A Message from Fr. Paul
Parish Office
We welcome back Michele Edwards, who returns to work in our
Parish Office with Joan Hamilton. Thanks to Anne Starbuck for helping
us out during the past few months.
Thanks
Thanks to everyone for such kindness to Fr. Chris and me during the Christmas
Season.
Youth Forum
As a result of comments made at the recent Parish Open Meeting, the Parish
Pastoral Council would like to invite anyone who would be prepared to
become part of a group of people to look into the provision of activities,
events and communications with the youth of our parish, to help develop
a Youth Forum. You would not necessarily need to be involved in direct
contact with the youngsters, but representation on the Forum from those
currently involved with young people would be very welcome as would anyone
from the 18+ age group, (the older youth).
If you would like to find out more, please contact
the Parish Office by the end of January. Someone will then get in touch
with you.
Advent Breakfast
Grateful thanks to everyone who supported the three early morning Advent
Breakfasts. The sum of £181.00 was raised which will support the
St. Francis Leprosy Guild.
Lourdes Christmas Cake Stall.
The cake stall held last weekend raised £205.00.
Sincere thanks go to those who kindly baked cakes and those who supported
the stall. The money raised will help to send young people to Lourdes
where they attend and care for sick pilgrims. Thank you for your continuing
support.
Youth Club
The Youth Club will recommence on 13th January 2002. Anyone who is interested
in helping with the Youth Club please contact Kevin Taylor on 01329 511478.
Advent Project
The St. Martin de Porres Group would like to thank members of the
parish most heartily for contributions made to the Parish Project. We
would also like to thank the First Communion Group and Playgroup for collections
made, the Thursday Advent Breakfasts, the Friday Advent Lunches, St. Jude's
School and Fareham College for their contributions. The total raised for
St. Francis Leprosy Guild and Jubilee Action is £2648.81.
Child Protection Training
Individuals or leaders of groups who work with children are asked to attend
Child Protection Training. Sessions will take place on Wednesday 23rd
January and Thursday 31st January at St. Jude's School at 7.30pm.
Are You New?
Are you new to this parish? If you have recently moved to this area, please
fill in our online form, or alternatively
one of the "Are You New?" forms to be found at the entrance
to the church and return this to Father Paul or Father Chris or to the
parish office.
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THE UNION
Thought for the Week
Today, on the feast of the "Epiphany", a word which means
manifestation, we celebrate Jesus' manifestation of Himself to the Gentile
world. In many nations today, this feast is celebrated with greater solemnity
than Christmas. The story of the Epiphany, found only in Matthew's Gospel,
is rich with symbolism. The Gentile world is symbolised by the Magi, also
known as the three wise men, who follow a star, a symbol of hope, bringing
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. St. Peter Chrysologus spoke of
today's feast in these terms: "Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder
at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in
man. One whom the whole universe can't contain is now enclosed in a tiny
body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic
gifts bear witness: gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh for one
who is to die."
Among ancient peoples, gold was regarded as the king
of metals. It was, therefore, the ideal gift for a king. A king was, above
all, a leader. Jesus was such a king. He led by love; He undertook the
noble cause of establishing God's kingdom on earth; and he inspired others
to join Him in His work. Frankincense was used for religious worship.
The aroma and smoke, spiralling upward towards heaven, spoke of gods and
divinity. Myrrh was used to prepare the dead for burial. This is why the
women brought myrrh to the tomb of Jesus. Myrrh's relationship with death,
makes it an ideal symbol of human vulnerability. The gifts of gold, frankincense
and myrrh, therefore, symbolise Jesus' kingship, divinity and humanity.
The greatest gift that we could give to Jesus would be to continue in
our time what Jesus began in His. If the message of Jesus is to be made
known to all nations, it must be through our efforts. Like the Magi, we
too can go looking for Jesus among the poor and homeless. We too can become
like the star leading others out of the darkness to Christ. We too can
share with them the good news that Jesus, the Son of God, took flesh and
lived among us.
