Pastures New
I announced a while ago that I am to take up a new diocesan appointment in September. I am to become the "Episcopal Vicar for the Formation of the Clergy". The job description, which has just been completed, is both complex and extensive. It will require me to work "as full-time as possible," to quote the Bishop, and this means that I must move from Fareham into a smaller parish. It seems pretty certain that I will move to Wash Common, which is near Newbury in the early autumn. While I shall not be in the Parish at the time, I shall be joining the Pilgrimage to Rome, as previously arranged. May I ask for your prayers as I begin the preparations for leaving Fareham and starting my new work. As yet, I am unable to give the name of my successor - PJT.

The Sacrament of Baptism
Those who ask for the Sacrament of Baptism for their child are invited to take part in a short course of preparation. The next such course will take place on Thursday 2nd, 9th and 16th May at the home of Jayne and Philip O'Riordan. If you would like to take part, please call Jayne or Philip on 01329 515991. Please arrange the date of the baptism of your child with one of the parish clergy.

Confirmation Programme
All those in our parish preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation are reminded that the next meeting will take place on Saturday 20th April from 10.15 a.m. - 12 noon at St. Jude's School. On the following Saturday, 27th April, a Retreat will be held for all candidates at Park Place from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Bishop Crispian will come to the parish to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 14th June at 7.30 p.m. at the St. Philip Howard Church.

Eucharistic Ministers
The new roster for Eucharistic Ministers at the Sacred Heart and St. Philip Howard is available from the back of the church. A meeting for Eucharistic Ministers will take place on 17th April at St. Jude's School Hall at 7.30pm. Canon Alan Griffiths, from the Diocesan Liturgy Committee, will give a talk.

Mental Health Advocacy Service
The Service is committed to the provision of support, information resources and representation to enable Mental Health Service Users to determine the direction of, and manage, their own lifestyles. The Service is seeking to appoint a Citizen Advocacy Co-ordinator or an Advocacy Case Worker for 15hrs a week with a salary of £16,100 - £17,200 pro rata and is looking for a person with a flair for Mental Health Advocacy in either role. Reporting to the Advocacy Manager, the two roles require different experience and skills. For an application pack please contact: Fareham Community Action, 5 Osborn Road South PO16 7DF or tel. 01329 231899. Closing date is 18th April 2002.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2002
Booking Forms for the 2002 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes (23 - 30 August) are now available from the Parish Office. The pilgrimage will be under the leadership of Bishop Declan Lang and both air and rail travel options are scheduled. If you are sick and wish to join the pilgrimage please contact Pauline Jackson on 01329 236275. If there is any young person (18 yrs +) who wishes to go to Lourdes as a 'helper' please contact Jane Cadogan on 01329 235987.

Parish Web Site
Our parish web site offers a variety of up to date information to the wider world, including the weekly newsletter, details of the groups and parish activities and attractive pictures of the interior and exterior of the churches, St. Jude's and Father Paul and Father Chris. Back copies of the newsletter are available on the web site. There is also a discussion board which enables you to 'post' comments and questions for Father Paul and Father Chris.

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
This is the Sunday on which Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection. To appreciate the story fully, it is important to remember a significant detail from the story of Jesus' death as St. John told it; the story we heard on Good Friday. Just after Jesus' death we are told how the Jews asked Pilate if the legs of the three crucified men could be broken. This would bring about their immediate death because they would not be able to raise themselves on the crosses in order to breathe. They would die of suffocation if they were not already dead. The soldiers went and did as requested but when they came to Jesus they found that he had in fact died. Instead of breaking his legs "one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water".

The blood and water was a symbol of the gift of the Holy Spirit of God, which was poured out into the world as a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In our Gospel today, Jesus gives that same Holy Spirit to the disciples who were gathered in the closed room for fear of the Jews. He makes it clear that with the gift of the Holy Spirit comes the ministry of forgiveness, which the disciples were to continue in the name of Jesus.

The same Holy Spirit is given to all those who "have not seen and yet believe". It is he who makes possible the existence of the Church and its sacramental life. In the Sacraments of Initiation and in Penance, Anointing, Marriage and Holy Orders, the Holy Spirit draws us into the life of God in Jesus and empowers us to make present his ministry of service to humanity. Always ready to proclaim, in everything we are and do, the life-giving love of God our Father.

Thanks
A big thank you from Fr. Chris and me for your tremendous generosity in the Easter Offering and for all your greetings and good wishes.

Sister Julia Flannery
Sr. Julia would like to thank all those who sent Easter cards. The good wishes were very much appreciated.
Greetings and messages for Sr. Julia may be sent to: Sr. Julia Flannery, c/o The Presbytery, 43 Portland Street, Fareham, Hants, PO16 0NF.

First Holy Communion programme
Children preparing for their first Holy Communion are reminded that their next meeting will take place at St. Jude's School on Saturday 13th April from 10.00 a.m. until 11.30 a.m. The 9.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday 14th April at the Sacred Heart Church will be a First Holy Communion Celebration Mass.

