Racial Justice
A special collection will be taken after all masses this weekend in aid of Racial Justice.

Home Mission Sunday
Next Sunday is Home Mission Sunday, a day of prayer for the spread of the Gospel in England and Wales. Please pray that we will find ways to share our faith with others. There will be a collection next week for CASE, the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation, which the bishops have recently set up to replace the Catholic Missionary Society. CASE will work with individuals, parishes and communities to encourage evangelisation and to have a deeper understanding of the world in which we live and are called to evangelise. It will also continue the work of the Catholic Enquiry Office, offering free and confidential information about the Catholic faith to enquirers.

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 Wednesdays 17th & 24th September at the home of Anne and Kevin Tarling. If you would like to take part, please contact Anne or Kevin on 01329 829549. Godparents are also very welcome to attend. Please arrange the date of baptism of your child with Father Chris.

Prayer Group
Our Prayer Group meets on alternate Mondays at 7.45pm for 8.00pm at 86 Western Road, Fareham – hostess Mrs. Christine Peterson. The next meeting will take place on 22nd September. All are welcome.

New Altar Servers Training
Training for new altar servers is due to start on Saturday 20th September for 4 consecutive weeks. If you have made your First Holy Communion and would like to become a new altar server (with your parents/guardians permission) please complete the slip below. This can be returned either to Fr. Chris or Mrs McGrew, Headteacher St. Jude’s School or David Ryan, Co-ordinator of Altar Servers, via the Sacred Heart Parish Office or the School Reception.

Catholic Bible School, Nutbourne, W. Sussex Spiritual Direction Course A two year Programme open to all commences on 23rd September. The Course draws very heavily on the insights from Ignatian Spirituality and leads to a Certificate awarded by the Catholic Bible School. Please telephone 01243 371766 for further details. Monthly Healing Service Every third Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm in Nutbourne Chapel – next Service on 15th October.

APF Promoters & Red Box Holders
Any Red Mission Box which has not already been emptied during the past year should be cleared over the next three or four weeks. If your box has not been emptied by 17th October, please contact Ron Lewis on 01329 847533 (Fareham) or Joan Hamilton on 02392 385559 (Portchester).

SPUC Pro-Life Conference & Handbook
If passed, the government’s draft Mental Incapacity Bill will become the first major law in the world allowing euthanasia by neglect. SPUC has organised a major half-day conference in Regent Hall, 275 Oxford St, London on Saturday 27th September, at which leading doctors and lawyers will speak. Also, SPUC has published a Pro-Life Lobbying Handbook which explains how people can act effectively against euthanasia and other anti-life threats. If you are interested in obtaining conference tickets (£10 each) or lobbying handbooks, please call Anthony on 020 7222 5845.

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
The Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross commemorates the victory that Jesus Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection. The cross is a mark of great suffering and humiliation, but it is a horrific symbol which we adore because through it we have come to know the great love that Jesus has for us, and through His wounds inflicted on the cross, we have been healed. The Cross of Jesus Christ was found in the fourth century by St. Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. According to legend, a Jewish man named Judah was the only person who knew of the location of the cross. Under pressure from St. Helen, he revealed that it had been buried under the temple of Venus which had been built by Emperor Hadrian at Golgotha. As she found three crosses buried at the site, it seemed impossible to determine which one was the cross of Jesus. Just then a funeral procession was passing by, and St. Helen had all three of the crosses brought to the side of the dead body. When the third cross was placed upon the dead man, he rose to life, confirming that this was indeed the life-giving cross of Jesus.

There are probably hundreds of legends and stories that are attached to the finding and veneration of the true cross (each with a hundred variations), and all of them seek to remind us of how dearly we value the sacrifice that Jesus made by carrying it. The cross is the burden that He lifted when He walked among us, it is the symbol of His suffering, it is the altar on which He, as our high priest, offered Himself as the victim. It is the weapon by which the powers of hell are defeated, it is the bridge between heaven and earth, and it is the balance on which the price of our redemption has been measured out. And so, as we honour the cross which Jesus Christ bore for us, we pray that we might find in His example the strength to bear our own burdens with patience and to triumph over our own difficulties assisted by strength that comes from above.

