This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Felicia Ibekwe, for her holy death, conversion and the salvation of her soul.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
BOBBY NEWMAN, RIP who died on Thursday 20th February. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 4th April at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
DAVID KISLINGBURY, RIP who died on Friday, 7th March. His body will be received into the church on Tuesday, 8th April at 4pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, 9th April at 10am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
TIMOTHY McCARTHY who died on Sunday, 2nd March. His Requiem Mass will be take place on Friday, 11th April at 11am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
The Shroud of Turin Exhibition
Join us on Thursday 10th April at Sacred Heart Church Hall from 7pm for a talk on The Turin Shroud. On the following Monday 14th April, at the beginning of Holy Week, we travel with Father Graham by coach to view a full-sized replica of The Turin Shroud and explore the exhibition at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
The coach leaves Sacred Heart Church at 10am, St John Fisher Church at 10:10am, London Road opposite Nazareth House 10:20am and Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 10:35am. Adults £20 – Children under 16 travel free.
The Exhibition is free to enter. Please contact Sandy Rand 07470 820994 to book your place.
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 17th March—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
Lenten Talks
Gift Aid Envelopes
The Gift Aid boxes containing Offertory and Charity envelopes for the financial year 2025/2026 are available for collection at the back of the Church.
Special collection boxes are also available for donors who contribute by Standing Order. They contain only charities designated by the Diocese, including Christmas and Easter offerings.
Baptisms
We congratulate the parents of Lottie Milne, Aurelia Burnage and Roxanne Amoore who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes. May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—24th May 2025
Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.
If you would like transport to and from Walsingham please leave your name and contact details at the Parish office, as Sacred Heart are organising a coach.
Coach leaving Sacred Heart at 7:30am
Pick up at Our Lady of Lourdes at 7:45am
Arrival Walsingham 11am
Depart Walsingham 5pm
Arrival Our Lady of Lourdes 8:15pm
Arrival Sacred Heart 8:30pm
£24 per adult - Children under 16 go free
Director of Education
Bishop Alan is seeking to appoint a Director of Education to promote and implement his vision for Catholic education within the Diocese. This is an inspiring, rewarding and fulfilling position as the Diocese serves a network of 90 schools, providing for the formation and educational needs of some 40,000 children and young people.
The successful candidate will have extensive leadership experience in an education context, a strong grasp of current educational issues (including CMATs’ evolving role within the parish, diocese and local community); excellent leadership and management skills; and a deep knowledge and understanding of Catholic education as structured in this country.
Closing date for applications: Monday 7 April at 12 Noon
More information here: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/diocese/working-for-us/
JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA
This continues on Monday, 17th March 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.
Assisted Suicide Bill update
Last year, MPs narrowly voted to support Kim Leadbeater’s dangerous assisted suicide Bill at Second Reading.
There’s still time to stop it.
The Independent newspaper, shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill made it clear they did so only to allow time for further debate or they have concerns that mean they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading.
With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading.
With more awareness of the serious risks, arising from the committee stage, many MPs could change their position.
If enough do, we can defeat this Bill at Third Reading and stop it from becoming law.
You can make a difference right now, by contacting your MP, to say, vote NO, at Third Reading.
It only takes a couple of minutes of your time, using our easy-to-use tool, which you can access by clicking the button below.
Missio Red Boxes
I have received the Spring 2025 Missio magazines. If you have not received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church on the ledge in the usual place. Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.
Headteacher Vacancy
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Hornchurch, Essex are currently recruiting for a Head Teacher.
Closing date: 12pm on Wednesday 26th March 2025.
Knights of St Columba Pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory in Jubilee Year
Join us on Sunday 29th June at Aylesford Priory for an open-air Mass – Lunch (bring a pack lunch or use The Friars Restaurant) – in the afternoon join us on the Rosary Walk through The Friars beautiful grounds by the banks of The River Medway and finishing with Benediction. A coach will leave Sacred Heart Church at 8:30am and pick-up opposite Nazareth House at 8:40am, Our Lady of Lourdes at 8:50am and at Tarpots Corner at 9:10am. We depart Aylesford at approximately 4pm. The coach costs £20 per adult and children under 16 go free. Please book your place by contacting Sandy Rand 07470 820994. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Can you help?
We have a parishioner who has become frail and has asked if anyone could give her a lift to Mass. She lives in Leigh and attends the 11.30am Mass.
If you are able to help please contact the Parish office.
Cleaner Required
Would you be able to spare an hour a week between 10am and 1pm, to help clean our church ? Whichever day suits you, and it doesn’t have to be the same day every week!
If you can help, please contact the Parish office on 01702 478078 or email office@lourdesleigh.org.
First Sunday of Lent
Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of First Sunday Lent
Saturday 8
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
5.30pm Vigil Private Intention (MS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 9 March
First Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Intentions of Bob Sighe (MR)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Joseph Swann, RIP (Anniv) (MW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 10
Monday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Madeleine Selvini, RIP (FrS)
Tuesday 11
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)
Wednesday 12
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Vincent & Sheila Harrison, RIP (JC)
Thursday 13
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Tadeusz Warcmoł, RIP (BF)
Friday 14
Friday of the First Week of Lent—Family Fast Day
12Noon Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (AS)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction
Saturday 15
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
10am Mass Intentions of Dr Tony Bullock (90th Birthday) (R&GD)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
Sunday 16 March
Second Sunday of Lent—START OF PARISH MISSION
8am Mass Maria Horlock, RIP (Anniv) M-GMcC)
9.30am Mass John, Pat & Peter Moon, RIP (SM)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (Anniv) (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Thomas Lawton, Fr John Gordon, Fr Edmund Meyer, Fr Maurice Roche, Mgr Canon David Michael Corley, Fr William Luby, Canon Martin Horkan, Peggy Choppin, Vincent Ingham, Christopher Tyler, Joe Swann, Tom O’Callaghan, Therese Ketterer, Joseph Collins, Lionel Clarke, Richard Young, Margaret Houston, Leo King, Edith Smith, Eileen Greaves, George Burnham, Lydia Upton, Maura Harley, Eric Wilding, Stefan Gyms, Frank Keenan (Sir), Philip Hale, Eleanor Hayes, June Hazel White, Bridget Morris, David McGowan, George Conway, James Kennedy & Kathleen Hosford.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for intentions of the Kelly Family.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
BOBBY NEWMAN, RIP who died on Thursday 20th February. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 4th April at 10.30am followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
PAULINE SHAW, RIP who died on Monday, 10th February. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, 26th March at 3.30pm at Southend Crematorium.
DAVID KISLINGBURY, RIP who died on Friday, 7th March.
Requiescant in pace