Altar Servers
All Altar Servers are encouraged to come to the 10.00am Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on St. Stephen's Day. Vows will be renewed at this Mass.

Thank You
Thank you to all those people who are helping with decorating our churches and the Crib, to those preparing the liturgy and the music and to all who are contributing in any way to our celebrations this Christmas.

"There is a Place" CD - Park Gate
"On behalf of the parishioners of St. Margaret Mary, Park Gate, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who bought a copy of "There is a Place" last weekend. We managed to raise £362 and deeply appreciate the support and welcome you gave us. Thank you" - (Clare Bell, CD Project Co-ordinator).

A Message from the Finance Committee
It is our usual custom that the collection taken on Christmas Day is our personal gift to Fr. Chris. He does so much for us so let's show him how generous we can be in return.

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.

New Year's Day Mass & Celebration
Please do come along and celebrate the dawning of a New Year, with mulled wine and shortbread which will be served in the Sacred Heart Hall following the 10.00am Mass on New Year's Day. Everyone welcome.

Parish Pastoral Council
The next meeting of our Parish Pastoral Council will be held on Wednesday 8th January in St. Jude's School.

Fareham Good Neighbours
Fareham Good Neighbours are very grateful to the four volunteers from our churches and would like to wish everyone a happy and holy Christmas.

Parish Handbook
The new Parish Handbook is now available - copies will be in all churches this weekend. Please do take a copy home with you as it contains much essential contact information for key areas of parish life. Our thanks go to the Parish Communications Team for all their efforts and hard work in the production of this new updated edition for 2003.

Spirituality in the Workplace
What do we mean by trust and respect in the workplace? How can we recognise and work more effectively with the different gifts and talents others have? Is St. Benedict's teaching on hospitality, compassion relevant in our work lives? Learn how to cope with anger and forgiveness and balance the demands of work with our commitments to spouse, partner, family or friends. A retreat workshop entitled 'Relationships in the Workplace' will take place at Douai Abbey from 17th - 19th January 2003 looking at all these points and more. For further details please contact the Programme Director on 0118 971 5333.

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.

THE UNION
Thought for the Week
As we approach Christmas at the end of this Royal golden Jubilee Year, our attention may turn towards the gifts that we will give and anticipate the gifts that we may receive. Let us not forget, however, the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, and how He came to us. Jesus came not as a powerful prince, living in a great mansion in the most powerful nation on earth. He came into the world as the son of a poor carpenter, living in a dirty stable in one of the weakest nations on earth. He came into the world as we did, naked, helpless, fragile and vulnerable. Like each of us, He had to wait for other human beings to take care of him.

When Jesus came into the world, He identified Himself with the poor, the suffering, the powerless and the sinful, yet He brought with Him a great power contained in an incredible twofold message. First of all, it is the "good news" that the great God of heaven and earth loves each one of us without exception and without reservation. Secondly, it is the additional "good news" that the great God of heaven and earth not only loves us but is our Father, and we are all brothers and sisters. The power of the Christmas scene is the power of the twofold message Jesus brought into the world. This incredible message is God's Christmas gift to each one of us. What we do with it is our gift to God.

On the subject of gifts, thank you for all the generous gifts and wonderful cards which I have already begun to receive from you. I feel a bit guilty for not sending any myself to you individually, but I hope you understand that it would be a daunting task, and I would be sure to miss someone out accidentally. Thanks also for your encouragement and support over the past few months, especially since Fr. Paul and the Sisters have gone to new pastures. I deeply appreciate your love, friendship, kindness and generosity and wish you all a very peaceful and joyful Christmas.

Ian Lappage RIP
Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Ian Lappage who died recently. Please also remember in your prayers Ian's family and friends. The Funeral Mass will be on Monday 23rd December at 9.30am at the Sacred Heart Church. Vigil Prayer for the Dead will be on Sunday 22nd December at 4pm in the Sacred Heart Church.

Fareham Deanery Adult Formation
The series of talks in Fareham Deanery will continue with Nicky Stevens, Head of Department for Evangelisation & Catechesis, speaking on "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 available, tel. 284638 for details.

Christmas Cake Stall for the Lourdes Fund
The next Cake Stall in aid of funds to send young helpers to Lourdes will take place this weekend after the 6.30pm Saturday Mass, 21st December and after the 9.00am Sunday Mass, 22nd December in the Sacred Heart Hall. Cakes also on sale following the 5.30pm Mass at Our Lady of Walsingham, Portchester.

Reflective Service - Our Lady of Walsingham
There will be a Reflective Service at Our Lady of Walsingham Church on Friday 3rd January at 7.30pm. All members of the parish are very welcome.

Faith and Light
Faith and Light is a Christian organisation for people with learning difficulties and for their families and friends. The next meeting of our Parish Faith and Light Group will take place on Sunday 12th January at 3.00 p.m. in the St. Philip Howard Hall.

Hospitals and the Data Protection Act
The Patients Charter requires Hospital authorities to care for the religious and spiritual needs of their patients, while the Data Protection Act forbids those authorities to pass sensitive personal data, like religious affiliation of patients, to chaplains unless the individual patient has expressly requested this. Therefore, when parishioners are admitted to hospital they should make sure that they tell the hospital staff taking their details that they are Catholics, and express their wish that this information be passed to the Roman Catholic Chaplain. Those responsible for children or for those who are unconscious when admitted should do likewise.

Christmas Flowers at Sacred Heart
The team will be in the church hall from 12.30pm (please note change of time) on 23rd December to make the Christmas decorations. If you have some time to spare, please join in with this happy time. No experience is necessary.

Poetry for Christmas
Late Christmas shoppers - how about this for a present? "From and in the Heart" is a selection of poems of faith written by Brian Wright, a local parishioner. The booklet is now on sale at the back of each church priced at £2 per copy. All proceeds will go towards funding Lourdes Helpers.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

22nd December 2002 4th Sunday of Advent The Year of St Matthew

Parish Office
The Parish Office will be closed from 23rd December 2002 and will re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2003. The next edition of 'The Union', our parish newsletter will be on Sunday 5th January 2003.

Decoration of the Christmas tree and Children's Carol Service
Any children who would like to help to decorate the Christmas tree and sing and play some Carols at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, are asked to come to the church on Tuesday 24th December at 10.00am.

UCM Christmas Draw
The UCM would like to thank all those who bought tickets for their Christmas Draw. The winners were as follows:
345 - Tina Munden - Nativity
76- Jane Pinto - Christmas Cake
66 - St. Philip Howard - Christmas Pudding
71 - Yvonne Byrne - Whiskey
388 - Mary Holden - Crackers

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.

Adoration
Adoration in the Sacred Heart Church in Fareham and at Our Lady of Walsingham, Portchester ceased on Friday 20th December and will recommence on 6th January 2003.

'Connected'
The Christmas edition of 'Connected' is on sale this weekend, price 50p. Why not buy an extra copy for someone's Christmas stocking!

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1716.45 Portchester - £116.60
Advent Appeal to date - £1503.40

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