ST. JAMES THE LESS AND ST.
HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH,
Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and
Monkwick

Fr Joseph Whisstock

Fr
Paul
Dynan

Fr
Philip Willenbrock

51 Priory Street , Colchester, Essex, CO1 2QB

Tel:
01206 866317;   Fax  01206 791213

E-Mail      [email-masked]

www.stjamesthelessandsthelen.org

FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING [B]

November
26th 2006 A.D.

Dear Friends

As the passion gets under way, Jesus has to
witness to His own truth.  He
remains stubborn in His trust of the Father, in spite of the catcalls of His
accusers and the silence of His absent friends.  He may wonder where all the witnesses
to truth have gone and why they are so few in number when the authorities
come out in force.  He may wonder
why you end up being pushed around so much for the sake of the Kingdom.  He may have his own questions about
the worth of it all.  He may doubt
if the pain will ever go away.

To crown it all, Pilate ensures that Jesus has
His title above his cross: (”Jesus of Nazareth, King of the
Jews”).  Is that comic
relief? Is that protest? Is that the nearest Pilate will ever get to
witnessing to the truth?  Who
knows?

What we do know is that Jesus’ unfailing
witness to the truth marks His true kingship.  As His subjects, we will be judged on
how we have witnessed to His truth, His love, His way.  For a place in His Kingdom, we will be
questioned on our own attitudes and behaviour.  We don’t have to wait for the
Last Judgment to find out the questions we will be asked.  They are available here and now.  When our time comes for judgment, we
shouldn’t be surprised by who will join us.

Today we remember in our prayers all the young
people of our parish and give thanks to God for all that they contribute to
the community.  We also pray for
those who work with young people, particularly at Walsingham House, the
Diocesan retreat centre on Canvey Island.  As Bishop
Thomas mentioned in his pastoral letter last weekend, there
will be a retiring collection today for the refurbishment of Walsingham
House.  Thank you in advance to
all the young people who have spoken to us at the weekend Masses.

God Bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 29th   7:30pm
Liturgy Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 30th      7:30pm    Journey in Faith
Meeting
Crypt

Saturday 2nd Dec. 10 am      First Holy Communion
Programme  (children &   parents) Hall and Crypt

ADMINISTRATION OF
COMMUNION AND VIATICUM TO THE SICK BY A SPECIAL MINISTER:  If
any Eucharistic Minister would like an up to date copy of this booklet, they
are available from the Parish Office, price £2.75.  Those who were commissioned for the
first time last June should have already received their copy.

ST BENEDICT’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Congratulations to the staff, governors and students
for an excellent Ofsted report which was issued
this week, following the recent inspection.  In particular, the inspectors graded
the college ‘outstanding’ in the areas of personal development
and well-being, and also care, guidance and support given to the
students.  Well done to the Head
Teacher, Mr Alan Whelan, and all who work at the College.

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS JOURNEY OF PRAYER FOR 2006

This
booklet is available (price £1).
A meditation is given for each day of Advent and the Christmas season
and there is a foreword by Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent
Nichols.  Enrich your spiritual
life during this special time.

John Glynn & Aquila are to perform a concert at Our
Lady of Good Counsel, Wickford  Essex
at 7.30pm on Saturday
9th December 2006.  Admission
is free, but there will be a retiring collection for Brentwood Childrens Society.   Go to www.johnglynn.org to find
out more.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:   The children on the Programme celebrate their
Inscription Mass at the 10:30am Priory Street Mass this
weekend.  As in previous years we will be gathering Prayer Sponsors for
the children over the following weekend (1st Sunday of Advent)
– please sign up after any of the Masses or contact Hywel & Pam
Edwards on 867325.

FRIENDS OF PERU:  Peruvian Crafts will be on sale in the
Cardinal Bourne Hall after the 10.30 Mass on November 26th.

SVP TRIP TO
CALAIS
– 29TH NOVEMBER:
Phone 242170 or 844914 for full
details.  Pick up East Hill at 7a.m. Passports required. Cheques
payable to Colchester SVP.

DONATIONS FOR
DIGNITY:  This is an invitation
from the Colchester Night Shelter to an event there on Thursday, 30th
November between 11am and
3pm.  Turn up whenever convenient and you
will be given a guided tour as well as be able to speak to staff, trustees
and homeless people. The Night Shelter which has helped the homeless since
1984 is now in great need of serious overhaul.

CHARITY CONCERT:  Primary Schools from across the Diocese are joining forces to create
a spectacular Charity Concert in aid the Brentwood Catholic Children’s
Society and the Youth Service at the Brentwood Centre on two different
nights. Ten different schools each night.  Our
own St Thomas More

Primary School is involved on Friday 1st
December at 6.30pm.  Please
support them! Tickets £10 [£5 concessions].  Bookings on 01277 262616.

