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

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD [B]

August 6th
2006 A.D.

Dear Friends

One of the fascinating things about drama is that
on the stage we are given an image of reality.  For a couple of hours we agree that
actors are real people, the sets are real rooms and the emotions and
reactions are eternal in their consequences.  We do this because in a mysterious way
the artificial world of drama is more true than our
world.  Yet during the two hours
when the curtain goes up and the lights dim we have learned truths about reality which help us cope with the so
called real world.

Visions operate in a similar way.  For a moment mystics glimpse another
world, and what they learn helps them understand the real world.  Daniel records a wonderful vision
“I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of
man”.  He glimpsed the very
throne of God.  Some people think
the term “son of man” simply means ‘man’.  Others think ‘Son of Man’
is a royal title.  It probably
means both.  It is an obscure
reference in the Old Testament, yet it is the same term that Jesus
appropriates for himself in the gospel.
At the Transfiguration this term comes into its own because suddenly
in the mystical vision the three apostles understand the truth.  The two meanings of the term
‘Son of Man’ come together.
At the transfiguration they understand for a moment that this ordinary
man is not only the Son of Man, but the Son of God.

Transfiguration is not a solitary event in the
Gospel but one that happens over and over again.  Throughout his public ministry Jesus
transfigured many people – the broken, the wounded, and the
wayward.  He called to the deepest
part of people and transfigured them by the power of God’s love, the
same power that transfigured Jesus himself.  For Jesus that experience was getting
closer to who he really was.  And
we all get closer to who we really are when we hear our name called in
love.  When that happens we become
radiant, and we are enabled to face the future.
God
bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

24/7 Prayer Room all Week
until 6pm 12th
August.  Venue – see below

Sunday 6th
August
6.30pm    MISSA de ANGELIS     Priory Street

Tuesday 8th
August    10:30am   Mersea Coffee Morning as below

Saturday 12th
August
2-4pm
Afternoon Tea at Monkwick as below

THE HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR AUGUST: That Christians may be aware of their calling to be
missionaries at all times and places.

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION: A statement from Cardinal Cormac
Murphy-O’Connor, President of the Bishops’ Conference:  “For some time the Bishops have
been considering the celebration of Holy Days of Obligation in England and Wales.  We have responded to requests from
Diocesan Councils of Priests and many others, deeply concerned at the
diminishing observance of these days.
In order to foster the celebration of the rhythm of the liturgical
year and to celebrate more profoundly the mysteries of the life and mission
of the Lord, the Bishops have decided to transfer to Sunday those Holy Days
of Obligation which are the Solemnities of the Lord [other than Christmas
Day].  This means that the
Epiphany, The Ascension of the Lord and Corpus Christi
will now be celebrated on Sunday”.

THE USUAL MONTHLY CAFOD COLLECTION will be taken at the end of all Masses today.  Please remember,
if you are a Gift Aider to use the relevant
envelope or clearly mark a plain envelope with the collection name and your
number.  Thank you.

VANDALISM IN THE HALL CAR PARK: Unfortunately,
a third vehicle has been “key scratched” whilst parked behind
the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  Again,
the Police have been informed.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose
of the soul of Nancy Walker who has died recently.  May she rest in peace.

BAPTISMS
TODAY: Glenn Ryan Naol and Erin Zia Dela Cruz.  God bless these
children and congratulations to their parents.

BAPTISMAL
COURSES:  Parents who wish to have a
child baptised need to have completed a Baptismal Course.  The actual date of the baptism will be
arranged with the priests at that time.
The next Session will be announced in the Newsletter in due course.

RECOMMISSIONED EXTRAORDINARY
MINISTER OF HOLY COMMUNION:  Molly
Hefford  has now been recommissioned and received her Certificate at Mersea
last Sunday.  Our prayers and thanks
to Molly and to all our Extaordinary Ministers of
Holy Communion.

