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

THE SECOND
SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]

December 7th 2008 A.D.

Dear
Friends

Change is always difficult, even when it is
chosen.  Forced change is painful
and shatters life.  Refugees and
asylum seekers – victims of war and conflict – did not choose
their situation; men and women who have been made redundant know the pain of
forced change which dramatically alters their lives, relationships and
financial situation.  Life is
often unpredictable yet we long for stability and order in the midst of the
confusion.  It can be difficult to remain hopeful
and God can seem distant and uncaring.
Again this week, the readings urge the people to continue to trust in
God. The second letter of Peter gives encouragement to those waiting for the
Lord’s Second Coming and warns against being impetuous.  The purpose of God’s plan is to
give people time to change.  God
is patient and works slowly; he will bring freedom from whatever enslaves a
person and this will happen at the right time for each person. Though we are
impatient we are called to trust.
To trust in God’s providence requires great faith.  The disciples who knew Jesus in the
flesh struggled to believe in him.
We should not lose heart if doubt persists.  It can be a period for deepening
faith.  The path to God needs time
and different people are at different stages of the journey.  God is gentle and does not rush
people, allowing each to respond in his or her own time.

God works in God’s own time in ways that are
deeply mysterious, and the birth of Jesus Christ changes the meaning of time
forever.  Time
has a new purpose as each of us is called to become a friend of God.

God
bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK –
ALWAYS CHECK FOR ANY CHANGES

Sunday 7th December   7:30pm Preliminary Confirmation Meeting-Crypt

Wednesday 10th
7pm     SVP Meeting
Presbytery

Saturday 13th
10-12     FHC Programme [see below]          Crypt

Sunday 14th
10:30 Mass     “
“
“
Church

UNDERSTANDING: At the 10:30
Mass this morning Catechists for Sacramental Preparation will receive a
special blessing.  The children of the First Holy Communion Programme
will gather on Saturday 13th December to complete the sessions on
Beginnings.  The 10:30
Mass on 14th December will be the Inscription Mass and all children should
attend.

BAPTISMS TODAY:    Daniel and Mia Huggins,  Mia Marano, Eleanor and Katharine Pembroke.   God bless
these children and congratulations to their families.

CONGO CRISIS APPEAL:  Our monthly CAFOD collection, which
will be taken up after all Masses today, will be directed to this Appeal
where the partners of CAFOD who are on the ground are trying to help the
250,000 people made homeless by the fighting between government troops and
rebels

CONFIRMATION:  If
you are currently in Y9 and above, and would like to know more about the
Sacrament of Confirmation, you are invited to a preliminary meeting entitled
“Come and See” tonight after evening Mass at 7:30pm in the
Crypt.  More details from Andrew
Johnson on 861360.

NEW LIFE – AN ART
EXHIBITION IN COLCHESTER:  Final Day today Sunday December 7th
12.30 – 6.30pm at CASTLE METHODIST
CHURCH. The pictures, which focus on Advent,
Christmas, Creation and Prayer are for sale and are the work of Sr Mary Stephen CRSS.  The day opens with Prayer and closes
with Evening Prayer.

SECOND COLLECTION FOR CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:  Next weekend
at Priory Street,
there will be a second collection after all Masses. If you would like to
provide a Poinsettia from Sunday 21st
December, please leave them, together with saucer, for the flower arrangers
in Our Lady’s Chapel.

TABERNACLE: The lock was changed during the week
so we can now go ahead with the Mass of Reparation.  This will take place on Friday 12th
December at 7:30pm in Priory Street.  There will be no 9:15am Mass that day.

The scouts of
Colchester Estuary District request the pleasure of your company for the distribution
of the International Peacelight from Bethlehem

on Tuesday 16th
December at 19:30hrs at St James the Less and St Helen, Priory St.
Colchester.

TAIZE EVENING:  Thursday December 18th at 7pm in St John the Baptist Church, Iceni Way,
Shrub End.  A meditative and
musical event with Readings,
in the Church lit by candlelight, and followed by hot drinks and mince
pies.   All are welcome.

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION:  Will take place on Friday, 19th December at 7:30pm in Priory Street and
four priests will be available for the Sacrament.

