Prelude: Recit—Pierre Du Mage (1674-1751)
Postlude: Grand Plein Jeu—Louis-Nicolas Clerambault (1676-1749)
Dear friends in Christ
The message of the liturgy of this Sunday is stark: our life on earth is brief!
Dear friends in Christ
We have just completed, and returned from, our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Today’s Gospel recounts the arrival of Jesus to visit his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus at Bethany. Jesus would often stop at their house to rest and eat with them. He felt at home there, surrounded by their warmth and affection.
Dear friends in Christ
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the world's best known and loved stories.
Prelude: Recit—Pierre Du Mage (1674-1751)
Postlude: Grand Plein Jeu—Louis-Nicolas Clerambault (1676-1749)
St Margaret of Scotland
St Columba
St Andrew
We are enormously proud to be given permission to once again tour the Holy Relics of these three remarkable Saints. Below is the timetable of the tour.
Date: Town: Church: Times open for Prayer and Veneration:
Monday 28th July
Kings Lynn, Our Lady of the Annunciation 12:30—6pm
Tuesday 29th July
Kings Lynn, Our Lady of the Annunciation 8am—6pm
Wednesday 30th July
Kings Lynn, Our Lady of the Annunciation 8am—10am
Ipswich, St Marys 12:30pm—8pm
Thursday 31st July
Ipswich, St Marys 8am—10am
Clacton, Our Lady of Light and St Osyth 12 Noon—6pm
Friday 1st August
Clacton, Our Lady of Light and St Osyth 8am—10am
Kelvedon, St Mary Immaculate and the Holy Archangels 12 Noon—6pm
Saturday 2nd August
Kelvedon, St Mary Immaculate and the Holy Archangels 8am —10:30am
Chelmsford, The Blessed Sacrament 12 Noon—7:30pm
Sunday 3rd August
Chelmsford, The Blessed Sacrament 8:30am—12:30pm
Eastwood, St Peters 1:30pm—6pm
Monday 4th August
Eastwood, St Peters 8am—10am
Basildon, The Most Holy Trinity 12 Noon—6pm
Tuesday 5th August
Basildon, The Most Holy Trinity 8am—10am
Brentwood, St Mary and St Helen Cathedral 12 Noon—8pm
Wednesday 6th August
Brentwood, St Mary and St Helen Cathedral 8am—10am
Hornchurch, St Mary Mother of God 12 Noon—6pm
Thursday 7th August
Hornchurch, St Mary Mother of God 8am—10am
West Ham, Our Lady of Compassion 12 Noon—6pm
Friday 8th August
West Ham, Our Lady of Compassion 8am—10am
Elm Park, St Alban 12 Noon—6pm
Saturday 9th August
Elm Park, St Alban 8am—10am
Chingford, Our Lady of Grace and St Teresa of Avila 12 Noon—7:30pm
Sunday 10th August
Chingford, Our Lady of Grace and St Teresa of Avila 8am—12 Noon
All timings are approximate and subject to travel delays.
If your child is going into Year 3 or above and you wish for them to make their First Holy Communion in May 2026, please submit the application by Friday 5th September.
This should be done via the parish website, under Sacraments - Communion
(https://lourdesleigh.org/sacraments)
We congratulate the parents of Serafina Pia Smyth who was Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless her and her family as she grows in His knowledge and love.
The winners of the draw this month are:
1st Prize £150 190 Mr J Hurley
2nd Prize £100 82 Mrs J Lewis
3rd Prize £75 175 Miss F DeSouza
4th Prize £25 46 Mr I Charters
The Parish Finance Committee has, after due research and consideration, decided to focus our 200 Club funds on a new project—Aid to the Church in Need’s project in Nigeria to provide support for vocations to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, whose missionary priests are known as Spiritans. Nigeria is an important front line of the Church’s struggle in the face of violent ideology and persecution. Our fundraising will contribute to the overall costs of the tuition and expenses of trainee priests who, on completion of their formation, will be available for mission appointments strengthening the Church within Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, we have our own experience of the Spiritans in our Diocese so it would be a good way of showing our gratitude and support to them.
There are some spare places available in the 200 Club. If you wish to join with a monthly regular donation of £5, forms are available at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217
The Repository will be closed from this weekend and re-open early in September. Mass Cards are available from the Parish office.
We are hosting a cream tea on Saturday 2nd August from 14.30 to 16.30pm at 18 Fairmead Avenue, Westclilff SSO 9RX.
You will be able to take a cream tea (scone, cream, jam, butter and cup of tea for £3.00 per person) We will also have a raffle, homemade cakes and Bring and Buy so please support Breast Cancer Now by coming, BRING A FRIEND or you can make a donation direct to our account:
Sort Code: 30-98-90 Account No. 18096960
Name of Account Catholic Women’s League CIO Westcliff Section
Please put the reference Breast Cancer Now
Contactless payment is available on the day.
We look forward to seeing you!
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.
