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

OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST THE KING  [C] – November 25th 2007

Dear Friends,

Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia,
Kosovo, Macedonia; the last decade in the
Balkans has borne eloquent witness to the fact that struggles for power are
messy and bloody affairs.
Usually, only after much compromise and great suffering, can people
then adapt to a new situation, come to terms with the new reality and begin
to live again in peace.
That’s the situation in the first reading.  Following the death of king Saul,
there is a power vacuum and for a while there are two rival factions; one led
by Saul’s weak and ineffective son; the other by the charismatic
leader, David.  Finally, David is
acknowledged as king of all Israel.  He is also God’s choice and
becomes the greatest of all Israel’s
kings.  Over time the Jewish
people looked for a descendant of David – another Messiah, a man
anointed by God – to restore that unity and peace. In the Gospel, Jesus
is mocked on the Cross for claiming to be that long-awaited king.  The elders, the soldiers and one of
the criminals, taunt him.  He is
perceived to be totally incapable of saving even himself, let alone anyone
else. But Jesus doesn’t use his power to save himself.  His kingdom is one that looks out for
people who are ignored in every other kingdom; the poor and the broken and
the wounded.  This is especially
true in Luke’s gospel that we have heard throughout this liturgical
year. It is fitting then that Jesus should end up between two criminals.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus shared
his forgiveness.  He dies
breathing it. He dies as he lived, reaching out to the distressed on either
side of him.  The crown he wears
is of thorns; his throne the Cross; his royal banner is the scribbled sign,
“King of the Jews”.
That is the Gospel image of royalty; the king and the criminal who go
together into paradise.  Where do
we stand as this struggle between good and evil goes on? Hopefully not
screaming for his death or non-committal, waiting to see that will happen,
but by espousing his values in our daily lives, we can enter into his
kingdom: it is by our daily living of
his gospel we will be brought to
the joy of his kingdom.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

No Scripture Course Wednesday
28th  November

Thursday 29th   November   N.B. Mass 8am not 9:15am

“
“
“
7.30-9pm   RCIA Meeting
Crypt

“
“
“
7.30
Choir Practice
Church

Friday 30th November    Noon   Mass in Hospital Chapel by Wivenhoe
Ward

“
“
“
7pm    Parish Council
Meeting      Presbytery

NATIONAL YOUTH
DAY:  This weekend there will
be a Diocesan second collection for Walsingham House to enable essential
refurbishment to continue and to provide support for young people to take
part in weekend events and trips to Lourdes
which they could not otherwise afford.
Envelopes are available in the porch if you prefer to use them.  Gift Aiders may use their NYS Special
Collection envelopes.
Thank you.

OUR OWN
PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR [ST THOMAS MORE] will be performing at
the Brentwood Centre on Thursday, 29th
November.  Tickets
available from the Centre on 01277 262612: £8 adults; £4
concessions; Family Ticket [2 adults, 2 concessions] £18.  A lovely start to Advent - 27 Primary
Schools will be taking part over the two days, 29th and 30th
November.

EVER
ANCIENT, EVER NEW.  Young women aged 18-35
are invited to consider the beauty of God’s call to religious life,
spending Friday 30th November to Sunday, 2nd December,
the first weekend of Advent, with a new community at Abbotswick
House of Prayer near Brentwood.
For further details, call Sr Camilla or Sr Gabriela on 01277
373959/373848 or visit www.walsinghamcommunity.org

BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY will be holding their first ever “Santa
Dash” along the Broadway, Leigh on Sea, Essex,
on Friday 30th November at 5.30pm.  The event will coincide
with the switching on of the Leigh on Sea, Christmas lights.  All Santa’s
must pre register for the event and will, upon receipt of their registration
form, receive their very own Santa Suit (Flashing Reindeer Antlers for the
Rudolph’s).  The event is a great chance to join others for some
festive fun, whilst raising vital funds for our charity. I do hope you are
able to support  us and make our first ever
Santa Dash one to be remembered.  To register call 01268 784544. Julie Abbott – Fundraiser - BCCS

CAFOD live simply Service:  Saturday 1st December, 3pm - Westminster
Cathedral. Join CAFOD and Bishop Thomas
McMahon for a service of reflection and recommitment. A time to reflect on the call to live simply, sustainably and in
solidarity with people who are poor. Listen to guest speakers, theologian
Julie Clague and Maria Zuurmond,
CAFOD HIV Adviser, who will speak about  CAFOD partners overseas and how
God calls us to respond to poverty and injustice in our world today.
Sing along with our traditional choir and enjoy dance and drumming
from Angola.  We will be joined by Cardinal Cormac
Murphy-O’Connor with Rt. Rev. John Hine, Area Bishop, Southwark, and Rt. Rev. Kieran Conry,
Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.  Sr Margaret
Duffy will communicate the service in British Sign
Language.

BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY has a few places left for runners in next
year’s LONDON
MARATHON – Sunday April 13th
2008.  Applications to Claire
Mathews at the Society’s Office – Tel.No:
01268 784544 by no later than 7th December 2007.
This is an excellent way to raise much needed funds for the
Society and perhaps achieve an ambition!

CRIB
DISPLAY; WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXHIBIT? A display of cribs from around the world at Castle Methodist Church
from Friday 14th December to Sunday 16th December.  Have you a Crib you would like to
lend?  Please see poster in the
church porch or contact Margaret Griffin – 571590 – by 3rd
December please.

DAY OF
REFLECTION: What Do you want for Christmas? Give yourself a present of time. Our
Day of Reflection for Advent will be on Saturday 15th  December in the Cardinal Bourne Hall
from 11am to 3:30pm.Continuing our theme of “Call”, we will
reflect on “Christ’s Call at Christmas. Contact details to follow.

A CHORAL
AND ORCHESTRAL CONCERT will be held on Saturday 15th December at 7pm in Brentwood
Cathedral to celebrate Andrew Wright,
Director of Music’s 25 years with the Diocese. Tickets - £10
adults; £9 senior citizens;
£5 child/student – available from the Music Office,
Cathedral House, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AT.  Cheques
payable to Brentwood Cathedral Music.  Please enclose an S.A.E.

DIARY
DATES:  The Cathedral Music
Office have asked us to publicise “A Day with
Christopher Walker”. On Saturday 5th January 2008. A musician
and composer of international repute known not least from the music featured
in the various hymn books we use.
Full details are on the poster in the porch.

TEMPORARY
CLOSURE OF THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL from 9am 21st
January 2008 to 9am 7th February 2008.  This closure represents the first
phase of a refurbishment programme required to meet
the current fire and safety regulations.
The Cardinal Bourne Hall is a self-supporting Registered Charity No:
234092.

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, Sheila Parsons, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Alwyn Stains,
Carole Stover, Peggy Wilding.

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

EVENING
PRAYER:
For venue, please see poster in the porch

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays at 8pm in
the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm at
No 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

“A
JOURNEY OF PRAYER FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMASTIDE 2007”:  Walk with Me Booklets are now available
in the porch, price £1.

ROAD
CLOSURES: Sundays,
November 18th; December 16th.  Details in the Porch.

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.

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 contact the Parish Office.

LITURGY FOR THE FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING [C]

November 25th 2007 A.D. YOUTH SUNDAY

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

Saturday  November 24th

Sunday
November 25th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

2:30
pm

6:30
pm

Dec’d Relatives/Friends of Margaret
Barker

Intentions of Sr Alice
and her family

Parishioners

Final Profession of Sr
Alice

Mr & Mrs Milford RIP&Lionel
Wright RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Henry Johnson RIP

Mile
End

9:15
am

Domitila and Paula RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

Kevin Brennan RIP

Monday 26th
Feria

Tuesday 27th

Church               9:15 am  Deceased Relatives of the Knapp family

Deceased Relatives of “Brian”

Feria

Church
9.15 am   Intentions of Mrs
T Kemp

Wednesday 28

Feria

Church
12:15
pm  Ernest and Jane Wright
RIP

Frances
Hoare RIP

Thursday 29th

Friday 30th

Gen.
Hospital

Saturday
Dec 1st

Feria

Church     N.B.    8:00 am  Stephen Hilton RIP

ST ANDREW, Ap.

Church                9:15am   Marie Playle
RIP [A]

Chapel
12:00noon Holy Souls who have no one
to pray for them

Feria

Church
9.15
am  Intentions of L. Anton and
family

LITURGY FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [A]

DECEMBER 2ND 2007 A.D.

Saturday  December 1st

Sunday    December 2nd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Wilbur and Muriel MacDonald RIP

Mrs Mariampillai
RIP [A]

Parishioners

Pietro and Paulina Passantino RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Henryk Barbet RIP [A]

Mile End

9:15
am

Leo William Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

D/Rels:
Wright & Wrobel Families 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