Roy Raggett
This Sunday at the 9.00am Mass, Roy Raggett will be welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church. Please remember Roy and his family and friends in your prayers.

Vacancies at St Edmund’s School, Portsmouth
Teacher of English/Drama (CPS) and Teacher of RE (Catholic preferred) – required as soon as possible.

Teacher of Art – maternity cover (CPS) required for a temporary period mid-March to mid-November.

Two Teachers to teach years 7 and 8 only – one to teach Humanities/English and one 0.5 Maths/Science and 0.5 cover – required as soon as possible.

Groundsperson/Cleaner £5.70ph 37.5 hours per week, Term time only contract, over and above term time contract will be paid at an agreed rate.

Full time Administration Assistant Scale ½ for 41 weeks per year – basically term time with one week being worked at each end of the Summer holiday period. The post involves mainly reception/telephonist/first aid duties.

Teaching Assistant Scale ½ to support pupils with special educational needs. The successful applicant will be a MIDAS driver or willing to train.

Contact the School for information pack on 023 9282 3766. Return applications by 10th December 2004.

Listening 2004
The responses to Listening 2004 are now on our Parish Web-Site here

Parish Bazaar
Many thanks to all those who helped in any way, especially Mrs. McGrew and the school for their co-operation. Thanks also to Mrs. Campkin who, after twenty years organising the Jewellery Stall, has decided to pass on the responsibility to her daughter, Mary Wrightson, and grand-daughter, Alice. The total profit to date is £1,660.00.

Christmas Chocolate Tombola Stall
There will be a Chocolate Tombola Stall after all Sunday Masses on 11th and 12th December. All proceeds to the Caritas ‘Unite’ Project in aid of Romanian Children in Need. Donations of anything ‘Chocolate’ would be gratefully accepted and can be left in the Parish Office or Sacred Heart Hall. Thank you.

Deanery Altar Servers’ Mass
This will take place on Monday 27th December at 12.00 noon at Immaculate Conception Church, Stubbington. All Altar Servers are invited. There will be no Mass at Sacred Heart Church that day.

The Compassionate Friends
There will be a Candlelight Service on Sunday 5th December at 3.00pm at Park Place Pastoral Centre, Wickham, organised by the Compassionate Friends who offer support and friendship for bereaved parents and their families. All welcome to commemorate the life of your child or children by lighting a candle in their memory. For more information please contact Helen and Dave on 01329 829665.

THE UNION
Thought for the Week
As successful competitors in a relay race must run together for a short time before the baton exchange, so the mood of the fading Liturgical Year bridges into the thinking of the new Advent. To experience joy we must prepare. The forebodings awakened in us concerning the future are intended to bring us back to the present and rouse us to weigh up what is at stake. It is really a matter of recognising Christ here and now, while living in His Spirit. It is waiting only on Him to recognise Him when He reveals Himself. WHO is coming? Advent is a time for vigilance while we wait for God’s coming in OUR history but also happily in HIS STORY.

Father Charles Aylward

Gabriel Rague RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Gabriel Rague, whose funeral has recently taken place. Please also remember his family and friends in your prayers.

Wally Arnold RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Wally Arnold who died recently. Please also remember all of Wally’s family and friends in your prayers. Wally’s funeral takes place on Tuesday 7th December at 9.30am at Sacred Heart Church – family flowers only but if desired, donations may be given to the Rocky Appeal care of Co-operative Funeral Directors at Fareham.

Advent Appeal 2004
Our Advent Appeal this year is in aid of the Rainbow Centre, in Fareham, which exists primarily to help children with motor impairment learn to overcome their difficulties using a system of learning called Conductive Education. Motor impairment means difficulty with movements controlled by the central nervous system and the most common cause of this is cerebral palsy, which is a condition caused through lack of oxygen to the brain during pregnancy, during the delivery, or after the birth. The Rainbow Centre was established in 1990 and since then has helped over 300 children from seven of the southern counties.

Bishop Crispian's Pastoral Letter - Growing Together in Christ here

Workers’ Educational Association
The WEA was re-established in Fareham in 2004 and has since run a number of very successful adult-learning day and evening courses and day-schools in the local area. In January 2005 they are running a course entitled ‘The Middle East in the Twentieth Century’, which will help participants to understand the background to the current situation in the Middle East which plays such a dominant part in our news headlines. The lecturer is Michael Laird, formerly of Portsmouth University. In this course he will cover the events which led to the break-up of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War, British involvement in the administration of Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, the creation of the state of Israel and the continuing Arab/Israeli conflict. The course will run at the Methodist Church Hall, King’s Road, Fareham on Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm from 12th January for 10 weeks and costs £35.00. To reserve a place, or for further details, please ring 01329 232580.

