St. George
Tuesday of this week is the Feast of St. George, Patron of England.
A Big
'Thank you' to all
On behalf of Nicole Hill's parents, Tony and Lena thank everyone who
kindly prayed and had Masses said towards the speedy recovery of their
grand-daughter. She is now home and nearly well. Thanks be to God.
 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.
Denis
Hodgetts
Denis was discharged from Hospital on Tuesday 16th April and will be convalescing
from his stroke with his daughter Petrina, until 30th April. He is overwhelmed
by the prayerful reaction of all his friends in the Parish and has offered
his own for you. He believes also that he has set a record for the highest
number of daily visitors to one patient in this Hospital, this century.
He cannot thank you all enough. May God bless you.
Catholic
Certificate in Religious Studies
The Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) is a basic introduction
to the beliefs of the Catholic Faith, validated by the Bishops' Conference
of England and Wales. It is intended for those who are involved in parish
catechesis and other ministries, religious education in schools, or anyone
who would like to know more about their faith. In Portsmouth Diocese new
courses are starting in Portsmouth, Basingstoke and Maidenhead in the
autumn term of 2002. The full course, leading to the award of the Certificate,
consists of eight Saturdays per year over 2 years - or you are welcome
to choose which modules interest you most! For further information contact
Nicky Stevens, Diocesan Offices, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester
Rd, Wickham PO17 5HA, Tel: 01329 835583; email: nstevens@portsmouth-dio.org.uk
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.
Douai
Abbey
Should we paint the face of Christ? Reflections on the place and Meaning
of Christian Art by Oliver Holt OSB - Wednesdays April 24th, May 8th,
May 22nd, June 5th at 7.45pm. Not an academic course in art history, but
a survey of religious art of various traditions to explore the ideas behind
the images. Why do we need to make pictures of the world of the spirit?
Can we fully appreciate a mediaeval painting if we do not agree with its
apparent theology? Can a non-believer understand a crucifixion or a nativity?
The Course will be illustrated with slides. Suggested donation for the
waged £15 for the whole series booked in advance or £5 each
session. Details are on the notice board.
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.
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
The custom of focusing on Jesus as the Good Shepherd during the
Easter Season is a very ancient practice. Christians were certainly doing
it in the seventh century! It is a very rich image, which can mean so
much to us no matter what our state of mind.
One of the
shepherd's tasks in Jesus' time was to know all his sheep by name and
to keep them safely within the flock. At night he would bring them to
a common enclosure where everyone's sheep was kept. The shepherds took
it in turns to lie across the sheep gate so that no one could enter. That
is why, in our Gospel today, Jesus says that he is the "Gate of
the Sheepfold".
The Good
Shepherd's work of gathering his sheep and keeping them together has long
been the model for the work of the Bishop with his priests and deacons
in a diocese or local church. That is why today is known as "Vocations
Sunday". This is a day of prayer for an increase of vocations
to religious life and the ordained ministry.
Next Sunday
we shall read Bishop Crispian's Pastoral Letter on the subject of vocations.
He says that the call to priesthood is always a gradual process. This
was certainly true in my own experience. When I was about nine years old,
one of the priests in my home parish asked me if I would like to be a
priest. I cannot remember my answer but his question stayed with me throughout
my childhood and adolescence. As each year passed, the idea of becoming
a priest became stronger. But it took twenty years before I did anything
about it! I was 29 and working as the Deputy Head at St. Jude's in Fareham
when I asked Fr. Hetherington, who was the Parish Priest here, what I
had to do to become a priest. Five years later I was ordained and my life
as a priest began. I have no regrets. I enjoy every moment of it and still
cannot quite believe that I am a Catholic priest after nearly 19 years!
To the young
men in our parish and to the older ones for whom it is still a possibility,
I would ask the question "Would you like to become a priest?"
Churches
Together Celebration
As there is to be an ecumenical Service of Celebration of the Queen's
Golden Jubilee on Sunday 26th May at 10am, which some parishioners
wish to attend, the Mass at Sacred Heart Church on that day will be
at 9.00am instead of 9.30am. Details of the ecumenical Service will
be given shortly.
Dr. Peter
Barkworth R.I.P.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Dr. Peter Barkworth of St. Edmund's
School, Portsmouth, who died last weekend.
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Meeting
for Co-ordinators of Parish Groups
Date: 24th April 2002
Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
(Tea/coffee from 7pm)
Venue: St Jude's School
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New Parish
Web Site Address
Our parish web site has taken another step forward and now has a new and
not such a difficult web address to remember (www.sacred-heart.org.uk).
