SAINT JAMES THE LESS AND SAINT HELENCatholic Church colchester

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Parish Groups and Directory

 

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Welcome to St. James the Less and St. Helen Parish

Dear Parishioners,

I am delighted to introduce our Directory of Parish Groups.

If you see errors or wish to add information, please contact the website coordinator.

This Directory will help keep us up to date with what is happening in our Parish community.

God Bless,

Fr. Joseph Whisstock.

Contacts

All the people in this Directory may be contacted via the Presbytery or the website coordinator unless otherwise indicated.

Altar Servers

See Guild of St. Stephen.

Association for the Propagation of the Faith and Mill Hill Missionaries

For further details contact Bill de Smith.

Baptism

If you would like your child baptised please contact Father Joseph for more information about Baptism Courses and preparation.

Brentwood Diocese Pastoral Council

The Brentwood Diocese Pastoral Council is a forum for communication to, and between, representatives of the different parishes in our Diocese.

More information can be obtained from the coordinator Lucy Studham.

Our Parish representatives are Olive Newland and Mark Lee.

The next meetings will be in May and November 2008.

Contact Lucy Studham for location and agenda details.

Children's Liturgy

Our Children's Liturgy takes place each Sunday in the Crypt during the 10.30 am Mass and all children are welcome. This has now been split into two groups: the pre-school group and the pre-first communion group. The children leave Church after the entrance hymn and return during the offertory. For further information please contact Melissa Dove.

Click on the link below to see the Pre-School group rota for 2008.

Childrens Liturgy Pre-School Group Rota

Children and Vulnerable Adults Protection

As a result of the Nolan Report there are now established Protection Procedures for Children and Vulnerable Adults in our Diocese. The Child Protection Officer for St. James the Less and St. Helen Parish is Theresa Higgins with Olive Newland as Deputy. The Protection Officer for the Diocese is Simon Moules.

If you have any concerns about the protection of children and vulnerable adults in our Parish please or contact Theresa Higgins (Tel. 01206-523501),  or Olive Newland, or the Presbytery.

Choir

The choir contributes significantly to music at the 10.30 am Sunday Mass and other special occasions on request. Enthusiasm is more important than a perfect voice. Singers and musicians are always welcome. Please contact Tim Williamson.

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are for sale in the Repository Shop. The Repository Shop located in the Cardinal Bourne Hall at Priory Street. Opening times are 10 am to 12.45 pm every Sunday.

Contact Barry Oliff.

Cleaning

We have a number of teams who keep our Church clean, but new people are always welcome. If you would like to join a team please contact Helena Gibson.

Church Grounds

If you are willing to help please contact Father Joseph.

Church Hall

The hall can be booked for functions - contact Frank Coulter on 01206-870566, E-Mail: Frank Coulter

Churches Together

For more information contact John and Myra Dolamore.

Confirmation

For more information contact Cathy O'Connor.

Deaf Mass and Ministry

For more information, contact Theresa Higgins.

Diocesan Pastoral Council

Our representatives on the Diocesan Pastoral Council are Mark Lee and Olive Newland.

Eucharistic Ministers

We have many Eucharistic Ministers in our Parish helping with the Ministry of taking Communion to the sick and also taking Eucharistic Services in the Church and assisting with the distribution at the Masses. If you know of anybody who is sick and cannot make Mass through illness, or is housebound, please contact Father Joseph or Margaret Wheeler.

First Holy Communion

We have a First Holy Communion programme for the children of the Parish each year. This group meets between January and May on a Saturday morning to support the children being prepared for First Confession and First Holy Communion, together with their parents. Contact Hywel Edwards and Pam Edwards.

Flower Group

We are a small group but would welcome new members. Experience is not necessary but enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are essential, as is physical fitness since a certain amount of lifting and carrying is involved.

Members must be able to make a regular commitment to the church flower rota. Volunteers should leave their name and contact details at the presbytery addressed to the 'Flower Group'.

