ST. JAMES
THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr
Joseph Whisstock

Fr
Paul
Dynan

Fr
Philip Willenbrock

51 Priory
Street , Colchester, Essex,
CO1 2QB

Tel:
01206 866317;   Fax  01206 791213

E-Mail      [email-masked]

www.stjamesthelessandsthelen.org

THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
OF THE LORD [C]

April 1st 2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

Listening to the voices of the crowd in
today’s readings, we see a twofold pattern.  In the procession gospel, there are
words of acclamation: “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of
the Lord.”  At the trial of
Jesus we hear words of condemndation, as the crowd
cries, “Crucify him”.
The earthly life of Jesus lies somewhere between those two sentiments
of acclamation and condemnation.
To understand more deeply the Paschal Mystery, we will do well to
reflect on this.  Our lives, too,
are lived somewhere between the two sentiments; the acclamation and
condemnation we receive and we give.
When we live in Christ’s truth, we become agents of truth.

It is near journey’s end for Jesus.  The cross is still unoccupied but the
public will not be deprived of their afternoon spectacle. Enemies have closed
in and are waiting to pounce but before that, the friends get together for a
meal.  However, there is treachery
in the room and it doesn’t all belong to the company treasurer who will
later prefer the company of the night.
The apostles are feeling hurt, unsure and confused.  “You do not understand what I am
doing now.  Later you will
understand.” The Last Supper was not a tragedy but the resolution of
tragedy.  Jesus accepted the fact
that it was worthwhile to pay the price – himself – his own body
and blood. That was the bill for the Last Supper, and Jesus picked it up. He
was 33 when he died and his last words, as recorded in Good Friday’s
Gospel, were: “It is finished”.   He had given up his job to
devote himself to the kingdom
of God.  He had found and fulfilled his destiny
and at half his life expectancy, his task was over. But less than 24 hours
before the end, Jesus is still wondering whether he may escape death, and
that joins him to the common lot, for to most of us death comes sooner than
we anticipate.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK AND HOLY
WEEK SERVICES

Tuesday 3rd
April
12:15pm    Final Lenten Lunch           URC, Lion Walk

“
“
2:30
pm   Altar
Servers’ Meeting               See
below

“
“
7:30 pm   Reconciliation
Service           Priory
Street

[N.B.
No Confessions – am or pm – Holy Saturday]

Wednesday 4th
8:30am    Reconciliation/Stations
of the Cross  Mersea

“
“
9:00am    Way of the Cross/Reconciliation    Monkwick

“
“
9:30am    Mass
Mersea

“
“
12:45-2pm    Hunger Lunch. Proceeds to
CAFOD    Crypt

“
“
7:00pm    Chrism Mass at Brentwood Cathedral

[for those
booked on the Coach it will leave Gala Bingo at 5:30pm sharp]

Maundy
Thursday        8:00pm Mass of the Last
Supper/Veneration to 12am

Good Friday
-              10:00am
Stations of the
Cross                       Mile End

“
“
11:00am
“
“   “
“
Priory Street

“
“                     12:00       Walk of Witness                        Town
Centre

“
“                      3:00pm  Solemn Liturgy of the Passion
Priory Street

“
“                      7:30pm  Good Friday Service            Mercury Theatre

“Born to be King”  - Priory Street
parishioners together with Quire, Colchester’s world music choir, will
lead the Mercury Theatre audience on Good Friday in an innovative
presentation of the Easter message in words and music.  Doors open 7pm for 7:30pm on Friday
6 April 2007.  Hot
Cross Buns and coffee served after.
Admission Free.

Holy
Saturday             [No Confessions a.m. or p.m.]

8:00pm   Easter Vigil
Priory
Street

Easter Sunday  - 8th April -  Masses at usual Sunday times

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for the
repose of the soul of Frances Hoare, Desmond Davis and Maureen Quick who have
recently died.  May they rest in peace.

EASTER
LILIES: If
you would like to donate a bloom in memory of a loved one, please enclose an
offering of £2.50 in an envelope marked “Easter Lily” and
deliver to the Priests’ House.

ALTAR
SERVERS’ MEETING: has been arranged in the Church on Tuesday, 3rd April at 2:30pm.  This
is a general meeting for all altar servers including the Mass Centres.  Up
for discussion will be not only Holy Week services but also a possible day
outing..
Come armed with views for a fruitful meeting.

MONKWICK
DAY: Will
take place on Wednesday 4th April beginning with the Way of the
Cross and the sacrament of reconciliation from 9am.  If any
housebound parishioners from Monkwick wish a visit, then please contact the
presbytery.

THANK YOU to all who supported our
event on St Patrick’s night.
It was a great success.
£243.16 was raised.
Many thanks from Frances,
Iris, Lea and many helpers.

