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 THE YEAR  [A] – 20th JANUARY 2008
A.D.

Dear Friends,

From the readings today we can see how the
evangelist John defends the truth of the Christian faith against the Baptist
sect, those who believe that the Baptist was the Messiah.  John the Baptist is a witness to the
light; he is not the light.  He is
the first of many witnesses to Jesus – a host of people who give
testimony to the truth about Jesus.
Later in the Gospel Jesus tells his own disciples that when they
receive the Spirit of truth, “you too will be my witnesses”.  And that charge is given to each of
us.

In baptism the Holy Spirit descends on us and
makes us the sharers in God’s own life.  Our responsibility as chosen ones is
to take up the assignments we have just heard of in the life of Jesus, in the
life of Paul and in the life of the servant disciple.  We are called to take away the sins of
the world, to be apostles and to be the light of the nations, bringing
salvation to the ends of the earth.
All daunting tasks and we may be forgiven for trying to flee them or
off-load them onto those we consider to be especially trained for the
purpose: the clergy and religious.
But through our baptism we are each called to make unique
contributions to these assignments.
It helps if we can see how in turn they have been communicated to
us.  As we have received, so shall
we give.
How have we been enlightened? What brings clear vision and
understanding into our lives? What has our experience of forgiveness been?
Have we really forgiven others or allowed ourselves to be truly
forgiven?  Finally, how have we
received the good news?  What
words or images moved or still move us?
It is through our own experience of God that God will communicate his
presence to others.

We should take courage to share what we
believe.  With Cardinal Newman, we
know that we believe because we love.
In the power of that love, let us share our belief with each
other.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday 21st  January
10-12 STM Appointments
Presbytery

Monday 21st January
7:30pm Unity
Service
Mersea

Tuesday 22nd January
7pm    Catenian Mass
Priory
St

Wednesday
23rd January    7-9pm
Scripture Course     N.B. 48 Priory Street

“
“
“
7pm     S.V.P Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 24th January
10am   Unity
Service                 St Josephs, Mile End

Friday 25th  January
10-12:30 & 2:30-4:30
STM appointments as above

Friday 25th January              7pm    Parish Council
Meeting
Presbytery

Saturday 26th January        10-12  1st H.C. Session for
children
Crypt/Church

APPLICATIONS
TO ST THOMAS MORE PRIMARY SCHOOL
– PRIEST REFERENCE FORMS:  Fr Joseph has set aside
the following dates for parents wishing to make an appointment for the
completion of the Priest’s Reference Form.  These applications relate to September
2008 and January 2009.

Monday, 21st
January
Fully booked

Friday 25th
January
10am – 12.30pm.
Afternoon
fully booked

There are a few spaces left on the Friday
morning.  Please call the Parish
Office on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday to
book your appointment.

APPEAL
– ST FRANCIS LEPROSY GUILD: Next weekend, 26/27th January, there
will be an appeal [and second collection] at all Masses on behalf of the
Guild.  Founded in 1895, it is
dedicated to helping those who suffer from leprosy, one of the world’s
oldest and most devastating diseases.
The Guild’s work focuses on maintaining treatment centres across Asia, Africa, Latin
America and supporting one-off projects which range from supplying
ambulances, equipping operating theatres to publishing a children’s
book about leprosy and planting fruit trees at a farm-school engaged in
rehabilitation. Find out more next weekend.

ESSEX
RECUSANT SOCIETY:  Next meet on Saturday 26th
January at 2;30pm at 93 Queens Road Brentwood.  Speaker: Mr John Ashdown-Hill [our
parishioner] on the medieval pilgrimage shrine of The Holy Rood at
Dovercourt. Further information from Isobel Parks on 01268 289678.

THE PARISH
SOCIAL COMMITTEE will meet next Sunday, 27th January in the Priests’
House after 10.30 Mass.  Representatives from other parish
Groups who use the Cardinal Bourne Hall are welcome to discuss how we can
help one another run events in the future. Thank you.  Frances Galvin.

BAPTISM
COURSE:  The next Baptism Course
has now been arranged.  It will
take place on the evenings of  Monday, 28th January and Monday 4th
February from 7:30pm
to 9pm in the Crypt.  Both
sessions must be attended.  If
you wish to present a child for baptism, there is no need to make an
appointment – just turn up on the 28th January.

