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 EASTER [C]

April 22nd 2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

In polite society we are not supposed to ask questions like “Who do you say I am?” or “Do you love me?”  Maybe because the answers might be deadening.  Questions which go to the heart of the matter, particularly when the matter concerns what you really think of another person, are usually eased out of the conversation.  In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus is in good voice when he asks Peter three times if he really loves him.

Remember that before the crucifixion, Peter had not exactly distinguished himself.  The man Jesus chooses to exercise primacy of authority is the one who is caught out by a servant girl as he lies persistently, denying all knowledge of Jesus; the man who is arrested as a cock crows in the dark.

After the crucifixion the disciples returned to their fishing. They did not believe themselves to have a mission to carry on and their hopes went into the tomb as they tried to cope with the loss of the one who had changed their lives.  So when a distant figure on the shore persuades them to cast their empty nets again and they pull in a marvellous haul, John recognises Jesus and Peter, in his excitement, tries treading water to be with him and enjoys a very wet breakfast with the Lord. Then when Jesus asks Peter three times about the reality of his love, three times Peter affirms that love and, in so doing, Jesus commissions him to care for his flock.  Seeing the Lord is always a dismissal for ministry; loving the Lord is always a charge to care for others.

Before Jesus puts the question to each of us, he goes to enormous trouble to first assure us that he really loves us.  He died making the point.  When we are assured of that love, we might be less hesitant in declaring our own.   God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Saturday 21st April       7:15pm     Speaker from Iona Community      Church

Tuesday 24th April   10am-12pm   Coffee Morning                              Monkwick

Wednesday 25th April  7:00pm      Scripture Course                           Crypt

“              “       “       7:00pm      S.V.P. Meeting                              Presbytery

Thursday 26th April      7:30pm      Journey in Faith Meeting              Crypt

Saturday 28th April 10am-12pm FHC Session – Children & Parents Hall/Crypt

“          “        “           7:45pm      KSC Table Quiz                            Hall

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS:  Next Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is a day of prayer for priesthood and consecrated life kept by the universal church. “We plant seeds that one day will grow.  We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise”. Achbishop Oscar Romero.

HUNGER LUNCHES DURING LENT: A total of £70 was raised for CAFOD.  The Justice and Peace Committee would like to thank all those who contributed for their generosity.

WEEKDAY MASSES: The trial period of celebrating Wednesday Masses at 12:15pm is now finished [Advent to Easter Sunday].  The period will now be extended to Pentecost when a final decision will be made by the clergy.  If anyone has any comments to make, then please do so in writing and hand them into the Presbytery by no later than 13th May.

Thank you.           Fr Joseph

BAPTISMS TODAY: Grace Lily Kelway and Alexander Samuel Peter Jjemba Wampamba.  May God bless these children and congratulations to their families.

SCRIPTURE COURSE HAS RECOMMENCED: on Wednesdays 25th April; 2nd, 9th, 16th May; 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June at 7pm in the Crypt. Sr Angela can be contacted on 867296 or email: [email-masked]

MONKWICK NEWS:  Coffee Morning – Tuesday April 24th 10am to 12 noon at St Theodore’s.  Please support us for our funds.

KSC – TABLE QUIZ:  The Knights of St Columba are holding a Table Quiz in the Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street, after Mass on Saturday 28th April at 7:45pm.  All proceeds to our many called-on funds to help others.  Tickets £4 including light refreshments, non-alcoholic bar, also tea and coffee available.  Call Ron on 797850 to book or just turn up on the evening.

THE CREIGHTON METHOD OF FAMILY PLANNING:  On Saturday 28th April at the Billlericay Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay from 10;!5am to 12 noon, a presentation is being given by Nicole Parker, a Fertility Awareness Practitioner.  All are welcome, especially people who are interested in a holistic method which works naturally for planning a family or assisting conception.  A donation of £5 is asked for towards costs and refreshments are provided.  Contact: Susan on 01277 889279; www.mostholyredeemer.org.uk and click on Events and Talks.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY:  Next weekend there will be a short address at the end of each Mass by a Member of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

NEW HALL SCHOOL OPEN DAY – MONDAY, 7TH MAY:  From 9:30am to 12.30pm.  The co-ed prep school takes pupils from 3-11; the senior school offers single-sex teaching for girls and boys between 11-16 and a co-ed 6th Form.  Students may board from age 8.  Each year are offered 11+ and 13+ boarding and day Scholarships specifically for Catholic students at both state and independent schools.  Visit www.newhallschool.co.uk for more information.

