ST. JAMES
THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH,
Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr
Joseph Whisstock

Fr  Paul
Dynan

Fr  Philip
Willenbrock

51 Priory
Street , Colchester, Essex,
CO1 2QB

Tel:
01206 866317;   Fax  01206 791213

E-Mail      [email-masked]

www.stjamesthelessandsthelen.org

TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C] – 19th August 2007

Dear friends,

Jeremiah is a
pacifist.  He tells the people not
to fight but to surrender.  He has
a religious reason for doing this: he believes the people are responsible for
what is happening because they have forgotten their promises to God.  To forget their promises is to bury
their identity as the people of God; to forget is to deny the past and the
present its meaning.

He rails against the
false prophets who give easy answers to difficult questions, who appeal to
popular taste at its lowest, who cheat people with their cheap optimism.  Jeremiah warns the people: “They
speak of peace when there is no peace.”  But the people do not listen to him
and Jeremiah is hurt and angry.  He
is angry at God for making him the prosecutor of his own people.  As a witness of God he becomes the
victim of the people.  Jeremiah is
everyone’s favourite victim.  Even God’s.  As he complains in prayer:

You have overpowered me; you
were the stronger.  I am a
laughing-stock all

day long, they all make
fun of me … why ever did I come out of the womb to

see
toil and sorrow and end my days in shame?

Jeremiah is the supreme
example of the prophet who is isolated because of his fidelity to the word of
God.  He is in conflict with his
own people, with himself, even with God.
It’s all very well to say what you mean, but if what you mean is
not what is wanted, what happens to you?
What happens when the word that you speak and the values that you
cherish cause division even within your own family?  And Jesus warns in today’s
Gospel that even families will be divided among themselves because of him.

God Bless

The Requiem Mass for the
late Leslie James Tucker will be
conducted by Mgr. Arthur Barrow at
St. Cedds, West Mersea on Wednesday next 22nd
August, at 11.30 am.

BAPTISMS TODAY: Ella Rose Bethell;  Nicholas
Barnes;  Amy Barnes;  Joshua Banks. God bless
these children and congratulations to their families.

NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:  Additional
dates for CRB checks.  James Shaw
will be at the following venues, after Mass, to receive CRB forms:

Mersea Church
9.30am                          Sunday
19th August

Priory Street
[Crypt]
11.30am
Sunday 9th September

Priory Street
[Crypt]
11.30am
Sunday 16th September

If
you are unable to make any of these dates, arrangements will be made to
receive further forms later in the year.
Please remember to complete the CRB forms. [Forms have been left in
prominent positions at each church] and bring several forms of identification:-  Three of the following – passport,
diving licence [both parts if new style], NI card,
utility bill with name and address on it, birth certificate or marriage
certificate.
Thank
you

GOSPEL CHOIR WORKSHOP: A fun two-week gospel singing course for keen
singers is to run in September at Brentwood Cathedral on Thursday 20th
September; Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th from 7pm for
7.30-9.30pm.  Then Saturday
afternoon and evening of the 29th September for the final workshop
with the Rev. Bazil Meade, founder and principal of
the world-renowned London Community Gospel Choir. Participants will perform
on the same stage as the choir during the evening of the 29th
September.  The Course is open to
all. To register, please send cheque for £35,
payable to Brentwood Cathedral Music, [£10 of which is non-refundable]
and application form [available from the Parish Office] with a SAE by 31st
August. Please note: all course
fees are non-refundable after the first day of the Course.  More details from www.myspace.com/gospelchoirworkshop
.

DIARY DATES:  Two from Abbotswick: “Effective Parenting” – a
Day Conference on Saturday 6th October 2007 for mums, dads, young
and not so young, to help them in the challenging vocation of parenting.  “Growing in Wisdom and
Grace” Friday 12th October – Sunday 14th
October.  A weekend for single
adults aged 18-35.  Both led by Fr
Willliam Jarema, founder
of the Mercy Center, USA.  More
details from Sr Camilla on 01277 373848/373959 or visit www.walsinghamcommunity.org   Early booking is advised.

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE:  A
pilgrimage is being organized from Monday 22nd October to Monday
29th October. The cost is £400 excluding insurance and single room supplement if required.   If you are interested in finding
out more about it, please telephone Carmen Blackett
on 01277 821886 or mobile 07754 163007 or see Diana, Parish Secretary who has
booking forms.

