Sierra Leone
The response to the appeal for school materials has been truly magnificent.
Thank you all!! We managed over 50 pupil packs and the boxes have now
been withdrawn. Thanks again. (St Martin de Porres Group)
American
Style Lunch
A successful parish lunch was held at Our Lady of Walsingham in Portchester
on Sunday 10th August. Some 35 parishioners plus Father Paul Townsend,
Father Charles Aylward and Father Manuel Gonzalez enjoyed the American
buffet. A small donation of £25.90 was raised for parish funds.
Lay Leadership
A position paper on “Lay Leadership” has been produced by
members of the Diocesan Curia. They would like feedback on these ideas
by the end of the summer. If you are concerned by the changes that need
to take place in the Catholic Church, to compensate for the lack of priests
in our parishes, please read and comment on this important paper. It is
available on the parish website here
and responses can be posted through the parish discussion
board on this site.
What
are youth organisations doing in Fareham?
Enjoy a networking lunch and meet and hear Sal Thirlway, Senior Youth
Worker, Hampshire Youth Service – Fareham division.. Any organisation
working with young people is especially invited to bring an A3 sheet +
leaflets outlining their basic details – area of work, numbers involved,
needs, etc. (please let us know in advance). 12th September 12 noon to
2.00pm at the Octagon Lounge, Fernham Hall – lunch £2.00 per
person, pay on the day. Please contact 01329 231899 for booking.
Survivors
of Childhood Sexual Abuse
This day will be of interest to all who, in their professional lives,
meet survivors of childhood sexual abuse. It takes place on Saturday 13th
September from 9.30am to 4.00pm at St Stephen’s Catholic Church,
Oliver’s Battery Road North, Winchester. No fee – bring a
packed lunch – tea/coffee provided. For further details, please
contact Sylvia Tadd on 01962 855886 or Dinah McLaughlin 01962 627494.
Children’s
Liturgy
Please note that Children’s Liturgy resumes on 7th September.
Month
of Guided Prayer
At the Bible
School in Nutbourne, West Sussex there will be an opportunity to meet
your personal ‘prayer guide’ each week at a time to suit you.
(7th September – 5th October). For details contact The Catholic
Bible School, tel: 01243 371766 or
Email: info@catholic-bible-school.org
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Induction
of Fr. Chris Whelan
as Parish Priest of Fareham & Portchester
St Philip Howard Church
Friday 5th September – 7.30pm
followed by refreshments in St. Jude’s School Hall
A
Message from the Liturgy Group
On
Friday 5th September 2003 we are having a Parish Celebration to
welcome Father Chris as Parish Priest of Fareham and Portchester
and to mark the 125th Anniversary of the opening of the Sacred Heart
Church. As part of the Liturgy, we will be thanking God for the
richness of life in our Parish. In order to illustrate this we will
be covering a tree with leaves. Each leaf will bear the name of
a Parish Group and it is hoped that every Group will be represented
at the Celebration. Leaders of the various Groups are asked to arrange
for one of their Group to participate in this part of the Service.
The Representative should check in with Frankie Lane or Sheelagh
Pickard at 7.15pm, when the organisational details will be confirmed.
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Congratulations
Sheelagh and Jack Pickard and Dave and Nan Tooke are celebrating their
30th Wedding Anniversary. They would like to invite you into the hall
after the 9.00am Mass at Sacred Heart Church to join them in a celebratory
drink. All are welcome.
Item
for Sale
Nearly new stair lift for sale. Please contact the Parish Office if 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
In today’s Gospel we hear the reaction of the Jewish leaders
when they see the disciples of Jesus eating without performing the ritual
washings required by the Law. For the Jews, “the Law” meant
one of two things: either the “written” or the “oral”
Law. The more important of these is the written Law, set down in the Torah,
that is, the first five books of the Old Testament. However, beginning with
the fifth century before Jesus, there emerged in Israel a group of legal
experts called scribes, who felt these laws were too vague and should be
spelled out in more detail. This gave rise to a second set of laws called
oral Laws. These arose from the desire of many Jews to imitate the ritual
holiness of their priests.
According to the written Law, ritual hand washing was
required of all priests before they entered the sanctuary. Gradually,
people began to wash their hands before praying and the practice of washing
before praying, before eating evolved. By the time of Jesus, Jews observed
these oral traditions just as faithfully as they did the written Law.
The idea behind these observances was to try and make religion permeate
every action of their lives. But in the course of doing this, something
tragic happened. Slowly religion began to degenerate into an activity
of performing external rituals. As Christians, we must be careful not
to make the same mistake. What counts is not what we do, but the love
in our hearts that motivates us.
Thank you for all the love, help and support that you
gave Fr. Manuel Gonzalez while I was away. I am very grateful for his
friendship and his visits to our Parish. He left for Madrid with his mother
on Thursday and promised to return next year. Please remember him in your
prayers. Remember also to pray for Leslie Adams who will be receiving
the Ministry of Candidacy on Sunday 14th September and Matthew Carter,
who will begin seminary next week. Please also remember to pray for me
as I am officially inducted as your Parish Priest on Friday 5th September.
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A
Message from Leslie Adams
“Many thanks to all in Fareham and Portchester who made
my placement so enjoyable, particularly those who I had the privilege
of visiting in their home or in hospital.
Next
month, on Sunday 14th September, I will become a candidate for Ordination.
I warmly invite you to join me for this major step in my formation,
which will take place in St Swithun’s Church, Southsea at
the 10.00am Mass. Do come along if you can. The Mass is to be followed
by a barbecue and if you do plan to attend, please notify Joan or
Michele in the Parish Office.
