 Lent
Breakfast is Served!
Breakfast will be served in the Sacred Heart Hall every Thursday during
Lent after the 7.00am Mass. All proceeds from the Lenten Breakfasts will
go towards the Parish Lenten Appeal. Everyone is most welcome.
Lent Lunches
The Portchester Churches will be holding Shoppers’ Services and
Lent lunches every Wednesday in Lent at the Methodist Church at 12.00
noon. Catholics will be organising the lunches on the 10th March and the
7th April. Father Chris will lead these two Services. Do make a note in
your diary and support these ecumenical lunches. All proceeds are shared
between CAFOD and Christian Aid.
Lent
Fast Day – 5th March 2004
Friday 5th March is Lent Fast Day. Thanks to your generous donations CAFOD
is able to support work with over 500 partner organisations in more than
60 of the world’s poorest countries. £1.00 will provide a
child with health care in Sierra Leone for 1 month; £2.50 will pay
school fees for an orphaned child in Rwanda, so please do give generously.
CAFOD envelopes are now available from the back of all churches for return
on the weekend of 6th /7th March. PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR PARISH ENVELOPES
FOR THIS COLLECTION.
Prepare
for the Parish Day! –
27th March 2004
9.45am – 4.00pm
Venue -
St Jude’s School and St Philip Howard Church
Theme – Our Parish –
20/20 Vision
Please think and pray about this event. The following questions
may help to focus your thoughts and aid discussions on the day:
Prayer
for the Parish here
How are we LIVING our FAITH today?
In what ways could we improve this in the future?
What impact on parish life would this create?
We
would encourage everyone to join us on the 27th March. However,
there will inevitably be some people who will be unable to attend.
In order that your views are heard there will be Suggestion
Boxes at the back of all churches until after Easter. These
will be emptied before the event and then again after Easter
in case your views were not heard on the day. Representatives
from other parishes in the Deanery will be joining us for the
morning session, which will focus on the likely situation of
the Diocese and Deanery as the number of priests and parishes
reduces over the next few years. The discussions for the afternoon
session will be held in the light of this.
Bring a packed lunch – drinks will be provided
Please advise St. Jude’s if you require crèche
facilities
Prayer
for the Parish here
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Mass
for the Sick
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be offered on Saturday
20th March at 3.00pm at St Philip Howard Church. Anyone whose health is
seriously impaired by sickness or increasing years or who faces surgery
should receive this Sacrament of healing. Ministers of the Eucharist who
take Holy Communion to the sick and housebound members of our community
are asked, if possible, to bring those in their care to this Mass.
Faith
and Light
Douglas Harrison would like to say thank you for the generous donations
given to ‘Faith and Light’ in memory of his late wife Doreen.
The next meeting of our parish Faith and Light Group will be on Sunday
14th March at 3.00pm in St Philip Howard Hall.
A New
Voice in Health – Yours!
The setting up of an independent Forum for health matters in Fareham and
Gosport offers people a unique opportunity to monitor and influence the
services provided by the local NHS health trust. The Forum’s first
public meeting will take place on Wednesday 24th March at 7.30pm in the
Octagon Room, Ferneham Hall. It aims to discover the main health concerns
of local people, and consider how best to promote them. Come along and
have your say, and find out more about this exciting new community project.
A similar meeting will be held in April in the Gosport area – details
to follow.
Thanks
from May Maginn
May Maginn wishes to say a big thank you for the prayers and masses offered
for her during the past few months. She is now home from hospital and
making a good recovery.
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
Today
is the first Sunday of the season of Lent. Down through the centuries,
Christians have found this season to be a time of special grace, especially
for reforming one’s life. Lent is a time for us to evaluate our
lives and deal with our sinfulness. It is a time for us to turn to Christ,
acknowledge our sins and confess them and commit ourselves to Him in a
deeper, more profound way. If we are looking for a special way to celebrate
Lent this year, we could do no better than to use it as an opportunity
to rediscover the power and peace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
All of us
are invited and encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
at some point during Lent. The children and teachers of St. Jude’s
will have an opportunity to celebrate this on Thursday 4th March. Children
preparing for First Holy Communion in our Parish will be celebrating Reconciliation
for the first time on 6th March at 11.00am at St. Philip Howard Church.
