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 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE
YEAR  [B]

January 25th 2009 A.D.

Dear
Friends

Are we open to hearing God’s call? And how
do we respond when it comes?
There are different ways of responding:  Jonah at first resisted; Simon and
Andrew responded immediately.  We
all have our own plans, our own dreams and hopes for the future.  But sometimes these can become set in
stone.  It becomes hard to
conceive of different ways of thinking.
Yet all of us will face times of change in our lives.  When things don’t turn out the
way we expect, can we perceive the hand of God in this?  St
Paul’s advice is clear.  He expected the second coming of
Christ to be very soon, and he exhorted his congregations to live in constant
expectation of it.  His counsel
not to become engrossed in the ways of the world is still as valid as
ever.  We need to have a different
perspective and to be open to the word of God whenever and however it comes.

Our minds need to be open to hear God’s
word to us.  And it that word is
calling us to change direction, to change the way our lives are heading, to
change the way we think and act, then we need to respond to it as the first
disciples did

Both Jonah and Jesus preached repentance –
not a popular word nowadays.  But
the word “repent” means “to change one’s mind”
and the call to repentance is a call to look at the direction of our
lives.  Repentance is good news
because it means that nothing is settled, nothing is sealed.  Punishment that has been planned can
always be cancelled.  Things can
change.  If God can begin again,
so we can begin again, and again, and again.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check
for any changes]

Wednesday 28th      6:45pm       Scripture
Course                              Crypt
Thursday 29th          7:30pm       RCIA Meeting                                   Crypt

“
“
7:30pm       Parish
Finance Meeting
Presbytery

THERE
IS NO HOSPITAL MASS THIS MONTH

Saturday 31st         10-12             FHC
Programme
Hall and Crypt

“
“               7:30pm       Beetle Drive [see
below]
Hall

KSC RECRUITMENT DRIVE:  The Knights of St Columba will be speaking
at all Masses next weekend.

NEXT BAPTISM COURSE:  Has been arranged on Monday 2nd February and Monday, 9th
February at 7:30pm in the Crypt. This Course is for all those wishing to have
a child [of up to the age of 6years] baptised before June.  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.  Anyone who wishes a child of 7 and
above baptised, then please make yourself known to one of the priests after
Sunday Mass.

FRIENDS OF PERU:  Are holding a Beatle Drive on Saturday 31st
January in the Cardinal Bourne Hall 7:30pm to 10pm.  Pay at the door: Adults £3.50;
children £2.50. [includes hot dog, mince pie,
soft or hot drink].  Children most
welcome.  If you have still not
disposed of your Christmas cards, please leave them and any greetings cards in
the box in the porch for recycling.

CD YOUTH SPACE are organising a laser tag party at Rayleigh Megazone on Saturday 31st January. £18 /£15 for siblings includes
two games and coach. First pick up 3pm Clacton,
then Wivenhoe, then St. Benedict’s.  Pick up times to be
confirmed.  Back about 9.30pm.  Place only reserved when full money
received. Open to Colchester
Deanery Youth: Year 9 onwards.  Limited places available. Please return our completed booking form as soon as
possible.  For more information email [email-masked]
and posters at the back of the
Church. Today is the closing date for booking.    Bring a packed tea.

SOCIAL
COMMITTEE:  The next meeting takes
place next Sunday, 1st February in the Priests’ House at
mid-day.  If you have any ideas to
put forward for fund-raising in our parish, please come along.

SANDWICHES
FOR THE HOMELESS:  If you can spare a couple
of hours a week to help Josie in the Hall on a Monday and Friday from 10am to
11.45am, please contact her on 870929 or 07752 388756.

NIGHTSHELTER - Winter Reserve Accommodation Project (WRAP). Thank you to everyone who volunteered or supported the WRAP, which
provided overnight accommodation for the homeless in the Cardinal Bourne Hall
last week. Our turn comes round again from the 11th to the 17th February
inclusive. The last few days fall in the half-term holiday. If you work in
education, or if you are taking time off during half-term, this is your
chance to help. We still need more volunteers. For information telephone Mike
and Anne Sheehan on 01206 854934 or 07717 414554.

