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 FEAST OF
THE HOLY FAMILY

December 28th 2008 A.D.

Dear
Friends

In celebrating
today’s Feast we look to our own family in gratitude for what we have
received.  The Feast of the Holy
Family is not an old one – it was instituted in 1921 but the Christian
family has been celebrated by all who care to admit their indebtedness to it
as the lively place where they were at home with God and an assortment of
weird and wonderful relatives.  In
the Christian family we learn that God never comes alone; he is always
accompanied by a legion of others who, in their own shy and halting way, show
us something of his loving kindness.
In the Christian family we can catch something of the God who accepts
us as we are and who keeps on loving us stubbornly to the end.

The regular presence of
parents is a constant assurance of safety for every young child.  The family, no matter what its
shortcomings, is the fundamental human connection.  During World War II the noted child
psychoanalyst, Anna Freud, wrote that war itself acquired comparatively
little significance for children until it threatened their family life.  London
children, therefore, were on the whole much less upset by the bombing than by
the evacuation to the country as a protection against it.

Parents are the first
teachers of love; their attachment to their children shows them that they are
worthy of love, shows them how to love.   As Luke shows us in
today’s Gospel the parents of Jesus fulfil
the requirements of their religious tradition and the child Jesus grows in
wisdom and maturity under their care.
None of our families is all holy; each is a mixture of all sorts of
conflicts, compulsions and craziness that tests our love and
forgiveness.  But in the midst of
all that, there is God.  There is
no other place to find him.  It is
the place where he found us.

God bless

THANK YOU from the Clergy who are very appreciative of your Christmas
Cards, gifts and donations. Sincere thanks also to everyone involved with Parish
preparations for the celebration of Christmas and who give so tirelessly of
their time for the benefit of us all.    FR JOSEPH

FROM HELENA:   A big thank
you to all the wonderful helpers for the Grand Clean.  Happy New Year!

EVENTS THIS WEEK  [Check for any changes]

Evening
Prayer – See poster in Porch re change of Venue, times, etc.,

Sunday 28th  3pm   “AT HOME”   See below
No 48 Priory Street

Prayer
Group recommences on Monday,
5th January 2009

Meditation
Group recommences on Tuesday,
13th January 2009

“AT HOME”:   The Community at 48 Priory Street
would like to welcome you to a Christmas “AT HOME” today, anytime
between 3pm and the close
with Evening prayer at 5pm.

BRENTWOOD
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY ANNUAL CRIB COLLECTION:  The carefully saved pocket money which the children brought up at the
Family Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve forms part of this annual Crib
Collection.  The total will be
sent to the Children’s Society to help finance the invaluable work
carried out by the Society with children in need in our Diocese

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.

Credit
Crunch Advice:  The current financial downturn is making life
very difficult for many of us. The Commission
for Justice and Social Responsibility and the Marriage and Family Life
Project from the Bishop’s Conference have put together a leaflet
showing sources of help and advice for anyone who is having problems managing
their finances. It covers everything from debt management to lifestyle
changes. If you would like a copy please ask your parish priest.

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.

OASIS OF PEACE (MARIAN) DAY:  On Saturday January 31st 2009 at
the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 11, Church Hill, Epping, Essex, CM16
4RA, from 10.30 a.m. to 4
p.m. Includes Mass, Adoration and Rosary. Bring packed lunch
– drinks provided. For more information, please contact Susan: 01992
575017 or [email-masked]

ALL NIGHT VIGIL AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA, HARLOW
to see the New Year in with the Lord. December 31st/January 1st.
In the chapel 10 pm to 6am,
with Midnight Mass, and Adoration for the rest of the night.  Tea and
coffee provided.

‘Run & Pray!’:  A weekend
retreat for those who wish to explore the ways running and praying complement
each other, sharing similar disciplines and commitment.  The weekend will be spent at the beautiful
‘Diocesan House of Prayer’ at Abbotswick, near Brentwood, Essex.  The
house is very comfortable and is set in extensive grounds, surrounded by
lovely countryside.  The cost of
the weekend is £125.00 and includes: full-board (home-cooked food); two
talks; two organised runs (one on country lanes,
the other, a trail run) and a free ‘Introduction to Yoga’
session.  The weekend will be led
by Fr James McShane, a veteran of four (slowish) marathons!
Whether you run six miles a week, or sixty, come and spend time
praying, relaxing and running!
Date: 8th-10th
May, 2009. Email Fr
James to book your place: [email-masked]
View the Diocesan House of Prayer on the web: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/houseofprayer.
Look forward to seeing you there!

SICK
PARISHIONERS: Sheila Parsons, Mary Pink,
Peggy Wilding.

DAILY:
Rosary
8:35am; Divine Mercy 9am [Wednesdays 11:30am]

EVENING
PRAYER:
See poster in the porch for changes

PRAYER
GROUP:                Recommences
5.1.09  at 8pm in the Crypt

MEDITATION
GROUP:         Recommences  13.1.09 @ 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.

PARISH
DIARIES:  Have now
arrived.  If you would like one,
please put a donation of 50p in the Newspaper Box.

THE
PARISH WEB SITE:  For
all contact, inclusions etc, please contact Donald Clarke.  His email
address is [email-masked]

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

December 28th 2008 A.D.

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

Saturday  December 27th

Sunday    December 28th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Frank O’Donel
RIP

John Lowe RIP

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

Monday
29th

ST
THOMAS OF CANTERBURY,
Bp., M.

Church      9:15 am   Intentions of Mary
Todd

Intentions of Catherine Seymer

Tuesday
30th

Sixth day
within the Octave of Christmas

Church
9:15 am    Mary
Kelly RIP

Wednesday
31st

Seventh day
within the Octave of Christmas

Church     12:15 pm    Patrick John Lyons RIP

Thursday 1st
Jan

2 0 0
9

MARY, MOTHER
OF GOD

Church N.B.10:00am  Intentions of Norah
Hewitt

Friday
2nd

SS Basil the
Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bpp.
D.

Church      9:15 am    Stephen Hilton RIP

Deceased
Relatives – Silva Family

Saturday 3rd          Feria of
Christmastide

Church       9:15 am     Jay Family Intentions

LITURGY FOR THE
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Holiday of Obligation
– 4TH January 2009 A.D.

Saturday   January 3rd

Sunday     January 4th

6:15 pm

8:00 am

10:30
am

6:30
pm

Mr and Mrs P O’Leary RIP

Mark Ridge RIP

Parishioners

Denise Vasconcellos RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

John [Jack] Byrne

Mile
End

9:15
am

D/Rels
& Friends – Knapp Family

Monkwick

10:15
am

Intns. Joan Norman and Family

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