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. Practice Dates for all Choirs and singers are: Wednesday 15th and 22nd May at Fareham Community Church - 7.30pm.

Missing Photograph
A photograph of the late Bill Thomas RIP has gone missing. It was displayed on the door of the Sacred Heart Church at the time of Bill's funeral but has since gone missing. The family would greatly appreciate its safe return - if anyone has information please contact Mrs Rose Thomas on 01329 843663.

Used Postage Stamps
Thank you to everyone who has contributed used postage stamps. These have been sent to the Scout Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides holiday homes for handicapped Scouts (boys and girls). Please do continue to bring your stamps to church and place them in the box.

Plant Sale
Plants will be on sale after 11am Sunday Mass at St Philip Howard Church this weekend and on 26th May and 9th June. Proceeds will go to CAFOD. If anyone wishes to purchase plants but will not be at these Masses, please call Frankie Lane on 01329 310785 to buy them from my home.

Youth Challenge 2002 This event takes place on Saturday 29th June at St Peter's School in Bournemouth from 10am to 8.30pm. It is a day dedicated to challenging young adults aged between 15-25, about their lifestyle and choices. The title of the event is Dare 2B Different - Live Life as a Young Christian Today. All young people from our parish are encouraged to attend and it is hoped that a coach can be provided. There will be Speakers and Sessions on: *Drugs* *Relationships* *Cloning* *Club Culture* *Gap Years* *Prayer* *Music* *CAFOD* *Dance* etc. Put your views to the Bishop. Speakers and Sessions include: Mark Morley from Catholic Communications Service Erika Hamilton from Solent Hope UK Diana Greenfield - Christian Nightclub Chaplain Sian Thompson from CAFOD Peter Garrett - from LIFE Steve Murray from Behold Mime Ministry Fr. Bill Wilson - Birthdays, Football and the Mass Sylvia Barclay from Youth SVP Rachel Saum from Jesuit Volunteer Community Beth Rae - Time Out Experience in South Africa Ann Martin - Juggling Sr. Maria Natella - Prayer sessions in the Chapel Fr. Andrew Chandler Fr. Chris Whelan Fr. Ray Lyons Marjorie Cumpsty and Sr. Julie - X-press urselves through Art Kevin and Oonagh Atkinson - Dare 2 Dance Crossbeam - Music and Jam Session Evening Rock Concert by Christian Band KATO and more.... If you are interested, please email the Parish Office as soon as possible.

A Taste of India
Sunday 30th June 2002 at 12.30pm. at Park Place Pastoral Centre - an occasion for all to come with family and friends and enjoy an Indian meal together. Cost £12.00 (£6.00 for children) - wine will be served. This is in aid of the Franciscan Mission project for Rural Women's Development in India. Advance booking is advisable as numbers are limited. Please write to Sister Judith fsma, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, Wickham, Fareham, Hants. PO16 5HA for a booking form.

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
The May Fayre at St. Jude's took place last Saturday. Fr. Chris, Sr. Mary and I went along and, as usual, had a marvellous time. There were lots of people there and many different events for people to enjoy. The weather was fine and the children were full of fun and very welcoming. Some members of staff were brave enough to spend all day as the mechanical components of a 'Human Fruit Machine' and there was a real fire engine, which children and even adults could investigate!

I enjoyed and appreciated every moment that I was there because this was a real Pentecost experience. I say that because, as St. Paul teaches us in our reading today, the gift of the Holy Spirit makes us all members of one body and all of us, young and old have a contribution to make. Today is Pentecost Sunday and it is the day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to give us all a share in the work of Jesus to bring peace and freedom to all people. The May Fayre offered a glimpse of the unity and power of the Body of Christ of which we are the members. Young and old, parents and children all came together to enjoy themselves and to support the work of our parish and school. As I looked around at the rich variety of people and the many different activities and experiences I gave thanks for the mighty power of the Holy Spirit whose presence in our lives is assured by the promise and work of Jesus.

Another May activity, which Sr. Mary, Fr. Chris and I will enjoy and appreciate, is the procession, picnic and praise in Portchester Castle this afternoon of Pentecost. In fact Fr. Chris and his brother John have been very busy making things for the display! At 12.30pm on Pentecost Sunday everyone is invited to process down Castle Street to enjoy a picnic in the Castle grounds. The event will close with a simple service in the open air. Like the May Fayre at St. Jude's, this is another event that gives us a glimpse of the work of the Holy Spirit gathering us together. Bringing us into partnership and using our gifts for the glory of God and the 'good purpose' of Jesus' work to bring the fullness of life and joy to people everywhere!

Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi
Please note that there have been some changes regarding this pilgrimage. Insurance is no longer included, so the price has been dropped by £25 to compensate. For those who have already paid the £125 deposit, this will be credited against their final balance. An insurance package is available at £16.95 but it does contain a health declaration. Anthony Coles, the organiser of the pilgrimage, will be writing to all pilgrims over the next few weeks to offer the option of taking up this insurance package - unless you have already stated that you have your own insurance. Tickets will be booked for the Pope's General Audience. On the Sunday we will now have one Mass and a taxi for both afternoon visits. We depart on 18th November at 3.15pm from London Gatwick, arriving in Rome at 6.35pm. Departure from Rome on 25th November will be at 12.55pm, arriving at London Gatwick at 2.05pm. Italy is one hour ahead of the UK.

