 Music
to Nourish the Soul
Park Gate Parish have produced a CD of popular sacred music in aid of
St. Margaret Mary Church Development. It offers music for every mood and
occasion. Meditate to the peaceful beauty of Ave Maria, dance to the lively
rhythms of When the Spirit of the Lord or be stirred by the traditional
sounds of Amazing Grace. See the poster on the notice board for further
details of cost etc.
Calling
All Existing Altar Servers
The Annual Meeting for all our Altar Servers will take place at Sacred
Heart Church Hall on Saturday 23rd November at 11.45am until 1.00pm. Please
inform Fr. Chris is you are unable to attend.
Churches
Homeless Action
For some of the most vulnerable people in society, Christmas can be
a lonely and difficult time. The voucher scheme to help buy gifts for
homeless people was organised by Churches Homeless Action with help from
Portsmouth Housing Association. All you have to do is buy gift vouchers
from any major store (not more than £5 per voucher) and send them
to Paul Brier, Portsmouth Housing Association, Freepost PT987, 247 Fratton
Road, Portsmouth, PO1 1BR by 13th December 2002. Write a Christmas Card
to go with the vouchers but do not include your surname or address, or
seal the envelope. There will be a Carol Service at 11.30am on 20th December
at St Mary's Church, Fratton Road, Portsmouth when the cards and vouchers
will be handed to the organisations involved.
Sacred
Heart Messenger
Orders are now being taken for the following publications:
The Sacred Heart Messenger £7.20 annually
Sacred Heart 2003 Calendar £1.50
Apostleship of Prayer £1.00
Please contact
Anna Chandler 01329 234436 by Friday 23rd November.
Christmas
Social
There will be a Christmas Social at St. Philip Howard on the 7th December
from 7.30pm till late. There will be a licensed bar, children's bar, raffle
and an American Supper. Father Christmas will also be attending! For more
information please contact Graham Stanton on 01329 284057.
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Bishop
Crispian
will lead an
Advent Day of Prayer
on Saturday 7th December
10.30am - 4.00pm
St. John's Cathedral, Portsmouth
Free
- No need to book - just come along! Food and drinks may be bought
at the Cathedral Discovery Centre or you may bring a packed lunch.
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St. Anne's
Convent School
A Mass for the whole Community of St. Anne's School, Rockstone Place,
Southampton will take place on Wednesday 27th November at 7.00pm in the
school hall.
Piano
Recital - Hedge End
There will be a piano recital given by Stephen Walford in aid of Church
funds at Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church, Hedge End on Saturday 23rd
November at 7.30pm. Stephen is the organist at Our Lady of the Assumption
and he has managed to obtain sponsorship for the hire of a grand piano
for the occasion. Tickets are priced at £6 or £2.50 for under
14's. Please see the noticeboard for programme listings or telephone Mary
Barker for further details on 01489 781202.
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
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a wealthy man who
decides to take a long trip. Before leaving, he gives each of three servants
a different sum of money to invest during his absence. The first man does
well and so does the second but the third man does poorly. As with all
of Jesus' stories, there is a deeper meaning behind the characters and
things to which Jesus refers. The wealthy man who went on the journey,
stands for Jesus, who ascended to heaven after His resurrection. He will
return at the end of the world. The servants stand for you and me. The
money stands for our God-given talents. In His absence, Jesus expects
us to use our talents to build up His kingdom on earth. When He returns,
He will judge us on how well we have used our talents.
It is interesting
to note that the man in the parable with the least ability is the one
who made no effort to do anything with the talents that he had been given.
He probably reasoned that he had so little in comparison to the others
that he could be excused for his laziness. This parable should make us
ask ourselves how we are using the talents that God has given us. This
question is especially fitting for us as we approach the end of the liturgical
year. St. Paul explains why in today's second reading, when he says: "you
know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief
in the night…so we should not go on sleeping…but stay wide awake
and sober." In other words, we're going to be held accountable for
what we do with our talents and the Day of accountability may be closer
than we think.
Diocesan
Youth Sunday
Diocesan Youth Sunday, will be celebrated today, 17th November at St.
Edmund's School and St. John's Cathedral.
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Parish
Christmas Dinner
Saturday 30th November 2002
St Jude's School Hall - 7.30pm
This
is a special parish occasion for everyone to gather and enjoy
an evening of festivity.
All
proceeds to Naomi House, Winchester
the children's hospice
where care and support is given to children during their good days,
difficult days and last days.
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It's
Back! Christmas 'Connected'!
