 St.
Patrick's Day Barn Dance
Next weekend, on Saturday 15th March, there will be a Barn Dance at St.
Jude’s School, admission by ticket only, £5.00 per head. Chilli
and baked potato supper – licensed bar – raffle. Dancing to
live band “Turk Town Troopers” with Caller, David Slater.
Book your tickets now – call Graham Stanton on 01329 284057.
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 such course will
take place on Wednesdays, 19th and 26th March, at the home of Ann and
Kevin Tarling. If you would like to take part, please call Ann or Kevin
on 01329 829549. Please arrange the date of the baptism with Father Chris.
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 16th March at 3.00p.m.
in St. Philip Howard Hall. Please note: the meeting scheduled for this
Sunday 9th March is cancelled.
House
(Cell) Groups
It is hoped to start House Groups in the parish after Easter (week commencing
4th May). To do this we will need people to lead the groups and host the
meetings. If there is sufficient interest we would like one of the groups
to meet in the afternoon (1.30pm – 3.30pm). The evening meetings
would be from 7.30pm – 9.00pm. If you would be willing to either
lead or host a meeting, please contact
the Parish Office.
Lent
2003 - Churches Together in Portchester
The Portchester churches are holding Shoppers’ Services and Lent
Lunches every Wednesday in Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday, at Portchester
Methodist Church, beginning at 12 noon. Catholics will be organising the
lunches on 26th March and 16th April and Fr. Chris will lead the Services.
All proceeds from the lunches are shared between CAFOD and Christian Aid.
All welcome.
|
First Friday prayer evenings
All at Our Lady of Walsingham, 7.30pm.
May 2nd - Rosary |
First
Holy Communion programme
Children preparing for their first Holy Communion are reminded that their
next meeting will take place from 10.00am - 11.30am at St. Jude's School
on Saturday 15th March. The 11.00a.m. Mass on Sunday 16th March at St
Philip Howard Church will be a First Holy Communion Celebration Mass.
There will also be a Scouts Church Parade at this mass.
The
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The children preparing for their first Holy Communion will take part in
the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Saturday 22nd March
at 11.30am at St Philip Howard Church. Please keep the children, their
parents and the catechists in your prayers.
Healing
Ministry Refresher Course – Gosport
The Healing Ministry sessions led by Geoff and Gina Poulter, directors
of the Catholic Bible School, continue on Thursday 20th March and Thursday
10th April at St. Mary’s Hall, Mumby Rd, Gosport at 7.30pm. Anyone
in the Deanery who feels called to this ministry is very welcome to attend.
Please contact Fr. David Adams or Doug Savage at Gosport Parish Office
on 023 9258 0119.
Mass
for the Sick
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be offered on Saturday 29th
March at 3.00pm at St. Philip Howard Church. Anyone whose health is seriously
impaired by sickness or increasing years or who faces surgery should receive
this Sacrament of healing. Ministers of the Eucharist who take Holy Communion
to the sick and housebound members of our community are asked, if possible,
to bring those in their care to this Mass.
Battery
Operated Bath Seat
The SVP has a battery operated bath seat which anyone is welcome to borrow
if they can find it useful. Please contact Mary Cadogan on 01329 235987
if you are interested.
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 is the first Sunday of the season of Lent. Down through the
centuries the spirit of this season has been viewed as a time of repentance
and conversion. Christians have found the season of Lent to be a time of
special grace, especially for reforming one’s life. Lent is a time
for us to evaluate our lives and deal with our sinfulness honestly, courageously
and straightforwardly. It is a time for us to turn to Christ, acknowledge
our sins and confess them and commit ourselves to Him in a deeper, more
profound way. If we are looking for a special way to celebrate Lent this
year, we could do no better than to use it as an opportunity to rediscover
the power and peace of the sacrament of reconciliation.
All of us
are asked to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation at some point during
the Lenten season. For in this sacrament we do precisely what Jesus asks
us to do in today’s readings. We express our repentance and our
belief in the Good News. That is, we express our sorrow for our sins,
and we express our belief that Jesus Christ wishes to forgive them and
to help us begin a new life. This is the invitation held out to us in
today’s Gospel. A good way to respond to this invitation would be
to make use of the opportunity provided for individuals to receive this
sacrament at our Penitential Service which takes place this year on Wednesday
9th April at 7.30pm at the Sacred Heart Church.
Lent is
also a crucial time to pray. This Lent will obviously be an important
time for us to pray for reconciliation and peace in the world, especially
on the brink of a war in Iraq. We must pray daily for a peaceful end to
this critical situation. It is also a time for us to pray for our community,
especially our own candidates and catechumens who will begin the next
step in their initiation process this weekend with the Rite of Election
at the Cathedral on Saturday and the Presentation of the Elect on Sunday,
marking the final period of their preparations for the Easter Vigil.
Lenten
Appeal
The Lenten Appeal this year is for children who are the victims of AIDS.
AIDS is responsible for 21.8 million deaths worldwide. Africa records
75% of these. Around 14 million children worldwide have lost one or both
parents to AIDS. This is equivalent to the UK’s entire child population.
PLEASE BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU CAN.
