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Dear Friends,
This weekend we celebrate the solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ (which used to be known as ‘Corpus Christi’). This feast complements the liturgy of Holy Thursday when Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
The feast of Corpus Christi arose in the Middle Ages as an expression of people’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. It was celebrated first as a local feast and then Pope Urban IV made it a universal feast in 1264. It became associated with processions through the towns and villages of Europe during which the monstrance that contained the sacred host was carried under a festive canopy and the crowds knelt as the Blessed Sacrament passed to receive the blessing. In those days, it was a rare thing to receive the Eucharist; not like it is today.
In fact, it is so available to us that we sometimes take it for granted and don’t appreci-ate the profound meaning and significance of what we are receiving. It just becomes merely a habit or weekly duty to receive Holy Communion, and that’s called consumer religion which has wider implications across all the sacraments; they are not symbols of a life led for the kingdom of God, but simply things to get. This should be no surprise because consumerism is at the heart of our culture. So, sadly, the sacraments can simp-ly become an exercise in going through the motions with little connection to the deeper mystery of yourself, life or God.
This great feast of Corpus Christi also reminds that we are the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23); we are a Eucharistic image to the world. In other words, our communion with God and others is reflected outwards to bring wholeness, compassion, healing, and joy to the world around us.
This sounds as though we have a lot to live up to and therefore seems quite daunting. Yet, we need not be daunted, quite the opposite, we should be excited. Why? Well, be-cause it involves the discovery of our true selves. We’re not trying to be something that we’re not; we’re trying to be who we really are, and that’s good news all round. The challenge for us is to shed all those false securities, becoming less dependent on them and more dependent on God, which obviously involves a lot of trust.
This pattern of giving up and surren-dering to God is what we call the paschal mystery. In celebrating the Eucharist, we are celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, thus His paschal mystery is our pas-chal mystery too.
So, you can see that the Eucharist is a lot more than simply going to church and receiving Holy Communion; it is the necessary pattern of our life if we are to be our true selves and that light in the world and salt of the earth.
Have a good week,
Our Parish Safeguarding Representative, Sharon Chambers, helps support the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the parish. She is also our parish administrator and helps support volunteers and parishioners by responding to concerns and incidents within our parish community.
She can be contacted by email on: shoeburyness@brcdt.org or contacted during office hours on: 01702 292726
Please check her availability using the current 'office hours' information further down.
Our Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator, Simon Moules, can be contacted on: 01277 265234 or emailed @ simonmoules@brcdt.org
Safe Spaces is a free national support service which offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, The Church in Wales or The Catholic Church in England and Wales, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation.
It is run by 'First Light' an independent organisation with extensive experience in supporting those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual abuse or domestic violence, including survivors and victims of church-related abuse. Safe Spaces can be contacted at Safe Spaces England and Wales 0300 303 1056
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 asked 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.
School Vacancies Click HERE
General Vacancies Click HERE
School Foundation Governor Vacancies Further Information HERE
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.
The Pope 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. 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
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. Amen.
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 JUNE
† John Hanley, Ellen Corr, Caterina Gravestock, Margaret Stacey, Earnest Stacey, Trenette Betts, John Brown, Marie Cogan, Anna Goral, Mary Hudson, Danny Burr, Thomas Enstone, Ellen Griffiths, Robert Plantin, Jeanne Lawton, Samuel John O’Rourke, Christine Rigg, Bernard and Jack Collins, Rose Hatch, Peter Bannon, Arthur McLoughlin, Evelyn O’Connell, Marjorie Dixon, Harry Quinn, Albert Mayer, Joan Katnic, Mrs Nena Spalding, Sheila Baker, Fr. Ignatius St. Lawrence, Danielle Key, Martin Browne, John Barker, Olive Harvey, Elena Newland, Donald Seaman, Alice Wheatcroft, Maria Edwards, Patricia Fazakerley, Michael Burke, Harry Adamson, Kathleen Bliss, Agnes Harman, Yvonne Shepherd, Alex Jordan, Maureen Reader, Rose Murphy, Mary Parkins, Ernest Standing, Tinka McKelvie, Michael O’Flaherty, Betty Wallen, Dorothy Kells, Ronald Silk, Maureen Sier, Arthur Browne, Christine Leaver, John Wilks, Michael Priestley, Roger Higgins, Sheila Holden, Lesley Sullivan, Kathleen McElligott, Sandy Lawrie, Martha Harvey.†
Fr Brett
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Team 669 will be bravely serving tea and coffee, along with other refreshments, this Sunday after the 10.45am Mass (and after working really hard in the run up to, and during, the Fayre on Saturday)! We can only express our heartfelt gratitude for all of the work that 669 have put into it.
There will be no Coffee Mornings on the 14th or 21st June, unless someone wants to run one at short notice.
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
Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage - Applications are now closed, however we have had some applicants drop out so if you are in Year 10 or above and may be interested, please contact us.
Youth Mass - There will be no Youth Mass in April due to this falling on Maundy Thursday when everyone will be attending their own parish Masses. The next Youth Mass will take place on Thursday 7th May, which you are very welcome to attend.
Diocesan Walsingham Pilgrimage – Saturday 23rd May - Representatives from the BCYS will be joining the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham, and we would like to invite other young people to join and assist with the liturgy. Please contact us if interested.
Walsingham House Team Applications - Applications are now open for those finishing Year 13 or university who are interested in a year of volunteering at Walsingham House. For further information on any of the above, please email
clairebailey@brcdt.org.
You can find all event information at www.bcys.net
Fr Brett
If you are interested in participating in this fundraiser for the church, please to the church office as soon as convenient. Apply here.
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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Brief guide to its constitution and membership
Pope Francis - 'Rejoice and be Glad'
Pope Francis - Encyclical
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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