ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr Joseph Whisstock

Fr  Paul Dynan

Fr  Philip Willenbrock

51 Priory Street , Colchester, Essex, CO1 2QB

Tel:           01206 866317;   Fax  01206 791213

E-Mail      [email-masked]

www.stjamesthelessandsthelen.org

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [C]

December 3rd 2006 A.D.

Dear Friends

When Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor made his inaugural speech as Archbishop of Westminster in March 2000 he spoke to a packed cathedral and, via television, to a wider world with great hope and great humour as he reflected on the condition of the Church today. Journalists, however, saw a different view  “..a triumph of faith over fact” or more brutally “a triumph of wishful thinking over stark reality”.   Seeing is the problem.  In the biblical languages many verbs are used to describe the different ways of seeing; i.e. the surface of things; inquire into things; see deeply in the hidden meaning and shape of things.  In the things of God, disaster is never the ultimate thing to be seen.  Something always lies beyond disaster, for God is our ultimate goal, and God is no disaster.  We pray in the Eucharistic Prayer: “we hope to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away.  On that day we shall see you our God as you are”. Today’s Gospel encourages us to be realistic about the way the world is going, at the same time not to lose hope in the future.  Difficult.  In our confusion Jesus has to convince us of a future that is really liberating.  He does that best through his own life from birth to resurrection.  So, Advent reminds us that we don’t have to sleepwalk into the future.  We have to remember the story of Jesus again; that the memory of love becomes the ground of our hope and the future holds hope only because we are convinced of God’s actions in the past. Which is why we retell the story again and again beginning with each Advent; we need reminding of God’s love.  Only when we keep looking at him throughout the year, can we keep reason for hoping. Our life is not a private journey but a common endeavour to share the joys, the sorrows, the hopes and fears of our fellow travelling companions in this world.  As Cormac Murphy O’Connor said at his Installation “Brothers and Sisters, friends.. we are pilgrims together.. in joy and hope”.  We need the eyes of faith to see into the meaning of things.                                             God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 6th December       7:30pm    SVP Meeting       Presbytery

Sunday 10th December            7:45pm  Hope in Dark Places Concert  See Below

HOLY FATHER’S INTENTION FOR DECEMBER:  That missionaries may live their vocation to follow Jesus with joy and enthusiasm.

BAPTISM TODAY:  Ashley George Ferdinand.  God bless  this child and congratulations to his family.

GRAND DRAW/CHEESE & WINE EVENING – 19TH NOVEMBER: Many thanks to all those who attended the Cheese and Wine Evening and to those who organised the Event.  A list of Grand Draw winners can be found in the porch.  The total figure of £2,657 was raised towards Church funds. Raised as a result of so many of you buying tickets, supporting the parish in this way and also those who came on the night.  Many thanks to those in any way involved in the organisation of this fundraising event and  the distribution and selling of draw tickets, particularly Margaret and Ron Wheeler.                                    Fr Joseph

MERSEA NEWS: A big thanks to all those who worked so hard to make our Christmas Fayre a big success, also to everyone who came and supported us on the day.  The Christmas Hamper winning ticket is Yellow No.21 [Security No: AX7QMB4B].  If you have got this ticket, please collect your prize.

LOST IN THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL LAST SUNDAY:  A tiny Peruvian figure which is an important part of an Advent calendar.  Please ring 867707 if you have found it.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME:  As in previous years, we will be gathering Prayer Sponsors for the children over this weekend – please sign up after any of the Masses or contact Hywel and Pam Edwards on 867325.

IN YOUR 30’S?: The 30 somethings are holding a Retreat at the Marie Reparatice Centre, Wimbledon, from 8-10th December.  For further details of this and to receive their programme of walks, meals, days out, contact Clare on 07950 202 205; or [email-masked] or visit www.project2030.org.uk .

RECONCILIATION SERVICE IN PRIORY ST AND IN THE DEANERY: 19th  December at 7.30pm here at St James the Less, where at least 4 priests will be present for individual Confessions.  If you are unable to join us at that time then, for your convenience, the following Reconciliation Services will be held throughout the Deanery –  all at 7.30pm -  apart from Clacton and Lexden.

Clacton – Monday 11th December 7pm; Greenstead and Harwich – Tuesday, 12th December; Frinton – Thursday, 14th December; Lexden – Friday, 15th December at 8pm; Kelvedon – Wednesday, 20th December.

