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

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

January 28th
2007 A.D.

Dear Friends

When Jesus spoke to his
fellow Nazarenes in the synagogue they were impressed with his words,
initially.  They approved when
Jesus spoke to them of God’s promise to set them free but when he
introduced a new element, the import of what he was saying, began to sink
in.  He challenged them to see
that this wasn’t just a promise for the future but it was being fulfilled
today – through him.  Jesus
was identifying himself as the one anointed by God’s spirit to set his
people free.  They didn’t
like it; “Who does he think he is?  We know him – he’s just
the carpenter’s son”.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Prophets are accepted provided they come from the backwoods somewhere
else; there is nothing so unpromising as the local backwoods and when Jesus
stretches them further by introducing the thought that God’s love might
not be exclusively for them but to set free all people – Jew and
Gentile alike – they resist and reject this vision of reality.  They feel so threatened by
Jesus’ message they seek to kill him.  Eventually, of course, they would; the
local audience becomes a mob.

The
harsh reality of the Nazareth
experience seems a world away from St
Paul’s description of love in today’s
second reading.  The quality of
love “to endure whatever
comes” can be seen in Jesus’ whole ministry.  If love is patient and kind, it has to
face impatience and unkindness.
If love is ready to excuse, it has to face those who are prompt to
condemn.  If love takes no
pleasure in other people’s sins, it has to face those who delight in
the weakness of others. We have no reason for excluding others; the
foreigner, the migrant, the person of different faith, sexual orientation,
race, colour or class.  It is so easy for us to restrict our
love to our own but love has a tough programme.  We know this from experience but what
else can meet rejection with such endurance and greatness?
God
bless

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday 31st
January   7.30pm  SVP Meeting
Presbytery

Thursday 1st
February
7.30pm  Session 1 Baptism Course    Crypt

“
“       “
7.30pm   Journey in Faith Meeting
Presbytery

Saturday 3rd
February
7.30pm    Beetle Drive
Hall

TODAY IS
“HOMELESSNESS DAY” : At the
request of Bishop Thomas there will be a second collection today for Anchor
House, a centre for the homeless in Canning Town
providing  home and support for
118 people.  Please take a leaflet
which gives fuller details of this Catholic Charity. Visit the website www.anchorhouseuk.org. There is a
major feature in this week’s “Universe”.

NATIONAL
CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF IN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH: Co-ordinators
are kindly asked to collect in completed forms from the volunteers in their
group and leave them, together with a list of all volunteers, at the
Presbytery, marked for the attention of James Shaw, Parish Child Protection
Representative, by 31st January.

BAPTISM COURSE:  The next Baptism Course has been
arranged on the evenings of Thursday,
1st February and Thursday, 8th February. in the
Crypt at 7.30pm.  If you wish to present a child for
Baptism there is no need to make an appointment.  Just turn up.  Both Sessions must be
attended and the date of the baptism will be arranged during the Course.

PRIESTLY
VOCATIONS: Fr Joseph Silver,
Vocations Director, is holding another Friday evening meeting, for men
discerning their vocation, at  Abbotswick House of Prayer on the 2nd
February.  Starting at 6.30pm the meeting will be
informal with opportunities for prayer and discussion, will include supper
and should end at 9.30pm.  For further details, please contact Fr
Joseph Silver on 01268 553425 or [email-masked]  .

FRIENDS OF
PERU:
The event you’ve all been
waiting for – Annual Beetle
Drive.
To be held in the Cardinal Bourne Hall on Saturday 3rd
February at 7.30pm.  Cost £3.50 to include
refreshments.  Pay at the door.

APPLICATIONS
TO ST THOMAS
MORE’S SCHOOL – PRIEST REFERENCE FORMS: Fr Joseph has set aside the following dates for
parents to make an appointment for the completion of the Priest’s
Reference Form.  These
applications relate to September 2007/January 2008 intake only.

Monday 5th February: 11.20–12.50
and 2.00–3.40pm.  Tuesday 20th February: 3.40-4.50pm.  Friday 23rd February: 2.00-3.30pm.

W.R.A.P: Grateful thanks to all those who volunteered to help
with the first week of the Winter Reserve Accommodation Project
in the Cardinal Bourne Hall.  The
next week begins on the 7th February.  Please phone Tony Dixon on 729453 if
you are able to spare any time to help with this session.

