 The
Advent Wreath
During Advent the sanctuaries in our Church are quite bare. Purple vestments
and a complete lack of flowers speak to us of final judgement. The Advent
Wreath provides the only decoration. It represents the spiritual darkness
of our world waiting for the coming of our Messiah who is the light of
the world.
Repository
Christmas cards, Advent calendars, cribs, 2003 diaries etc. are all on
sale from our church repositories. Why not take a closer look?
Portsmouth
Don Bosco Camp 2003
This year the camp will be from Sunday 3rd August (4pm) to Saturday 9th
August (3pm) and the cost will be in the order of £100 (Only pocket-money
is required as an extra: all trips are inclusive.) We are holding the
usual Christmas reunion at St. Mary's College Saturday 4th January 2pm
where booking forms for Camp will be available. If you wish to know more
please contact Fr. Michael Peters, St. Mary's College, 106 Cobden Avenue,
Southampton SO18 1FS (tel. 02380 558497). The day (from 8am to 11pm) centres
around the celebration of the Mass in which the boys actively participate.
They are encouraged to live the Gospel whilst enjoying activities, competitions,
sports, wide-games, swimming, camp fires and afternoon trips away each
day to somewhere different. The camp is available for Year 6 boys (who
are about to leave Primary school up to Year 11.
Oaklands
School
Oaklands extends a warm invitation to their annual service of preparation
for Christmas on Tuesday 3rd December at 7.30pm. The service consists
of music, drama, liturgical dance and readings to provide an opportunity
for reflection as preparation begins for Advent. There will be a retiring
collection in aid of Le Court - one of the Cheshire Homes.
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.
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
Today, as we begin a new season of Advent we recall Israel's long
period of waiting for the Messiah. Israel could do nothing to hasten His
coming except wait and pray and trust that God would come to their rescue.
However, Advent is much more than that. Advent is also a time when we
recall that Jesus will return at the end of history ~ at a time we least
expect. That is why Mark tells us in today's Gospel: "Be on your
guard, stay awake...if he [Jesus] comes unexpectedly, he must not
find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!"
This brings us to the second point about Advent. We live in the important
interval between Jesus' first and second coming. Our job is not just to
sit piously and stare at the sky, recalling and anticipating. Our job
is to complete the work He gave us to do.
Advent is
a season when we call to mind, in a special way, that when Jesus returns,
He will judge us on how well we have worked to spread God's kingdom on
earth. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Until
He does, we must be about the work He gave us to do. We must feed the
hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger,
work for peace, and love one another as Jesus loved us. We must also remember
to pray constantly that the Lord will help us persevere in the work He
gave us to do. We must pray for strength, even when things get tough and
we want to quit. We must pray for love, especially for people who reject
us, hate us, and spread all sorts of lies about us. And we must pray for
guidance, especially when life gets cloudy and dark and we lose our way.
Stan
Johnson RIP
Carole Johnson would like to thank all parishioners for their kindness,
support and Masses offered on the death of her husband, Stan.
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, TODAY!
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. 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!
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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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Diocesan
Year Books
Diocesan Year Books for 2003 are now on sale from the Repositories - price
£2.50. These are very useful books which give details of Mass times
throughout the diocese, information about Catholic Societies and Organisations,
diocesan statistics and many other articles of interest.
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.
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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1st
December 2002
1st Sunday of Advent
The
Year of St Matthew
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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.
 Advent
Penitential Service
Our Advent Penitential Service will take place on Wednesday 11th December
at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church.
Good
Neighbours Need Help
We need urgently 4 Volunteers to visit lonely, older people in Fareham
Town. They need a friendly smile and a little of your time to know someone
cares. Can you spare about an hour a fortnight? The need is great and
the solution easy. There is no cost. We have over 60 Befrienders visiting
now but we would love you to join them. Visiting the elderly and infirm
is a good Christian thing to do and usually is mutually rewarding. If
you would like to join or know more about Fareham Good Neighbours, please
ring 01489 584250 for a leaflet. Thank you.
Parish
Pastoral Council
Our Pastoral Council meets on Wednesday of this week at Our Lady of Walsingham,
Portchester.
 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 indescribable 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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STOP
PRESS
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.
Those interested in learning more about this important Sacrament
are invited to the following information sessions:
Thursday 16th January - 7.30pm Sacred Heart Hall. 'What is
involved in the Sacrament of Confirmation,' an information evening
for parents of prospective candidates.
Wednesday 29th January - 6.45 - 8.45pm at St. Jude's School.
'Confirmation - What's it all about?' an action packed evening for
those considering joining the Course.
If you are interested in attending these information evenings, please
complete a form and return it to Fr. Chris as soon as possible.
(Please contact
the Parish Office if you do not have a form).
We look forward to meeting you in January.
The Confirmation Team
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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?!
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1719.65 Portchester - no figure available
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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