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

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

November
12th 2006 A.D.

Dear
Friends

The Gospel today contrasts two groups of people.
Jesus warns his apostles about the attitudes of the Pharisees. Whilst living
the law was a way to holiness, unfortunately the Pharisees began to see
themselves as better Jews than others.   Their inflated opinions of
themselves led them to impose burdens on people,
especially the poor and they also despised those who could not keep the law.
In contrast to the attitudes of the Pharisees, Jesus praises the widow whose
offering is small but represents all she has. By trusting in God’s
promise she shares her meal and is blessed with an
abundance.  Her world is
turned upside down.

There is a tendency in most of us to like things
the way they are and, consequently, change is very difficult.  It is difficult to accept that at
times God turns the way we see the world upside-down. It is startling to
recognise that it is the generosity of the poor that can reveal God’s
plan in a special way. Conversion and change is a slow process; it requires
growing in trust in God and beginning to see the world in another way.  A time of vulnerability, but leading
to the capacity to be able to let go of self-reliance and possessions and to
recognise dependence on God.  For
those of us who have grown up with the phrases “save for a rainy
day”; “be prudent and have insurance”, today’s
radical Gospel can be quite a struggle.
A starting point might be to desire this change more deeply and then
to enjoy the giftedness of life.
Celebration of the gift encourages spontaneity and from this rich
source of freedom generosity may follow.

For Jesus, true generosity is measured not by
what people give but by what they have left after they give.
God Bless

.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

11/12th
November
All Masses
BCCS Appeal

Wednesday 15th
November  10am    Monkwick Coffee Morning

Thursday 16th
November  7:30pm    Journey in Faith
[Crypt]

Saturday 18th November  10-12   First Holy Communion
Programme   See below

“
“
“
11am  Remembrance Service
– St James the Great

“
“
“
7.30pm  Grand Draw & Parish Social   See below

HOSPITAL
CHAPLAINCY – DATA PROTECTION ACT.
The Oaks Hospital has recently withdrawn from the Chaplaincy Agreement
with the Regional Health Trust and this is an opportune moment to remind
parishioners that the only way we know if a Catholic patient has been
admitted to hospital and would like a visit from the Chaplaincy Team is
either from the patient themselves, family or friends.  Under the Data Protection Act, we are
no longer advised by the medical authorities.
Fr Joseph

ADMINISTRATION
OF COMMUNION AND VIATICUM TO THE SICK BY A SPECIAL MINISTER:  If any Eucharistic Minister
would like an up to date copy of this booklet, they are available from the
Parish Office, price £2.75.  Those who were commissioned for the
first time last June should have already received their copy.

BAPTISMS
TODAY: Luca Anzalone and Daniel Calladine.  God bless these  children and congratulations to
their families.

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for
the repose of the soul of Linda May Smith who has recently died.  May she rest in peace.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY APPEAL:  This weekend representatives
from the BCCS will be speaking at all Masses to explain the work which is
carried out in our Diocese with children in need and their families by this
Charity, which is completely funded by voluntary contributions.  Please also see posters in the Porch
advertising many fundraising events.

SVP TRIP TO FRANCE – 29th
NOVEMBER: Phone 242170 or 844914 now
if you have booked. All details
will be given.  Payment due by 14th
November.  Cheques
payable to Colchester SVP. Pick up East Hill 7am.  Passports
required

MONKWICK NEWS: At St Theodore’s a Coffee Morning has been arranged to include
the sale of fancy goods and a raffle on Wednesday 15th November
from 10am onwards.  Come and bring your friends; there is
plenty of parking space!

CONFESSIONS – 18TH NOVEMBER:  Please note that Confessions on Saturday,18th November,
will be heard by both Fr Joseph and Fr Paul in the morning ONLY after Mass as
there is an 11 o’clock Service of Remembrance of deceased family
members in the past year at St James the Great Church, East Hill.  All are most welcome to this Service.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The Parish Programme will
start for the children on Saturday, 18th November with a
session in the Cardinal Bourne Hall from 10am until 12
noon.  Parents
are invited to stay for the first session, during which they can collect
information regarding the Programme schedule and
register the children. The Programme is open to
children in Year 3 or above. For further information contact Hywel and Pam
Edwards on 867325.

