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

THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

February 4th  2007
A.D.

Dear Friends

There
are times in our lives when we come face to face with the stark reality of our
own shortcomings and failure.  We
feel disabled in a very real way and the prospect of change is a dream
away.  Our energies are crippled;
our hope is in “A & E” and it’s a short trip from there
wondering whether God could possibly have time for the likes of us,
accomplished sinners.  But God
believes in each one of us and, as today’s readings show, he believes
in Isaiah, Paul and Simon Peter.

Isaiah,
rather than wallow in his unworthiness, accepts the forgiveness of God when
it is offered so that he can offer himself: “Here I am, send
me”.   St Paul knows he is
unworthy; he has zealously persecuted Christians but he is convinced that the
love of Christ has overcome that: “I believe that nothing can happen
that will outweigh the advantage of knowing Christ Jesus..”   Simon Peter, the expert
fisherman who has caught nothing during the night, obeys the carpenter to put
out during the day and, when his nets are full to bursting, realises he is standing in the presence of God. He sinks
to his knees and acknowledges his own sinfulness.  Happily Jesus does not take
Peter’s advice to go.  Jesus
travels into people’s lives,
not away from them; throughout his life he is never far from sinners and on
the cross he will die between two of them.

The
simply prayer of St Francis of Assisi
summed it all up centuries ago: “Lord, make me an instrument of your
peace”.  God believes that
along with Isaiah, St Paul
and Simon Peter, we too can be instruments of his peace in the world.  God believes in us.

God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday 5th
February    Parents’
Appointments re STM applications
Presbytery

Wednesday 7th
February     Next
W.R.A.P. Session commences       Hall

“                 “
“
7:30pm Parish
Finance Committee Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 8th
February   7:30pm     Baptism Course
Session 2 of 2       Crypt

Saturday 10th
February 11:30am    Justice
& Peace Meeting
Presbytery

Sunday 11th
February     3:30pm    Signed Mass
Priory Street

READERS’ DAY OF PRAYER:  This event takes place on Saturday, 17th February in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall from 10am
to 3.45pm. Sr Angela
will lead part of the Day which is open to all readers from all Mass Centres
as well as from St James.  It is
important that you attend. Please bring
a packed lunch.   The day is also open to anyone who
would like to read God’s word at Mass.  Please let one of the priests know
that you are coming.  If you
require further details, please contact Francis Carter on 864479.

ASH WEDNESDAY [February 21st]  AND LENT

Begin
the season of Lent with the celebration of Mass.
Please note the changes to times and places of Mass [together with the
distribution of Ashes].

Masses
on Ash
Wednesday will be  as
follows:- 9:15am    Priory Street

11:00am   West Mersea

7:30pm    Priory Street

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Will take place at 7:30pm on the Friday evenings during Lent and we will
alternate with St James the Great. The first evening, 23rd
February, will be here at Priory
Street.

A WEEK OF ACCOMPANIED PRAYER will commence on Sunday 25th February to Sunday 4th March 2007.  The Week will open and close with
group sessions, with participants meeting their prayer companion briefly each
weekday.

TUESDAY LENTEN LUNCHES:  Will commence on the 27th February at the United Reform Church
in Lion Walk.  Lunch will be at 12:15pm followed by prayer at 1.10pm of approximately 20/25
minutes.  The Sisters from 48 Priory Street
will lead the prayer times throughout the whole of Lent.

SCRIPTURE COURSE AT ST JAMES THE LESS
& ST HELEN: How To read the Old
Testament.  Have you every
thought, as you listen to the readings at Mass, “I wish I knew more
about the Bible”?  If this question is yours, this 10 session
introductory course on the bible, led by Sister Angela Morris, will enable
you to discover ways of knowing more an exploring the significance of the
Mass readings for yourself and the rest of the Christian community.

Dates:  March 7,14,21,28.   April 18,25.  May 2,9,16,23.  Time:
19.00-21.00hrs

Venue: The
Crypt, St James the Less & St Helen.
If you are interested,
please contact Sister Angela on 867296 or email:
[email-masked] .

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Patrick Davis, Alan Purser
and Steven Hilton who have recently died.  May they rest in peace.

DIOCESAN VACANCIES

New Hall
School, Chelmsford: requires a Head of Middle School, (Yr 7 and 8 girls]
from September 2007.  Please
contact School Secretary – 01245 236133 or [email-masked] .

Closing
date: 8th February 2007.

Administrator {General
and Finance} Brentwood Ursuline:  The Sisters are seeking to appoint an Administrator
to assist with the management of their Charity, including its finances.  This is a part-time position of
approx. 25 hours per week.  Please
apply to: Sr Andrea Drew, Ursuline Generalate, 93 Queens

Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14
4EY. Tel: 01277 260156 or email: [email-masked].

Commission for Evangelisation
& Formation, Cathedral House: A
Secretary is required for this new Commission.  Twenty eight hours per week.  For a full job description and
application form please apply in writing to Fr Adrian Graffy, the
Director of CEF, Cathedral House, 28
Ingrave Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AT.

THE COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE &
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY will be
holding its inaugural conference at Brentwood Parish Hall on Saturday 24th
February from 10.30am to
3pm.  All are welcome.  For further details and to book your
space please contact Elisabeth Abbot on 01277 265290 or email [email-masked]
.  A light lunch and refreshments
will be provided.

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

Except Wednesdays  -
then at 11.40am

EVENING PRAYER:
Monday to Friday   5:45pm

PRAYER GROUP:
Mondays in the
Crypt     8pm

MEDITATION GROUP:                                    Tuesdays,
at 48 Priory St
– 8pm

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
10am – 11am

SICK PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth, Ron
Collins, 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.

ABBOTSWICK HOUSE OF PRAYER:  is
looking to purchase a Marquee.
Would anyone who has contacts and may be able to help please contact
Sister Camilla at Abbotswick.  Tel.No.
01277 373959.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE: For
all contact, inclusions etc., please contact

Donald Clarke.  His email
address is: [email-masked]
. Otherwise

Donald may be contacted via the Presbytery i.e.
please leave envelopes for him

LITURGY
FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

Education
Day – 4th
February  2007

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

Saturday February 3rd

Sunday   February 4th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

5:15 pm

6:30 pm

Intentions
of Colin & Pam Andrews

Holy
Souls RIP [FG]

Ellen
and John Bolger RIP

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

Jack
Playle RIP [A]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Intentions
of Paul and Claire Galea

Mile End

9:15
am

Holy
Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

Monday 5th
St
Agatha, V.M.

Church

9:15 am

Frederick, Elizabeth &
Angelo Lucas RIP

Holy Souls RIP

Tuesday 6th

Ss Paul Miki and Companions, Mm

Church                9:15 am  Steven
Hilton RIP

Holy Souls RIP

Wednesday 7

Thursday 8th

Feria

Church

Feria

Church

12:15pm

9:15am

Intentions
of Mrs P Gaunt

Maurice
Foley RIP

Friday 9th

Feria

Church

9:15am

Joseph
and Susan Savage RIP [A]

Saturday 10th

St
Scholastica, V

Church
9:15 am
D/Rels
Herbert & Richards Families RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[C]

February
11th 2007 A.D.

Saturday February 10th                   6:15 pm  Intentions
of Ian Drummond

Sunday
February 11th

8:00 am

10:30
am

3:30 pm

6:30 pm

D/Relatives
– Betts Family RIP

Intentions
of Ken McDonald-Fawcett

SIGNED MASS

Vivienne
Wright RIP [A]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Holy
Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Peter McCartney RIP [A]

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