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

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF YEAR [C] – November 4th   2007

Dear Friends,

We all have our own images of God; maybe as the great accountant who keeps exact records of everyone’s wrongdoing, preserving our failures on computer. Given what he sees, does he wait for the last day when he can confront us with the punishing record of our sin?  This depiction is a world away from the image of God represented in the reading today from the book of Wisdom:- “You are merciful to all…and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent.  You love all things……You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life”.   The sequence is important: firstly God overlooks sin, then repentance is expected.  Do we demand repentance first, then overlook the wrong?  Unlike us, God is a professional artist at forgiving.   His alertness to sin does not mean that he stays with it, transfixed by human wrongdoing; he overlooks it, hoping that this generosity of spirit will lead sinners to repentance. That attitude to sinners is evident in today’s Gospel in the way Jesus treats Zacchaeus. Tax-collectors, because they were in the employment of the Romans, were regarded as traitors by their own people so, confined to his own small circle of friends, Zacchaeus would have had a lonely, isolated life, his riches giving him a loveless privilege.  Being of small stature, he climbs a sycamore tree to get a better look as this prophet of Nazareth passes by.  But Jesus doesn’t pass by; he calls Zacchaeus down as he needs a place to stay.  Zacchaeus is delighted, promising in the next breath to make generous amends for all the wrongs he has done.  No wonder the crowd mutters, Jesus is choosing as his companion a known sinner, the outsider and pariah.  When Jesus calls, is our reaction that of the crowd or that of Zacchaeus?  Within our muttering, is there lurking self-righteousness, which is what gets in the way of our relationships with others and with God?  Jesus does not demand repentance from Zaccaheus before eating with him.  He gives him, and us, the opportunity for repentance in an atmosphere of acceptance.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 7th November   7-9pm Scripture Course                      Crypt

“               “        “             7pm    SVP  Meeting                   Presbytery

Thursday 8th November       7.30-9pm   RCIA Meeting                     Crypt

“     “               “          7.30pm      Choir Practice                  Church

Saturday 10th November   10am-12pm  CAFOD Coffee Morning      Hall

FR WIDY WRITES:

Dear Friends,   I would like to let you know that I have to return to Indonesia on Wednesday, 7th November, because my visa extension has been rejected by the Home Office.  I have the right to appeal, but I don’t want to use it.  Instead, I would like to return to my country to finish the last part of my thesis from there.  My supervisor is trusting me to finish the project in 3-4 months time.  It is a surprise, and unexpected, for me to leave this country but I have an unfinished project here.  So, I will be back for the Viva [examination] in the near future and stay in the Presbytery for several weeks.  I would like to thank you for all your support to me.  Au revoir.  God bless you.                                                Fr Widy

THE SHRINE OF THE HOLY ROOD AT DOVERCOURT:  Parishioner, John Ashdown-Hill, will be giving an illustrated talk on Thursday 8th November at the Anglican church of All Saints in Dovercourt – the site of the medieval shrine.  [Not the Catholic Church of OL Queen of Heaven].  The church will be open from 7:30pm. The talk starts at 7:45pm. For more detail, see poster in the porch.

VOCATIONS EVENING:  The next evening for men aged 16 years and over thinking about the Priesthood or wanting more information takes place on Friday 9th November at Abbotswick House of Prayer.  To book contact Fr Joseph Silver on 0208 590 7222 or [email-masked] by Tuesday 6th November.

COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF CAFOD is being run by some pupils of St Benedict’s College in the Cardinal Bourne Hall on Saturday, 10th November, between 10am and 12pm.  Please support them.

AUTUMN FAIR: Greenstead Parish extend an invitation to their Autumn Fair on Saturday 10th November, from 10am to 2pm.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY WORKSHOP:  Sr Nuala has engaged liturgist, Martin Foster, to speak at the Children’s Liturgy Workshop at St Joseph’s [Hutton] Parish Hall on Saturday 10th November.  Cost: £5 and attendees need to take a packed lunch.  Book through the Commission for Evangelisation and Formation at Brentwood – 01277 265289 or email [email-masked]

MERCY ASSOCIATES:  The next meeting: Monday, 12th November at Christ Church Court.  Tel: 763049.

