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 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [B]

July 19th  2009 A.D.

Dear Friends

The second great commandment instructs us to love our neighbours.  We take this quite rightly to mean loving others in general, which we find quite easy when we all get on reasonably well together and have similar values.  However, when we don’t share the same values, living out the command can be tough.  No more so than the Jews in Germany and Eastern Europe during the Second World War or the different ethnic and religious groups in the bloodbaths of Bosnia or Rwanda.  The early Christians came from a variety of backgrounds.  St Paul, as a Pharisee, was very aware of the complications brought about by these differences. It was not just a question of harmonising Jews and Gentiles but also how to respond to the variety of pagan influences which believed in demonic powers that controlled the world. St Paul’s response was to expand his understanding of the role of Christ and our relationship with him, relying on Christ as the pivot on which such differences should be resolved.  In our multicultural world we need to take our inspiration from this unifying power of Christ to find ways of overcoming our differences.

Lonely places are hard to come by when people are intent on keeping you company.  Jesus’ original plan for the apostles underlines the importance of spending time apart and the value or rest and recovery.  None of us are automatons; we have to rest sometime otherwise we end up a burnt-out case with nothing to offer but guilty exhaustion.  However, solitude can make us uncomfortable; resting can make us feel guilty, especially if we have been brought up with a work ethic that equates idleness with laziness.  Stillness is something we have to learn, for God speaks to us not only in the urgent cries of other people but also in the “still, small voice”.  And to hear that voice, we have to be at one with the stillness.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Please check any changes]

N.B. Until further notice, weekday Evening Prayer will be at 48 Priory St

Wednesday 22nd  7pm    SVP Meeting                                       Presbytery

Thursday 23rd       8pm    Social Committee Meeting   Crypt -  See below

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

EVENING PRAYER:             Monday to Friday: 5:45pm @ No. 48 Priory St

PRAYER GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION GROUP:                  Tuesdays at 8pm at No. 48 Priory Street

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

PRAYER FOR OUR PARISH:  Lord Jesus, we ask you to bless our priests and the people of our parish.  Help us to know you in a new and deeper way.  Help us to listen to your word in our daily lives.  In the power of your spirit, open our hearts to your healing grace that we may be more faithful in following you, “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.  Lord, bless all the families in the parish, especially all those families who may be experiencing hidden and special difficulties.  Bless the children and the young people of the parish and through the protection of your Immaculate Mother deliver them from the influence of evil.  Bless the old, the lonely, the poor and the sick, the unemployed, those in need, those in sorrow and those in despair.  Bless and protect, and bring back to the ways of grace, those who have lost their way.  May you love be upon us as we place all our trust in you.   AMEN.

SECOND COLLECTION 26th JULY – DAY FOR LIFE:  “You are precious in my sight” provides the theme for this year’s Day for Life which will focus on Suicide.  There are around 6,000 deaths by suicide in the UK each year.  Building upon last year’s theme of mental health, this year’s Day aims to raise awareness of the vital role to be played by families and supportive parish communities in sustaining those who may be struggling to cope.  The proceeds of this Diocesan Collection, to be taken up next Sunday, assist the work of the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics and other life-related activities supported by the Church.  Leaflets are available in the porch, together with printed envelopes if you prefer to use them for your donation.

BAPTISMS TODAY:  Madison Emerald Dunne and Benjamin Daniel Holmes.  God bless these children and congratulations to their families.

To celebrate the Year for Priests there is Adoration every Thursday 11am - 5pm at Abbotswick House of Prayer. Please do come and join us in praying for our Priests.  For further details and directions visit our website www.abbotswick.org or call 01277 373959

THANK YOU to the Cavendish Consort for their concert on the 27th June.  £100 was raised for our parish Refurbishment Fund.

KSC SPONSORED WALK FOR THE BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: Thank You. We raised altogether the sum of £1775.95.  Many thanks to all Supporters.  KSC Council 270.

CHRISTMAS 2009 EVENTS : We are planning this year’s Christmas Market, to be held on the 27th and 28th November.  Also a Christmas Raffle and Family Lunch on December 13th.  These Events need much planning and support, and we are inviting you and all the Parish Groups to attend a meeting to help form a Christmas Event Committee.  Come and meet new people and make new friends.  The Meeting will take play on Thursday, 23rd July at 8pm in the Crypt.    Thank you.  Frances and Social Committee.

SATURDAY 25th JULY 12.30pm - 7pm  at Abbotswick House of Prayer. Big Screen showing of the film 'The Pope, the Man', about the papacy of John Paul II. Includes Mass and bring and share lunch. For young adults aged 18-38. For further details visit www.free2become.org or call 01277 373959

THE ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY will be having an outing on Saturday 25th July to Broadoaks, Wimbish, Nr. Saffron Walden. This house was the home of the recusant Wiseman family in the Elizabethan period and contains several important priests' hiding places from this time. We will be shown these hides by Mr. Michael Hodgetts, who is the foremost expert on the subject. We meet at the house at 2 p.m. Places must be reserved by phoning Isobel Parks on 01268 289678."

OASIS OF PEACE [MARIAN] DAY: On Saturday, July 25th, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Epping, from 10:30am to 4pm.  Includes Mass, Adoration, rosary. Please bring a packed lunch – drinks are provided.  For more information, contact Susan on 01992 575017 or [email-masked]

REPOSITORY SUMMER SALE NOW ON:   Rosaries, jewellery, books and much more, all reduced.  Up to 20% off all items.

MONKWICK NEWS:  The next Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 1st August - 10:30-12:30 – at the home of  Joan Norman – 5 Buxton Road, Monkwick.  All very welcome.

MERSEA NEWS: Many thanks to Veronica Smith for hosting our July coffee morning, and thanks to all who came to help. Our next date is 11th August at the home of Margaret Brookes see you all there.

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.  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 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE  YEAR [B]

July 19th 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  July 18th

Sunday July 19th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6.30 pm

Joe Mooney RIP [A]

Brigid Lowe RIP

Dorothy Burke RIP

POLISH MASS

Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Private Intention

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding RIP [M&P E]

Monday  20th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Helen Lydon RIP

Canon T.W. Clarke & Family RIP

Tuesday  21st

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Joe Parkinson

Intentions of Mary Pink

Wednesday  22

St  Mary Magdalene

Church    12:15 pm   Mr K T George RIP [A]

Thursday 23rd

ST BRIGID OF SWEDEN, Rel.

Church      9:15 am    Dr E Solomon RIP [A]

Friday  24th

Feria

Church      9:15 am    Canon Thomas Clarke RIP

Saturday 25th        ST JAMES, Apostle

Church       9:15 am   Intentions of Joan Boyden

LITURGY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [B]

July 26th2009 A.D.

Saturday July 25th

Sunday   July 26th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Mari Bastiampillai RIP and Xavier

Sanampillai RIP

Intentions of Tony Wright

Intentions of Kay & Bobbie Cotter

Intentions of the Pauk Family

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Bernadette Kucera RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

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