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 BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST -  25th MAY  2008

Dear Friends,

There are two important
truths about the Holy
Eucharist.  The first is that in
this incredible sacrament Jesus Christ is really and truly present: Jesus
Christ in his fullness – body, blood, soul and divinity and the second
in sharp contrast is that we are so used to it that we tend to take it for
granted – after all, it is only this incredible presence – as usual.  Today’s Gospel will have
achieved its purpose if it manages to shock us into a new sense of
appreciation.  Jesus is present in
the Eucharist but not merely in a passive way.  He is dynamically present; actively
present; present in the great act of offering himself in sacrifice for the
life of the world – bringing us the fruits of his death and
resurrection and offering us his body and blood as spiritual food and
drink.  St Paul underlines another aspect of the
Eucharist.  Its primary purpose is
the unity of God’s people in love, not only with Jesus, but also with
each other. Indeed, one is not possible without the other.  The bread of the Eucharist is a symbol
of the Church. Just as we all share in “one loaf” – in St Paul’s day a
single loaf would be consecrated and then shared by all – so we all
form one body; we all belong to one another.  It is sometimes said that changes
introduced into the Liturgy in recent years have robbed the Eucharist of its
sense of mystery. There maybe truth in this, but there is also another side
to it.  The changes point to the
immense implications of receiving the Eucharist, of how we live our daily
lives, how we treat one another, the impact we have in our home, workplace,
supermarket.  A religion confined
to the four walls of a church isn’t worthy of the name.  Real religion, in particular
Eucharistic religion, acts like a stone dropped into a pool, producing
ever-widening circles of love, care, concern and compassion.  We should never say “I went to
Mass as usual”; each
celebration carries with it unique demands for the way we are to lead our
lives today.

God bless

EVENTS
THIS WEEK

[Please note several changes to Mass Times]

Wednesday 28th May      7-9pm    Scripture Course
Crypt

Friday 30th May
7pm
Parish Council
Presbytery

THERE
WILL BE NO HOSPITAL MASS THIS MONTH [OR NEXT]

Saturday 31st May
11.30am First Holy Communion Mass [2 of 2] Church

“
“
[Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham ]

THERE WILL BE NO CONFESSIONS
OR EXPOSITION ON SATURDAY 31ST MAY (am)

FIRST
HOLY COMMUNION:  This
is the time of year [around the Solemnity of Corpus Christi] that the young
members of our parish make their First Holy Communion.  Yesterday some of them made their First
Holy Communion and the rest will make theirs this coming Saturday at 11:30am.  Parishioners are invited to the Mass
next week.  Please keep in your
prayers the children, their parents and the catechists who have given many
hours of their free time in helping prepare the children for their big day.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jeanine Cheeseman,
Robert Dore and Ann Hillsden who have recently
died.  May they rest in peace.

KSC - MAY
DEVOTIONS:  Friday May 30th at St John Payne,
Greenstead. Rosary after Mass at 7.30
pm. [Refreshments after the Rosary].

BURSARY PLACES offered at St. Philomena’s Catholic Preparatory School, Frinton-on-Sea,
for children born between 1/9/01
and 31/8/03.  Reduced fee places are available for
children who, with their parents, can cope with and take advantage of the
opportunities offered at this successful school.  Please phone 01255 674492 for an
application form (to be returned by 2nd June 2008).

KSC – PILGRIMAGE: Aylesford Priory on 8th June by
coach.  Cost £10.  Pickup points start at Colchester East
Hill 9am; then Witham Station.  Bring packed lunch.  There will be Mass, Confessions,
Rosary walk.  Return 7pm. Contact
Bill de Smith (01206 767597) to book and pay.  Cheques should be payable to
Colchester KSC 270.

MERSEA NEWS:  Many
thanks to Judy Cooper for hosting our 1st coffee morning of 2008 it was good
to see the sun shining for the start of we hope a good year, the next date is
10th June at Margaret Williams.
Details to follow .

YOUTH
SERVICE FAMILY BBQ – SUNDAY JUNE 15TH You are invited to a family day out to help raise funds for the bursary
scheme of the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service, helping young people in financial
need to be more involved in Youth Service events and pilgrimages. Past youth
service members now with young families are especially welcome! The BBQ will
take place in the beautiful grounds of Chigwell Police Club (Chigwell Hall,
High Road, Chigwell, Essex.
IG7 6BD). The day starts with Mass at 12.30pm
and is followed by the BBQ. (Bring your own drink).  Cost is £6
per adult and £4 per child (16 and under). Entry is by ticket only (as
catering requires advance numbers) so please send cheques made payable to
BRCDT Youth Account to the Youth Office, Cathedral House, Ingrave Road,
Brentwood, CM15 8AT, marked on the back as "BBQ". Let the Youth
Service know how many tickets you require (and if there are any vegetarians)
and the address that they should send them to. Call
01277 265286 for more information.

