Help for the Homeless this Winter

Southend Churches Winter Night Shelters (SCWNS) and Southend Borough Council have been running winter night shelters for the homeless for eight years. This year, the Catholic parishes of Sacred Heart and St John Fisher have agreed to provide a Night Shelter in Sacred Heart parish hall every Wednesday night, from Wednesday 5th December 2018 through to Wednesday 20th March 2019, and are requesting volunteer help and support from other Catholic parishes within our Deanery. 

Beds will be supplied for 20 people and a hot meal for another up to 10 'dinner only' guests. The Night Shelter welcomes both men and women although historically only two or three women have been hosted most nights. Sufficient 'overnight volunteers' have already been found but approximately 30 additional volunteers will be needed each week! 

There are a variety of tasks to be done commencing Wednesday evenings, 6pm to 10.30pm  - setting up beds, greeting guests, serving meals, socialising with guests; and then again Thursday mornings, 7am to 9.00am - preparing breakfast, cleaning the hall, laundering etc., ...as well as tasks yet to be identified! 

Potential volunteers are asked to contact Sue Tokley, Parish Secretary, in Sacred Heart/St John Fisher parish office on 01702 465720 or parish@catholicsouthend.org.uk .  Francis O'Brien - OLOL Parish SVP Conference

St Thomas More High School - Sixth Form Open Evening

Thursday 22nd November 6-9pm.  For families who have pupils - boys and girls - in Year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2019.

Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Leaflets are available at the back of the Church giving instructions how to fill a shoebox with gifts for a child this Christmas, who otherwise would receive nothing.  Filled and ready to collect shoeboxes should be taken to the nearest drop off point, Shoezone 80 High Street, Southend (opposite Lloyd’s Bank) tel no 01702 462662.  Unfortunately Leigh Road Baptist Church is not an Operation Christmas Child drop off point this year.  Alternatively, St Peter’s RC Church, 59 Eastwood Road North, Leigh on Sea, SS9 4BX, tel no 01702 522879 is a drop off point from mid October onwards.  The shoeboxes will be going to Eastern Europe this year so hats, gloves etc are ideal box fillers.  The closing date is Sunday 18th November.  Please do not leave filled shoeboxes at Our Lady of Lourdes Church or Leigh Road Baptist Church.

Person required for paid position of Parish Manager in the office of St Helen’s, 27 Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JP

16-20 hours per week, (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) 9am to 1pm.   If you, or any of your family/friends, are interested, please first contact Fr Alex Poblador for a job description and person specification. You should then send in your CV, with a covering letter, demonstrating how your experience and skills match the essential requirements and attributes of the role. Closing date for CVs/ applications by Monday 26th November 2018.  Interview date Friday 7th December.  Contact: 01702 342324 westcliff@dioceseofbrentwood.org

Counters & Folders

Counters:  Bob Hall & Sandra Hippard
Folders: Tom O’Callaghan & Rita O’Callaghan

Night of Light

As part of the 40 hours prayer this year, the Parish will be holding a 'Night of Light' on Friday, 30th November from 5pm to 8pm.  The lighting of the Christmas lights in Leigh is an ideal opportunity to reach out to all those passing by, inviting them to come into our church to light a candle and say a prayer.  The young people of the parish and the Parish Evangelisation Team will be hosting the evening.  You are all welcome to come and be part of the event by praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament for the people on the streets and those talking to them.  There will also be a live music ministry from Brentwood providing music.

Lourdes Ladies Group

Meet at 10.30am in Parish Centre, Thursday 15th November for Advent arts & crafts preparation.  No  artistic skills? Just come along & enjoy good company and delicious cake, coffee and a natter. ALL women welcome.

Parish Christmas Bazaar - Sunday 2nd December

The Bazaar will start after the 8am Mass and continue until 1.30pm.  We are in need of of your unwanted gifts, toiletries, bottles, bric-a-brac, raffle prizes, craft items.  Please leave donations at the back of Church. Thanks to everyone who has donated and offered to help so far.  If you need us to collect any donations, please call us, Sue 07816141492 or Angela 07940183452.

Grand Prize Draw tickets are available at the back of the Church now, please take and return the stubs and money to the Parish Office.

Sea of Voices Charity Concert

Our Charity concert on Friday 23rd November at 7.30pm will be held upstairs in the Gilbert Room. We are dedicating our concert to the memory of former choir member, Frank Maguire RIP, and according to Mrs Maguire’s wishes, all proceeds will go to the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.   Programmes for admission to the concert will be on sale shortly at £5.  There will be a raffle on the night as well as teas and coffees available in the interval. A seasonal glass of wine and refreshments will also be available after the concert.  Further details and programmes can be obtained from Darrell Binding on 07825686249, choir members in the parish and through the Church Office in November.

November Dead List

Envelopes for the November dead list are at the back of the church.  Please place names and offering in the box provided, also at the back of church.  Throughout November, there is a weekly mass for the Holy Souls and those whose names are placed under the Altar are remembered in these Masses and Offices.