Gift Aid

See Planned Giving

Guild of St. Stephen

Altar Server’s are required at all masses and in all mass centres. The only qualification required to serve on the altar is that you have taken your first holy communion.

There is training which will take place at the 10:30 mass at St. James the Less and St. Helen church Priory St.

The initial training lasts for about 3-4 weeks or you feel confident about the roles.
After 1 year you take your vows as a member of the guild and receive your Bronze medal.

You are able to serve at any mass or mass centre or parish you are visiting.
Contact: MC Andrew Johnson on 01206-861360 for details.

A useful link : Guild of St. Stephen, Brentwood Diocese

Hospitals

All hospitals have a Catholic Chaplain. If you would like a Priest to visit you the hospital can arrange this for you. Or contact the Presbytery.

Interest Groups

If you would like to be involved in any of the Interest Groups in our Parish, or you feel there are any areas for development or new groups to be set up, please contact Father Joseph who will be pleased to discuss your ideas and suggestions.

Justice and Peace

This group is currently undergoing a period of renewal. If you would like to be part of this renewal, please contact  Father Joseph.

Marriage

If you are thinking of getting married, please contact Fr. Joseph via the Presbytery for details of marriage preparation.

Meditation

This form of meditation is ‘Christian’ in that it has Christ as its focus and goal. See Christian Meditation. For more information contact Valerie Quinlivan.

Mercy Associates

Mercy Associates are lay people who are seeking to deepen their prayer life and spirituality in the Mercy tradition and to remain open to their apostolic call and the challenges of our time, in association with the Sisters of Mercy.

The Associates in Colchester meet as a group monthly in prayer, reflection on the life and spirituality of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and friendship, as they support each other in trying to bear witness to the loving mercy of God in their lives.

There are about 1000 Associates in England, Scotland and Wales, in over sixty groups. All are engaged in a relatively new venture of lay association with a religious community. Groups are kept in touch with each other through Regional Assemblies, pilgrimages, a twice-yearly magazine and spiritual reflections from the National Commission which oversees the movement.

The local contact is Deirdre Fordham (01206 763049).

The website is www.merciful.org.

Newspapers

A selection of Catholic Newspapers is available in the porch of the Church.

OREMUS

‘OREMUS’ is the name coined for parish events which focus on spiritual renewal. See Oremus and Oremus Programme. For more information contact Valerie Quinlivan.

Parish Newsletter

Each week we produce a Parish Newsletter which keeps us up-to-date with what is happening in our Parish. If you would like any events or special occasions mentioned, please contact the office.

Parish Pastoral Council

The Parish Council consists of a group of Parishioners led by our Priest. The aim is to provide leadership and support to those who are active within the Parish. Parish Pastoral Councils are becoming increasingly commonplace within the Church and provide valuable assistance to the Parish Priest, enabling him more free time for his pastoral work, as well as providing cohesion and direction for parishioners working within the Parish.

The Council will endeavour to fairly represent all aspects of Parish Life.

Please contact any member of the Parish Council.

Parish Secretary

The Parish Secretary is Diana Cody - contact her via the office.

Parish Social Activities

We always enjoy Parish celebrations. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can celebrate and have more fun activities please contact Frances Gale.

Pastoral Care

If you feel you have anything to offer in being supportive please contact Father Joseph.

Planned Giving and Gift Aid

Planned Giving : Using the envelope scheme is an excellent way to make a regular, weekly financial contribution to the Parish as an alternative to finding loose change in your pocket or purse. The envelope enables you to plan your contribution in advance. Alternatively, a standing order can be organised for a monthly contribution to the Parish, which saves on cash handling/administration and means your payment is never missed. Speak to John Ross if you would like a box of envelopes or wish to organise a standing order.