SVP
ST JOHN BOSCO
SUMMER CAMP AT ALDHAM:  Currently
there are more children seeking a holiday through the SVP camps than they are
able to offer, as they are short of about 20 helpers / week.  Help 500 children have a
holiday! Energetic and friendly helpers needed to help
children on holiday at the St John Bosco SVP Summer
camp this year. The camp runs for four weeks: helpers are needed for a week
from Saturday to Saturday, and must be 16+. This Catholic project gives
holidays to children who may not otherwise afford it, and it is based around
lots of sport including fishing and canoeing, football, basketball and
much more. Help also needed in the kitchens! Anyone can get involved - all the
details are on www.bcys.net/bosco Helpers
aged 18+ need a CRB check: the camp will arrange this if necessary
Diana
has a supply of Application Forms for helpers. Please contact the Parish
Office during the week.

GAP YEAR
POSSIBILITY? - VINCENTIAN VOLUNTEERS:  A positive opportunity for young
people to undertake interesting charity work for one year, living in
community with fellow volunteers. Accommodation and living expenses provided.
Volunteer year starts in September. If you would like to know more, contact
Sr Barbara Quilty DC: 0161 2269561 or 0161
2736881; e-mail [email-masked]
or visit the website www.vincentianvolunteers.org”  [This Volunteer Programme
has been running for the past 15 years here in the UK. In that time, over 200 young
people have been volunteers. They have served a large number of disadvantaged
people and, it is hoped, have made positive differences. Many of the
Volunteers have gone on to work in caring professions].  Also see poster in the porch.

DEPUTY
HEADTEACHER VACANCY: The Governors of St. Ursula’s Catholic Infant School, Harold
Hill, Romford wish to appoint a Deputy Head Teacher from September 2008. Interested
applicants should contact the head teacher, Mrs. Noel McNab
on 01708 345200.

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Anne Gardiner, Denisia Gray, Maria Hanak,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe,
Catherine Libby, Sheila Parsons, Mary
and Harry Pink, John Rae, Alwyn Stains, Carole
Stover, Peggy Wilding, Chetty Zammit.

Please be reminded that, because of the Data
Protection Act, we are not advised by hospital staff of Catholic inpatients.
If you have family or friends who have been admitted to hospital and who
would like a visit, do let one of the priests
know.

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:
Tuesdays at 8pm at No.48
Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
[not 31st May]     Saturdays 10am
– 11am

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.

APF
MISSIONARY BOXES:  Have you
collected your emptied Red Box?? Several remain uncollected in the porch
at Priory Street.  Please take yours. If you do not have a
box, and would like one, please contact Ron Griffin in person or on
571590.  There are also some free Mission Today booklets
.

LITURGY FOR
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST[ A]

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

Saturday
May 24th

Sunday    May 25th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Patricia Marchant RIP

Mary and Andrew
McAllister RIP

Tony Murphy RIP

Michael Piquet-Wicks RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15
am

Damian and Sheila Lu RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Sheila Shillingford RIP [TW]

Monday
26th

St Philip Neri, Pr.     [BANK HOLIDAY]

Church
N.B.  10:00
am    Rev. L.
Matthews

Agnes Chee RIP [A]

Tuesday
27th

St
Augustine of Canterbury,
Bp.

Church
9:15 am    Richard Condon RIP&Pat Reddington RIP

Wednesday 28

Thursday
29th

Friday
30th

Saturday
31st

Feria

Church              12:15 pm  Intentions of Mrs Tide & Family

THE VISITATION
OF OUR LADY

Church   N.B.      7:30pm
Connie Welch RIP

THE MOST
SACRED HEART OF JESUS [A]

Church
9:15 am
Nina O’Dwyer RIP

Church                 1:45
pm  REQUIEM – ROBERT DORE RIP

DEDICATION OF
BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL

Church
N.B.     11.30 am
Michael Treby RIP

LITURGY FOR
THE NINTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [A]

June 1st 2008 A.D.

Saturday  May 31st

Sunday  June 1st

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Grandma and Grandad Moloney RIP

In Thanksgiving [Callum Treby]

Pierre and Myriam Imbert RIP

Patrick and Elizabeth
Brogan RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Parishioners

Mile
End

9:15 am

Gabriel Toomo RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Sheila Shillingford RIP [C&AB]

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION  Saturday 10:00-11:00
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]

Marriage Care
www.marriagecare.org.uk   0800 389 3801

Vocations                                     www.brentwoodvocations.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No.
234092