ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr  Anthony  McKentey

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 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

January 3rd 2010

My dear friends

A very Happy New Year to you all!

We come together on the first Sunday of 2010 to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.  The good news of the Lord’s birth is made known to all the nations of the earth, symbolised by the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem.  He is the Saviour of the world and the light of all nations.  Our prayer is that, like the Magi, all peoples will come to faith in Christ, offer Him their worship and hear his message of peace and goodwill to all.  Here is a blessing and prayer for the beginning of the New Year from all your priests:

May he grant you his grace and every blessing,

and  keep you safe throughout the coming year.

May he grant you unwavering faith,

constant hope and love that endures to the end.

May he order your days and work in his peace,

hear your every prayer,

and lead you to everlasting life and joy

Fr Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Friday 8th Jan           4:30pm     Over 6 Baptism Course             See below

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

PRAYER GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                                   Tuesdays at 8pm in the Crypt

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

SICK:  Please remember in your prayers: June Bickersteth, Claire Cooper, Bridie Murphy, Baby Leah Patterson, Mary Roddy, Hector Silva, Lucy Walker

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of baby Nathan Stover and Charles Fahie who have died. May they rest in peace.  The funeral of baby Nathan takes place on Wednesday, 6th, at 10am.  The funeral of Charles Fahie takes place on Monday, 11th January at 11:15am.

THANK YOU very much from the Flower Ladies for your extremely generous collection for flowers for Christmas at Priory Street.

100 CLUB :  We hope to commence the 100 Club very shortly.  However, we still need a few more members.  You may sign up this weekend after Mass at Priory Street. Those who have not yet paid their subscriptions, please see John in the porch after Mass.  The sooner the 100 Club is set up, the sooner the first draw and £100 winner can be picked, and the sooner the Parish finances will benefit!

OVER 6 YEARS BAPTISM COURSE starts again on Friday 8th January at 4:30pm.

MERCY ASSOCIATES GROUP meets next at 7.30pm on Monday 11 January at Christ Church Court ( 763049).

SCRIPTURE COURSE:  continues on Wednesday evenings 18:45 - 20:45 in the Crypt.  St Luke's Gospel continues to be our topic.  Start date: January 13th.

OTHER PARISH GROUPS DUE TO RECOMMENCE:

SVP –  Wednesday January 13th;

RCIA – Thursday 14th January;

UCM -  Thursday 14th January;

First Holy Communion Programme – Saturday 23rd January.

Fuller details to follow

A PRO LIFE MEETING is being organized by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children on Thursday, 21st January at St Mary’s Church Hall, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, IP4 4BD, at 7:30pm.  The speaker is John

Smeaton, national director of SPUC.  For further details, contact Jean Wallace on 01394 387304.

BAPTISM COURSE FOR CHILDREN UP TO 6 YRS:  The next Course has been arranged for Friday January 29th and Friday 5th February at 7:30pm in the Crypt.  Appointments not necessary, but both sessions must be attended.

HOPE CONGRESS: February 27th 2010 – A day of inspiration for Catholics working with young people.  Speakers Fr Timothy Radcliffe, Abbot Christopher Jamieson, David Wells and Archbishop Vincent Nichols

are brought together  with Bob and Maggie McCarty, a couple with 25 years’

experience co-ordinating Youth Ministry nationally in America.  The venue is

opposite Euston Station. Cost £14 [lunch not included]. Online booking at www.cymfed.org . There are also application forms in the Parish Office.

World Youth Day, Madrid, 2011. Join 150 young adults from Brentwood Diocese, 2 million from across the World, and Pope Benedict XVI for this wonderful celebration. The trip includes time with a Spanish family, plus a week of activities in Madrid with international speakers, drama, art, dance and music, culminating in a huge open air Mass with the Pope. To read about previous WYD experiences and to apply for 2011, visit www.bcys.net/wyd The trip is open to all who will be in school year 12 and above when we travel, through to young adults in their early twenties. We are away from 9th - 23rd August 2011 and the price of £895 includes all travel, accommodation, insurance, the WYD registration fee, pre trip preparation and most meals. It is a wonderful experience - be part of it!

READERS REQUIRED:  We are rather short of readers at the 8am and 6:30pm Sunday Masses at present.  Volunteers would be most welcome to contact Francis Carter on 01206 864479.

CLEANERS URGENTLY REQUIRED for Priory Street.  Please contact Helena on 794636.

SECOND COLLECTIONS remaining for the rest of this financial year: January 31st Homelessness Sunday; February 13th Lourdes Fund; February 26th CAFOD [Lent Family Fast Day]; March 14th Catholic Education Service; Good Friday [April 2nd] Holy Places.

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 and returned to the Parish Office.  If you are moving within or out of the Parish, please also let the Parish Office know.

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

LITURGY FOR THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

3rdJanuary 2010 – Holy Day of Obligation

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

Saturday January 2nd

Sunday  December 3rd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

D/Rels/Friends of Margaret Barker

John Smith RIP

Iris Licence RIP

Gerry Shortt RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Thomas and Bridie Smith RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Family & Friends of Joan Norman

Monday 4th

Feria of Christmastide

Church       9:15 am  Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Maureen Curran RIP

Tuesday 5th

Feria of Christmastide

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Tess Crummy & Family

Wednesday 6th

Feria of Christmastide

Church     10:00am   REQUIEM -  NATHAN STOVER RIP

Church     12:15 pm   Holy Souls RIP

Thursday 7th

Feria of Christmastide

Church      9:15 am    Mary Sebastian RIP

Friday 8th

Feria of Christmastide

Church      9:15 am    Intentions of Miss Rio and Family

Saturday 9th          Feria of Christmastide

Church        9:15am    Mrs Aleyamma Abraham RIP

LITURGY FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD [C]

10th January 2010

Saturday  January 9th

6:15 pm

Michael McInerney RIP

Sunday    January 10th

8:00 am

Frederick,Elizabeth&Angelo LucasRIP

10:30am

Sophia Vencarto

2:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

POLISH MASS

HOLY HOUR

Peter and Olive Hall RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Intentions of Cestari Family

Monkwick

10:15am

Celestine Tighe RIP

| | | | |

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