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 EASTER [C]

April 15th  2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

Before the disciples met Jesus they all had their own jobs, their own identities, their own way of life.  They didn’t stop being themselves after they met Jesus, but they saw themselves in a new way.  The direction of their lives was changed to following in his footsteps and they became known as his crowd!   But then Jesus dies.  Does everything come to a dead stop?  It does according to today’s Gospel.  The disciples are now a group of men whose shared fear keeps the company together and whose only direction in life is to lock themselves into their own no-go area.  They are deeply afraid they will have to face the same fate as their master and it is into that desperation that the risen Christ comes: not to disown them for abandoning him but to reclaim them with his peace and, after he breathes the Holy Spirit on them, there is a fundamental transformation in their attitude.  Instead of instilling fear, the shadow of the cross is suddenly something which fills them with hope.  Preaching the cross is not preaching about death, but about a love that is stronger than death.  Not only are they strengthened in spirit, they are stronger in body and mind too, as the Acts of the Apostles testifies.

Then, as now, Jesus attracted followers from all conditions of life, those who are poor and sick follow him most assiduously as they look for healing and rescue.  Christ’s healing is for body, spirit and mind.  Yet however great the healing, we must still face death and if our anxiety can be overcome, then we are happy indeed.  Thomas saw the evidence for himself and proclaims the basic Christian credo; however, the beatitude “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” is for all of us who live the absence of the physical Jesus but who believe in him as our Lord.                                                                    God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Saturday 14th April/Sunday 15th April   -  St Patrick’s Missionary Society

Appeal by Fr Eddie McGettrick

Monday 16th April               7:30pm Mercy Associates Meeting      See below

Wednesday 18th April         7:00pm Scripture Course Recommences  Crypt

Thursday 19th April            7:30pm  “RCIA Party”                           Crypt

Friday 20th April                 7:00pm   Parish Council Meeting           Presbytery

A SINCERE THANK YOU to everyone who contributed in any way to the very special Liturgies this Eastertide - so many people who give of their time and talents in so many ways.  Thank you for your cards and gifts and also for your generosity in the Easter Collection.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND PRAYERS TO: Yvonne Clark, Paul Cooke, Diane Libretto, Patrick Solomon, Peter Thorpe and Samuel Wackett who were received into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday.

THANK YOU to all the Readers and Players who took part in the Good Friday Service at the Mercury Theatre.  They did an excellent job and it was a moving and memorable experience for everyone present.  It was a packed house!

ST PATRICK’S MISSIONARY APPEAL:  Fr Eddie McGettrick will be speaking at all Priory Street Masses this weekend to appeal for help to train future Missionaries.

WEEKDAY MASSES: The trial period of celebrating Wednesday Masses at 12:15pm is now finished [Advent to Easter Sunday].  The period will now be extended to Pentecost when a final decision will be made by the clergy.  If anyone has any comments to make, then please do so in writing and hand them into the Presbytery by no later than 13th May.  Thank you.           Fr Joseph

DIVINE MERCY DAY – 15TH APRIL: [1]  At Abbotswick House of Prayer and the day will be led by Mgr Henry Posluszney from 10.30am to 4pm. To include talk, confessions and Mass.  Please take a packed lunch. For more details phone 01277 373959 or email  [email-masked]

[2] At The Holy Family and All Saints Church, Guithavon Street, Witham  a service will be held at 3pm, led by Fr David Prior.  Full details on the poster in the porch. [3] Our Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford, 12noon to 5pm.  Bring packed lunch.  More details from Carmen on 07754 163007.

MERCY ASSOCIATES MEETING: The next meeting takes place on Monday, [16th April] at 7:30pm.  At Christ Church Court.   Tel: 763049.

SCRIPTURE COURSE RECOMMENCES on Wednesday 18th April at 7pm in the Crypt. Sr Angela can be contacted on 867296 or email: [email-masked]

ON SATURDAY 21ST APRIL AFTER EVENING MASS in the Church the Community from No.48 Priory Street will having an outside speaker coming from Iona who will be doing some singing with the Community and anyone would be very welcome to join them.

MONKWICK NEWS:  Coffee Morning – Tuesday April 24th 10am to 12 noon at St Theodore’s.  Please support us for our funds.

KSC – TABLE QUIZ:  The Knights of St Columba are holding a Table Quiz in the Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street, after Mass on Saturday 28th April at 7:45pm.  All proceeds to our many called on funds to help others.  Tickets £4 including light refreshments, non-alcoholic bar, also tea and coffee available.  Call Ron on 797850 to book or just turn up on the evening.

THE CREIGHTON METHOD OF FAMILY PLANNING:  On Saturday 28th April at the Billlericay Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay from 10;!5am to 12 noon, a presentation is being given by Nicole Parker, a Fertility Awareness Practitioner.  All are welcome, especially people who are interested in a holistic method which works naturally for planning a family or assisting conception.  A donation of £5 is asked for towards costs and refreshments are provided.  Contact: Susan on 01277 889279; www.mostholyredeemer.org.uk and click on Events and Talks.

ESSEX LOCAL HISTORY AFTERNOON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: At 2pm on Saturday 5th May, parishioner, John Ashdown-Hill [who is a PhD student at the University] will give an illustrated talk on The Murder of the Princes in the Tower, new evidence from Colchester. This will be followed by a talk by Dr Alison Rowlands on recent discoveries relating to witchcraft at St Osyth. Booking in advance is required by the University.  For a form please contact [email-masked]

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY:  Annual Sponsored Walk – Saturday 19th May.  Contact Laura Williams on 01268 784544.

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 and Tony Bickersteth,

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 OPENING TIMES IN THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL:

Sundays from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm.

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER[C]

April 15th   2007  A.D.

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

Saturday 14th April

Sunday   15th April

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Matthew O’Toole RIP

Cora Webb RIP [DB]

Edith Sadler RIP

POLISH MASS

Ellen and John Bolger RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Brigid and Edward Hennessy RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Denise Smith RIP [JW]

Monday 16th          Feria

Church

9:15 am

Terry Hilton RIP

Tuesday 17th

Feria

Church                 9:15am  Intentions of Stephen and Ina Rhatigan

Wednesday 18

Thursday 19th

Feria

Church

Feria

Church

12:15pm

9:15am

Leo Critchley RIP

Intentions of John Wright

Friday 20th

Feria

Church

9:15am

Cora Webb RIP [KK]

Saturday 21st

St Anselm, Bp, D.

Church                 9:15 am  Kevin Doyle RIP

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

April 15th 2007 A.D.

Saturday 14th April

Sunday   15th April

6:15pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

In Thanksgiving [Mrs Drummond]

Cora Webb RIP [GMcC]

Catherine White RIP

Moira Pryke RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Bertus Derksen RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Ints. Mr & Mrs Glen Duke

Monkwick

10:15 am

Joan Hayworth 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: John O’Hara   [549222]

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

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092