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 [A]

JULY 20th   2008

Dear Friends,

Our demand for instant judgement,
for rooting out those who have done harm in the community, for bringing the
last judgement into the present tense, is something
that is seriously challenged in today’s first reading.  The answer to why God allows the bad
to flourish etc., is not as a result of weakness but
strength, which he disposes of in favour of great
lenience.  “By acting
thus…..” the people are asked to share in the same spirit of God
and act with kindness to their fellow human beings. The message of the
parable in today’s Gospel shows Jesus reaching out to all sorts of
people; he knew that all communities are a mix of good and bad, the crooked
and the cracked and that, furthermore, it isn’t always easy to tell
which is which. Thus both the wheat and the darnel are allowed to grow; only
at the final harvest are they separated.  The Church is still challenged by the
message of the parable.  It is not
the place of the Church to set up inquisitions and witch hunts. The Church is
not God. As Christians we have no authority to pronounce the final judgement on anyone. When we wrong God we need to know
that we will benefit from his forgiveness and that same hope is enshrined in
the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us”. This is difficult and we pray for the capacity to
do so.  The father who runs to
welcome home his wayward son does not voice recrimination but rather his
words announce a party.  Sometimes
it is a struggle to communicate to other people whom we love.  We should not be surprised if prayer
is often difficult but spending time in prayer is more important than always
seeking the right words to use.
Honesty, too, is important; only when we are honest in prayer and name
before God feelings of anger and hurt, do we grow in the ability to
pray.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday
20th July
Noon   Social Committee Meeting
Presbytery

Tuesday
22nd July          7pm    Parish Council
Meeting              Presbytery

Wednesday
23rd July     7pm    SVP Meeting
Presbytery

THERE WILL BE NO HOSPITAL
MASS THIS MONTH

HELP
URGENTLY NEEDED: With the Repository on
a Sunday morning.  If you are
able to lend a hand, please see Simon Chaplin in the Hall after the 10.30
Mass on a Sunday.

CONGRATULATIONS:  To Jane and Mark married here yesterday.

SECOND
COLLECTION:  Today there will be a
National Collection for the Apostleship of the Sea [AOS] – the official
maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain.  The official collection date for
“Sea Sunday” was 13th July as can be seen from the
envelopes, posters etc., but in order to ease financial pressure with other
collections, I have postponed this second collection until now. Everything
AOS does is on behalf of Britain’s
Catholic Community; it receives no funding from Church or Government.  FR
JOSEPH

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the
soul of Kevin Leatherdale and Len Clark who have recently died.  Kevin’s funeral will take place
on Tuesday next at 11:30am
at Priory Street
and Len’s funeral will be on the 25th July at 10am at St Cedds.    May they rest in peace.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY – SPONSORED WALK: Thank
you to all walkers and sponsors for their efforts.  The grand sum of £960 has been
raised as a result.

HFE BILL:  The Final Reading of this bill has now been
postponed until after the summer parliamentary recess, i.e. sometime in
October.  Thank you to all who
have written letters etc.,

OASIS OF PEACE (MEDJUGORJE) DAY:  On Saturday
July 26th 2008

With
Fr. Seamus Keenan at the Church of the
Immaculate Conception, 11, Church Hill, Epping, Essex, CM16 4RA
From 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes Mass, Adoration and
Rosary. Bring packed lunch – drinks provided. For more information, please
contact Susan: 01992 575017 or [email-masked]

LOOKING FOR
A NEW JOB:
The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre are looking
for a part time [15-18 hours per week] admin person based in Colchester. Flexible hours – for ALL information and application forms email [email-masked]
completed applications by 31 July.

WALSINGHAM
HOUSE CATERING SUPERVISOR: Are you able to cook for
groups of 40 – 50 people? Do you like working with young people in a
friendly and supportive environment? Are you available to work evenings and weekends
in term time, with most school holidays free? Salary £10,500 p.a. for a
23 hour week. Job based at Walsingham House, Canvey Island.
Job details from Fr Dominic Howarth, 01268 696610 or
[email-masked] Closing date 10th August, interview
22nd August, start early September.

HOPE ON THE
STREETS:  Saturday 30th
August.  The Churches in Central Colchester are organizing a day of joint
activities which will take place around the town centre and are looking for
volunteers to help with various activities, including Prayer Room, BBQ, Family Events. See poster in the porch or contact Myra
Dolamore.

The
New Neighbour Project:  At a Parish
Meeting on the 24th February it was agreed that the Parish
Community would support and befriend a family who are to be brought to England
by the UNHCR and the Home Office in the near future.  Our friendship and
practical support will be needed for anything up to the end of their
first year in Colchester.  As soon as
we have details of the family and their arrival we will be asking for
volunteers to offer this practical example of Christian neighbourliness to
this needy family.

Are you
interested in going to see the world famous Passion Play in Oberammergau? If so, there is a group
going from 23-28 May 2010. It is being combined with a few days` holiday in
the Austrian Lake District. Contact Sister Moira
if you would like to see a brochure. 43, Anderson avenue, Chelmsford,CM1 2DA
- 01245 604108 or [email-masked]

HYMN BOOK
AMNESTY:  Please search your
cupboards etc., and see if you have a hymn book[s] lurking at home,
particularly any Melody and Organist editions.  Return them to the church and no
questions will be asked!

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Catherine Libby, Sheila
Parsons, Mary and Harry Pink, John
Rae, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding,
Christine Williams [nee O’Hare].

Please be reminded that, because of the
Data Protection Act, we are not advised by hospital staff of Catholic
inpatients. If you have family or friends who have been admitted to
hospital and who would like a visit, do let one
of the priests know.

DAILY:
Rosary
8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [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 Street

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
10am – 11am

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 the Parish Office know.

LITURGY FOR THE SIXTEENTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

July 20th 2008 A.D.

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

Saturday  July 19th

Sunday
July 20th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Joe Mooney RIP

Parishioners

Kathleen Cook RIP

POLISH MASS

Intentions of Mrs
Bridget Lathan

West Mersea

8:30
am

Intentions of Olive Newland

Mile
End

9:15
am

Intentions of Bridget Keane

Monkwick

10:15 am

Dorothy Burke RIP

Monday 21st

Feria

Church      9:15
am  Canon T W Clarke &
Family RIP

Deirdre Kehoe RIP [TW]

Tuesday 22nd

St Mary
Magdalene

Church       9:15 am  Mr
K T George RIP

11:30 am  FUNERAL – KEVIN LEATHERDALE RIP

Wednesday 23rd

ST BRIGID OF SWEDEN,
Rel.

Church    12:15 pm   Canon Thomas Clarke RIP

Deirdre Kehoe RIP [KK]

Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

Thursday 24th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   D/Relatives –
Herbert/Richards Families RIP

Friday 25th

ST JAMES, Apostle

Church      9:15 am   Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

Mersea    10:00 am   REQUIEM – LEN CLARK
RIP

Saturday 26th       SS
Joachim and Ann, Parents of the B.V.M.

Church      9:15
am   Terry Hilton RIP

LITURGY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

July 27th 2008 A.D.

Saturday July 26th

Sunday   July 27th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Angela Jardim RIP

Intentions of Mrs J Pauk

Sarah Ruane RIP

Marie Bastiampillai
/Xavier Shampillai RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Alfredo Sagnella RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Private Intention

SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION  Saturday 10:00-11:00 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]

Marriage Care
www.marriagecare.org.uk   0800 389 3801

Vocations                                            www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092