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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF
EASTER  [A] April 13th  2008

Dear Friends,

The First Letter of Peter is written to
Christians who are living in a variety of cities now located in modern Turkey.  These Christians are minority groups
experiencing opposition and persecution, so the letter is to encourage them
to be faithful and to trust in Christ in the midst of their suffering; to
hold firm to their beliefs and values whilst living as responsible good
citizens and contributing to society. The letter, too, intends to show the
way in which love motivated Christ to give his life so that others may have
life to the full.  That Christ
allowed himself to suffer because of his love for his Father and for
humankind is hard to understand.
Love enabled him to be faithful to his mission and continue to spread
the message that the Father loves all, especially those who are weak, weary
and feel lost.  Christ becomes the
Paschal Lamb sacrificed at the New Passover for the forgiveness of sin.  He is also portrayed as the shepherd who guides each person to the fullness of life;
who recognises the voice of each person who calls
upon him. Whatever our prayer, even if the words are inadequate, God hears
the tone; the fear, confusion, joy
and hope, the whisper of love or the bark of hatred.  As shepherd, he is alert and
responsive to the need.

Down through the centuries we know that many have
suffered and died for their faith and today there is persecution in many
parts of the world.  The suffering
of Christians continues among those who proclaim justice where there is
injustice, corrupt government or abusive economic practice.  Many have disappeared because they
spoke the word of justice.  The
situation that Peter describes continues today for many people.  The protection of religious liberty is
a starting point for the work of justice.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 16th April
7-9pm
Scripture Course
Crypt

“
“
“
7pm
SVP Meeting
Presbytery

Friday 18th April
7pm
Parish Council Meeting
“

TODAY
IS WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: “We plant seeds
that one day will grow.  We water
seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise”.    Archbishop Oscar Romero.

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for the soul of Geraldine [Marie] Warner who has recently
died.  May she rest in peace.  Her
Requiem is on Friday, 18th April, at 9:15am.

BAPTISM
TODAY:  Joshua Pike.  God bless this child and congratulations
to his family.

SCRIPTURE COURSE : Led by Sr Angela recommences on Wednesday, 16th
April in the Crypt at 7pm.

EASTER SEASON : Saturday 19th
April 10am-3.30pm. A Day
with Father Gerald O’Collins  SJ.    Did Jesus rise from the dead?        Why
does it matter?

At the Cathedral Conference Centre, Brentwood. Cost £10. For booking and further
information contact 01277 265219 or email
the secretary [email-masked].

TABLE
QUIZ:   The Knights of St Columba are holding
a table quiz in the Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street, at 7:45pm after Mass on Saturday, 26th
April.  All proceeds will go to
the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service.
Tickets £4.50 including light refreshments.  There will be a non-alcoholic bar but
you are welcome to bring your own alcoholic drinks.  Call Ron on 797850 to book or just
turn up on the evening.

PILGRIMAGE
TO KRAKOW – 12TH MAY: There are a few places still available.  Please contact Mrs Blackett
on 01277 821886 or see Fr Joseph.

INTER-FAITH
CONFERENCE: A day conference on inter-faith relations, led by Bishop Thomas, will be held at the Cathedral
Conference Centre on Saturday 17th May – 10.30am to
3.30pm.  The conference will
explore the teaching of the Church on dialogue with other faiths.
Admission is free but please book by contacting the Commission for Evangelisation & Formation [CEF]: [email-masked]  or telephone  01277 265289.

NEW HALL SCHOOL
OPEN DAY:   On Monday 5th May from 9:30am – 12:30pm.  Full details of both the Preparatory
School and Senior
School can be found on
the poster in the porch.

FR DOMINIC – BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE – WRITES: As a result of personal
circumstances changing, two of our young people have had to drop out of the
trip to World Youth Day, Sydney. If you are a young person in school year 12
or above (aged 17+ in the summer) who may be able to travel, please could you
let me know as soon as possible and no later than 25th April.
Call me direct - 01268 696610 or email
me [email-masked] The dates for

the trip are 8th - 23rd July, with the option of
staying in Australia
afterwards. The fully inclusive cost is £1750.

While writing, just a note that we have just twenty places left now for the Summer Lourdes
trip, for those aged 15-18 (school year 10+). All the details
and application forms are on www.bcys.net It
is likely that these places will go in the next two or three weeks. The fully
inclusive cost of the trip is £450; we travel on 24th July, return on
2nd August.

VACANCY
– DEPUTY HEADTEACHER:  St
Alban’s Primary School,  Hornchurch.  Due to promotion, the Governors wish to
appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Catholic Deputy Headteacher
for September 2008.  For further
information, please contact the school office on 01708 555644. Closing date: 25th April 2008.

SPONSORED
WALK:  Would all who sponsored
Ronnie Hammond please give the money as soon as possible.   Thank you.

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

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, Mary
and Harry Pink, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding, Chetty Zammit.

Please be reminded that, because of the
Data Protection Act, we are not advised by hospital staff of Catholic
inpatients. If you have family or friends who have been admitted to
hospital and who would like a visit, do let one
of the priests know.

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

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.

GIFT AID: You are reminded that the
new set of envelopes are available for collection in
the church porch. Please do collect them.  Also, if you have taken a Gift Aid
Application form for completion, please return it to the Parish Office,
marked for the attention of John Ross.

If you are a tax payer and
wish to donate by way of Gift Aid - at no cost or inconvenience to yourself -
please contact John Ross, the Co-ordinator on
366077.

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF EASTER [ A]

World Day of Prayer for
Vocations - April 13th
2008 A.D

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

Saturday  April 12th

Sunday
April 13th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:00 pm

3:30
pm

5:00
pm

6:30
pm

D/Rels & Friends:
Drummond Family RIP

Margaret Parkinson RIP

Edward and Johanna Kelly RIP

POLISH MASS

SIGNED MASS

HOLY HOUR

Genevieve Castanheiro
RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Ints. Anthony & Margaret
Brookes

Mile
End

9:15
am

Dermot Moriarty RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday 14th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Helen Lydon
RIP

Florence and Albert Fuller RIP

Tuesday 15th

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Terry Hilton RIP

Wednesday 16

Thursday 17th

Friday 18th

Saturday 19th

Feria

Church              12:15pm   Frances Hoare RIP

Delia Connolly RIP,
Dermot Moriarty RIP

Feria

Church               9:15 am   Intentions of Nora Hewitt

Feria

Church               9:15 am   REQUIEM
-  Geraldine Warner RIP

Feria

Church
9:15 am  Intentions of Fr James Hawes

LITURGY FOR THE FIFTH
SUNDAY OF EASTER  [A]

April 20th 2008 A.D.

Saturday  April 19th

Sunday    April 20th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Compton Pooran
RIP

Tommy Lennon RIP

Intentions of William and Family

POLISH MASS

Enid Miranda RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Intentions of Bridie Fitzmartin

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Peter Hansbury
RIP

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday 10:00-11:00 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]

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

Vocations                                             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092