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 FIRST SUNDAY OF
ADVENT [C]

November 29th  2009

My dear Friends

This Sunday we begin the new Church year with the
Season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord.  We remember his coming in history two
thousand years ago, and associate with the prayerful hope expressed by all
the Advent prophets.  We prepare
for Christ to come into our hearts through prayer and the Sacraments during
this holy time.  The Church year
begins as it ends with the ultimate hope of the second coming of the
Lord.  We are
called to be always awake and watchful.

May the Lord bless all our Advent preparations
for Christ’s birth.

May God bless you all

Fr
Tony McKentey

Fr Joseph writes:

“Thank you to Fr.
Tony, Fr. Brett, and to all the parishioners for the wonderful reception you
gave to me on 21st November, both at the Mass of Thanksgiving and the
reception in the hall after. It was so good to meet up with so many of you
that night. Thank you for the generous donation and gifts
which were presented to me in the hall. I wish to thank all those
involved and all the hard work in the organisation
and preparation of both the Mass and the social.  I will keep you all in my prayers as we begin
this Season of Advent. Please keep me in yours as I prepare to
celebrate my first Christmas at St. Helen's, Westcliff.
Yours in Our Lord,
Fr. Joseph Whisstock”

EVENTS THIS WEEK [Please
check all changes re Funerals]

Wednesday 2nd
Dec
7:30pm  Scripture
Course                      Crypt  Thursday 3rd                     N.B.  Mass at 8:15am

“          “
7:30pm
RCIA Course
Crypt

Friday 4th
4:30pm  “Over 6yrs” Baptism
Course   Crypt

“
“
7:30pm  Liturgy Meeting                        Crypt

Saturday 5th
10-12       FHC
Group
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, Lisette Graziani,
baby Leah Patterson, Mary Roddy, Alwyn Stains, Hector
Silva.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS IN PRIORY STREET:  There will be a second collection on the
weekend of 12th/13th December for flowers in the Church
for Christmas [instead of Poinsettias.]
Thank you

BAPTISMS TODAY:  Michael
Farrell and Evelyn Wilkinson.  God bless these children and
congratulations to their families.

BAPTISM
COURSE:  The next Baptism course has been arranged for Fridays, January 29th and
5th February 2010 at 7:30pm in the Crypt [entrance via the
Church].  This Course is for all
those wishing to have a child [of up to 6 years] baptised.  There is no need to make an
appointment but both sessions must be attended.  If you have a child of 6 and above,
the next Course will take place sometime in April.

RECENTLY DECEASED:  Please pray for
the repose of the soul of Maureen Curran [Funeral 1st December
– 9:45am]; Frank [Martin] Walsh [Funeral 2nd December 10am];
Hugh Bostock [a member of the teaching staff at St
Benedict’s, whose funeral is at 10am on Friday, 4th
December], and Norma Golding who have recently died.  May they rest in peace.

HEALING MASS at ABBOTSWICK HOUSE OF PRAYER, celebrated by Fr John Glynn on Wednesday 2nd
December at 7.30pm. Please visit www.abbotswick.org
or call 01277 373959 for details.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME :  During the
10:30 Mass this weekend Catechists will be commissioned.  Thank you to
all who support the Programme.  Sessions
with the children start next weekend in Cardinal Bourne Hall at 10am on Saturday 5th December. For
further information contact Hywel & Pam Edwards
on 867325 or [email-masked].

PRAYER SPONSORS for children on the
First Holy Communion Programme will
be gathered at all masses on the weekend of 5th / 6th December - if
you are interested contact Hywel & Pam Edwards on 867325.

WAVE:  Come together to stop climate change.  CAFOD
invites you to Westminster Central Hall for 11am or 12 noon in Grosvenor Square on Saturday, 5th
December, to rally and march for action by world leaders in Copenhagen the following weekend.                                               J&P
Group

ADVENT PRAYER IN THE
CHURCH
and Reflection and Discussion in the Crypt led by the Ven. Michael Fox . Friday 11th December, 7.30pm:
'Creation and Incarnation. Christ in the Manger; Christ in the Cosmos'.