Please
keep all the students for the Priesthood in your prayers; they need
all the support and encouragement that we can give them.
Finally,
should you visit Rome, please remember the Bar in the Common Room
of the Beda College never closes, so feel free to pop in and see
us anytime!
God
bless you,
Leslie Adams”
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Mass
of Thanksgiving
There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving in St John’s Cathedral at 3.00pm
on Sunday 26th October to celebrate the Pope’s Silver Jubilee and
the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This is a diocesan celebration
and all are very welcome.
Parish
Pilgrimage
The Parish Pilgrimage to London has proved to be very popular and the
coach is now fully booked. Although a closing date was given when the
pilgrimage was first advertised, this was the final date for bookings
if seats were still available. Regrettably, additional coaches cannot
be booked as there is a limit to the number of pilgrims that Allen Hall
and Tyburn Convent can manage. Thank you for all the interest shown.
Churches
Together in Portchester – DISCIPLE
Starting on 14th September 2003 a transforming journey through the Bible
with daily guided reading covering most of the Old and New Testaments.
Weekly tutorials with video, teaching and plenty of discussion. There
are three terms of 11 or 12 weeks – cost £16.00 per term.
If you are interested, please contact Reverend Andy Bridgen, 28 Froxfield
Gardens, Portchester, PO16 8DN.
Come
Let us Worship
On 9th October at Ferneham Hall, Church leaders from across the Borough
are planning a Praise and Worship evening for all the churches within
the Borough. The evening will major on sung worship, but will also include
some drama, dance, readings and a “creative corner” for those
who wish to express worship through painting or writing. It will conclude
with a simple “fellowship meal” and prayer for our Borough.
Please make a date to join with hundreds of other Christians to praise
God together and strengthen our unity.
GM Crops
On Monday 8th September the great debate on GM crops will be coming to
Fareham. A debate putting the case for and against will take place at
the United Reformed Church, Osborn Road South, Fareham. This will start
at 7.30pm. This will be your chance to have your say on the future of
GM. Please tell your friends about this important meeting. Hampshire Network
of Local Groups is working for a GM free Hampshire and there is currently
a petition circulating amongst the groups. If you are against GM and would
like a copy of the petition to obtain more signatures, please contact
John Vivian on 023 9242 2129.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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| 31st
August 2003
22nd Sunday of the Year
The
Year of St Mark |
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Growing
in Faith Together (GIFT)
The new programme of talks for Fareham Deanery GIFT in 2003-2004 will
commence on Wednesday 10th September. The first speaker will be Fr. John
Humphreys and the subject will be ‘Catholic Faith Exploration (café):
This is for you’. Please note the change of venue for the first
four talks in the series. These four talks, including 10th September,
will be held at St Mary’s Church Hall in Gosport from 7.30pm (Tea/Coffee
7.00pm). Everyone is most welcome. Access to the Hall is via Mumby Road
then right into Minit Road – also signposted as South Loading Road.
You will be facing the back of the church and the rear entrance to the
Presbytery. The Hall is on the right-hand side.
The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"When you are close to the tabernacle in which love incarnate
dwells, there is no distance ." (Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity).
If you are able to help with Adoration in Fareham please contact Lily
Peach on 077 678 98885.
Urgently
required at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester, two Adorers for
Mondays between 3.00pm and 4.00pm beginning on 8th September 2003. 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 will resume in the Sacred Heart Church and Our
Lady of Walsingham Church on Monday 8th September.
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First
Holy Communion Programme
Parents of those children of First Holy Communion age (born
before the 31st August 1996) who wish for their children to prepare
for this sacrament next year are invited to a meeting on
Wednesday 17th September at St Jude’s School
at 7.30pm.
This will be an information meeting for parents where the programme
will be discussed. If you wish your child to take part in the First
Holy Communion Programme please complete one of the forms to be
found at the entrance to the church and return this to Father Chris
or the Parish Office. |
Shoeboxes
Now that the summer holidays are over, it is time to start collecting
items for the shoe box appeal. There are leaflets at the back of each
church explaining how to put your box together, and what to put in it.
Please take one if you are planning a box. Thank you.
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Parish
Pilgrimage in the Steps of St Paul
Fr. Chris, Fr. Robin Ellwood and Fr. Paul Townsend are leading
a Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, Turkey, following
in the footsteps of St Paul. This Pilgrimage has been arranged
for 23rd to 30th October 2004 at an all inclusive cost of
£886.00 (single room supplement £96.00 per person).
Visits will be made to Ephesus, Laodicea, Smyrna, Philadelphia,
Sardis, Pergamos, Thyatira and Istanbul and Mass will be celebrated
at various sites during the visit.
Included
in the price are: return scheduled flights with Turkish Airlines
from Heathrow to Istanbul: return scheduled internal flights with
Turkish Airlines: private transfers from/to airports on arrival/departure:
all touring in modern air-conditioned coaches: all entrance fees
and services during the touring programme: the services of a professional
licensed local guide whilst touring: twin-bedded rooms sharing with
private facilities: half-board – Breakfast and Evening Meals:
UK Government Airport Departure Taxes: UK Airport Passenger Service
and Security Charges: Turkish Government Airport Departure Tax:
Turkish Government Visas: 20 kilos free luggage allowance and local
supervision by Maranatha Tours Office in Istanbul.
Booklets
containing full details and booking forms are available at the back
of our churches and should be returned with deposit and travel insurance
payment, to the Parish Office as soon as possible.
Places
will go extremely quickly, so early booking is recommended. |
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1920.00
Forthcoming
Special Collections
14th September – Racial Justice
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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