Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Amos 7:12-15
Responsorial Psalm: Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
From the Assistant to the Parish Priest:
Fr. Viktor A.
Beyond the Ordinary: Embracing the Divine Call
Across the Mass readings for this Sunday, we are invited to reflect on the divine invitation and our human response. This interplay shapes our faith journey and guides our spiritual progression. Amos, an ordinary shepherd from Tekoa, finds himself in the extraordinary position of becoming God's mouthpiece in Amos 7:12-15. In those times, shepherds were considered among the least in society, yet God chose Amos, exemplifying that societal hierarchies do not bind divine call. It required courage for Amos to accept this task, stepping out of his comfort zone and speaking up against the potentates of the day. His story, thus, nudges us to face our fears and trust God's plan, even when it seems daunting. Ephesians 1:3-14, the letter to a people struggling with identity and self-worth, unfolds the beautiful truth of our divine predestination and adoption. It's as if we are gazing at a cosmic blueprint, realizing that we are not mere specks in the universe but have been chosen and adopted by God for His glory. It encourages us to view our life's events not as random occurrences but as part of a grand, divine orchestration. Mark's Gospel (6:7-13) throws light on Jesus' instructions to the twelve apostles, who responded to the divine call despite their humble backgrounds and lack of provisions. It is like being asked to embark on a journey without a map or resources, yet they did, displaying unwavering trust in Jesus. This story persuades us to respond to divine invitations with the same faith and determination, even in uncertain times.
In a world where we are increasingly "plugged in" to digital connections, these scriptures urge us also to stay "powered by faith" and keep our connection with Christ at the forefront. Blessed Carlo Acutis, a symbol of youth engagement with faith in the digital age, was a beacon of this principle. He used the digital revolution not as a distraction but as a platform for promoting faith and fostering a connection with God. As we stand on the cusp of his potential canonization in the Jubilee Year of 2025, his life embodies the Parish's Youth Encounter theme "Plugged in, Powered by Faith." Like Amos, the apostles, and Blessed Carlo Acutis, we are called to embrace God's plan..
Family Connections: What steps can each family member take to ensure our connection with Christ remains a priority amidst our digital engagements?
Prayer: Lord, guide us to balance digital connections with divine communion.
Fire Marshall Training
20 July 05.00 PM, Church
c/o Ms. Bambani
Youth Encounter Gathering
Day 2: 14 July
PARISH YOUTH ENCOUNTER JULY 2024 PRAYER
In the pulse of this digital sphere,
Help us, God, to hold You near.
To stay 'plugged in' with faith so bright,
In the vast web of the day and night.
When screens light up with ceaseless flow,
May Your love in our hearts glow.
Amidst the rush, the noise, the chatter,
Help us find what truly matters.
Lord, let this Youth Encounter,
Stoke a faith that won't surrender.
With each keystroke, post, or share,
May we spread Your love and care.
In this whirl of information cult,
You're our unyielding result.
In this swift, synaptic age,
Our faith in You is our true gauge.
May our connection never sever,
With You, our signal lasts forever.
In the echo of this prayer's rhyme,
Connect us, Lord, for all of time.
Amen.
(va,rcj)
CWL Coffee Morning
CWL are hosting a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy at 40 Highfield Grove, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0TE in aid of Havens Hospices. If you would like to support the Hospices please do come along or you can donate to our account:
Sort code: 30-98-90
Account no.: 18096960
Name of Account:
Catholic Women’s League in Westcliff
Please support this worthy cause.
Confirmation Day
20 July 2024, 01.00 PM
Parish Anniversary
Organizers’ Meeting
2 August is the organizer's meeting for our 155-year parish anniversary at 06.00 PM in the Small Hall. We will request 2 or 3 representatives from each organization that we have in the parish: CWL, FIHM, LOM, Altar Servers Group, Music Ministry, Tuesday Club, African Community Tamil Community, Knanaya Catholic Malayalam Community, and Filipino Community
Baptism Seminar Schedule
Baptism Seminars for parents of children up to 6 years old.
Saturday, 3rd August, 2.30 PM, Church Sacristy.
