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Dear Friends,
One of the greatest of the Greek philosophers, Aristotle, famously said that human beings are political animals. By that, he did not mean that we all belong to political parties or have certain ideologies. In his terms, Aristotle meant that we are designed to live in community. He thought that the basic unit of human society was the family, and several families gathering together made the polis. However, fundamental to Aristotle, was the idea that we grow and flourish in community. We learn from and are affirmed by others. We need to share our stories, our struggles and joys, we need to create, and we work together to achieve common goals. Even the hermit, living in a hut in the forest, can only be solitary because he or she first belongs to the human family.
This social aspect feeds into and compliments our interior life; how we think and relate with the world around us, how we understand our lives and how we love, which is of course the foundation for a whole, fulfilling and healthy life.
Like a painting, we carry the tell-tale signs of the artist who made us, God. You might say we have the dynamic signature of the Most Holy Trinity, that whole and binding communion of love and grace to which we already belong
In the 2nd Reading, St Paul, in his beautiful farewell to the Corinthians, associates grace with the incarnate eternal Son, Jesus Christ; love with God the Father; and fellowship, or communion, with the Holy Spirit. This helps us gain an entry into the mystery, but in reality, all three Persons are grace, love and communion. God has revealed to us the names Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to help draw us into this mystery, so we can communicate with the holy and undivided Trinity.
The terms express a reality, but a reality which we will only see when we participate fully in the eternal love of the three Persons. Here we have to exercise our spiritual muscles to perceive the reality of the Trinity, where, in the words of St Athanasius: “In that Trinity there is no before or after, nothing greater or lesser: because the three Persons are co-eternal and equal among themselves.” Because God is communion, we are also communion, the heavy cultural emphasis on the individual and ‘my needs and wants’, are counter to our actual nature, and has not done any favours for societal cohesion and wellbeing.
St Elizabeth of the Trinity, who died in 1906 and was canonised in 2016 by Pope Francis, had an especially vivid awareness of the indwelling of the Blessed Trinity. She was an ordinary girl from an ordinary family but was graced to experience profound-ly the divine Persons in her daily life. She wrote: “O my God, Trinity whom I adore! Grant my soul peace. Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest.” We are made for communion, com-munion with each other and communion with God.
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 MAY
† Len Saad, James Rant, Madeleine Myall, Ellen Wicker, Charlotte Rooney, Joseph Gibbons, Albert Perkins, James Studdert, Anthony 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
You would be very welcome! Register for an emailed weekly newsletter and keep in touch with, mass times, community news and much more ...
Frank and Val are looking forward to seeing you in the Church Hall after the 10.45am for our Freebie Coffee Morning!
Also, if you want any bargains, Serena will be in the hall, running a mid-season sale of Repository Stock, including some First Holy Communion items.
Next weekend Team 669 will be hosting the Coffee Morning, following the Summer Fayre on the Saturday.
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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Full Hall Hire Terms and Conditions
Brief guide to its constitution and membership
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