ADVENT SUNDAY AT BRENTWOOD
CATHEDRAL:  Unfortunately, the short Advent recital
due to start at 3.30 pm on
Sunday 3rd December has been postponed.  However, at 4.00pm on that day there will be Solemn Vespers for the First Sunday of
Advent with the Cathedral Choir and The Brentwood Singers followed by
mulled wine and mince pies in the Cathedral Parish Hall.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: “Hope in Dark Places” -  SUNDAY 10TH DECEMBER 7:45pm at ST JOHN’S
CHURCH, ST JOHN’S CLOSE, COLCHESTER. Hymns and Readings
for Advent with the Choir of St Peter & St Paul,
West Mersea; Choreography by cre8.  Tickets are FREE but limited to first
applicants. [Collection to cover expenses on the evening]. To book, call Liz
Bird on 01206 843383.  Come to
watch or take part!

CHRISTMAS ORCHESTRAL & CHORAL CONCERT: In Brentwood
Cathedral on Saturday 16th December at 7.30pm.
Tickets £10 - unreserved.
Available from the Music Office, Cathedral House, Ingrave Rd. Brentwood CM15 8AT. Enclose SAE; cheques payable to Brentwood Cathedral Music. Details of programme
–01277 265288.

CHRISTMAS 24/7 PRAYER ROOM:  This
Group is looking to run a town centre prayer room in the run-up to Christmas.  The venue has yet to be arranged and
further details will follow.

BCYS 2007: Advance
news – more details on poster in the porch and all bookable now.  Disneyland
& Paris 12-16 Feb Yr12+ with Fr
Bob Hamill/Catholic Fellowship.  HCPT Easter Lourdes
8-14 April 18+; Celebrate, Devon – Christian Conference 8-14 April 16+.  Limited spaces.  Summer
Lourdes 21-29 July Yr10+. Call 01277 265286 for full booking details. Sydney 08 – 8-22 Jul approx.

Cost – around
£1750 – start saving now! Age 17+.

DAILY:
Rosary – 8.40am;
Divine Mercy – 9am

EVENING PRAYER:
Monday to Friday 5.45pm

PRAYER GROUP:
Mondays in the Crypt – 8pm

MEDITATION GROUP:
Tuesdays at 48 Priory
Street – 8pm

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays
10am – 11am

SICK PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg, June Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth,
Sylvina de Britto, Marie Dixon, John Fisher, Denisia Gray, Richard Hadcock,
Eileen Head, Michelle Huet, Deirdre Kehoe, Catherine Libby, Luke McShane, Patrick
Quinlivan, John Rae, Sheila Shillingford, Carole
Stover.

THE PARISH WEB SITE: For ALL
contact, inclusions etc., -   please contact Donald
Clarke.  His e mail address is [email-masked]  Otherwise Donald may be contacted via
the Presbytery.  Please leave
envelopes for him.

LITURGY
FOR THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING[B]

November 26 2006  - Day of Prayer for Young People

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

Saturday November 25th

Sunday   November 26th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30
am

Mr  & Mrs Milford & Lionel
Wright RIP

D/Rels. Lavery & O’Dwyer Families RIP

In
Thanksgiving [ Jade & Jurellen Paez]

West Mersea

6:30 pm

8:30 am

D/Rels. Brogan Family RIP

Elizabeth
Fleetwood RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Jon
Fairy RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

Monday 27th        Feria

Church

9:15 am

Frederick, Elizabeth and
Angelo Lucas RIP

Tuesday 28th

Feria

Church                9:15 am         Special
Intention (Maria)

Wednesday 29th

Thursday 30th

Feria

Church

St
Andrew Ap.

Church

9:15 am

9:15
am

Harry
Crummy RIP (Mc Evoy)

Mrs
Graham RIP

Marie
Playle RIP (A)

Friday Dec 1st

Feria

Church

Monkwick

9.15 am

7.00 pm

Intentions
of Mary Jay’s Family

Mary Prior RIP

Saturday 2nd

Feria
9.15 am   Mary Mariampillai RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT  [C]

Saturday
December 2nd

Sunday    December 3rd

6.15 pm

8:00 am

10:30 am

5.15 pm

6:30 pm

Monica
McDermott RIP

Wilbur
and Muriel McDonald RIP

Parishioners

Holy
Hour (Exposition & Benediction)

Intentions
of Tom and Mary Smith

West Mersea

8:30 am

Henry
Johnson RIP (A)

Mile End

9:15
am

Leo
Foley RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Mary Prior RIP (Brown)

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:   Alan Whelan   (549222)

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

The Brentwood
Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 234092