Day for Life – Sunday 6th July 2003
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has agreed
that Sunday 6th July will be celebrated as the ‘Day for Life’.
The theme this year is the ‘blessing of children’ and in this
way we are seeking both to celebrate the gift of life and at the same
time draw attention to things that attack and diminish its value. Copies
of an 8 page colour newsletter published by the Bishops’ Conference
will be available on the day. The newsletter will cover a range of issues,
including embryo research, cloning, child protection, women and abortion,
child poverty at home and abroad, education and the needs of children
in care. All this material together with further ideas for celebrating
the blessing of children can be downloaded from the website: www.staytruetolife.org
“Rebuild
man from within” – Pope’s Address
The Holy Father began a Pastoral Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina with
a Welcome Ceremony at Banja Luka Airport on Sunday, 22 June. The following
is an excerpt from the Pope’s Address at the Ceremony:
“If
society is to take on a truly human face and everyone is to look to the
future with confidence, it is necessary to rebuild man from within, healing
wounds and achieving a genuine purification of memory through mutual forgiveness.
The root of every good and, sadly, of every evil is in the depths of the
heart (cf. Mk 7: 21-23). It is there that change must occur, making it
possible to renew the fabric of society and to establish human relationships
which favour cooperation between the vital forces present in the country...The
Catholic Church seeks to make her own contribution to this common undertaking
through the practical involvement of her sons and daughters, particularly
through her various initiatives in the areas of education, aid and human
development, in the free exercise of her specific mission.”
Parish
Diary
Copies of the new Parish Diary (July 2003 – July 2004) are available
from this weekend at the back of the each church. If more copies are required
for individual parish groups, please contact Michele or Joan at the Parish
Office on 01329 318869.
Lourdes
Cake Stall
Thank you to everyone who supported the stall and to those who kindly
gave donations. A total profit of £263.00 was raised for the Lourdes
Fund. Thank you for your continuing support.
Senior
Altar Servers
Senior Altar Servers are reminded that there is a meeting on Wednesday
9th July at 7.30pm in the Presbytery.
APF -
Annual Mission Mass
Fr. Frank Thompson MHM invites Mill Hill Members, and anyone interested,
to attend the Annual Mission Mass to be held on Wednesday 16th July at
St. John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth at 7.30pm. The Mass will be followed
by tea and biscuits and a short but delightful mission film entitled “African
Christmas”, featuring Steven Msinbe, an inspiring 18yr old boy,
Fr. Patrick Kungalo and Max Walker, a young Australian mission worker
experiencing his first Christmas away from home. This is a chance to find
out how your contributions are transformed into deeds and to celebrate
your ‘missionary vocation’. 3 other APF Mission Masses are
also being offered in the diocese – please see church notice board
for dates and locations.
Day of
Recollection – Douai Abbey
Saturday 19th July 10.45am – 4.00pm - this day is designed to enable
Ministers of the Eucharist, Readers, Cantors, Musicians, Servers and others
who are engaged in ministry, to be ministered to themselves. Suggested
donation for waged = £10. For more information please contact Douai
Abbey on 0118 971 5300.
Park
Place Garden Party
A Garden Party will take place between 3.00-5.30pm on Sunday 13th July
at Park Place Pastoral Centre, Wickham. Stalls selling cakes and produce,
flower arranging competition, grand raffle, demonstrations. Afternoon
tea is included in the price of the ticket - £5 adult and 50p children.
Prize for ‘lucky ticket’. As well as being fun for all, the
afternoon will highlight the missionary work of the Franciscan Sisters
in India. This year the focus is on the essential programmes of social,
domestic and health education for women in remote and deprived villages.
All funds from the event (+ any donations) will be given to the Sisters
to support their vital work. Tickets can be reserved and bought from Park
Place by telephoning 01329 833043.
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
When a religious persecution broke out in the territory of Sudan
in the sixties, an African Christian student named Paride Taban fled the
danger and went to Uganda. While there, he studied for the priesthood and
was ordained. When things settled down in Sudan, young Fr. Taban returned
to his homeland and was assigned to a parish in Palotaka. His African congregation,
however, found it hard to believe that he was really a priest because none
of them had ever seen a black priest before. They had always had white missionaries
who gave them clothing and medicine. Fr. Taban had nothing material to give
them for he was poor like them. All he had to give them was his love. To
make things more difficult, Fr. Taban had to introduce them to the changes
of the Second Vatican Council, which bothered the people greatly. They said
to one another: “This young black man turns our altar around and
celebrates Mass in our own language. He cannot be a real priest.”
Only after a great deal of difficulty did the people of Palotaka finally
accept him.
When I was
a child I used to love watching cartoons on TV, and a favourite character
of mine was a skunk called Pepe Le Pew. Pepe was always falling love with
a black cat who ended up getting a white stripe on its back. Because of
his unpleasant odour, Pepe’s love was always rejected, but that
didn’t stop Pepe, he went right on loving, no matter how many times
he was rejected. He never gave up on the black cat or his love for her.
Perhaps that is the biggest practical lesson that we can take from today’s
Gospel reading. Like Fr. Taban and Pepe Le Pew, Jesus never gave up on
people either, no matter how many times He was rejected. Even today, no
matter how many times we reject Him, He is always there ready to give
His love to us. And if people rejected Jesus in His lifetime, we shouldn’t
be surprised if people still reject Him and us, His followers, in our
lifetime.
“Dayspring”
at Gosport
“Dayspring” is a group of people who meet together for continuing
support and encouragement, having been received into the Catholic Church.
They gather together over coffee to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The members of the group are very keen to invite other people to join
them from across the parishes within Fareham Deanery. The next meeting
will be held on Monday 21st July, 7.30 – 9.00pm, in the Upper Room
at St Mary’s Hall, Mumby Road, Gosport. A warm welcome will be extended
to anyone concerned, whether they have come into the Church recently or
some time ago.
