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
EASTER [B]

April 26th 2009 A.D.

Dear
Friends

It is always frustrating to witness an event
without knowing what it actually means.
We know the difference between having an experience and knowing what
that means; between being part of an event and understanding its
significance.  Jesus made the
distinction between those who “see and hear” and those who
“perceive and understand”.
As T.S. Eliot observed:
“We have had the experiences but missed the meaning”.

In today’s Gospel we see how the disciples
cannot make sense of Jesus’ recent death.  They cannot arrive at an understanding;
they need the risen Christ to uncover the meaning.  When the two disciples returned from
Emmaus and told their story to the others and how they recognised
Jesus in the breaking of bread, maybe some were jealous, perhaps others sat
in stunned disbelief.  Even when
Jesus appears among them, they are alarmed and frightened until he reassures
them, “It is I”.  And
he gives them his peace.  Only the
risen Christ can take the disciples from mystery into revelation, from confusion to understanding.  That is his Easter gift.

The understanding of the Church today is based on
the unique experience of the first disciples.  We will always be indebted to them for
their insight and courage.  They
turned their new experience into a message of Good News for all people and we
keep the message alive only by giving it away.  That way, the Gospel never dies.

God bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Tuesday 28th April    4:30pm    Baptism Course [7-15
yrs]
See below

“
“
“        7:30pm   Mersea Parish Meeting
St Cedds

Wednesday 29th        6:45pm   Scripture Course                       See below

“
“
7:00pm   SVP Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 30th
7:30pm   RCIA Meeting
Crypt

DAILY:                 8:35am; Rosary &Divine
Mercy  [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 St

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
at 9:45am – 10.30am

BAPTISM TODAY:   James Robert Dalipe
and Naomi Selby.    God bless these children and congratulations to
their families.

RECENTLY
DECEASED:  Please pray for the repose
of the soul of Doris King who has recently died. May she rest in peace. Her Requiem takes place on Monday at 10:30am at Priory Street.

BAPTISM
COURSE FOR CHILDREN 7-15 YRS: If you have a child[ren] between these ages who have not yet been baptised, please bring them along to this meeting on
Tuesday afternoon.  There is no
need to phone the Presbytery.
If no children attend, the next Course will take place in Autumn.

SCRIPTURE
COURSE:  Led by Sr Angela on
Wednesdays from 6:45 – 8:45pm in the Crypt, the Scripture Course
recommenced last week, studying an introduction to The Good News according to
Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles.

Come
and Hear Fr Pat Collins C.M.
Writer, Broadcaster & International Speaker, Saturday 2nd May,
Brentwood Cathedral, 10.30 to 4.30. Theme
‘Good News in Bad Times’.

NEW HALL SCHOOL,
CHELMSFORD
OPEN DAY:  On Monday, 4th
May from 9am – 12:30pm.  For more information contact 01245
467588 or [email-masked]

KSC –
ROSARY IN MAY:  The Knights of St Columba
will be reciting the Rosary on Tuesday 5th and 12th May
at 7:30pm in Priory Street; on Wednesday 20th May at 7:30pm in
Lexden [after Benediction] and on Friday, 29th May at 7:30pm at
Greenstead [after Mass].

KSC [LEXDEN]
SPONSORED WALK – 9TH MAY:  Covers 5 ½ miles from St
Teresa’s, starting at 10am.  Refreshments will be provided
afterwards in their parish hall.
Wherever possible, Sponsorship Forms will be available for partakers
or sponsors after Masses this weekend and next.  All proceeds to the Brentwood Catholic
Children’s Society.

A GREGORIAN CHANT WORKSHOP will be held in Barking
Parish on Saturday 16th May. The day will begin at 10am and end at 5:30pm, after Mass.
Previous experience is not necessary.  Participants should please bring a
packed lunch. Drinks will be provided. The cost is £7 (or £5 for
the

unwaged). Street parking is controlled (meter), and
there is a multi-storey car-park in Town Centre West, which is three minutes
walk from the church. Barking Station is also only a short 5 minute walk
away. The day will end with Mass of the following Sunday (Easter 6), using
the music practised during the workshop.  See poster in the porch for more
details.

