ST. JAMES
THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH,
Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr
Anthony  McKentey

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 THIRD SUNDAY OF
ADVENT [C]

December 13th  2009- “Gaudete”
Sunday

My dear friends

“Gaudete”  - rejoice
in the Lord – is the theme on this Third Sunday of Advent.  This deep joy comes from the
conviction that the Lord is always with us, he will never abandon us, we are precious to Him.  This is the faith expressed in the
readings today by the prophet Zephaniah and St Paul.

This week we enter the final days of Advent,
17-24th December.  Then
the Liturgy will call urgently on the Saviour to come and save us.  This theme is immortalised
in everyone’s favourite Advent hymn “O
Come, o come Emmanuel”.  Let
us open our hearts to the joy and expectancy of these final days of
preparation for the Lord’s birthday.  There is an extra opportunity for
additional Advent prayer this afternoon with our Holy Hour from 5-6pm.

This weekend you will be given a Christmas Card
from myself, Fr Brett and Fr Philip with our good
wishes for the festive Season.
The card contains the times of all Christmas Services in the parish
and these details will also be posted on our web site.

There should be enough cards for one per household.

May God bless you all.

Fr Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK [Please
check for any changes]

Thursday 17th
7:30pm     RCIA Course
Crypt

Friday 18th
11:00am
STM Carol Concert
Church

4:30pm     “Over
6yrs” Baptism Course     Crypt

Saturday 19th
10-12
FHC Group
See below

DAILY:
8:35am; Rosary
&Divine Mercy  [Wednesday 11:30am]

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm in
the Crypt

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays at 9:45am –
10:30am

SICK:  Please remember in your
prayers: June Bickersteth, Claire Cooper, Bridie
Murphy, Baby Leah Patterson, Mary Roddy, Hector Silva, Lucy Walker

CONGRATULATIONS:  To Colin and Lisa married here
yesterday.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS IN PRIORY STREET:  There will be a second collection today at
Priory Street
for flowers in the Church for Christmas.

FIRST
HOLY COMMUNION : This
weekend sees the children and their families make a promise at the Inscription
Mass.  Next weekend the final session before Christmas at 10am on
Saturday 19th in Cardinal Bourne Hall.  For further information contact
Hywel & Pam Edwards on 867325.

CHRISTMAS
VIGIL MASS : During the 6pm Family Vigil Mass on Christmas
Eve we would encourage the children to come dressed in Nativity costume - we
are looking to fill the church with Marys,
Josephs, Donkeys, Angels,
Innkeepers and characters of all kinds to add to our celebration.
[Please hold off the King costumes until Sunday 3rd January ...] Thank you. BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY [BCCS]:
A special collection will be taken during the 6pm Vigil Mass to be added to the Crib Collection.
During the remaining days of Advent children, young and old, are asked to
save their change and wrap as presents to be brought forward during Mass.

BCCS WRITE: As many of you are
aware, 2009 has seen celebrating our 25th Anniversary and we are
proud and privileged to say we have been supporting children and families in
our community for the last 25 years.  This year has seen the financial
belt tighten and there is no doubt this impact will cut into families’
standards of living, and history shows that the need for our services will
increase. As our Anniversary Year draws to a close we would like to take the
opportunity to say THANK YOU  to all of our special friends and supporters
around the Diocese for your unrelenting support of our charity.  Without
your help we would not be able to continue to be there for those children and
families who turn to us for help. We would like to wish you all very Merry
Christmas and a Holy New Year.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for
the repose of the soul of Victor Javier and William Gilbert who have recently
died.  May they rest in peace.  The
funeral of Norma Golding takes place at Mersea tomorrow at 2pm; the funeral of William Gilbert
on Tuesday here at 2pm;
the funeral of Victor Javier on Wednesday, 16th, 11am at the Crematorium; the
funeral of Hubert Seifert at Mersea on the 23rd December at midday.

PENITENTIAL
SERVICE:  Will take place at Priory Street on
Monday, 21st December, at 7:30pm
and all three priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

AT
HOME:  The Community at 74 Howe
Close, Greenstead, will be At Home from
2pm-5pm on Monday, 28th December, for you drop in. They will have
Evening Prayer at 5pm to
which you are welcome.

