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 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
[B]

March 15th  2009 A.D.

Dear
Friends

Psychologists tell us, in
case we are in any doubt, that aggression is part of our make-up and plays an
important part in the way we relate to others.  Whilst we speak openly about nations
that have aggressive foreign policies, businessmen who make aggressive deals,
we are reluctant to speak about our own aggressive attitudes and behaviour.
Maybe because we tend to associate aggression with the destructive
variety.  But aggression can be a
constructive act.  The word itself
comes from the Latin root aggredi “to go forward, to
approach, to move against”.  Constructive aggression means taking
the initiative to support what is important: it means working in a hostile
environment against the power which devalues your beliefs.  The campaign against slavery in the
Unites States is a good example.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is openly
aggressive; he moves into the arena of the chief priests to work against the
power that devalues his beliefs.
There is no politeness or subtlety.  Jesus is consumed by zeal, by a
passion that shows itself in positive aggression and because the Temple has been turned
into an animal market and a Bureau de Change, his command is clear:
“Take all of this out of here and stop turning my Father’s House
into a market”.
Jesus’ aggression was at the service of his Father’s
house, for the advancement of the kingdom
of God.  If our own aggression could be
employed for the advancement of God’s kingdom, perhaps God’s
kingdom would be a more obvious domain in today’s world.  By hanging back we continue to give
permission to the traders to occupy the Temple.  Sometimes disturbing the peace is the
only Christian option.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Monday 16th March     7:30pm   Mercy Associates Meeting      [see below]

N.B. Tuesday 17th  7pm
Meditation Group meet at        12 Honeywood Rd

Wednesday 18th    1pm    Lent Lunchtime Service                    [see below]

Wednesday 18th           6:45pm  Scripture
Course
N.B.  See below

“
“
7:00pm   SVP Meeting
Presbytery

“                “
7:30pm   Liturgy Meeting
Crypt

“
“
7:30 pm  AGM
Monkwick

Thursday 19th               7:30pm   RCIA Meeting                          Crypt

Friday 20th         7:30pm
Stations of the Cross                        [see
below]

Saturday 21st 12:30-5pm  Day of Reflection E/MIN                   [see below]

LENTEN OBSERVANCES IN THE PARISH

STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  Stations of the Cross will take place at 7:30pm and we will alternate with
St James the Great.  This Friday,
March 13th, Stations will be at St
James the Great.

CHURCHES
TOGETHER IN CENTRAL COLCHESTER:  Lunchtime Services for Lent 2009.  Services will start at 1pm for 30 minutes.   Wednesday 18th March - St Helen’s Greek Orthodox
Church; Thursday 26th March - Castle Methodist
Church; Friday 3rd
April - St James the Great.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE:  Will
take place here at Priory Street
on Saturday, 28th March at 10am.  Three priests will be available to
hear Confessions.

PARISH
CENSUS:  Thank you to everyone who completed a
Parish Census Form last week.  The
work will continue this weekend also in case anyone missed the opportunity of
filling in the form.  The present
Parish Register is hopelessly out of date [going back 10 or more years].Your
help has greatly assisted the Parish in this regard.  Thanks once again.
FR JOSEPH

BCCS: Following on from my
comments of two weeks ago, the Parish has received a letter from Mr Dick
Madden, Director of the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society to say
that they require £200,000 by the end of the month from Churches and
Schools in order to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable children in the
Diocese.  Now is the opportunity
for us, as a Parish, to redress the balance of the paltry sum of £384
we gave to them via the Christmas Crib Offerings.  Next week, there will be a second
collection for this our own
Diocesan Charity.  Please give
generously. Thank you.
FR JOSEPH

RECENTLY
DECEASED: Please
pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Gerry
Murphy and Peggy Wilding who have recently died. Fr Gerry
was curate here in the 1970’s and was instrumental in founding the
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society. Peggy’s Requiem takes
place at Monkwick at 11:15am
tomorrow Monday, 16th March.
May they rest in peace.

MERCY ASSOCIATES meet next at 7.30pm on Monday 16 March at Christ Church Court
(Col.763049).

MONKWICK NEWS:
The AGM takes place at St
Theodore’s on Wednesday 18th March at 7.30pm.