POINSETTIAS:  This year we are inviting you to provide a poinsettia to be put around the crib or sanctuary at St James the Less during the Christmas season in memory of deceased loved ones.  Please note that each plant should rest in its own saucer and please do not bring them in before the Third Sunday of Advent [17th December] and please leave them in Our Lady’s Chapel.  The flower ladies will then position them once the crib has been erected.

ADVANCE NOTICE OF MASS TIMES FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [24th December] AND CHRISTMAS MASSES:  Masses on the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be as any normal Sunday, apart from the Sunday evening Mass.  Times of the Christmas Masses are as follows:

Sunday 24th December 6.30pm Vigil Mass                                       Priory Street

7.30pm Carols followed by 8pm Vigil Mass      Monkwick

11.30pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass   Priory Street

Christmas Day             8.00am Christmas Dawn Mass                     Priory Street

8.30am       “             “        “                                  Mersea

9.00am Carols followed by 9.15am Mass          Mile End

10.30am Christmas Day Mass                       Priory Street

N.B.  There is no Christmas Evening Mass

# JANUARY DATES #

KARAOKE NIGHT:  Conclude your Christmas celebrations with a Karaoke Night on January 6th.  Promises to be a good night.  More information later.

WINTER RESERVE ACCOMMODATION PROJECT – Keeping the homeless people off the streets this winter.  Once again we are appealing for volunteers to come forward to help in the Cardinal Bourne Hall with up to 6 homeless people for whom the Night Shelter has not got beds and who would otherwise sleep on the streets. The first week will be 10th-17th January 2007.  If you could help, please phone Tony Dixon on 729453.  Please note that the Night Shelter staff will do everything possible to prevent inconvenience to other Hall users by imposing clear penalties for approaching the Hall early or being in an unfit state.  However should any problems arise, please telephone the Night Shelter at once, 549885, who will try to deal with the situation swiftly.

NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: All co-ordinators should now have received supplies of two forms for distribution to volunteers and paid members of staff in their groups, together with a letter of instructions. Completed forms and lists of all volunteers should be collected in and left at the Presbytery, marked for the attention of James Shaw, the Parish Child Protection Representative, by 31st January 2007.  If you are a co-ordinator and you have not been contacted with regards to this project, please contact James on 01206 385538.  Details of the next stage in this major project will follow in the New Year.

DAILY:                                                   Rosary – 8.40am; Divine Mercy – 9am

EVENING PRAYER:                                                    Monday to Friday 5.45pm

PRAYER GROUP:                                                  Mondays in the Crypt – 8pm

MEDITATION GROUP:                              Tuesdays at 48 Priory Street – 8pm

EXPOSITION:                                                                Saturdays 10am – 11am

SICK PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth, Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Denisia Gray, Richard Hadcock, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Luke McShane, Patrick Quinlivan, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Carole Stover.

THE PARISH WEB SITE: For ALL contact, inclusions etc., -   please contact Donald Clarke.  His e mail address is [email-masked]  Otherwise Donald may be contacted via the Presbytery.  Please leave envelopes for him.

LITURGY FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [C]

December 3rd 2006  - Migrants Day

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

Saturday December 2nd

Sunday   December 3rd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

5:15 pm

Monica McDermott RIP

Wilbur and Muriel McDonald RIP

Parishioners

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

West Mersea

6:30 pm

8:30 am

Intentions of Tom and Mary Smith

Henry Johnson RIP [A]

Mile End

9:15 am

Leo Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Mary Prior RIP [Brown]

Monday 4th            Feria

School Advent

Mass

Church

9:15 am

Molly McGreevy RIP

Deceased Relatives of Dr Solomon

Tuesday 5th

Feria

Church                9:15 am   Anne Sears RIP [A]

Deceased Relatives – Rhatigan Family

Wednesday 6th

Thursday 7th

Feria

Church   N.B.

Church    N.B.

12:15pm

8:00am

Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

St Ambrose, Bp, D.

Deceased Relatives of Denise Smith

Holy Souls in Purgatory

Friday 8th

FEAST OF

Church

THE

9.15 am

IMMACULATE      CONCEPTION

Matthew O’Toole RIP

Saturday 9th

Feria

Church               9.15 am   In Thanksgiving [Mrs D.M]

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT  [C]

December 10th 2006 – Bible Sunday

Saturday  December 9th

Sunday    December 10th

6.15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

3.30 pm

6:30 pm

Moira Pryke RIP

Holy Souls RIP

Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates

SIGNED MASS

Dudley Bradshaw RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Alfredo Sagnella RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Joan Prior RIP [PW]

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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:   Alan Whelan   (549222)

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

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092