The rest of us can respond to this invitation by receiving this Sacrament
at our Penitential Service which will take place on Thursday 25th March
at 7.30pm at the Sacred Heart Church.
Lent is
also a special time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This week let
us pray for our Parish community, especially our R.C.I.A. candidates and
catechumens who celebrate the Rite of Election at the Cathedral on Saturday
and the Presentation of the Elect this Sunday. Let us also try and keep
the Family Fast Day on Friday 5th March and remember to return our CAFOD
envelopes next weekend.
Father
Francis Isherwood
Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Father Francis
Isherwood who died on Sunday 22nd February. Please remember the family
and friends of Father Francis in your prayers.
Lourdes
Buffet Lunch
The next Lourdes Lunch will take place in St Jude’s School Hall
on Saturday 6th March at 12.30pm. The lunch is in aid of the Fund to send
young helpers to Lourdes where they attend the sick pilgrims. Tickets
cost £5 and may be obtained by contacting Ann Corr on 01329 236575
or Pauline Jackson on 01329 236275. The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to
Lourdes will take place from the 27th August – 3rd September 2004
under the leadership of Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Archbishop of Southwark.
If you are a sick or housebound member of our parish and would like to
go on this pilgrimage please call one of the above numbers. Any person
aged 17 years or over who would like to assist the sick at Lourdes please
contact Jane Cadogan on 01329 235987.
Lent
Penitential Service
A Lenten Penitential Service, with the opportunity for individual
confession, will take place on Thursday 25th March at 7.30pm in the Sacred
Heart Church. The Clergy of the Deanery will be attending. Additional
Penitential Services will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 29th March at St
Joseph’s, Gosport; 7.30pm on Tuesday 30th March at St Margaret Mary,
Park Gate; 2.00pm on Wednesday 31st March at St John the Evangelist, Lee-on-Solent
and 7.30pm on Thursday 1st April at Immaculate Conception, Stubbington.
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
take place on Wednesdays, 10th & 17th March at the home of Ann and
Kevin Tarling. If you would like to take part please call Ann or Kevin
on 01329 829549. Future Baptism courses will be held on 11th & 18th
May. Please arrange the date of the baptism with Father Chris.
First
Holy Communion – Parents Evening
Parents
of First Holy Communion children are reminded that there is a parents
evening on Wednesday 3rd March at 7.30pm in St Jude’s School.
The
Wintershall “Life of Christ”
www.wintershall-estate.com
An open air play in three acts, lasting about five hours will take place
on Saturday 26th June at 10.00am – price £22.00 all inclusive,
play and transport. The coach will pick up at Park Gate, Stubbington,
St Philip Howard Church and Our Lady of Walsingham, Portchester. If
interested, please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible, as
there are only a few tickets still available.
The
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The children preparing for their First Holy Communion will take part
in the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Saturday 6th
March at 11.00am at St Philip Howard Church. Please keep the children,
their parents and the catechists in your prayers.
Thanks
from St Francis Leprosy Guild
Sister
Anne writes: “Thank you for your cheque for £225.53…we
are indeed grateful for this generous donation. Please assure your parishioners
of a remembrance in our prayers and the prayers of those whom we help.”
Lent
Meditations
Fr. Chris will lead a series of reflections for Lent. Each
evening of reflection will last about an hour and will take
place at the Sacred Heart Church at 7.45pm. All are most welcome.
This year’s Meditation will be on the alternative readings
for Year C, more details may be found in the Parish Lent Leaflet.