Why not save money on Christmas cards? Write your Christmas greeting now
for publication in the bumper issue of 'Connected'. Place your message,
together with a donation, in the boxes at the back of the church. Closing
date: 1st December.
Lunch
Club
A helper is required in the New Year for the Lunch Club, which meets on
Thursdays in the Sacred Heart Church Hall. If you would like to help on
alternate weeks from 11.00am to 1.00pm, please ring: Mary Downing on 01329
234004 or Theresa Hughes on 01329 317162.
Used
Postage Stamps
Please bring your used postage stamps to church. These are sent to the
Scout Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides holiday homes
for handicapped scouts (boys and girls). Box in entrance hall.
Matthew
Carter
Matthew's new address until August 2003 is:
St. Joseph's, 8 Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst, Southampton. SO40 7DL
Advent
Retreat
Douai Abbey - Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December - Gervase Holdaway
OSB. Details are on the notice board.
Christians
Meeting Other Faiths
Douai Abbey - Saturday 23rd November - 10am to 4.30pm - Speakers: Stephen
Roberts and Peter Bowe OSB.
Hosts
for Coeliacs
Gluten-free hosts which are suitable for coeliacs are available in the
parish. If there is anyone who requires these type of hosts please speak
to Fr. Chris.
Mothers
and Toddlers
Our Mothers and Toddlers Group meet on Wednesday mornings in the Sacred
Heart Hall from 10.00 until 11.30am.
Shoebox
Appeal
Thanks to everyone who made shoeboxes. These have been very gratefully
collected.
Gardener
Required
General gardener, with experience, required in Fareham. If interested,
please telephone 01329 847045.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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17th
November 2002
33rd Sunday of the Year
The
Year of St Matthew
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Pilgrimage
to Rome and Assisi
Our Parish Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi begins tomorrow.
Please remember the Pilgrims in your prayers.
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Blessing of the Graves - November 2002
During November, we are encouraged to remember and pray for
the dead, and to reflect on the beauty of the resurrection.
Today
17th November prayers will be said at Portchester Crematorium at
3.00pm.
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 The
Sacrament of Reconciliation
How do we bring our hurts and failings to God? Do we still need this Sacrament?
How do we experience healing and reconciliation. A day on the Sacrament
of Inner Healing and Renewal of God's Love will be held on Saturday 23rd
November beginning with coffee at 10.00am and ending at 4.00pm, at The
English Martyrs, Tilehurst Road, Reading. Once again, you are asked to
bring a packed lunch but other refreshments will be provided. To book
a place, please contact The Secretary, Portsmouth Diocesan Offices, Park
Place Pastoral Centre, Wickham, by Friday 15th November. The telephone
number is 01329 835583.
The
Compassionate Friends
'No death so sad'; that is how many bereaved parents describe the devastating
loss of their son or daughter. No one expects to attend their own child's
funeral, yet every year thousands of newly bereaved families face a future
in which their lives have been changed forever. The Compassionate Friends
(TCF) is a nationwide organisation which is open to everyone, regardless
of religious or spiritual beliefs, and aims to offer understanding, friendship
and encouragement to bereaved parents and their families, including grandparents
and siblings. The local support group of Compassionate Friends will be
holding a Memorial Service on Sunday 1st December at 7.30pm at Park Place
Pastoral Centre, Winchester Rd Wickham. All welcome to commemorate the
life of your child or children by lighting a candle in their memory. For
more information please ring Helen and Dave on 01329 829665 or see the
leaflet on the noticeboard for details including helpful publications.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is an angelic service,
an act of sublime faith and ardent love, a signal of reparation to the
Divine Heart of Jesus, a source of indescribably relief for the members
of the Church suffering in purgatory. It is not surprising, therefore,
that the grace of an attraction toward the Holy Eucharist is considered
one of the greatest graces God can bestow upon a soul." (The Blessed
Sacrament God With Us).
If you are able to help with Adoration, please telephone Lily Peach
on 01329 825447 or 077 678 98885.
Adoration
Please note that there will be no Adoration in Portchester on Monday 18th
and 25th November.
A Message
from the UCM
The UCM are holding their annual Christmas Draw on the weekend of 23rd
and 24th November. Proceeds will go towards providing new albs for the
Altar Servers. Draw tickets £1 per strip, will be available at all
Masses on that weekend. Please support us generously.
First
Friday Reflections
6th December
7.30pm at Our Lady of Walsingham Church
'New Year' - An Advent reflection as we start the Church's year.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1442.80 Portchester £161.30
Forthcoming
Special Collections
24th November - National Catholic Youth Service
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
Fr Chris Whelan
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