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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
[B]

[Laetare
Sunday] - March 22nd 2009
A.D.

Dear
Friends

We live in a limited and conditional world,
whereas God inhabits an unlimited and unconditional world. When we are asked
to accept that we can share this much more wondrous world of God, such a leap
can only be brought about through faith – we have to believe that God
is so generous with his mercy that the gap can be bridged between the two
worlds.  Through Jesus’
death and resurrection he offers us the grace to be lifted up out of sin and failure
to a place in heaven with him.
The letter to the Ephesians explores how the mystery of salvation is
made available to us all.  We are
meant to be made in God’s image and likeness – His work of
art.  If we can accept that we are
such, then we can both immerse ourselves more fully in the world of
creativity and imagination and help each other to do the same.  Those of us who struggle with
life’s problems may suffer from low self-esteem. Coping with life needs
a certain resilience and confidence to ride the ups and downs. If we
don’t think we are worth much, we tend to think others think the same
of us.  We may go to the opposite
extreme, becoming more bullying and boastful in an attempt to persuade others
that we are really worth something.   But if we are convinced in our
hearts we are God’s work of art, then our perception of life is very
different.  The world is not
hostile, but somewhere we can give ourselves time to stand and stare and
wonder.  We can delight in
others’ gifts as well as our own.
This is where our real imitation of God begins, when we enable others
to see their gifts and use them.
It is a sign of God’s love for us that we can move beyond our
limitations and share in the splendour of creation.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Thursday 26 March   1pm  Lent Lunchtime Service
See below

“
“
7:30pm  RCIA
Crypt

Friday 27th
NOON    Hospital Mass
Hospital Chapel

“
“
7:30pm Station of
the Cross
Priory Street

Saturday 28th
10am     Reconciliation
Service
See below

LENTEN OBSERVANCES IN THE PARISH

STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  Stations of the Cross will take place at 7:30pm and we will alternate with
St James the Great.  This Friday,
March 27th, Stations will be at here
at Priory Street.

CHURCHES
TOGETHER IN CENTRAL COLCHESTER:  Lunchtime Services for Lent 2009.  Services will start at 1pm for 30 minutes.   Thursday 26th March - Castle Methodist
Church; Friday 3rd
April - St James the Great.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE:  Will
take place here at Priory Street
on Saturday, 28th March at 10am.  Three priests will be available to
hear Confessions.

“SON OF MAN”:  A showing of this “vivid, thrilling and awe-inspiring”
[Telegraph] film version of the Passion, set in South Africa.  In the Hall:  Sunday March 22nd after
Mass: 19.30 – 21.30 and Saturday March 28th before Mass:
1600 – 1800.  [90 minutes
long].

BCCS: Following on from my
recent comments, the Parish has received a letter from Mr Dick Madden, Director
of the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society to say that they require
£200,000 by the end of the month from Churches and Schools in order to
meet the urgent needs of vulnerable children in the Diocese.  Now is the opportunity for us, as a
Parish, to redress the balance of the paltry sum of £384 we gave to
them via the Christmas Crib Offerings.
Today, there will be a second collection for this our own Diocesan Charity.  Please give generously. Thank
you.
FR JOSEPH

EASTER
LILIES:  If you would like to
donate a bloom in memory of a loved one, please enclose whatever you can
afford in an envelope marked “Easter Lily” and deliver to the
Priests’ House.

ST.
PHILOMENA’S SCHOOL FOR BOYS & GIRLS 3-11 YRS. OPEN DAY 28th March 2009
10am - 12.30pm. All
welcome. Refreshments available. A limited number of
bursary places will also be offered this year for children born
01/09/01-31/08/03. For more information and
a prospectus please call 01255 674492.Email: [email-masked]  www.stphilomenas.com Hadleigh Road, Frinton-on-Sea,
CO13 9HQ. Charity Number 298635.

Triumph
& Passion: a Lent Retreat for Young People at Walsingham House. Come and join other young
people from around the diocese for a Lent Retreat where we will explore
together what it means to be passionate and the Passion of Jesus.  Time for fun, good food, prayer and to join with
the Brentwood All-Night Vigil.  Only £35, 3-5 April for info and a
booking form see our website www.walsinghamhouse.org
or email [email-masked]

STUDENT
CROSS: A
group of young (and not so young) pilgrims will set out from our Church on
the Saturday morning before Palm Sunday and walk, carrying a cross, to
Walsingham over Holy Week.  If you
would like to find out more contact Hywel & Pam Edwards on 867325 –
if you would like to help prepare and serve an evening meal on the Friday
night (3rd April) or an early breakfast on the Saturday morning (4th
April) please let us know.

