ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr  Anthony  McKentey

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 ASCENSION OF THE LORD – MAY 16th 2010

My dear friends

Welcome on this great feast of the Ascension of Our Lord.  We celebrate our joy that the Lord has ascended into Heaven to prepare a place for us there; where he has gone, we hope to follow.  At the Ascension, Our Lord gave the commission to the Church to proclaim the good news throughout the world.

Today we observe World Communication Sunday as we pray for the spread of the Gospel through every means of communication available to us today. Please take one of the Communication Day leaflets with information about various informative Church websites.

This week we received news of the Pope’s visit in September: Thursday  16 September: Arrival at Edinburgh Airport; meeting with the Queen at Holyroodhouse; Mass at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow and then to London. Friday 17 September: Prayer with Religious and a celebration of Catholic Education at St Mary’s, Strawberry Hill; meeting with other Faith leaders at Strawberry Hill; meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace; televised address at Westminster Hall; Evening Prayer at Westminster Abbey. Saturday 18 September:  Mass in Westminster Cathedral; pastoral visit to St Peter’s Home for the Elderly, Vauxhall; drive through central London and Prayer Vigil in Hyde Park. Sunday 19 September: Beatification Mass at Coventry Airport; lunch with the Bishops at Oscott; meeting with the Bishops at Oscott; departure for Rome from Birmingham International Airport.  To support the visit there will need to be a collection in every parish throughout the country next weekend. We have been levied at about £1,000, so help towards achieving that sum will be greatly appreciated.

May God bless you all,

Fr Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Tuesday 18th May      7:30pm   Mass @ Brentwood Cathedral – see below

Wednesday  19th        6:45pm  Scripture Course                                  Crypt

Thursday 20th             7:30pm  Social Committee Meeting                  Crypt

Friday 21st                  7:30pm   Baptism Course [2 of 2]                      Crypt

Saturday 22nd           10-12      F H C  Session               Crypt, Hall, Church

“              “                3-4pm   Bp Graham Rose Meeting       See below

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

PRAYER GROUP:                                            Mondays at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                                   Tuesdays at 8pm in the Crypt

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

SICK:  Please remember in your prayers:  Claire Cooper, Bridie Murphy, Baby Leah Patterson, Hector Silva, Lucy Walker.

SVP ANNUAL COLLECTION takes place today after all Masses.   As a result of your generosity, the SVP are able to assist those in the Parish who are marginalised and in need.

BAPTISMS TODAY:  Romao Gatt and Jessica Lawrence. God bless these children and congratulations to their families.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  The funeral of the late Mr John Kelly takes place on Wednesday, 19th May at 1:45pm at Colchester Crematorium.

FRANCIS & EMMY CARTER RIP:  The family of Francis and Emmy thank everyone for their prayers and support at this time.  The funeral has still yet to be arranged.          May they rest in peace.

BAPTISM COURSE:  The second session of the current Baptism Course will in the Crypt at 7:30pm. on Friday 21st May. If you missed the first session, the next Baptismal Course will be arranged in a few months time.

KSC:  Rosary In May:  On 19th May at Lexden; on 28th May at Greenstead.  All at 7:30pm. Aylesford: on June 13th.  The coach will leave East Hill/Priory Street junction at 9am, returning by approximately 7pm.  Cost - £11 per head and to book please contact Bill de Smith on 767597.

VISIT OF GRAHAM ROSE, BISHOP OF DUNDEE, S.A.:  Bishop Graham is visiting our Diocese.  There is a Mass at Brentwood Cathedral on Tuesday, 18th May at 7:30pm to which everyone is warmly invited. He will be visiting our Parish on 22nd May.  In the afternoon between 3pm & 4pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall he will meet Parishioners from all the local parishes.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CENTRAL COLCHESTER:  On Monday, 26th May at St Botolph’s Church Hall at 7:30pm there will be an informal meeting which will provide an opportunity to speak to members of other town centre churches about matters of common interest.  Light refreshments will be provided.

MERCY ASSOCIATES: Mercy Associates meet next at 7.30 pm on Monday 24 May at Christ Church Court.( tel. 763049).

