith, Kate Parr, Henry Smith, Lawrence Marshall, Mary Lyons, Elizabeth White, Rosa Betts, James Byrne & Jacqueline Cussen.
“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.”
DR DONALD HENRY CRAIG who died on Monday, 12th May. His funeral service will take place in the Church on Friday, 30th May at 1.00pm followed by cremation at Southend Crematorium.
NEUZA SOUSA who died on Thursday 1st May. Her funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium on Wednesday, 28th May at 3 pm.
Requiescant in pace
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns in thanksgiving for all the graces given to the Patchai Family.
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
Sunday 14th September Parish Centenary Celebration 3pm
