ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr Joseph Whisstock

Fr  Brett Adams

Fr  Philip Willenbrock

51 Priory Street , Colchester, Essex, CO1 2QB

Tel:           01206 866317;   Fax  01206 791213

E-Mail      [email-masked]

www.stjamesthelessandsthelen.org

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT  [A]  - March 2nd  2008

Dear Friends,

When the good and kindly Abbé Peyramale, Parish Priest of Lourdes in 1858, answered the knock on his door and the young girl, Bernadette Soubirous, told him about a lady appearing in a grotto near the river he was understandably perplexed.  He decided that a stern, formidable attitude on his part would not go amiss. A sharp dose of severity from the parish priest may well bring this girl to her senses.  Bernadette, however, was unmoved and when she brought the message that the lady wanted a church to be built, Abbé Peyramale became very angry and upset.  Bernadette persisted: “Father, I wasn’t asked to make you believe it, I was just asked to tell you”.  In the end he did believe it, he was moved to faith by her persevering simplicity and honesty and became her champion and defender.

Nobody can be forced to believe; we should not try to make people believe; our response is a matter for ourselves.  When Jesus cures the man born blind, he demonstrates that he has come from God as a light into the world.  Yet Jesus knows that many people will not accept him – as St John says – because their deeds were dark.  The Pharisees refuse to see the goodness of Jesus because it would upset their scheme of things.  The Christians of Ephesus are encouraged by St Paul to commit themselves to the light.  Not to attack all kinds of dissolute behaviour but by the contrast of a good life, by example and if that example reveals a happy person, people will want to follow.  When the light of Christ shines on a person, that person becomes light itself in pure and simple witness:  “I cannot make you believe it, I was just asked to tell you”.

God bless

ON MOTHERS’ DAY we pray for all our mothers, living and dead.  We thank God for what they have done and continue to do for us.  With prayerful wishes.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 5th        12:45-2pm    Lenten Lunch                                             Crypt

“                  “           7pm             SVP Meeting                                    Presbytery

“                 “             7-9pm       Scripture Course                                       Crypt

“                 “             7:30pm     Stations of the Cross                            Mile End

Friday 7th        N.B.    6:45pm     Stations of the Cross                           Priory St

“      “                      7:30pm     Talk on Turin Shroud                                   Hall

Saturday March 8th   10-12pm     F.H.C. Children                           Hall and Crypt

“           “      “       10am-4pm  E/M Quiet Day [ see below]            Clare Priory

LENTEN OBSERVANCES IN THE PARISH

STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  This coming Friday, March 7th, Stations of the Cross  will be at here at the earlier time of 6:45pm

STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT ST JOSEPH’S MILE END:  At 7:30pm on the Wednesdays in Lent.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CENTRAL COLCHESTER  “Lent Together”: Lunchtime Services all at 1pm . Thursday 6th March at Castle Methodist Church [here a soup lunch will be served from 12:15pm]; Friday 14th March - Eld Lane Baptist Church.

“LIVE SIMPLY” LENTEN LUNCHES: In the Crypt at 12:45pm on Wednesdays until 19th March.  Proceeds to our twin parish of Damesfontein, South Africa.

WEDNESDAY 12th MARCH AT 10AM: At Mersea - Stations of the Cross, followed by Mass, following Sacrament of Reconciliation.  At Monkwick – Stations of the Cross.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE: Saturday 15th March, 10am at Priory Street. Three priests will be available to hear Confessions.

TRIDUUM SERVICES AT PRIORY STREET

Maundy Thursday       8pm   Mass of the Last Supper/Veneration to 12midnight

Good Friday                3pm    Solemn Liturgy of the Passion

Holy Saturday             7pm    Easter Vigil     [No Confessions AM or PM]

Easter Sunday   -  23rd March  Masses at usual Sunday times

HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR MARCH:  that persecuted Christians may be sustained by the Holy Spirit and courageously bear witness to the Word of God.

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.

TURIN SHROUD:  As previously advertised, Fr Martin Haigh OSB will be giving a lecture on the Shroud of Turin in the Cardinal Bourne Hall at 7:30pm on Friday 7th March.  Admission is free but there will be a leaving collection to cover expenses. DVDs and videos may also be purchased.

TO ALL EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:  A Quiet Day has been arranged at Clare Priory on March 8th from 10am to 4pm.  Cost will be £12 per person which will include tea, coffee and soup lunch.  Could you please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming as I am required to pay a deposit for each person on booking.  Margaret Wheeler 797850.