IN YOUR 20s?  The Twentysomethings
invite you to a newcomer’s Mass and meeting on Sunday 2 September at 1.00pm. OR IN YOUR 30s? The Thirtysomethings
invite you to a newcomer’s Mass and Meeting on Saturday 1st
September at 5.00pm. at More House, 53
Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London (opposite the Natural History
Museum – nearest
Tube is Gloucester Rd).  If you are interested in walks, meals,
prayer, pilgrimages, holidays etc with other Catholics in your age group,  then just
come along.  Or to get on our mailing list

text Clare on 07950 202205; email
hugh@project 2030.fsnet.co.uk or see www.project2030.org.uk.  You’re welcome.    Give us a try.

FR. PAUL DYNAN:  As you know, Fr. Paul is
leaving the Parish at the beginning of October and it is planned to give a
presentation to him on Sat. 29th Sept.  This
weekend there will be a second
collection for him to show our appreciation for the work he has carried out
in the Parish.  If you are unable
to contribute today, you can drop your contribution into the Presbytery in an
envelope marked “For Fr. Paul’s Presentaiton”
Thank you.
Fr. Joseph

DAILY:
Rosary
8.40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11.40am]

EVENING PRAYER:
20th
to 24th August  at 5:45pm at 48 Priory Street

MEDITATION GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm at
48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am-11am

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, Sheila
Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Colleen Thurlow, Carole Stover.

REMINDER: If you, your family or friends are in hospital and would like a visit
from the Chaplaincy Team, please let one of the priests know.  Under the Data Protection Act,
hospital staff will NOT advise the Chaplaincy Team unless the patient, friend
or relative specifically instructs a member of the hospital staff.

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.

THE REPOSITORY
is open each Sunday from
after the 8am Mass until 12.45pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.

SCHOOL
GOVERNORS NEEDED IN COLCHESTER

Contrary to popular belief, it is not essential for
volunteers to be parents, nor is

it essential to have any specific skills or knowledge of
the education system to

add value to a school’s governing body.  In fact anyone from any background

who is aged 18 or over and has an average of 6-8 hours a
month (mainly in the

evenings) to spare is welcome to apply.  The most effective governing bodies

consist of governors with a blend of experiences, from
different cultures and age

groups.  If you
are interested in this challenging and ultimately rewarding role

and would like to find out more about the vacancies in
your area, please contact

School Governors’
One—Stop Shop on 0870 241 3883 or email
[email-masked]

THE
PAN-AFRICAN ANNUAL MASS to
commemorate the Bicentenary of

the Abolition of
the TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE will be
held on Sunday

16th September at 3pm at St.
George’s Catholic Church, 132 Shernhall

Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HU.  There will be a slave trade procession
to mark the occasion.

The Mass will be presided by Bishop Thomas McMahon and it will be followed by
a Reception in the Parish Hall.  A
number of African Com-munity Choirs will participate
and attended by African diplomats and celebrities.

All are cordially invited to attend to experience
African Liturgy.

TEA PARTY:  Anna and
Ivan Norfolk thank all who supported them on Saturday last, and those who sent
donations.

The afternoon was very enjoyable; the company was
great and the weather was more than kind.

£367 was raised for Parish Funds.

LITURGY FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

August 19th 2007 A.D.

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

Saturday
August
18th

Sunday    August 19th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4.00  pm

6:30
pm

Christina Mooney RIP   (Chris Mooney)

Nancy Ryan RIP (A)   (Tim
Ryan)

Ints Anna & Ivan
Norfolk  (D. Murphy)

Polish Mass

Ints. L. Anton & Family

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Lucia Maria Siswarno RIP
(Herbert)

Monkwick

10:15 am

Special Intention   (O&B)

Monday 20th          St. Bernard

Tuesday 21st

Church                9:15 am  Holy Souls RIP
(Guila)

St. Pius X,
Pope

Church
9.15 am   Kevin Doyle RIP      (Mrs. D)

Wednesday
22nd

The Queenship
of Mary

Mersea
11:30 am   Leslie Tucker RIP     REQUIEM

Church
12.15 pm  Florence & Danny Farrell RIP (A) (Fuller)

Thursday  23rd

Friday     24th

Saturday 25th

Feria

Church
9.15 am  Ints. Mr. P. Reddingham     (M. O’Dwyer)

Feast of ST. BARTHOLOMEW

Church               9.15 am  Ints. Anthony Mannion
(S. Rhatigan)

Feria

Church
9.15 am  Ints. Mrs. Tide and Mario

LITURGY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

August 26th 2007 A.D.

Saturday August 25th

Sunday August   26TH

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6.30 pm

Lyn & Richard Cooke RIP  (C. Thurlow)

Joe & Margaret Parkinson   (Treby)

Mick Kelly RIP  (A)
Salvino de Britto
RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

John Connelly RIP     (Janet Courtney)

Mile End

9:15 am

Alfredo Sagnella
RIP    (Maria S)

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

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

The
Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092