“PICTURES AS PRAYER”: Paintings as inspiration for prayer.  On Wednesday, 26th May in the Crypt at 7.30pm. Further details to follow.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:  As promised, there will be a Parish AGM on Sunday, 20th June at 7:30pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall when the Financial Report will be presented and other items will be discussed.  The Parish Council meets on Friday, May 28th in the Crypt at 7pm.

SOUP RUN:  There is an urgent need for a male [safety issues] volunteer for the Saturday Soup Run.  If you can help [on a rota every few weeks] please contact Claire on 01206 765926.

INVITATION FROM GREENSTEAD PARISH to join their Day Trip to France on Saturday 22nd May via the Channel Tunnel.  Cost £30.  Pick up 7am from St John Payne Church and return approximately 9:30pm.  For more information and to book, contact Jean Henley on 865038.3

YOUTH NEWS:  Aylesford Youth Festival – Saturday 3rd July. St John Bosco Summer Camp, Aldham – www.svpboscocamp.org.uk ;or booking details from Parish Office.  Spaces go very quickly. Boys’ camp: 3 separate weeks from 24th July – 7th August.  Girls: 14th-21st August.  Youth Gather on Mersea – 16th-17th October.  World Youth Day – Madrid 9th – 23rd August 2011.  More detail for all events on posters; www.bcys.net; 01277 265286; [email-masked]

New Summer Open Retreat for young people in school years 7, 8 and 9 at Walsingham House.  9-11 July 2010 only £45.  Come to Walsingham House for a weekend of fun, faith and friendship.  We’ll play games, eat good food, and pray together, with drama, art and music and the opportunity to make new friends.  Come along and have some fun.  Forms available from our website www.walsinghamhouse.org or email [email-masked]

CAFOD: There is an update by way of email in the Porch- “Haiti 3 months on”.  The total of the recent Fast Day Collection, including parishioners’ own cheques, totalled £2,601.

UPCOMING SECOND COLLECTIONS TO JULY:  Today SVP: Next Sunday [Pentecost] Parish contribution toward Papal Visit as requested by the Bishop [there will not be an annual collection for Peter’s Pence therefore]; 30th June Sick Clergy Fund; CAFOD 4th July; Day for Life 25th July.

THANK YOU to the anonymous donor for the very generous gift towards the Parish flower fund.  It was much appreciated by the flower team.

BCCS – SPONSORED WALK – 8TH MAY: If you sponsored a walker, please hand your money in to the collectors after Mass.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH: Please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass and complete a registration form [on the table in the porch], returning it to the Parish Office.  If you move within or out of the Parish, please also advise the Parish Office.

WEB SITE: For all inclusions on the parish website please contact Don Clarke – [email-masked].

LITURGY FOR THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD [C]

May 16th  2010 [World Communication Day]

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

Saturday May 15th

Sunday May 16th

[Signed Mass]

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Mr & Mrs Milford RIP

D/Rels: Zlocki & Pauk Families RIP

Intentions of Julianna

POLISH MASS

George Chapman RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Norma Golding RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Michel Vallard RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

Monday 17th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Michael & Ellen Kate Conlon RIP

Margot Smith RIP

Tuesday 18th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Special Intentions [R&MG]

Wednesday 19th

Feria

Church     12:15 pm   Teresa Nicholls RIP

Thursday 20th

Feria

Church       9:15 am   Bridget and Michael Brady RIP {A}

Friday 21st

Feria

Church       9:15 am   Intentions of Frank White

In Reparation and Atonement for the sins of Child Abuse

Saturday 22          Feria

Church        9:15 am   Intentions of Alan Smith

LITURGY FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

May 23rd 2010 [Day of Prayer for the Church]

Saturday May 22nd

6:15 pm

Francis & Emmy Carter RIP [ER]

Sunday   May 23rd

8:00 am

Bridie Foley RIP

10:30am

2:00 pm

Intentions of Eva Nazarko

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION  MASS

6:30 pm

Ints: Catherine & Michael Wood

West Mersea

8:30 am

David Joslin RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15am

Intentions of Olive Hewitt [TW]

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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