 Adoration
Please note that there will be no Adoration in Portchester on Monday 25th
November.
Thanks
Jane & Carry Pinto and family would like to thank all their friends
in the Fareham and Portchester parish for the masses and prayers that
were offered for the loss of Jane's sister, Regina.
The Well
The November newsletter for 'The Well' is available at the back of the
churches and contains details of Christmas fare, Christmas stock and book
and music ordering facilities.
Confirmation
Bishop Crispian will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish
on Friday 20th June 2003 at St. Philip Howard Church at 7.00pm. Preparations
for this Sacrament will begin with an introductory meeting for candidates
and their parents on Thursday 16th January 2003 at 7.30pm in St. Philip
Howard Church. If you wish to prepare for this Sacrament, please fill
in a form and return it to Fr. Chris as soon as possible. (Please contact
the Parish Office if you do not have a form). Candidates must be at least
in their second year of secondary education (Year 8). Other young people
- or not so young - who, for one reason or another, might have 'missed
out' are also invited to consider preparing for this important Sacrament.
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.
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.
A Taste
of India - Park Place Pastoral Centre
There will be an opportunity to gather to share an Indian meal at Park
Place on Sunday 8th December at 12.30pm. Adult - £12, Child - £6.
Wine will be served. Proceeds in aid of the Franciscan's Mission Project
for Rural Women's Development in India.
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 his book, 'The Christian Vision' John Powell recalls
an old Irish legend which goes back to the time when kings ruled Ireland.
It seems that the reigning king had no children to succeed him on the
throne, so he had his messengers post signs in every town and village
of his kingdom inviting qualified young men to apply for an interview
with the king. This way the king hoped to be able to choose a successor
before he died. Two qualifications were needed and stressed: He must have
a deep love for God and his neighbour. The young man, around whom the
legend centres, saw one of the signs. He had a deep love for God and neighbour
and felt a kind of inner voice telling him to apply for an interview.
Although the young man didn't have any decent clothes to wear to an interview
and had no money to buy provisions for the long journey to the king's
castle, he decided to set off anyhow.
After a
month of travel, the young man caught sight of the king's castle, which
sat on a high hill in the distance. At about the same time, he also caught
sight of a poor old beggar sitting by the side of the road. The beggar
held out his hands and pleaded for help. "I'm hungry and cold,"
he said in a weak voice. "Could you give me something warm
to wear and something to eat?" The young man was so moved by
the sight of the beggar that he stripped off his outer clothes and exchanged
them for the tattered old coat of the beggar and gave him most of the
food he had been carrying in his backpack for the return journey. Then,
somewhat uncertainly, he continued his journey up to the king's castle
wearing these tattered clothes. When he arrived at the castle, he was
taken to the visitors' area by the guards and told to wait a while. Eventually,
he was led to the king's throne but he could hardly believe his eyes.
"Weren't you the beggar beside the road?" he asked.
"That's right," said the king. "Why did you do this
to me?" asked the young man. The king replied, "I had
to find out if you really do love God and neighbour." We too
will be judged on how well we served Christ the King in the least of our
brothers and sisters.
Stan
Johnson RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Stan Johnson, who died recently.
Please also remember Carole, his wife, and all his family and friends.
Stan's funeral will take place at the Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday
27th November at 9.30am. Vigil Prayer for the Dead will be at 7.00pm on
Tuesday 26th November.
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.
Saturday
Night Special
Saturday Night Special is back for Year 7 upwards. You can use all of
Fareham Leisure Centre's facilities, - swimming, basketball, football,
squash, table tennis and roller-skating. The next date is 30th November
from 7.30pm - 10.15pm. For more information please contact Cogy on 01329
283672.
Churches
Together - Christmas Carol Singing
Carol Singers wanted to sing in the Malls within Fareham Shopping Centre!
Thursday 19th December from 6.30pm and Saturday 21st December from 11.45am.
We will also be providing a Gift Wrapping Service alongside our Carol
Singing where we hope to have many opportunities to chat to people. Please
do put the dates in your diaries and just turn up on the day and sing!
Repository
Christmas cards, Advent calendars, cribs, 2003 diaries etc. are all on
sale from our church repositories. Why not take a closer look?
Advent
Retreat - Douai Abbey
Douai Abbey - Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December - Gervase Holdaway
OSB. Details are on the notice board.
The Birth
of Jesus - Douai Abbey
How do scriptures understand and present the birth of Jesus? Two talks
examining the accounts of St. Matthew and St. Luke will be given on Mondays
16 & 23 December at 7.45pm at Douai Abbey. See notice board for further
details.
Pre-Christmas
Retreat - Douai Abbey
Abbott Geoffrey Scott OSB will lead a retreat from 20 - 22 December preparing
to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Further details are on the notice board.
Eucharistic
Minister's Roster
The new roster for Eucharistic Ministers at Sacred Heart and St. Philip
Howard is now available from the back of the church.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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24th
November 2002
Christ the King
The
Year of St Matthew
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Parish Bazaar
Thanks to Yvonne Byrne and all those who helped with the Parish Bazaar.
It was a most successful and enjoyable occasion. If there is anyone who
still has raffle prizes to claim, it would be appreciated if these could
be collected from the Parish Office as soon as possible.
 UCM
Annual Christmas Draw
The UCM are holding their annual Christmas Draw this weekend. Proceeds
will go towards providing new albs for the Altar Servers. Draw tickets
£1 per strip, will be available at all Masses over the weekend.
Please be generous with your support.
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.
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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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Advent
Breakfasts
Everyone is most welcome to share in the simple breakfasts which will
be served on Thursday mornings during Advent (5th, 12th & 19th December),
in the Sacred Heart Hall after the 7.00am Mass. All proceeds to go towards
our Advent Project Appeal.
Advent
Lunches
Simple soup and bread lunches will be held on the 6th and the 13th December
in the Sacred Heart Hall at 12.30pm. All proceeds will support 'Wells
for India' which is this year's Parish Advent Appeal. Everyone is most
welcome - why not come and join with friends in a break from the hassle
of Christmas shopping?!
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 - £1532.55 Portchester £147.25
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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