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 ASCENSION OF THE LORD
[B]

May 24th  2009 A.D.

Dear
Friends

Our partings speak eloquently of our meetings and
of the relationships we forge and, as life is full of meetings, it is full of
partings too.  In all of this,
“Goodbye” – God be with you – is the best blessing we
can bestow.  The parting of Jesus
from his disciples tells us much about their meeting, the friendship, the
trust and the shared dreams.  The
parting can only be poignant where each is pondering a whole world of what
might have been.  If only Jesus
had stayed on earth after the resurrection; if only he hadn’t left the
disciples; if only….  Yes he
was leaving them.  The earthly
part of his ministry was drawing to a close and he had to ascend to his
rightful place alongside his Father.
But he was not abandoning them.
Through his Spirit he was to remain with his disciples.  Jesus was to be with them after his
ascension just as certainly as he had been before – but in a different
way.  It was difficult for the
disciples to adjust. They knew his promise to remain with them, through the
Spirit, would be kept but they still experienced the pangs of loss.  It is even harder for us.  We have not had the consolation of his
earthly presence.  We have to
struggle with his promise, trust his word, believe in his Spirit but our
burden is also our consolation.
We do know, we do believe, we follow his teaching and we believe in
his promise of life.  Of course
the ascension completes the mission of Jesus: it is the last act of the cycle
of his life, death and resurrection, celebrating the return of Jesus to the
Father.  It is also open-ended for
it marks the beginning of a new time for the apostles to be, in a very real
sense, the earthly presence of Jesus. What they do, they do in his name, with
his authority and power, through his Spirit. On this World Communications Day
let us recall the ending of today’s Gospel:  “Go out to the whole world;
proclaim the Good News to all creation”.      That process
is open-ended.  It is still going
on.
God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Evening Prayer will be at
48 Priory Street
until further notice

Sunday 24th
12 noon   Social Committee Meeting      See below

Wednesday 27th
7pm   SVP Meeting
Presbytery

There is no Scripture
Course this week

There is no Hospital Mass
this month

Saturday 30th       10:30am  FHC Mass [1 of 2]                      Priory
St

“
“             7:30pm  Rosary at Mile End

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine
Mercy  [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday
to Friday 5:45pm @ 48 Priory St

PRAYER
GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm at
No. 48 Priory St

EXPOSITION:
NOT THIS WEEK OR NEXT

ON WORLD
COMMUNICATIONS DAY we are asked to keep communications professionals in our prayers.  The Catholic Communications Network
[CCN] office provides support in promoting the Gospel in the media.  It is the central point for media
enquiries, playing a key role in developing the public profile of the Church.

FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION:  Please remember in your
prayers those of our children who are about to make their First Holy
Communion on the next two Saturdays.
The celebration of First Holy Communion is a cause of thanksgiving and
joy, not only for the families involved but also for the whole parish
community.   Please note
there will be no Confessions or Exposition on both Saturdays.

THANK YOU: From our Flower Ladies
for your generous contribution of £405 for flowers for Pentecost at Priory Street.  They are most grateful.

CONGRATULATIONS
TO:  Catherine Sales and Michael
Wood married
here yesterday.

BAPTISM
TODAY:  Gabriel Bernabel.  God bless this child and
congratulations to his family.

BAPTISM
COURSE:  The next baptism course
has been arranged for Monday, 15th June and Monday, 22nd
June at 7:30pm in the Crypt. This Course is for all those wishing to have a
child [of up to 6 years] baptised.  If you would like to present a child
for Baptism please note that both
sessions must be attended.   There is no need to make an
appointment.

SOCIAL
COMMITTEE MEETING:  Takes place today at 12
noon in the Presbytery to discuss family BBQ on July 4th and
Christmas Events. All welcome.
Thank you.  Frances and
friends.

SPONSORED WALK – BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY – 9TH
MAY:  If you sponsored walkers,
the Knights will be available after Masses this weekend to collect your
pledges.  Thank you.

KSC –
ROSARY:  The Knights of St Columba
will be reciting the Rosary on Friday, 29th May at 7:30pm at
Greenstead [after Mass].

SECOND COLLECTION:  As announced previously, there will be
a second collection next weekend
for the annual Sick Clergy Fund.

KSC “AFTERNOON TEA
AND SING ALONG”:  The KSC of Priory Street,
Greenstead and Lexden are arranging this afternoon for the elderly on the
afternoon of Sunday, 31st May [ Pentecost Sunday] in the Cardinal
Bourne Hall. 3:30pm for 4pm.  For more details, phone Ron Wheeler on
797850.

