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 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

April 18th 2010

My dear friends

The First Reading tells of the opposition the apostles encountered from the Jewish authorities.  Persecution did not come as a surprise: Jesus had predicted it. [Lk 21:12-13].  It became an opportunity for the apostles to bear witness to him.  They refused to be silenced.  Always the central point of their witness is the resurrection of Jesus.  Far from being demoralised, they were glad to suffer for the sake of Jesus.

The Gospel shows that a constant feature of the resurrection stories is that Jesus is not recognised at once; it takes some word or familiar gesture for him to be known.  This is an effective way of making the point that the resurrection is not a return to earthly life – Jesus has risen to a new life beyond death.  He is the same Jesus, yet transformed. He is not as he was; but is still who he was.

The miraculous catch of fish symbolises the mission of the apostles to be “fishers of men”.  The large catch shows how successful the disciples can be with Jesus’ help.  The meal symbolises the Eucharistic meal in which Jesus is present among them and feeds them.  Peter, who three times denied his Master, is now given three chances to profess his love, and then is given a mandate to care for the Lord’s flock.  In giving authority to the man who denied him, Jesus wanted to show that he was establishing his Church not on human strength, but on his own love and faithfulness.

May God bless you all

Fr Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 21st April    6:45pm  Scripture Course                            Crypt

Saturday 24th               2-4pm    UCM “Green Fingers” – see below    Hall

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.

BAPTISM TODAY:  Keira Sophie Gardner.  God bless this child and congratulations to her family.

HEADTEACHER VACANCY: Applications are invited for the post of Headteacher of St Philomena’s Catholic School in Frinton-on-Sea.  This is an Independent School catering for pupils of all denominations, aged 3-11.  Starting date January 2011.Further information and an application pack can be obtained from Paul Barnett, School Administrator on 01255 674492.  Email:  [email-masked]

SPUC MEETING: Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is holding a meeting on Monday, 19th April, 7.30-9pm, in Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, 116 Melbourne Avenue, Chelmsford, CM1 2DU.  Speaker: John Smeaton. Contact Jim or Margaret Feeney on 01245 265896 for more details.

MARRIAGE OF DANIEL DOLEMAN AND HEIDI takes place next Saturday at 1pm.  Braintree parishioner, Daniel, used to attend St Benedict’s College and the family welcome any Colchester friends of his to the Church.

UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS are holding a 'Green Fingers/Nature Afternoon' on Saturday 24th April from 2-4pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  There will be lots of activities, especially for children of pre-school and primary school ages , including seed planting, bird box making and vegetable printing. Price £3 per child or £5 per family.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP EVENING AT THE SION COMMUNITY, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, will take place this month on Sunday, 25th April, 7.30 to 9.00pm.  Everyone welcome.

MERCY ASSOCIATES: Meet next at 7:30pm on Monday, 26th April at 2 Christ Church Court.  Tel: 763049.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER & FASTING FOR LIFE:  On Tuesday 27th April, the 42nd anniversary of the legalisation of abortion, please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia. Your prayer and fasting is

urgently needed. For more information contact; The Good Counsel Network on 020 7723 1740 or e-mail [email-masked] or see www.goodcounselnetwork.com  or see poster for more details.

CHURCHES TOGETHER- ELECTION HUSTINGS MEETING: The Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Labour, Green Party, UKIP and English Democratic Party Parliamentary candidates have been invited to a meeting on Tuesday 27th April, at 7.45pm in St Botolph’s Church.  The Bishop of Colchester will chair the Meeting and further details as to Parliamentary attendees will follow.

KSC:  Rosary In May:   On 4th and 11th May in Priory Street; 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 9:15am, returning by approximately 7pm.  Cost - £11 per head and to book please contact Bill de Smith on 767597.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY:  Colchester Deanery Annual Sponsored 5 ½ mile Walk.  Saturday 8th May 2010 from St James the Less & St Helen at 10am, returning for refreshments in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  For more information and walkers’ packs, please contact: Gary Hull on 530863 or Michael Irvine on 854803.  [See Poster in the Porch].

THE DIOCESAN DEAF SERVICE is celebrating a Signed Mass here on May 16th at 6.30pm. Fr David Clemens will be our celebrant and people who are deaf will sign the readings. All are welcome, hearing, hard of hearing and deaf. For more information contact Sr Margaret Duffy on 020  8504 0406 or   Email [email-masked] .

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE:  Alumni Mass and picnic - Saturday 29th May 2010. Everyone who has ever been involved with Walsingham House (either years ago in Chingford or more recently at Canvey Island), or been on pilgrimage to Lourdes, World Youth Day or other destinations with the Diocesan Youth Service, is very welcome to come and bring their families to a Reunion Mass on Saturday 29th May 2010 at midday at  Walsingham House, Lionel Road, Canvey Island, SS8 9DE.  If you want any more information, please contact [email-masked] or call the youth office on 01277 265286.  Please don't forget to bring a picnic!

REPOSITORY:  Volunteers are wanted.  If you can spare  a couple of hours now and again, please see Simon in the Hall after the 10:30 Sunday Mass.

GIFT AID SUBSCRIBERS: Your boxed envelope sets for the 2010-11 financial year are available for collection.  Please collect your supply - the new Tax Year has already begun! Thank you.                              John Sales

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PARISH please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass.  A registration form – on the table in the porch – will need to be completed and returned to the Parish Office.  Please also let the Parish Office know if you are moving within or out of the parish.

PARISH WEB SITE:  Contact [email-masked] for all inclusions.

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

April 18th  2010

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

Saturday April 17th

Sunday April 18th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Henry Lazell RIP [A]

Margaret Hopkins [née Cornish] RIP

Deirdre Kehoe RIP

Intentions: Judy Hemming-Allen

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15 am

Poor Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

David Sutcliffe RIP

Monday 19th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Pierce Comerford RIP

William Mitchell RIP

Tuesday 20th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Fr Widy

Wednesday 21st

Feria

Church     12:15 pm  Judith Maria Powling RIP

Thursday 22nd

Feria

Church       9:15 am   Dec.Rels: Zlocki & Pauk Families RIP

Friday 23rd

ST GEORGE, m. Patron of England

Church       9:15 am  Sidney and Rose Jane Castell RIP

Saturday 24th        St Mellitus, Bp.

Church        9:15 am  Intentions of Mrs Matiz & Family

Church        1:00 pm  Wedding – Heidi and Daniel

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER  [C]

World Day of Prayer for Vocations - April 25th 2010

Saturday April 24th

6:15 pm

Carmello Zammit RIP

Sunday   April  25th

8:00 am

Brian Jackson RIP

10:30am

Janina & Gregory Nazarko RIP

6:30 pm

Anna-Maria Magdaleno RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Carmel Sammon RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Jim England RIP

Monkwick

10:15am

Parishioners

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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