House Group
The next meeting of the House Group will be on Wednesday 5th October (7.45pm for 8.00pm) at 101 The Avenue, Fareham. All are welcome. For more information, ring 01329 847533.

Volunteers needed!!
The Parish Youth Club urgently needs more adult helpers…the commitment need not be great - just two hours on a Sunday evening about once a month. The children of today are the Church of tomorrow so helping them keep contact with the Church is worthwhile. It can also be fun. The Club is run on an easy going, casual basis……Volunteers of any age are welcome but it would be particularly helpful if we could have some younger adults, aged 18+. If you can help contact John Monfort on 01489 583629 or Dan Russell on 01329 236779.

St Edmund’s Catholic School, Portsmouth
The Governors are seeking to appoint a part time Assistant Chaplain for 2.5 days per week. Please contact Sister Regina at School, 023 9289 2585, for further details.

St George Catholic School, Southampton
The Headteacher and Staff at this Catholic School for Boys, invite parents of prospective pupils in September 2006 to an Open Evening on Monday 3rd October from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School
The School is hosting an Open Day on Saturday 8th October providing an opportunity for families of boys aged between 6 and 8 to experience a little of the life of a Chorister at the Cathedral. The opportunity to be a Chorister is available to all Roman Catholic boys regardless of background. In addition to singing in one of the world’s great choirs, boys receive an academic education of the highest standard, unrivalled pastoral care and a superb range of extra-curricular activities. All Choristers receive Scholarship. Telephone John brown, Headmaster on 020 7798 9081 or email: office@choirschool.com for further details.

Retiring Collections
We have many special collections for various charities and that is good. As a caring Church we have shown that we never forget those in need, not only through our prayers but also by our alms giving. There have been a few occasions when competing second collections have taken place after Sunday Mass. This is both confusing to those who give and unfair to the charities themselves. Would all groups please remember that when there is a special collection for a particular charity, no other collection except the Offertory should be taken. Also all special collections must be approved in advance through the Parish Office to avoid any confusion.

Hospital Stay
Should you or a member of your family be taken into hospital for a routine operation or rest care, please let us know at the Parish Office. Although you may register your details at the hospital and include your religion as Catholic, this information is not automatically relayed to the Parish. The same applies if you are taken into hospital as an emergency. A relative or friend needs to let us know. If you are moved to another ward, this is not automatically conveyed to us, and even upon inquiry at your original ward, they will not necessarily tell us to where you have been moved. If the hospital authorities fail to offer you the opportunity of spiritual support, they are contravening the NHS guidelines for the spiritual needs of patients and staff. Please also let us know when you have returned home. Visits can be arranged and Holy Communion brought to you at home, but only if we know you have been released from hospital.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
All of us have had the experience of putting our foot in our mouth. Usually it’s not about something all that serious and we just go away a little red faced or those who have caught us in the foot-in-mouth comment get a good laugh at our expense. In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus allegorizes a parable told in Isaiah (the first reading) and leads the “chief priests and the elders of the people” to end up with their foot in their mouth. The difference between what is happening in the gospel and our foot-in-mouth goofs is that in the gospel much is at stake – who is in the kingdom.

In the first reading God allows the vineyard to be destroyed because in spite of God’s good husbandry the vines yielded “wild grapes.” Throughout salvation history God has been a good caregiver to the Chosen People; God has given clear Law and sent prophets to keep Israel faithful to the covenant. Yet time and again Israel has been unfaithful; instead of yielding a produce of justice and righteousness the vine Israel has yielded bloodshed and infidelity.

In the gospel, Matthew updates the parable; in Matthew’s version the vineyard is fine, it’s the tenants who are murderous and unfaithful. In Matthew’s version the vineyard is not destroyed because the new vineyard is those who claim Jesus is Lord. New tenants are brought in so that the vine will produce good fruit (in God’s kingdom this is forgiveness, generosity, justice, mercy etc.) In the context of Matthew’s community, the new tenants are the Gentiles; the old tenants are some of the Jewish leaders who, because of their infidelity, have the promise taken away from them. In Matthew’s version the initial tenants are thinking pretty fuzzily – if they kill the Son, they will inherit the kingdom. The irony in the story is that in killing the Son to take ownership of the vineyard themselves, they actually lose everything, even their own lives. Christologically, by killing Jesus the kingdom indeed did go to others!

From Living Liturgy

Retiring Collection
- this weekend for the Cathedral.

Catholic Bible School
www.catholic-bible-school.org
October at the Bible School:
Tuesday 4th October – Spiritual Direction Course – a two year Programme open to all which draws on the insights from Ignatian Spirituality and leads to a certificate awarded by the Catholic Bible School. Commences 4th October 2005 and ends in June 2006.

10.00am to 3.30pm
Wednesday 5th & 19th October – More than just the Lion’s Den – midweek Bible Study. 9.30am to 11.30am.