VACANCY
– DEPUTY DIRECTOR – BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDRENS’ SOCIETY:
Salary Scale NJC between
39-46. For full job description and application form, please contact the
Director, Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society, Childcare House,
Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9EH. Tel: 01268 784544, email [email-masked]
. Closing date for applications 9th February 2007; interviews -  week commencing 26th February 2007.  Please note the Society operates from
the first floor of a building with no lift.

READERS’
DAY OF PRAYER:  This event takes place on Saturday, 17th
February in the Cardinal Bourne Hall and Sr Angela
will lead part of the day. This day is open to all readers from all Mass Centres
as well as from St James.  It is
important that you attend.  The
day is also open to anyone who would like to read God’s word at Mass.  Please let one of the priests know
that you are coming.  If you
require further details, please contact Francis Carter on 864479.

A WEEK OF
ACCOMPANIED PRAYER is planned for
Sunday 25th February to Sunday 4th March 2007.  The Week will open and close with
group sessions, with participants meeting their prayer companion briefly each
weekday.  Full information and a
booking form are contained in the brochure.  Booking
forms should be returned today.

SCRIPTURE
COURSE AT ST JAMES THE LESS & ST HELEN:  How
to read the Old Testament.  Have
you ever thought, as you listen to the readings at Mass, “I wish I
knew more about the Bible”?
If this question is yours,
this 10 session introductory course on the Bible, led by Sister Angela
Morris, will enable you to discover ways of knowing more and exploring the
significance of the Mass readings for yourself and the rest of the Christian
community.
Dates:

March
7,14,21,28.  April 18,25;  May 2,9,16,23. Time:
19.00 – 21.00 hrs. Venue:
The Crypt, St James the Less & St Helen.  If you are interested, please contact Sister Angela on 867296 or email: [email-masked]  .

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

Except Wednesdays  - then at 11.40am

EVENING
PRAYER
Monday to Friday       5:45pm

PRAYER
GROUP:
Mondays in the Crypt 8pm

MEDITATION
GROUP:
Tuesdays, at 48 Priory St
– 8pm

EXPOSITION:
Saturdays 10am – 11am

SICK
PARISHIONERS:  Please pray for Emily Begg,
June Bickersteth, Tony Bickersteth,
Ron Collins, 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 HOLY FATHER’S MISSION
INTENTION FOR FEBRUARY:  We pray that

the fight against diseases
and epidemics may find generous collaboration on

the part of all
governments.

THE PARISH WEB SITE: For all contact, inclusions etc., please contact

Donald Clarke.  His email
address is: [email-masked]
. Otherwise

Donald may be contacted via
the Presbytery i.e. please leave envelopes for him.

LITURGY
FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR [C]

HOMELESSNESS
DAY - January 28th  2007

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

Saturday January 27th

Sunday   January 28th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30 pm

Michael
and Mary Barrett RIP

Bridget
Lloyd RIP

Mr and Mrs Griffin RIP [A]

Serge
Franchette RIP

West Mersea

8:30 am

Margaret
Murray RIP

Mile End

9:15 am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15
am

Celestine
Tighe RIP [A]

Monday 29th          Feria

Church

9:15 am

V. Rev.Canon
Frederick Smyth RIP

Holy Souls RIP

Tuesday 30th

Feria

Church
9:15 am Des Fuller RIP

Wednesday 31

Thursday Feb
1

St
John Bosco

Church     N.B.

Feria

Church

Pr.

9:15am

9:15am

Intentions
of Lucy Walker

Intentions
of Mrs G Matiz

Des
Fuller RIP

Friday 2nd

Feast

Church

Monkwick

9:15am

7:00pm

THE
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Intentions
of Mary & Malcolm Smith

Special
Intention

Mary Prior RIP

Saturday 3rd

St
Blaise

Church
9:15 am  Edward and Katherine McElroy RIP

LITURGY
FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
[C]

Education day  - 4th February  2007 A.D.

Saturday February 3rd
6:15 pm  Intentions of Colin & Pam Andrews

Sunday
February 4th

8:00 am

10:30
am

5:15 pm

6:30 pm

Holy
Souls RIP [FG]

Ellen
and John Bolger RIP

EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION

Jack
Playle RIP [A]

West Mersea

8:30 am

Intentions
of Paul & Claire Galea

Mile End

9:15 am

Holy
Souls RIP

Monkwick

10:15
am

Parishioners

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