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

PALM SUNDAY OF THE
PASSION OF THE LORD  [A]

March 16th  2008

Dear Friends,

Jesus
organises his own parade into the city that is
destined to kill him.  It seems
puzzling, not only to go voluntarily to the place where your innocence will
not protect you, but to enter the arena of your own execution in the midst of
song and acclamation. But by the time the passion gets underway, there is
nothing to shout about.  Matthew
tells us that all the disciples deserted Jesus; one betrayed him with a kiss;
another denied him with curses.
Confronted with fight or flight, their fear made the decision. With
the passion comes a pressing question.
Can you still attach yourself to this man when all the authorities are
against him?  Can you still
believe in Jesus when you face the direction of Golgotha?
Jesus himself presses on to the end.
When we speak of the passion of Jesus we usually mean his suffering
and death.  But the passion is not
just something done TO Jesus, it is a power within
Jesus, HIS passion, that enables him to face the violence and the pain.  This passion is grander than his need
for security and survival.  He is
a passionate man and his ardent love insists he face the ultimate test of
love - the Cross.  A sign of our
worth; somebody thought we were worth all that pain and suffering and that
somebody is Jesus, Son of God. In spite of our sins and stupidities God loves
us.  That is the heart of the
passion story.  All else is
commentary. On Holy Thursday night, Jesus vividly demonstrates the value of
every single human being.  He gets
up from the table, down on his knees and washes the feet of his disciples.  The Lord and Master making himself the
servant of servants! What he showed on his knees he then continued to share
with them at table by identifying himself forever with bread and wine.  He gave his followers more than food
for thought; he gave them himself and on this night the Lord invites us to
copy what he has done for us.  Be
bread for others: be life.
Let’s do it.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday
19th March
12:45pm – 2pm      Final Lenten
Lunch             Crypt

“
“
“
7pm   Chrism Mass at Brentwood
Cathedral

[The Coach being organised by Frinton parish
will leave Gala Bingo at 5pm sharp for those who have
booked]

Good
Friday 21st March     10am  Stations of the Cross
Mile End

“
“
“     12-1pm    Service     Forecourt  Eld Lane
Baptist Church

“
“
“
7:30pm   Good Friday at the Mercury
Theatre

TRIDUUM SERVICES AT PRIORY STREET

Maundy Thursday       8pm   Mass of the Last Supper/Veneration to 12midnight

Good Friday
11am   Family Stations of the
Cross – see below

“
“
3pm   Solemn Liturgy of the Passion

Holy Saturday
7pm    Easter Vigil     [No Confessions AM
or PM]

Easter Sunday   -  23rd March  Masses at usual Sunday times

SECOND COLLECTION TODAY:  A second collection will be taken after all
Masses at Priory Street
only today for flowers & decorations during the Easter season.

EASTER LILIES:  If you would like to donate a bloom in
memory of a loved one, please enclose an offering of £2.50 in an
envelope marked “Easter Lily” and deliver to the Priests’
House.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul
of two year old Maxine Dumol who has recently died
and pray for her family at this time.

FAMILY
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Mrs Dobner from St Benedict's will lead
this service on Good Friday at 11am.
and she would like anyone interested  in being involved to be at the church
by 9.30 that day in order to have a practice before it starts.

HFE BILL:  A meeting has yet to be arranged with
Bernard Jenkin MP but Letter-writing sessions continue after morning Masses in
the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  This
Bill is now before the Commons - it is vital to write to your MP.  Guidance will be given at the
sessions.  Contact John Sutcliffe
851838.

COACH
TO CHRISM MASS:  Pick up point will be Gala Bingo, Osborne St. 5pm
SHARP.  It will be a Hedingham’s Coach.  Fare £10 p.p.

VOLUNTEERS
ARE REQUIRED for feet washing on
Maundy Thursday.  Please write
down your name & tel.no. and
put through the Presbytery door . Thank you

DIVINE
MERCY SUNDAY CELEBRATION:  On Sunday 30th March at Our
Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford, following the Mass at noon, at approximately
1pm,  there will be Adoration,
rosary, a talk by Fr Brian O’Shea and the celebration will end with a
Blessing.