SVP
Barn/Square Dance. Saturday 25th April. 7:30pm – 11pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  Entrance by ticket only. To book, please
telephone Anna 01206 242170, or Ann 01206 844914.  Book early.  Adults
£7.50. Children under 14 & Over 80's Free.
Food is included in the price.

LONDON MARATHON
SPONSORSHIP: Parishioner, Sean
Moriarty, is running to raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease
Society.  If you would like to
sponsor him, call 01787 210148 or give direct via the website www.justgiving.com/jayneandsean.  Sean
previously ran for the Brentwood Catholic Children’s society, raising
£6,500 last year.  If you
wish to support those running for BCCS contact Claire on 01268 784544.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: Annual Sponsored Walk in this Parish: Saturday 9th May 2009. Starting and finishing at St Teresa’s, Lexden, the walk is being
organised by the KSC.  Further
details to follow. 2009 sees the 25th Anniversary
of the Children’s Society.
To mark this occasion we hope for a record number of walkers to take
part.

ANNUAL MASS
– BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S
SOCIETY:  To mark 25 years of
working with children and families in the Diocese, Bishop
Thomas will concelebrate Mass on Saturday 13th
June at 4pm at Brentwood Cathedral.
Representatives from every parish are warmly invited.

YOUTH NEWS

Pilgrimages:      SUMMER LOURDES:
Is now full – with a waiting list HOLY LAND/OCTOBER HALF
TERM:
5 places left for Y12 [17+]

Advance notice of BCYS Annual Training &
resources Day for Youth Leaders: Saturday 19th September @ Our
Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead.  Further full information/posters will
follow.

PILGRIMAGE
– ROME/ASSISI:  Led by Fr Stephen Myers,
Holy Family, Dagenham Parish.  26th
October – 1st
November 2009. Flying BA from Gatwick, Cost £790 pp, SRS
£150pp; Travel Insurance £25pp. If you are interested, please
contact Fr Stephen on 0208 592 1634 as soon as possible.

SOUP RUN
– HELP NEEDED:  I need at least 3 people
to help with the distribution of soup and sandwiches [on a rota basis].
If you can spare some time, please call 765926.   Thank you.
Claire

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine
Mercy  [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 St

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
@ 9:45am – 10:30am

IF YOU ARE
NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass. A registration
form will need to be completed.
If you are moving within or out of the parish, please let the Parish
Office know.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE:  For all contact, inclusions etc., please get in touch with Don Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF LENT [B]

March 22nd 2009  A.D. – Laetare Sunday

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

Saturday  March 21st

Sunday    March 22nd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Beryl and Noel Blanchette
RIP

Fr Liam Armour RIP

Joan Bailey RIP

Intentions of the Sales Family

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Private Intention

Monkwick

10:15 am

Personal Intention [JN]

Monday 23rd

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Philomena Dwyer RIP [JH]

Chief
Afi Ekong RIP

Tuesday 24th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Joe McDermot
RIP

Helen Lydon RIP

Wednesday
25th

THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE
LORD

Church    12:15
pm   Kenneth Herbert RIP [A]

Mrs
McArdle RIP

Thursday 26th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   James and Mary O’Dwyer RIP

Friday 27th

Colchester Gen

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Helen Lydon RIP

Chapel    12:00  pm  Ray Gardiner RIP

Church      7:30 pm   STATIONS OF THE
CROSS

Saturday 28th        Feria

Church       9:15
am   Philomena Dwyer RIP [PG]

LITURGY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY
OF LENT [B]

March 29th  2009
A.D.

Saturday   March 28th

Sunday     March 29th

6:15
pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Stephen Mooney RIP

Frederick Elizabeth&Angelo
LucasRIP

Sr Helen Walsh RIP

Peggy Wilding RIP [DB]

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Jim England RIP [A]

Monkwick

10:15
am

Peter Larkin RIP

SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION      Saturday 9:45-10:30am  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