Train to be a Primary School Teacher
Would you like to be given £6,000 whilst you train with no tuition fees to pay? Would you like to train in a small, friendly, supportive environment? Would you like to gain both a Post Graduate Certificate of Education as well as Qualified Teacher Status in a year? Would you like to train in a 'SCITT' which is a School Centred Initial Teacher Training scheme, based on a school site in Southampton? Would you like to spend 20 weeks out of the 38 week course in school? If the answers to the above are yes and you have an honours degree, Maths & English GCSE grade C or equivalent + Science (if born after 1979) and some experience of being in schools then our next course starts in January 2003. Please contact the Primary Catholic Partnership, c/o Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Mansel Rd West, Southampton SO16 9LP or Tel: 023 8077 9753 for further details and an application form.

Grand May Ball - Botleigh Grange Hotel
A Grand May Ball, in aid of St. Margaret Mary Church Development Fund (Park Gate), is to be held on 18th May 2002 from 7.00 p.m. at the Botleigh Grange Hotel. The price is £40 per head with a 10% discount on tables of 10. Champagne reception, Cabaret, Magician, Jazz, Dancing to Live Music, Three Course Dinner and a Disco. For tickets please tel. 01489 575375 or 572479. It would be a great get-together event if each parish in the Deanery booked a table!

Pilgrimage to Fatima 8th - 17th June 2002
A 10 day pilgrimage in the spirit of the Message of Fatima will take place from 8th - 17th June. There will be ample opportunity for personal prayer, including a priest-led 3-day silent retreat and daily participation in the official celebrations of this world-famous shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The pilgrimage cost is £550 sharing a twin room or £610 for a single room (limited availability) and includes return flights London-Lisbon-London (Heathrow), return coach travel Lisbon-Fatima-Lisbon, full board accommodation, medical & travel insurance and the three-day retreat. For further information or a booking form please contact Bridget Folan (A Day with Mary) on 020 8944 9321.

Park Place Programme
June 18 - 20th - Sadhana Retreat (mid-week) led by Sister Frances fsma. The word "Sadhana" means a spiritual "path" or "practice". The Retreat will help one to discover their own inner silence and "Sacred Space Within" through exercises in awareness and breath prayer. Time: From Tuesday 6pm (Supper at 6.30pm) until Thursday 2.00pm (after lunch) Cost: £78.00 Residential full board £88.00 (En-suite room). Please tel. 01329 833043 for more information.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

7th April 2002 2nd Sunday of Easter The Year of St Matthew

Thanks
Esme Percival would like to thank the members of the Parish for their prayers and support on the death of her husband, Don.

Welcome
We welcome to our parish family Ethan Yates, Rowan Yates, Georgia Powell and Connie Powell who will be baptised this weekend.

Adult Formation
In response to your request to help deepen the knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith, three talks/discussions on 'the Mass' have been organised for the Fareham Deanery.
Monday 22nd April
Introductory Rite & Liturgy of the Word
by Fr. Paul Townsend
Wednesday 22nd May
Liturgy of the Eucharist
by Fr. Mark Hogan
Wednesday 19th June
Rite of Communion & Concluding Rite
by Fr. Chris Whelan

The talks will be held in the Avenue House Hotel, The Avenue, Fareham starting at 7.30 p.m. (coffee at 7.00pm). All are very welcome - please do try to attend.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"Honour Our Lord but do so especially interiorly and in and about His person. You must see Our Lord and live in Him. He is light and heat, love shoots from his heart like a devouring flame. Unfortunate is he who lives so close to Christ yet neither sees nor feels Him." (St. Peter Julian Eymard)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament resumes on Monday 8th April.
Lily will be away when Adoration resumes on the 8th April until the 17th. While she is away, Sue McMullan will deputise. If there are any problems, Sue can be contacted on 01329 284638. Meanwhile, we still need volunteers to help fulfil the maximum hours of adoration.

Faith and Light
Faith and Light is a Christian organisation for people with learning difficulties and for their families and friends. The next meeting of our Parish Faith and Light Group will take place at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 14th April in the St. Philip Howard Hall.

Maple Cottage Nursery School
Hill Head Preparatory School has moved its Nursery department into a fully refurbished historic 15th century cottage. Fully approved by Social Services/Ofsted, the cosy cottage provides safe, child friendly surroundings, excellent facilities and a stimulating environment. Set in the grounds of the Prep. School the children have secure access to extensive gardens, a sports field and an all-weather play/sports area. Experienced and highly qualified staff work closely with parents to provide children with the best start to their education. Educational Term time sessions, which can be extended, provide care for 48 weeks of the year. Grants available for 3 & 4 year olds. For a personal visit and further details please tel. 01329 662666.

China Trek - Deacon Langford Vincent
Deacon Langford hopes that you will sponsor him on his walk along the Great Wall of China (Please refer to the Parish Magazine - 'Connected'). Sponsor forms are at the back of the three churches awaiting your kindness and generosity. Please do help Deacon Langford to achieve his target.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
Easter Offering- £3283.00
Holy Places- £183.85

Forthcoming Special Collections
14th April 2002 - SVP Collection
21st April 2002 - Clergy Training Fund

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