Father Manuel Gonzalez
Our thanks go once again to Fr. Manuel for all the support he has given
to us during the month of August. We are very grateful for his friendship
and his visits to our parish. He will leave us on Tuesday 3rd September
to start his third academic year as a university professor in Madrid.
We wish him a safe journey home, knowing that he takes with him our sincere
gratitude, love and best wishes.
 Racial
Justice Sunday
'Love one another as sisters and brothers should, and have a profound
respect for each other' (Rom 12.10). Sunday 8th September has been
designated by the Christian Churches in Britain and Ireland as a national
day of prayer for racial justice. We are all asked to reflect on racial
justice issues, pray for a Christian response, and make a commitment to
work for justice. Within the Catholic community in England and Wales,
Racial Justice Sunday is co-ordinated by the Catholic Association for
Racial Justice (CARJ), tel. 020 8802 8080. If you would like to make a
donation towards the work of CARJ and the Ecumenical Racial Justice Fund
please send your cheque (made payable to 'Catholic Association for Racial
Justice') to: Racial Justice Sunday Appeal, CARJ, 9 Henry Road, Manor
House, London N4 2LH.
Day of
Prayer & Reflection for Catechists
A Day of Prayer and Reflection for Catechists is to be held with Bishop
Crispian on Saturday 28th September from 10.30am - 4.00pm in the Cathedral
Discovery Centre, Portsmouth. If you would like to reserve a place please
contact the Department of Evangelisation & Catechesis at Park Place
Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, Wickham PO17 8HA by Friday 20th September.
Please bring food for a shared lunch.
Welcome
We welcome to our parish family Jessica Hunt, Andrew Evans and Ellie Udy
who will be baptised this weekend. Please keep Jessica, Andrew, Ellie
and their families in your prayers.
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 Wednesdays, the 11th and 18th of September, at the home
of Ann and Kevin Tarling. If you would like to take part, please call
Ann or Kevin on 01329 829549. Please arrange the date of the baptism with
one of the parish clergy.
Marriage
- St. Joseph's Group
The AGM of the St. Joseph's Group is to be held on Saturday 28th September
in the Sacred Heart Hall at 7.30pm.
Parish
Bazaar - 16th November
WANTED - Any unused gifts in your household will shortly be needed as
donations for the Parish Bazaar, so please start digging deep into those
cupboards! Items such as jewellery, books, toys, groceries, cakes and
toiletries are all required but no jumble please. Raffle tickets will
be available in September/October.
Youth
Club
The Youth Club will recommence on Sunday 15th September at the new time
of 7.00pm.
Justice,
Peace and the Integrity of Creation
There will be a course of six evening sessions to explore a Spirituality
of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, on 1, 8, 22, 29 October,
and 5 and 12 November at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Hall. Sr. Anne Davey,
from the Sisters of the Cenacle, will lead the sessions; there will be
no talks but a series of exercises to help participants be in touch with
how they really feel about the state of the planet in these present times.
The cost will be £15; this includes all materials and refreshments
(please make cheques payable to 'PRCDTR Fareham Sacred Heart'.) For more
details please contact John Vivian sfo on 02392 422129, or Email: earthmatters@gffoe.fsnet.co.uk
Are
You New?
Are you new to this parish? If you have recently moved to this area, please
fill in one of the 'Are you new?' forms to be found at the entrance to
the church and return this to Father Chris or to the Parish Office. Alternatively
complete our online form.
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THE
UNION
Thought for the Week
'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce
himself and take up his cross and follow me'. Regardless of who we
are, the cross will always be a part of our lives and its shadow is never
far from us. Plan as we may to avoid it, try as we may to escape it, the
fact is that it is already getting ready to fall on us again at some point
in our lives. We do, however, have a choice; we can either accept it or
reject it. Either we can pick up our cross and carry it, as Jesus instructed
us, or we can turn away from it and refuse to carry it.
Jesus promises
us in today's Gospel, that if we pick up our cross and follow in his footsteps,
he will lead us to eternal life. And this life that Jesus promises is
not only eternal in the next world but also life, right now, in this world.
Far from being a curse or a stumbling block, our cross can be seen as
a blessing and a stepping-stone to greater things if we can take it up
and accept what has been given to us. Then, rather than serve as an agent
of death for us, our cross can serve as an agent of life, just as Jesus'
served as an agent of life for all the world.
This moving
testimony to the truth of Jesus' promise was found in the pocket of a
dead soldier: 'I asked for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches,
that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked
for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness,
that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might
enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing
I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken
prayers were answered. I am among the most richly blessed.'
Fareham
Community Church
Would you like a better understanding of the Old Testament? Fareham Community
Church is running an 'Overview of the Old Testament' teaching module at
the King's Centre, West St, Fareham. There will be 3 sessions - 9.00am
- 1.00pm on Saturdays, 28th September, 19th October and 9th November.
The total cost of the module is only £10, including student notes
and coffee. Please contact Fareham Community Church for more information.
First
Holy Communion Programme
The first meeting of the programme will take place on Saturday 21st September
at St. Jude's School between 10.00am - 11.30am. Parents are asked to stay
for this meeting in order to meet with the catechists. The children will
also have their photographs taken at this session. The initial Dedication
Celebration Mass will be at 11.00am on Sunday 22nd September at St. Philip
Howard Church. For further details please contact Sheelagh Pickard on
01329 318842.
