Stations of the Cross
The Stations will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Friday evenings at 7.00pm and at Our Lady of Walsingham on Sunday afternoons at 4.00pm.

Important Meeting for Youth
This is to discuss the future of the Youth Club and will take place on 17th March at St Philip Howard Hall, beginning at 7.30pm

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting
The next Parish Pastoral Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th March at 7.30pm at Our Lady of Walsingham.

Priestless Parishes
As the number of priests declines, we are warned that there will not be priests in every parish and that laity will have to take on parish administration and more pastoral ministry. On Saturday 23rd March starting at 10.00am there is a day programme at Douai Abbey for all who wish to consider how we might prepare. This will involve sharing ideas and listening, you will not be asked to commit to anything. To book a place please contact the Programme Director, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks RG7 5TQ. Suggested donation for the waged £10.

Catholic House of Prayer - Isle of Iona
'Cnoc a' Chalmain, 'the Hill of the Dove', was established in 1997 as a House of Prayer on Iona under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. Three single rooms are available for pilgrims of all faiths to stay for a period of rest and spiritual renewal. A fourth room is reserved, free of charge, for a priest willing to supply Catholics on the Island with daily Mass. Further information from: The Warden, Cnoc a' Chalmain, Isle of Iona, Argyll PA76 6SP. Telephone/Fax: Iona (01681) 700369.

Lourdes Buffet Lunch
The next Lourdes lunch will take place on Saturday 9th March at 12.30pm in the St. Philip Howard Hall. The lunch is in aid of the fund to send young helpers to Lourdes. Tickets, priced at £5.00, will be on sale this weekend from Pauline Jackson (01329 236275) or Ann Corr (01329 236575). Everyone is most welcome.

New Books from the Bishops' Conference
The Bishops' Conference has recently published two new books. "The Search for Christian Unity" outlines the Catholic Church's commitment and approach to ecumenism (Price £4). The second book, ''Teachers of the Faith" includes speeches by 8 bishops on spirituality, moral issues, ecumenism, justice and peace, education and other issues (Price £7). Both books are available either through the Cathedral Discovery Centre (Tel. 023 92 870348) or from the Catholic Media Trust, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX - cheques payable to Catholic Media Trust.

Titchfield Arts Community Theatre
TACT will be putting on the Passion Play, "Man born to be King", in The Square at Titchfield at 7.30pm on Good Friday evening, March 29th. They are hoping for around 1000 people to watch the performance. The Titchfield Bonfire Boys will be overseeing the stewarding of the event but they need help. If you are able to be a steward, please contact Rev. Bill Day on 01329 842324.

The Angelus and Rosary
The Angelus and Rosary are said at 6pm on Thursdays at Sacred Heart Church. All welcome.

Fareham Oxfam Shop
The Fareham Oxfam Shop needs more volunteers to work on the till in the shop and to help sort and merchandise donations. Vacancies to work in the shop are Thursday 9.30 - 12.00, Friday 1.00 - 4.30, Saturday 9.30 - 1.00 or 1.00 - 4.00. Vacancies to sort and price goods are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday 9.30 - 1.00 or Saturday am or pm. To find out more please ask in the shop at 182 West St, Fareham or telephone Christine on 01329 286531.

The Catenian Association
Would you like to enlarge your circle of friends by joining a fellowship of like-minded Catholic men who meet regularly and provide social activities for themselves and their families? If you are interested please contact Michael Sparkes 023 9273 5709.

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.

THE UNION
Thought for the Week
"Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again." The point Jesus is making in today's Gospel is this: We all have a spiritual thirst, similar to our bodily thirst for water. This spiritual thirst is the inner emptiness that we can all experience at times. The Old Testament writers spoke of it as a thirst for God. For example, the psalmist says in Psalm 42: "As a deer longs for running streams, so I thirst for you, the living God." Similarly, the prophet Isaiah has God say: "Come, everyone who is thirsty ... Come to me." (Isaiah 55:1,3). Jeremiah compares God to a "spring of fresh water." (Jeremiah 17:13). The thirst we all feel is a thirst for God. It is the same inner thirst that people have experienced since the beginning of time. St. Augustine explained it this way: "Our hearts are made for God, and they will not rest, until they rest in God." A later writer poetically said: "Our hearts have a God-shaped hole in them, that only God can fill."

This leads us to a great tragedy in modern times ~ Trying to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts with something other than God. The human heart has a spiritual thirst. However, instead of having our spiritual thirst satisfied, we are given material things. We are distracted from what is troubling us, the same way as a crying baby is with sweets or people making funny faces at it. Trying to satisfy a spiritual thirst with material things is like trying to satisfy a physical thirst with salt water. The more we drink, the thirstier we get. In every human heart there's a thirst no drink can quench. There's a restlessness no success can satisfy. There's a void no material object can fill. Jesus Christ alone can satisfy this thirst, and that's the "good news" contained in today's Gospel.

Brendan O'Dowda RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brendan O'Dowda, who died recently. Please also remember his family in your prayers.

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. Many visits would be arranged and detailed nearer the time. As I need to know fairly soon how much interest there would be in this pilgrimage, I have provided a tear-off slip on the paper newsletter. If you are interested in coming please sign it and return to me. The cost will be in the region of £725.00.

