Sheila West
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

When we gather each week for Holy Mass we do so, according to Saint Augustine, to be fed at the two tables of God’s Word and His Sacrament.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

We are now well into this Jubilee Year which began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Kevin Hale
Baptism of the Lord

Dear friends in Christ

This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

Baptism of the Lord
Kevin Hale
The Epiphany of the Lord

Dear friends in Christ

May I begin this first message of 2025 wishing you all every health, peace and blessing for the New Year!

The Epiphany of the Lord
Kevin Hale
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Dear friends in Christ

I wish you all the peace and blessings of this Christmas week in abundance!

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

information

Please pray for the repose of the souls of

LEONORA MAGUIRE, RIP who died on Friday, 27th December. Her body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 5th February at 4.30pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 6th February at 10.15am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

ROSEMARY BRAGARD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 14th January. Her body will be received into church on Thursday, 13th February at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will be on Friday 14th February at 10am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.

OLIVE CHRISTINE YEMS, RIP who died on Tuesday, 30th December. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, 19th February at Southend Crematorium at 12.30pm.

Requiescant in pace

Dates for your Diary

Monday, 27th January—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre

Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists

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

Lourdes Jubilee Year Pilgrimage

The Pilgrimage to Lourdes, flying with BA, will depart Heathrow on Monday 21st July 07.35am—Arrive Toulouse 10.25am, returning on Saturday 26th July 10.45am—arriving at 11.45am.

The 5-night package price is £895 per pilgrim sharing, single supplement is £225, staying at the 4 star Grand Hotel Moderne Soubirous (closest to Sanctuary).

This includes 5 nights full-board and return luxury coach transfer from Lourdes airport to the hotel.

Please leave your name and contact details with the Parish Office soon, as places are limited.

JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA

This continues on Monday, 27th January 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.

Reading at Weekend Masses

"Christ is always present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church" [Second Vatican Council]. With the new Lectionary being a fresh chance to hear Christ speaking to us, bringing us together with others, now could be an opportunity to use your talents to read at Mass?

Readers at weekend Masses generally read in pairs every 4 or 5 weeks, and are only rostered to read at the Mass they normally attend. Rotas are flexible so you can always swap if something comes up and you are unable to read on a weekend. The opportunity to read is available to both children and adults. Training / practice are available if you've not read before or are returning to reading.

If you're interested, please contact Jackie Sullens (j.sullens@btinternet.com) who'll be happy to explain what's involved and to arrange some practice so you can consider further whether you'd like to join our group of readers. Thank you.

OLOL Ladies Group

We meet again on Thursday 30th January from 10am in the Parish Centre, all Ladies are welcome to join us for refreshments and an enjoyable social morning with friends old and new.

Next week we welcome one of our Parishioners as our guest speaker. Lesley Morgan will be talking about her interesting work with ‘small animal rescue and other animals’. This should be an interesting morning so please come along so we can give Lesley a huge welcome.     

As usual subs are just £ 1. Plus we have a fun Raffle.

World Day of Prayer

This year’s World Day of Prayer Service takes place on Friday 7th March at 10.30 am at St Saviour’s Church, Kings Road, Westcliff-On-Sea  SS0 8LL followed by tea/coffee.

This years service is prepared by the Christian women of the Cook Islands on the theme ‘I made you wonderful’.

We are very fortunate to have the children from St Helen's Primary School to take an active part in the service. We invite everyone to join us in praying together.

We are also holding a coffee-singalong concert at St Clement’s Church in aid of funds for this year’s World Day of Prayer service. 10.30 am.—concert (45 minutes) by The Two Elizabeths will start at 10.40am, followed by coffee, homemade cakes, bring and buy. All welcome—entry is free.

Please pray for the repose of the souls of

LEONORA MAGUIRE, RIP who died on Friday, 27th December. Her body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 5th February at 4.30pm and her Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 6th February at 10.15am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.

SUSAN JANE O’NEILL, RIP who died on 18th December. Her funeral will take place on Tuesday, 21st January at Southend Crematorium, West Chapel at 2pm.

ROSEMARY BRAGARD, RIP who died on Tuesday, 14th January. Her body will be received into church on Wednesday, 13th February at 5pm and her Requiem Mass will be on Thursday 14th February at 10am followed by burial at Sutton Road Cemetery.

Requiescant in pace