FRIENDS OF PERU:
Our annual
Beetle Drive
will take place on Saturday 23rd February.  More details to follow.  The Friends of Peru can use your used
greeting cards for recycling.
Please place in box in church porch.  Last year 1000 cards were recycled and
the money sent to Tupac Amaru
in Peru.  Thank you.

TO ALL EUCHARISTIC
MINISTERS:  A Quiet Day has been
arranged at Clare Priory on March 8th
from 10am to 4pm.  Offers of
lifts by car owners would be appreciated.  More details to follow.  Please ring Margaret on 797850.

FREE
CEF STUDY DAY: REDISCOVERING SAINT PAUL:The Brentwood Diocese Commission for Evangelisation and Formation (CEF) invites parishioners
and members of other denominations in Essex and East
London to an ecumenical study day at Brentwood Cathedral (Ingrave Road, Brentwood
CM15 8AT) on Saturday 8th March 2008,
10.30 am to 3 pm.
Admission is free and a sandwich lunch and refreshments will be
provided.  Oxford University Scholar and Bible Translator, Fr
Nicholas King SJ, will lead the day on “Rediscovering Saint Paul”.  Bishop Thomas McMahon will be present.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to book their place by one of the following
methods ASAP: e-mail [email-masked] or
phone CEF direct on 01277 265289  or write to CEF, Cathedral House, Ingrave Road, Brentwood
CM15 8AT.

PILGRIMAGE
TO POLAND: A pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland
is being organized from 12th May for 9 nights, flying from
Stansted.  It will include
excursions to various shrines.
Cost – including flights, trips and half-board - £450.  More details to follow.  Anyone interested can contact Mrs Blackett now on 01277 821886; mobile 07754 163007.

KNIGHTS
OF ST COLUMBA: Want
to actively follow Jesus in his Church? Would you like to help our priests?
Develop your own spiritual life?
Contribute to helping the needy, the homeless, Brentwood Catholic
Children’s Society, Brentwood Catholic Youth Service? Fundraise for: East Anglia Children’s Hospice;
Samaritans Training; World Youth Gather in Sydney in July?  If so, join the Knights of St Columba
– the largest order of Catholic men [minimum age 16] practising their
faith through our three foundation virtues of charity, unity and
fraternity.  Interested?  Ring Barry - 365132;  Michael - 854803;  John -  851838.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak, Eileen
Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine
Libby, 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

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

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

FINANCES
FOR DECEMBER:  Average Weekly collection
£2152; CAFOD £1,157; donations £130; flower collection
£326.  We paid out
£953 electrical work at Mass Centres;
£390 gas bills; £266 heating problem in Church; £1,074 Repository
bills; £170 leaflet printing for Mass Centres;
£477 Surveyor’s report re crack in Church behind altar; £45
Anglian Water [Mile End]. £431 TV aerials.

CARDINAL
BOURNE HALL:  A reminder that the Hall
will be closed for essential Health and Safety refurbishment from 21st
January until 9th February 2008.

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 SECOND
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A]

JANUARY 20TH 2008 A.D

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

Saturday  January 19th

Sunday
January 20th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Mr and Mrs
Milford RIP

Intentions of Margaret & Samantha Hilton

Bridget Frawley RIP

POLISH MASS

Merlyn and William Mascurine
RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Rose Ann Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Intentions of Mary
Davies

Monday 21st

St Agnes, V.M.

Church               9:15 am   Kevin
Doyle RIP

Tuesday 22nd

Wednesday 23rd

Feria

Church              7:00pm    Holy Souls RIP

[N.B. No morning Mass]

Feria

Thursday 24th

Friday 25th

C.G.Hospital

Saturday 26th

Church              12:15 pm   Intentions of James Nicholls

Intentions of Mrs Tide and Mari

St Francis de Sales, Bp.
D.

Church                9:15 am   Stephen Hilton RIP [A]

THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL, Ap. Feast

Church                9:15 am   Intentions of Rose Robinson

Chapel              12:00
Fr
John Kearney RIP

Ss Timothy
and Titus, Bpp

Church
9:15 am  Luke McShane RIP

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [A]

January 27th 2008 A.D.

Saturday  January 26th

Sunday    January 27th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Gerry Smith and Joseph RIP

Maria Lumsden RIP [JH]

Parishioners

Kathleen Maloney RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Clare Strong RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Dennis Pearce RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Celestine Tighe 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