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 [A] – December 9th 2007

Dear Friends,

The little lad who was asked
by his teacher what he would do if the doorbell rang and Our Lord was
standing there and answered “I’d run upstairs Miss, get my
mum’s bible and hand it over to Our Lord saying ‘Jesus, this is
your life’ was closer to the mark than his teacher may have realised.
Notwithstanding that almost
three-quarters of the Bible was written before Jesus was born, that part -
called the Old Testament and which usually provides the first of our Sunday
readings -  gives us an
understanding of Jesus.  Without
the scriptures Jesus’ life would have no context; we’d be meeting
him in black and white rather than colour. Isaiah, eight centuries before the
birth of Christ, looks forward to when God’s people will rejoice in a
ruler who will bring peace, justice and knowledge of the Lord.  All four Gospels testify to an
important truth: that John the Baptist stands at the beginning of the
Gospel.  He is the one who marks
the end of the time of waiting and the beginning of the new age in
Jesus.  John resembles an early
punk when you look at his wardrobe – camel-hair and leather belt, and
his diet – locusts and wild honey, but this portrayal puts him within
the prophetic tradition [cf 2 Kings1:18] and he is conscious of his mission
to call Israel to repentance and to baptise those who do repent.  Why would busloads of people go into
the desert? Hardly a day’s outing and there is nothing to see.  But it is a mark of John’s
charismatic power; he is the voice speaking in the wilderness. He challenges everyone to change. He is not overwhelmed
by the leaders of orthodox religion or people with an impressive
pedigree.  No one can live on
borrowed fidelity, and good ancestors guarantee nothing.  People must change, says John,
otherwise a catastrophe will destroy Israel and the judgement will be
carried out by one who is to come.
That one we recognise of course as Jesus.  That call is addressed to us.  We hear it especially during the time
of Advent.  We don’t have to
make a trek into the wilderness, we hear it here in this place and acting on
it is the best preparation for the one who is to come.     God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 12th
December
7-9pm  Scripture
Course
Crypt

[FINAL SESSION UNTIL THE
NEW YEAR – RESTARTS 9th JANUARY]

Thursday 13th
December   7.30-9pm   RCIA Meeting
Presbytery

“
“
“
7.30pm  Choir Practice
Church

Saturday 15th
December    Children’s
Rehearsal [see below]
Crypt

Saturday 15th
December    11am-3.30pm Day of Reflection
Hall

HEATING:
An engineer has called and the pump had stuck which he therefore
fixed.  Now the heating should be
back to normal in the church and if there are any further problems you will,
no doubt, let us know!
Fr Joseph

BAPTISMS
TODAY:   Randall Nketiah,
Jovita Utti and Theodore Ramchurn.
God bless these children and congratulations to their family.

RETREAT
DAY FOR CATHOLIC HOSPITAL STAFF:  We have only
just been advised of this day at Abbotswick House of Prayer [near Brentwood]
next Saturday 15th December 11am to 5pm.  If you would like to attend, please
contact Fr Mark Swires on 01708 447761

MERSEA
NEWS: Mass and Confessions will take place at Mersea at 11am on 19th
December.  [There is therefore no
Eucharistic Service at 9.3-am
that day].

FLOWERS
FOR CHRISTMAS – POINSETTIAS:
As last year, you are invited to provide a poinsettia to be put around
the Church of St James the Less during the Christmas
season in memory of deceased loved ones.
Please note that each plant should rest in its own saucer.  Please leave them in Our Lady’s
Chapel and the flower arrangers will do the rest but please do not bring them in
before next Sunday [December 16th]. There will be a second
collection next week [at St James’ Church only] for flowers and
decorations in the Church over the Christmas period.

ADVENT RECONCILIATION
SERVICE:  will take
place on  22nd December
at 9:45 am at St James the Less. There will be at least three priests
present.

CHRISTMAS MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE –
MONDAY, 24th DECEMBER

Priory Street:
18:30
Christmas Vigil Mass [especially for families]

Monkwick:
19:30       CAROLS
followed by 20.00 VIGIL MASS

Priory Street:
23:30       CAROLS followed
by MIDNIGHT MASS

CHRISTMAS DAY –
TUESDAY, 25th DECEMBER

Priory Street:
08:00      Christmas Dawn Mass

10:30    Christmas Day Mass

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

Mile End:
09:15
Christmas Day Mass

CHILDREN are
encouraged to come to the Christmas Eve 6.30 Mass dressed up as a character
from the nativity story.  WANTED:  Children in Year 3 and above who would
like to be narrators at the 6:30pm
Christmas Vigil Family Mass.  A rehearsal will take place from 10am on Saturday 15th
December in the Crypt.  [Point of
contact Hywel Edwards: 867325]

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY ANNUAL CRIB
COLLECTION:  This annual
Diocesan collection also includes the carefully saved pocket money of the
children of our parish!  May we
gently remind them to save their pennies during Advent which can then be
wrapped as a present and brought up as an offering during the 6:30pm Family Vigil Mass.

