We pray for Pope Leo XIV
Faithful God, You guide us on the path of life and your goodness is our constant companion.
Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, in his service of the Church.
Fill him with the power of your Spirit, the peace of your presence and the compassion of Christ.
May he walk with you, in wisdom and humility, and lead us, together with all God’s people, to embody your love for the world. Amen.
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My dear friends,
Often the closer we are to something, the less clearly we see it. We might go on holiday to a beautiful island paradise only to find that the locals take the sunshine, the palm trees and the gentle pace for granted. It’s not uncommon for Parisian or Roman taxi drivers to consider the Arc de Triomphe or the Colosseum as mere traffic islands to be negotiated with difficulty at rush hour. We tend not to appreciate the wonders around us when we see them every day.
The same can be true for Christians who live cheek by jowl with their faith. We can end up downsizing the importance of what we believe because we package it into sound-bites such as “God is love” or “Love your neighbour as yourself”. And if our faith and religion is reduced to maxims then it has to compete with all other political, commercial and recreational claims on our time and talent. And thus it becomes relativised.
So Christianity is in danger of being seen as just one way of spending our spare time, along with party politics, sport, caravanning, bird-watching or knitting. And we get sucked into thinking that tolerance demands of us that we make no greater claim for our faith than we do about our hobbies and our interests. After all, it would be indecent to make a lot of noise about our faith, wouldn’t it? Especially if faith is a private thing.
But Christians don’t think like that. We don’t consider our belief in Jesus Christ to be a take-it-or-leave-it affair. It’s not merely like being a member of a wine club or a social networking group. For Christians, faith in Jesus is massive; it is the single most important factor in our lives because it determines who we are and how we behave. To be a Christian is not simply a “nice” thing; it’s totally consuming because it informs every aspect of our living and breathing.
In today’s scripture God says, “Now I am making the whole of creation new”. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. The old order is wiped away, death and evil have lost their power to keep us held captive, and we are offered a radically new and eternal life that has already begun now and that will come to fulfilment the other side of the grave. There is nothing “same-old” about our Christian faith. It’s something that can transform the whole of creation.
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.
JustGiving Campaign Focus: Keep Hope Alive in 2025
As we step into the new year, the challenges facing St Vincent’s Centre, Southend, continue to grow. Despite our relentless efforts, securing grants has been more difficult than ever, making it harder to cover the core costs that keep our essential services running. Without funding for rent, utilities and staff, we risk losing the stability that so many people rely on. St Vincent’s is a place of Help, Hope and Opportunity, a safe space where people struggling with homelessness, poverty and mental health challenges can find support, warmth and a path forward. Every donation, no matter how small, helps keep the doors open and ensures that we can provide meals, support programs and vital services for those in need.
We are excited to announce that St Vincent’s Centre Southend is bringing our Market to St Helen's Catholic Church, Westcliff (27 Milton Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 7JP) every Thursday, Market Opening Hours: Morning: 9:00am – 11:00 am Afternoon: 2:30pm – 4:30pm Our goal is to support local families by providing food and essentials.
The full list of needy items 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 MAY
Please remember the following:
† Len Saad, James Rant, Madeleine Myall, Ellen Wicker, Charlotte Rooney, Joseph Gibbons, Albert Perkins, James Studdert, An-thony O’Hara, Joseph and Simon MacKereth, Keith Fletcher, Patrick O’Hara, Andrew Sharman, Reginald Hutchinson, Alfie Cantor, Sheila Baker, Dolly Bright, Marcus Redding, Millie Medcalf, Maurus and Mona Lawton, Gwen Schneiderhan, Sean Corr, Stephen West, Brian Blyth-Cook, James Devereux, Helen Carmichael, Nora Carey, Frances O’Sullivan, George Collis, Alfred Marshall, Peggy Gillies, Malcolm Andrews, Dorothy and Jim Eost, Richard Copley, Roger Grain, Treasa Parker, Paul O’Sullivan, Joanne Wicker, Kathleen Fallon, Audrey McAuliffe, Dorothy Locker, Anna Cohen, Ronald Silk, Barbara Porter, Eileen Glyde, Ernest Quinn, Marion Hayden, Helen Hughes, Major Philip Statham, Patricia MacIsaac, Jim Filmer. †
Fr Brett
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669, our Parish Fundraising Team, are back again this weekend, raising money towards the Summer Fayre. Pop into the Church Hall after the 10.45am Mass and partake of the lovely goodies on offer, whilst getting to know your community.
Next weekend we will be fundraising for 1st Shoebury Scouts.
We look forward to seeing you.
Fr Brett
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
'A Year of Hope'
The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, and is a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19, and a climate crisis. It embraces six themes: care for creation, food poverty, managing debt, modern slavery, forgiveness, rest and worship.
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!
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