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

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

November 5th
2006 A.D.

Dear
Friends

There are some words that we toss into our language
with a kind of careless abandon. One of these words is
“love”.  What do we
say we love? Fish and chips, football, a special book, song, pop group or,
moving up to friends, our children, our parents, a
particular and special person?
Such an overcrowded word, yet we all want and, indeed, need to love
and be loved and we carry a sense of the idea of love even as we struggle to
attain it.

Jewish teachers were, it seems, often asked which
of the 615 precepts of the Old Testament law was the greatest.  In 25 BC a famous Rabbi, Hillel, said
“What you yourself hate, do not do to your neighbour; this is the
law.  The rest is commentary.  Go and learn it”.  When the question is put to Jesus by
the scribe in today’s Gospel, His answer falls into two parts.  In rabbinical tradition, the first is
a direct quote from Deuteronomy though Jesus adds that we should love with
all our minds, hearts, souls and strength.  The second part “Love your
neighbour as yourself” would have challenged the questioner.  A Jewish neighbour was not the same as
a Gentile neighbour; the “not one of us” syndrome was as
prevalent in society then as it is today.  Christ takes the traditional Jewish
teaching and alters the emphasis.
How do I love myself?  Love
of neighbour demands a proper love of self and it is hard to love others if
we do not feel loveable.   If
we dislike what we see in ourselves, or have a crushing sense of unworthiness
how can we love as Christ asks us?
There are no glib answers, for self-esteem once lost is hard to recover
and indeed we may need the help of another whose value of us enables us to
see our own.  Paradoxically, it is
often in recognising the worth of another person
that we find our own.

We ARE valued of course, each one of us.  We are loved, truly loved by Christ
himself.  He loved his own to the
end, and we are his own.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

8th November
7:30pm                    SVP
Meeting in Presbytery

9th November
7:30pm
Journey in Faith Meeting in Crypt

11/12th
November
All Masses
BCCS Appeal

NOVEMBER
DEAD LIST:  If you wish
deceased relatives and friends to be prayed for during this month, please put
their names in the glass jar in front of the altar.  Please do not put money in the jar.  If you wish to book a Mass please do so with Diana in the usual way. The
Masses of course will be celebrated on a first come, first served basis so
they may run into next month.

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for
the repose of the soul of Stanley Belbin who has
recently died.  May he rest in peace.

BAPTISMS:
Ella Joy Bullock, Ryan Anthony Coley and Jakub
Daniel Prazmo.
God bless these
children and congratulations to their families.

CAFOD:
The
usual monthly collection for CAFOD will be taken up after all Masses
today.  Thank you.

WEEKDAY MASSES
QUESTIONNAIRE: Thank you to all those who completed the above
form.  46 forms were
received.  After consideration
with the parish clergy and disseminating the replies, the following decisions
have been made:-1]
By far the most popular time was 9.15am [as at present] and therefore Masses during the
week are to remain at that time. 2a] Again by far the most popular time given
was 12.15pm and, with
the responses made to question 2b, the day chosen is Wednesday. Therefore, for a trial period starting in the first
week of Advent and continuing until Easter, the times of the Masses
during the week will be as follows:- 9.15am -  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, 12.15pm
Wednesday.   N.B. It is important to note
that any of the above times can be changed as a result of funerals or if
clergy have to be elsewhere, at meetings etc. It is also important therefore
that the Newsletter is consulted weekly to ensure that there are no last
minute changes. Thank you.
Fr Joseph

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY APPEAL:  Next weekend representatives
from the BCCS will be speaking at all Masses to explain the work which is
carried out in our Diocese with children in need and their families by this
Charity, which is completely funded by voluntary contributions.

SVP TRIP TO FRANCE: Phone 242170 or 844914 now if you have booked. All details will be given.  There is a ferry
connection, please do not be late!

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADE:  Next
Sunday, the High Street will be closed from its junction with Head Street to
its junction with Queen Street between the hours of 10am and 12.15pm.

MONKWICK NEWS: At St Theodore’s a Coffee Morning has been arranged to include
the sale of fancy goods and a raffle on Wednesday 15th November
from 10am onwards.  Come and bring your friends; there is
plenty of parking space!

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The Parish Programme will
start for the children on Saturday, 18th November with a
session in the Cardinal Bourne Hall from 10am until 12
noon.  The Programme is open to children in Year 3 or above. For
further information contact Hywel and Pam Edwards on 867325.

