Stations
of the Cross
The Stations will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Friday 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
Portsmouth
Fraternity S.F.O.
A meeting of the Portsmouth Fraternity Secular Franciscan Order will take
place at 2.00pm at Our Lady of Walsingham Church on Saturday 16th March,
followed by Holy Mass at 3.00pm. Refreshments will be available after
Mass - all welcome.
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
Cake Stall
The next Cake Stall in aid of funds to send young helpers to Lourdes will
take place on the weekend of 23rd and 24th March.
Sacred Heart Hall:
Saturday 23rd March following the 6.30pm Mass.
Sunday 24th March following the 9.30am Mass
Our Lady of Walsingham:
Sunday 24th March following the 10am Mass
St Philip Howard:
Sunday 24th March following the 11am Mass
If you are kindly able to bake a cake for the stall, please phone Pauline
Jackson on 01329 236275.
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.
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.
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.
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
"Come,
anoint him, for this is the one!" As David heard those words
from the prophet Samuel, nobody would have been more surprised than he,
except perhaps Jesse his father and his seven brothers. David had no chance
of being chosen by Samuel as the King of Israel, that is why he was not
included in the number to appear before Samuel and was left looking after
the sheep. But, unlikely though it was, David was chosen and anointed
King. His anointing meant that he was commissioned and chosen by God and
filled with his protective spirit and power. As events turned out, David
was a good choice! He was the first King of Israel and will always be
remembered as a very great leader. Something David would never have dreamed
about when he was a simple shepherd boy.
Like David
we are chosen by God. Also like David, some of us would be surprised at
the call. But in Baptism and Confirmation we are anointed and empowered
for a special purpose just like King David. Filled with the Holy Spirit
and nourished and strengthened by the Word of God in proclamation and
Eucharist, it is our task to show forth Christ as the Light of the World
in our lives lived in love and faith. David was anointed as king but we
are anointed as "priest, prophet and king" because we share
in the ministry of Jesus himself to proclaim the Father's love to people
everywhere.
Ours is
a high calling indeed but we must never forget that in Christian initiation
we have been anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why St.
Paul can say: "You were in darkness once, but now you are light
in the Lord." In our Gospel the man was born blind but his sight
was restored and not only could he see with his eyes but he was so enlightened
that he recognised Jesus as his Messiah and Lord and worshipped him. His
blindness was replaced with the eyes of faith.
As our Lenten
journey progresses and as we prepare to renew our baptismal commitment
at the Easter Vigil, let us open our blindness to the "Light of Christ".
The darkness that would close us to co-operating with Christ's presence
and action among us takes many forms. It can lurk in our refusal to connect
with others or to forgive, in undue anxiety, in an excessive desire to
control and in everything that St. Paul would describe as "the futile
works of darkness".
An opportunity
to open our blindness to the light of Christ will come on Thursday 14th
March at 7.30pm in Sacred Heart Church when we gather as a Christian community
to celebrate the forgiveness and healing of Christ the Light of the World
in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Lenten
Meditations
The series of Lenten Meditations, which began last week, continue this
Friday and 22nd March, beginning at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church.
I will lead the reflection on the two beautiful Lenten Gospels: The Man
born Blind and The Raising of Lazarus.
Sacrament
of Reconciliation
Please note that because of 'First Confessions' at St. Philip Howard Church
the Sacrament of Reconciliation will not be available at the Sacred Heart
Church on the morning of Saturday 16th March.
Get 'Connected'
Thanks to your feedback your new improved 'Connected' magazine will be
published next week - only 50p. Don't forget to collect your copy!
Minibus
A minibus is available for members of the Parish - donations required
for use. Contact Graham Stanton on 01329 284057.
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".
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.
St. Jude's
School P.F.A. 50 : 50 Drawh
Any Parishioners who would like to take part in this draw are most welcome
to take out a number - £11 for the year April 2002 to March 2003.
Prizes will depend on the number of participants. Cheques should be made
payable to St. Jude's P.F.A. - please contact the school office for further
information.
St. Jude's
P.F.A. Family Fun Casino Night
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
|
|
10th
March 2002
4th Sunday in Lent
The
Year of St Matthew
|
 |
Thanks to
Fr. Chris
The UCM and guests from the parish would like to thank Fr. Chris for a very
peaceful, reflective and enjoyable Day of Recollection on 2nd March. Thank
you all for your support.
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.
|
Fareham
Festival
Helen Andrews, from Our Lady of Walsingham Church Choir, will be singing
at Ferneham Hall on Monday 1st April from 1pm to 1.45pm. Tickets are available
from Ferneham Hall.
The Well
The Well's Treasurer, Graham James, reported a trading surplus of
£84.00 at the conclusion of a second year's trading, which is an
encouragement. All is thanks to the dedication of the staff, both paid
and voluntary, who turned around a £4,000 loss the previous year.
The immediate challenge is to call new people to serve as volunteers.
Two years ago, The Well opened with eighty volunteers - now there are
half that number. The position is open to any Christian who can spare
a little time, and can work in a team. All necessary skills are learnt
on the job!
Found
An item of jewellery outside St Philip Howard Church in January. If anyone
knows who this may belong to, please contact Karen Hartridge on 233848.
Computers
and Scanner
Three pre-used computers, an electric typewriter and a scanner are available
FREE from Portsmouth Diocesan Offices, Park Place. If interested please
contact Eileen Stephenson on 01329 835583. You must be able to collect
as soon as possible.
The Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
"In the Eucharist salvation and love are offered to all mankind.
How could we not be fascinated by this mystery?" (Pope John Paul
II)
Someone is needed to fill in the hour from 3.00-4.00pm on Fridays. If
you can help, please telephone Lily Peach on 01329 825447.
Adoration:
I have been concerned recently about adorers failing to turn up for their
hour and those who adore in the church on their own. While these things
are not necessarily connected, they can be sometimes. Please ensure that
a replacement is found when necessary. I would also be grateful if more
people could come forward as adorers so that we can always have at least
two people in the church at any one time. (Fr. Paul)
The Easter
Vigil will take place at St. Philip Howard Church on Saturday 30th
March at 8.30pm. It is the highpoint of the Church's year because it is
the central proclamation and celebration of Jesus' resurrection, with
baptism at its heart. Please come along to support Sarah Carter, who is
to be baptised and those who are to be received into the full communion
of the Catholic Church. Part of the celebration of baptism is the renewal
of our own baptismal commitment. (Fr. Paul)
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 - £1656.89
Portchester - £212.05
Family Fast Day - £819.98
Lent Appeal to date - £826.54
Forthcoming
Special Collections
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
|