Saturday 15th October – The Gift of Scripture – Fr. Adrian Graffy 10.00am to 3.30pm.

Wednesday 19th October – Healing Service in Nutbourne Chapel - 7.30pm.

Contact the Catholic Bible School at Nutbourne House, Farm Lane, Nutbourne, Chichester, W. Sussex PO18 8SD or telephone 01243 371766.

St Anne’s Sixth Form College, Southampton
There will be an Open Evening on 17th October from 6.30pm to 9.30pm – A level pass rate 2005 98% Grade A and B passes 54%. It is open to male and female students from October 2006. Go along and view the courses on offer.

Parish Race Night
Saturday 15th October at St Jude’s School – come and join the fun – tickets £3.00 per head, includes supper, licensed bar – bring your money; bring your kids; bring a friend. The first race takes place at 8.00pm. Tickets are available from Graham Stanton on 01329 284057. Please book early so we can cater for everyone.

Jesus, Light of the World
This is a Borough-wide celebration at Hallowe’en and takes place at Ferneham Hall, Fareham on Monday 31st October at 7.30pm. It features ‘Bright Lights’ a special event for children aged 7-13 years. There will be a candlelit procession from the bandstand at 6.45pm when youngsters are parading dressed as representations of the darkest force in the universe. This is for all Christians, especially children, especially this night. No charge, no tickets – just come.

Parish Bazaar – 19th November 2005
Please put this date in your diaries and start looking out all those unwanted birthday and Christmas gifts. The Bazaar will be in aid of Oasis En-Gadi, as last year.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

27th Sunday of the Year 01/02 October 2005   The Year of St Matthew

Thanks……
Our thanks go to Sam Burchill aged 92 years, whose summer task was to clear, clean and paint the large cellar under the Presbytery. With very little help from his friends, Sam has completed the task and has done a marvellous job. Well done and may it last for another 92 years!

On behalf of Ben Goodchild
“Thank you to everyone at Our Lady of Walsingham Church for all your support and hard work for the concert held at your beautiful church to help raise money for our son, Ben. It really will make a difference. Toni and Andrew”

On behalf of Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank
“To all at Sacred Heart, St Philip Howard and Our Lady of Walsingham Churches – thank you so much for your generous donation of items for the Basics Bank. It is very much appreciated. God bless you all. Steve Dent, Chairperson”

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“One thought especially ought to incite us to devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament, namely the nearness of God, His abiding with us. Mindful of His promise: ‘Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world’ (Matt. 28:20), our God finds His delight to dwell among us.” (The Blessed Sacrament: God With Us).

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

Adopt Sri Lanka
A further £577.00 has been donated to our Parish project in Sri Lanka. Thank you to Tony who handed over his weighty and immense coin collection totalling £252.00, proving that loose change is worth saving! Also special thanks to two donors who have now ‘moved on’, they generously contributed £325.00 to the above charity. Good News – the Orphanage in Weligana, near Galle, to be run and managed by Dominican Sisters, is near completion and scheduled to open on the 8th November, and will be home for 25 children who lost one or both parents in the tsunami. Up to now these children have been cared for by the Sisters within the convent in cramped conditions. It will be a joy to the children to have their own bed with mattress in the Orphanage; you also funded a play-ground with equipment, enabling them to act like a child and hopefully eventually to live like a child. Father Christopher Lalith Fernando sends you all his prayerful best wishes.

PEG
PEG would like to thank our Indian sisters and brothers for allowing us to join in their Mass and for the donation they made toward the work of the Parish Ecology Group. Special thanks also to Father Thomas for his words of encouragement. The selection of the winning poster for the competition will take place in October – date and venue to be announced.

The Transitus of St Francis
The Transitus celebration is on Monday 3rd October at St Colman’s Church, Cosham at 7.30pm – Celebrant, Father Charles Aylward. All are welcome to join in the Secular Franciscan Order’s Celebration.

Urgent!!
“Two or three people are needed to clean Sacred Heart Church once a week for about one hour, as I am giving it up at the end of October. If you can help call Anna on 01329 312985.”

Christmas Cards
The Catholic Children’s Society Christmas card catalogues are available now. Please take one. All cards illustrate the real Christmas story and there is also a classic Easter card available. As the Society both publishes and distributes the cards, all profits go to support its work and the money makes a valuable contribution to helping children and families in our area.

Churches Together in Fareham
Dates for Saturday night specials have been arranged as follows:- 22nd October 2005, 12th November 2005, 21st January 2006, 25th February 2006, 11th March 2006 and 22nd April 2006. Time: 7.30pm to 10.00pm and the cost is £3.00.

Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving.
Offertory Collection - £1620.75
Cathedral - £398.80

Forthcoming Collections
CAFOD – 9th October
Mission Sunday – 23rd October

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 Joe 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 Joe, or complete the online form