VACANCY:
Youth Co-ordinator, Basildon Team Ministry, and
School Chaplain, De la Salle School, Basildon. This opportunity is the
chance to support young people in their development and understanding of a lived
Catholic faith. £20,000/£22,000p.a. Application is by letter and
CV, closing date 4th June, full details on www.bcys.net/jobs
or call Fr Dominic on 01268
553425.  See poster in the porch
and Diana has a copy of the job description.

INTERPRETING GENESIS:  To mark the Darwin anniversary this year, Fr Adrian Graffy will be giving an Ecumenical Study Day on the
creation stories in the Book of Genesis on Saturday 6th June at
Brentwood Cathedral Hall from 10.30 to 3 p.m. There are now limited places
available for this event, so please book your place by phoning 01277 265289
or by e-mail to [email-masked]
There is no charge for the event and a sandwich lunch will be provided.

MONKWICK
NEWS:  Coffee morning on
Saturday, 6th June 10:30-12:30.  Hosted by Mike Firmin,
Eastview, Langham Lane, Boxted.  All very welcome.

KSC –
PILGRIMAGE TO AYLESFORD – 7th JUNE:  Leaves East Hill at 8:50am.  Leaves Aylesford at approximately 4pm.  Cost: £10 Return. To book ring
Bill de Smith on 767597 – or speak to a member of the KSC.

CAVENDISH
CONCERT:  Early Notice of the next
Concert which will take place at Priory
Street on the 27th June.  More details to follow.

SVP SUMMER
CAMP:  Bookings are now being
taken for boys [8-13] and girls [9-12] to the St John Bosco
Camp at Aldham. Full details on the poster in the
porch.  Closing date 1st
July. Diana also has booking forms in the Parish Office. Helpers [16+] also
needed.  Contact www.bcys.net/bosco

PILGRIMAGES EITHER [a] TO ASSISI: 1ST-8TH
October.  Cost £699 half board
or [b] TO ASSISI [4 nights], LORETO [1 night], SAN
GIOVANNI ROTONDO [2 nights] 1st-8th October:] Cost
£779 H/B;  Both include flight, excursions, and a guide throughout; excludes
insurance, single room supplement.
Contact: Carmen
07738595534,01277 821886, 07754 163007.

URGENT:  Two helpers are urgently needed and a
sandwich maker for the Colchester Soup Run.  This is jointly run Christian venture,
and if you are able to spare a couple of hours – on a rota basis – please contact Claire – 765926.

BETHLEHEM ARTS:  If you have ordered goods to be paid for, they are available from the
Parish Office. [On a Monday, Tuesday or Friday].  Please settle by cheque,
made payable to Bethlehem Arts.

SICK
PARISHIONER:  Iris Licence.       If you have family or friends who have
been admitted to hospital and who would like a visit, please let the Hospital
Chaplaincy Team know [via the nursing staff on the ward].

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 ASCENSION
OF THE LORD [B]

May 24th 2009  A.D. [World Communications
Day]

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

Saturday  May 23rd

Sunday May 24th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Una Close RIP

Intentions of Gregoria Tungol

Intentions of Joan Boyden

Peter Duff-Still RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Edward Hogan RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy wilding RIP [JN]

Monday 25th

N.B.

St. Bede the Venerable, Pr.D.
[BANK HOLIDAY]

Church     10:00 am  Thanksgiving

Special Intention {E & I W]

Intentions of the Worthen
Family

Tuesday
26th

St, Philip Neri, Pr.

Church      9:15 am
Rev. L Matthews RIP

Peter Whitlock RIP

Hugh Jones RIP

Wednesday 27th

St
Augustine of Canterbury,
Bp

Church     12:15 pm  Ken Herbert RIP

Helen Lydon RIP

Thursday 28th

Feria

Church       9:15 am  Intentions of Maria Kernott

Friday 29th

Feria

Church       9:15 am
Intentions of Ita and Desmond Gray

Saturday 30th       Feria

N.B.         Church
10:30 am   Agnes Chee
RIP

[FHC
Mass 1 of 2]

LITURGY FOR PENTECOST
SUNDAY  [B]

May 31st  2009
A.D. [Day of Prayer for the Church]

Saturday May 30th

Sunday   May 31st

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Teresa Wood RIP

Michael Treby RIP

Mona Woodmass RIP

James Worthen RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

John Smith RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Frederick,/Elizabeth/Angelo Lucas RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Parishioners

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION  NOT THIS WEEKEND

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