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 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

Peace Day – January 14th 2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

The prophet Isaiah knows
very well how important names are to people and cheers up the despondent
Israelites: “you will be called by a new name, no longer
‘Forsaken’”. There is going to be a wedding, and just as
the bride changes her name, so the Israelites are going to get a brand new
name and they await the wedding.
In today’s Gospel we hear from St John that the wedding is on,
and at this Jewish festival in Cana Jesus reveals his glory through His first
great sign; a sign to show that the time has come when God will take His
people to Himself in a new way.
Unusually, there are two bridegrooms!  The bridegroom just married and Jesus,
although an invited guest, is the long awaited bridegroom of Israel.  When Jesus turns the water into wine
it is a marvellous image of the loving relationship
we have with God through Jesus – He has come to claim us as God’s
own and He is generous in the gifts He brings.  There is nothing mean about Jesus in
this story: not a thimbleful of plonk but 120
gallons of the choice stuff! The steward then compliments the wrong
bridegroom – again the wrong name. Of course the ultimate generosity of
Jesus is shown when He dies for the love He has; when He gives His body and
blood in the Eucharist.  Let us
rejoice today that we know the name of the bridegroom and that He knows our
name in love.

Today is Peace
Sunday.  Peace; Shalom; Paz, Pace;
Shanti; Pokoj; Siochain.  In
whatever language if we value the goal of peace for our world we need to
notice when people are being humiliated, when their dignity is being
undermined and we need to respond, seeking to uphold their value and ensure
they are respected.  Pope Benedict
has invited us to reflect this Peace Sunday on “The

Human Person: the Heart
of Peace”.  His point is
that unless we commit ourselves to safeguarding the rights of each person,
especially the weakest and most vulnerable, there will be no peace in our
world.

God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

This weekend
White Flower Appeal at all Masses

Monday 15th
January
Mercy Associates Meeting
See below

Wednesday 17th
January
7;30pm   SVP
Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 18th
January
5.45pm  Evening
Prayer recommences – P St.

Saturday 20th
January
FHC Meeting  in the
Hall
See below

Sunday 21st  January
10:30am  FHC   Mass
See below

NATIONAL
CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF IN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH: Co-ordinators
are kindly asked to collect in completed forms from the volunteers in their
group and leave them, together with a list of all volunteers, at the
Presbytery, marked for the attention of James Shaw, Parish Child Protection
Representative, by 31st January.

BAPTISM COURSE:  The next Baptism Course has been
arranged on the evenings of Thursday, 1st February and Thursday, 8th
February. in the Crypt at 7.30pm.
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.

MERCY
ASSOCIATES: The next Meeting will
take place on the 15th January at 7.30pm at Christ
Church Court.  Tel.  763049.

FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION: The children meet again
in the Cardinal Bourne Hall at 10am
on Saturday 20th January – looking at the Gift of
God’s Word.  This will be
followed on Sunday at 10:30am
with a Celebration Mass where the children will be presented with a copy of
St Mark’s Gospel.  After
Mass the children and their families will be invited to meet with their
Prayer Sponsors in the Cardinal Bourne Hall and share refreshments.

2007 WHITE
FLOWER APPEAL: The Society for the
Protection of Unborn Children [SPUC] will be holding its annual White Flower
Appeal this weekend.  The Society,
which opposes laws and policies which violate or threaten human life such as
abortion, euthanasia, research on human embryos and anti-life sex
education.  SPUC also provides
trained speakers for schools and colleges, plus a range of pro-life support
services for those in need.

A WEEK OF
ACCOMPANIED PRAYER is planned for
Sunday 25th February to Sunday 4th March 2007.  The Week will open and close with
group sessions, with participants meeting their prayer companion briefly each
weekday.  Full information and a
booking form are contained in the brochure available after Masses this
weekend.

YOUTH
NEWS:

WORLD YOUTH DAY AUSTRALIA – JULY 2008: Open to anyone in current school year 11 up to age
30. The cost of £1,750 [possible Parish support] includes return
flights [open so you can stay in Oz for the summer if you want!]; 5 days with
host families and 9 days hotel accommodation in Sydney; excursions; insurance
and full participation in the many events offered at World Youth Day,
including the final Mass with the Pope and 500,000 people. Full details and
forms from [email-masked] or
01277 265286.  A
deposit of £100 by 1st
February 2007 secures your place.

Help
urgently needed!  Please help adults with special needs – have a
holiday in Disneyland and Paris
this half term February 12th-16th.  £310 includes travel, hotel,
insurance, Disney admission and most meals.  It
is a service trip, not a complete holiday: your help is vital.  Open to anyone aged 17 –
30.  Email
[email-masked] or call 01277
265286.

YOUTH
SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR REQUIRED: 16
hours per week. Tues – Fri 10.00-2.00. Start date early February.
Competitive salary, based in Brentwood.  The Administrator
assists with all aspects of running our busy and friendly office. Closing
date for applications: 23rd January.  To apply email
[email-masked]  or call 01268 696610.

VACANCY -
SOCIAL WORKER: The Brentwood
Catholic Children’s Society has a full time vacancy for a Social Worker
who holds either a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in
Social Work Qualification, to work with children and families in the Diocese,
both in schools and the community.
The post is subject to NJC conditions of employment.  For more information, contact Frank
Maguire [Director] or Eileen Campling [Deputy
Director] on 01268 784544 or email
[email-masked]
. Closing date for applications – Friday 26th January 2007.  Interviews will be held on Thursday, 1st February
2007.

THE HOLY
FATHER’S MISSION INTENTION FOR JANUARY: Join with the Holy Father in praying that the Church
in Africa may be an authentic witness of the
Good News, committed to the promotion of reconciliation.

DAILY:
Rosary – 8.40am; Divine Mercy – 9am

Except Wednesdays  - then at 11.40am

EVENING
PRAYER:
Recommencing Thursday 18th
January  at 5.45pm

MEDITATION
GROUP:      Tuesdays, at 48 Priory St – 8pm

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

SICK
PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Tony
Bickersteth, Ron Collins, 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.

THE PARISH WEB SITE: For all contact, inclusions etc., please contact

Donald Clarke.  His email
address is: [email-masked]
. Otherwise

Donald may be contacted via
the Presbytery i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

LITURGY
FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

Peace Day -
January 14th
2007

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

Saturday January 13th

Sunday   January 14th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Mr
& Mrs P O’Leary RIP

Patrick
Bickersteth RIP

Helen Norman RIP

Brian Ashenden RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Margaret
Power RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Celestine
Tighe RIP

Monday 15th
Feria

Church

9:15 am

Intns of Teresa, Gary & Family

Intentions of Anna and
Bruce

Tuesday 16th

Feria

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

Brian Ashenden
RIP  [J&C O’G]

Wednesday 17

Thursday 18th

St
Anthony,

Church

Feria

Church     N.B.

Abbot

12:15pm

8:00am

John
Bowden RIP

Private
Intention

Friday 19th

Feria

Church

9:15am

Frederick,
Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Saturday 20th

Feria

Church
9:15 am  Canon John Bloomfield RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[C]

January 21st  2007 A.D.

Saturday January 20th
6:15 pm   Mr
& Mrs Milford RIP

Sunday
January 21st

8:00 am

10:30
am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Parishioners

Tony
Rozier RIP

POLISH MASS

Helena
Matla RIP [JH]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy
Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Rose
Ann Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

D/Rels.
Wright & Boyden Families 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: Alan Whelan
[549222]

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

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092