Friday 19th March
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Friday 26th March
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (or Loving Father)
Friday 2nd April
The Adulterous Woman
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Dancing
into Stillness
An evening of meditative Circle Dance led by Gillian Limb will be held
on Friday 5th March from 7.15 – 9.15pm in St John’s Cathedral
Hall, Portsmouth. No booking necessary, just come along! For further
information, please contact Roisin on 023 9273 3766 or Verena on 023
9261 0026.
St
Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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| 29th
February 2004
1st Sunday of Lent
The
Year of St Luke |
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 Salesian
Sisters Missionary Appeal
Sister Ann writes “Thank you very much for allowing me to
make the appeal for the Missionary Sisters and for the wonderful welcome
I was given in all the churches. I enjoyed my visit immensely. The response
I received for the appeal was outstanding and I thank each and every one
for their generosity. The Lord will certainly reward you all individually
and the parish as a whole. I can assure you that the Sisters will be remembering
you all in their daily prayers”.
Stations
of the Cross
There will be Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at the Sacred
Heart Church at 7.00pm. (On 5th March, Stations will take place at 6.30pm
due to the Service for the Women’s World Day of Prayer.) Stations
of the Cross will also take place every Sunday during Lent at Our Lady
of Walsingham Church in Portchester at 4.30pm.
 The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, burning with love for me, inflame my heart
with love for You.
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.
Women’s
World Day of Prayer
The theme for this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer
is “In Faith – Women Shape the Future” prepared
by Christian women of Panama.
Fareham
– 5th March 2004 at the Sacred Heart Church, Fareham at 1.30pm (Speaker
– Joy Ellis) and 7.30pm (Speaker - Deacon Langford Vincent).
Portchester
- 5th March 2004 at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester beginning
at 2.15pm and the Speaker will be Rebecca Goodlad.
Parish
Lent Leaflet
Copies of the Parish Lent Leaflet detailing times of Lent Meditations,
Stations of the Cross, Walk of Witness and the Penitential Service are
now available at the back of all churches. Please do take a copy.
Rite
of Presentation of the Elect
Please pray for the members of our Parish who attended the Rite of Election
this weekend. Jayne, Lin, Alyson, Paul, Nick, Danielle and Sarah will
be presented to our community today at the 11.00am Mass at St Philip Howard
Church. Please do make yourself known to them after this mass.
Parish
Lenten Appeal 2004
Please support our 2004 Parish Lenten Appeal ‘Looking forward
– with your help’. All proceeds generated from the Appeal
will help two charities working for the blind:
‘Fareham & Gosport Active Groups for the Blind’
are recently formed local groups helping to give confidence and independence
to blind and partially sighted people. They provide necessary and special
equipment plus a range of social activities, home visiting, advice and
financial support.
‘Eye Contact’ is a special project for Central Asia,
serving firstly the blind children of Uzbekistan. A Fareham couple, Mr
& Mrs Stannard, organise ‘Eye Contact’ and their
aim is to provide every blind child in Uzbekistan with a Brailler and
to equip the children with ‘feely’ watches, simple jigsaws
and adapted tools. A bucket collection will be taken at the end of Sunday
Masses during Lent for this appeal.
GIFT
– Growing in Faith Together
The next talk in the 2004 programme will take place on Wednesday 10th
March in St Jude’s School at 7.30pm (Coffee/Tea 7.00pm). The theme
for the evening will be ‘Gods Living Word for Today’ and the
speakers will be Geoff and Gina Poulter from the Catholic
Bible School. All are very welcome.
Traidcraft
We now have the price list for Traidcraft goods. Orders can be taken after
each Mass in the hall starting this weekend, 28th/29th February. Brochures
will be available for collection the following weekend. We still need
people at St Philip Howard and Our Lady of Walsingham to assist in collating
the orders at their Masses.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1588.15
Catholic
Children’s Society - £687.40
Forthcoming
Collections
7th March - Family Fast Day
21st March
- Clergy Assistance Fund
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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