First Holy Communion
Please pray for all those children of our parish who are to receive Holy Communion for the first time this Saturday and next. There will be three First Communion Masses, two at 11.00am and one at 2.30pm, all in the St. Philip Howard Church.

Max Annison Amy Bird Aaron Bowes Lucy-Ann Catterall Benjamin Corbett Victoria Duncan Victoria Escott Maxwell Falstein Thomas Gillmore Jonathan Gwilliam Poppy Hayward India Jacobs Alastair Kew Joshua Lewis Kristian Maylor Karl McIntyre James Mitchell Bronte Moseley Daniel O'Brien Chloe Porter Jack Ramshaw Emily Roberts Lauren Russell Thomas White Zoe Williams Sam Worsley

Marie Baggott Tierney Borrett Casey Bryant Andrew Conroy Alexander Dodds Megan Edwards Matthew Evans Suzanne Fraser Felicia Grainger Jane Harrison Simon Hoddinott Sarah Jacques Nina Khatkar Eleanor Lloyd Heather McCoy Henry McNamara Daniel Minchington Scott Norman Lucie Peach Miles Proctor Johnathan Randall Paul Robertson Laura Smith Joshua Wilde George Woolven Maria Worsley

St Jude's School
May Fayre - A big thank you to all who contributed to, or attended, the May Fayre which was a big success.

St. Jude's Craft Club - Very grateful thanks to all those people who have donated materials. All that is now currently required is Tapestry Canvas.

St. Jude's PFA 50/50 Draw - The winners of this month's draw are: B Scott, D Maber and J Wright.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

19th May 2002 The Feast of Pentecost The Year of St Matthew

My Successor
I am delighted to announce that Fr. Chris Whelan has been asked by Bishop Crispian to take over from me when I leave the Parish in September. After a lot of prayer and reflection, Fr. Chris has accepted the post and is already looking forward to his new appointment.

I would like to say at this point a big personal thank you to Fr. Chris for all his patience and support over the past few years. As well as looking after Fareham and Portchester, I have been Head of the Department for Collaborative Ministry since I came to Fareham. This has taken me away from Fareham for much of the time and would not have been possible without Fr. Chris. In fact for the past twelve months he has been virtually running the Parish!

Fr. Chris will not have the advantages that I have enjoyed. He will be on his own and will not have the support of another priest. The Bishop has asked him to give up his work on the Vocations Team and his chaplaincy at St. Edmund's School. In the challenges that are before him, Fr. Chris will need the support of everyone in the Parish. Bishop Crispian asked me if I thought that this support would be forthcoming. With complete confidence based on my own experience, I was able to assure him that it would.

Since arriving in Fareham four years ago I have made it clear that one day there would be only one resident priest here. That time has now come and the one priest is Fr. Chris. I have also made it clear that the number of Sunday Masses would need to be reduced when this moment arrived and it has. Any priest is allowed to celebrate three Sunday Masses. Because of this I have asked in the newsletter for suggestions as to how best arrange the Sunday Masses when the time came. In consultation with the Bishop and Fr. Chris, and having regard for the suggestions that a good number of people made, I have decided to reduce our six Sunday Masses to four. Fr. Chris will celebrate three of those and Fr. Charles, who is retired, has generously agreed to celebrate at least one Sunday Mass each week. The details of these changes, which will take effect on Sunday 14th July, will be announced after all Masses today and will be published in the newsletter each week until the changes have been made. While appreciating that the changes will cause inconvenience to many, I am afraid that I have no choice but to take this action. Meanwhile I ask for your prayers for both Fr. Chris and me as we prepare for the changes ahead. (PJT)

Welcome
We welcome to our parish family Sophie Neve, and Hollie and Hogan O'Dowda who are to be baptised this weekend.

Required for Oaklands Catholic School
A part time art teacher (1 day a week) is required from September 2002 to teach Lower School Art to children of all abilities in Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3). Please contact Chris Whitfield or Martin Lewis on 023 9225 9214 for more details.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"Jesus, increase our hope and centre it in your Eucharistic love. We beg you, through Mary, to bring hope to all mankind... We offer You the many hours Mary spent in Your Eucharistic Presence during her life on earth, that we may give to You now in our Holy Hour of prayer all the glory that she gave to You then. We unite ourselves to the perfect appreciation of Mary who found her rest, her peace her joy and her fulfillment in Your Eucharistic Presence, our heaven on earth." (From the book Rosary Meditations from Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Loving Jesus With the Heart of Mary). To join in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, please contact Lily Peach on 825447.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
Fareham £1648.15, Portchester £184.15
World Communications £304.34

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