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Rosie's Baptism!
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New Altar servers!
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Our New Altar Servers 2023!
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Red Wednesday 2023!
5 / 6
Confirmation 2023!
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First Holy Communion 2022!
'Teach us to Pray' - Living the Year of Prayer in Preparation for Jubilee 2025,
Pope Francis invites us all to intensify
prayer as a personal dialogue with God.
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My dear friends,
The 1st Reading and the Gospel this weekend contain the theme of Marriage. The 1st Reading comes from the 2nd Creation account in the book of Genesis and focuses on the creation of the woman from the man. The inherent and deep ‘connection’ that the man feels with the newly created woman is obvious; “bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!” This reading is very often chosen for weddings, as for many couples it reflects the inherent and deep connection that they feel for each other.
Marriage, as we know, is not based on feelings, but based on love. Feelings can come and go; love is much more substantial and permanent than that! When we choose to love another, we undertake the project of appreciating, celebrating and enabling that person to grow and become their true selves. Such a project can be tough, yet it can be absolutely beautiful, as reflected in the marriage vows, “for better for worse, in sickness and in health etc.”
To love in such a way is a very ‘holy’ activity; it is holy because it is real, true and transforming.
Such ‘holy’ activity is not exclusive to marriage of course, but the vocation of all of us whether we are single, widowed, divorced or a celibate priest!
The power that enables, inspires and directs such ‘holy’ activity so that it reaches its fullest potential is the love of God. This is why Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ..’ and ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus was quite clear that these are the greatest commandments.
Wishing you well for the week!
In his recent letter to us, the Bishop has asked us to examine more closely the recommendations and implications, in the 'Shaping Our Future' document.
'Shaping Our Future' The Brentwood Diocese Vision Document (2019)
The Southend Partnership Response Comprising of the Parishes of: St. Peters, Eastwood; Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph, Leigh-on-sea; Our Lady Help of Christians & St. Helen, Westcliff; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Southend with St. John Fisher, Prittlewell; St. George & The English Martyrs, Shoeburyness with St. Gregoryʼs, Thorpe Bay; St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, Rochford with St. Pius X, Hockley.
'Believing, not belonging ..'''Why Catholics no longer come to Church' Brentwood Diocese Research Report Summer 2023
'We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realising that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders;
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.'
Not Just the usual rosary.
We meet for Fellowship, Worship Music, Prayers and the Rosary. If you're looking for something new, A spiritual uplift, Meet new people and obtain a sense of wellbeing?
Then join us in praying For World Peace Vocations, and the conversion of sinners and much more🙏🏼
Any Tuesday 3.30pm @St George’s Church.
All welcome! Just come through the front Entrance Or call Kaz to find out more 07786 000391
As part of its involvement in the wider Justice and Peace community, our Parish Justice & Peace Group participates in local, national and international events. The members of the Parish are invited to participate. Our work is not only about raising money; issues such as food poverty, trafficking, genocide, climate change, recycling, energy conservation, pollution, are all of great concern. Check the newsletter for the date and time of the next meeting. All welcome to come along and hear about the projects we are involved in or planning.
New members for each group would be very welcome.
If you would like to find out more about our work please contact/speak to Brian Fitzgerald (bfitzg6306@sky.com or 07817842604)
Pope Francis is asking all of us to listen more to each other, to be more open and prayerful, to have a mutual respect for one another, supporting each other in our community.
With this in mind we have moved to a more ‘’open approach’ to all that goes on in the parish.
We propose an ‘open invitation’ to all parishioners to attend all pastoral parish council meetings and greater representation on the council.
Permanent PPC members will include: Our Parish Priest, Parish Secretary, The MC, The Steward of the Gospel, Our Parish school Headteacher, A Youth Representative, The Chairs of; Finance, 669, Justice & Peace, plus others co-opted by the Parish priest who are actively involved in running parish activities. There will also be 3 elected members, voted on by you the parishioners.
We hope that this ’Open Forum’ style Council will encourage greater involvement by all of you in our parish community and cover all aspects of parish life. Our aim will be to unify and support our community and its future needs.
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. The promise of a good meal attracts these hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a better future.
We are already feeding more than two million children every school day and together, we can reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals. It costs just £15.90 to feed a child in a place of education for a whole school year.
Watch Believe's Story Believe is just one of the 1,035,637 children we're feeding across the globe with your support. Out of every £1 donated, at least 93p is spent on their charitable activities.
Please give what you can today.
All your daily Mass Readings here online, including the Psalms, Morning, Evening and Night Prayers.
