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 EASTER [B]

May 3rd 2009

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Dear Friends

Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is known as Good Shepherd Sunday because in the Gospel we hear Jesus speak of himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.  That is why it is the day chosen as World Day or Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. The Holy Father has written to us on this day inviting us to pray trustingly to God, for those called to share in the Good Shepherd’s ministry of caring for his flock.

Pope Benedict has also invited us to celebrate a Year for Priests, beginning on 19th June – the feast of the Sacred Heart.  It is to be dedicated to promoting the spiritual perfection of priests and to recognizing more fully the irreplaceable value of priestly ministry at the heart of the Church. The Pope says we should not allow ourselves to become discouraged by accepting as inevitable that a time will come when we have to do without priests.

Once again, we entrust the whole Church to the providence of God in our prayer for an encouragement of priestly vocations.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Tuesday 5th May   7:30pm   Rosary                                           Priory Street

Wednesday 6th     6:45pm   Scripture Course                          Crypt

Thursday   7th       7:30pm   Finance Committee Meeting       Presbytery

“        “         7:30p      R.C.I.A                                           Crypt

Friday 8th May              7:30pm   Rosary   at Mile End             See below

Sunday 10th May        12noon    Social Committee Meeting   Presbytery

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

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 St

EXPOSITION:                                               Saturdays at 9:45am – 10.30am

HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR MAY:  That recently founded Catholic Churches may be ready and willing to share in the mission of the whole Church to the world.

BAPTISMS TODAY:   Florence May Golding and Chloe Louise Rose Illingworth.    God bless these children and congratulations to their families.

SECOND COLLECTION TODAY:  As mentioned last week, there will be a second collection after all Masses today to help finance the five young parishioners who are booked on the Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK:  As also mentioned, second collection at Priory Street only, for Pentecost flowers.

‘One Bread, One Body?’ : Differences in Eucharistic Understanding

with Rev Frank Jackson, BA (Econ), MA (Theology), ACIS Parish Priest, St Augustine’s, Springfield. Tuesday 5th May, 7.30 – 9.30pm Cathedral Conference Centre, BRENTWOOD.  ALL ARE WELCOME. For booking and further information, please contact the Adult Religious Education office on  01277 265219/257 or email  [email-masked]

KSC – ROSARY IN MAY:  The Knights of St Columba will be reciting the Rosary on Tuesday 5th and 12th May at 7:30pm in Priory Street; on Wednesday 20th May at 7:30pm in Lexden [after Benediction] and on Friday, 29th May at 7:30pm at Greenstead [after Mass].

ROSARY AT MILE END:  On the Fridays in May at 7:30pm at Mile End, the Rosary will be recited, apart from the last Friday, when it will take place on Saturday 30th May, at the same time.

Please join us for the HEALING MASS celebrated by Fr John Glynn at Abbotswick House of Prayer on Thursday 7th May at 2.30pm.  For further details and directions visit www.abbotswick.org or call 01277 373959.

KSC [LEXDEN] SPONSORED WALK – 9TH MAY:  Covers 5 ½ miles from St Teresa’s, starting at 10am.  Refreshments will be provided afterwards in their parish hall.   Wherever possible, Sponsorship Forms will be available for partakers or sponsors after Masses this weekend.  All proceeds to the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEETING:  The next meeting takes place on Sunday, 10th May at 12 noon in the Presbytery.

MERSEA NEWS:  Mersea Coffee mornings start on the 12th May.  At the home of Sue Jenner, 64 St Peter’s Road, it will start at 10:30am.

UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS:  Next Meeting – Thursday 14th May in the Crypt at 7:45pm.

MONKWICK NEWS:  Monkwick Coffee Morning on Saturday 16th May, hosted by Grace McCarthy, Buxton Way from 10:30am to 12:30pm.

“BETHLEHEM ART” ITEMS FOR SALE: carved by Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem from Holy Land olive trees will be on sale by them at Priory Street on the 17th May.

