Kevin Hale
Christmas Message
Kevin Hale
Christmas Message
Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dear friends in Christ

As we enter the final days of Advent, our thoughts inevitably turn towards the events which led to the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Fourth Sunday of Advent
Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete

Dear friends in Christ

Joy and hope are the characteristics of the Advent season, and this is expressed in the opening words of the Mass from the Introit: Gaudete—Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice…the Lord is at hand!

Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete
Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Advent

Dear friends in Christ

The figure of Saint John the Baptist permeates Advent like a water mark.

Second Sunday of Advent

Sea of Voices Choir Annual Christmas Events

The choir’s annual Christmas concert for charity ‘Cake and Carols’ will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Parish Centre, from 3pm. More details to follow in November, including which charity we will be raising funds for and ticket availability. Once again we welcome any kind donations of raffle prizes, homemade cakes  and help with refreshments.

The Annual Church Carol Concert, organised between Sea of Voices Choir and YMCA musicians, will be held on Friday 19th December from 7pm. More details nearer the time. 

Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 7th December, 8.30am - 1.00pm

We’re getting ready for our Parish Christmas Bazaar, and we need your help to make it a wonderful success! This year the Bazaar will be on Sunday 7th December, running all morning from 8.30am until 1pm. Put the date in your diary and come along for breakfast and a little shopping too! Draw tickets are now available from the church office or the back of church after all masses!

If you are free to offer an hour or two on the day, please call or message Sue on 07816 141492.

Donations Needed for Our Parish Christmas Bazaar 

Alll donations are most welcome but we’re especially looking for donations of:

Unwanted bottles of alcohol – perfect for our bottle tombola and raffle prizes.
Unwanted jewellery – costume or fine, to add sparkle to our jewellery stall.
Unwanted toiletries – always popular on our “Smellies” stall!

If you have any of these items tucked away at home, please consider donating them to support the Parish.

Donations can be left in the old Baptistry.  If you need us to collect, (locally), just give us a call

Sue 07816 141492     Angela 07940 183452

Every contribution helps – and together, we can make this year’s Bazaar the best yet!

Thank you for your generosity and continued support.

Journey of Faith—RCIA

This continues on Monday, 10th November 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.

Celebrate our Faith Together

12 & 26 November, 10 December - 7pm in the Parish Hall

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Advent
If sometimes Advent gets lost in all the preparation for Christmas these talks, which focus on the Sunday Mass readings for Advent, will enable us to understand its deeper meaning &  so lead us to a fuller, joyful celebration of Christmas.

If you’d like to know more please contact Heather Ward, 07885 737393, heatherward55@gmail.com

New Balance and Strength Training Class for Seniors

Our new Exercise Class continues on Tuesday mornings, 10-11.00 am in the Parish Centre for a seated/standing exercise class. The class is designed for seniors to improve balance and core strength and to help prevent falls, and is done to music.

It is run by Val Herron who has already run a couple of classes for the Lourdes Ladies Group, so will be known to some of you. She will charge £6 per session and provides any equipment that is needed.

Our next class will be on Tuesday 11th November.

Please contact Jo 01702 474062,  or email   mcronan@btinternet.com if you are interested.

Samaritans Purse Shoebox Appeal 2025

Operation Christmas Child—make your donations through CWL Westcliff! Donate by 10th November!  

As last year, we are not collecting shoeboxes etc at church—CWL Westcliff are willing to fill the shoeboxes online from your donations. The cost per box is £25, so if that is too much in these difficult times you can make a donation of any amount and we will fill the shoeboxes for you up to the amount raised. You can donate, however small or big the amount, and make the payment direct to our section account. If you would like to make a donation please pay to:
Catholic Women's League CIO Westcliff section;  Sort code 30-98-90; account number 18096960; Reference Shoebox.  

Thank you for your support and remember what a difference this makes to the children receiving these boxes all over the world.

