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 ADVENT [A]
– December 23rd  2007

CHRISTMAS DAY
– DECEMBER 25TH
2007

Dear Friends,

When Matthew writes his
Gospel he adopts the sign to Ahaz by which he, Ahaz, is assured that the house of David will continue
with God’s help, and gives it a whole new meaning.  He celebrates Jesus as the ultimate fulfilment of prophecy, the royal child of the house of
David, born of a virgin, who will be Emmanuel – God with us.  Matthew is writing some 40 years after
the resurrection and he is anxious to show that Jesus was the son of God at
his conception.  That is why the
virginity of Mary is so important:
it points to who Jesus really is.
A virgin mother has no precedent in the religious tradition.  A truth that is radically new will
always shock people – particularly those who limit what can be true to
what they have always known to be true.
There is something else radically new about Mary.  She is the woman at the centre of our
history.  It is a woman, not a
man, who brings about Jesus’ real presence in the world.  She can say of him
”this is my body, this is my blood” in a way that no other
person can say of him.  For he is
not only the son of David and the Son of God: he is her Son whom she will
bring forth for the life of the world. The feast of Christmas originated when
the cult of the sun was particularly strong in Rome and the Church used the same date to
celebrate the birth of Christ although we do not know the date of his birth.
For us, the yule logs and candles symbolise the warmth and light of another sun: the Son of
God, and in the darkness of Christmas Eve we celebrate the birth of the light
of the world.  Ancient religions,
too, have used the themes of light and darkness in connection with religious
experience. “The people that walked in darkness has seen a great
light…”
and as we gather to celebrate light in the midst of darkness,
we celebrate our faith in Jesus. He is our light, our hope. The Gospel tells
us that the Word who is God “lived among us”. No pomp, no
ceremony, born as a helpless baby – not even born in a house. He threw
his lot in with us.  No matter how
messy or difficult our lives are, God consoles us, frees and redeems us,
offers us salvation; a God full of grace and truth.

On
behalf of all the clergy here in the parish, may God grant you and your
families a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Please see
Schedule overleaf and Notices in the porch for all Mass times throughout the
Parish this coming week.

For Evening
Prayer details – see below.

BAPTISM
TODAY: Denis Richardson.  God bless this
child and congratulations to his family

CHRISTMAS OFFERING:  By tradition, the
Offertory collection at all the Christmas Masses is the parishioners’
personal gift to the Clergy.  In
this parish, Fr Joseph and Fr Brett are the beneficiaries since this
Christmas collection [and the collection at Easter time] forms the main part
of their personal annual income.
Thank you.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:  Coffee will be served in
the Hall after the 10:30
Mass on Christmas Day.

ALTAR SERVERS:  On 26th
December, the Feast of St Stephen, the patron saint of altar servers, will be
celebrated.  During the 10am Mass some of them will be
enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen.
All altar servers are particularly asked to celebrate their feast day
by serving at this Mass.

DIOCESAN VACANCY: Part time
secretary [10 hours per week] required for the Diocesan Adviser of Adult
Formation & Catechesis. Good knowledge of Word, Publisher and Excel,
proficient with the Internet and maintaining website.  For job description and application
form, apply to Sr Nuala Gannon, Diocesan
Adviser – AFC, Cathedral House, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AT. [email-masked]
.  Closing date for application
&CV – 10.1.08.

FIRST
HOLY COMMUNION:  The
first session for children in Year 3 or above and their parents will be in
the Crypt on 12th
January 2008.  An
information pack will be available from the Priests after Masses from 30th
December, including an Application Form and complete set of dates.

2008
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL: The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
[SPUC] will be holding its annual White Flower Appeal on the weekend of the
12th/13th January in this Parish.

