 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.
Churches
Together in Portchester
Churches Together in Portchester has again produced a Christmas card giving
details of Christmas services. The cards are to be delivered to every
household in Portchester. If you are able to help with this delivery please
speak to Joan Hamilton or Yvonne Hart.
Churches
Homeless Action
Voucher Gifts for the homeless - organised by Churches Homeless Action
& PHA. Buy a gift voucher from any major store (not more than £5)
and send it to Paul Brier, Portsmouth Housing Association, Freepost PT987,
247 Fratton Road, Portsmouth, PO1 1BR by 13th Dec. Write a Christmas card
to go with the voucher - do not include your surname or address, or seal
the envelope. Cards/vouchers will be handed to the organisations at a
Carol Service at 11.30am on 20th December at St Mary's Church, Fratton,
Portsmouth.
Dealing
with Life's Pressures
There is to be a seminar entitled 'Dealing with Life's Pressures' on Saturday
18th January 2003 at Fareham Baptist Church, Gosport Rd, Fareham from
10.00am - 4.00pm (Registration at 9.30am). The seminar with be led by
Di Bower (trained counsellor) and Sandy Bower (trained in stress management)
and will cost just £5 per person. Please bring along a notebook,
pillow or cushion and a packed lunch. For more information contact the
Community Church office on 01329 829121 or Fareham Baptist Church Office
on 01329 230659.
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 course will take
place on Monday 13th and 20th January 2003 at the home of Julie and Paul
Phillips. If you wish to take part, please call Julie or Paul on 01329
319392. Please arrange the date of the baptism of your child with Father
Chris.
Car Wash
for India
Come and have your car washed to help raise funds for our Advent Appeal,
'Wells for India'. Members of the Sunday Youth Group will wash your car
between 1.00-3.00pm on Saturday 14th December at St. Philip Howard Church
car park. Minimum donation £2.
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 light of recent media coverage on current issues, Bishop Crispian
Hollis has issued this short comment:
"When
the Church is under relentless attack, it is instinctive and good to seek
to defend the Church which we love, to which we belong and in which we
minister.
However, we must not forget that we are in that relentless media spotlight
because children have been sexually abused and we have not always handled
this matter in a proper way. It does not help to castigate the media for
the bad coverage we have been given; they, by and large, are doing their
job and we are at fault for our mistakes, however uncomfortable and unhappy
that may make us feel.
The children who have been abused - and many of them are now trying to
come to terms with their abuse in their adult lives - are the real victims.
The Church is not the victim in all this - the children are.
I am devastated by the horror of the stories I have heard and my heart
goes out to all who have suffered. In so far as it is up to me, I seek
forgiveness for what a few of the clergy have done. I pledge my prayers
and support for those who have been abused and I ask all the people of
the diocese to join me.
I promise that we, as a diocese, will continue to do everything we can
to make absolutely sure that our parishes and communities are both welcoming
and safe for children. Their protection has always to be our primary concern."
Child
Protection Link
Please don't forget that we do have a child protection officer in our
parish whose telephone number
is on the front of the newsletter each week. All calls are dealt with
in the strictest confidence.
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?!
Fareham
Deanery Adult Formation
The next speaker in the series of talks in Fareham Deanery will be Nicky
Stevens, Head of Department for Evangelisation & Catechesis, who will
talk about "Ordinary Time in the Year of Mark" on Wednesday
22nd January 2003. 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, tel. 01329 284638 for details.
Jesse
Tree Service
The First Communion children would like to invite you to the Jesse Tree
Service, which will be held today, 8th December, in St. Philip Howard
Church at 3.30pm. Please come along and support the children. Refreshments
will be available in the hall afterwards.
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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Parish
Christmas Dinner
Mary Rochford of 'Naomi House' was absolutely overwhelmed when told
of our fundraising achievement for the children's hospice.
The Parish Dinner was highly successful and raised a grand profit
of
£3,100.00.
Thank you to Father Chris and Father Charles for their support,
and to all those who kindly gave donations to the 'bucket' collection,
helped on the day or supported the event in a variety of ways.
A special mention must also go to the sponsors of the dinner, Hughs
Rail Ltd & HM Coastguards, Lee on Solent and to the small team
who helped in the background and made the event so rewarding.
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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.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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8th
December 2002
2nd Sunday of Advent
The
Year of St Matthew
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Christmas
Mass Times
There has been some confusion with the times of the masses to be celebrated
on Christmas Eve. The correct mass times are as follows:
24 December
6.30pm St. Philip Howard (please note change of time)
Vigil Mass
11.30pm Sacred Heart
Midnight Mass (Carols 11.00pm)
Christmas
Cards giving details of all Christmas Masses are available in the Church
porch. Please do take one home with you. Posters are also displayed on
the notice board. Those Ministers who take Holy Communion to the sick
and housebound are asked to take a card to those whom they visit.
 Advent
Penitential Service
Our Advent Penitential Service will take place on Wednesday 11th December
at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church. Please do make a special effort
to attend this service.
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.
New
Year Disco
You are invited to an American Supper disco in St. Philip Howard Church
Hall on New Year's Eve from 8pm - 1am. Tickets cost £3 per person
whether adult or child. This is open to anyone from the parish but tickets
will be limited so buy early to avoid disappointment! For tickets or more
information please contact Maria Devoy on 01329 281536.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"The Sacrament of the Eucharist is far more powerful for the sanctification
of souls than all other spiritual means of grace." (St. Denis)
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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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.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1673.17 Portchester - £233.33
Parish Bazaar - £2184.47
Parish Dinner (Naomi House) - £3,100.00
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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