Home Mission Sunday
Today 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 after all masses this weekend
for CASE, the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation, which the bishops
have recently set up to replace the Catholic Missionary Society.
“Come
Let us Worship”
Everyone is invited to a joint evening of Praise and Worship on Thursday
9th October at 7.30pm at Ferneham Hall. This is an ecumenical opportunity
to celebrate what we share together through music, drama, dance and readings.
All churches in the Borough should be represented, so please do try to
attend.
Churches
Together in Fareham
There will be a series of talks this autumn entitled ‘Why do they
do it like that'. The idea is to increase people’s understanding
of other Christian traditions. This year’s talks will be as follows:
- Monday
29th September – 7.30pm
Rev. Richard Tanner – Methodist Church
- Monday
20th October - 7.30pm
Rev. Chris Whelan – Sacred Heart Church
- Monday
17th November - 7.30pm
Rev. Peter Trow – URC Church
Parish
Christian Ecology Group
The Parish Ecology Group will host an open meeting for all members of
the parish in the Sacred Heart Hall on Friday 26th September at 7.30pm.
There will be a presentation about Eco-Congregation from a group who have
done the programme. Please do come along and find out how we can use this
programme for the benefit of our parish.
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Growing in Faith Together (GIFT)
The
next talk in the 2003-2004 programme will take place on
Wednesday 8th October.
Speaker - Fr. James Boyle
The theme will be:
“Reconciliation - Repent and Believe”.
The talk will be held at St Mary’s Church Hall in Gosport
from 7.30pm (Coffee/Tea at 7.00pm).
Everyone is most welcome.
Access
to the Hall is via Mumby Road, then right into Minit Road (also
signposted as South Loading Rd). You will be facing the back of
the church and the rear entrance to the Presbytery. The Hall is
on the right-hand side. |
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.
Used
Postage Stamps
Please bring your used postage stamps to church. These are sent to the
Scout Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides holiday homes
for handicapped scouts (boys and girls). The box is in the entrance hall
of the church.
APF Promoters
& Red Box Holders
If your Red Mission box has not been emptied by 17th October, please contact
Ron Lewis on 01329 847533 (Fareham) or Joan Hamilton on 02392 385559 (Portchester).
House
Groups
The next house group meeting will be on Wednesday 1st October at 101 The
Avenue, Fareham commencing at 7.30pm. All are very welcome. For more information
please telephone 01329 847533.
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
Lawrence LeShan tells this story in his book How to Meditate.
An old monk prayed many years for a vision from God to strengthen his faith,
but it never came. He had almost given up hope when, one day, a vision of
Jesus appeared. The old monk was overjoyed. However, right in the middle
of the vision, the monastery bell rang. The ringing of the bell meant it
was time to feed the poor who gathered daily at the monastery gate. It was
the old monk’s turn to feed them. If he failed to show up with food,
the unfortunate people would leave quietly, thinking the monastery had nothing
to give them that day.
The old monk was torn between his earthly duty and his
heavenly vision. The monk made his decision before the bell stopped ringing.
With a heavy heart, he turned his back on the vision and went off to feed
the poor. Nearly an hour later, the old monk returned to his room. When
he opened the door, he could hardly believe his eyes. There in the room
was the vision waiting for him. As the monk dropped to his knees, the
vision of Jesus said to him, “My son, had you not gone off to
feed the poor, I would not have stayed".
Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, the monk
had given up everything to follow Jesus. He had already turned his back
on the material wealth of this world for the spiritual wealth of the next.
After doing this he learned that the best way to serve God was not simply
to spend hours in prayer, contemplating heavenly visions but something
far more basic was required. Simply to reach out in service to our brothers
and sisters in need of our help. This is the lesson that Jesus is teaching
us in today’s Gospel for this Home Mission Sunday: “If
anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant
of all."
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Feast of
Our Lady of Walsingham
Wednesday
24th September
To
celebrate this Feast there will be
Mass at
Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester
at 7.00pm
followed by light refreshments. |
Sean
Hogan R.I.P.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sean Hogan who died on Thursday.
Please also remember his family in your prayers.
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.
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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 should complete one of the forms to be found
at the entrance to the church, and return this to Father Chris or
the Parish Office as soon as possible.
The
programme will commence on Saturday 4th October at St Jude’s
School from 10.00am. |
Christmas
Cards
The Catholic Children’s Society Christmas card catalogues are available
now. Please take one from the back of the church. As the Society both
publishes and distributes the cards all profits go to support its work,
and the money makes a valuable contribution to helping children and families
in our area.
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Revisiting
Vatican II:
The Vocation of all Believers
Bishop Remi de Roo
Monday 13th October 8.00 - 9.30pm
Cathedral Discovery Centre, Portsmouth
This will be a rare opportunity to listen to and meet Bishop Remi
de Roo who was Bishop of Victoria, Canada, at the time of the Second
Vatican Council. He is one of the few surviving English-speaking
Council Fathers. He continues to speak nationally and internationally
about the Council and related matters and we are delighted that
he has agreed to visit our diocese in October. Tickets cost £5
per person. To book, please contact the Department for Evangelisation
and Catechesis on 01329 835583. |
“Getting
to know us better”
Fareham and Gosport NHS Primary Care Trust are holding an open evening
at Ferneham Hall, Fareham on Tuesday 30th September starting at 7.00pm
(light refreshments available). This is an opportunity for the people
of Fareham and Gosport to hear about their local health services and meet
some of the staff who provide them. All welcome. For more information
please contact Judith Foster on 01329 229432.
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First Friday Reflections
7.30pm
– Our Lady of Walsingham Church
Friday
3rd October
‘Rosary’
Friday
7th November
‘In Remembrance of the Dead’ |
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.
St
Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here |
| 21st
September 2003
25th Sunday of the Year
The
Year of St Mark |
 |
 Andrew
Chandler
This weekend we welcome Fr. Andrew Chandler to our community. Fr Andrew
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 (Father Chris).
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.
 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.
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.
London
Parish Pilgrimage – 4th October
All places for the pilgrimage have now been filled. Pilgrims are reminded
that their respective pick up points are: St Philip Howard Car Park (7.20am);
Sacred Heart Church (7.30am) and Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester
(7.40am). The coach will depart promptly at these times, so please arrive
early to allow good time for check-in and boarding.
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Catholic
Bible School, Nutbourne,
W. Sussex
A
Day for Women
“You or me, God?”
presented by Sue Whitehead
Saturday
11th October 2003
10.00am – 3.30pm
(Prior booking is helpful)
Sue is a wife and mother, a writer and author and an experienced
international conference speaker.
Please
telephone 01243 371766 for further details. |
Day of
Prayer & Reflection for Catechists and those involved in Children’s
Liturgy
This Day of Prayer will be held on Saturday 27th September from 10.30am
– 4.00pm (10.00am for coffee) at St Swithun’s, Firgrove Rd,
Yately. This annual day is a great opportunity for catechists to meet
each other. This year you are invited to bring a symbol that speaks to
you of conversion and transformation, such as an object, picture, poem
or music. There will be a recommissioning service of catechists to close
the day. For more information please contact the Department for Evangelisation
and Catechesis on 01329 835583.
Eucharistic
Ministers Roster
The new Roster for Eucharistic Ministers at the Sacred Heart and St Philip
Howard churches is now available. Please ensure that you collect your
named copy from the back of the church.
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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.
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. |
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1679.10
Racial
Justice - £316.18
Forthcoming
Special Collections
21st September – Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation
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
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