Best wishes
We offer our congratulations to Bjorn and Sandra Haid, from Austria
whose marriage was blessed by Fr. Peter Mathei at Our Lady of Walsingham
Church on Friday in the presence of their family and friends from Austria
and England.
Sierra
Leone
“Did you read the short article on the back page of Portsmouth People
appealing for school equipment for children in Sierra Leone? These children
have had no schooling during the civil war, and are badly in need of our
help. Father Chris has agreed that we can have a box at the back of each
church for the next six weeks (Sundays only). If you can spare the cost
of some ordinary pencils, (not fancy gel pens!) pens, rubbers, colours,
etc. please pop them into the boxes and they will be made up into school
packs. Every item will help. Please think about these children when you
are kitting out your own children for the next school year, and buy something
extra for children who have so little. The children of Sierra Leone will
certainly thank you.” (St Martin de Porres Group)
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.
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. Catholic
identification cards for your wallet are available at the back of the
church.
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.
Park
Place Garden Party
A Garden Party will take place between 3.00-5.30pm today, 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
St Francis of Assisi was born into a wealthy Italian family. As
a teenager he used his generous allowance to pay the bills of his rowdy
friends. Then in the year 1202, hostilities broke out between the towns
of Assisi and Perugia. Young Francis joined the army of Assisi and went
off to fight. He was taken prisoner during the conflict and spent the next
year of his life in chains in a dirty dungeon. After his release, it took
Francis another full year to regain his health. The prison ordeal and the
year of recuperation changed his life forever. He put aside his expensive
clothes and put on the cloak of a poor workman. On the back of his cloak
he drew a big white cross. Young Francis then left his home and took up
the life of a hermit. His new home was a derelict church on the outskirts
of Assisi. There he spent hours alone in prayer.
One day Francis was attending Mass. The Gospel for the
Mass was the same episode we hear in today’s Gospel according to
Mark. Francis was struck by Jesus’ instruction to journey forward
and preach the Gospel, taking nothing for the journey, not even food or
money. This instruction gave a whole new direction to Francis’ life.
Francis gave up his hermit’s life and journeyed forth in poverty,
to preach the Gospel in towns and villages. The charismatic personality
of Francis soon brought many young people to follow him. These first “Franciscans”
went about caring for the sick and helping the poor. They slept under
the stars and ate whatever was given to them. The group grew in such numbers
that the 27 year old Francis sought and got permission from the Pope to
form a religious community. All this because Francis had the ability to
listen to the message of the Gospel and respond.
“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.
Christopher Walker Workshop
Christopher Walker is an internationally known composer, conductor and
lecturer whose works – including the Celtic Alleluia – are
sung in many churches in the UK and around the world. He is presenting
a workshop entitled “Sing, People of God!” at Milner Hall,
St Peter’s, Winchester on Saturday 26th July from 10.00am to 4.00pm
(cost £5.00, concessions £3.00 – refreshments provided,
but please bring own packed lunch. The workshop is not just for musicians
and singers, but also for teachers, catechists and parents. This workshop
is for anyone who likes to sing or is interested in music in the church,
and a key theme of the workshop is about encouraging everyone to participate,
whatever their age or ability. To book your place, please contact Martin
McElroy on 01962 865159.
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 – an ecumenical group for people with learning difficulties,
their family and friends. The meeting due today, 13th July, has been re-scheduled
to Sunday 20th July. If the weather is fine there will be a picnic
at Eastleigh Lakeside Railway at 2.30pm Otherwise the venue is Sacred
Heart Hall at 3.00pm. If you would like to join us, please ring Annette
Woolley on 01329 310091.
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.
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
|
| 13th
July 2003
Ss. Peter & Paul
The
Year of St Mark |
 |
 Sea
Sunday
Today we celebrate 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.
We pray
especially for the faith of seafarers, so that they may live and work
as Christians in all situations.
A collection
for the Apostleship of the Sea will be taken after all Masses this weekend.
Churches
Together in Portchester
The next Praise in the Precinct will take place on Saturday 19th July
from 10.30 to 11.30am. There will be prayer at 9.30am at Portchester Methodist
Church. All are welcome.
American
Style Lunch
There will be an American style lunch at Our Lady of Walsingham Church
on Sunday 10th August from 1.00 to 4.00pm. Tickets will be on sale shortly
and all are welcome.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"Beloved Jesus, teach me to work and go about Your business with
a heart lost in adoration of You, kneeling in my mind at the foot of the
altar all day. It should be easy, but see how my mind returns to its earthly
loves one thousand times a day. Are you not many times more precious,
Beloved?" (O Jesus, Catherine Doherty).
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.
Adoration
of the 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.
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.
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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 |
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1684.50
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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