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 ELEVENTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

JUNE 15th   2008

Dear Friends,

Jesus didn’t choose
his disciples because of their ability or worth.  They were ordinary people called to an
extraordinary mission and so are we.  It’s hard to imagine what
criteria Jesus might have used in selecting the twelve apostles.  They were certainly a diverse group of
people and as Jesus’ life and mission unfolds, we learn more about
them: their great acts of faith, their loyalty and enthusiasm but also we
meet their doubts, their unfaithfulness and distress.  When looking to employ people today -
and putting the “Apprentice”
programme to one side! -  good references and the best
qualifications are very high up the list, but the amazing thing about Jesus
is that he chooses people to work with him even though he knows all their
faults.  He chose them for who
they were; their willingness to respond, to follow his call far outweighed
any personal worthiness.  He
invited them to do the extraordinary and they said “yes”.  Possibly one of the greatest barriers
to growth in the Christian life is an unhelpful sense of our
unworthiness.  We live in a society
where the strong are favoured over the weak and the
wealthy over the impoverished; the successful seen as role models, not the
struggling; the gifted are admired and the less able are sometimes
forgotten.  Appreciating more
about God’s love and less about our own weakness takes time.  St
Paul set the truth before us, that Christ died for
us while we were imperfect sinners. There is that poster that shows an image
of the crucifixion and asks Jesus “..how much do you love me?” Underneath is written “He replied, ‘This
much’, and then stretched out his arms and died.”   As Jesus came into our
broken world and conquered sin and death, so he meets us in our broken lives
and call us to discipleship, and what matters in discipleship is not our
worthiness, but our willingness to follow Christ.

God bless

EVENTS
THIS WEEK

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

Wednesday
18th June  7-9pm   Scripture Course
Crypt

“
“
“   7pm     Monkwick Committee
Meeting    M’wick

Thursday
19th June    7:30pm  Finance Committee Meeting   Presbytery

Friday
20th June   10-12 noon  Coffee Morning    P St Courtyard Garden

TODAY IS FATHER’S
DAY:  We wish them all a very happy day and we remember
those of our fathers who have died.
May they rest in peace.

SVP ANNUAL APPEAL:  There will be a second
collection after all Masses this weekend to assist the work of the St Vincent
de Paul Society who support and give aid to those in need within our
parish.

BAPTISM TODAY:
Eoin Peter Ledwidge.  God bless this child and congratulations to his family.

RECENTLY DECEASED: Please
pray for the repose of the soul of John Holmes, Deirdre Kehoe and Richard
Wheeler.  May they rest in peace.

MERCY ASSOCIATES MEET tomorrow,
Monday 16th June, at 7:30pm at Christ Church Court.  Tel: 763049.

HEALING
MASS AT ABBOTSWICK: will be celebrated
by Fr John Glynn at 7:30pm on Thursday, 19th June at the Diocesan
House of Prayer.  For more details
call 01277 373959 or visit www.abbotswick.org

COFFEE MORNING IN PRIORY
STREET:  Our annual Courtyard Garden Coffee
Morning will take place on Friday,
20th June, from 10am to 12 noon.  Let’s make this a good
opportunity to socialize and fundraise for our parish.  As always, cake donations will be
gratefully received and the cost of entry remains at £3.50.

SION COMMUNITY: Praise & Worship Evening at Sawyers Hall Lane,
Brentwood on Sunday, 22nd
June,  7.30 to 9.00pm

ST BENEDICT’S SUMMER FAIR:  Saturday 28th June 12noon
to 3pm.  Grand Raffle Prize
Draw, cake stalls, bouncy castles, coconut shy, bottle stall, stalls by each
Year Group plus many others, and a BBQ.
Proceeds to School funds, so please come along to support the Fair and
the School.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN DAY OF RETREAT FOR CATECHISTS:

DATE:
Saturday 28th June, 2008. TIME:  11.00am – 3.00pm VENUE: Cathedral Conference Centre, Brentwood. FACILITATORS: Fr Paul
Fox and Sr Nuala Gannon. COST: £5.00 per
person. Please bring a packed lunch.  Tea/Coffee provided. For
booking, contact the office on 01277 265219

or email [email-masked]

MERSEA NEWS:  Thanks
to Margaret Williams for hosting our June Coffee Morning.  The next one will be July 8th
and more details will follow shortly.

