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 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT  [A]  - March 9th  2008

Dear Friends,

In today’s Gospel we hear how the death of
Lazarus leaves a large absence in the lives of those who loved him.  By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus is
already dead and Martha voices regret: if Jesus had been with them earlier,
things would surely have turned out differently.   But Jesus’ absence is
essential to the story.  John
tells us at the beginning of his account that through the death of Lazarus,
the Son of God will be glorified.
Just as the blindness of the man in last week’s Gospel served to
show Jesus as the light, so the death of Lazarus will serve to show Jesus as
the life.  When Jesus tells Martha
that her brother will rise again, he will show her that he means now:  “I am the resurrection and the
Life”.  Because Lazarus is
dead it does not mean that it is too late for Jesus to be his life, and the
great miracle is that while he is dead, Lazarus hears the word of Jesus and
obeys it.  Still enshrouded, the
community is now addressed by Jesus:
“Unbind him; let him go free” and, in obeying, the
community plays its part in helping Lazarus to unwind and emerge into the
light of his new life.

This story shows the power Jesus has to call us
out of our tombs – for the Christian life only begins when we hear the
word of God and obey it.  We know
we don’t have to be dead physically to be in need of being raised
up.  We can be dead in the midst
of life – hoping for a word and a community that will put us together
again.  The voice of Jesus
challenges us to take responsibility for others.  If we see someone buried alive we are
invited to do as both Jesus and the community do in the Gospel: call them and
help them go free.  If we do that
as part of our Lenten task, then resurrection at Easter won’t come as
too much of a surprise.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 12th           10am      Stations, Mass,
Confessions
Mersea

“
“
10am
Stations of the Cross
Monkwick

“        “
12:45-2pm    Lenten Lunch
Crypt

“
“              7-9pm      Scripture Course
Crypt

“                 “
7:30pm
Stations of
the Cross
Mile End

Friday 14th                  7:30pm
Stations of the Cross            St James the Great

“       “
PM/Sat AM
Students
Hall
and Crypt

Saturday March 15th  10am
Reconciliation Service
Church

[including
Children making their first Confession]

“
“
“
7:30pm      St Patrick’s Night
Hall

LENTEN OBSERVANCES IN THE
PARISH

STATIONS
OF THE CROSS:  This
coming Friday, March 15th, the final Stations of the Cross will be at St
James the Great.

STATIONS
OF THE CROSS AT ST
JOSEPH’S MILE END:  At 7:30pm on the Wednesdays in Lent.

CHURCHES
TOGETHER IN CENTRAL COLCHESTER “Lent Together”:  Friday 14th March - Eld
Lane Baptist
Church.  1pm.

“LIVE
SIMPLY” LENTEN LUNCHES: In the Crypt at 12:45pm on Wednesdays until 19th
March.  Proceeds to our twin
parish of Damesfontein,
South Africa.

WEDNESDAY
12th MARCH AT 10AM: At Mersea - Stations of the Cross, followed by
Mass, following Sacrament of Reconciliation.  At
Monkwick – Stations of the Cross.

RECONCILIATION
SERVICE: Saturday
15th March, 10am at Priory Street. Three priests will be
available to hear Confessions.

TRIDUUM SERVICES AT PRIORY STREET

Maundy Thursday       8pm   Mass of the Last Supper/Veneration to 12midnight

Good Friday
3pm    Solemn Liturgy of the
Passion

Holy Saturday
7pm    Easter Vigil     [No Confessions AM
or PM]

Easter Sunday   -  23rd March  Masses at usual Sunday times

CONGRATULATIONS TO FR
PAUL DYNAN on becoming a Grandfather!
Lucy Jane arrived on the 27th February weighing at
6lbs.8ozs.  Mother, baby and
grandfather all doing very well.

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT
WEEK – PALM SUNDAY:   A second collection will
be taken after all Masses at Priory
Street only next Sunday for flowers &
decorations during the Easter season.

EASTER LILIES:  If you would like to donate a bloom in
memory of a loved one, please enclose an offering of £2.50 in an
envelope marked “Easter Lily” and deliver to the Priests’
House.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of
Dermot Moriarty who has recently died.
Dermot was for many years a very active member of this parish and latterly
lived in Lexden.  His funeral took
place there last Friday.   May he rest in peace and we pray
for his family at this time.

MERCY
ASSOCIATES meet at 7.30pm on Monday, 10 March at Christ Church Court.

HFE BILL:  Meeting with Bob Russell MP-14th
March-Magdalen Hall, Wimpole Road. Meeting yet to be
arranged with Bernard Jenkins MP. Letter-writing
sessions commence 16th March after morning Masses in the
CBH.  This Bill is now before the
Commons - it is vital to write to your MP.  Guidance will be given at the
sessions.  Contact John Sutcliffe
851838.

