Lourdes Lunch
The next Lourdes lunch will take place on Saturday 17th July 2004 at St Jude’s School Hall at 12.30pm. Tickets are on sale this weekend, price £5.00 from Pauline Jackson on 01329 236275 or Ann Corr on 01329 236575. All proceeds go to the Lourdes Fund.

“Connected”
The closing date for articles for the next issue of our Parish Magazine is Friday 16th July.

Home Helps Urgently Needed
Our Home Helps have a vital role in assisting older people to remain happy in their homes. Fareham MOPS is the largest group in Hampshire with 475 clients but we are critically short of home helps. Typically home helps work for 1-2 hours a week for each of 1 to 10 clients; they can take on as few or as many clients as required. Salary: £5 per hour, duties include light housework but not personal care or cooking. Police checks via the CRB will be undertaken. For more information please contact Fareham Home Help on 01329 313113.

Garden Party
Today (4th July) come rain or shine the annual GARDEN PARTY will take place at Park Place Pastoral Centre from 3.00 – 5.30pm. All parishioners and friends are warmly invited. There will be home-made produce, garden plants, objects d’arts, books, tombola, competition (with a prize), raffle, children’s activities – plus a display of Irish dancing and a surprise opening! All proceeds will go to the Sisters for their Medical Mission in Northern India. Admission costs: £5.00 adult, 50p children to include a delicious tea and lucky ticket prize. Tickets are available from Park Place on 01329 833403 and on the day.

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
There is a simple but profound prayer that came to my mind upon contemplating today’s readings and it is this:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
(Reinhold Niebuhr)

The idea of peace in our world at this time seems so far removed from us. Intentions to bring about liberty and freedom in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq seem to have brought further trouble and bloodshed rather than the peace hoped for. Jesus teaches his disciples a way of peace that can mean walking away – it’s a hard path to take when you have experienced love and wish to share it. But, St Paul reminds us that as we follow Christ the only thing we can boast about is the cross. So, let us, today, make this prayer ours, for ourselves and for all who seek justice and peace throughout the world.

Father Andrew Chandler

Technology Week’ at St Jude’s School!
St Jude’s School is holding a ‘Technology Week’ from Monday 12th July – Friday 16th July. Donations of cotton and linen sheets (to be painted on!) and wool and fabric are urgently required to enable the children to make mini theatres. All donations should be taken to the school as soon as possible, marked for the attention of Mrs. Burwood.

House Group
The House Group will meet on Wednesday 7th July (7.45pm for 8.00pm) at 101 The Avenue, Fareham. The reflection will be on the video ‘Sharing the Bible’.

All are welcome. The House Group will then not meet again until September. For more information ring 01329 847533.

Summer Quiz
Test your knowledge and have fun with friends by completing the Summer Quiz in aid of LIFE. Quiz entries will be on sale after all masses this weekend - £1 per entry. If you are unable to collect one at Mass this weekend, forms are available from either the Parish Office or by telephoning Rebecca Goodlad on 02392 381802. All entries to be returned by the 31st August 2004.

A Message of Thanks
Peggy Thomas, Brown Owl, wishes to thank so many friends for Get Well Cards, 80th Birthday cards and cards of condolence on the tragic death of her son-in-law, Anthony Beech, husband of her daughter, Alison. May God bless you all.

Union of Catholic Mothers
Nearly New Sale – after all Masses this weekend in aid of the Bomnti Care Home in Istanbul, Turkey.

Thank you from Romania
“Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ, I am Father Alexandru Cobzaru, parish priest in Bucharest and since 1990 I am working for Caritas Bucharest, as director. This year, Mr. John Whelan visited us as guest and collaborator. He visited most of our projects and got acquainted with many of the social, economic, religious, cultural, political, ethical and historical realities of Romania. In the very first day of his stay in Bucharest, John gave us the cheque worth £2,677.00 to be used in the benefit of our social projects for children. Beside this cheque, all his materials presenting the situation in Romania and our project – work not so easy to do, as he confessed – have the same purpose: to generate support in the favour of the needy people in Romania. The solidarity of you all – John Whelan, the Parish Priest and the Parish community of Fareham and Portchester – impressed me very much: ‘We are not alone! Beside God, there are brothers and sisters in England, thinking of us, being in solidarity with us, and giving us a helping hand to face the needs and the injustice we have to cope with. The solidarity of the Community of Fareham and Portchester is very important. Our local Church, our Archbishop Msgr. Dr. Ioan Robu, and all beneficiaries of your generosity are thanking you from the bottom of their hearts. God bless you and repay you a thousand times more! With great respect and gratitude. (Father Alexandru Cobzaru).”

4th July 2004 14th Sunday of the Year The Year of St Luke

Day for Life
Once again, the Catholic Church in England and Wales marks the first Sunday of July as a special day to celebrate and reflect on the gift of life. This year we are celebrating the blessing of families. Whatever our family situation, we are all part of the family of God. The invitation today is to reflect on what family means for us and to give thanks for the love and care we receive both from our human families and from our spiritual family, where God is the loving Father of us all. Leaflets from the Bishops’ Conference are available this weekend.

Open Garden
Chris and Frankie Lane are once again opening their garden at 50 Hill Park Road, Fareham in aid of the Red Cross. It will be open from 2.00pm to 6.00pm on 10th and 11th July. Tea and home made cakes will be available and plants will be on sale.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, whom I believe to be really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, receive this my most profound act of adoration to supply for the desire I have to adore You unceasingly, and in thanksgiving for the sentiments of love which Your Most Sacred Heart has for me in this Sacrament.” (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque).

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.

Congratulations
Our congratulations go to Harry Webber who successfully completed his abseil in aid of the Rowans Hospice.

Portchester Gala
The Churches Together in Portchester Cake Stall at the Gala took £360.00. The amount remaining after deduction of expenses will be given to local charities. Many thanks to all those who gave cakes for the stall.

St Edmund’s Catholic School, Portsmouth
The Governors are seeking to appoint the following:
Assistant Laboratory Technician Scale ½ 25 hours per week – term time only. An enthusiastic person is sought to help support the successful Science Department. No previous experience required, in-service training will be provided. Previous applicants need not apply.
Secretarial/Administrative Assistant. Scale ½ depending on experience. The successful applicant will be of smart appearance, courteous and able to work on their own initiative as well as part of a busy team. A good working knowledge of Microsoft packages and general secretarial skills are essential, as is the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, yet still remain calm. Experience of SIMS and a senior educational environment would be a distinct advantage. This post will involve a wide range of general secretarial/administrative duties including data-inputting, first aid, reception and telephone duties. Whilst this is basically a term time post, 37.50 hours per week, it may be that extra hours will be required during the main Summer holiday period. Please contact the school on 023 9282 3766 for application packs. Closing date: 12th July 2004.

MS Challenge 2004 (from Frankie Moorhen)
“This year I will be taking part in the MS Challenge. The MS (multiple sclerosis) challenge consists of a team of between 8 & 12 people carrying a person in a wheelchair around a 10 mile course around Mt. Snowdon in Wales. The main aim of all this is to raise much-needed funds for MS centres all over the country. However, it also gives the person with MS a chance to experience things that the disease would not normally allow them to share in. At 14 years of age, I am going to be the youngest person in my team (the Pompey all-sorts!). I would be very grateful for any sponsorship that you would be willing to give me. There are sponsor forms at the back of the churches. Thank you in advance for any support I may receive.” (Frankie Moorhen)

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1360.50

Peter's Pence - (Details will be given in next week’s newsletter)

Forthcoming Collections
11th July– Apostleship of the Sea
18th July– SVP

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