ST. JAMES
THE LESS AND ST.
HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and
Monkwick

Fr  Anthony  McKentey

Fr
Neil
Brett

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 [A]

January 23rd   2011

My dear
friends,

The
theme chosen for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2011 is: "One in
the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer" (cf.
Acts 2:42). The Holy
Father concluded his General Audience with the words: “During this Week, let us pray that all Christians will grow in
fidelity to the Gospel, in fraternal unity and in missionary zeal, in order
to draw all men and women into the saving unity of Christ’s
Church.”

“Whatever
may have been the position in past centuries it is no longer the case that
our laws must, or should automatically reflect the Judaeo-Christian position.” These are the words of the judge who
fined Mr and Mrs Bull under the Equalities Act 2008 having refused to
accommodate two homosexuals in their guest house. It begs the question as to
what the law should reflect. Or must we base our laws on the prevailing
social climate?

In
the global village of modern communications, the concept of a saint by
popular acclaim has been updated. The beatification of John Paul II comes
when some can still remember the chorus of “Santo Subito”
in St Peter’s Square during those amazing scenes after his death. Here
is some good news for us to share with others.

May God bless you all,

Fr Neil Brett

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 26th
9:15am     Mass  [NOT 12:15pm]

“
“
6:45 pm
Scripture Group
Crypt

Thursday 27th
7:30pm
RCIA                                               Crypt

Saturday 29th
10—12      FHC Group
Hall/Crypt

Sunday 30th
10:30am    Mass for FHC Group

DAILY:   Morning
Prayer 8:15am; Rosary/Divine
Mercy 8:35am. [Wed. 11:15am]

PRAYER
GROUP                                            Mondays
@ 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:                                   Tuesdays @ 8pm in the Crypt

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
@ 9.45am – 10.30am

SICK:  Please remember in your prayers: June Bickersteth, Joan Boyden, Nancy Drummond, Charlie George,
Bridie Murphy, Baby Leah Patterson, Hector Silva, Baby Cameron Smith, Olivia Thorpe.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archibald Lynn who has
recently died. May he rest in peace.  His funeral has been arranged here on
February 11th at 9:15am.

PRIEST REFERENCE
FORMS FOR
ST THOMAS
MORE SCHOOL:
Fr Tony will be available at the Presbytery to
sign the Priest Reference Form for new applications to St Thomas More
School on the following
dates: Thursday 27th January
from 4pm and Friday 28th
January from 5pm.  To book an appointment on either of those
evenings, please ring the Parish Office on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  Don’t forget to bring the form
with you!

THE
FRIENDS OF PERU would
like to thank everyone who gave their support during 2010.  The fundraising events and sales of
Peruvian Crafts and recycled cards have enabled us to send £1000 to the
Sisters of Mercy Mission in Peru.

BRES
RETREAT SPIRITUALITY MORNING- Saturday 29th January
2011 9.30-12.00   entitled “Contemplation
in a busy world.”    This will be led by Fr
Christopher O’Donnell, O.Carm. It will take
place in Cathedral House Conference Centre, Brentwood.
Cost £5. Tel 01277 265285.

PRAISE AND
WORSHIP EVENING at SION Community,
Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, will take place this month on  Sunday, 30th January, 7.30
to 9.00pm.  Everyone welcome.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Monday 7th
February 7.30pm-9.30pm at Brentwood Cathedral Conference Centre. Sr Nuala will lead the session.  Full details on the poster in the porch.

WINTER RESERVE ACCOMMODATION PROJECT [WRAP]; Keeping homeless people off the street this winter: Can you help?  The relevant week now for our Parish is
9th-16th February 2011. It will be necessary for volunteers to sleep in the Hall
overnight but for full information please ring 01206 549 885 and speak
to Pernille.

ISRAEL/PALESTINE– THE UNTOLD STORIES: Saturday, 26 February 2.30 –
4.30 pm. Venue:  Peace House, Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD. A Public Meeting with guest speaker Pat
Gaffney, General Secretary, Pax Christi.  Pat
has recently returned from a Pax Christi visit to
partners, churches and NGOs in the region to learn more about life under
occupation and create solidarity links with those working for peace and
justice.  Preceded by Network for Peace AGM at 1.30pm.