MR ALAN
WHELAN, the
Principal of St Benedict’s College, retires at the end of this term and
a special day of thanksgiving is being held at St Benedict’s College on
Saturday, 21st April, from 11am
onwards.  There will be a Mass,
presentations and a chance to socialize.
Please contact Mrs Gregory at the College – 549222 if you wish
to attend this event and reserve your place. If you wish to make a donation
towards a presentation to Mr Whelan, please send cheques,
payable to St Benedict’s College, to Mrs Gregory at the College.  The new Principal will be Mr John
O’Hara who will commence after the Easter school holidays.

EXPOSITION
AND BENEDICTION [HOLY HOUR] HELD
ON FIRST SUNDAY MONTHLY:  It is two years [since Easter 2005] that
the above was instituted in the parish as a result of the Year of the
Eucharist called by Pope John Paul II from October 2004.  It is now time for a review.  After consultation with the parish
clergy, the following has been decided.
From May 2007, Exposition and Benediction will take place on the
second Sunday of every month and it will be at 5pm [rather than 5:15pm]
with Benediction taking place [as now] at 6pm.  This
will ensure that there is truly a “Holy Hour” [or near enough]
rather than a Holy 45 minutes!
So, after today’s 5:15pm
Exposition and Benediction, the next one will take place on May 13th
at 5pm.

SPEAKERS
FOR CAFOD: If you have a talent for speaking and would like to help CAFOD raise
awareness about issues affecting millions of people in the developing world,
CAFOD are running two training days at their Brixton office on Saturday 28th
April and Friday 11th May.
For more information contact Jackie, Joanna or Denise on 0208 502 9722
or email [email-masked]

DAILY:
[Except
Wednesdays then at 11:40am]                 Rosary
- 8.40am

Divine
Mercy – 9am

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday to Friday  5:45pm

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays
in the Crypt
8pm

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 48 Priory Street      8pm

EXPOSITION:                                                                    Saturdays 10am-11am

SICK PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Beg,
June Bickersteth,

Tony Bickersteth, Ron Collins, Sylvina
de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher,

Florence Fuller, Denisia Gray, Richard Hadcock,
Eileen Head,

Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby,
Luke McShane,

Patrick Quinlivan, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford,
Carole Stover.

EASTER OFFERING:  The collection at the Easter Vigil and at
the Easter

Sunday
Masses is personal to Fr Joseph and Fr Paul and which, together with the

Christmas
collection, forms the bulk of their income for the
year.  Your generosity

is very much appreciated.

THE PARISH WEB SITE:  For all contact, inclusions etc., please
contact

Donald
Clarke.  His email
address is: [email-masked].  Otherwise

Donald
may be contact via the Presbytery, i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

REPOSITORY OPENING TIMES IN THE CARDINAL
BOURNE HALL:

Sundays from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm.

LITURGY FOR THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD [C]

April 1st 2007  A.D.

The first Mass of Sunday
is on Saturday Evening at Priory
Street

Saturday
31st March

Sunday    1st April

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

5:15 pm

6:30
pm

Intentions of Pauline & Colin Carter

Intns Tom Garvin & Family
& Teresa RIP

Ricardo Rios Crocco RIP

EXPOSITION
AND BENEDICTION

Cora Webb RIP [MD]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Thomas and Bridget Smith RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Sr Laly
Sebastian RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

Monday 2nd
MONDAY
IN HOLY WEEK

Church

Church

9:15am

11:00am

D/Rels. Herbert/Richards Families RIP

REQUIEM – FRANCES
HOARE RIP

Tuesday 3rd

TUESDAY                          IN
HOLY WEEK

Church   .            9:15am  Luke Chelatampu
RIP [A]

Wednesday 4

Thursday 5th

WEDNESDAY

Mersea

Church

EVENING

Church

9:30am

12:15pm

MASS

8:00pm

IN HOLY WEEK

Sid Ashmore RIP

Special Intention [PMcE]

OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Holy Souls RIP

Friday 6th

GOOD FRIDAY

Mile End

Church

Church

10:00am

11:00am

3:00pm

Fasting and Abstinence

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

Saturday 7th

HOLY SATURDAY

Church
8:00pm
Holy
Souls RIP

LITURGY FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

April 8th 2007 A.D.

Sunday   April 8th

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Ken Herbert RIP

Denise Smith RIP [WH]

Parishioners

West Mersea

8:30
am

Paul Galea RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Horace Shaw RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Denise Smith RIP [GMcC]

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday 10:00-11:00am & 5:30-6:00pm

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM                        Baptismal
Courses arranged as per Newsletter

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
At  least six
months notice is required

SCHOOLS
St Thomas More       Head:
Bridget Harris [865722]

St Benedict’s
Head: Alan
Whelan   [549222]

Marriage
Care
www.marriagecare.org.uk
0800 389 3801

The
Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered
Charity No. 234092