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
be taking place on Mondays 7th & 14th July at the home of Julie and
Paul Phillips. If you would like to take part please contact Julie or
Paul on 01329 319392. Godparents are also very welcome to attend. Please
arrange the date of baptism of your child with Father Chris.
Sea Sunday
– Sunday 13th July 2003
Next Sunday is Sea Sunday. The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) is the Catholic
Church’s mission outreach to seafarers, sharing our faith and sustaining
that of others. AOS in England and Wales is part of an international network
of AOS agencies in 89 countries working to support the people of the sea,
including seafarers involved in international trade, seafarers working
in coastal trade, artisan fishermen, seafarers in the fishing industry
and seafarers families. Seafarers work away from home for many months,
facing loneliness, danger and exploitation as they deliver the goods and
resources we consume (95% of world trade is carried by ship). AOS also
acts as a welfare agency, caring for the practical needs of seafarers,
visiting those who are sick or injured, counselling the bereaved and caring
for the abandoned. Next Sunday, let us pray especially for the faith of
seafarers, so that they may live and work as Christians in all situations.
There will be a national collection for the Apostleship of the Sea on
13th July after all masses. Donation envelopes are available from the
back of each church.
Annual
Naval Mass – Sunday 13th July 2003
The Annual Naval Mass will be held at St. John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth
on Sunday 13th July at 10.30am. All serving and ex-service personnel and
their families are especially invited to this Mass but everyone is welcome.
Refreshments will be served following the Mass. The rig is No.1b (with
medals) or civilian clothing if preferred.
St George
Catholic School for Boys
Learning Support Assistant - St George School has a vacancy for a learning
support assistant who can support the boys as they move from the Southampton
feeder schools into Year 7. Chaplaincy team - the school is also looking
to extend the chaplaincy team to include somebody to work with the boys
in setting up social justice activities. Hours are negotiable. Both posts
are term time only and would suit individuals interested in going on to
train as a teacher or looking for a career supporting classroom activities.
For further information and an informal discussion please contact the
school on 02380 322603.
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 be on Sunday 13th July at 3.00pm in St Philip Howard
Hall.
Charity
Open Garden
Chris and Frankie Lane are opening their garden at 50 Hill Park Road,
Fareham for the Red Cross, on 12th and 13th July from 2.00 – 6.00pm.
It is a small town garden with many interesting features. Entry by donation.
Tea and home-made cakes will be available. Plants for sale.
St Jude’s
Kool Dudes After School Club
Kool Dudes will be closed on the following dates: no after school club
24 July; closed 25 July to 8 August. Open from 11 August until 29 August.
Closed from 1 – 5 September. The club will then reopen on the 8th
September for the new term.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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| 6th
July 2003
Ss. Peter & Paul
The
Year of St Mark |
 |
 Welcome
We extend a warm welcome to Leslie Adams who is studying for the priesthood
at the Beda College in Rome. He will be helping in the parish for the
next five weeks.
Baptism
Celebration Mass
The 11.00am Mass at St Philip Howard Church this Sunday will be celebrated
for all families who have had children baptised in the parish within the
last year. All are very welcome to attend.
Church
Parade
The 11.00am Mass on Sunday 13th July in the St Philip Howard Church will
be a Church Parade.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"“Jesus, let me tell you what you are to my soul. Today
I am weak; I need a strength from on high to sustain me; and Jesus descended
from Heaven; Jesus has become the Eucharist, the Bread of the strong!"
(Fr. Hermann Cohen).
If you are
able to help with Adoration in Fareham please telephone Lily Peach on
077 678 98885. If you are able to help with Adoration at Portchester,
please contact Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023
9238 8494.
Blessed
Sacrament
There will be a break in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Sacred
Heart and Our Lady of Walsingham Churches during the summer, from 9.00pm
on Thursday 24th July until Monday 8th September.
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
be taking place on Mondays 7th & 14th July at the home of Julie and
Paul Phillips. If you would like to take part please contact Julie or
Paul on 01329 319392. Godparents are also very welcome to attend. Please
arrange the date of baptism of your child with Father Chris.
Lourdes
Buffet Lunch
The next Lourdes Lunch will take place in St Jude’s School Hall
on Saturday 19th July at 12.30pm. The lunch is in aid of the fund to send
young helpers to Lourdes. Tickets will be on sale from next weekend priced
at £5.00, and will be available from Pauline Jackson or Ann Corr.
Tickets may also be booked by telephoning 01329 236275. Everyone is most
welcome.
Green
Group
Interested in ‘green issues’? If so, why not join the meeting
of the ‘Green Group’ on 10th July in the Sacred Heart Church
Hall at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
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Fareham
& Portchester Parish
125th Anniversary Celebrations
Dates for your diary:
Celebratory
Mass
St Philip Howard Church
Friday 5th September – 7.30pm
Induction of Fr. Chris Whelan
as Parish Priest of Fareham & Portchester
followed by refreshments in
St. Jude’s School Hall
Parish
Pilgrimage to London
Westminster Cathedral; Allen Hall Seminary and Tyburn Convent
Saturday 4th October
All
are very welcome |
Church
Collections
At the recent meeting of the Parish Finance Committee it was decided that
all future monetary collections will be shown in the newsletter as a unitary
parish figure, instead of the separate amounts detailed at present for
Fareham and Portchester. This will take effect from 13th July 2003.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Fareham - £1482.20
Portchester - £189.65
Peters Pence – £413.92
Forthcoming
Special Collections
13th July – Apostleship of the Sea
20th July – Matthew Carter
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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