ST. JAMES
THE LESS AND ST. HELEN

CATHOLIC CHURCH, Colchester

with

Mersea, Mile End and Monkwick

Fr  Anthony  McKentey

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 FEAST OF THE HOLY
FAMILY  [C]

December 27th  2009

My
dear friends

I hope you all had a very enjoyable celebration
of Christmas.  Many thanks to all
those who made Christmas in the Parish so special, in particular those who
helped with the music. the liturgy, decorating the
Church, making everything special for the rest of us.  Many thanks to everyone for your good
wishes, kindness and generosity to your priests at Christmas.

On the Sunday after Christmas we celebrate the
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph.  We ask their prayers
for all our families.  As the
prayer of today’s Feast states, may we live like the Holy Family,
united in respect and love.  We also include in this the parish
family to which we all belong.  As
we come to the end of 2009 may all the bonds of love and friendship between
us continue to grow and strengthen.

On behalf of Fr Brett, Fr Philip and myself I
wish you a very Happy New Year.

We begin 2010 with the Feast of Mary, Mother of God with Mass at 10am on Friday this week, a good
way to start the year.  On the
first Sunday of the New Year we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

May the Lord bless you all during this Christmas Season.

Fr
Tony McKentey

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday 28th
2-5pm       “At
Home”
See below

DAILY:
8:35am; Rosary
&Divine Mercy  [Wednesday 11:30am]

PRAYER
GROUP:                                           Mondays  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays at 8pm in
the Crypt

EXPOSITION:                                               Saturdays
at 9:45am – 10:30am

SICK:  Please remember in your
prayers: June Bickersteth, Claire Cooper, Bridie
Murphy, Baby Leah Patterson, Mary Roddy, Hector Silva, Lucy Walker

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for
the repose of the soul of Elizabeth
Chaplin, Derek Foley and Mary Joy
who have recently died.  May they
rest in peace.
The funeral of Elizabeth
Chaplin takes place on the 29th December at 3.30pm at Colchester Crematorium.  The funeral of Derek Foley at Mile End
on 30th December at 10;30am.  The funeral of Mary
Joy has already taken place.

FEAST OF
THE HOLY INNOCENTS - MONDAY, 28TH DECEMBER: One of the intentions
at the 10am Mass tomorrow
will be for victims of abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, assisted death/suicide.  Please come and ask God in his mercy
to turn the tide of anti-life measures this country is being subjected
to.
Colchester
Pro Life

AT
HOME:  The Community at 74 Howe
Close, Greenstead, will be At Home from
2pm-5pm on Monday, 28th
December, for you to drop in. They will have Evening Prayer at 5pm to which you are welcome.

SONGS
OF PRAISE AT ABBOTSWICK Sunday 3rd January at 4.55pm. Please tune in to
follow Katie's story of moving from life as an air stewardess to one of
formation to be a religious in the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham.

PARISH
GROUPS:  The following Groups
re-commence in January:  “Over 6” Years Baptism Course
– Friday, January 8th; Scripture Course – Wednesday, January 13th; SVP – Wednesday January 13th;
RCIA – Thursday 14th
January; UCM Thursday 14th
January; First Holy Communion Programme – Saturday 23rd January.  Full details will be given in due
course.

BAPTISM COURSE FOR
CHILDREN UP TO 6 YRS:  The next Course has been
arranged for Friday January 29th and Friday 5th
February at 7:30pm in
the Crypt.  Appointments not
necessary, but both sessions must be attended.

YOUTH NEWS: The young people of The
Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Billericay invite the Youth of the Brentwood Diocese to a
Special Youth Mass and Gathering to be held at 8pm on Friday
8th January 2010 in the Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road,
Billericay.The Mass is being said to

celebrate
the start of The Most Holy Redeemer Parish Centenary

celebrations which are being held throughout
2010.  All the Youth of the
Diocese in Year 8 and above (and especially those who haven't yet returned to
College or University after Christmas) are invited to attend.It
promises to be a very enjoyable evening that will include refreshments and
some live music after the Mass, which will be celebrated by Fr Dominic. If you are coming <mailto:[email-masked]>
for catering purposes.

