Click to download a PDF version of the parish newletter
or Archived Newsletters Here!
Mon, Tues, Weds 8.30am-5.30pm.
Closed Thursday, Friday
With your email address, we can keep you up-to-date with news and events
Click here to give a 'secure' donation to the church
New to the Parish? Register your details with the Parish Administrator
Click to complete a simple enquiry form and enable the office to check availablity.
The Church has a Defibrillator. Spare a couple of minutes and watch the short video below on using a Defibrillator
My dear friends, we have now begun the holy season of Lent. This period of the Church’s calendar parallels Jesus’ forty days in the desert where he not only faced the challenge of having to survive in the desert, but he also encountered the devil!
This slippery and subtle character tried to undermine Jesus’ mission and relationship with God. Like the Adam and Eve story, the devil tries to do this by pulling Jesus in a particular direction, one which serves the human ego which likes to be self-satisfied, superior and self-serving.
In the 1st temptation of turning stones into bread, the devil plays on the most basic human need of food, who wouldn’t want food in their belly when they’re starving hungry!
In the 2nd temptation the devil entices Jesus to prove himself by a silly misuse of power. The devil was banking on the human vulnerability and inclination to show off and impress others. In the 3rd temptation, Jesus is offered “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour”, and all He must do to receive it, is worship the devil.
However, Jesus is strong and single minded for his mission, and nothing was going to knock Him ‘off course’. This attitude stood Him in good stead for the next three years, and especially for His final days before the tomb.
We could all take ‘a leaf out of His book’ when it comes to faithfulness and steadfastness in our Christian vocation. In part, Lent is about deepening and strengthening our Christian lives; it is about discovering old lies and new truths.
Pope Leo XVI reminds us that, “Our relationship with God comes first... We must make room for silence, for listening to the Father who speaks and ‘sees in secret’.” This Lent has “a vital part to play in our life of faith, for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines, giving us the time and space to encounter God more deeply. Such moments always help us to grow, for through them, the Holy Spirit gently fashions us to be ever more closely conformed to the mind and the heart of Jesus Christ.”
Like Jesus in the gospel, we are being invited to be led by the Holy Spirit. It is an invitation to reassess our life and priorities in the light of faith, hope and charity.
Wishing you well for your Lenten journey,
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
May 2025 School Vacancies PDF May 2025 School Vacancies PDF
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 FEBRUARY
† Please remember the following whose anniversaries occur during February:
Betty Ayshford, Frank Axson, Vivienne Axson, Maureen Baker, William Bliss, Hilary Bliss, John Borthwick, Daniel Bradley, Mary Bradley, Philomena Bradley, Ada Braithwaite, John Breen, Kathleen Burke, Stella Byrne, Archie Carmichael, Catherine Collins, May Corr, Michael Cox, Timothy Crowley, Janice D’Castro, Mrs. L. DeViell, Keith Dixey, Bonita Dodd, Simon Dodd, Kathleen Dowling, Anne Downey, Anthony Drozdzicki, Bernard Feeney, John Gillies, Samantha Glover, Frank Glyde, Kathleen Gooding, Malcolm Goodwin, Bernard Haas, Susan Hickey, Ronald Horstead, Joan Jarno, Maeve Knights, Alice Elizabeth MacKereth, John Maguire, Mary Michell, Elizabeth Murray, Heather Notarianni, Donny O’Rourke, Denis O’Sullivan, Leslie Paterson, Harry Pither, Jack Pollock, Florence Porter, Gerard Porter, Jillian Saunders, Dorothy Sharman, Katy Smith, Katie Spall, Anne Spratt, Pamela Stennett, Mary Tinson, Walter Watson †
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 ...
There is no Coffee Morning this weekend.
Next weekend we have one of our special McEvoy Freebies! Yes folks, drinks and biscuits on the house!
We look forward to seeing you after the 10.45am Mass then.
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 THIS form to the church office as soon as convenient.
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