Lent
Talk – St. George Catholic School
There will be a talk entitled “Issues of Justice” which will
be given by Dr. Faysal Mikdaddi at St. George’s School on the 26th
March 2003 at 1.30pm. Dr. Faysal is an author, broadcaster and journalist
and has spoken a number of times on Radio 4 - all welcome.
A Message
from Barbara McLachlan
"A Patchwork workshop day has been planned for Saturday 12th April
in the St Philip Howard Hall. For further details please see the poster
in the porch and add your name on the form to show interest in coming.
I am not a teacher; I love my hobby and wish to introduce it to anyone
who may be interested. Please return the response forms to the parish
office by 4th April."
Host
Families urgently required
Families are needed to host foreign students attending Fareham College
from September 2003. Students attend school on a full time basis and live
as a member of the family. Current hosting fee is £304.00 per month
for full board accommodation. If you can help please contact: Sue, Sandra
or Kim on 01304 830948 or e-mail: suebugden@eeop.com
Catholic
Newspapers - Update
We are very pleased with the response to last week’s notice regarding
the provision of the Universe, Catholic Times and Catholic Herald. If
you missed the announcement and would like one or other of the papers,
please complete the form below and hand it in to Denis Hodgetts, (6.30pm
Saturday); John Vivian (9.00am Sunday); Chris North (11.00am Sunday);
Veronica Reeves (5.30pm Sunday) or to the Parish Office. Your choice of
paper will be available in the church porch after Mass from Easter weekend
onwards.
The Papers
are:-
The Universe - 90p:
The Catholic Times - 70p
The Catholic Herald - 80p
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I
would like to order ………………………………
I
normally attend the………………………Mass
at………………………………………………………Church
Name
…………………………………………………………
Address
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
Telephone
no. ………………………………………
This
information will be treated as confidential.
|
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
|
| 9th
March 2003
1st Sunday in Lent
The
Year of St Mark |
 |
Stations
of the Cross
There will be Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at the Sacred
Heart Church (7.00pm) and every Sunday at Our Lady of Walsingham Church
(4.30pm).
Family Fast Day (CAFOD)
Next Friday, 14th March, is Family Fast Day. Envelopes will be distributed
this weekend and collected after all masses on the weekend of 15/16th
March.
Day of
Recollection
Father Thomas Swaffer will lead a Day of Recollection on the subject of
‘The two new decades of the Rosary’ on Saturday 15th March
in the Sacred Heart Hall from 10.00am-3.30pm. Although organised by the
Union of Catholic Mothers, all are most welcome to take part. If you would
like to attend, please bring some food to share at lunchtime. Coffee and
tea will be provided. A donation of £3 to cover costs would be appreciated.
If you would like to know a little more about the day, please call Yvonne
Byrne on 01329 311911 or Pat Kemp on 01329 284370.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"Mary adored God in the Temple in spirit and in truth. By her
prayers and ardent desires she hastened the coming of the Messiah. But
we adore Him really present on our altars; we do not call Him from afar,
as Mary did. He is in our midst; He is with us always. Let us imitate
the silence, the solitude, the hidden life of our Blessed Mother."
(St Peter Julian Eymard). If you are able to help with Adoration,
please telephone Lily Peach on 01329 825447 or 077 678 98885.
|
Lenten Breakfast
During Lent "take on" something different by
changing your early Thursday morning routine:
Rise
early
Attend 7.00am Mass at the Sacred Heart Church
Enjoy a friendly breakfast in the Hall
Every
Thursday during Lent breakfast will be served in the Sacred Heart
Hall following 7.00am Mass.
All
proceeds to the Parish Lenten Appeal |
Lourdes
Buffet Lunch
The next Lourdes Lunch will take place in St Philip Howard Church Hall
on Saturday 22nd March at 12.30pm – Tickets £5.00 from Pauline
Jackson 01329 236275 or Ann Corr 01329 236575. Proceeds to the Lourdes
Fund. ALL WELCOME.
The annual
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place this year from 22nd –
29th August.
If you are
sick, disabled or housebound and would like to go on this pilgrimage,
please speak to Pauline Jackson. Any young person who would like to assist
the sick pilgrims during the pilgrimage please call Jane Cadogan 01329
235987.
Vacancies
for Foundation Governors
Bishop Crispian is seeking applications from committed baptised Catholics
who wish to be considered as foundation governors for schools throughout
the Diocese of Portsmouth. Foundation Governors have a responsibility
for preserving the religious character of the school, sustaining and developing
the school as a Catholic educating community and giving clear witness,
as individuals and as a team, to the Gospel message and to the Church's
teaching. Appropriate training is available during the period of service
(from 1 September 2003 - 31 August 2007). Application packs are available
from the Parish Priest, the School Office or the Department of Schools
Governance, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Rd, Wickham PO17 5HA.
Closing date: 31st March.
|
Fareham
Deanery Adult Formation Talks
Next date for your diary:
Wednesday 26th March- 7.30pm at St Jude’s School
“Easter Triduum”
Speaker – Canon Alan Griffiths
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Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1528.40
Portchester - £180.35
Catholic Children’s Society - £405.85
Forthcoming
Collections
16th March - Family Fast Day
30th March - Clergy Assistance Fund
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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