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

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B] –
“GAUDETE” SUNDAY

December 14th 2008 A.D.

Dear
Friends

Many of Henry
Moore’s massive sculptures have holes in them, but for him the holes
have their own significance: what appears essential is left out: the light is
let in.  In the Yorkshire mining
village where he grew up there was always competition between the sun and the
fog, between daylight and the pitch black of the mines, between a small child
and the enormous slag heaps.
Today’s Gospel begins with the absence of light: John the
Baptist is not the light in person but a witness to speak for the light.  He is God’s sculptor giving
shape and form to an indeterminate mass of people, always insisting on the
essential place of the light.
John keeps declaring “I am not” in order to point to the
one who can say “I am” and when the people see the light, his own
task is finished.

Like John, we are asked
to make way for the light; to let the light through the solid darkness that
litters our human landscape.  How?
Well, Advent calls on us to look first at ourselves and work on that hidden
darkness – the selfishness, the unforgiveness
and the lack of love, and on the broader issues like justice and peace which
require the witness of a caring community - we are challenged by the Gospel
to work together.  Like Henry
Moore carving through stone until he comes to the light, we have to keep
working our way towards the light that is Christ.  Our work may appear fruitless or just
odd to those who look at our efforts, but the space we create is
significant.  Holiness is the
constant struggle of letting Christ be the light
that shines through everything we do.   So let our work puzzle people.  Who cares,
when the light shines through.

God
bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK –
ALWAYS CHECK FOR ANY CHANGES

Tuesday 16th   7:30pm
Scouts Ecumenical Service – see below    Church

Thursday 18th 10am onwards
GRAND CLEAN
Church

Friday 19th      11am St Thomas More
School Carol Service
[KS2]  Church

Friday 19th      7:30pm Service of Reconciliation
– see below
Church

UNDERSTANDING:
At the 10:30 Mass this morning the children of the First Holy Communion
Programme celebrated their Inscription Mass.

SECOND COLLECTION FOR CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:  This weekend
at Priory Street,
there will be a second collection after all Masses. If you would like to
provide a Poinsettia from Sunday 21st
December, please leave them, together with saucer, for
the flower arrangers in Our Lady’s Chapel.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL:  Again an excellent report following, this time, the
Diocesan Inspection.  “St
Thomas More is an outstanding Catholic School……firmly committed
to developing its Catholic identity under the inspirational and outstanding
leadership of its Head Teacher who is very well supported by her Leadership
team, committed Governors, highly motivated Staff, Pupils and their Parents
and the Priests from the parish.”

The scouts of
Colchester Estuary District request the pleasure of your company for the distribution
of the International Peacelight from Bethlehem

on Tuesday 16th
December at 19:30hrs at St James the Less and St Helen, Priory St.
Colchester.

TAIZE EVENING:  Thursday December 18th at 7pm in St John the Baptist Church, Iceni Way,
Shrub End.  A meditative and
musical event with Readings,
in the Church lit by candlelight, and followed by hot drinks and mince
pies.   All are welcome.

SERVICE OF
RECONCILIATION:  Will take place on Friday, 19th
December at 7:30pm in Priory
Street and four priests will be available for
the Sacrament.

CHRISTMAS
MASSES

Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th:

Priory Street      18:00 Vigil Mass especially for
families

Monkwick
19:30  Carols followed by Vigil Mass at 20:00

Priory Street      23:30  Carols followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Thursday  25th:

Priory Street      08:00  Christmas Dawn Mass

10:30  Christmas Day Mass

12:00  Polish Mass

Mersea
08:30 Carols
followed by 9am Christmas Dawn Mass

Mile End:
09:15 Christmas
Day Mass

CHRISTMAS FAMILY MASS: The
6pm Mass on Christmas Eve gives the younger members of the parish family the
opportunity to come to church in nativity costumes and take part in the
celebration.

BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY: The children are asked
to save money for the Society's looked-after children in the run up to
Christmas - there will be an opportunity for them to bring
this forward during the Family Mass - why not wrap it up as a small
present?  Thank you.

BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY- AMBASSADOR: There are 93 parishes in the Diocese of Brentwood.
BCCS is looking for individuals in every Parish to act as an Ambassador to
help the Society keep in touch with the Parish.  Can you help with this essential
work?  To find out more, please
contact Claire Mathews or Julie Abbott on 01268 784544.  2009 sees the 25th
Anniversary of the Society and the need for its work continues to increase as
does the need for it to keep in touch with us at Parish level.

GRAND CHRISTMAS CLEAN  at Priory
Street on Thursday, 18th December
from 10a.m. Are you able to help?
Mince pies and refreshments on offer!!

CHRISTMAS
DAY LUNCH IN THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL:
Will you or someone you know be alone on Christmas Day for lunch?  Would you like to share this time with
others?  Would you be willing to
assist with transport for those who need it?  If so, please contact Frances
on 01206 369568.

FINANCES
:    £     IN
OCTOBER                 £       OUT

AWC*
2175                                                           2500  Diocese

CAFOD             1496
664  Water [ex Hall]

Coffee Morn        301
330  Mile End Repairs

Donations           185     [£45 re organ]
223  P.St SideGate[vandals] Mission
Sunday  639
442  Gas [ex Hall]

NOVEMBER

AWC*
2131
2500   Diocese

Missnry Sisters   989
440   Electricity [ex
Hall]

CAFOD
1052
1890   St Ben’s Capitn Fee

Youth Sunday     701
435   Gas [ex Hall]

Xmas Market    1346
250    P.St. Front
Door

Polish Donation  320

Cavendish Con   76           [*As you will by now know, AWC
represents average weekly collection including standing orders.    Thank you very much. ]

FINANCES:
Following on from last
week’s very tough Financial Report,
we are looking for volunteers to assist with the Finance Committee,
Premises and Fund-raising to address the issues raised and “ensure we
continue to thrive”.  If you
are able to help, please speak to Fr Joseph or to Adrian
Livesley, Secretary of the
Finance Committee, on 01206 842636.

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 the Parish Office know.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Yvette Hughes, Mary Pink,
Peggy Wilding, Philomena Dwyer.

DAILY:
Rosary 8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday to Friday 5.45pm
in the Church

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays at 8pm
in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays @ 8pm @ 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
9:45am – 10:30am

LITURGY FOR THE
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]

December 14th
2008

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

Saturday  December 13th

Sunday    December 14th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:00
pm

3:30
pm

5:00
pm

6:30
pm

Moira Pryke RIP

Margaret Moriarty RIP

Parishioners

POLISH
MASS

SIGNED
MASS

HOLY
HOUR

D/Rels:
Herbert/Richards Families RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Bridget Jowers RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Leo Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Private Intention

Monday
15th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Ernest Jardim
RIP

Beatrice Foley RIP

Tuesday
16th

Feria

Church
9:15 am   Intentions of Mrs
Tide & Family

Wednesday
17th

Feria

Church      12:15 pm  Intentions of Mrs J Pauk

Intentions of Iris Licence

Thursday
18th

Feria

Church       9:15 am
Edward Rodrigues RIP

Friday
19th

Feria

Church       9:15 am  Intentions of the Khodaverdi Family

Saturday 20th        Feria

Church         9:15am  Parishioners

LITURGY FOR
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]

[Expectant
Mothers] -  December 21st  2008 A.D.

Saturday   December 20th

Sunday     December 21st

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Intns of baby Joseph
Lalimia & Family

Mark Ridge RIP

Tony Rozier
RIP

POLISH
MASS

Dorothy Burke RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Mary & John Conneely RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

D/Rels/Friends
of Knapp Family

Monkwick

10:15
am

D/Rels/Friends of Joyce Wrobel

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