CHILDREN’S
LITURGY:  In order to
improve the services for children in the church we have recently changed the
way that the children's liturgy runs. The children's liturgy in the crypt is
suitable for children 5-8 years old. It is important that the under fives do
not come down due to Child Protection Regulations. An under-fives group is
available in the Church Hall where the children must be accompanied
by a parent or carer. This group is new and will depend on the
support of the parents who use it. Please volunteer to help so that the group
can continue. [CRB checks will, of course, be needed].

There was a box of children's books at the back of the church which
appears to have gone missing. Does anyone know where it is? In the meantime
has anyone got any books of a suitably religious nature that they could
donate to create a new resource for parents of small children. Please give
your donations to the Children’s Liturgy Group.

DISPLAY
OF CRIBS FROM AROUND THE WORLD:  Castle Methodist
Church, Friday 14th
to Sunday 16th December.
Treat your children or grandchildren to the many delightful
exhibits.  It is free, but
gratefully received donations will go to Beacon House [care for the homeless].  See poster in the porch or contact
Margaret Griffin on 571590.

DAY
OF REFLECTION: What Do you want for Christmas? Give yourself a
present of time. Our Day of Reflection for Advent will be on Saturday
15th  December in the Cardinal
Bourne Hall from 11am to 3:30pm.Continuing our theme of “Call”,
we will reflect on “Christ’s Call at Christmas. Contact.
Valerie Quinlivan on 560935.

TEMPORARY
CLOSURE OF THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL from 9am 21st
January 2008 to 9am 7th February 2008.  This closure represents the first phase
of a refurbishment programme required to meet the current fire and safety
regulations.  The Cardinal Bourne
Hall is a self-supporting Registered Charity No: 234092.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John
Fisher, Florence Fuller, Denisia Gray, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre
Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Maria Lumsden, Luke McShane, Kathleen Morrisey,
Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover,
Peggy Wilding.

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

EVENING
PRAYER:
For venue, please see poster in the porch

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays at 8pm in
the Crypt

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

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2008:  Have now been delivered.  Please buy your copy.  Still at £2.25 – at least
for this year.

THE
PARISH WEB SITE:  For all
contact, inclusions etc., please contact Donald Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]  He may also be contacted via the
Presbytery, i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

THE
REPOSITORY is open each Sunday from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall.

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 us know in writing.

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT  [A]

DECEMBER 9th 2007 A.D. – Bible
Sunday

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

Saturday  December 8th

Sunday    December 9th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:00
pm

3:30
pm

5:00
pm

6:30
pm

Mrs Anne Byrne RIP

Margaret Moriarty RIP

Parishioners

POLISH
MASS

SIGNED
MASS

HOLY
HOUR

Moira Pryke RIP

West
Mersea

8:30
am

Ian Chaplin RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Deceased Relatives
of  Knapp Family

Monkwick

10:15 am

Intentions of Peggy and
Maria

Monday
10th          Feria

Tuesday
11th

Church               9:15
am   Dec/Rels:
Herbert/Richards Families RIP

Sidney and Rosa Castell RIP

Feria

Church
9.15 am    Holy Souls RIP [FG]

Wednesday
12th

Feria

Church
12:15 pm  Anne
Sears RIP [A]

Thursday 13th

Friday
14th

Saturday
15th

St Lucy, V.M.

Church                9:15
am   Frances Hoare RIP

St. John of
the Cross, Pr .D.

Church
9:15am   Joe McEneney RIP [A]

Deceased
Relatives of  Betts Family

Feria

Church
9.15 am  D/Rels of Banks & Loftus Families
and

Baby Sophie RIP

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT [A]

DECEMBER 16th 2007 A.D.  –“ Gaudete” Sunday

Saturday  December 15th

Sunday    December 16th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Intentions of Dr Nick
Chanarin

Thomas Murray RIP

Intns. of Bernard &
Isobel Healey [Ruby W/A]

POLISH
MASS

Salvina de Brito RIP

West
Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15 am

D/Relatives of Maria
Sagnella

Monkwick

10:15
am

Ted Wilding
RIP

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: 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