O Blessed Joseph, happy man, to whom it was given not only to see and to hear that God Whom many kings longed to see, and saw not, to hear, and heard not; but also to carry Him in your arms, to embrace Him, to clothe Him, and guard and defend Him.
V Pray for us, O Blessed Joseph. R That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O God, Who has given us a royal priesthood, we beseech Thee, that as Blessed Joseph was found worthy to touch with his hands, and to bear in his arms, Thy only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, so may we be made fit, by cleanness of heart and blamelessness of life, to minister at Thy holy altar; may we, this day, with reverent devotion partake of the Sacred Body and Blood of Your Only-begotten Son, and may we in the world to come be accounted worthy of receiving an everlasting reward. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Fr Kevin gave the Lent Lecture at Brentwood Cathedral on 4th March. “What it is to be a Catholic according to the lives of some contemporary saints.”
First Sunday of Lent—Brentwood Cathedral—Rite of Election.
Please pray for all those (fourteen from our Parish) and across the Diocese, who are preparing for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation this year.
Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day Mass with our primary school.
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes—Let us pray especially for the intentions of our Parish and Diocese under Our Lady’s protection. On the World Day for the Sick we also remember all those who are suffering in mind, body and soul; those within our Parish Family and all who need our prayers.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Saint Bernadette, pray for us!
Fr John Francis Hayes died peacefully on 7th January in Arklow, Ireland.
Fr Hayes was born on 24 February 1936 at Romford. He was Ordained on 9 June 1963 by Bishop Wall at St Mary’s, Hornchurch. He was appointed Assistant Priest Chadwell Heath 1963 ; Bishop’s Secretary 1963-1970 (and Vice Chancellor 1965-1970); Diocesan Youth Officer 1970-1973; He was appointed Parish Priest Waltham Abbey 1973-1982, Witham 1982-1994, St Mary, Hornchurch 1994-2011. He retired to Ireland 2011.
His Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 10 January at 11am at St Patrick’s Church, Castletown, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Requiescat in pace.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother God.
As we begin the New Year—2026—we wish all the members of our Parish Family every grace, health and blessing for the coming year!
Feast of Saint Stephen. Please pray for our Altar Servers and their families. They have a great privilege of serving at the Altar. Pray too for priestly vocations from among their number!
Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Monsignor David Manson, Parish Priest of Braintree and former Vicar General, who has died suddenly. Requiescat in pace.
Burial of Bishop Thomas McMahon in the Cathedral grounds.
Requiem Mass for Bishop Thomas McMahon, Brentwood Cathedral, 16th December. Requiescat in pace.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This shrine near Mexico City, is one of the most celebrated Marian places of pilgrimage in the world. On December 9, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian convert, Juan Diego, and left with him a picture of herself impressed upon his cloak. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas and the Mother of the Unborn.
Monday 8th December—The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
19.00–Rosary, Consecration to the Immaculate Heart & Benediction.
“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Bishop Thomas McMahon RIP (1936—2025)
Bishop of Brentwood 1980—2014
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that the soul of your departed servant Bishop Thomas, to whom you committed the care of your family, may, with the manifold fruit of his labours, enter into the eternal gladness of his Lord. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Requiescat in pace.
Holy Lateran Church, Mother and head of all churches in the city and the world.