QUIRE WORLD
MUSIC CHOIR:  Christmas Showcase 2009 –
Friday 11th December, 7:30pm, at St Botolph’s
Church,  See
poster for full details.

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.

SINGLE
AT CHRISTMAS?: Why not join with others in the same
situation for Christmas lunch in the Cardinal Bourne Hall on Christmas
Day.  If interested, contact John
Sutcliffe on 851838 as soon as possible.
Cost depends on numbers but a quality, affordable and enjoyable event
is our aim.

MERSEA
NEWS:  Christmas Fayre:  What a
great morning, everyone enjoyed themselves.  Thanks to all those who helped before
and on the day.  It was lovely to
have Fr Tony there supporting us [sorry all the Reindeer names had gone].  We will save him a spot next
year.  Thanks
again everyone.

EUCHARISTIC
MINISTERS:    Would all those who attended both
sessions of the Eucharistic Minister Training Course earlier this year,
please contact the Parish Office.

WRAP PROJECT:
The Night Shelter has again asked us to take part in the WRAP Project (Winter Reserve Accommodation Project).
The idea is that the town centre Churches open their halls to the homeless
during January and February if the Night Shelter is full. We each
organise a week in January and a week in February. We need 28 volunteers
so that two people stay in the Cardinal Bourne Hall overnight with anyone who
cannot get into the Night Shelter. All necessary guidance and support will be given to volunteers. New volunteers will be placed with those who have helped before. If you
can help or just want to know more call Mike Sheehan on 01206 854934 (after 7pm).

WALK WITH
ME BOOKLETS – A Journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmastide
2009:   Again this Advent, the
edition of these booklets available for sale today at £1 each has been
specially prepared for our Diocese, with an introduction by Bishop Thomas.

CAFOD WORLD
GIFTS:  Please take a catalogue,
explaining how you can give a gift to help transform the lives of poor
communities from £7 for a school starter pack to £4000 for a
health clinic.

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.
If you are moving within or out
of the parish, please 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 FIRST
SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

29th November 2009

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

Saturday November 28th

Sunday  November 29th

6:15
pm

8:00
am

10:30 am

6:30
pm

Mr & Mrs
Milford &
Lionel Wright RIP

Geoffrey and Beatrice Foley RIP

Joseph Hawken RIP

D/Rels: Herbert &
Richards Families RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Henry Johnson RIP [A]

Mile End

9:15
am

Parishioners

Monkwick

10:15 am

Major E and Mrs Jane Wright RIP

Monday 30th

School Advent

Mass

ST ANDREW, Ap

Church      9:15 am   Marie Playle
RIP [A]

Tuesday Dec 1

Feria

Church
9:45 am  REQUIEM
– MAUREEN CURRAN RIP

Wednesday 2nd

Feria

Church    10:00 am  REQUIEM – MARTIN
WALSH RIP

Church    12:15
pm  REQUIEM – MARIA RAYNER RIP

Thursday 3rd

N.B.

Feria

Church     8:15 am   Patrick, Eileen and Paul O’Shea
RIP

Friday  4th

Feria

Church     10:00 am REQUIEM – HUGH BOSTOCK RIP

Church      1:45 pm
FUNERAL – KEN CHEESEMAN RIP

Saturday 5th          Feria

Church        9:15am  Anne Sears RIP [A]

LITURGY FOR THE SECOND
SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

Bible Sunday -  6th December 2009

Saturday  December 5th

6:15
pm

Deirdre Kehoe RIP

Sunday    December 6th

8:00
am

Wilbur & Muriel MacDonald RIP

10:30am

Bert Ray RIP

6:30
pm

Dr Edmond Solomon RIP

West Mersea

8:30
am

Parishioners

Mile End

9:15
am

Dec. Rels:
Knapp Family RIP

Monkwick

10:15am

John Brennan RIP

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