Women’s World Day of Prayer - Portchester
This takes place on 5th March 2004 at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester beginning at 2.15pm. The theme is “In Faith – Women Shape the Future” and the Speaker will be Rebecca Goodlad. Those who are reading are asked to attend a rehearsal at Our Lady of Walsingham on Friday 27th February at 10.30am.

Green MEP to visit Solent
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MEP for the South East, will be speaking at two events in South Hampshire. On Tuesday 2nd March she will be speaking at a public meeting jointly organized with Christian Aid on trade justice. The venue is Avenue St Andrew United Reform Church main hall, which is on The Avenue, Southampton, opposite Northlands Road. The meeting begins at 7.30pm and will finish with refreshments: admission free. The second meeting is on Friday 19th March at the banqueting suite in Portsmouth Guildhall and is being held by Oxfam’s Portsmouth Action Group. The subject is Caroline’s visit earlier this month to see the “security wall” that is being erected by the Israeli Government to separate Israelis from Palestinians. She found that the wall is being built inside Palestinian territory and is having a devastating affect on communities. A speaker from Oxfam will explain its work in the area. The banqueting suite will be open from 7.00pm for people to have a look at the stalls and displays and get a drink from the bar. The talk will start at 7.30pm with a break for Middle Eastern snacks (cost included in the £5 admission).

Lent/Easter at Park Place Pastoral Centre
A Lenten Retreat entitled ‘Holy Words’ will be led by Stephen Weaver on Saturday 3rd April from 10.00am-4.00pm. Cost: £15.00 Please bring a packed lunch (Coffee/Tea provided). B&B available £25. Stephen Weaver is a psycho-therapist and Spiritual Director. He is well known for his retreats in helping people discover themselves in the light of the Gospel. During the Retreat he will explore the themes of Faith, Hope and Love in the work of the Poets such as Emily Dickinson and T.S. Eliot.

Holy Week Experience led by Father Andrew McMahon from Wednesday 7th – Sunday 11th April. to gather and reflect on the central mystery of the Christian faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. £184.00 Residential full board.

Holy Week Sadhana – Residential retreat from 7th – 11th April led by Bernard Kilroy, Pam Lee and Caroline McKenzie. (This is a Residential Retreat alongside the Easter Stay - Cost £212.00 full board.)

To make a booking or for further details on any of the above, please telephone Park Place Pastoral Centre on 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.

THE UNION
Thought for the Week
“Here I am, send me”

A good vocation is simply a firm and constant will in which the called person has to serve God in the way and in the places to which Almighty God has called him. (St. Francis de Sales).
Father Andrew Chandler

Teaching at Oaklands School, Waterlooville
Required for September 2004 the following posts:-
Assistant Head Teacher – (AHT Scale)
Head of Year – main scale + 3 management points.
Teacher of R.E, Teacher of English, Teacher of Science, Teacher of Food Technology, Part-time Teacher of Art. (all main scale).
Also needed Cover Assistants, who look after classes when a teacher is absent, and also Exam Invigilators, whose role is to supervise with other exam invigilators whilst students are sitting their public examinations in May and June this year.

If you are interested in any of the above, please contact immediately Chris Whitfield, Headteacher or Martin Lewis, Deputy Head at the school on:023 9225 9214.

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ with the B.S.O.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s legendary ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ comes to the magnificent setting of Portchester Castle on Sunday 11th July 2004 at 7.00pm (Gates open at 5.00pm). West End stars, including Steve Balsamo as Jesus and Chris Holland as Judas, will be joined by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for a spectacular concert performance of the whole show. Advance purchase tickets are £24.00 (Under 16/Students £21.00). The show is likely to sell out very quickly so buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment. You may book via ‘Ticket South’ (tel. 023 8071 1818), via the website at www.ticket-south.co.uk or in person at West Quay or the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.

Barn Dance – St Jude’s School
By popular demand there will be a Barn Dance at St. Jude’s School on Saturday 13th March from 7.30pm – 11.00pm (1st Dance at 8.00pm). Music from the ‘Turk Town Troopers’. Tickets are £5 each including supper and licensed bar, please contact Graham Stanton on 01329 284057. Admittance will be by advance ticket only, so please book early to avoid disappointment!

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 Faith and Light will take place on Sunday 15th February at St Philip Howard Church Hall beginning at 3.00pm.

Pax Christi Seminar
“Bridges not Walls for the People of the Holy Land”: Speakers: Trevor Mostyn, Middle East Correspondent; Floresca Karanasou, Middle East Project Manager, QPSW; Fr Paul Lansu, Pax Christi International, Brussels – venue Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London, SW1P 1QN – no charge – donations on the day.

Union of Catholic Mothers AGM
The UCM Mass and AGM will be held on Monday 16th February. The 7.00pm Mass in the Sacred Heart Church will be celebrated by Father Chris Whelan for the deceased members of the UCM. The AGM will take place in the Sacred Heart Hall following the Mass - new members are very welcome.

8th February 2004 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time The Year of St Luke

Benediction
There will be a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday 20th February at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church. All are very welcome.

Christian Aid Collectors - Fareham
There will be a meeting for Christian Aid collectors on Wednesday 11th February at 7.30pm in the URC hall. All interested parishioners are invited.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“People need the Eucharist, which is a source of strength for evangelisation, in order to change the world, and help the neediest. More than ever before, Christians need the Eucharist to promote the ‘missionary renewal.’” (Pope John Paul II)

If you are able to help with Adoration in Fareham please contact Lily Peach on 077 678 98885, or to help with Adoration at Portchester, please contact Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.

Adoration in Portchester will resume tomorrow, 9th February, beginning at 1.00pm and ending at 4.00pm.

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. . Future Baptism courses will be held on 10th & 17th March and 11th & 18th May. Please arrange the date of the baptism with Father Chris.

Confirmation
The 11.00am Mass at St. Philip Howard today will be the Enrolment Mass for Confirmation Candidates. As they begin their journey, let us remember the Candidates in our prayers:

Imogen Annison	Nicole Aquilina
Alexander Birkett	Madeleine Crowder
Stephen Devoy	Alice Ferguson
Adam Gainey	Laura Gainey
William Gammon	Jessie Gwilt
Amy Halewood	Roderick Hartridge
Chris Henderson	John Kinder
Hannah Leggat	Laura McFadyen
Joe Maharg	Samuel Murdoch
Edward Partington	Joseph Partington
Diane Quinn	Jay Robertson
Clodagh Thorpe	Will Tula
Alice Wrightson

Cleaners Wanted – St Philip Howard Church
If there is anyone who is able to help with the cleaning of St Philip Howard Church once a week for about one hour, please contact Anna on 01329 312985.

Lent 2004 – “Face to Face”
Christmas is over and Lent is fast approaching. This year, for five consecutive weeks during Lent, home-based ecumenical groups will be discussing the Lent course “Face to Face”. Catholic participation in these groups has been growing, but more people taking part would enable Catholics to be amongst all the participating groups. The course has been prepared jointly by Churches Together in Britain & Ireland and the Bible Society and promises to be stimulating and thought provoking, exploring how we can grow into the image and likeness of God. Application forms are available at the back of the church and these may be returned to either the named people on the forms or to the Parish Office. Please do take a form and fill it in as soon as possible.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1488.20

Forthcoming Collections
8th February - Catholic Education Service

15th February - Salesian Sisters Missionary Appeal

22nd February - Catholic Children’s Society

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