GRAND DRAW & PARISH SOCIAL -18th
November.  Grand Draw
prizes are still needed.  Please contact Bernie on 549524 or Ron
and Margaret on 797850.  Have
you handed in your sold Raffle Tickets yet?

CHARITY CONCERT:  Primary Schools from across the Diocese are joining forces to create
a spectacular Charity Concert in aid the Brentwood Catholic Children’s
Society and the Youth Service at the Brentwood Centre on two different
nights. Ten different schools each night.  Our
own St Thomas More Primary School
is involved on Friday 1st December at 6.30pm.  Please support them! Tickets £10
[£5 concessions].  Bookings
on 01277 262616.

THANK YOU FROM FRIENDS OF PERU: Snail Race raised £743 – fantastic!

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: “Hope in Dark Places” -  SUNDAY 10TH DECEMBER 7:45pm at ST JOHN’S
CHURCH, ST JOHN’S CLOSE, COLCHESTER. Hymns and Readings
for Advent with the Choir of St Peter & St Paul,
West Mersea; Choreography by cre8.  Tickets are FREE but limited to first
applicants. [Collection to cover expenses on the evening]. To book, call Liz
Bird on 01206 843383.  Come to
watch or take part!

CUMBERLEGE COMMISSION: Baroness Cumberlege is
heading a commission that is reviewing progress made by the Catholic Church
in implementing the arrangements for the protection of children and
vulnerable adults recommended by Lord Nolan in his report “A programme
for Action”.  The
deadline for submitting views has been extended to Friday 15th December 2006.  Individuals, organizations or representative
bodies are invited to submit their views through a secure email address via the Commission’s website: www.cumberlegecommission.org.uk
or you can write to the Commission at PO Box 54866, London SW1V 1WL.  The review is expected to be completed
in spring 2007.

CHRISTMAS ORCHESTRAL & CHORAL CONCERT: In Brentwood
Cathedral on Saturday 16th December at 7.30pm.
Tickets £10- unreserved.
Available from the Music Office, Cathedral House, Ingrave Rd. Brentwood CM15 8AT. Enclose SAE; cheques
payable to Brentwood Cathedral Music. Details of programme –01277 265288.

BCYS 2007: Advance
news – more details on poster in the porch and all bookable
now.  Disneyland & Paris
12-16 Feb Yr12+ with Fr Bob Hamill/Catholic
Fellowship.  HCPT Easter Lourdes 8-14 April
18+; Celebrate, Devon
– Christian Conference 8-14 April 16+.  Limited spaces.  Summer
Lourdes 21-29 July Yr10+. Call 01277 265286 for full booking details. Sydney 08 – 8-22 Jul approx.

Cost – around
£1750 – start saving now! Age 17+.

OUR MISSION
SUNDAY APPEAL raised
£1,029.92.  Thank you very
much.

APF RED BOXES TOTAL FOR 2006: £1,950.  Thank you very much from Bill de Smith.  If anyone would like a box, please
telephone him on 767597.

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 THIRTY-FIRST  SUNDAY OF
THE YEAR [B]

November 5th  2006

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

Saturday November 4th

Sunday   November 5th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

5:15 pm

Agnes
McInerney RIP

Jim
Lyons RIP

Intentions
of Lauren Hanson

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

West Mersea

6:30 pm

8:30 am

Michael
John Brennan RIP

Intentions
of Paul Galea

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Mary Prior RIP [O&B]

Monday 6th
Feria

Church

9:15 am

Aubrey Patrick Lyons

Molly McGreevy RIP

Tuesday 7th

Feria

Church                9:15 am
Intentions of Joe & Margaret Parkinson

Wednesday 8th

Thursday 9th

Feria

Church

DEDICATION  OF

Church    N.B.

9:15
am

OF
THE

8:00 am

Special
Intention

Sidney
and Rose Castell RIP

LATERAN
BASILICA

Intentions
of Doris

Friday 10th

Y5 Class
Mass

Church

Mersea

9:15 am

11:00am

St
Leo the Great, P.D.

Ken
Walker RIP

FUNERAL – STANLEY BELBIN RIP

Saturday 11th

St Martin of Tours, Bp.

Church

9:15 am

Ken
Herbert RIP

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

Remembrance
Day - November 12th 2006 A.D.

Saturday
November 11th

Sunday    November 12th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Geraldine
Arbuckle RIP

Eveline
Durbin RIP

Desmond
Quinn RIP

POLISH MASS

Intentions
of John Higgins

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Dec/Rels. Betts Family RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Joan Prior RIP [JN]

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