CHRISTMAS
MASSES

Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th:

Priory Street      18:00 Vigil Mass especially for
families

Monkwick
19:30  Carols followed by Vigil Mass at 20:00

Priory Street      23:30  Carols followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Thursday  25th:

Priory Street      08:00  Christmas Dawn Mass

10:30  Christmas Day Mass

12:00  Polish Mass

Mersea
08:30 Carols
followed by 9am Christmas Dawn Mass

Mile End:
09:15 Christmas
Day Mass

COLCHESTER NIGHTSHELTER
is pleased to once again be running the Winter Reserve Accommodation
Project in the Cardinal Bourne Hall commencing Wednesday January 14 and
the week commencing Wednesday February 11. To volunteer or to ask any
questions please contact Anne or Mike Sheehan on 07717 414554 or 01206 854934
(evenings) or see them after Saturday evening Mass in Priory Street.

MINISTRY
OF WELCOME: Peter Thorpe, our Co-ordinator, has asked
for volunteers to cover the Rota for 24th/25th
December. If you can help at any of the Christmas Masses, please fill in the
appropriate slots.

UPDATE:  GRAND
CHRISTMAS CLEAN  at Priory
Street on Thursday, 18th December
from 10a.m. Are you able to help?
Mince pies and refreshments on offer!!

SICK
PARISHIONERS:    Yvette Hughes, Mary Pink, Peggy Wilding.

DAILY:
Rosary 8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday to Friday 5.45pm
in the Church

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays @ 8pm @ 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
9:45am – 10:30am

FINANCIAL
STATEMENT:   Enclosed with
this week’s Newsletter is the annual Financial Statement which I urge
you all to read.
FR JOSEPH

FINANCES:
We are looking
for volunteers to assist with the Finance Committee, Premises and
Fund-raising.  If you are able to
help, please speak to Fr Joseph or to Adrian Livesley, Secretary of the Finance
Committee, on 01206 842636.

Many thanks
to all who attended the SPUC Coffee Morning on Friday November 14th  at
Greenstead; including the raffle and sales etc. £54.19 was
raised for the “Society for the Protection of Unborn Children”,
your support is greatly appreciated, God bless..
Mark Saunders

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 let the Parish Office know.

VACANICES: School places available at St Philomena's Catholic School, Frinton, near the seafront.
For further details see poster in the porch & contact Bernadette Buck
(Head) on 01255 674492 or contactus@st
philomenas.com

BRENTWOOD DIRECTORIES:  Are now available at the
back of the Church.  Price
£2.50. [the first price increase in seven
years]. N.B. Price increase in
both the Universe & Catholic Herald.

LITURGY FOR THE
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]

December 7th 2008

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

Saturday  December 6th

Sunday
December 7th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Jay Family Intentions

Mary and Andrew
McAllister RIP

Tony Rozier
RIP

D/Rels:
Brogan/Owens Families RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Alfred Sagnella RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

D/Relatives: Wrobel Family RIP

Monday
8th

THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION OF THE B.V.M.

Church      9:15
am   Deceased Rels
of Philip & Alice White

D/Rels.
[Hungarian Lady]

Tuesday
9th

Feria

Church
9:15 am   Intentions of Chukwudi
Udeze

Wednesday
10th

Feria

Church      12:15 pm   Timothy
English RIP

Thursday
11th

Feria

Church N.B 8:00
am   Yadi Khodaverdi RIP

Friday
12th

Mass of

Reparation

Feria

Church        7:30 pm   Intentions of Don Swan

Saturday 13th       St Lucy, V.M.

Church         9:15am   David
Lee RIP [A]

LITURGY FOR
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]

[Gaudete Sunday] -
December 14th
2008 A.D.

Saturday   December 13th

Sunday     December 14th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

2:00
pm

3:30 pm

5:00
pm

6:30 pm

Moira Pryke RIP

Margaret Moriarty RIP

Private Intention

POLISH
MASS

SIGNED
MASS

HOLY
HOUR

D/Rels:
Herbert/Richards Families RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Bridget Jowers RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Leo Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

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