Gift Aid : This scheme allows the Parish to recover some £TBD per annum from the Inland Revenue in respect of tax paid on donations where there is an audit trail in place to show the donation going from the donor and into the bank account of the Parish. There is no commitment to a specific amount of money for a given period of time. The requirements of the scheme are :

• The completion of a simple form - A Gift Aid Declaration

• The donor must pay income tax equal to the amount being reclaimed each year.

• The donor must be a user of Planned Giving envelopes (see above) or use a standing order.

The Parish can gain a further 28p for every £1 contributed. The Declaration can run indefinitely, but can be cancelled at any time if personal circumstances change. Please contact John Ross to learn now to join.

Prayer Group

Readers

Please contact Francis Carter.

Repository Shop

A wide range of pamphlets, religious items, cards for all special occasions and Mass cards are available from the Repository Shop located in the Cardinal Bourne Hall at Priory Street. Opening times are 10 am to 12.45 pm every Sunday.

Contact Barry Oliff.

Schools

St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School
Priory Street,
Colchester, CO1 2QB
Essex

Email: head@st-thomasmores.essex.sch.uk
T: (01206) 865 722
F: (01206) 868 745

Soup Run

Our Church provides soup, sandwiches and hot drinks to disadvantaged and homeless people in Colchester . Our slot is 8 - 9 pm on alternate Saturdays.

The current schedule will be uploaded here shortly.

Volunteers to make sandwiches, or help on the night welcomed. Contact: Clair Cooper.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

This active group meets regularly throughout the year and helps families in need, visits the sick and housebound and offers a variety of practical support. New members are always very welcome. Contact Jennifer Bebb.

Tea and Coffee

Information to be provided.

Youth Group

Contact Cathy O'Connor.

Summary of Parish Groups

Contact the named people via the church office.

APF	Bill de Smith
CAFOD	Tony Dixon
CATENIAN ASSOCIATION	Peter Herbert
CHILDREN’S LITURGY	Melissa Dove
CHIDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION	Theresa Higgins
CHOIR AND CHURCH MUSIC	Tim Williamson                (Priory St.)
CHRISTIAN MEDITATION	Valerie Quinlivan
CHURCH CLEANERS	Helena Gibson
CHURCHES TOGETHER	John and Myra Dolamore
CONFIRMATION	Cathy O’Connor
COUNTING	Joan Herbert
DEAF MASS AND MINISTRY	Theresa Higgins
DIOCESAN PASTORAL COUNCIL	Olive Newland, Mark Lee
DIVORCED AND SEPARATED	Vacant
DRAMA GROUP	Tim and Lesley Williamson
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS	Margaret Wheeler            (Priory St.)
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION	Hywel and Pam Edwards
FLOWER GROUP	Contact via the presbytery
FRIENDS OF PERU	Vacant
GIFT AID	John Ross
GUILD OF ST STEPHEN	Andrew Johnson
HALL	Frank Coulter
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY	Peggy Wilding
JUSTICE AND PEACE	Vacant
JUSTICE AND PEACE - REFUGEES	Tony Dixon
KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA	Ron Griffin
MEDITATION (CHRISTIAN)	Valerie Quinlivan
MERCY ASSOCIATES	Deirdre Fordham
MILE END LIAISON	John Sutcliffe
MINISTERS OF THE WORD	Francis Carter
MINISTRY OF WELCOME	Geoff Calow
MONKWICK LIAISON	Peggy Wilding
OREMUS	Sister Helen Walsh, Valerie Quinlivan
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL	Mark Lee
PILGRIMAGES	Theresa Higgins
PRAYER GROUP	Catherine Edwards
RCIA	Cathy O’Connor
REPOSITORY	Angela Udall. Barry Oliff
ROSARY	Wendy Higgins
SACRISTY	Eva Read
SOUP RUN	Claire Cooper
SUNDAY TEA AND COFFEE	Various Volunteers
SVP	Jennifer Bebb
WEST MERSEA  (Eucharist Ministers)	Pat Davies, Tony Weekes, Mervyn Rutter
YOUTH LIAISON	Cathy O’Connor

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