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 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY
OF THE YEAR [A]

September 21st 2008

Dear Friends,

Jesus tells the story about the vineyard
labourers in order to teach us something about God’s kingdom.  It also teaches us something about ourselves
and the society we live in.  Can
we recognise ourselves in this parable, where the attitudes of jealousy and
generosity are contrasted? Would we be complaining like the labourers employed in the morning, or deeply grateful like
the labourers employed towards the end of the
day?  Would we appreciate a
generous employer, even if others seem to be reaping more benefit?

In the society in which we live, those who have a
good start in life, those who are influential and well educated, get
more.  Those who are strong often
exploit the weak.  This is the
righteousness of the world. In the perspective of the kingdom, those who are
powerful and influential will not get more.  God’s arithmetic is
different.  We are being told that
the kingdom of heaven is about God’s abundance, and God’s
indiscriminate generosity.

Experiencing God’s benevolence transforms
who we are and the way we see our lives.
We can recognise the blessings given to us. We can take joy in our
homes, our daily bread, our schools, our jobs, the people who care for us,
and even the blessings in the challenges we face.  Too often we complain:”I
should be earning more than him”; “Why are
other people more gifted than me?”; “Why are others
healthy, while I have a chronic illness?” In fact, everything is a gift
from God.  We are called to be
thankful for what we have, and not complain about what we have not been
given.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

NB: Evening Prayer will return
to the Church at 5:45 pm
from Monday 22nd
September, 2008 and please see changes to Mass Schedule

24th September
: 7.30 pm Baptism Course
(1) (see below)

27th September
- SVP Healing Mass & Tea Party (see
below)

27th September
- Day of Reconciliation & Prayer at Clare Priory (see below)

This weekend there will be a Diocesan second
collection for the Ecclesiastical  Education Fund (BEEF) after all
masses.

THANK
YOU  from Helen and Edna Solomon to everyone who has
supported us since the death of our father, Dr E.P. Solomon.  We are very grateful for all your
prayers, mass intentions, kind words and deeds.  God bless you all.

BAPTISM
TODAY:  Lucas Fereol-Lanford
God bless this child and congratulations to his family.

SVP HEALING
MASS AND TEA PARTY:  This event will take place
on the 27th September.  Mass will be celebrated at 2pm followed by a Senior Citizens
Tea Party. (Admission to the tea
party is by ticket only).
To book, please phone Anna on 242170 or Ann on 844914.

ABBOTSWICK
EVENTS:

“Unwrapping your Gifts and
Discerning your Call” – a weekend retreat for young adults aged
18-38 on Friday 10th October to Sunday 12th October.
Call 01277 373848 or visit www.free2become.org
.

“Collaborative Ministry”
- a 3 day course for anyone involved in parish work, mission or evangelization
on Saturday 18th October to Monday 20th October. Call
01277 373959 or visit www.abbotswick.org

Union of
Catholic Mothers (UCM): The next meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd October
at 7.30 pm in the crypt.
Many suggestions were made by those at the first meeting including possible
revival of the “Mother & Toddler” Group. If you would like to
know more about UCM (their welfare and national policies) come along to the
meeting and join in.

COFFEE
MORNING AT 51 PRIORY STREET:
On Friday 3rd October from
10am to 12pm.  In the garden if fine; in the Hall if
wet!  Entry £5. The proceeds
will go towards the cost of repainting the Presbytery front door.  Please come and support our latest
fundraising enterprise for your parish. (Donations of home baked cakes would
be most welcome)

BAPTISM COURSE:  The dates for the next Baptism Course have now been arranged: Wednesday 24th September and
Friday, 3rd October in the Crypt at 7:30pm. If you wish to present a child for Baptism
before Christmas (and beyond) no appointment is necessary, just turn up to
the Course but both Sessions must be attended and the date of the baptism
will be arranged during the Course.

DAY OF
RECONCILIATION AND PRAYER: At Clare Priory, Nr Long Melford
on Saturday 27th September. Organised by
the Knights of St Columba, Colchester.  Cost £12, which includes Soup,
Coffee/Teas.  There will be Mass
and Benediction. You could also bring a packed lunch.  Start 10am.  Own
transport or lifts arranged.  To
book, contact Bill de Smith on 01206 767597.

Concert at Cambridge Corn Exchange
on Thursday 16th
October, 2008. (see notice in porch for more details) or
contact Adele on Col. 825819

There will
a Parish Christmas Market this year
on November 22nd 2008.

Lots of energy and ideas but more volunteers
needed.  All ages and talents
welcome.  (Next meeting is today
after 10.30 Mass). Please contact Frances on 369568

HOLY LAND
PILGRIMAGE: For 7 nights – Wednesday 5th November to Wednesday 12th November
2008.  Cost:
£625 half-board including flights and some excursions.  Excludes Insurance and single room
supplement.  For further details, please
contact Carmen URGENTLY on 07754 163007; 01277 821886 [landline] or see Fr
Joseph.

NEW
NEIGHBOUR PROJECT.  On behalf of the Parish,
the Project team would like to thank all those who so generously answered the
call for help by providing furniture, clothing, money and prayers for the two
refugee families who are about to come to Colchester.  The response was magnificent, and has
demonstrated a real Christian spirit of generosity and caring.  The kindness you have shown will go a
long way to helping the families to adjust and feel at home in their new
country, but please do not forget them in your prayers as their first few
months in Colchester will be
difficult, strange and worrying for them.  Many thanks, Peter Irven.

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:                             not
27.09.08       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
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

September 21st 2008 A.D.

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

Saturday  September 20th

Sunday September 21st

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

4:00
pm

6:30
pm

Deidre Kehoe RIP

Thomas & Gladys Lane RIP

Doris & Tony Murphy RIP

POLISH MASS

Parishioners

West Mersea

8:30
am

Emma Williams RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Thanksgiving

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding

Monday  22nd

Feria

Church       7.00 pm (SVP)

Tuesday
23rd

St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Pr .Rel

Church       9:15 am   Special Intention

Wednesday 24th

Our Lady of Walsingham

Church      12:15 pm   Intentions of B Pooran

Intentions of Mrs
T & Family

Thursday
25th

Feria

Church
10:00 am   Blasco Fernandes
RIP

Friday 26th

Feria

Church
10:00 am   Rebecca RIP

Saturday 27th       St Vincent de Paul, Pr

Church      2:00 pm
SVP Healing Mass

LITURGY FOR THE TWENTY-SIXTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A)

September 28th 2008 A.D.

Saturday September 27th

Sunday   September 28th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Mr & Mrs P O’Leary & Family RIP

Herbert Ray RIP

Norman Fletcher RIP

Nina O’Dwyer RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Emma Williams RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Denise Smith RIP

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]

www.marriagecare.org.uk   or 0800 389 3801.
www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092