PILGRIMAGE
TO KRAKOW – 12TH MAY: There are 10 places still available.  Please contact Mrs Blackett
on 01277 821886 or see Fr Joseph.

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM:
Saturday 5th April. Transport available but limited
seats.  Full details from John
Sutcliffe 851838.

SVP SPRING
OUTING TO NORFOLK BROADS:
Saturday 12th April.  Will include an hour-and-a-half river
cruise on a paddle steamer and afternoon visit to Snape
Maltings.
Start: 9am. Cost:
£17.50pp.  To book, ring
Anna 242170; Ann 844914.

SPONSORS
REQUIRED FOR LONDON MARATHON
RUNNERS: [1] Sean Moriarty is running for
the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society. If you have access to the
internet, the securest way to donate is to visit www.justgiving.com/seanmoriarty   [2] Fr James McShane,
PP of Tilbury, is running for Scope and has pledged
£1500.  Any surplus funds
will go to the Diocesan Youth Lourdes Pilgrimage. Cheques
payable to “Our Lady Star of the Sea”.  [The Marathon
is on April 13th].

CAFOD 110ft Sponsored Abseil
down Harlow Water Tower Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th May Your chance to do
something different and raise money for CAFOD. Participants have to be 16 or
over. The Abseil is organised by the Harlow Tye Rotary Club in conjunction with Dukes Barn Outdoor
Adventure Organisation. For further details
including brochure and registration form contact CAFOD Brentwood email [email-masked] or phone 020 8502 9722

ARE
YOU A CAR DRIVER AND COULD YOU SPARE AN HOUR ONCE A MONTH/SIX WEEKS?:
Please contact the
Parish Office.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe,
Catherine Libby, Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford,
Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding, Chetty Zammit.

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, let one of the priests know.

DAILY:
Rosary
8:40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:40am]

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

EASTER
OFFERING:  The collection at the Easter Vigil and
at the East Sunday Masses is personal to Fr Joseph and Fr Brett and, together
with the Christmas collection, forms the bulk of their income for the
year.  Your generosity is very
much appreciated.

WALK WITH
ME BOOKLETS – An Eastertide Journey of Prayer for 2008 are now available.  Price £1.

GIFT AID: You are reminded that the
new set of envelopes are available for
collection.  They will be at Priory Street
until Easter Sunday; will be brought to Mersea and Monkwick on 30th
March and to Mile End on the 6th April.  If anyone wishes to have their
envelopes before these dates, please collect them from Priory Street .If you are a tax payer
and wish to donate by way of Gift Aid at no cost or inconvenience to yourself,
please contact John Ross, the Co-ordinator on
366077.

LITURGY FOR PALM SUNDAY
OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD [ A]

March 16th 2008 A.D

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

Saturday  March 15th

Sunday
March 16th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Stephen Mooney RIP

Beatrice & Geoffrey Foley RIP

John and Julie O’Connor RIP

Parishioners

West Mersea

8:30
am

Julia Hoy RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Mr and Mrs
Griffin RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Kath and Brian Morrissey RIP

Monday 17th

MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK

Church               9:15 am   Alan
Walker RIP

Frederick, Elizabeth &
Angelo Lucas RIP

Tuesday 18th

TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

Church               9:15 am   Patrick & Roseann
McAloon RIP

Wednesday 19

Thursday 20th

Friday 21st

Saturday 22nd

WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

Church
10:00 am  REQUIEM – Maxine Dumol  RIP

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Church                8:00 pm  Holy Souls RIP [ x 2]

GOOD FRIDAY                      Fasting
and Abstinence

Church                3:00
pm   Solemn Liturgy of the Passion

HOLY SATURDAY
First Mass of Easter

Church
7:00pm     Beryl and Noel Blanchette RIP

Dermot
Moriarty RIP [R&MG]

LITURGY FOR THE
RESURRECTION  OF THE LORD  [A]

23rd  March 2008 A.D.

Sunday    March 23rd

8:00
am

10:30
am

2:00
pm

6:30
pm

Kate and Thomas Lennon RIP

Raymond Gardiner RIP

POLISH MASS

Canon John Bloomfield RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Dermot Moriarty RIP [NG]

Mile End

9:15
am

Holy Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
NO CONFESSIONS AM OR PM HOLY
SATURDAY

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