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

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

September
24th 2006 A.D.

Dear
Friends

We all have to link our spiritual lives with
practical love.  In the 14th
century a Great Plague swept though the Italian city of Siena and a community of monks who had
established a monastery on an isolated mountain faced a choice.  Do they stay safe in their religious
isolation or come down to alleviate the suffering in the city?  They chose the latter and, as a
result, the whole community of 80 monks was wiped out by the Plague – a
danger they had been only too aware of.
There is always a price to be paid for true service – love is
not cost-free.

After the Transfiguration, the disciples wanted
to remain there on the mountain but they had to come down.  Jesus wanted to explain to them the nature
of his mission – to be a servant to all, inevitably leading to him to
pay the cost with his life – but they are slow to understand and afraid
to ask Jesus what he means.  They
start their own discussion group about power and prestige so, by the time they
reach Capernaum,
Jesus asks them what they have been arguing about.  They respond with the silence of
shame. Then Jesus takes a child and challenges the disciples to accept the
little one.  When they can welcome
that little child – one who cannot resort to power tactics when
threatened or maltreated - they can welcome the real Jesus.   Like the disciples, we should
love without hope of profit or reward; respect the intrinsic dignity and
worth of others, no matter what their position, power or wealth.  God loves unconditionally and when we
love like that, then we are not just loving like
God, we are loving God himself. Like the monks of Oliveto
we have to decide if we want the illusion of pure, unsullied religion or
whether we are ready to get our hands dirty in serving real people in real
situations, no matter what the cost.

God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday 25th
September      7:00pm   SVP Mass  then District Meeting - Crypt

Tuesday 26th
September     7:30pm   Baptism Course [2 of 2]  Crypt

[Both Sessions must have been attended]

Wednesday 27th
September 7:30pm  SVP Meeting
Presbytery

“
“
“
7:30pm  Multi-faith
Meeting @Synagogue. All welcome

Thursday 28th
September    7:30pm  Liturgy Meeting
Presbytery

AID
TO THE CHURCH IN NEED:  This weekend,
Michael Keaveney, will make an Appeal on behalf of
this well respected international charity.

THANK
YOU:  To all helpers and
organisers, especially Kay, of the Coffee Morning held in the Presbytery Garden.  £213 was raised for the
Refurbishment Fund.

CONGRATULATIONS
TO: Tracie Rogers and Giorgio Garofalo; James Brotherton and Vicki Henry; Mark Harrington
and Esther Calver married here recently.

RECENT
BAPTISMS: Keeley Barrett, Lucy Newman, Madeleine Haigherty, Ellayna Hills, Luka
Hunter and Francesca Jenner.  God bless these
children and congratulations to their families.

CAFOD
HARVEST FAST DAY – 6TH OCTOBER: Our monthly collection will
be taken up after all Masses next weekend and the proceeds will be directed
towards CAFOD’s Harvest Fast Day.  Special envelopes are in the porch if
you wish to use them Please Gift Aid your donation if you are a taxpayer and
if you are not using the Parish Envelope Scheme.   Thank you.

RECENTLY
DECEASED: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Anthony Hilsden, Yvonne Hughes and Bridget Lynn who have recently
died.  May they rest in peace.

NEW HALL SCHOOLCHELMSFORD OPEN
DAY:  Next Saturday, 30th
September from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Fuller details on the
poster in the church porch.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: The Director and
Trustees invite you to their Annual Mass at 3.30pm on Saturday 30th September at St
Antony’s, Church, Forest Gate.  Light refreshments afterwards will be
available.

JOURNEY IN FAITH: Anyone who is
interested in knowing more about the Catholic Faith is asked to come to a
meeting on Thursday, 5th October, at 7.30pm in the Crypt.  For more details please contact Cathie
O’Connor on 501146.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE:  Details of forthcoming events are
posted on the Notice Board above the newspaper table.  The first is an “Effective
Communications Weekend” at Abbotswick on  6th-
8th October if you are working with young people.