We invite you to make a 'Sacred Space' in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance. 'Sacred Space'
Pope Francis asks us not to forget the hungry and marginalised.
So please don’t forget the SVP helping the vulnerable in the Southend area.
Bring an item to Mass next week please!
With the colder nights coming we want to ensure we can support the community that are sleeping on the streets of Southend. We need of Sleeping bags, Hoodies, Jogging bottoms all sizes, Gloves, Hats, Coats and Socks. Please drop donations into the Church office or bring to Mass and we will deliver.
Our Foodbank is running very low of the below items at present. We are constantly providing food for Homeless, vulnerable guests and families who are experiencing food and fuel poverty.
The full list is on their Facebook page, but includes: Tinned Veg Meals; UHT Milk; Squash; Coffee; Tinned Fruit; Tinned Custard/Rice pudding; Pasta Sauces;
Roll-On Deodorant; Sunscreen; Shampoo; Shower Gel; Toilet Rolls; Bottled Water; Sanitary Products; Tinned Meat/Fish.
Please drop anything that you can spare into the Presbytery or give it to one of the Ushers.
Visit their SVP Facebook Page
Fr Brett
Please pray for all those who are sick or housebound in our parish, as well as our friends and family.
Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need.
Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence.
Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits.
May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed.
ANNIVERSARIES IN OCTOBER
Please remember the following:
† Joseph Avery ,Alfred Braithwaite, Joyce Brown, Mary Bushell, Conner Campbell , Kathleen Coleman, Gladys Coombes, Samu-el Cottham, Ella Crawford , Anne Cusack, Mary Denney, Les Dowie, Marcelle Duncan, Lorraine Ellis, Freya Falconer, Adrian Gal-lagher, Mary Gargan, Anne Goldsworthy, Harry Manfred Gravestock, Bernard Humph-rey, Mark Keenan, Violet Link-er, Christina McFadden, Kate Mclaughlin, Rosemary O’Brien, Eileen O’ Connor, Michael Ryan, Anna Smith, Stan-ley Smith, Minnie Standing, Brian Sullivan, John Trainor, Tanya Walton, Fred Wicker, John Corr, Pamela Partington, Simon Zialor, Mary Borthwick, Robina Dixon, Caroline Farrell, Peter Ward, John Townsend, Yvonne Byford, Angela Barrett. †
Fr Brett
You would be very welcome! Register for an emailed weekly newsletter and keep in touch with, mass times, community news and much more ...
This weekend The First Holy Communion Team, and hopefully some children and their parents, will be hosting the Coffee Morning. All welcome to come and join us after the 10.45am Mass.
Next weekend, we will see 669 back again, providing the refreshments and fundraising for the Fayre. Then on the 20th October it will be a McEvoy’s Freebie.
Don’t forget, if you want to run a Coffee Morning for your charity or good cause, please contact the office.
Fr Brett
ROSARY AND PRAYERS
We meet for Fellowship, Worship Music, Prayers and the Rosary. If you're looking for something new, A spiritual uplift, Meet new people and obtain a sense of wellbeing?
Then join us in praying For World Peace Vocations, and the conversion of sinners and much more🙏🏼
Any Tuesday 3.30pm @St George’s Church.
All welcome! Just come through the front Entrance Or call Kaz to find out more 07786 000391
Fr Brett
FAN THE FLAME OF HOPE - Saturday 15th March 2025
11am-6pm Ovo Arena, Wembley
We are now taking names of anyone wishing to attend Flame NEXT year, as the Diocese want to get a bulk booking in early.
If you think you would like to join us for this terrific event, with the content aimed at Year 10 to 13, please contact Sharon.
Last year over 1,000 young people from across the Diocese attended the Flame, along with thousands from all around the country.
As we did last year, we would hope to get a coach to and from the venue.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Fr Brett
If you are interested in participating in this fundraiser for the church, please return your form to the church office as soon as possible.
If your form went out with the Christmas recycling, please contact Sharon, who will be able to arrange a new one!
Fr Brett
Remember, if you 'Gift aid' it then every for every donation we receive from you we can claim back 25% from the Govermment!
Click to submit your booking intentions and check hall availablity
Full hall hire terms and conditions
Brief guide to its constitution, membership and meeting records
Pope Francis - 'Rejoice and be Glad'
Pope Francis - Encyclical
The full Catholic catechism
Care for our common home and each other
Pope Francis - a reflection on family life
'The Joy of the Gospel'
A brief guide when making mass intentions
A brief helpful guide for parents with young children
Supporting the faith development of young people - Pope Francis