MONKWICK NEWS:  A coffee morning and table top sale will be held at Monkwick on Thursday, 15th November from 10am to 12 noon.  All welcome.

“TAKE AND READ” WEEKEND: A weekend to get to know the Bible better, and to explore Catholic teaching on the Bible at Abbotswick House of Prayer from Friday evening 16th November to Sunday lunchtime 18th.  Cost £150. To book, contact Clive Thomas on 01277 265289 or [email-masked]

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008: Three of our young people – Ben McClean, Caroline Higgins and Emily Stynes – are going to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008.  They are busy fundraising as the cost is £1800 per person.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas they are offering a special deal – a babysitting service to parishioners - £10 for 4 hours [anytime before midnight] and subject to availability.  To book contact 01206 563292.  Also, after the 10:30 Sunday mass each week there will be a book sale.  Soon there will be a cake sale and other fundraising activities are being organised.  Donations of books, cake ingredients and raffle prizes are most welcome.  Contact Caroline Higgins on 01206 532501

THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE at 48 Priory Street, Colchester, would like all parishioners to know that on the Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 25th November 2007, they will celebrate the Eucharist and Final Profession of Sr Alice at 2:30pm in the Church of St James the Less and St Helen, Priory Street, Colchester.  This will be followed by tea next door in the Cardinal Bourne Hall and, if they would like, Evening Prayer at 5:30pm.  All would be most welcome to come.

ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL CHOIR is performing on Thursday 29th November at the Brentwood Centre.  Full details on the poster in the porch.  All proceeds will go to Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society and Brentwood Catholic Youth Service.

FRIENDS OF PERU can use used greetings cards for recycling.  Please leave in the Church Porch.  Thank you.

SICK PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Florence Fuller, Denisia Gray, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Maria Lumsden, Luke McShane, Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding.

DAILY:                 Rosary 8:40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:40am]

EVENING PRAYER:                        For venue, please see poster in the porch

PRAYER GROUP:                                                 Mondays at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                        Tuesdays at 8pm at No 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:                                                                Saturdays 10am – 11am

HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR NOVEMBER:  That the spirit of reconciliation and peace may grow in North and South Korea.

NOVEMBER DEAD LIST:  Please put only names of loved ones to be prayed for in the jar before the altar -  NOT MONEY.  Book Masses via Diana as usual, and the Masses will be celebrated on a first come, first served basis.

Thank you.                                                                                            Fr Joseph

FINANCES FOR OCTOBER: Average weekly collection: £2,230, CAFOD Fast Day £1,864; Training for Priests Collection [BEEF] £575; Mission Sunday Collection £708; Donation £10.  We paid out; first repayment due on Refurbishment Loan £5000; Annual buildings insurance premium on all sites, apart from the Hall, £5,678; £2,500 to the Diocese.

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

THE REPOSITORY is open each Sunday from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.

ROAD CLOSURES: November 11th,18th; December 16th.  Details in the Porch.

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 contact the Parish Office.

LITURGY FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

November 4th 2007 A.D.

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

Saturday  November 3rd

Sunday    November 4th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

James Lucas RIP

Mary and James O’Dwyer

Intentions of Kathleen Flynn

Udall Family RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Mary [Joan] Prior RIP

Monday 5th            Feria

Tuesday 6th

Church               9:15 am  Intentions of Samantha Hilton

Intentions of Mrs Tide and Maria

Feria

Church               9.15 am   Aubrey Patrick Lyons RIP [A]

Wednesday 7th

Feria

Church              12:15 pm  Intentions of Diane and John [O&B]

Thursday 8th

Friday 9th

Year 6 Mass

Saturday 10th

Feria

Church               9.15 am  Barbara Putt RIP [A]

THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA

Church                9:15am  Holy Souls RIP [FG]

St Leo the Great, P.D.

Church                9.15 am  Pat Ready RIP [A]

LITURGY FOR THE THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

Remembrance Day - NOVEMBER11th 2007  A.D.

Saturday  November 10th

Sunday  November 11th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

2:00 pm

3:30 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

Lionel and Lee Blanchette RIP

Parishioners

Salvina de Brito RIP

POLISH MASS

SIGNED MASS

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

Joseph and Susan Savage RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Mary and John Coneeley

Mile End

9:15 am

Holy Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Jane Gore RIP

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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: 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