Advanced Notice – World Youth Day 2005
Next summer will see the celebration of the 20th World Youth Day which takes place in Cologne. Verbum Dei are organising a trip to participate in this event. The trip will last for 10 days – 12 – 22 August - and will begin with 3 days of preparation at a retreat centre in Belgium. The total cost will be £330.00 to be fully paid in April. This includes all meals, accommodation, transfers and transport costs and entrance to all events. For more information ring 023 8039 9301 or email: verbum_dei@hotmail.com.

Reports from The Vatican
On 18th January, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office made the following declaration upon learning of the release in Iraq of the kidnapped Syrian Catholic Archbishop: “With great satisfaction we learned of the release of Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul who had been kidnapped….The Holy Father was immediately informed and he thanked God for the happy outcome of this affair. No ransom was paid. The kidnapping caused great surprise because the Archbishop was well loved by both Christians and Muslims.” Archbishop Casmoussa was born in Karakoche in northern Iraq in 1938 and ordained a priest in 1962. He was consecrated a bishop in December 1999. The Iraqi population is estimated at 25 million. Approximately 750,000 are Christians, 70% of whom belong to the Chaldean Catholic Church. There are 60,000 Syrian Catholics in Iraq.

Also on 18th January, Pope John Paul II received 160 Jewish Rabbis and Cantors from Israel, the United States and Europe in the largest private audience ever given by a Pope to Jewish leaders. The Rabbis all belong to the Pave the Way Foundation, whose aim is to unite men and women of good faith, beyond any religious belief and without prejudice, and to remove with determination all obstacles in the way of this objective. Gary Krupp, the founder and president of the Foundation said that the Pope has done this for decades and the least they could do was to thank him humbly for all he has done for the Jewish people in the world. They, in their turn, would undertake to make serious efforts for peace on Earth.

Parish Ecology Group
The next meeting is on Friday 28th January in the Sacred Heart Hall. Discussion will focus on the year ahead for the Parish and the next steps for the Eco congregation programme. All welcome, old and new.

Quiz Afternoon – date for your diary
It is planned to have a lunchtime Quiz at Our Lady of Walsingham Church on Sunday 27th February beginning at 12 noon – children under 12 years of age, 50p, Adults £2.50. There will be an American Lunch – please bring a dish, savoury/sweet. Please ring Rebecca on 023 9238 1802 with regard to numbers and catering. Bring your own wine.

THE UNION
Thought for the Week
A couple of years ago, while on a school trip to Derbyshire with the Year 5/6 children of St. Jude’s, we visited a giant cave after panning for gold, diamonds and other precious metals and stones. While we were below ground the man who was leading us wanted to demonstrate how dark it was without any sunlight and switched off the lights leaving us for just a moment in total pitch darkness. The situation was scary, especially for the children. Some of the girls screamed. In that moment I heard a boy say to his friend standing next to him, “Don’t worry, the man up there knows how to turn the lights on again.” Then he did. That story illustrates the prophecy of Isaiah in today’s First Reading. It is the same prophecy that Matthew applies to the coming of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.”

Indeed, before the coming of Jesus, the world was dark and scary. It was like a giant cave with the lights turned out. Into the midst of this terrifying situation came the reassuring voice of Isaiah. The prophet promised the people that a great light would soon appear to take away the darkness. And Isaiah’s promise reached fulfilment in the coming of Jesus. Spiritual writers tell us that what happened to Israel as a nation happens to each one of us individually. In other words, there are times in our lives when the lights go out and we are left in darkness, just as the people were before the coming of Jesus. An unexpected death, the rejection of a loved one, the loss of good health, the feeling of guilt – all of these things can throw our lives into temporary darkness. But when tragedy strikes we need only remember the words of the boy in the cave, “Don’t worry, the man up there knows how to turn the lights on again.”

Father Chris

Ronan Cousins RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ronan who died suddenly on Saturday 15th January. Please also pray for Mia, his wife, (nee Finlason) and all family and friends. Ronan’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 25th January at 1.45pm at Sacred Heart Church.