To register, please email your name and the name and age of your child to: westcliff@brcdt.org
NEEDED URGENTLY
A 3-bedroom house to rent, preferably within St Heen’s parish.
Please contact
Joyce 07424403254
1 or 2-bedroom flat in
Westcliff-on-Sea or Southend
A member of our parish community is searching for a 1 or 2-bedroom flat located in Westcliff-on-Sea or Southend. It would be greatly appreciated if you have any leads or can offer help. Let's come together to support one another.
To assist, please call the Parish Office directly at 01702 342324.Thank you for your kindness and collaboration.
Pro-Life Rosary
Daily rosary in the chapel after Mass with pro-life rosary Wednesday and Friday. adoration & recitation of the rosary with exposition in the chapel 10-45-1145am. Fridays only.
Dates for your diary……
Confirmation Day
20 July
155th Anniversary of Saint Helen’s Church, Westcliff-on-Sea
17-18 August
Please consider offering help…..
…Your Parish needs You!
To ensure your safety and compliance with our legal obligations, we require volunteers from the congregation for each mass service to assist us with the evacuation of the church in the event of a fire. Volunteers will be provided with fire safety training for this role, which comprises what actions to take in the event of a fire, which is to successfully evacuate the church and aid those who may have limited mobility.
We cannot do this without your help, so please volunteer today!
Sacrament of Confirmation:
Invitation to Join Our Catechist Team
Our parish is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to join our team of catechists. Whether you are experienced or new to catechesis, your contribution will be invaluable in guiding and nurturing the faith journey of our community members.
To equip you for this role, we are organizing a special training session led by one of our parishioners, Carmel Allen, an experienced catechist and educator.
If you feel called to this ministry or would like to learn more, please approach Fr. Alex.
Friendship Club!
🌟 Join the Friendship Club of St. Helen's Parish in Westcliff! 🙌🏼 Discover meaningful connections and laughter every Tuesday, 11.00am-02.00pm at the Parish Hall.
All are welcome! ❤️
Gardener
🌿 Got Green Fingers?🌱 Be a part of something beautiful at St. Helen's Parish in Westcliff. Join our team of volunteer gardeners and help cultivate a serene oasis. 🌸🌼
St. Helen’s Cleaners
Join the group chat to get the weekly schedule of volunteer cleaners.
St Helen’s Minibus Service
For parishioners of Saint Helen’s with mobility problems and wanted to attend the 11:30am Sunday Mass; - For those who are interested to join the team of volunteers, please contact Ray Newman on Tel. No.: 07775 769826
Many thanks to all who support the maintenance of our Parish Minibus. If you know anyone who needs a lift to church to 11.30 Mass, please let the office know and it will be handed on to Ray Newman.
Sacramental Services
· For Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals, please email our parish office or get in touch with any of the priests.
· Marriage Preparations: Couples who are planning to get married in or outside the parish should contact the parish office at least six (6) months in advance.
· The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Thursdays 10:45-11:25am; Saturdays 11:15-11:50am or approach the priest to get an appointment.
· The Sacrament of the Sick: Please contact the parish office for requests about visiting the housebound / Care Home residents.
Masses at Saint Helen’s
Weekday Masses: 10:00AM
Saturday Mass: 12:00NN
Sunday Mass: 09:30AM / 11:30AM / 06:00PM
2nd Mass on Holy Days: 07:00PM
No Mass on Mondays
Mass Intentions
For Any Mass Intentions, please see the priests or call them during office hours (Tuesdays to Fridays 9-1pm) Tel. No.: 01702 342324
Alternatively:
Mass Intention Envelopes are available. Mass Intentions are published in the parish newsletter (available for collection) and posted on the Parish's Facebook page.
Tamil Catholic Community Donation
We would like to acknowledge the donation of £600.00 from the Tamil Catholic Chaplaincy, Southend-on-Sea. Your contribution to St Helen’s parish funds means really a lot. Our appreciation also to the leadership of Carmen Hubert and Jaygan Navaratnam and to Fr. Elmo Jeyarasa, the chaplain of the Tamil community
100 club draws
February: F Cassar £20, E Campling £15, D Cauchi £10
March: S Baillie £30, M Davis £20, L Upsher £15, C Allen £10
Offertory June 2024
Bankers Orders / Standing Orders
Loose plate: £
Gift Aid: £
Contactless: £
[Not available]
Contactless Giving
No cash? Give your donations using your card. Look for the one in-charge of the parish’s card reader and get a receipt on the go or visit the parish website.
