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 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [B]  August 2nd  2009 A.D.

Dear Friends

Sometimes there are hidden treasures waiting to be revealed.  In our first reading, the Israelites were given a treasure.  God gave them the gift of manna – bread from heaven, food for their journey to the Promised Land but they failed to recognise or understand this treasure.  They were tempted to make a U-turn to Egypt, to follow the compass of their stomachs rather than focus on the way to freedom through wilderness.

In the Gospel, another crowd following Jesus to Capernaum were hungry again. This crowd of Galileans who, the previous day, had ate to their hearts content on the barley loaves, failed to appreciate the true meaning of the miracle.  Unable to see beyond the surface, they were like children who are more captivated by the wrapping paper than by the gift inside.

Jesus makes the same appeal to us as he made to the crowd:  “believe in me”.    This belief is not mere intellectual assent.  It involves commitment – commitment to His way of love –and only then, will our deepest hungers and thirsts be satisfied.  “He who comes to me will never hunger, he who believes in me will never thirst”.  That is the treasure which Jesus sets before us this day.  When we recognise this, when we commit ourselves to belief in him, then we are able to discover this treasure and really own it.  There will be times when we wish we were elsewhere, times when we will be distracted by a litany of worries that refuse to go away.  No matter.  Sometimes we have to be content with an act of faith that brings us here; a public admission of our need for God and each other, and here we declare that we cannot fall back on our own resources: we need Jesus, the bread of life, to sustain us. And staying hungry for his bread means that we do indeed long for the food that endures to eternal life.  That is what Jesus asks.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Please check any changes]

Saturday 8th August        2-5pm  SVP Tea Party                  See below

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine Mercy  [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING PRAYER:             Monday to Friday: 5:45pm @ No. 48 Priory St

PRAYER GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

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

including 11/8/09 then see below

EXPOSITION:                                               Saturdays at 9:45am – 10:30am

THE HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR AUGUST:  That persecuted Christians may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognised.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:  Juandem and Atabong married here yesterday.

BAPTISMS TODAY:   Amaya and Alana  Vera Arroyd, Finlay and Lennox Elliott, and Alliyah French.  God bless these children and congratulations to their families.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Myrlie Barton who has just died.  May she rest in peace.

SR HELEN WALSH RIP:  Many parishioners will recall four years ago this weekend that Sr Helen Walsh, who was the last Sister of Mercy to serve in Colchester, celebrated her Golden Jubilee in religious life by renewing her vows at a special Mass in Priory Street. Today we remember, especially at the 10:30am Mass, her loving and devoted eight years of service and witness here from October 2000 to September 2008.  We give thanks and praise for her life and ministry, and pray that she may rest in peace.   Mercy Associates.

BOOK SALE:   Each Sunday during the holidays, a book sale will take place after the 10.30 Mass in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  Lots of choice – holiday reading, paperbacks, children’s books, teenagers’ books and sport.

SVP TEA PARTY:  Anna and Ivan Norfolk are holding an afternoon tea party at their home, 46 Lexden Road, West Bergholt, on Saturday 8th August from 2pm to 5 pm in aid of Presbytery Refurbishment. Tickets £5. All welcome come and support your Parish. For tickets phone Anna 242170 or Ann 844914.

PADRE PIO: Fr. Ermellindo ofm.cap. who knew, and was a colleague of Padre Pio himself back in the ' 60s, will be coming to Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, to speak about Padre Pio and celebrate Mass in his honour. For those who wish, he will also give a blessing with one of Padre Pio's mittens that contains Padre Pio's blood. Monday August 10th at 7.30 pm.     [Refreshments provided afterwards].

MEDITATION GROUP:  The final meeting at No 48 Priory Street will be on Tuesday, 11th August.  Arrangements have been made for subsequent meetings to take place until further notice in the Crypt at Priory Street at 8pm.

UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS:  The next meeting is due to take place on Thursday, 13th August, in the Crypt.  7:45pm for 8pm.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST FAREWELL DROP-IN:  The Canonesses at 48 Priory Street are moving to Greenstead at the
end of August.  We warmly invite everyone to a Farewell Drop-In at
No 48, from 4.00pm to 5.30pm, followed by Evening Prayer in the
house.   Do join us then if you would like to.

KSC – DAY OF RECOLLECTION:  On Saturday, 19th September at Clare Priory, starting with Mass at 10am; concludes at 4pm.  Cost: £12 which includes soup and a roll. Transport is by private car so if you would like to go and need a lift, please contact Bill de Smith on 767597.

childcareuk.org (The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society): Run to the Beat’ Half Marathon on 27th September 2009. Starting & finishing @ The O2.  John Barrett (a parishioner) will be running amongst 12,500 or so runners in aid of childcareuk.  Please help by donating generously by either sending a cheque to John (payable to: ‘Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society’) @ 28 Weyland Drive, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0RQ or online @ http://www.justgiving.com/JB-Run2TheBeat09 (If sending a cheque, please kindly write your name and full postal address on the back, and indicate whether you are applicable for gift aid)”

DIARY DATES [1]: Meeting for ‘Welcomers’ & Potential ‘Welcomers’ – 17th October. For those who are involved (or would like to be involved) in the Ministry of Welcome, we are holding a meeting to discuss how this Ministry can be improved/updated. The meeting will be held on 17th October in the Parish Hall. Refreshments will be served at 10:00am with a 10:30am start (prompt) and the meeting will finish at mid-day. This is an extremely important ministry in the Church because it helps engender and support a sense of community and belonging. Please try to make the meeting as we would value as much input and participation as possible.                Many thanks, Fr Brett

[2] Taizé Evening Workshop:  Monday, October 12th at the Church of the Holy Cross & All Saints, Warley Hill, Brentwood, 7:30pm. In collaboration with the Royal School of Church Music. Full details are on the poster in the porch and numbers attending are requested, whether singers, instrumentalists or just interested.

RE-CYCLE…bicycle aid for Africa. A locally based Charity sends unwanted bikes to Africa, to provide people with mobility for work, school, market etc., If you have unused bikes in your shed [even broken ones are used for spares], please contact Tony Dixon on 728453.  More info on www.re-cycle.org

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass.  A registration form [on the table in the porch] will need to be completed.  If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let the parish office know.

THE PARISH WEB SITE:  For all contact, inclusions etc, please get in touch with Don Clarke.  His email address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE  YEAR [B]

August 2nd 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  August 1st

Sunday August 2nd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6.30 pm

Ludmilla Clarke RIP [A]

Ints. Joan & Norman Jackson

Sr Helen Walsh RIP

Intentions of  Eileen Murray

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

John Giblin RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding RIP [MD]

Monday  3rd

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Margaret McGrath RIP

Tuesday  4th

St John Vianney [Curé d’Ars], Pr.

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of John Birmingham

Intentions of Alina

Wednesday 5th

N.B.

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Margaret Wright RIP

Thursday 6th

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

Church      9:15 am   Jan Praztak RIP

Friday  7th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Jay Family Intentions

Intentions of Mrs J Pauk

Saturday  8th        St Dominic, Pr.

Church       9:15 am   Intentions of Lucy Walker

Church       1:00 pm   WEDDING – Andy & Siobhan

LITURGY FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [B]

August 9th 2009 A.D.

Saturday August 8th

Sunday   August 9th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

2:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

Lionel Wright RIP

Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

Ellen Mylar RIP

POLISH MASS

HOLY HOUR

Intentions of Mary Pink

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Joseph and Bridget Loftus RIP

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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION      Saturday 9:45-10:30am and 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]

www.marriagecare.org.uk   or 0800 389 3801.             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092