Children's
Liturgy
Children's Liturgy will recommence on the 8th September.
A Blessing
If, for whatever reason, you are unable to receive Communion at Mass,
please feel free to come forward for a Blessing. Simply cross your arms
across your chest and ask the priest for a Blessing at the time for receiving
Holy Communion.
First
Friday Reflections - Dates for the Diary
Following the success of the reflection services held during Lent, a series
of 'First Friday' liturgies has been arranged, each starting at 7.30pm
at Our Lady of Walsingham Church.
6th September
'Lord, teach us how to pray' - a reflection on the Lord's Prayer.
4th October
'The month of Our Lady' - Rosary with reflection and prayer on
the 'Joyful Mysteries'.
1st November
'Trust in grief' - A reflection for the month of the Holy Souls.
6th December
'New Year' - An Advent reflection as we start the Church's year.
Fareham
Deanery Adult Formation
A series of talks has been arranged for the Fareham Deanery over the next
year. All talks will be held at St. Jude's School Hall from 7.30pm (Coffee/Tea
at 7.00pm). Crèche facilities will be made available if interest
is shown, telephone 01329 284638 for details. The programme for 2002 is
as follows:
18th September
'Who needs the Catholic Church?' - Speaker Fr. Paul Townsend
30th October
'All Souls? All Saints? An Exploration' - Speaker Fr. David Sillince
13th November
'Liturgical Overview with the emphasis on Advent' - Speaker Paul
Inwood.
Further details for the talks in 2003 can be found on the notice boards
in each church.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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1st
September 2002
22nd Sunday of the Year
The
Year of St Matthew
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Collection
for Father Paul Townsend
Father Paul is now on holiday and this is, therefore, an ideal time
to make a collection for his leaving present. Special Collections will be
taken at all Masses this weekend and also at all Masses on the 7th/8th and
14th/15th September. This is an opportunity to express our gratitude for
all the work that Father Paul has done for the parish of Fareham and Portchester,
so please do give generously. Please also remember Father Paul in your prayers,
so that he may have an enjoyable and restful holiday before starting his
new appointment in Wash Common in September.
Farewell
Gathering for Fr. Paul & Sr. Mary
On Sunday 22nd September there will be a Service of Thanksgiving and Farewell
Gathering for Father Paul and Sr. Mary. The Service will be held in St.
Philip Howard Church at 2.30pm followed by a Reception in St. Jude's School
Hall afterwards. All are welcome. Retiring Collections for Father Paul's
leaving present will be taken at all masses this weekend, and on 7th/8th
and 14th/15th September.
Thank You
A big
thank you for all the good wishes, cards and gifts that I received on
my birthday. I was really touched by everyone's kindness and generosity
(Fr. Paul Townsend).
 Parish
Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi
We have now been advised by Anthony Coles, the pilgrimage co-ordinator,
that the cost of the return coach travel (Fareham/Gatwick) is included
in the total cost of the pilgrimage. No payment is, therefore, required
to the parish for this part of the trip. Anyone who has sent in payment
for the coach travel should, by now, have had it returned to them. If
there are any queries, please contact the parish office. The remaining
balance of payment for the Pilgrimage is due by Monday 16th September.
All cheques should be made payable to 'Anthony R Coles Travel and Conferences'
and sent to the Parish Office. If there are any queries regarding payment,
travel insurance etc. you may either telephone Anthony Coles, direct on
020 7431 3414 or contact the Parish
Office.
Pre-Catechumenate
The Pre-Catechumenate Programme will re-commence after the summer break
on Friday 20th September at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Hall.
RCIA
- Journey in Faith
The Rite for Christian Initiation of Adults programme starts on Wednesday
2nd October with a Welcome and Introduction evening to be held in the
Sacred Heart Hall from 7.30pm - 9.00pm. Please contact Veronica Chadwick
for further details on 01489 584250.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"Eucharistic Adoration strengthens Christian life. I exhort you
to continue along this adoring path, putting before the gaze of Jesus
Christ the anxieties, the hopes, the worries and even the sins of all
humanity. Before Him everything takes on a new face." (Pope John
Paul II)
Adoration recommences on Monday 9th September. If you would like to
join in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, please kindly call Lily Peach
on 077 678 98885.
Altar
Servers - Old and New
There will be a meeting for senior altar servers in the Presbytery at
7.30pm on Saturday 5th October. If you are unable to attend this meeting
please inform Fr. Chris. There will be a special training day for all
new altar servers, beginning at 11.45am and finishing at 1.00pm on Saturday
12th October in the Sacred Heart Hall. If there is anyone who wishes to
become an altar server but cannot attend this meeting, please contact
Fr. Chris.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1864.25 Portchester £135.00
Southern Africa Appeal £1223.00
Forthcoming
Special Collections
1st September - Fr. Paul's Leaving Collection
8th September - Fr. Paul's Leaving Collection
15th September - Fr. Paul's Leaving Collection
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 Chris, or complete the online
form
Father Paul Townsend
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