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 [A]

August 3rd  2008 A.D.

Dear Friends,

Petrarch, the famous Italian scholar and poet,
shocked his friends and admirers in Avignon,
by packing up and moving to the country, to Vaucluse,
some twenty miles from civilisation.  Avignon
then, in the fourteenth century, was the seat of the papacy and as he had
taken minor orders, some of the bishops tried to persuade him to return to
the papal court.  But Petrarch was
insistent; what he was looking for could only be found in solitude, he said,
and he was looking for himself. “Not to be crowded, pushed, put upon,
trod on…..”

In today’s Gospel we hear how Jesus tries
to make a getaway to an uninhabited place.  He had just heard of the cruel death
of John the Baptist- he who had played a unique role in the formation of
Jesus’ life.  He needed
solitude, but the crowds sought him out – just as they sought out John
the Baptist during his lifetime.
They came with their sick, troubled and afflicted and Jesus’
desire for solitude was overtaken by his compassion for the people needing
his help.  When evening came and
the disciples saw a problem, they gave Jesus the benefit of their pastoral
advice. If they send the crowds away they can all be left in peace. Jesus
challenges the disciples: “Give them what food you have”.  They point to the little they do have
but Jesus blesses it and the miracle takes place.  Not only sufficient food but more than
enough.  Jesus and the disciples
give the crowd all they can: that is Jesus’ lesson in pastoral
practice.  His need for peace is
not over-riding; it is superseded by the needs of others.  But we can readily sympathise
with his need to get away, for a time of quiet, for a holiday. If we
don’t answer that need we can become burned out and no good to
anyone.  We can only give what we
can and the great teaching of today’s Gospel is that even the little we
give can be more than enough.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday
6th August
7pm
SVP Meeting
Presbytery

Sunday
10th August       12 noon  Social Committee Meeting
“

THE
HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR
AUGUST:  that all Christians may learn to be
committed and effective witnesses of the life and mission of the Church.

CONGRATULATIONS
TO:  Samantha and Jonathan married here yesterday.

CAFOD
COLLECTION: The monthly CAFOD
collection which will be taken up after all Masses today will be designated
for Ethiopia.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul
of Emma Williams who has recently died. Her Requiem will take place in Priory Street
tomorrow, Monday 4th August, at 11.30am.   May she rest in peace.

HELP
URGENTLY NEEDED: With the Repository on
a Sunday morning.  If you are
able to lend a hand, please see Simon Chaplin in the Hall after the 10.30
Mass on a Sunday.

WALSINGHAM
HOUSE CATERING SUPERVISOR: Are you able to cook for
groups of 40 – 50 people? Do you like working with young people in a
friendly and supportive environment? Are you available to work evenings and weekends
in term time, with most school holidays free? Salary £10,500 p.a. for a
23 hour week. Job based at Walsingham House, Canvey Island.
Job details from Fr Dominic Howarth, 01268 696610 or
[email-masked] Closing date 10th August, interview
22nd August, start early September.

MERSEA COFFEE MORNINGS: The next Coffee Morning
will be on Tuesday August 12th at the home of Jane Brennan, 7 Shears
Crescent, starting at 10.30am – 12 noon.   All are very welcome.

FAMILY BBQ AND FUN DAY:  On August 16th from 3:30pm – 6pm in the Church
garden and the Cardinal Bourne Hall.
Lots of good stalls and games for the children. Admission: Adults
£5; Children £3; Families £15.   For more information contact Frances on
369568.

HOPE ON THE
STREETS:  Saturday 30th
August.  The Churches in Central Colchester are organizing a day of joint
activities which will take place around the town centre and are looking for
volunteers to help with various activities, including Prayer Room, BBQ, Family Events. See poster in the porch or contact Myra
Dolamore.

SVP HEALING
MASS AND TEA PARTY:  On the 27th
September.  Mass will be
celebrated at 2pm
followed by a Senior Citizens Tea Party.

DAY OF RECONCILATION
AND PRAYER: At Clare Priory, Nr Long Melford on Saturday
27th September. Organised by the Knights
of St Columba, Colchester.  Cost £12, which includes Soup,
Coffee/Teas.  There will be Mass
and Benediction. You could also bring a packed lunch.  Start 10am.  Own
transport.  To book, contact Bill
de Smith on 01206 767597.

HOLY LAND
PILGRIMAGE: For 7 nights – Wednesday 5th November to Wednesday 11th
November.  Cost: £599
half-board including flights and some excursions.  Excludes Insurance and single room
supplement.  For further details,
contact Carmen on 07754 163007; 01277 821886 [landline] or see Fr
Joseph.

GIFT AID
DONATION / TAX LETTERS:  Are available for your
collection from The Parish Office, Priory
Street on a MONDAY,
TUESDAY OR FRIDAY.  Any
letters not collected by the end of September will be disposed of.

FOUNDATION
DEGREE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY:  It has recently been
agreed that, following consultation with the Theology Dept at St Mary’s University College,
Strawberry Hill, the Diocese of Brentwood will be
offering this Course to, probably, start in January 2009.  Briefly, the aims of the programme are:

To provide the academic dimension for the formation required for
those preparing for pastoral ministry, e.g. catechists, chaplains,
readers, lay pastoral leaders.

To enable students to integrate this theological education with
their pastoral experience.

To help students develop practical skills for the exercise of
their ministry.

This is a part-time programme
and the course fee for the two year Foundation Degree is £2,500 per
student.  For more information
contact Sr Nuala Gannon on 01277
265219 or [email-masked]

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

Please be reminded that, because of the
Data Protection Act, we are not advised by hospital staff of Catholic
inpatients. If you have family or friends who have been admitted to
hospital and who would like a visit, do let one
of the priests know.

DAILY:
Rosary
8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [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 Street

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
10am – 11am

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 the Parish Office know.

LITURGY FOR THE EIGHTEENTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

August 3rd 2008 A.D.

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

Saturday  August 2nd

Sunday
August 3rd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Jay Family Intentions

Special Intentions [SF]

Peta Johnson RIP

Ernest Jardim RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Deceased Relatives – Rafferty Family

Mile
End

9:15
am

P J O’Connor RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday 4th

St John Mary Vianney, [Curé d,Ars],
Pr.

Church      9:15
am   Richard Wheeler RIP

Holy Souls RIP

Church     11:30 am  REQUIEM – EMMA WILLIAMS RIP

Tuesday 5th

Feria

Church       9:15 am   Deirdre Kehoe RIP [R&MG]

Wednesday 6th

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE
LORD

Church    12:15 pm   Margaretta
Wright RIP

Canon John Bloomfield RIP

Frederick,
Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Thursday 7th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   John and Julie
O’Connor RIP

Friday 8th

St Dominic, Pr.

Church      9:15 am   Intentions
of the Bergin Family

Intentions
of Eva Nazarko

Saturday 9th          ST TERESA, BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, V.M. [Edith Stein]

Church      9:15
am   Intentions of Fr Andrew Hurley

Church      3:30 pm   WEDDING
– Lorraine
and Martin

LITURGY FOR THE NINETEENTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

10th August  2008 A.D.

Saturday August 9th

Sunday   August 10th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Lionel Wright RIP

Mary McGinley RIP [A]

Deirdre Kehoe RIP [C&JO’G]

Special Intention [SF]

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Margaret O’Connor RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Fr Liam Armour RIP

SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION      Saturday 10:00-11:00 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]

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

Vocations                                     www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092