GRAND DRAW & PARISH SOCIAL -18th
November. This is our Parish’s main fundraising event
. Please support this fun evening – Cheese, and
Wine, music and prizes.  7:30pm in the Cardinal Bourne
Hall.  Have you handed in your sold
Raffle Tickets yet?

MERCY ASSOCIATES:  Next Meeting – Monday, 20th November at 7.30pm at Christ Church Court.  Tel. 763049.

CHARITY CONCERT:  Primary Schools from across the Diocese are joining forces to create
a spectacular Charity Concert in aid the Brentwood Catholic Children’s
Society and the Youth Service at the Brentwood Centre on two different
nights. Ten different schools each night.  Our
own St Thomas More Primary School
is involved on Friday 1st December at 6.30pm.  Please support them! Tickets £10
[£5 concessions].  Bookings
on 01277 262616.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: “Hope in Dark Places” -  SUNDAY 10TH DECEMBER 7:45pm at ST JOHN’S
CHURCH, ST JOHN’S CLOSE, COLCHESTER. Hymns and Readings
for Advent with the Choir of St Peter & St Paul,
West Mersea; Choreography by cre8.  Tickets are FREE but limited to first
applicants. [Collection to cover expenses on the evening]. To book, call Liz
Bird on 01206 843383.  Come to
watch or take part!

CHRISTMAS ORCHESTRAL & CHORAL CONCERT: In Brentwood
Cathedral on Saturday 16th December at 7.30pm.
Tickets £10- unreserved.
Available from the Music Office, Cathedral House, Ingrave Rd. Brentwood CM15 8AT. Enclose SAE; cheques
payable to Brentwood Cathedral Music. Details of programme –01277 265288.

BCYS 2007: Advance
news – more details on poster in the porch and all bookable
now.  Disneyland & Paris
12-16 Feb Yr12+ with Fr Bob Hamill/Catholic Fellowship.  HCPT
Easter Lourdes 8-14 April 18+; Celebrate, Devon
– Christian Conference 8-14 April 16+.  Limited spaces.  Summer
Lourdes 21-29 July Yr10+. Call 01277 265286 for full booking details. Sydney 08 – 8-22 Jul approx.

Cost – around
£1750 – start saving now! Age 17+.

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:
Not
18th November

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, Patrick
Quinlivan, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Carole Stover.

FINANCES:  This is a new way of
reporting finance in the future instead of weekly as before and which will
highlight some of the expenditure incurred by the Parish.  The average weekly collection for
October [5 Sundays] was £1,644 but in October we paid out £6,217-
the annual insurance premium on all parish buildings and approximately
£4000 re Monkwick roofing repairs, new wall and railings, following
recent vandalism there. A total of over £10,000.  The CAFOD Monthly collection amounted to £1,051.  Thank you very much

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 THIRTY-SECOND  SUNDAY OF
THE YEAR [B]

Remembrance
Day - November 12th
2006

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

Saturday November 11th

Sunday   November 12th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

3:30 pm

Geraldine
Arbuckle RIP

Eveline
Durbin RIP

Desmond
Quinn RIP

SIGNED MASS

West Mersea

6:30 pm

8:30 am

Intentions
of John Higgins

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Dec/Rels. Betts Family RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Joan
Prior RIP [JN]

Monday 13th          Feria

Church

Church

9:15 am

1:30 pm

Intentions of Dorothy
Robinson

FUNERAL SERVICE–LINDA SMITH RIP

Tuesday 14th

Feria

Church                9:15 am   Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Wednesday 15

Yr 4 Class Mass

Thursday 16th

Feria

Church

Church

9:15
am

9:15 am

Agnes
Chee RIP

St
Edmund Rich, Bp.

Ann
de Smith RIP

Friday 17th

Yr 6 Class Mass

Feria

Church

9:15 am

Jim
Higgins RIP

Saturday 18th

Feria

Church

9:15 am

Ruth
Calling   [In Thanksgiving]

LITURGY
FOR THE THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[B]

Day of
Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependants – November 19 2006

Saturday
November 18th

Sunday    November 19th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Pietro
and Paulina Passantino RIP

Intentions
of John & Nicola Treby

Harry
Crummy RIP

POLISH MASS

Vito
Anzalone RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Tony,
Gina and Joe Galea RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Frank and Heather Mills RIP

SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION

Saturday 18th November
only 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)

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

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092