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 ADVENT [A]
– December 16th 2007

Dear Friends,

We hear so much about
John in Advent because he was the one who went before Jesus to prepare the
people for his coming, and we rarely think of John as someone who retained
his own disciples after the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, not least
because many people thought he might be the Messiah – twenty years after
the death of Jesus there were still the disciples of John.  There is no suggestion that John
thought of himself as the Messiah but in the gospels of Mark and Luke there
is no suggestion that John actually recognised
Jesus as the Messiah.  In
Matthew’s Gospel today we hear John’s voice questioning from
prison if Jesus is that one.  John
is confused.  Remember last week
how he spoke of one who, as a strict judge, would bring a fiery judgment, who
would be a dispenser of wrath.
Then he hears of Jesus healing the sick, blessing the gentle and the
peacemakers, telling people to love their enemies.   The Gospel does not tell us if
John continues to doubt; the Gospel is more interested in Jesus. John’s
time is over and his decision about Jesus is a decision of faith.  Only John can therefore make the
decision.  What we do know is what
Jesus thought of John.  He
compliments John in a way that he never compliments any other religious
leader.  John is more than a
prophet because through him prophecy begins to be fulfilled even if he,
himself, cannot see it. Yet, Jesus says, the least in the kingdom is greater
than John.  How can that be?  The basis requirement for entering the
kingdom which Jesus inaugurates is to recognise who he is. The first credo in
the early church was three words only: “Jesus is Lord” – a
recognition of who Jesus is.  That
is why we are greater than John.     So Jesus moves
on.  He continues with his
ministry.

The question of John is
our question too.  Is Jesus the
one for us or are we waiting for someone else?  Is his Gospel enough for us? Do we
find in Jesus the true answer to our longings? Probably this Advent we have a
few questions of our own.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Tuesday 18th
December
8pm Med. Grp. 48 Priory St. [Next Meeting 8.1.08]

Wednesday 19th
December  11am  Mass and Confessions
Mersea

Thursday 20th
December
11am  St Thomas More School Carol Service   Church

Friday 21st
December
N.B.  Change of Mass time

Saturday 22nd
December
9:45am  Reconciliation
Service
Church

MERSEA
NEWS: Mass and Confessions will take place at Mersea at 11am on 19th
December.  [There is therefore no
Eucharistic Service at 9.30am
that day].

FLOWERS
FOR CHRISTMAS – POINSETTIAS:
As last year, you are invited to provide a poinsettia to be put around
the Church of St James the Less during the Christmas
season in memory of deceased loved ones.
Please note that each plant should rest in its own saucer.  Please leave them in Our Lady’s
Chapel and the flower arrangers will do the rest. There will be a second
collection this weekend [at St James’ Church only] for flowers and
decorations in the Church over the Christmas period.

ADVENT RECONCILIATION
SERVICE:  will take
place on 22nd December at 9:45 am at St James the Less. There will
be at least three priests present.

CHRISTMAS MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE –
MONDAY, 24th DECEMBER

Priory Street:
18:30        Christmas
Vigil Mass [especially for families]

Monkwick:
19:30       CAROLS
followed by 20.00 VIGIL MASS

Priory Street:
23:30       CAROLS followed
by MIDNIGHT MASS

CHRISTMAS DAY –
TUESDAY, 25th DECEMBER

Priory Street:
08:00      Christmas Dawn Mass

10:30    Christmas Day Mass

St Cedd, Mersea:        08:30       Carols followed by 9am Christmas Dawn
Mass

Mile End:
09:15       Christmas Day Mass

CHILDREN are
encouraged to come to the Christmas Eve 6.30 Mass dressed up as a character
from the nativity story.  WANTED:  Children in Year 3 and above who
would like to be narrators at the 6:30pm
Christmas Vigil Family Mass.  A rehearsal will take place from 10am on Saturday 15th
December in the Crypt.  [Point of
contact Hywel Edwards: 867325]

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY ANNUAL CRIB
COLLECTION:  This annual
Diocesan collection also includes the carefully saved pocket money of the
children of our parish!  May we
gently remind them to save their pennies during Advent which can then be
wrapped as a present and brought up as an offering during the 6:30pm Family Vigil Mass.