World Youth Day, Madrid, 2011. Join 150 young
adults from Brentwood Diocese, 2 million from across the World, and Pope
Benedict XVI for this wonderful celebration. The trip includes time with a
Spanish family, plus a week of activities in Madrid with international speakers, drama,
art, dance and music, culminating in a huge open air Mass with the Pope. To
read about previous WYD experiences and to apply for 2011, visit www.bcys.net/wyd The trip is open
to all who will be in school year 12 and above when we travel, through to
young adults in their early twenties. We are away from 9th - 23rd August 2011
and the price of £895 includes all travel, accommodation, insurance,
the WYD registration fee, pre trip preparation and most meals. It is a
wonderful experience - be part of it!

100
CLUB :  This was launched at our Christmas Fair, and already
has 62 members.  For your chance
to win monthly draw prizes of £25, £15 and £10, sign up
today with an advance payment of £12 to cover the whole of 2010.  Cheques may
be made payable to 'St James the Less & St Helen Catholic Church', and
posted to the Parish Office, quoting the name(s) of members.  The first draw will take place after
we reach 100 members, and winners will be announced in the newsletter. Why
not treat yourself and/or relatives to a number?  At only £1.00 per month, you
know it makes sense.

READERS
REQUIRED:  We are rather short of
readers at the 8am and 6:30pm Sunday Masses at
present.  Volunteers would be most
welcome to contact Francis Carter on 01206 864479.

CLEANERS
URGENTLY REQUIRED for Priory Street.  Please contact Helena on 794636.

SECOND
COLLECTIONS remaining for the rest of this financial year: January 31st
Homelessness Sunday; February 13th Lourdes Fund; February 26th
CAFOD [Lent Family Fast Day]; March 14th Catholic Education
Service; Good Friday [April 2nd] Holy Places.

IF YOU ARE
NEW TO THE PARISH: please introduce yourself to one of the priests after Mass.  A registration form [on the table in
the porch] will need to be completed and returned to the Parish Office.  If you are moving within or out of the Parish, please also let
the Parish Office know.

THE PARISH
WEB SITE:  For all inclusions etc,
please get in touch with Don Clarke.
His email address is [email-masked]

LITURGY FOR THE HOLY
FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH [C]

27th December 2009

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

Saturday December 26th

Sunday  December 27th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Ray Gardiner RIP

John Lowe RIP

Ernest Major RIP [SVP]

D/Rels: Herbert &
Richards Families Ltd

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

D/Rels:
Knapp Family RIP

Monkwick

10:15 am

D/Rels/Friends:
Joyce Wrobel

Monday 28th

N.B.

THE HOLY INNOCENTS, Mm.

Church     10:00 am  Pro Life Intentions

Intentions
of Mrs T Matiz

Tuesday 29th

ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY,
Bp .M.

Church
9:15 am   Friends & Family of Jan Wrobel

Wednesday
30th

Sixth day within the
Octave of  Christmas

Mile End  10:30am
REQUIEM – DEREK FOLEY RIP

Church    12:15 pm    Frederick, Elizabeth
& Angelo Lucas RIP

Thursday 31st

Seventh day within the
Octave of Christmas

Church      9:15 am    Aubrey Lyons RIP

Friday  1st Jan

2010        N.B.

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Church    10:00 am    Canon John Bloomfield
RIP

Betty Snelson RIP

Saturday 2nd         St
Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bp.Dd

Church        9:15am    Intentions of Christine Hornigold &

Family

LITURGY FOR THE EPIPHANY
OF THE LORD

3rd  January
2010  – Holy Day
of Obligation

Saturday  January 2nd

6:15
pm

D/Rels/Friends:
Margaret Barker

Sunday    January 3rd

8:00
am

John Smith RIP

10:30am

Iris Licence RIP

6:30
pm

Gerry Shortt
RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Thomas & Bridie Smith RIP

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15am

Family & Friends of
Joan Norman

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