DONATION:  We have received a generous donation of
£220 from the Polish Community.

CHRISTMAS
MARKET:  The proceeds to date
amount to some £1,800, with monies still coming in.  Many, many thanks to all
concerned.

100
CLUB :  This was launched at our Christmas Fair, and already
has 62 members.  For your chance
to win monthly draw prizes of £25, £15 and £10, sign up
today with an advance payment of £12 to cover the whole of 2010.  Cheques may
be made payable to 'St James the Less & St Helen Catholic Church', and
posted to the Parish Office, quoting the name(s) of members.  The first draw will take place after
we reach 100 members, and winners will be announced in the newsletter. Why
not treat yourself and/or relatives to a number?  At only £1.00 per month, you
know it makes sense.

REPOSITORY:
Please note the Repository will not be open on Sunday, 20th
December.

WALK WITH
ME BOOKLETS – A Journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmastide
2009:   Do take a copy of this
Advent Reflection. These booklets, available at £1 each, have been
specially prepared for our Diocese, with an introduction by Bishop Thomas.

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2010:  Available at the back of
the Church.  Again, priced at
£2.50 each. BRENTWOOD NEWS also,
but free!

YOUTH NEWS: The young people of The
Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Billericay invite the Youth of the Brentwood Diocese to a
Special Youth Mass and Gathering to be held at 8pm on Friday 8th January 2010
in the Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay.The Mass is being said to celebrate the start
of The Most Holy Redeemer Parish Centenary celebrations which are being held
throughout 2010.  All the Youth of
the Diocese in Year 8 and above (and especially those who haven't yet
returned to College or University after Christmas) are invited to attend.It promises to be a very enjoyable evening that
will include refreshments and some live music after the Mass, which will be
celebrated by Fr Dominic. If you
are coming <mailto:[email-masked]>
for catering purposes.

READERS
REQUIRED:  We are rather short of
readers at the 8am and 6:30pm Sunday Masses at present.  Volunteers would be most welcome to
contact Francis Carter on 01206 864479.

CLEANERS
URGENTLY REQUIRED for Priory Street.  Please contact Helena on 794636.

SECOND
COLLECTIONS remaining for the rest of this financial year: January 31st
Homelessness Sunday; February 13th Lourdes Fund; February 26th
CAFOD [Lent Family Fast Day]; March 14th Catholic Education
Service; Good Friday [April 2nd] Holy Places.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE:  For all inclusions etc,
please get in touch with Don Clarke.
His email address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE
THIRD  SUNDAY OF ADVENT –
YEAR C

“Gaudete” Sunday – 13th December 2009

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

Saturday December 12th

Sunday  December 13th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:00
pm

5:00
pm

6:30
pm

Moira and Dennis Pryke
RIP

Dermot & Margaret Moriarty RIP

John Fisher RIP [SVP]

POLISH MASS

HOLY HOUR

Jim Higgins RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

D/Rels: Lavery & O’Dwyer
Families RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Donald Sutcliffe RIP [A]

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday 14th

St John of the Cross, Pr
.D.

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Sr Alice

Mersea      2:00 pm   REQUIEM – NORMA GOLDING RIP

Tuesday 15th

Feria

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

Church      2:00 pm    REQUIEM – WILLIAM
GILBERT RIP

Wednesday
16th

Feria

Church    12:15 pm    Intentions of Mrs
J Pauk

Thursday 17th

Feria

Church      9:15 am    Mr
& Mrs Barrett RIP

Friday  18th

Feria

Church      9:15 am    Matthew O’Toole RIP

Saturday 19th
Feria

Church        9:15am    D/Rels:
Griffin/O’Gara Families RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

20th December 2009 –
Expectant Mothers

Saturday  December 19th

6:15
pm

Caroline Long RIP

Sunday
December 20th

8:00
am

Alan Walker RIP

10:30am

4:00
pm

Dorothy Burke RIP

POLISH MASS

6:30
pm

D/Rels:
Arbuckle/Pettigrew FamiliesRIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15am

Ted Wilding RIP/Marie Lumsden RIP

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION   Saturday 9:45-10:30am 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]

www.marriagecare.org.uk   or 0800 389
3801.
www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No.
234092