God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to His followers who had begun to lose their hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold. May the light of the risen Lord dispel the darkness of our minds and hearts so that we may recognise His presence among us and faithfully follow Him, who is our life and joy. Grant this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The collection taken over the Easter Sunday Masses is an opportunity for you to make your own personal Easter offering to the priest.
Keep informed about upcoming events and ensure that your children don't miss out on any invitations, I ask for your permission to include them in our communications. Your support will enable us to better cater to the needs of our young community members.
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It is with joy and hope in our hearts that we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the gift of Himself to all humanity. This is the essence of our Catholic faith and the means through which we truly become children of God.
It is wonderful for us to come together in love and friendship to share the greatest event in the Church’s year; this is what it means to be ‘the Body of Christ’. It reminds us that faith is principally not a private thing, but something which comes into its own when we are together. We are especially blessed this Easter to welcome Chris Clarke into our parish community. The RCIA team and I, have journeyed with him for the last 13 months and its wonderful to finally receive him into the church.
The Easter story is the reason for the Church’s existence; it was this event that would not only inspire and motivate those early disciples to enthusiastically proclaim their belief in Jesus as the living Son of God, but also change many lives in the centuries that followed and shape many different cultures.
The Easter event reminds us of Jesus’ ongoing presence with us in and through the Church, the sacraments, through our community and through our endeavours to love and live his words of life. The resurrection is the fulfilment of God’s promise that he would be with us always. We are so blessed that the greatest love, through which all things came to be, seeks to embrace us, and lead us into the unfolding of God’s kingdom, which can happen, here and now if we allow it. The ‘allowing’ can only happen if we take the pathway of descent, pushing aside our own agendas and letting God do His work of transformation within us.
Thus, it is our hope that as we journey through life we will be touched by moments of resurrection, moments of new life that will transform us and deepen our faith, hope, and love.
Wishing you and your loved ones Easter joy and peace!
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.'
The Rosary Group meets every Tuesday 3.30pm at St George’s Church.
You are all welcome to join us in fellowship.
With worship, music, prayer & The Rosary
Use the Front Entrance please!
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 Group also encourage other Parishioners to participate.
The work of the Group is not only about raising money. Issues such as food poverty, trafficking, genocide, climate change, recycling, energy conservation, pollution, are all of great concern. We meet again on Tuesday, 23rd January, in the Church Hall at 2pm. All welcome to come along and hear about the projects we are involved in or planning.
We invite you to consider joining us. New members for each group would be very welcome.
If you are interested or 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 MARCH
Please remember the following :
† Joseph Bryan, Genevieve Britto, Florence Meager, Edith Humphreys, Kathleen Davies, Kathleen Gooding, Tony Mander, Louisa Bruce, John Roberts, Peter Zuelchaur, Leon-ard Carlile, Linda Conroy, Arthur Bann, James Rockell, James Coughlan, Thomas Spalding, Bill Wisbey, Kenneth Dawson, Edith Timmermans, Edward Dean, May Mills, Carmen Kelly, Stephen Dowie, Jim Dixon, Pat McKelvie, Mary d’Eca, Catherine Harman, Jenny Adamson, Michael Sheaf, Maria Coleman, Joan Pollock, Sean O’Sullivan, Barbara Neagle, Brian Hanley, Marion and Alistair Plant, Monica Winn, James Curtis, Barbara McKelvie, Robert Stone, Teresa Pitcher, Shirley Sharrad, Joan James, Manuel Sufredo, Gabby Millar, Barbara Devereux, Maureen Cooke, Angela Skinner, Maureen Hare, Margaret Dye, Philip Borthwick, Timothy Quinn, Terence Hollingsworth, John Morton †
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 ...
No Coffee Morning this weekend, but next weekend, the 7th April, there will be a McEvoy’s Freebie, where tea, coffee and biscuits are on the house! All are very welcome to come in after the 10.45am Mass.
On the 14th April, Engracia will be raising money for Cancer Research, a cause close to many of our hearts.
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
in St. George’s
every Tuesday at 3.30pm
(throughout the winter months)
Come and join us at 3.30pm from this coming Tuesday for a spiritual cleanse, with uplifting worship music, intercessory prayer and the Rosary.
Call Kazza on 07786 000391, or just turn up!
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