Churches Together in Portchester Lent Lunches
Shoppers' Services and Lent Lunches take place every Wednesday in Lent, including Ash Wednesday, at Portchester Methodist Church, Castle Street beginning at 12 noon. Portchester Catholics will be arranging the Service and Lunch on Wednesday 20th March. Proceeds will be shared between CAFOD and Christian Aid. All are welcome.

Sacred Heart Lent Lunches
Lenten lunches (soup and bread) will be served every Friday in Lent at 12.30pm in Sacred Heart Hall, Everyone is welcome to come and support the Parish Lenten Appeal, which is for the locally run charity "Wells for India".

Lent - Dates for your Diary
Monday 4th March - 7.30 p.m. - Lenten Reflection, Our Lady of Walsingham Church.
Thursday 7th March - 7.30pm (7.00 p.m. coffee) Avenue House Hotel, The Avenue, Fareham.
'Rite of the Sacrament of Reconciliation' - Fr. David Adams.

Eucharistic Ministers' Meeting
The Meeting for Eucharistic Ministers will take place on Wednesday 17th April at St. Jude's School Hall beginning at 7.30pm. Canon Alan Griffiths, from the Diocesan Liturgy Committee will be giving a talk.

Loneliness in Fareham
If the appeal for Fareham Good Neighbours volunteers made you think, then perhaps you could befriend an elderly person. Volunteers and clients are matched as far as possible and informal training is given to give you confidence. To find out more, please contact the Parish Office. Thank you.

Mediamarch
There is a petition for signature at the back of all the churches expressing concern about the current content of violence, bad language etc. in the media. The March will take place on Saturday 11 May 2002 at Trafalgar Square in London.

Youth Events
On the 9th March and 13th April there is a Youth Event at Fareham Leisure Centre. The cost is £2.50 which allows use of all the facilities. Please note that the Youth Club at St. Philip Howard Church will not therefore run on the 10th March and 14th April.

St. Jude's P.F.A.
St. Jude's P.F.A. 'Family Fun Casino Night' will be held on Saturday 16th March at 6.00pm at St. Jude's School Hall. There will be 2 Blackjack and 2 Roulette tables, prizes and a cash bar. Tickets are now on sale through the School office priced at £5 Adults, £3 Children and family tickets are available for £20 (2 adults and 4 children). Limited numbers are available and must be purchased before the evening itself. Food and 'Fun' money are included in the ticket price.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

3rd March 2002 3rd Sunday in Lent The Year of St Matthew

Lenten Meditations
In the evenings of the next three Fridays, 8th, 15th and 22nd March, there will be a series of Lenten Meditations beginning at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church. The first, entitled "Voices round the Cross" will be led by the Teams of Our Lady. On the following Fridays, I will lead the reflection on the two beautiful Lenten Gospels: The Man born Blind and The Raising of Lazarus. These evenings provide an opportunity for us to gather together as a community in the Lenten spirit of prayer and listening to the Word.

Lenten Penitential Service A Lenten Penitential Service, with the opportunity for individual confession, will take place on Thursday 14th March at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church. The Clergy of the Deanery will be attending.

Family Fast Day
Family Fast Day envelopes will be collected after Mass today from those people who were unable to hand them in at last week's collection.

St. John's Gospel
This series of meetings led by Fr. Andrew at Park Place continues each Wednesday from 7.30 - 8.30pm until 30th March. Notes are provided and it is FREE!!

Renewal or Revolution?
It's forty years since the 2nd Vatican Council opened. In this series of Lent talks the story and teaching of that council will be surveyed. Topics will include the historical content, Scripture and Tradition, the Liturgical Movement, the nature of the Church and its relationship with the world. Led by Paul Paniccia, the talks will be held on Mondays February 18, 25 and March 4, 11, 18 starting at 7.45pm at Douai Abbey. Suggested donation for the waged £20 for the series or £5 per session. For more details please contact the Programme Director, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks RG7 5TQ or email Douaiabby@aol.com

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"..Lord Jesus, who in the Eucharist make your dwelling among us and become our travelling companion, sustain our Christian communities so that they may be ever more open to listening and accepting your Word. May they draw from the Eucharist a renewed commitment to spreading in society, by the proclamation of your Gospel, the signs and deeds of an attentive and active charity." (Pope John Paul II)
Someone is needed to fill in the hours from 7.00-8.00pm on Thursdays, 3.00-4.00pm on Wednesdays and 4.00 - 5.00pm on Fridays. If you can help, please telephone Lily Peach on 01329 825447.

Lenten Breakfast
During Lent why not break your normal Thursday morning routine and do something different:

Rise early,
Attend 7.00am Mass at the Sacred Heart
Enjoy a hospitable breakfast in the Hall
followed by work, school, college or home.

Every Thursday during Lent breakfast will be served in the Sacred Heart Hall following the 7.00am Mass. All proceeds will go to the Parish Lenten Appeal.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
Fareham - £1586.75
Portchester - £181.50

Forthcoming Special Collections
Family Fast Day - Family Fast Day envelopes will be collected after Mass this weekend from those people who were unable to hand them in at last week's collection.
10th March - Sick and Retired Priests

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