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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B]    December 21st  2008

CHRISTMAS DAY – DECEMBER 25th 2008

Dear Friends

One of the most memorable of Gospel portrayals is the one we hear today.  The one which tells how the greatest event took place at a particular date in history, in the midst of a particular people [a people who, since the days of King David, had kept alive the conviction that a Saviour would come], to a particular woman – a real woman who felt fear and yet who had an unbreakable trust in God, an overwhelming desire that his plans should be fulfilled.  It is in Mary that God chooses to dwell and in so doing made her “full of grace”.  If grace is God’s gift, Mary was full of God’s gifts.  There’s no point in asking what Mary did to deserve that: she didn’t do anything to deserve it, because it was sheer gift.  Nobody deserves gifts; nobody is entitled to favours.  Gifts and favours reflect the generosity of the giver, not the worthiness of the receiver.  Because of God’s mysterious preference, because he has freely chosen to look on Mary in such a way and made her full of grace, all generations – that’s us – call her blessed.  For God graced Mary for a mission that was not for herself: Her mission in the plan of God was to give Jesus to every generation of the human family.

Did the Annunciation to Mary take place in the space of a few minutes as the Gospel seems to suggest?  Or could it have taken place over the course of many months, years even?  Unlike our busy, quick-fix, instant world there is no rush with God.  According to tradition the angel saluted Mary, not in her home, but at the local fountain whilst she was about her daily tasks.  Any why not?  In her response to the angel, in her acceptance, she invites us to follow her example, to put our lives at the Lord’s service.

When this noisy world cries “only so many days to go”, let us follow Mary’s

example “Seek a little silence, be still, ponder in your heart”.  Then we shall be ready to receive him this coming week.  We are poised on the edge of a great mystery.  We have had all the readings of Advent, all the promises of God to the people.  We have before us the celebration of the Lord’s birth and his coming again in glory and as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, he is already born in our hearts.

On behalf of all the clergy here in the parish, may God grant you and your families a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Please see below and overleaf for all Mass Times throughout the Parish this coming week

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th:

Priory Street      18:00 Vigil Mass especially for families

Monkwick          19:30  Carols followed by Vigil Mass at 20:00

Priory Street      23:30  Carols followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Thursday  25th:

Priory Street      08:00  Christmas Dawn Mass

10:30  Christmas Day Mass

12:00  Polish Mass

Mersea               08:30 Carols followed by 9am Christmas Dawn Mass

Mile End:            09:15 Christmas Day Mass

CHRISTMAS FAMILY MASS: The 6pm Mass on Christmas Eve gives the younger members of the parish family the opportunity to come to church in nativity costumes and take part in the celebration.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY: The children are asked to save money for the Society's looked-after children in the run up to Christmas - there will be an opportunity for them to bring this forward during the Family Mass - why not wrap it up as a small present?  Thank you.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY- AMBASSADOR: There are 93 parishes in the Diocese of Brentwood. BCCS is looking for individuals in every Parish to act as an Ambassador to help the Society keep in touch with the Parish.  Can you help with this essential work?  To find out more, please contact Claire Mathews or Julie Abbott on 01268 784544.  2009 sees the 25th Anniversary of the Society and the need for its work continues to increase as does the need for it to keep in touch with us at Parish level.

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH IN THE CARDINAL BOURNE HALL:  Will you or someone you know be alone on Christmas Day for lunch?  Would you like to share this time with others?  Would you be willing to assist with transport for those who need it?  If so, please contact Frances on 01206 369568.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING:  The Offertory Collection at all the Christmas Masses is, by tradition, the parishioners’ personal gift to the Clergy.  In this parish, Fr Joseph and Fr Brett are the beneficiaries since the Christmas Collection [and the collection at Easter time] forms the main part of their personal annual income.    Thank you.

DIARY DATES:

Friday 9th – Sunday 11th January BCYA New Year Retreat: The Brentwood Catholic Young Adults would like to invite anyone aged 18 to 30ish to our New Year Retreat held at Douai Abbey, just outside Reading. Sr Judith Russi SMN, a lively and engaging speaker, will be leading us in a relaxed yet thought provoking time together as we look to the coming year. If you would like to meet other young adults in the beautiful grounds of Douai Abbey while taking time to engage with your faith after the Christmas rush this retreat is for you. For more information or to book please call Teresa on 01277 265286, email [email-masked] or visit our website www.bcys.net/young-adults

SCRIPTURE COURSE:  Under the direction of Sr Angela Morris, the Scripture Course recommences on Wednesday, January 14th in the Crypt from 18:45 – 20:45.  All most welcome.

Opportunity for young people to visit Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and walk where Jesus walked! In October 2009 the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service will visit the Holy Land. Open to all aged 17+ (school year 12+ when we travel) and young adult. Full details and application form www.bcys.net/holyland or call 01277 265286. The dates are October 24th - 31st - school half term and reading week at many unis. (NB Also look at www.bcys.net for Lourdes trips (age 15+) and many other events for young people (age 13+) throughout the year).

SICK PARISHIONERS: Sheila Parsons, Mary Pink, Peggy Wilding.  [Bold denotes new addition].

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 @ 8pm @ 48 Priory Street

EXPOSITION:                                                                     9:45am – 10:30am

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 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 FOURTH  SUNDAY OF ADVENT [B] December 21st  2008

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

Saturday  December 20th

Sunday    December 21st

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Intns. baby Joseph Lalimia & Family

Mark Ridge RIP

Tony Rozier RIP

POLISH MASS

Dorothy Burke RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Mary and John Coneely RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

D/Rels/Friends of Knapp Family

Monkwick

10:15 am

D/Rels/Friends of Joyce Wrobel

Monday  22nd

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Freddie Bereen

Tuesday 23rd

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Mr & Mrs Dyer RIP

Wednesday 24th

[Morning] Feria

Mersea     10:00 am   Holy Souls         [& Confessions]

Wednesday 24th

VIGIL

“  7:30pm Carols

11:30pm Carols

[Evening ]THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST THE LORD, Solemnity

Church       6:00 pm  Raymond Gardiner RIP

Monkwick   8:00 pm  Maria Lumsden RIP & Ted Wilding RIP

Church     00:00 am  Frederick, Elizabeth & Angelo Lucas RIP

Michael Piquet Wicks RIP

Thursday 25th

8:30am Carols

CHRISTMAS DAY – HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION

Church       8:00 am  Agnes Chee RIP

Church      10:30am  Des Fuller RIP

Mersea       9:00 am  William and Mary Brookes RIP

Mile End     9:15 am  Greta and Fred Knight RIP

Friday 26th             ST STEPHEN, The First Martyr

Church       10:00am  Intentions of the King Family

Intentions of Peggy Wilding

Saturday 27th        ST JOHN, Ap. Evangelist

Church       9:15am    Cecily Sim RIP

LITURGY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY [B]

December 28TH 2008

Saturday   December 27th

Sunday     December 28th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

6:30 pm

Frank O’Donel RIP

John Lower RIP [A]

Parishioners

Ken Herbert RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Thomas and Bridie Smith

Mile End

9:15 am

Bob McLaren RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

George Renwick RIP

| | | | |

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