Learning Mentor – from September 2025
Five days per week, Term Time Only 8.00am-4.00pm
Scale 7-12 (£25,584-£27,711) / pro rata actual salary £21,933 - £23,757
An opportunity has arisen for a Learning Mentor to join our Pastoral Team. We are looking for a positive, enthusiastic and approachable professional to work alongside our Learning Mentor Team 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 help students overcome barriers to their learning.
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.
All new staff are supported within the positive ethos of this happy and high performing school, and to this end all staff complete an applicable induction training programme. The community at St Bernard’s welcome applications from all faiths or none.
Closing Date: 1 September 2025, 12:00 . Interviews: date tbc
Liturgy:
Readings Year C
Preface of Sunday 3
The Nicene Creed
Saturday 19
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
20th July
8am Mass Intentions of Blake Mackay (SD)
9.30am Mass Errol Vertannesu, RIP (HM)
11.30am Mass Intentions of Renata Butler (Birthday) (LS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 21
St Laurence of Brindisi, Pr D
9am Mass Jill Iles, RIP (AC)
Tuesday 22
ST MARY MAGDALENE
9am Mass Deceased family of Canon Francis Gilbert
Wednesday 23
ST BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, Rel
9am Mass Mary & John Skipper, RIP (TW)
Thursday 24
St Charbel Makhlouf, Pr
9am Mass Intentions of Terri Wright (TW)
Friday 25
ST JAMES, Ap
12.00 noon John Butler, RIP (RB)
Saturday 26
Ss Joachim and Anne, Parents of the BVM
10am Mass Intentions of Terry Peckham (MD)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Mass Lourdesmary, Manglem & Elizabeth Pallis, RIP (DL)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
27th July
8am Mass Roland Selvini, RIP (Fr. S)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Marjorie Jay, RIP (JS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
“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.”
Fr Patrick Taylor, Deacon David Balmer, Fr John Boardman, Fr Michael Hannan, Fr Dermot Moore, Fr James Cooney, Fr Godfrey Anstruther Op, Fr John Jones, Caroline Hardy, Kathleen Butt, Jane Bickmore, Charlie Fletcher, Jane Mawdsley, Alice Collins, Aislinn Lane, Elsie Witty, Irene Huggett, Frank McEvoy, Pamela Johnson, Francis Howard Kenney, Geraldine Hayter, Joan Farmer, Winifred Martin, Marian Bukowski, Leonard Betts, Arthur Koch, William Rhodes, David Hall, Eva Bartley, Silvester Smolarczyk, Marie Ann Brand, Anthony Downey, John Maguire, Stefan Nowacki, John O’Brien, Gertrude Mortelman, Carmina Czogalik, Daisy Houlihan & Frederick James Hardy.
PAMELA UGLIETTI who died on Thursday, 19th June. Her Requiem Mass will be on Wednesday, 30th July at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
PAOLO SELCI who died on Thursday, 3rd July. His Requiem Mass will be on Thursday, 31st July at 1.30pm followed by committal at Sutton Road Cemetery.
Requiescant in pace
Prelude: Allemande (Pastorale) BWV 590—J S Bach (1685-1750)
Postlude: Alla Siciliana (Pastorale) BWV 590—J S Bach
Sunday, 20th July—Sea of Voices Summer Concert 3pm
Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage
Monday 8th September Centenary of the Opening of our Church
Sunday 14th September Parish Centenary Celebration 3pm
If your child is going into Year 3 or above and you wish for them to make their First Holy Communion in May 2026, please submit the application by Friday 5th September.
This should be done via the parish website, under Sacraments - Communion
(https://lourdesleigh.org/sacraments)
For many years, our 200 Club has been an important way for our Parish to raise funds for various worthwhile causes (and a fun opportunity for participants to be the lucky winner of monthly cash prizes!)
The Parish Finance Committee has, after due research and consideration, decided to focus our 200 Club funds on a new project—Aid to the Church in Need’s project in Nigeria to provide support for vocations to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, whose missionary priests are known as Spiritans. Nigeria is an important front line of the Church’s struggle in the face of violent ideology and persecution. Our fundraising will contribute to the overall costs of the tuition and expenses of trainee priests who, on completion of their formation, will be available for mission appointments strengthening the Church within Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, we have our own experience of the Spiritans in our Diocese so it would be a good way of showing our gratitude and support to them.
There are some spare places available in the 200 Club. If you wish to join with a monthly regular donation of £5, forms are available at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can telephone Linda Wall on 01702 558217.
Tickets for £5 will still be available on the door for our Summer charity concert at the Lourdes Parish Centre on Sunday 20th July, 3pm. Proceeds will go to Age Concern Southend.
Reading at weekday Mass - Volunteers welcome
Readers participating in the Liturgy of the Word play an essential role in the Mass, and the parish is looking for more volunteers to read.
On average people read about once every 2 weeks, and the rota is flexible to fit in with holiday and other commitments. You don't have to have read before and training can be provided. If you want to experience what reading would be like before deciding whether to read regularly, a one-off reading opportunity can be arranged too.
So if you would like to find out more and give reading a try, please go to the volunteering page on the website and send us your details Volunteer (lourdesleigh.org) and Jackie Sullens will be in touch. Thank you.