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 SECOND SUNDAY OF
EASTER [B]

April 19th 2009
A.D.

Dear
Friends

It is often said that for those who believe in
God, proof is not necessary.  For
those who do not believe in God no proof is ever convincing.  In today’s Gospel the case is
strongly made for all those who find it hard or even impossible to
believe.  When Thomas on his
return is told by the other apostles that Jesus is alive again after his
death on the cross he, quite understandably, refuses to believe.  Thomas had witnessed that fearful and
final death; he was in shock and in grief.  He did not need false hopes.  Whilst being part of the apostolic
group, he is also a distinct independent self.  He cannot be loyal to the group while
being disloyal to his inner self.
That would render his loyalty worthless and for Thomas, honesty was
more important than loyalty.  So
when Jesus comes a second time to that upper room he invites Thomas to make
the acid test.  This is not a
scold to Thomas but the gift of personal revelation.  The disciples’ faith is based on
seeing; ours is based on hearing.
Through preaching, teaching and witness of life many will come to
believe.  Through the story of the
Church down the ages and the lives of good and holy people, through the
simple living of those three great virtues given to us by God – faith,
hope and love – many will come to believe.  It remains equally true that many,
like Thomas, have witnessed and undergone sufferings and sadness and are unable
to believe; for others, philosophers and scientists, the whole religious
theory just does not make sense.
Others still, point to the follies and evils of religion.  It was folly and religious evil which
put Jesus on a cross.  But the
risen Jesus offers us faith; not religion.  Faith is a life, and like any life can
wither if not nurtured.  Faith
demands active verbs.  That does
not mean we will never have doubts; but if like Thomas we care about what we
believe in, that care will bring us into the presence of the living
Lord.
God
bless

THANK YOU  to everyone who contributed to the Easter
liturgies and thanks for your cards, gifts and generous donations to the
Clergy.          FR JOSEPH

CONGRATULATIONS TO:  Ian Woodley, Andrew and Jeraldine
McMillan, Sarah Pembroke, Siobhan Cordy-McKenna and
Chengaikane Kahumbe
received into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Sunday 19th April     7:30pm   Confirmation Class
Crypt

Monday 20th
7:30pm   Mercy Associates Meeting       See below

Tuesday 21st
4:30pm   Baptism Course [Age 7-15yrs] See
below

“
“
7:30pm   Liturgy Meeting
Presbytery

Wednesday 22nd      6:45 pm  Scripture Course                       See below

Saturday 25th
7:30pm   Barn/Square Dance
See below

BAPTISM TODAY:   Jesse Agendia.  God bless this child and congratulations to his
family

SECOND
COLLECTION – PRO-LIFE COLLECTION:  There will be a second collection today
for a range of pro-life charities, including SPUC, RTL and the Good Counsel
Network.

DIVINE
MERCY SUNDAY – 19th APRIL:  In honour of
this feast  there will be Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament, Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and other prayers from 1pm
– 3.30pm in the church today.
All are welcome.

CONFIRMATION
CLASS:  The next session takes
place today at 7:30pm in the Crypt.

MERCY
ASSOCIATES:  The next meeting is on
Monday, 20th April at 7:30pm Christ Church Court.  Telephone: 763049.

BAPTISM
OF CHILDREN BETWEEN 7-15 YEARS:  If you have a child[ren] between these ages
who have not yet been baptised,  a Course “Preparing for
Baptism” starts this Tuesday, April 21st, at 4:30pm in the
Presbytery.

LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT SEMINARS:  At Our Lady of Light,
Clacton Parish on 7 Tuesdays, commencing 21st April at 8pm.  Full details on posters in porch.

SCRIPTURE
COURSE:  Led by Sr Angela on
Wednesdays from 6:45 – 8:45pm in the Crypt, the Scripture Course
recommences on April 22nd and intends to study an introduction to The
Good News according to Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles.

SVP BARN/SQUARE
DANCE:  Next Saturday 25th April. 7:30pm – 11pm in the Cardinal Bourne
Hall.  Entrance by ticket only. Tickets
are available in the Hall this morning after 10:30 Mass or at the door on the night.  Also to book, please telephone Anna
01206 242170, or Ann 01206 844914. Adults £7.50. Children under 14 & Over 80's Free.  Food is included in the price.