YOUTH CLUB MEETING: Are you in year 6,7,8 or 9? We would like to invite you to a meeting in the Crypt after the 10.30 Mass on the 17th May. We will be discussing the possibility of setting up a youth club if you are interested, how you would like it to be run, and what kind of activities you would enjoy. Please come along. If you can't come but are interested, then please phone Kate Zepeda on 07952645185.

KSC “AFTERNOON TEA AND SING ALONG”:  The KSC of Priory Street, Greenstead and Lexden are arranging this afternoon for the elderly on the afternoon of Sunday, 31st May [ Pentecost Sunday] in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  For more details, phone Ron Wheeler on 797850.

ABBOTSWICK EVENTS:  'Ever Ancient, Ever New' A weekend with a new community exploring the beauty of following Christ as a vowed religious in the 21st Century. For men and women aged 18-38, Fri 15th - Sun 17th May 2009 For further details visit www.walsinghamcommunity.org or call 01277 373848.'Jesus' presence in the Eucharist: Real... or just 'symbolic'? A day with Raymond de Souza, international lay apologist. Sat 23rd May 2009, 10.30am - 4pm at the Diocesan House of Prayer near Brentwood. For further details visit www.abbotswick.org or call 01277 373959

DAY FOR BEREAVED PARENTS:  Organised by Care for the Family, this is a day for parents who have lost a child and to meet with other bereaved parents. On Saturday 6th June from 10am to 5pm at New Harvest Community Church, Darash Christian Training Centre, Ashwells Rd. Pilgrims Hatch.  For more information call 029 2081 0800 or www.careforthefamily.org.uk/bpnday

KSC – PILGRIMAGE TO AYLESFORD – 7th JUNE:  Leaves East Hill at 8:50am.  Leaves Aylesford at approximately 4pm.  Cost: £10 Return. To book ring Bill de Smith on 767597 – or speak to a member of the KSC.

SVP SUMMER CAMP:  Bookings are now being taken for boys [8-13] and girls [9-12] to the St John Bosco Camp at Aldham. Full details on the poster in the porch.  Closing date 1st July. Diana also has booking forms in the Parish Office. Helpers [16+] also needed.  Contact www.bcys.net/bosco

PILGRIMAGE TO ASSISI: 1ST-8TH October.  Cost £699 half board, includes flight, excursions, and a guide throughout; excludes insurance, single room supplement.  Contact: Carmen  07738595534,01277 821886, 07754 163007.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass. A registration form 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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

[World Day of Prayer for Vocations] May 3rd 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  May 2nd

Sunday May 3rd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

D/Relatives of Byrne Family RIP

D/Rels. Walker/McGrath Families

Philomena Dwyer RIP [A&PW]

Holy Souls RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Philomena Dwyer RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding RIP [O&B]

Monday 4th

N.B.

The English Martyrs, Mm.      [BANK HOLIDAY]

Church    10:00 am   Intentions of Mrs Matiz & Family

Private Intention

Tuesday  5th

Feria

Church      9:15 am    Stephen Hilton RIP

Charlie Higgins RIP

Wednesday 6th

St. John Payne, M.

Church    12:15 pm   Clare Adams RIP [JH-A]

Thursday 7th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Evelyn & Brian Kirwin

Friday 8th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Agnes & Edward Dowd RIP

Everett Kittell RIP

Saturday 9th         St Athanasius, Bp.D.

Church       9:15 am   Intentions of Frances Galvin

LITURGY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

[Catholic Deaf Awareness Week]  May 10th  2009 A.D.

Saturday May 9th

Sunday   May 10th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

2:00 pm

3:30 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

Anne Lyons RIP

John Hopgood RIP

Clare Adams RIP [A&IN]

POLISH MASS

SIGNED MASS

HOLY HOUR

Mary Galvin RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

T.H.M. [Max] Robinson RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Bob McLaren RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

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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