Marjorie Chester RIP
The funeral for Marjorie Chester will take place on Friday 18th January
at 11.45am at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester. Vigil Prayer
for the Dead will be at 7pm on Thursday 17th January.
Eileen Linden RIP
The funeral for Eileen Linden will take place on Monday 7th January
at 9.30am at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester. Vigil Prayer
for the Dead will be at 4pm on Sunday 6th January.
Day for Life
The Feast of the Holy Family, 29/30 December, is being commemorated throughout
England and Wales as a Day for Life. Prayer leaflets are available at
the back of the church.
Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi
I have provisionally booked a Parish Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi beginning
on Monday 18th November 2002 and ending the following Monday 25th November.
Our stay in Rome would include visits to St. Peter's and the Pope's General
Audience, the Basilicas of Mary Major, John Lateran, St. Paul's and free
time in the city. There would be a possible stay of two nights in Assisi
during which time we would visit the usual sites including the Basilicas
of St. Clare and St. Francis. Many other visits would be included but
they will be fixed after more detailed consultation. As I need to know
fairly soon how much interest there would be in this pilgrimage, please
contact me asap. The cost
will be in the region of £725.00
Confirmation
Bishop Crispian will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish
on Friday the 14th of June 2002 at the St. Philip Howard Church at 7.30
pm. Preparations for this Sacrament will begin with an introductory meeting
for candidates and their parents on Thursday the 31st of January 2002
at 7.30 pm in the St. Philip Howard Church. If you wish to prepare to
receive this Sacrament, please contact the parish office immediately.
Candidates must be at least in their second year of secondary education
(Year 8). Other young people - or not so young - who, for one reason or
another, might have "missed out" are invited to consider preparing
for this important Sacrament.
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6th January 2002
The Epiphany
The Year of
St Matthew
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Used Christmas Postage Stamps
Please bring your used postage stamps to church. These are sent to the Scout
Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides holiday homes for
handicapped Scouts (boys and girls).
Christian Unity Week 18th-25th January
A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity arranged round the text 'With
You is the Fountain of Life' (Psalm 36:9).
A week where Christians of all denominations join together in prayer and
praise giving thanks to God for all the blessings that He has bestowed
on us and praying for all the church denominations within these islands.
Churches Together in Fareham have organised three ecumenical
services during that week.
Sunday 20th January - United Service 6.30pm at Community
Church, Kings Centre, West Street
Tuesday 22nd January - Service 7.30pm at Hill Park Baptist
Church, Gudge Heath Lane
Thursday 24th January - Service 10.00am at St. John's Church,
Redlands Lane
Please come and join in prayer and praise with our other
brothers and sisters in Christ in any or all of these services.
Lent Groups
During Lent there will be Ecumenical Lent Groups made up of local
groups of Christians gathered together to reflect and study the theme
'…..called to be Saints' (1Cor 1:2). The course is run for a period
of 5 weeks only i.e. during Lent. Application Forms (in canary
yellow) giving details, timings and further information are available
at the back of the Church and need to be returned by 28th January.
It is an ideal way to meet informally in someone's home and get to know
Christians of other denominations and discover how much we have in common.
Discussions are Bible based and relevant to the 21st Century.
Come on, give it a try.
Baptism Courses
Monday 14 January, 21 January, 28 January 2002.
01329 319392
Monday 4 March, 11 March, 18 March 2002
01329 231949
Thursday 2 May, 9 May, 16 May 2002
01329 515991.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
As usual, this will not take place during the Christmas holidays. It will
begin again on Monday 8th January.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
December 23 Fareham - £1520.82 December 30 Fareham £1487.25
December 23 Portchester - £225.74 December 30 Portchester £305.25
Christmas Offering £4498.47
Advent £2241.28
Advent Luncheon £226.53
Advent Breakfast £181.00
Interested in Becoming a Catholic?
A series of meetings and talks takes place each year for those interested
in becoming a member of our Church. If you would like to know more, please
contact Father Paul, or complete the online
form
Father Paul Townsend
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