Come
and Hear Fr Pat Collins C.M.
Writer, Broadcaster & International Speaker, Saturday 2nd May,
Brentwood Cathedral, 10.30 to 4.30. Theme
‘Good News in Bad Times’.

NEW HALL SCHOOL,
CHELMSFORD
OPEN DAY:  On Monday, 4th
May from 9am – 12:30pm.  For
more information contact 01245 467588 or [email-masked]

KSC –
ROSARY IN MAY:  The Knights of St Columba
will be reciting the Rosary on Tuesday 5th and 12th May
at 7:30pm in Priory Street; on Wednesday 20th May at 7:30pm in
Lexden [after Benediction] and on Friday, 29th May at 7:30pm at
Greenstead [after Mass].

COLCHESTER THREE FAITHS FORUM:  This is a group which
exists to promote dialogue and understanding between the 3 Abrahamic faiths
– Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The first of three visits has been planned on Wednesday, May 20th,
at 7:30pm to Priory
Street Mosque. Details of future  visits to the Synagogue and St
Helen’s Orthodox Church will follow.

MEDJUGORJE; 21st
– 28th June 2009 with return flight/HB/transfer/full programme/spiritual guide.  £465 incl. apart from
insurance/SRS. Contact Carmen Blackett on 01277
821886/07754 163007/077385 95534.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage 2009 from
14-21September.  Cost
£465.   Interested?  Contact Jan Cavanagh
on 01473 730426.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND:  The next weekend is due
to be held on 26-28 June 2009 at the Emmaus Centre, West
Wickham, Kent.  This
is a private weekend with no group discussions.  The local contacts are Caroline and
Michael L’Estrange on 01277 841051 or www.wwme.oreg.uk
No charge is made other
than a booking deposit and a donation towards costs.

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine
Mercy  [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 St

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
at 9:45am – 10.30am

FINANCES: £ IN
FEBRUARY
£ OUT

AWC
1692 [incl. standing
orders]
2500 Diocese*

CAFOD
905
1289
Gas [ex Hall]

Anchor
Hse    634

Donations      135

MARCH

AWC
1756  [as above]
2500  Diocese*

CAFOD
1192
635  Electricity [ex Hall]

BCCS
841**
967  Surveyors’ Fees

Donations      100                                                   679  New pump for boiler

St
Patrick’s
422
500  Lourdes Youth

Confirmation
603  Plumbing/Repairs

Programme    140
892  Gas [ex Hall]

*Information
on Diocesan expenditure is given on the pie-chart posters in the porch.

**
The Chairman writes…”Please pass on my thanks to Fr Joseph and
all the parishioners for their kindness and generosity.  Your ongoing support of our important
work in the Diocese is greatly appreciated”

IF YOU ARE
NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass. A registration
form will need to be completed.
If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let the Parish
Office know.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE:  For all contact, inclusions etc, please get in touch with Don Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND
SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

[Divine Mercy Sunday] April 19th 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  April 18th

Sunday    April 19th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

1:00
pm

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

John Smith RIP [A]

Ints. Tom and Josephine
Farrell

Deirdre Kehoe RIP

DIVINE
MERCY PRAYERS

POLISH MASS

Thanksgiving [Kotarski-Rickman]

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Julia Storrock  RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding RIP [CB]

Monday 20th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Stephen Hilton RIP

Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas
RIP

Tuesday 21st

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Ernest Robinson RIP

Michael
Piquet-Wicks RIP

Wednesday
22nd

Feria

Church    12:15
pm    Dec/Rels.Herbert/Richards
Families RIP

Thursday 23rd

ST GEORGE, M. Patron of England

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of the Pauk Family

Intentions
of Maurice Highfield

Friday 24th

Gen. Hosptl

St Mellitus, Bp.

Church      9:15 am    Dorothy and Ernest Robinson RIP

Chapel    12:00 pm     Holy Souls RIP

Saturday 25th        ST MARK, Evangelist

Church       9:15
am    Sidney  & Rosa Jane Castell
RIP

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD
SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

April 26th  2009
A.D.

Saturday April 18th

Sunday   April 19th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Peggy Wilding RIP

Brian Jackson RIP [A]

Clare Adams RIP [SVP

Doris Murphy RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Fr James McCormick RIP [W’minster]

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Sheila Shillingford RIP [A]

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