Gift Aid
Collection Envelopes 2024
If you are a tax paying parishioner making a gift to the parish, for example putting money in the collection, the Inland Revenue aids us by refunding the tax.
For every £1 you donate we can claim a 25p refund; £1 becomes £1.25 for the Parish.
Our Parish has to pay its own way, what we collect in the Offertory collection plate no longer covers our overhead costs, so the Gift Aid Scheme is our financial lifeline.
The new financial year starts on 6th April so please pick up your new box at the back of the church and check that we have your correct address.
Equally important, if you are a taxpayer and not in the scheme and would like to join and help the Parish please complete a Declaration Form which will be available for you to collect from the back of the church.
If you any further questions please contact
John Upsher phone 01702 347369.
Gift for Saint Helen’s Church
Please consider Saint Helen’s Catholic Church as part of charity in your will. For more information, see the parish priest.
Enhancing security
Saint Helen's Westcliff implements 24/7 CCTV surveillance across its premises. Notices alert parishioners to the system's presence for heightened safety.
The initiative aims to deter threats and ensure a secure environment for worshippers and visitors alike.
14 July – Sunday – PYE (Day 2)
08:30am-3.00pm – Parish Youth Encounter
(Hall and Church)
15 July – Monday
16 July – Tuesday
10.30am – FIHM Business Meeting (Small Hall)
11.00am-02.00pm – Friendship Club
06.00-07.30pm – Bible Study
17 July – Wednesday
10.30am – Church Cleaning (Volunteers are welcome)
11.00am – Deanery Meeting (Hall)
18 July – Thursday
12.00nn – Funeral Mass: +Teresa Walker
07.00 pm – Legion of Mary Meeting (Sacristy)
(For home visits, please get in touch with the parish)
19 July – Friday
10.30 am – FIHM Adoration and Pro-life Rosary (Presbytery Chapel)
Afternoon – CWL setting up for Confirmation Refreshments
03.00-04.00 pm – Divine Mercy Devotion (Presbytery Chapel)
07.00 pm – Perpetual Novena to Sto Niño (Presbytery Chapel)
20 July – Saturday
9.30am – Ganian Catholic Association*
10.00am – Mass followed by Confessions
01.00pm – Confirmation Day
02.15pm – Refreshment (Hall)
05.00pm – Fire Marshall Training
21 July – Sunday
12.45pm – Baptism
12.45pm – Tamil Mass
Note: Recitation of the Holy Rosary at the small chapel after the weekday Masses.
Funeral +Teresa Walker
Thursday, July 18, 12:00nn
Funeral +Mary Seigel
Monday, 5 August, 12:00nn
Funeral +Peter Woods
Friday, 9 August, 11:00am
14 July- 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sea Sunday
09.30am –For the Rogationist Congregation
11.30am –For James and Mary Doherty
06.00pm –For the parishioners’ intentions
16 July – Tue. Feria (Green)
10.00am – For the parishioners’ intentions
17 July – Wed. Feria (Green)
10.00am – For the parishioners’ intentions
18 July – Thu. Feria (Green)
10.00am – For Religious & Priestly Vocations
12.00nn – For +Teresa Walker (Funeral Mass)
19 July – Fri. Feria (Green)
10.00am – For the parishioners’ intentions
20 July – Sat. Feria (Green)
10.00am – For the parishioners’ intentions
1.00pm – For the Confirmation Candidates and their families
21 July – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
09.30am –For the Rogationist Congregation
11.30am –For Salvatore Burzotta (Birthday)
06.00pm –For Rosaleen Anyanwu (Birthday)
The Holy Father’s intention for July
For the pastoral care of the sick
We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.
To receive daily Gospel reflections directly to your inbox, please subscribe.
St Helen, pray for us!
Send, O Lord, Holy Apostles, into Your Church!
Comments