ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr  Anthony  McKentey

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

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT [C]

December 6th  2009

My dear friends

On the Second and Third Sundays of Advent the Liturgy centres on John the Baptist’s call to prepare a way for the Lord.  We must listen to John’s message of repentance so as to be ready for the coming of the Lord.  The opening prayer today states: Remove the things which hinder us from receiving Christ with joy.  I hope we can all try to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Christmas.

We received a communication this week from Fr Dominic Howarth, Vocations Promoter, about the re-launch of the Diocesan Vocations website, which you can read about in the Newsletter.  We are half way through the Year for Priests which the Pope launched from June 2009 until June 2010.  There are prayer cards available today from the Diocese to ask you to pray not only for vocations, but to pray for all priests.  You may be interested in the Diocesan Year Book 2010; where two newly ordained priests, James MacKay and Mark Reilly, describe how their vocations came about.

It was very enjoyable to meet so many of you at the Christmas Market last weekend.  Special thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it a success and to raise valuable funds for the parish.

May God bless you all.

Fr Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK [Please check for any changes]

Wednesday 9th  Dec          7pm       SVP Meeting

“            “                    7 pm       Parish Council Meeting

7:30pm    Final Scripture Course             Crypt                    Thursday 10th                   7:30pm     RCIA Course                             Crypt

Friday 11th                         4:30pm  “Over 6yrs” Baptism Course     Crypt

“       “                            7:30pm    Advent Prayer                   See below

Saturday 12th                   10-12        FHC Group                        See below

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine Mercy  [Wednesday 11:30am]

PRAYER GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                                   Tuesdays at 8pm in the Crypt

EXPOSITION:                                               Saturdays at 9:45am – 10:30am

SICK:  Please remember in your prayers June Bickersteth, Claire Cooper, Lisette Graziani,, Mary Roddy, Hector Silva.

HOLY FATHER’S MISSION INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER:  That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognise in Jesus the light of the world and open their hearts to him.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS IN PRIORY STREET:  There will be a second collection next weekend, 12th/13th December, at Priory Street for flowers in the Church for Christmas [instead of Poinsettias].

DIOCESE OF BRENTWOOD – YEAR FOR PRIESTS: Today our prayers are asked for all those discerning a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood, as we celebrate the relaunch of www.brentwoodvocations.org with new resources and a “Priests Blog” – share with fourteen Priests of the Diocese as they present a snapshot of living Priesthood, day by day.  The annual collection to pay for the training of students for the Priesthood [BEEF] took place here in September. If you are interested in a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood please speak to your Parish priest, or contact Fr Dominic Howarth or Mgr John Armitage via the Vocations website.

BAPTISMS TODAY:  Finn Malkin.  God bless this child and congratulations to his family.

BAPTISM COURSE:  The next Baptism course has been arranged for Fridays, January 29th and 5th February 2010 at 7:30pm in the Crypt [entrance via the Church].  This Course is for all those wishing to have a child [of up to 6 years] baptised.  There is no need to make an appointment but both sessions must be attended.  If you have a child of 6 and above, the next Course will take place sometime in April.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Alwyn Staines and Hubert Seifert who have recently died.  Alwyn’s Funeral will take place on Thursday, 10th December, at 12:30pm.  May they rest in peace.  The funerals of Hubert Seifert and Norma Golding have yet to be arranged.

ADVENT PRAYER IN THE CHURCH at 7.30pm, Friday 11th December; followed by Reflection and Discussion in the Crypt, led by the Ven Michael Fox : 'Creation and Incarnation. Christ in the Manger; Christ in the Cosmos'.

Finish by 9.30pm

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION : The children meet for the second session on Beginnings on Saturday 12th December at 10am in Cardinal Bourne Hall, and children enrolled on the Programme will take part in the Inscription Mass on Sunday 13th December at 10:30am.  Prayer Sponsors for the children will be gathered after all Masses this weekend.  For further information contact Hywel & Pam Edwards on 867325 / [email-masked].

PENITENTIAL SERVICE:  Will take place at Priory Street on Monday, 21st December, at 7:30pm and all three priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

READERS REQUIRED:  We are rather short of readers at the 8am and 6:30pm Sunday Masses at present.  Volunteers would be most welcome to contact Francis Carter on 01206 864479.

CLEANERS URGENTLY REQUIRED for Priory Street.  Please contact Helena on 794636.

SINGLE AT CHRISTMAS?: We plan a sherry reception at 1pm and a traditional Christmas 3-course lunch from 1:30pm with wine [or beer of soft drinks if you prefer]. Transport may be available for those unable to get to CBH and back. Lunch is chef prepared and exact cost depends on numbers.  This is the last call.  If interested, contact John Sutcliffe on 851838 by next Sunday, 13th December.

WRAP PROJECT: The Night Shelter has again asked us to take part in the WRAP Project (Winter Reserve Accommodation Project). The idea is that the town centre Churches open their halls to the homeless during January and February if the Night Shelter is full. We each organise a week in January and a week in February. We need 28 volunteers so that two people stay in the Cardinal Bourne Hall overnight with anyone who cannot get into the Night Shelter. All necessary guidance and support will be given to volunteers. New volunteers will be placed with those who have helped before. If you can help or just want to know more call Mike Sheehan on 01206 854934 (after 7pm).

WALK WITH ME BOOKLETS – A Journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmastide 2009:   Do take a copy of this Advent Reflection. These booklets, available at £1 each, have been specially prepared for our Diocese, with an introduction by Bishop Thomas.

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2010:  Available at the back of the Church.  Again, priced at £2.50 each.

CAFOD WORLD GIFTS CATALOGUE:  Make a real and lasting difference to someone fighting poverty.  Buy chickens for poor farmers-£20; temporary disaster shelter-£9; training a birth attendant-£30; school starter pack-£7; teacher training for adult literacy workers-£10; filter for safe, clean water-£30. Please take a catalogue and give a gift.  Thank you.                      J&P Group.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass.  A registration form [on the table in the porch] will need to be completed.  If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let the Parish Office know.

THE PARISH WEB SITE:  For all inclusions etc, please get in touch with Don Clarke.  His email address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND  SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

Vocations Sunday – 6th December 2009

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

Saturday December 5th

Sunday  December 6th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Deirdre Kehoe RIP

Wilbur & Muriel MacDonald RIP

Bert Ray RIP

Dr Edmund Solomon RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Dec. Relatives: Knapp Family RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

John Brennan RIP

Monday 7th

St Ambrose, Bp.D.

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Ian & Ellen Woodley

Ray Gardiner RIP

Tuesday 8th

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE B.V.M.

Church      9:15 am   Stephen Hilton RIP

Wednesday 9th

Feria

Church    12:15 pm   Frederick Fordham RIP

Thursday 10th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Special Intention

Church    12:30 pm   REQUIEM:  Alwyn Staines RIP

Friday  11th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Fr Tony

Saturday 12th          Feria

Church        9:15am   Dec/Rels: Zlocki & Pauk Families RIP

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

“Gaudete” Sunday -  13th December 2009

Saturday  December 12th

6:15 pm

Moira and Dennis Pryke RIP

Sunday    December 13th

8:00 am

Dermot & Margaret Moriarty RIP

10:30am

2:00 pm

5:00 pm

John Fisher RIP [SVP]

POLISH MASS

HOLY HOUR

6:30 pm

Jim Higgins RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

D/Rels: Lavery&0’Dwyer Families RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Donald Sutcliffe RIP [A]

Monkwick

10:15am

Parishioners

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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION   Saturday 9:45-10:30am and 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]

www.marriagecare.org.uk   or 0800 389 3801.             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092