The old address will still be in operation for the foreseeable future
and, if used, will take you automatically across to the new address. We
are getting over 14,000 page views per month and hopefully this will continue
to increase month after month. Our parish newsletter is one of our most
popular pages and continues to attract more and more interest from around
the world. We would like to encourage you, our parishioners, to become
more active on our discussion board, to ask questions, make friends and
debate subjects of interest. Please tell
us what you would like to see on the web site - if you would like
to write an article that you feel would be of interest to others, please
do. We need your ideas. Our discussion
board currently has forums from 'Coffee mornings' to 'Skateboarding'
and can be expanded to meet the parish's needs. Please help us maintain
all that has been achieved so far - do get online and use your web site!
Day for
New Catholics
Bishop Crispian will lead this day of prayer and reflection for all new
Catholics on Saturday 11th May 2002. The day will include a celebration
of Mass and opportunities to share experiences with others. A light buffet
lunch will be provided. Venue: Cathedral Discovery Centre, Portsmouth.
Time: 10.30am - 3.00pm. To assist with catering please contact Rose Marr
at the Diocesan Offices at Park Place on 01329 835583 if you wish to attend.
Portchester
Pentecost Celebration and Picnic at the Castle
On Pentecost Sunday, 19th May, Churches Together in Portchester are holding
their second Pentecost celebration of witness. The procession will begin
at 12.30pm outside Portchester Methodist Church and will arrive at the
Castle for a picnic at 1.00pm. A Pentecost liturgy will close the celebration
after the picnic. Everyone from Fareham and Portchester is welcome and
encouraged to attend.
St Patrick's
Missionary Society Mission Appeal
Father Danny Gibbons and Father Tom Ryan are with us for the annual mission
appeal in the parish this weekend, on behalf of the St. Patrick's Missionary
Society. Father Danny was Deacon in St James, Bootle with Canon Casey
in 1984 and worked in Grenada from 1985 - 1995. Father Tom has worked
in Nigeria. They will also be promoting the magazine 'AFRICA'. Please
do give generously to the appeal and thank you for your mission support.
St Jude's
Craft Club
would be grateful for pieces of fur fabric, unfinished tapestries, wool
or any craft/sewing materials. Please bring to school or church, marked
''Craft Club'. Thank you.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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21st
April 2002
4th Sunday of Easter
The
Year of St Matthew
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Adult
Formation
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.
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Columban
Fathers
Fr. Bernard McDermott from the Columban Fathers has written to
thank the SVP and all those who gave to the collection on the occasion
of Mark Hogan's Ordination for their generous contribution of £266.00.
World
Youth Day
The 17th World Youth Day takes place in Toronto, Canada and Fr. Chris
will be joining a group of young adults from our diocese on pilgrimage
from 18th - 29th July to celebrate with Pope John Paul II. Young Catholics
will be there from all over the world to share their traditions, cultures,
languages and experiences, in artistic, spiritual, religious and social
events, celebrating being part of the Universal Church.
The Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration on Monday of this week at Sacred Heart Church has been cancelled.
If you would like to join in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, please
contact Lily Peach on 01329 825447.
Teacher
of Religious Education - Oaklands
Required for September 2002 a part time teacher of Religious Education
to teach Lower School R.E. to children of all abilities in Years 7-9 (Key
Stage 3). If you are interested please contact the Head, Mr Chris Whitfield
or Mr Martin Lewis on Tel: 023 9225 9214 or send a CV and names of two
referees to Oaklands Catholic School, Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville,
Hants PO7 7BW. A full time post is also available.
Together
4 Fareham - Ferneham Hall
On Thursday 16th May at 7.30pm people from over 40 churches across the
borough of Fareham are coming together for an evening of Prayer and Praise.
We will be praying for our borough, for fruit from the Gospel, for the
needs of our borough, and for the ongoing work of our churches.
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.
Churches
Together in Portchester
An Ecumenical Evening Service takes place on Sunday 28th April at Portchester
Methodist Church beginning at 6.30pm. Fr. Paul will be preaching at the
Service. All are welcome.
Confirmation
Programme
On Saturday, 27th April, a Retreat will be held for all Confirmation candidates
at Park Place from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00pm. Bishop Crispian will come to the
parish to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 14th June at
7.30pm at St. Philip Howard Church.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
Fareham - £1613.68, Portchester - £193.68
SVP - £523.50
Forthcoming
Special Collections
21st April - St. Patrick's Missionary Society
28th April - 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
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