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

THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

May 13th  2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

“Charity begins at home”.  A saying that often brings some confusion.  Are we just finding an excuse to be selfish or is this the recognition that we need to love ourselves to love others?  Our inner unity finds its outer expression in the home we create around us and our homes, as well as other buildings, carry with them an atmosphere which either reassures or disturbs us.   They hold our dreams, our memories, our loves, our hopes, sometimes our despair.  Peace certainly begins at home.  We have to be at one with ourselves before we can in any way preach or offer peace to others.  A bit like faith, peace is caught as much as taught.  It cannot be forced but can be reached by negotiation as we see in today’s description of the Church’s first council.  Ultimately, true peace is God-given.

At the Last Supper, Jesus is aware that he is on the point of leaving his disciples and he wants to reassure them.  The imagery he chooses to convince them that they will not be abandoned is that of the home; both He and the Father will dwell with those who love him and keep his word.  The special gift from Jesus is a peace the world cannot give.

In times of distress we need places and people of peace to renew ourselves and recover our sense of peace – a “secret garden”.  The Church has always encouraged regular meditative or contemplative prayer in quiet places.  Jesus himself is seen to do it when faced with a difficult decision or challenge.  Maybe we often pop into church for a moment of quiet and prayer.  Then, reconciled with ourselves and revitalised, we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and, in turn, we act as channels of His peace.                                                 God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Please note the change of Mass times on Thursday and Saturday a.m.

Wednesday 16th        3:30pm    Altar Server’s Meeting           Church

“          “                   6:10pm   FHC Practice                          Church

“          “                    7pm       Scripture Course                    Crypt

Thursday 17th May     7:30pm  Journey in Faith Meeting       Crypt

“               “                7:30pm  Liturgy Meeting                      Presbytery

Friday 18th May      10-12noon  Coffee Morning                      Garden or Crypt

“                “             7:00pm    Parish Council Meeting         Presbytery

Saturday 19th May    10:30am  First Holy Communion Mass  [1of 2]

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND:  Next weekend a second collection will be taken up for the Sick and Retired Clergy of the Diocese.

THANK YOU from Fr Eddie McGettrick to the response to his recent appeal for St Patrick’s Missionary Society. “My sincere gratitude,…….May the Good Lord shower His blessings on you…”  A total of  £1550.10 was raised.

BAPTISM TODAY: Phoebe Lucy Doyle. God bless this child and congratulations to her family.

BAPTISM COURSE: The next Baptism Course has been arranged on the evenings of Thursday 7th June and Thursday 14th June in the Crypt from 7:30pm to 9pm.  If you wish to present a child for Baptism, there is no need to make an appointment.  Just turn up.  Both sessions must be attended and the date of the baptism will be arranged during the Course.

SCRIPTURE COURSE: on Wednesdays -   16th May; 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June at 7pm in the Crypt. Sr Angela can be contacted on 867296 or email: [email-masked]

ALTAR SERVERS: Any child who has made, or is making, his or her First Holy Communion is asked to consider whether they would like to serve at the altar during Sunday Mass.  If so, then you are invited to a meeting in the church on Wednesday, 16th May at 3;30pm.  A parent or guardian must accompany the child.  If you cannot come to the meeting, then please speak to one of the clergy. Thank you.                                                                                            Fr Joseph

SPRING COFFEE MORNING: The Clergy invite you to a Coffee Morning on Friday 18th May from 10am to 12 noon at No. 51 Priory Street. Hopefully, in the courtyard garden via the gate before the Hall.   All donations of cakes, pastries, etc., would be very welcome.       Entrance - £3.

“EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW”: Friday 18th May – Sunday 20th May. An invitation to a weekend of prayer, sharing and reflection at Abbotswick, for young women aged 18 to 35 to consider the beauty of God’s call to the religious life in the 21st century. More details on www.walsinghamcommunity.org or call 01277 373848.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS:  Next weekend is the first of two that see 44 children in the parish receive their First Holy Communion.  There is a special service on Saturday 19th May at 10:30am in Priory Street, and all parishioners are welcome.  This will be followed on Sunday morning with a special First Holy Communion service for the two young people on Mersea at the 8:30am Mass.  Congratulations to all and their families.  Please note there will be no Exposition or Sacrament of Reconciliation on the morning of the 19th at Priory Street.