Father Andrew Chandler
As from 22nd September we welcome Fr. Andrew Chandler who will be residing at the Presbytery as he undertakes his new full-time Ministry as Hospital Chaplain. Although Fr. Andrew will be living within our community, he will not have a pastoral role within the Parish. I know you will make him feel at home.
   

Churches Together in Portchester
The Portchester Churches meet together for Praise in the Precinct at Portchester on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10.30am to 11.30am. The next Service takes place on 20th September and is preceded by prayer at the Methodist Church, Castle Street at 9.30am. All are most welcome.

Beetle Drive
A Beetle Drive with an American Style Supper and music will take place on Saturday 27th September at Our Lady of Walsingham from 7.00 to 9.30pm. Bring a plate of food to share and your own wine if required. Tickets (£1 adults & 50p children under 12) are available from Rebecca Goodlad on 02392 381802, after Mass at Our Lady of Walsingham or at the door on the night. All welcome.

Children’s Liturgy
In the interests of health and safety and child protection, we are required to have a register of children attending Children’s Liturgy. As time is limited during the Liturgy, we are asking if parents could please sign their children in a book which will be in the foyer of each church.

Free Lawnmower
A battery-powered Qualcast 4x4 lawnmower is looking for pastures new. Excellent condition – can deliver. Contact: Michael Coleman on Fareham 289876.

Faith and Light
Faith and Light is an ecumenical Christian organisation for people with learning difficulties and their families and friends. The next meeting of our parish Faith and Light group will be today, 14th September at 3.00pm in St Philip Howard Hall.

Scout Executive
A reminder that the next Scout Executive meeting will held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th September in St Philip Howard Hall.

Mumbaba Music Group – Portchester
The Mumbaba Music Group is run for parents and their babies/toddlers and meets at Cobham Hall next to Our Lady of Walsingham Church in Portchester. There is an additional Mumbaba group starting at 11.00am on Wednesdays. All parents and babies/toddlers welcome. Parking is available for the members of the group in the car park at Our Lady of Walsingham Church.

Diary Date - Festival of Catholic Culture
“Towards Advent” – Saturday 15th November at Westminster Cathedral Hall, all day from 10am. Music, bookstalls, displays from a wide range of Catholic groups and organisations. A feast of glorious choral music in the Catholic tradition; also talks and workshops on topics of Catholic interest. Everyone welcome, admission free, refreshments available throughout the day.

Macmillan Cancer Relief Coffee Morning
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – Friday 26th September 10am to 12 noon at 22 Magpie Close Fareham. Don’t phone a friend…bring one! More details from Elizabeth Evans on 01329 231448.

Church Parade
The 11.00am Mass at St Philip Howard Church on Sunday 21st September will be a Church Parade.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

14th September 2003 The Triumph of the Cross The Year of St Mark

Annual Parish Bazaar
The Parish Bazaar will take place on Saturday 22nd November at St Jude’s School. Due to ill health Rosemary and Jack Fogwill will not be able to organise the Bric-a-Brac stall. Any offers? Help is also needed on other stalls. If you are able to volunteer your time please contact Yvonne Byrne on 01329 311911 as soon as possible. Items for sale may be left at the back of all three churches on 1, 8 and 15th November.

Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) 2003-2004
The new programme of talks for Fareham Deanery GIFT in 2003-2004 will commence this Wednesday 10th September. The first speaker will be Fr. John Humphreys and the subject will be ‘Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFÉ): This is for you’. The talk 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
Speaking of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, Bl. Damien of Molokai said, "I find my consolation in my one Companion who never abandons me.”

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.

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.

Faith and Light
Faith and Light is an ecumenical Christian organisation for people with learning difficulties and their families and friends. The next meeting of our parish Faith and Light group will be on Sunday 14th September at 3.00pm in St Philip Howard Hall.

Help Required
2 hours help required each week for a variety of things such as light housework, shopping etc. Area – North West Fareham. For more details please telephone Fhm. 236172.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1591.80

Forthcoming Special Collections
14th September – Racial Justice
21st September – Catholic Missionary Society
28th September - Cathedral

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