ECUMENICAL STUDY DAY ON THE HISTORY OF THE MASS: The Ninth Ecumenical Study Day arranged by the Diocesan
Commission for Evangelisation and Formation will
take place at Brentwood Cathedral Hall on Saturday 5th March from 10.30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The theme for the day is
‘The History of the Mass’. Abbot Cuthbert Johnson OSB, former
abbot of Quarr and a renowned expert on liturgical
matters, is the speaker. As usual, there is no charge for the event and a
buffet lunch is provided. Please book your place by contacting [email-masked] or by
phone to 01277 265289.

‘BE
STILL’ DAY:  The parish of St Mary Immaculate & The Holy Archangels,
Kelvedon will be hosting a quiet day, learning about silent prayer, in Lent
run by Magdalen Houlihan
from Clare Priory on Saturday
26th March from 11.00 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. Tea,
coffee and a soup and roll lunch provided.  Donations towards Clare
Priory Building Fund.  For further
information and to book a place contact: Eve and Peter Regelous,
01376 518486 or 07947 796783 or email
[email-masked]

DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT and raise money for CAFOD.
Register now for the 2011 110ft abseil down Harlow Water Tower taking place
on 30th April / lst May.  Organised by
the Harlow Tye Rotary Club in conjunction with
Dukes Barn Outdoor Adventure Organisation. For
further details etc., contact CAFOD Brentwood email [email-masked] or
phone Joanna on 020 8502 9722.

THE BEATIFICATION OF POPE
JOHN PAUL II IN ROME [MAY 1st]: Fr Andrew Headon will be
leading a 2 night, 3 day pilgrimage providing that there is an immediate
response as flight prices will increase daily. For those interested, please
would they contact Fr Andrew for more information on 0208 478 0583 or by e-mail: [email-masked]

THE
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CATHOLIC POLICE GUILD would like to draw
attention to the Guild and to encourage both serving and retired police
officers and police staff to become members.  If anyone is interested in
joining or receiving further information, please contact Andrew Nattrass on [email-masked]
or daytime telephone number 014855 543327.

CLEANERS’ ROTA:
Thursday 27th January – Team
3D.

NEW TO THE PARISH?:  Please
introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass, complete a registration
form [on the big table in the porch] and return it to the Parish Office.  Please also advise the Parish Office
if you move within or out of the Parish.
PARISH WEB
SITE: For all inclusions,
contact [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [A]

23rd  January
2011 – Breviary Week 3

Saturday January 22nd

Sunday January 23rd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Mr & Mrs
Milford RIP

Margaret Power RIP

Frederick, Elizabeth
& Angelo Lucas RIP

Margaret Harknett RIP

Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Rose Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Celestine Tighe RIP

Monday 24th

St Francis de Sales, Bp

Church     7:30am     Canon John Bloomfield RIP

Church     9:15am     Stephen Hilton RIP

Tuesday 25th

THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL, Ap

Church     9:15 am    Seamus Power RIP

Wednesday
26th

N.B.

Feria

Church      9:15am   Intentions of the Jay
Family

Thursday 27th

Ss Timothy and Titus, Bpp

Church:     9:15 am   Ken and Thia
Kentish RIP

Friday 28th

St Thomas Aquinas, Pr.D.

Church      9:15 am    Caroline Long RIP

Church      6:30 pm    In Thanksgiving [ Woodley
Family]

Saturday 29th        Feria

Church       9:15 am    Terry Tobin RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  [A]

January 30th 2011 – Homelessness
Sunday

Saturday January 29th

Sunday   January 30th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

Margaret Ratcliffe RIP

Des Fuller RIP

10:30am

Frederick,Elizabeth&AngeloLucasRIP

6:30
pm

D/Rels: McCallion Family

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

D/Rels:
Knapp Family

Monkwick

10:15am

Kashia Hurlo 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