K.S.C:  The Knights will be reciting the Rosary on Friday 18th May at 7.30pm at Greenstead after Mass; Thursday 24th May at 7:30pm at the Community at No.48 Priory Street. May Ball: Saturday 19th May 7.30-11pm at St Benedict’s College. Filipino and European cuisine and bar available.  Excellent raffle prizes.  Profits to train Samaritan volunteers.  Tickets £10 [adults] and £6 [children]. To book, call Tony Martin on 842340 or see any members of the KSC after Mass.

ST BENEDICT’S NEWS:  Quiz Night 18th May 7:30pm. Adults £3, children £1.50. Please phone College – 549222 – to reserve a place. Summer Fete – 30th June 12pm – 3pm.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM, SATURDAY 2ND JUNE: Harwich/Frinton Parish has booked a coach to Walsingham.  The cost is £17 and the Colchester pick up time will be approximately 8:30am at the Gala Bingo bus stop.  If you wish to book a seat, please contact Diana in the Parish Office.

MERSEA NEWS:  Many thanks to Pauline Aspinall for hosting our first coffee morning. Although the weather was not as good as it could have been, lots of people came and enjoyed the morning with friends.  The next date for your diary is June 12th at the home of Margaret Williams.

SVP SOCIETY SUMMER CAMP:  Application forms for the St John Bosco Children’s Camp at Aldham have now been received for both the Boys’ and Girls’ Camps and are available from the Parish Office.

DEDHAM ECCLESIASTICAL LECTURESHIP TRUST: This year’s Dedham Lecture takes place in Dedham Church at 8pm on Thursday 7th June.  The address is “Do we have faith in our schools” and will be given by the V. Rev. John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey, a well known educationalist  and author

DAILY:     [Except Wednesdays, then at 11:40am] 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,

Pauline Carter, Ron Collins, Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher,

Florence Fuller,  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 email address is: [email-masked]

Otherwise, Donald may be contact via the Presbytery, i.e. please leave

envelopes for him.

REPOSITORY IN CARDINAL BOURNE HALL:  Open on Sundays from after

the 8am  Mass until 12:45pm.

GIFT AID ENVELOPES FOR PRIORY STREET AND THE MASS CENTRES:

Many still remain to be collected from the porch please.  Use them

whenever  there is a collection. Following the recent Budget changes,

we are losing £1500 p.a. [£112,000 overall loss in the Diocese], so every penny

gift-aided helps your parish.   Thank you.    John Ross, Gift Aid Co-ordinator.

LITURGY FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

May 13th  2007 A.D.

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

Saturday 12th May

Sunday   13th May

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

3:30 pm

5:00 pm

6:30 pm

Lionel and Lee Blanchette RIP

Maureen Quick RIP

Dec. Relatives – Healy Family RIP

SIGNED MASS

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

Mr and Mrs Milford RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Ralph Davis RIP [NG]

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Denise Smith RIP [P&GM]

Monday 14th          ST MATTHIAS, Ap

Tuesday 15th

Church               9:15am    John Kennedy RIP

Rt Rev James O’Brien RI

Rt Rev James McGuiness RIP

Feria

Church                 9:15am  REQUIEM – Patrick Clark RIP

Wednesday 16

Thursday 17th

Feria

Church

Feria

Church    N.B.

12:15pm

8:00am

Cora Webb RIP [ER]

D/Rels: Critchley & Whiteside Families

Friday 18th

Feria

Church

9:15am

Frances Hoare RIP

Mrs Josie Ryall RIP

Saturday 19th

Feria                    FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CELEBRATION

Church    N.B.    10:30am  Intentions of Kearney & Hamilton Families

Intentions of Jim Nestley

LITURGY FOR THE ASCENSIONOF THE LORD [C]

May 20th 2007 A.D.

Saturday  May 19th

Sunday    May  20th

6:15pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Marie Townsend RIP

Stephen Hilton RIP

Intentions of Samantha Hilton

POLISH MASS

Janice McGill RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Ralph Davis RIP [Monkwick Friends]

Mile End

9:15 am

Herbert Ray RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

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

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092