STUDENT CROSS:  A group of pilgrims will be gathering
in our parish on the evening of Friday 14th March.  We are looking for volunteers to help
cook and serve an evening meal and breakfast.  If you would like to help or find out
more contact Hywel Edwards on
867325.  Theresa Higgins will join the Student Cross Group and walk all the way to Walsingham
from Colchester (approx 100 miles) arriving on Good Friday.  She is looking for sponsorship. All
money will go to Brentwood Catholic Youth service for World Youth Day and
Summer Lourdes

ST
PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION:  Saturday 15th March in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall 7.30pm – 11pm.  Hot Irish Meal.  Live Music, singing and dancing.  Tickets now on sale – Adults
£7.50; Children 11 and under £5. To book contact Frances
369568; Nora 503410; Peter 841236.

COACH
TO CHRISM MASS:  Wednesday March 19th.  Pick up point will be Gala Bingo, Osborne St. 5pm.  It will be a Hedingham’s
Coach.

VOLUNTEERS
ARE REQUIRED for feet washing on
Maundy Thursday.  Please write
down your name & tel.no. and
put through the Presbytery door . Thank you

VACANCY:     Assistant
to Property and Finance, Cathedral House, Brentwood

Permanent
post in the Finance Department.  25-30 hours p.w.,
salary negotiable. Experience in property administration desirable, as well
as good IT and interpersonal skills. To request application pack please call
01277 265280 or e-mail [email-masked]

THANK
YOU from [1] KSC for the
support at the Valentines Dance.
£230 was raised for The Little Havens Children’s Hospice;
[2] Friends of Peru for the support at their Beetle Drive.  £160 was raised for the Sisters
of Mercy Mission in Peru.

ARE
YOU A CAR DRIVER AND COULD YOU SPARE AN HOUR ONCE A MONTH/SIX WEEKS:  Please contact the Parish Office.

APRIL
DIARY DATES: Saturday 5th April. Aid to the Church in Need pilgrimage to Walsingham.  Transport available but limited
seats.  Full details from John
Sutcliffe 851838. Saturday 12th April: SVP Spring Outing by
coach to the Norfolk Broads.  Will
include 1 1/2hr river cruise on a paddle steamer and afternoon visit to Snape Maltings.  Start: 9am.  Cost:
£17.50 pp.  To book ring
Anna 242170; Ann 844914.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine
Libby, Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford,
Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy
Wilding.

DAILY:
Rosary 8:40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:40am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday to Friday 5:45pm
in the Church

PRAYER
GROUP:                                       Mondays at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm at No.48
Priory Street

EXPOSITION:                                   Saturdays
10am – 11am

GIFT AID: Envelopes for the new tax
year are now in Priory Street Lobby.
Please take your set as soon as possible : the
boxes have to go also to the Mass Centres.  This year, the small sets for those
who pay by Standing Order are also in boxes and arranged numerically even if you do not make donations other than by
Standing Order. Please take your set so
we can “clear the decks”.
If you are a tax payer and wish to donate by way of Gift Aid at no
cost or inconvenience to you, please contact John Ross, the Co-ordinator on 366077.

LITURGY FOR THE FIFTH
SUNDAY OF LENT [ A]

March 9th 2008 A.D

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

Saturday  March 8th

Sunday
March 9th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:00
pm

3:30
pm

5:00
pm

6:30
pm

Christina Mooney RIP

Pat Keegan RIP

Parishioners

POLISH MASS

SIGNED MASS

HOLY HOUR

Patricia Pryke RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Brian McGurk RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Len Moulding RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Maria Lumsden RIP [GMcC]

Monday 10th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Frances Hoare RIP

Fr Michael Groarke RIP

Tuesday 11th

Wednesday 12th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Nellie Armstrong RIP

Feria

Thursday 13th

Friday 14th

Saturday 15th

Mersea
10:00 am
Holy Souls RIP

Church
12:15 pm  Cora and Philomena RIP

Feria

Church                9:15
am  Intentions of Mrs
Tide and Family

Feria

Church                9:15 am  Leo Carroll RIP

Holy
Souls RIP

ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Church
9:15 am  D/Rels
Herbert/Richards Families RI

Holy Souls
RIP

LITURGY FOR PALM SUNDAY
OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD  [A]

16th  March 2008 A.D.

Saturday  March 15th

Sunday    March 16th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Stephen Mooney RIP

Beatrice & Geoffrey Foley RIP

John and Julie O’Connor RIP

Parishioners

West Mersea

8:30
am

Julia Hoy RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Mr & Mrs Griffin RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Kath and Brian Morrisey RIP

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION  March 15th  AM -  See Inside.      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]

Marriage
Care
www.marriagecare.org.uk
0800 389 3801

Vocations                                             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092