OASIS
OF PEACE [MEDJUGORJE] DAY:  On
Saturday January 26th 2008 with Fr Seamus Keenan at 18, Kendal
Avenue, Epping, Essex from 10.30am to 4pm.  The day includes Mass, Adoration and
Rosary. “Bring and Share” lunch.  Drinks provided.  Please let Susan Asher know if you
would like to attend. Tel.No. 01992 575017 or [email-masked]

COLCHESTER
& DISTRICT INTER CHURCH LEAGUE: The current Church
Football team representing the Parish plays in the Colchester & District
Inter Church League and was previously managed by Adrian Porter who continues
to play in goal.  Chris Nolan, the
current manager [no problem with a command of the English language here!],
writes: “Like most things in life there is no such thing as a free meal
and the Club struggles to exist, especially now the kit is getting a little
bit tired... and we feel it reasonable to ask for support especially in the
area of sponsorship.  The team has
been in existence for over eight years and we would hope its continued
survival can be assured”.
If you wish to contact Chris his mobile number is: 07771 828751.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Florence Fuller, Denisia Gray, Eileen Head, Michelle Huet,
Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Maria Lumsden, Luke
McShane, Kathleen Morrisey,
Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains, Carole Stover, Peggy
Wilding.

DAILY:
Rosary 8:40am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:40am]

EVENING
PRAYER:                  At
48 Priory Street
from 24-28 December and

December
31 – January 4 inclusive at times to be confirmed by phoning

01206
867296. Anyone is most welcome to
join us.

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
10am – 11am

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2008:  Are on sale. Please buy
your copy – still priced at £2.25 – at least for this year.

THE
PARISH WEB SITE:  For all
contact, inclusions etc., please contact Donald Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]  He may also be contacted via the
Presbytery, i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

ABBOTSWICK
GOES LIVE!  The sisters have launched
a website for the House of Prayer which they invite you to visit at www.abbotswick.org They hope you will
appreciate the wonderful facility the diocese has at Abbotswick
which is open for everyone to use.
They look forward to welcoming you.

THE
REPOSITORY is open each Sunday from after the 8am Mass until 12:45pm in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.

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 us know in writing.

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT  [A]

DECEMBER 23rd
2007 A.D – Expectant
Mothers

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

Saturday  December 22nd

Sunday
December 23rd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Cecily Sim RIP

Des Fuller RIP

Biddy Healey RIP

Dorothy Burke RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Canon John Bloomfield RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Dec.Rels. Wright &
Wrobel Families RIP

Monday
24th         [ Morning]   Feria

Monday
24th

VIGIL

VIGIL - 7.30pm Carols

11.30pm Carols

Church               9:15 am   Ken Herbert RIP

[Evening]  THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST THE LORD,
Solemnity

Church                6:30 pm
Parishioners

Monkwick
8:00 pm   Intentions of Peggy and Maria

Church
00:00 am
Canon Thomas Clarke RIP; Bridget Lloyd RIP

and Margaretta Wright RIP

Tuesday
25th

8.30am Carols

CHRISTMAS DAY
– HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION

Church
8:00 am  Fr Jim Linburgh
RIP

Church
10:30 am  Intentions of Judy Hemming-Allen

Mersea
9:00
am  Sr
Margaret Hopgood RIP

Mile End
9:15 am  Frederick and Greta Knight RIP

Wednesday 26

Thursday
27th

Friday
28th

Saturday
29th

ST STEPHEN,
The First Martyr

Church   N.B.     10:00
am  Michael Piquet
Wicks RIP; Margaret Murray

RIP; Ray
Gardner RIP

ST JOHN, Ap. Evangelist

Church                  9:15
am  Agnes Chee
RIP

THE HOLY
INNOCENTS

Church
9:15 am  Marguerite Ann Kirby RIP

ST THOMAS OF
CANTERBURY, Bp .M.

Church
9:15 am  Parishioners

LITURGY FOR THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND
JOSEPH  [A]

DECEMBER 30th 2007 A.D.

Saturday  December 29th

Sunday    December 30th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Cora Webb RIP

John Lowe RIP

Bridget Browne RIP [A]

V. Rev. Canon Joseph
Whitfield RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Bridget Browne RIP [A]

Mile
End

9:15
am

Bob McLaren
RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Harold and
Denise Smith RIP

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

Vocations                                             www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No.
234092