SPRING COFFEE MORNING: The Clergy invite you to a Coffee Morning at 51 Priory Street on Friday 18th May from 10am to 12 noon.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY:  [1] Annual Sponsored Walk – Saturday 19th May.  Contact Laura Williams on 01268 784544.

[2] The Mayor of Brentwood for 2007/8 has chosen to support two charities for his inaugural year, Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society and Gt Ormond Street Hospital.  There is a Mayor’s Charity Golf Day at Warley Park Golf Club on Friday, 8th June.  Booking forms are available from Diana in the Parish Office and the closing date for their return to the Mayor’s Secretary is Friday, 11th May.

PILGRIMAGES TO THE HOLY LAND AND TURKEY:  St John Vianney Catholic Church, Clayhall, has organized the following pilgrimages: Holy Land July 20th – 28th 2007; Turkey – follow the footsteps of St Paul - October 19th-26th 2007. Both pilgrimages take place during school holidays.  If you are interested and for more information contact Fr Jeba Marshall on 020 8550 4540.

DAILY:     [Except Wednesdays, then at 11:40am] Rosary -8.40am: Divine Mercy – 9am

EVENING PRAYER:                                                      Monday to Friday 5:45pm

PRAYER GROUP:                                                       Mondays in the Crypt 8pm

MEDITATION GROUP:                               Tuesdays at 48 Priory Street      8pm

EXPOSITION:                                                                    Saturdays 10am-11am

SICK PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June and Tony Bickersteth,

Ron Collins, Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Florence Fuller,

Denisia Gray, Richard Hadcock, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe,

Catherine Libby, Luke McShane, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Carole Stover.

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

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

Otherwise, Donald may be contact via the Presbytery, i.e. please leave

envelopes for him.

REPOSITORY OPENING TIMES IN THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL:

Sundays from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm.

SPONSOR MONIES: Would anyone who has yet to pay their pledged money

to Ronnie Hammond for his Sponsored Walk on the 31st March from Colchester

to Harwich, please be good enough to do so by the end of this month.  Thank you.

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER[C]

April 22nd    2007 A.D.

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

Saturday 21st  April

Sunday   22nd  April

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

In Thanksgiving [Mrs Drummond]

Cora Webb RIP [GMcC]

Catherine White RIP

Moira Pryke RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Bertus Derksen RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Intentions of Mr & Mrs Glen Duke

Monkwick

10:15 am

Joan Hayworth RIP

Monday 23rd          ST GEORGE M. Patron of England

Church

9:15 am

Cora Webb RIP [TW]

Kathleen Higgins RIP

Tuesday 24th

St Mellitus, Bp

Church                 9:15am  Special Intention [MD]

Wednesday 25

Thursday 26th

St Mark, Evan.

Church

Feria

Church

12:15pm

9:15am

Tony Murphy RIP [A]

Intentions of John Oliver

Friday 27th

Gen.  Hospital

Feria

Church

Chapel

9:15am

12:00pm

Intentions of Mr. & Mrs. Guglielmi

Cora Webb RIP [Murray Family]

Saturday 28th

Feria .

Church                 9:15 am  Maureen Quick RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]

World Day of Prayer for Vocations - April 29th 2007 A.D.

Saturday  April 28th

Sunday    April 29th

6:15pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Charlie Zammit RIP

Stephen Hilton RIP

Denise Smith RIP [WH]

Sheila O’Sullivan RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Gina and Tony Galea RIP [A]

Mile End

9:15 am

Mrs. Ethel Irvine RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

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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

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092