The Cenacle
After 80 years in Grayshott, the Sisters of the Cenacle have moved to a smaller house in Netley Abbey, where they are continuing the ministry of individual retreats, spiritual direction and counselling. The Netley Cenacle is situated by Southampton Water, close to the Royal Victoria Country Park and the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey. The Sisters also take their ministry to the wider community in the form of courses in human and spiritual growth, retreats in daily life and weeks of guided prayer. For further information contact the Retreat Secretary on 023 8045 3718.

Calling all Young Parishioners!
The Parish Youth Club is open to all parishioners aged between 11 – 16yrs inclusive. We meet in the St. Philip Howard Hall between 7 – 9pm on Sunday evenings. There is a lot to do in a friendly atmosphere.

Homelessness Sunday
30th January 2005 is Homelessness Sunday. Please remember to pray for all those who find themselves without a home for whatever reason.

Catholic Bible School, Nutbourne, W. Sussex
www.catholic-bible-school.org
The following take place at the Catholic Bible School, Nutbourne House, Farm Lane, Chichester – tel: 01243 371766:

Midweek Bible Study “Poetry & Wisdom” – Wednesdays 2 February and 3 March from 9.30 – 11.00am.

“What do we believe?” – a programme that will consider key Biblical truths and explore their relevance for Christians and Society today:
Thursdays 3 & 24 February & 10 March from 10.00am to 3.30pm.

“Hearts Set Free” by the Word –
Saturday 5 February from 10.00am to 3.30pm.

Family Tree Generational Healing Mass
Nutbourne Chapel Wednesday 23 February at 7.30pm – Celebrant Fr. Michael Gwinnel.

A Day for Men “First River to the Second River”
Saturday 19 March led by Roy Hendy Founder of House of the Open Door Community 10.00am to 3.30pm.

Contact the Bible School for further details or to book a place.

22nd/23rd January 2005 3rd Sunday of the Year The Year of St Matthew

Diocesan Year Books 2005
Portsmouth Diocesan Year Books are on sale from the church Repositories price £3.50. The Year Book gives details of Mass times throughout the Diocese as well as contact details of the Priests of the Diocese and the various Diocesan Organisations and Catholic Schools. There are also some great photographs, Parish statistics and much more. Get your copy this weekend.

Adoration
Contacts: Fareham - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885, Portchester - Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.

Mothers and Toddlers
Our Mothers and Toddlers Group meet on Wednesday mornings in the Sacred Heart Hall from 10.00 until 11.30am.

Vacancies at St Edmund’s Catholic School
Cover Supervisor Scale 2/4
Experience of working in a classroom environment would be advantageous.

Teaching Assistant Scale ½
To support pupils across the 11-15 age range.

Minibus Driver Scale 1 pt 6 (£5.68ph)
Must be able to drive 16 seater minibus, flexible hours during the day with some driving to and from after-school activities. MIDAS training will be provided. Would suit active retired person.

Lunchtime playground assistant x 2 Scale 1 pt 6 (£5.68ph)
Required to join small team patrolling the playgrounds during the lunchtime period – 1 hour daily.

Closing date for completed applications – Monday 24 January 2005

Head of Religious Education Department – TMS +2/4Mgmt points dependant upon experience
Required from September to contribute to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the school in line with the Catholic ethos.

Head of Art – TMS +1/2Mgmt points dependant upon experience
Required from Easter preferably.

Second in Mathematics Department – TMS + 2Mgmt
Required from Easter preferably, with responsibility for a key area of departmental development.

Teacher of English/Drama – TMS
Required from Easter preferably to join this very successful department and teach across the whole age and ability range.

ICT Technician Scale ¾ dependant upon experience
Required as soon as possible. Confident working knowledge of Windows server 2000/3, Windows 2000and XP operating system as well as Web technologies desirable.

Closing date for return of completed applications forms Friday 28th January 2005. Please contact the school for information packs on 023 9282 3766.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1870.30

Forthcoming Collections
23rd January – Catholic Education Service
6th February – Catholic Children’s Society

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.

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