TABLE QUIZ: Saturday
evening,  7th
October, in the Cardinal Bourne Hall after Mass.
Organised by the KSC all proceeds will go to
their various needs.  Tickets,
including light refreshments, are £4.  Bar available.  To book, please ring 797850 or just
turn up on the evening.

MERSEA NEWS: Our thanks to
Maria Kelly for hosting our September coffee morning.  There will be a Coffee Morning on
Tuesday, October 10th, starting at 10.30am at the home of Sue Jenner – 64 St
Peter’s Road, West Mersea.  Do come and join us.

ST BENEDICT’S COLLEGE:
Application
forms for children who are to go to St Benedict’s in 2007 will be
signed by Fr Joseph.  Two dates
will be set aside for the signing of these forms and these will be given to
you in the Newsletter in the near future, after which appointments can then
be made with Diana [Parish Secretary].
No application forms will be
signed before these two dates are announced.

JOURNEYING INTO PRAYER: A
DAY OF REFLECTION: On Saturday, 28th October in the Cardinal
Bourne Hall from 11am to 3.30pm
with Sr Helen and Valerie Quinlivan.
More details nearer the time.

GRAND DRAW & PARISH SOCIAL: Saturday 18th November at 7.30pm in the Cardinal Bourne
Hall.  If you are able to donate
prizes – small NEW electrical goods, bottles of wine, spirits, etc.,
please contact Bernie on 549524 or Ron and Margaret on 797850.  Raffle Tickets will be on sale after
all Masses on the next two weekends.
All proceeds to our Refurbishment Fund.

LOURDES GOLF DAY: Booking forms are now available for this charity
tournament which raises funds to support pilgrims and the medical team on the
annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.  Venue: South Essex Golf Centre [close
to A128/A127 roundabout] on Monday, 6th November, first Tee Time 8.30am. Contact: Fr
Julian Wiener on 01268 553425 or 07921 071957.

DAILY:
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 Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth, Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon,
John Fisher, 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 e mail address is [email-masked]  Otherwise Donald may be contacted via
the Presbytery.  Please leave
envelopes for him.

FINANCES:
Last
week you gave £1581 + standing orders of £487. Thank you.

LITURGY
FOR THE TWENTY-FIFTH  SUNDAY OF
THE YEAR [B]

September 24th  2006

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

Saturday September 23rd

Sunday   September 24th

6:15 pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

D/Rels: Herbert/Richards Families

Thomas
and Gladys Lane
RIP

Intentions
of Sr Helen

Catherine
White RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Holy
Souls RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

John
Casey RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

Monday 25th
Feria

Church

Church

9:15 am

7:00 pm

Intentions of Claire Galea

Intentions of the SVP

Tuesday 26th

Feria

Church               9:15 am
Intentions of  Padraig

Wednesday 27

Thursday 28th

Church

Feria

Church

9:15 am

9:15 am

St
Vincent de Paul, Pr

Lionel
Blanchette RIP

Frederick,
Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Friday 29th

Hospital

SS
MICHAEL G

Church

Chapel

GABRIEL

9:15 am

12:00
pm

AND
RAPHAEL, Archangels

Eugene
Clifford RIP

Intentions
of the Patients

Saturday 30th

St Jerome, Pr.D

Church

9:15 am

Nina
O’Dwyer RIP & Bernard O’Dwyer

LITURGY
FOR THE TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[B]

October 1st  2006 A.D.

Saturday
September 30th

Sunday    October 1st

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

In
Thanksgiving [Thurlow]

Wyn Berry RIP

Intentions
of Mrs Murphy

5:15 pm

6:30 pm

BENEDICTION & EXPOSITION

In
Thanksgiving [Cobb]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Brian
Arnell RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Michael
Stammers RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

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:   Alan
Whelan   (549222)

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity  No. 234092