A Baroque Christmas
Fareham Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra present A Baroque Christmas on Saturday 11th December at St Peter & St Paul Church, Fareham beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets: £9.00 (£7.50 concessions), £2.00 for children (group discounts may be available) – tickets available from The Well, West Street, Fareham; FPC Box Office: 01329 664948; choir members; or on the door on performance night.

Carol Singing
Members of the Fareham Churches will be singing carols in the Shopping Centre on Saturday 18th December at 10.30am outside Boots.

Lourdes Cake Stall
The next Lourdes Cake Stall will take place on Saturday 11th December and Sunday 12th December following the three Parish weekend Masses. We would really appreciate any donations of cakes, biscuits, scones, mince pies…….these can be left in the Sacred Heart Hall Friday morning of 10th or Saturday 11th from 4.00pm. All proceeds to the Lourdes Fund. Thank you for your continuous support.

Service of Preparation for Christmas
Oaklands School, Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville – Tuesday 30th November at 7.30pm – a Service of music, drama, liturgical dance and readings to provide an opportunity for reflection as we begin Advent. There will be a retiring collection in aid of Le Court (one of the Cheshire Homes).

Christingle Service
The children of St. Jude’s school would like to invite you to the Christingle Service which will be held on Sunday 12th December in St Philip Howard Church at 4.00pm. Refreshments will be available afterwards.

28th November 2004 First Sunday of Advent The Year of St Matthew

The Advent Wreath
During Advent the sanctuaries in our Church are quite bare. Purple vestments and a complete lack of flowers speak to us of final judgement. The Advent Wreath provides the only decoration. It represents the spiritual darkness of our world waiting for the coming of our Messiah who is the light of the world.

Churches Together in Fareham
The united Service for Advent 2004 will be held at the United Reformed Church today at 6.30pm. The theme will be ‘Looking Forward in Hope’.

Advent Breakfasts
Everyone is welcome to share in the Advent Breakfasts which will be served every Thursday morning during Advent in the Sacred Heart Hall, following 7.00am Mass. Proceeds will go towards the Parish Advent Appeal in aid of a local charity ‘The Rainbow Centre’. The first breakfast is Thursday 2nd December 2004. See you there!

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Contacts: Lily Peach on 077 678 98885, Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.

First Holy Communion Celebration Mass
The 11.00am Mass on Sunday 5th December will be a First Holy Communion Celebration Mass. There will be no Children’s Liturgy at this Mass.

Remember the Seafarers this Christmas
Seafarers are typically away from home and family for nine months of the year, often over the Christmas and New Year period, bringing the goods we need into our ports. Ninety per cent of seafarers are Catholics and rarely will they receive a Christmas present. Local Apostleship of the Sea volunteers will be visiting the ships in local ports over the Christmas period, offering small gifts to help make their Christmas a happy one. Woolly hats, gloves, scarves and jumpers are much appreciated gifts, as are toiletries, toothbrushes, flannels, soap, writing materials, CDs and Videos. If you can donate such articles please contact: Mary and Len Edwards on 023 9273 5790 who will gladly collect any gifts that you can offer.

Sacred Heart Messenger
Orders are now being taken for the following publications:

The Sacred Heart Messenger - £7.80 annual subscription: Sacred Heart Calendar - £1.50 + pp: Apostleship of Prayer - £1.10. Please contact Anna Chandler on 01329 234436 by 30th November.

Quiz Night
The next Quiz Night at Our Lady of Walsingham Church will take place on Saturday 18th December. More details to follow.

LIFE Seasonal Christmas Quiz
The next LIFE quiz will be on sale at all Masses this weekend, price £1.00. If you would like to enter but are unable to collect a copy this weekend, please contact Rebecca Goodlad on 023 9238 1802. Entries to be submitted by 5th January 2005.

Celebration
Music, carols, readings and a nativity play – Sunday 12th December from 4.00pm in Park Place Centre Chapel – followed by light refreshments. There will be a retiring collection for the Franciscan Medical Care Project in North India. Further details from Sister Judith – 01329 833043.

Parish Advent Meditation
An opportunity for quiet reflection and preparation for Christmas – Friday 3rd December 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Church, followed by refreshments in the hall.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1275.15
Portchester Concert - £220.35
Bazaar - £1660.00

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