Here is the link if you would like to donate directly https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/shoebox-online

Repository

We have some new stock including beautiful Rosaries, a selection of Children’s Rosary bracelets and a large selection of cards. We also have new statues, Christmas cards and calendars.

Of particular interest we have a Statue of Saint Anne with the child Mary plus a large Statue of Saint Padre Pio. The latter might be of interest to Schools as Saint Pio is said to be very popular with young people.  

The Repository is open after all Masses at weekends only.   

Headteacher Vacancy

Headteacher vacancy at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Benfleet, Essex, required for April 2026 – Due to the current headteacher taking the decision to retire from the post, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspirational, ambitious and innovative Headteacher to join the team at Holy Family Catholic Primary School.  Further information and application documents can be found on the following websites – HFCPS Website - Job Vacancies and Vacancies – Assisi Catholic Trust.

Midday Play Assistant Vacancy
The Local Governing Committee of Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School is looking to appoint a Midday Play Assistant to oversee the children eating lunch and to encourage play activities with them so that their lunchtime is an enjoyable, sociable, learning experience. You will be required to work for 8.75 hours per week (11.30am-1.15pm each lunchtime) to be paid on Point 2 (approx £12.26 per hour) during term time.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This appointment is subject to satisfactory references, medical and enhanced DBS checks.

ALL SAINTS

Liturgy:
Readings and Preface of All Saints
The Nicene Creed

Saturday 1 November
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
5.30pm Mass Maria Keen, RIP (DL)
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

ALL SAINTS
2 November
8am Mass Intentions of All Saints Catholic School , Dagenham (AMcC)
9.30am Mass Seamus Connolly, RIP (MI)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
4pm Mass John Smith, RIP & Carol Smith, Ints (CS)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 3
ALL SOULS DAY
9am Mass Holy Souls
12Noon Mass Marie Hale, RIP (Anniv) (KH)

Tuesday 4
St Charles Borromeo, Bp
9am Mass Jan Andre Netherton, RIP (IS)

Wednesday 5
Feria
9am Mass Mae Pinsent, RIP & Ints of Anne-Marie Rothwell (JH)

Thursday 6
Feria
No 9am Mass
10am Requiem Mass Anthony Abbott, RIP
7pm Mass The Deceased of the Parish
Friday 7
St Willibrord, Bp—First Friday
 12Noon Mass Gerry Kelly, RIP (Anniv) (JA)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm

Saturday 8 November
Saturday Memorial of the BVM
10am Mass Intentions of Abel Kokkattu (DS)
10.30—11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
9 November
8am Mass Nicholas Flach, RIP (Anniv) (MF)
9.30am Mass George Wislocki, RIP (Anniv) (PW)
11.30am Mass The Dead of the Wars
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Canon John Carmel Heenan, Fr William Philpot, Deacon Norman Wiseman, Mick Burke, Andrew Mitchelmore, Marie Hale, Mary Shanahan, Lilian Rombaut, Paul Evans, Maria lynch, Sheila McBrearty, Peter Moore, Winifred Allen, Elizabeth Spivey, Dorothy Bailey, Bob O’Toole, Dorothy Bartby, Lily Kenny, Irene Fanning, May Pinsent, Arthur (Rob) Hood, Margaret Scales, Marie Elliott, Olive Potter, Alice West, James McHugh, Alan Gloyne, Eileen Waskett, Bernard Fulham, Bridget Curtis, Tom Doran, Suzanne Reynolds, Robert Drew, Clare Murphy, Emma Harley & Reginald Johnson.

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.”
— Roman Missal: For relatives and friends
Link to: The sick of our parish

Please pray for the repose of the souls of

ANTHONY ROBERT ABBOTT who died on Saturday, 13th September. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 6th November at 10am followed by committal at St Lawrence & All Saints, Eastwood.

CAROLYN DE SYLVA who died on Thursday, 25th September. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 12th November at 9.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

COLIN CHEESEMAN who died on Sunday 26th October. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 13th November at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

Requiescant in pace