24/7 TOWN CENTRE PRAYER
ROOM: Has been running from last Saturday  to 6pm next Saturday, 12th
August at Colchester Evangelical Church, Abbeygate
Street.  If you want to pray at
night – 9pm – 8am,
please book. All other details from Richard and KatySmith
522781; [email-masked]
or see the Poster in the church
porch.

MERSEA COFFEE MORNING:  This Tuesday August 8th,
10.30 at No 4 Westwood Drive,
West Mersea.

AFTERNOON TEA PARTY:  to be
held at the home of Christine and Atholl Brown, 3 Adelaide Drive, on
Saturday August 12th between 2pm and 4 pm.  Entrance £3.50. and all proceeds to Monkwick Church Fund.  Please telephone 504302 if you will be
coming.

ST JAMES’ DAY:  The
feast of St Helen on the 18th August will be marked by a St
James’ Day, during which local visits to the sick and housebound will
be made.  If there is anyone in
particular need of a visit, please telephone the parish office. In the
evening there will be a …………..

PARISH BARBECUE:  Mass will be celebrated
at 6pm followed by a family BBQ in the Presbytery garden. As numbers have to
be limited to 100, please put your name and the number of people coming on the
list in the Church porch.   Entrance £3 [to include a
burger].  Proceeds to Parish
funds.  Raffle.  Please bring your own drinks.    Helpers welcome.

VACANCIES FOR A HOUSE MOTHER
AND DEPUTY to run the Good Counsel Home for mothers/expectant mothers in West London.
Both jobs are part-time live-in positions.  Applicants must be committed
pro-lifers and should understand and support the teachings of the Roman
Catholic Church.  For full job
description, please call Clare McCullough: 020 7723 1740; [email-masked]

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, John
Rae, Carole Stover.

FINANCES:
Last week you gave £1,584.
+ standing orders of £487.   Thank you very much. We have also
recently received an anonymous donation of £500 to be used to upgrade
the sound system in the church, and a bequest of £1,000 to be used for
the benefit of our parish community.

“TRIDENTINE
MASS”:  The Bishop has
given permission for a “Tridentine” Mass at St Ethelburga’s, Barking, every
Sunday at 12:30pm.  This permission has been given for an
experimental period until the end of 2006, when it will be reviewed.  All enquiries to Fr William Young,
Parish Priest, 020 8594 2849.
Other contact details are to be found on the poster in the porch.

THE PARISH WEB SITE, is detailed on the front of the Newsletter.  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 marked for his attention.

LITURGY
FOR THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD [B]

August 6th  2006

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

Saturday August 5th

Sunday   August 6th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

5:15 pm

6:30 pm

Ludmilla
Clarke RIP

Intentions
of Mr Lewis & Friends

Hugh
Smith RIP

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

Sheila
O’ Sullivan RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Ellen
and William Rafferty RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Joan
Cleary RIP & John Ryan RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Hilda
Grimmer RIP [OH]

Monday 7th
Feria

Church

9:15 am

Rev. Fr. William Rhatigan RIP [A

Herbert Ray RIP

Tuesday 8th

St
Dominic, Pr.

Church               9:15 am    Intentions of Andrew Pickard

Wednesday 9th

Thursday 10th

ST
TERESA

Church

S.LAWRENCE

Church

9:15 am

9:15 am

BENEDICTA
OF THE CROSS, V.M.

Mary McGinley RIP [A]

DEACON,
M. Feast

Margaret
Walsh RIP

Friday 11th

St
Clare, V.

Church

9:15 am

Intentions
of Sr Helen

Saturday 12th

Feria

Church

9:15 am

James
Banks RIP and Sophie RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

August 13th 2006 A.D.

Saturday
August12th

Sunday    August 13th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

Lionel
Wright RIP

Intentions
of Lea Mary Kernat

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Marie
Quinn RIP

Elizabeth
Higgins RIP & Descendants

West Mersea

8:30 am

Anne
Kane RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

John
Jo Kelly RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

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)

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity  No. 234092