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

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

January 21st  2007
A.D.

Dear Friends

A recent advertising campaign ran thus: - “Who is your favourite
accountant?; Who is your favourite lawyer?” in huge
letters and in very small letters in the bottom corner was the simple
statement “Everyone remembers
their favourite teacher”.  A clever campaign and a recruitment
drive to encourage people to train as teachers which appealed neither to
money nor power, but to the real and lasting impression teachers can make on
young people.  Even if we never
remember about the subjects our favourite teachers
taught, we will always remember the kind of people they were.  Today’s readings reflect
something of the power of the teacher’s character.  God himself is the teacher in the
first reading.  It is his
teaching, his Law, which is read out and explained to the people.  In the Gospel, Jesus deliberately
chooses a scriptural text which reveals the essence of who
he is and what his mission is.
That passage from Isaiah shows how Jesus understands himself.  It also explains the kind of
impression Jesus made on people.
He is a man full of God’s spirit who brings good news to those
who need it; who sets free those who are imprisoned; who brings light into
the darkness of people’s lives; who raises up
those who are oppressed and weighed down.  Even if people never remembered what
Jesus said or taught, this is the lasting impression he made on those who
knew him.  Teachers can be
life-giving or they can deaden, they can actually kill our spirit.  We know that we have a genuine
relationship with God when we can say – like today’s psalm
– that God is someone who revives me, whom I can trust.  It is said that we come to resemble
the God we worship.  Our lives are
to some extent the book which others will read to learn about God and in many
ways the hardest place to bear witness to God is in our daily lives, among
people who know us, warts and all.
The challenge for us is to fulfil that text
today, to make it real, to live it out.
God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday   21st January
6:30pm Eld Lane Baptist Church – Ecumenical Service
– Church Unity Week

Monday 22nd  January
7.00pm SVP District Meeting             Crypt

Tuesday 23rd
January
6.30pm Catenian
Mass – Deceased Members

Thursday 25th
January              7.30pm Mersea
Parish Meeting

“
“
“
7.30pm Journey in
Faith Meeting    Crypt

Friday 26th/Sat
27th January
PANTO                                           See below

NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS FOR
ALL VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Co-ordinators are kindly
asked to collect in completed forms from the volunteers in their group and
leave them, together with a list of all volunteers, at the Presbytery, marked
for the attention of James Shaw, Parish Child Protection Representative, by
31st January.

BAPTISM COURSE:  The next Baptism Course has been
arranged on the evenings of Thursday,
1st February and Thursday, 8th February. in the Crypt at 7.30pm.  If you wish to present a child for
Baptism there is no need to make an appointment.  Just turn up.  Both Sessions must be
attended and the date of the baptism will be arranged during the Course.

CONGRATULATIONS to Barry Smith and Amanda Clark married here
yesterday.

PRIORY STREET THEATRE GROUP present “Jack and the Silver Giant”.  Come and enjoy a traditional pantomime
on Friday 26th January at 7.30pm
and Saturday 27th January at 3pm
and 7.30pm.  Doors open at 7pm and 2.30pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street.  Tickets £5 for adults and
£3 concessions. For tickets contact Lesley
01206 512310 or Claire 01206 540450.
Please support your local group.

NEXT SUNDAY IS HOMELESSNESS DAY : At the request of Bishop
Thomas, next weekend there will be a second collection for
Anchor House, a centre for the homeless in Canning Town
providing  home and support for
118 people.  Please take a leaflet
which gives fuller details of this Catholic Charity. Visit the website www.anchorhouseuk.org and there will
be a major feature about Anchor House in next week’s “Universe”.

W.R.A.P: Grateful thanks to all those who volunteered to help
with the first week of the Winter Reserve Accommodation Project
in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  The
next week begins on the 7th February.  Please phone Tony Dixon on 729453 if
you are able to spare any time to help with this session.

READERS’ DAY OF PRAYER:  This event takes place on Saturday, 17th February in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall and Sr Angela will lead part of the day. This day is
open to all readers from all Mass Centres as well as from St James.  It is important that you attend.  The day is also open to anyone who
would like to read God’s word at Masss.  Please let one of the priests know
that you are coming.  If you
require further details, please contact Francis Carter on 864479.

A WEEK OF ACCOMPANIED PRAYER is planned for Sunday 25th February to Sunday 4th March 2007.  The Week will open and close with
group sessions, with participants meeting their prayer companion briefly each
weekday.  Full information and a
booking form are contained in the brochure.