CHILDREN’S
LITURGY:  In order to
improve the services for children in the church we have recently changed the
way that the children's liturgy runs. The children's liturgy in the crypt is
suitable for children 5-8 years old. It is important that the under fives do
not come down due to Child Protection Regulations. An under-fives group is
available in the Church Hall where the children must be accompanied
by a parent or carer. This group is
new and will depend on the support of the parents who use it. Please
volunteer to help so that the group can continue. [CRB checks will, of
course, be needed].

There was a box of children's books at the back of the church which
appears to have gone missing. Does anyone know where it is? In the meantime
has anyone got any books of a suitably religious nature that they could
donate to create a new resource for parents of small children.
Please give your donations to the Children’s Liturgy Group.

FIRST
HOLY COMMUNION:  The
first session for children in Year 3 or above and their parents will be in
the Crypt on 12th
January 2008.  An
information pack will be available from the Priests after Masses from 30th
December, including an Application Form and complete set of dates.*

TEMPORARY
CLOSURE OF THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL from 9am
21st January
2008 to 9am 7th February 2008.  This closure represents the first
phase of a refurbishment programme required to meet
the current fire and safety regulations.
The Cardinal Bourne Hall is a self-supporting Registered Charity No:
234092.

Can you live a simpler lifestyle to help others? In Bishop Thomas’s recent pastoral letter he
mentioned the CAFOD 99% challenge and how giving 1% of your income to
developing countries can help change lives. To find out more about the livesimply
challenge, telephone 02085029722 or visit www.cafod.org.uk/get_involved/give_money

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Florence Fuller, Denisia Gray, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet,
Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Maria Lumsden, Luke
McShane, Kathleen Morrisey,
Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy
Wilding.

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: [See Events] Tuesdays at 8pm
at No 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2008:  Are on sale. Please buy
your copy – still priced at £2.25 – at least for this year.

FINANCES
FOR NOVEMBER: Average weekly collection:£2170. CAFOD
£1,110; Donations £250; Walsingham House [Youth Sunday]
Collection £985; further Inland Revenue Refund via Gift Aiders £264. We paid out £2500 to the
Diocese; £1,230 deposit on new phone system. .

THE
PARISH WEB SITE:  For all
contact, inclusions etc., please contact Donald Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]  He may also be contacted via the
Presbytery, i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

ABBOTSWICK
GOES LIVE!  The sisters have launched
a website for the House of Prayer which they invite you to visit at www.abbotswick.org They hope you will
appreciate the wonderful facility the diocese has at Abbotswick
which is open for everyone to use.
They look forward to welcoming you.

THE
REPOSITORY is open each Sunday from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall.

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 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  [A]

DECEMBER 16th 2007 A.D –
“Gaudete” Sunday

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

Saturday  December 15th

Sunday
December 16th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Intentions of Dr Nick Chanarin

Thomas Murray RIP

Ints of Bernard
& Isobel Healey [Ruby W/A]

POLISH
MASS

Salvina de Brito RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Deceased Relatives of
Maria Sagnella

Monkwick

10:15 am

Ted Wilding RIP

Monday 17th          Feria

Tuesday
18th

Church               9:15 am   D/Rels.
Herbert & Richards Families RIP

Margaretta Wright RIP

Feria

Church
9.15 am    Brian Ashenden
RIP [A]

Wednesday
19th

Feria

Church
12:15
pm  Matthew O’Toole RIP

Thursday 20th

Friday
21st

Saturday
22nd

Feria

Church                9:15
am   Joe McEneney
RIP

Feria

Church    N.B.     8:30am    Kevin Doyle RIP

Feria

Church
9.15
am   Alan Walker RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [A]

DECEMBER 23rd 2007 A.D. –
Expectant Mothers

Saturday  December 22nd

Sunday    December 23rd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Cecily Sim RIP

Des Fuller RIP

Biddy Healey RIP

Dorothy Burke RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Canon John Bloomfield RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Dec. Rels. Wright & Wrobel
Families 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

Vocations                                             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No.
234092