UNION
OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS:   It Is hoped to
set up a branch of UCM within the parish following interest shown in the
organization.  An inaugural
meeting in July, here at Priory
Street, is in the process of being arranged and
further details will follow.

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE:  The current rota for the coffee morning
after 10:30 Mass in Priory Street is coming to an end – if you would
like to volunteer for the new rota please
“ask at the hatch” or see Hywel & Pam Edwards – 867325.

AYLESFORD
YOUTH DAY  - 5TH JULY:  We have just been advised that in addition
to the Clacton Parish Coach, transport will be provided from St
Benedict’s [leaving at 8:15am]. For more details phone the College on
549222

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES (July 26th-August 1st 2008):  A Senior Medical Practitioner/General
Practitioner who would be willing to assist another Doctor in providing
medical cover to registered sick/disabled Pilgrims whilst on Pilgrimage is
being actively sought. You would be joining a team of volunteers who consist
of Registered nurses and helpers who provide care and assistance as necessary,
to pilgrims in their hotel/s. Those people who require assistance are
accommodated with the main body of the Pilgrimage predominantly between two
designated hotels close to the Grotto.
If you would like further information please contact Phyllis Keating
(Chief Nursing Officer) on 07900918039

DIARY
DATE - BCYS TRAINING & RESOURCE DAY:  Saturday 20th September at
Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish Centre, Wanstead from 10am to 4pm. The Youth
Service invite both parish volunteers working with young people and those
wanting to see more done for young people to their annual training and
resource day.  For more
information or to book: www.bcys.net/youcan
; Youth Office 01277 265286; email
[email-masked] and Diana has a supply
of booking forms in the parish office.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: are
offering 2 different golf days for all you keen golfers this year, due to
popular demand. Firstly they are holding a Charity Golf Day on Friday 1st
August at Thorndon Park Golf Club, Brentwood, with breakfast, 18 holes and a
2 course lunch only £65 pp.followed by the
Annual Golf Classic on Friday 12th September at Ilford Golf Club,
18 holes and dinner only £45 pp. Full details are on the poster in the
porch which also details the Society’s main upcoming fundraising
events.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Catherine Libby, Sheila
Parsons, Mary and Harry Pink, John
Rae, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Margaret Tuckwell, Peggy Wilding.

Please be reminded that, because of the Data
Protection Act, we are not advised by hospital staff of Catholic inpatients.
If you have family or friends who have been admitted to hospital and who
would like a visit, do let one of the priests
know.

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 at 8pm at
No.48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
]
Saturdays
10am – 11am

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 us know in writing.

LITURGY FOR
THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR[ A]

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

Saturday  June 14th

Sunday
June 15th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Bernard Brett RIP

Fr Tom O’Grady RIP
[A]

Annie Skeet RIP

Des Fuller RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Special Intention [TH]

Mile
End

9:15
am

Damian and Sheila Lu RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday
16th

Feria

Church      9:15
am    Four sons of Brenda Rodrigues

Intentions of the Fuller Family

Tuesday
17th

Feria

Church
9:15
am
Des Fuller RIP

Wednesday
18

Feria

Church
12:15 pm
Maria Bradshaw RIP [A]

Chris Maher RIP

Thursday
19th

Feria

Church      9:15
am     Intentions of Dr E P Solomon

Friday
20th

Feria

Church     12:45pm     REQUIEM – DEIRDRE
KEHOE RIP

Saturday 21st        St Aloysius Gonzaga, Rel.

Church      9:15
am     Ken
Herbert RIP

LITURGY FOR
THE TWELFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

June 22nd 2008 A.D.

Saturday June 21st

Sunday    June 22nd

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Pierre and Myriam Imbert RIP

Des Fuller RIP

James and baby Sophie Banks
RIP

Roseanna McLoughlin RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Private Intention

Mile
End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Joseph and
Bridget Loftus RIP

SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION  Saturday 10:00-11:00 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]

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

Vocations                                     www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092