Dates for your Diary

Friday 16th November
Sung Requiem in the Extra-ordinary Form 8pm

Sunday 18th November        
Blessing of Graves, 3pm (Sutton Road)

Thursday 29th November
Forty Hours Prayer 7pm

Sunday 2nd December
Christmas Bazaar - after 8am Mass

Saturdays 11th & 18th May
First Holy Communions

Sunday 19th May
Visitation and Confirmation

1st Thursday of every month Meeting of Parish Evangelisation Team 8pm

Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of

Sheila McBrearty, RIP who died on Friday 2nd November.  Funeral details to follow.
Janine Barter, RIP who died recently.

We Pray for our Sick

Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, Joshua Hallett, Janet Weale, Mark Shepherd, Eileen Bines, Frank Bramley, Mark Hartley, Gillian Oldham, Basil Emmerson, Austin Butler, Christine Robinson, John Lavery, Rosemary Bragard, Paul Keane, Rose Craft, Maureen Gooding, Dympna Addecott, Pat Lynch, Christian Ryan, Mike Rubbert, Maureen Deekes,  Tina Doveaston, Addi Brady, Ben Wilson, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Brita Irons, Nan Carrit, Eileen Wilson, Patricia Spikin, Sandra Fagan, Edna Wallace, Beryl Dixon, Nick Evans, Vicky Jack, Lyn Gopee, Mary Boyce, Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Janet Woods, Lynne Hilkene, June Moncaster, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Maria Clark, Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch, Anthony King, Chas Taylor, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Johnnie Pool, Edward Martin, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Hugh Isaacs, Josephine Griggs, Colleen Worley, Dawn Deleigh, Lorraine Hart, Linda Dean, Antonella McConalogue, Eddie McConalogue, Georgina Cornwell, Martha Braun, Wyn McCafferty, Annie Holland, Jane Jowers, Ivor & Joanne Knight, David Clark, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, David Clark, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Sharon Levill, Bernadette Lane, David Kislingury, Maureen Ward, Irena Solecki, Lanto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Rosemary Arscott, Richard Collins, Niqui Denkmayer, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Mick Cordingley and children Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price, Connie Price & Frazer Gregory.

Please Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Canon Denis Petry, Fr Terence Howes, Fr James Allis, Fr Richard (Dick) Ashton, Fr Edwin Sheehan, OFM, Dr Gerry Leyden, Marie Daniels, Sidney Hempstead, Pearl Scaife, Lucy Tombleson, Joan Lucey, Donald Galvin, Eileen Stanshall, Anne Britt, Joan Read, Albert Rogers, Janet Conway, Jon Owen, John Cavanagh, Jack O’Riordan, Vincent Kelly, John O’Neill, Kathleen McIlwee, Richard Sparrow, Louisa Hurst, Sydney Pullen, Myriad Hubbard, Mary Capon, John Cousins, Ethel Donnison, Luciana Garuti, Edna Hutchings, Kathleen Macauley, Alice Kelly, Florrie Peck, Charlotte Roberts & Bert Russell.

May their Souls & the Souls of all the Faithful Departed rest in peace

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sunday 4th November

Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Michael & Margaret Gibbons, RIP (Anniv) (BG)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Fidelis & Lourdes Mary Pallis, RIP (Anniv) (DL)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish 
11.30am Mass Jeremiah & Catherine Brennan, RIP (Anniv)(KE)
4.00pm Mass Intentions of the Shpella Family (TS) - Extraordinary Form
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 5 Feria
9.00am Mass Vivian Payne, RIP (Anniv) (V&NP)

Tuesday 6 Feria
9.00am Mass Gerald Kelly, RIP (Anniv)(JA) 

Wednesday 7 St Willibrord, Bp
9.00am Mass Foyster Family - Thanksgiving (MF)

Thursday 8 Feria
9.00am Mass Jim & Lilian Fegan, RIP (Anniv)(JC)
8.00pm Mass Parish Requiem for the deceased of the last year

Friday 9 DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA
12Noon Mass Holy Souls

Saturday 10 St Leo the Great, P, D
10.00am Mass Adrian Dann, RIP (SD) 
10.30am-11.30am Exposition & Confession

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMe  Sunday 11th Nov.

Saturday 5.30pm Vigil Pearl Scaife, RIP (Anniv) (MI)
6.30pm–7.30pm Exposition & Confession

8.00am Mass Peter Herzog, RIP (Anniv) (JL)
9.30am Mass Deceased relatives of Wall & Rockell Families (K&LW) 
11.30am Mass Deceased of the Wars
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

The Sacrament of Penance is available on request
Services from the church are live streamed

Baptisms

We congratulate the parents of  Katy O’Grady and Leonardo Storelli who were Baptised recently at Our Lady of Lourdes.  May God bless them and their families as they grow in His knowledge and love.

Baptism Preparation Evenings

The next Baptism Preparation Sessions will take place on Tuesdays 6th and 13th November.  They will take place the Parish Centre at 8pm.  For further information, please contact Catherine or Andy Harris on 077333 27295.

Journey of Faith (RCIA)

A series of informal talks, designed to give an insight into the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, continues on Monday 5th November at 8pm in the Parish Centre with Journey of Faith (The Story of Salvation - Creation, Fall & Redemption).  You are welcome to attend some or all of these talks; if you would like more information please speak to Fr Kevin.

St Thomas More High School - Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 22nd November 6pm to 9pm

For families who have pupils - boys and girls - in Year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2019.  come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students.  there will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.