BRES
ANNUAL SPIRITUALITY MORNING- 7TH February 9.30-12.00 at

Cathedral
House Bentwood.  The theme is:
‘Walking in the footsteps of St
Paul’ and will be led by Fr Christopher
O’Donnell O.Carm., author and retreat
director. Tel. 01277 265285. Cost £5.

New date
for: BRES SPRING LECTURE- 26TH MARCH 7.30pm
held at Cathedral House Brentwood. Speaker: Fr Michael Holman SJ. Cost:
£5. Tel; 01277265285.

BARN/SQUARE
DANCE:  The SVP are holding a Barn/Square Dance
on Saturday, 25th April.

PILGRIMAGES:

Essex Leg
– Student Cross 2009.  From 8pm 3.4.09 – 12.4.09.  Walk from Colchester
to Walsingham during Holy Week.
You need to be 18+ for the whole week. On the 1st day
members of BCYS join the walkers.
You need to be 16+ for this 22mile walk to Harwich. Catholic Deaf Assn. Pilgrimage to
Walsingham.  1.5.09. Transport
will be arranged.  Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham 6.6.09.
A minibus will leave Osbourne St. at 8am. 16 places available. Approx.
£11. Maybe more places available if another driver is forthcoming. Brentwood
Catholic Youth Service – Summer Lourdes. Open to year 10 and above for
those interested in going to Lourdes.  Fundraising activities are taking
place. Congratulations to Anna for winning the moose in the “name the
moose” competition. For all the
above, leave clear message to Theresa Higgins on 523501 or [email-masked]

PILGRIMAGE
TO MEDJUGORJE: 1ST TILL 8TH MARCH, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, IT IS WITH RETURN
FLIGHT/HB. ACCOMMODATION/FULL PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEK.  TRANSFER DUBROVNIK/MEDJUGORJE RETURN
AIRPORT. PLS CONTACT OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE MEDJUGORJE
CENTER, 01277 821886/
07754 163007/077385 95534  CARMEN BLACKETT.

SICK PARISHIONERS:           Philomena
Dwyer, Mary Pink, Peggy
Wilding.

DAILY:
Rosary
8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
Monday
to Friday 5:45pm in the Church

PRAYER
GROUP:                   Mondays  at 8pm in the
Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
8pm @ 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
9:45am
– 10:30am

FINANCES/DECEMBER:
£OUT

£   IN
2500
Diocese

2001
Av. wkly collectn
300          Boiler Service

1043
CAFOD
580
Gas [ex Hall]

316
P St Flowers
5000       Loan instlmnt re

765
FHC Programme                                              Church
Refurb

50
Donation for NNP
377
re NNP Project

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

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

January 25th 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  January 24th

Sunday    January 25th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Carmel, Don Tinch,  Kevin Weldon RIP

Jean Hirst RIP

Lil McEntee & John
Donovan RIP

Intentions of Bill Weston

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Rose Ann Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Intns. Joan Norman &
Family

Monday  26th

Ss Timothy
and Titus, Bpp

Church      9:15 am   Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas  RIP

Olive
Loftus RIP

Tuesday 27th

Feria

Church      9:15 am    Mrs R Jayaratnam RIP

Wednesday
28th

St Thomas Aquinas, Pr. D.

Church     12:15 pm    Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

Harry
Pink RIP

Sheila Parsons RIP

Thursday 29th

Feria

Church      9:15
am    Serge Franchette
RIP

Friday 30th

N.B.

Feria

Church    10:00 am    REQUIEM – EILEEN
BYRNE RIP

Saturday 31st       St John Bosco,
Pr.

Church       9:15 am    Stephen Hilton RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [B]

[Day for the Unemployed] February 1st  2009 A.D.

Saturday   January 31st

Sunday      February 1st

6:15
pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Mr & Mrs Maloney RIP

Parishioners

Maggie & Jonathan Murphy RIP

Michael and Pat Conlon RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Intentions of Fr Bernard O’Brien

Mile End

9:15
am

Mr & Mrs Griffin RIP [A]

Monkwick

10:15
am

Intentions of Peggy
Wilding

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