ITEMS FOR SALE carved by Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem will be on
sale by them at Priory Street
on the 17th May.

COLCHESTER THREE FAITHS FORUM:  This is a group which
exists to promote dialogue and understanding between the 3 Abrahamic faiths
– Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The first of three visits has been planned on Wednesday, May 20th,
at 7:30pm to Priory Street
Mosque. Details of future visits to the Synagogue and St Helen’s
Orthodox Church will follow.

KSC –
PILGRIMAGE TO AYLESFORD – 7th JUNE:  Leaves East Hill at 8:50am.  Leaves Aylesford at approximately 4pm.  Cost: £10 Return. To book ring
Bill de Smith on 767597 – or speak to a member of the KSC.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND:  The next weekend is due
to be held on 26-28 June 2009 at the Emmaus Centre, West
Wickham, Kent.  This
is a private weekend with no group discussions.  The local contacts are Caroline and
Michael L’Estrange on 01277 841051 or www.wwme.oreg.uk
No charge is made other
than a booking deposit and a donation towards costs.

ABBOTSWICK EVENTS:  'Ever Ancient, Ever New' A weekend with a new community exploring the beauty of following
Christ as a vowed religious in the 21st Century. For men and women aged
18-38, Fri 15th - Sun 17th May 2009 For further details
visit www.walsinghamcommunity.org or
call 01277 373848

'Jesus'
presence in the Eucharist: Real... or just 'symbolic'? A day with Raymond de Souza, international lay apologist. Sat 23rd May 2009,
10.30am - 4pm at
the Diocesan House of Prayer near Brentwood. For
further details visit www.abbotswick.org or
call 01277 373959

SECOND COLLECTIONS DURING
THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE: It has been suggested that it would be helpful to
have more notice than that currently given of forthcoming second
collections:-

May
3rd  [next week]
YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES*

10th
FLOWERS
FOR PENTECOST
[Priory St
only]

31st
ANNUAL SICK CLERGY FUND

June  6th
CAFOD – QUARTERLY COLLECTION

June
21st
ANNUAL SVP COLLECTION

*We
have 5 young people going to Lourdes.  The Parish will help towards their
costs.  They will fund-raise the
balance.

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 get in touch with Don Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE THIRD
SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

April 26th 2009  A.D.

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

Saturday  April 25th

Sunday April 26th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Peggy Wilding RIP [R&M G]

Brian Jackson RIP [A]

Clare Adams RIP [SVP]

Doris Murphy RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Fr James McCormick RIP [W’minster]

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Sheila Shillingford RIP
[A]

Monday 27th

N.B.

Feria

Church    10:30 am   REQUIEM
– DORIS KING RIP

Tuesday 28th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of the Pauk Family

Wednesday
29th

ST CATHERINE OF SIENA, V.D.

Church    12:15
pm   Personal Intention

Holy Souls RIP

Thursday 30th

Feria

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Samantha
Hume

Friday 1st
May

St Joseph the Worker

Church      9:15 am    Intentions of the Jay Family

Saturday 2nd        St Athanasius, Bp.D.

Church       9:15
am    Intentions of Leo & Donna
Fuller

LITURGY FOR THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF EASTER [B]

[World Day of Prayer for
Vocations]  May 3rd 2009 A.D.

Saturday May 2nd

Sunday   May 3rd

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

D/Relatives of Byrne Family RIP

D/Rels.Walker/McGrath
Families

Philomena Dwyer RIP [A&P W]

Holy Souls RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Philomena Dwyer RIP [DG]

Monkwick

10:15 am

Peggy Wilding RIP
[O&B]

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