SCRIPTURE COURSE:  Wednesday 18th March sees
the final session in this current Course and please note the change of venue to  48 Priory Street.

A new Course will
commence on Wednesday 22nd April and further details will follow.

HEALING MASS AT ABBOTSWICK:  On Wednesday 18th March at 7:30pm. Mass will be celebrated
by Fr John Glynn.  For directions
etc., 01277 373959 or visit www.abbotswick.org

“BODY OF CHRIST”:  An afternoon of Pascal Reflection for Eucharistic Ministers on the EUCHARIST.  All members of the Parish are also
welcome.  March 21st in the Cardinal Bourne Hall from 12.30pm to 5pm. followed by Confessions and Exposition in the
Church.  Please bring a sandwich
lunch.    Tea and coffee will be
provided.  The Reflection will
begin at 13:00.

“SON OF MAN”:  A showing of this “vivid, thrilling and awe-inspiring”
[Telegraph] film version of the Passion, set in South Africa.  In the Hall:  Sunday March 22nd after
Mass: 19.30 – 21.30 and Saturday March 28th before Mass:
1600 – 1800.  [90 minutes
long].

UCM: A foundation of
the Union of Catholic Mothers will be inaugurated here at the 10:30 Mass on
Sunday, 22nd March and will be followed by refreshments in the
Hall.  All are welcome.

SVP
Barn/Square Dance. Saturday 25th April. 7:30pm – 11pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  Entrance by ticket only. To book, please
telephone Anna 01206 242170, or Ann 01206 844914.  Book early.  Adults
£7.50. Children under 14 & Over 80's Free.
Food is included in the price of
the ticket.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: Annual Sponsored Walk in this Parish: Saturday 9th
May 2009. Starting and finishing at St Teresa’s,
Lexden, the walk is being organised by the KSC.  Further details to follow. 2009
sees the 25th Anniversary of the Children’s Society.  To mark this occasion we hope for a
record number of walkers to take part.

SOUP RUN
– HELP NEEDED:  I need at least 3 people
to help with the distribution of soup and sandwiches [on a rota basis].
If you can spare some time, please call 765926.   Thank you.
Claire

MISSION TODAY BOOKLETS:  Available in the porch
today.  If anyone wishes to take a
Red Box, please contact Ron Griffin on 571590

COLCHESTER NIGHT SHELTER wishes to thank everyone who helped to organize and support the Winter
Reserve Accommodation Project for the period 7th January to 4th
March this year.  These thanks
come on behalf of the 10 people who were spared sleeping out on the
street.  “I was homeless and you gave me shelter”.

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

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday to Friday  5:45pm in the Church

PRAYER
GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:   17.3.08  See events. Tel. No. 560935

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

IF YOU ARE
NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass. A registration
form will need to be completed.
If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let the Parish
Office know.

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND
SUNDAY OF LENT [B]

March 8th 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  March14th

Sunday    March 15th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Christina Mooney RIP

Sr Helen Walsh RIP

Sheila Parsons RIP

POLISH MASS

Angela Jardim RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Philomena Dwyer RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Holy Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday 16th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Dennis Hudson RIP

Monkwick 11:15am   REQUIEM – PEGGY WILDING RIP

Tuesday 17th

ST PATRICK, Bp. Apostle
of Ireland

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Lucy Walker

Wednesday
18th

Feria

Church    12:15
pm   Caroline Long RIP

John
and Julie O’Connor RIP

Thursday 19th

ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Church      9:15
am   Thanksgiving [Ian &
Ellen Woodley]

Intentions of Marie and Family

Friday 20th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Joe McEnaney
RIP

Saturday 21st          Feria

Church       9:15
am   Intentions of  WRAP Volunteers/Helpers

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY
OF LENT [B]

[Laetare
Sunday] March 22ND
2009 A.D.

Saturday   March 21st

Sunday     March 22nd

6:15
pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Beryl and Noel Blanchette
RIP

Fr Liam Armour RIP

Joan Bailey RIP

Intentions of the Sales Family

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Private Intention

Monkwick

10:15
am

Personal Intention [JN]

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