THE ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY will be having an outing on Saturday 8th

March to visit sites of Recusant interest in London: the church of S.S. Anselm and Cecilia and Tyburn Convent.  We will be meeting at the church of S.S. Anselm and Cecilia in Kingsway at 12 noon. Would anyone intending to come please contact Isobel Parks on 01268 289678.

QUIZ NIGHT - ST BENEDICT’S PTA are organizing a Quiz Night there on Friday 14th March from 7pm.  Teams of 8; prizes to the winning – and losing – Teams. Bar selling wine, ber and soft drinks.  Tickets available at the door: Aduts £3; children £1.50; families £10.

STUDENT CROSS:  A group of pilgrims will be gathering in our parish on the evening of Friday 14th March.  We are looking for volunteers to help cook and serve an evening meal and breakfast.  If you would like to help or find out more contact Hywel Edwards on 867325.

HUMAN FERTILISATION & EMBRYOLOGY BILL:  Informed interviewers needed on Friday 14th March at Magdalen Hall, Wimpole Road to meet with local MPs, Bob Russell & Bernard Jenkins. Apply to John Sutcliffe – 851838.

CLARE PRIORY:  At 3pm on Saturday 15 March, at Clare Priory, the Richard III Society is holding its annual Requiem Mass, which will be offered for the repose of the souls of King Richard, his queen, Anne, and those members of the Plantagenet royal family who lie buried at the priory. The Mass will be in a mixture of Latin plainchant and English, and all are welcome. Tea / coffee will be available in the Priory after Mass. For further information please contact John Ashdown-Hill (email [email-masked]  Tel:  01206 523267).

ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION:  Saturday 15th March in the Cardinal Bourne Hall 7.30pm – 11pm.  Hot Irish Meal.  Live Music, singing and dancing.  Tickets now on sale – Adults £7.50; Children 11 and under £5. To book contact Frances 369568; Nora 503410; Peter 841236.

CHRISM MASS:  Takes place at Brentwood Cathedral on Wednesday, March 19th at 7pm.  Harwich/Frinton parish are organising coach transport. Cost - £10. To book, contact Diana in the Parish Office here.  Pick up points will be given later.

APRIL DIARY DATES: Tuesday 8th April:  Seminar – Natural Fertility Management.  Epping Catholic Church Hall. 8pm-9.30pm. Further details on the poster in the porch. Saturday 12th April: SVP Spring Outing by coach to the Norfolk Broads plus a boat trip & visit to Snape Maltings.  Full details to follow.

SICK PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Sheila Parsons, Harry and Mary Pink, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding.

DAILY:                 Rosary 8:40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:40am]

EVENING PRAYER:                           Monday to Friday 5:45pm in the Church

PRAYER GROUP:                                                     Mondays at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                        Tuesdays at 8pm at No.48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:                                                                Saturdays 10am – 11am

PARISH WEB SITE: For all inclusions, enquiries etc., contact Donald Clarke at

[email-masked] or leave envelopes for him at the House.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH OR VISITING please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass.  If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let us know in writing.

GIFT AID:  If you are a tax payer and wish to donate by way of Gift Aid at no cost or inconvenience to you, please contact John Ross, the Co-Ordinator on 01206 366077.

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT [ A]

“Laetare Sunday” March 2nd  2008 A.D

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

Saturday  March 1st

Sunday    March 2nd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Tommy Close RIP

Beryl and Arthur Oliver RIP

Intentions of Mr Lewis & Family

Patrick Brogan RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

William and Mary Brookes RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Maria Lumsden RIP

Monday 3rd

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Poor Souls RIP

Catherine and Edward McElroy RIP

Tuesday 4th

Wednesday 5th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Mrs Bridget Ross RIP

Veronica Doswell RIP

Feria

Thursday 6th

Friday 7th

Saturday 8th

Church              12:15 pm  Intentions of Samantha Hilton

Intentions of the Jay Family

Feria

Church  N.B.       8:00 am  Repose of the soul of Marsie RIP

Feria  [Women’s World Day of Prayer]

Church                9:15 am  Stephen Hilton RIP

Feria

Church                 9:15 am   Intentions of Lucy Walker

LITURGY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT  [A]

9th March  2008 A.D.

Saturday  March 8th

Sunday    March 9th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

2:00 pm

3:30 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

Christina Mooney RIP

Pat Keegan RIP

Parishioners

POLISH MASS

SIGNED MASS

HOLY HOUR

Patricia Pryke RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Brian McGurk RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Len Moulding RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Maria Lumsden RIP [GMcC]

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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: John O’Hara   [549222]

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

Vocations                                             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092