Please return your
booking forms by next Sunday, 28th.

LENTEN RETREAT TO PALAZZOLA, ROME: 8th – 11th March with the option to stay
until the 14th for sightseeing.  Cost: £350 for retreat all
inclusive or £550 for retreat plus extra days.  For more information, please phone
Siobhan Frecker on 0208 989 8567/6174 or email [email-masked]

YOUTH
NEWS:

WORLD YOUTH DAY AUSTRALIA – JULY 2008: Open to anyone in current school year 11 up to age
30. The cost of £1,750 [possible Parish support] includes return
flights [open so you can stay in Oz for the summer if you want!]; 5 days with
host families and 9 days hotel accommodation in Sydney; excursions; insurance
and full participation in the many events offered at World Youth Day,
including the final Mass with the Pope and 500,000 people. Full details and
forms from [email-masked] or
01277 265286.  A
deposit of £100 by 1st
February 2007 secures your place.

Help urgently needed!  Please help adults with special needs – have a holiday in
Disneyland and Paris
this half term February 12th-16th.  £310 includes travel, hotel,
insurance, Disney admission and most meals.  It
is a service trip, not a complete holiday: your help is vital.  Open to anyone aged 17 –
30.  Email
[email-masked] or call 01277
265286.

VACANCY – DEPUTY DIRECTOR
– BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDRENS’
SOCIETY:  Salary Scale NJC between 39-46.
For full job description and application form, please contact the Director,
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society, Childcare House, Little Wheatley
Chase, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9EH. Tel: 01268 784544, email
[email-masked] .
Closing date for applications 9th
February 2007; interviews -  week commencing 26th February 2007.  Please note the Society operates from
the first floor of a building with no lift.

DAILY:                                                   Rosary
– 8.40am; Divine
Mercy – 9am

Except Wednesdays  -
then at 11.40am

EVENING PRAYER:
5.45pm

PRAYER GROUP:
Monday 22nd January
meet in Presbytery
8pm

MEDITATION GROUP:                                    Tuesdays,
at 48 Priory St
– 8pm

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am
– 11am

SICK PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth, Ron
Collins, Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Denisia Gray, Richard
Hadcock, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Luke
McShane, Patrick Quinlivan, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Carole
Stover.

FINANCES:  The
average weekly Collection for December was £2079.

CAFOD
- £1079; Crib/Children’s Offerings/Carol Concert to BCCS
£427.

We
have paid  £11,437
for Presbytery redecoration which is ongoing; there is

a monthly amount of £2,500 paid out
to support the Diocese of Brentwood and

finally,
following the visit of a surveyor reporting on cracks in the church, an

invoice
will be received in due course.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE: For
all contact, inclusions etc., please contact

Donald Clarke.
His email address is: [email-masked] . Otherwise

Donald may be contacted via the Presbytery i.e.
please leave envelopes for him.

LITURGY
FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

January 21ST  2007

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

Saturday January 20th

Sunday   January 21st

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Mr and Mrs Milford RIP

Parishioners

Tony
Rozier RIP

POLISH MASS

Helena
Matla RIP [JH]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy
Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Rose
Ann Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

D/Rels. Wright & Boyden Families RIP

Monday 22nd
Feria

Church

9:15 am

Mary Josephine Cronin RIP

Ellie McDermottroe
RIP

Tuesday 23rd

Feria

Church                9:15
am  Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas, RIP

6:30 pm  Deceased Members [Catenians]

Wednesday 24

Thursday 25th

St
Francis   de

Church

Feast

Church

Sales

12:15pm

9:15am

Bp.D.

Intentions
of Helen Lydon

THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL, Ap,

Mrs
Frances Elizabeth Ling RIP

Friday 26th

Hospital

Ss.
Timothy

Church

Chapel

and

9:15am

12:00pm

Titus,
Bpp

Ursula
Hammond RIP

Paul
Gibbins RIP [A]

Saturday 27th

Feria

Church
9:15 am  Intentions of Mildred Rodriguez

LITURGY
FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[C]

Homelessness Day -  January 28th
2007 A.D.

Saturday January 27th                    6:15
pm   Michael
and Mary Barrett RIP

Sunday
January 28th

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Bridget
Lloyd RIP

Mr and Mrs Griffin RIP [A]

Serge
Franchette RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Margaret
Murrary RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Celestine Tighe RIP [A]

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: Alan Whelan
[549222]

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

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust –
Registered Charity No. 234092