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

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

October 8th
2006 A.D.

Dear
Friends

To speak sensitively of the permanence of marriage
is difficult when so many people experience marital breakdown. In preaching
about God’s plan for marriage, there is also a need to recognise the
fragility and vulnerability that characterises many
relationships.  For some, the
hopes of the wedding day do become the joys of the future, for others they
become the disappointments of the past.

The poet, John Donne, wrote “No man is an
island” and the poem “Connection” by Irish poet, Brendan
Kennelly, starts with the line “Self knows that self is not enough”;
both men grasping that human life is enriched through relationships with
others, seeking another for communion and love.  This search for love is God
given.  The book of Genesis
indicates how man and woman can find their fullness through intimate relationship
with one another in marriage.  A
loving marriage is a source of great blessing and goodness.  For some, marriage does not become
this vision.  Situations of
violence or abuse in marriage must be condemned as wrong.  The hardness of heart that led Jewish
Law to permit divorce finds modern day parallels in the need for separation
and civil divorce to protect a person from violence and the liberation from
an oppressive situation. In answer to the Pharisees, Jesus does not question
the validity of the Law of Moses but claims it was a concession to human
sinfulness and in attempting to restore marriage to a serious life-long
commitment, Jesus’ argument also protects the woman from being treated
as a disposable possession of her husband. Experience teaches us that things
do go terribly wrong and the Church does try to make provision for human
failure and inadequacy – even if the help seems to
many to be slow in coming.
Nevertheless, the Church must submit to the vision of Jesus and
because we believe that marriage is a sacrament, we refuse to see it as a
casual experiment for adventurous people.  In recalling Genesis, Jesus invites
all of us to catch up with our beginning.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday 8th
October          8pm       ROSSICA
CHOIR          In Priory Street

Tuesday 10th
October
10:30am MERSEA COFFEE MORNING
See below

Tuesday 10th
October       7:30pm.
ROSARY
In
Priory Street

Wednesday 11th
October  7:30 pm SVP MEETING
Presbytery

HOLY
FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR
OCTOBER:  That the whole
Church may celebrate World Mission Sunday [22nd October] in a
spirit of universal missionary co-operation.

THANK
YOU to the Parish from Michael Keaveney,
Spokesperson for Aid to the Church in Need, “for their generosity and
kindness shown to the charity.  I
was made to feel so welcome, and enjoyed the many conversations I had”.  The total amount collected for this
Appeal was £1,357.69.  Thank
you very much.

LATE
ANNOUNCEMENT: Rossica Choir of St
Petersburg Concert will take place today, Sunday 8th, at 8pm in the Church.  Tickets available on the door:
£10 and £5 for children and concessions.  Any enquiries, contact John Sutcliffe
on 851838.

MEMBERS OF THE PARISH
COUNCIL will be speaking after all Masses this weekend, and there is a Parish
Open Meeting on 29th October in the Hall at 7.45pm as detailed on the poster in the porch.

MERCY ASSOCIATES:  Meet this Monday, 9th
October at 7:30pm at Christ Church Court.
Contact 763049.

ROSARY: During the month
of October, the KSC will be reciting the Rosary in local parishes.  This Tuesday, 10th, at 7.30pm here in Priory Street.  All are welcome.

MERSEA NEWS: There will be a
Coffee Morning on Tuesday, October 10th, starting at 10.30am at the home of Sue Jenner
– 64 St Peter’s Road, West Mersea.  Do come and join us.

ANNUAL REUNION MASS FOR LOURDES PILGRIMS:  In Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 14th
October at 3pm followed
by refreshments in the Hall.

ROSARY CRUSADE OF
REPARATION: Takes place on Saturday 14th October.  The procession follows the established
route from Westminster Cathedral at 2pm
to the Brompton Oratory, finishing about 5pm.  Full
details are on the poster in the church porch.

YOUTH GATHER – MERSEA ISLAND:  Organised by the Brentwood Catholic
Youth Service for those of school year 9+ takes place on 21st-22nd
October. Application forms can be downloaded from www.bcys.net or contact the Youth Office
– 01277 265286.  Cabin
spaces are limited but tent spaces bookable until
12th October.  The
weekend offers caving, archery, a 90ft climb and abseil, and plenty of time
for discussion on important issues, e.g. CAFOD “Live Simply”
campaign.

ST BENEDICT’S COLLEGE
APPLICATION FORMS:  Two Dates have
now been set aside for appointments with Fr Joseph for the completion of the
application Forms:-   Tuesday, 24th October and
Friday, 3rd November

between the following times:-  10.30am
– 12.30pm and 2.30pm
– 4.30pm.

Please telephone the Parish Office on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday to arrange

a 10 minute appointment.

MERSEA DAY – THURSDAY,
26TH OCTOBER:  Visits will be
made to the sick and housebound.
Please telephone the Parish Office if there is anyone in particular
need of a visit.  Mass will be
celebrated in the evening.  More
details will follow shortly.

JOURNEYING INTO PRAYER: A
DAY OF REFLECTION: On Saturday, 28th October in the Cardinal
Bourne Hall from 11am to 3.30pm
with Sr Helen and Valerie Quinlivan.
More details nearer the time.

FRIENDS OF PERU: Are organizing a Snail Race in the Cardinal Bourne
Hall on 28th October at 7.30pm.  Tickets £6 each, which includes
a chicken or fish and chip supper. A fun evening – snails are provided
– wooden ones!.  Entrance by ticket only, in advance,
from Helen Treby on 867707.

GRAND DRAW & PARISH SOCIAL: Saturday 18th November at 7.30pm in the Cardinal Bourne
Hall.  If you are able to donate
prizes – small NEW electrical goods, bottles of wine, spirits, etc.,
please contact Bernie on 549524 or Ron and Margaret on 797850.  Raffle Tickets will be on sale after
all Masses on the next two weekends.
All proceeds to our Refurbishment Fund.

DIARY DATE:
The SVP are
organizing a Pre-Christmas shopping trip to Calais on 29th November by
luxury coach.  £20 p.p. Book
early to reserve your seat by phoning Anna on 242170 or Ann on 844914 and for
time details,  etc.

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, 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 TWENTY-SEVENTH  SUNDAY OF
THE YEAR [B]

October 8th  2006

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

Saturday October 7th

Sunday   October 8th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

3:30 pm

6:30 pm

Paul
Evans RIP

Intentions
of Neil Brett

Patrick
Burke RIP

SIGNED MASS

Intentions
of Peter Barton

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Fionnuala
Reilly RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Fr
Stephen Lennon RIP

Monday  9th           Feria

Church

9:15 am

Maurice Foley RIP

Tuesday 10th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Intentions
of Brenda

Wednesday 11

Thursday 12th

SsEthelburga

Church

Feria

Church

Hildelithe

9:15 am

9:15 am

and  Cuthburga,
Rel.

The
Udall Family RIP

Bridget
Lynn RIP

Intentions
of Joan Herbert

Bridget
Lynn RIP

Friday 13th

Feria

Church

9:15
am

Frederick,
Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Saturday 14th

Feria

Church

9:15 am

Mr and Mrs Minator RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[B]

October
15th 2006 A.D.

Saturday
October 14th

Sunday    October 15th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

Marie
and Pierre Imbert RIP

Ken
Herbert RIP

Baby
Gabriel Ledwidge RIP

6:30 pm

Albert
Fuller RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Sid
Ashmore RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Intentions of Margaret and Paul Everitt

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