Parish
Office
The Parish Office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period
from lunchtime on Wednesday 21st December and will re-open on Friday 6th
January 2006. Joan would like to thank all the volunteers who help in
the office with a variety of tasks throughout the year. Biddings Writers
who are due to write Biddings for Christmas and New Year are asked to
send them in by 16th December.
Youth Club
“Hello splendid people…..a letter for you: On December 18th
there will be free (yes FREE) food and drink for you all at the club and
entrance will also be FREE!!! This is because the following Sunday is
Christmas Day and the next one is New Year’s Day, so as all of you
will no doubt be doing other things on those two days, the club will be
closed. Meanwhile I am trying to organise for us to celebrate the New
Year at the ‘Go Bowling’ rinks in Fareham. The club will subsidise
the bowling as usual and will throw in food and drink from the bar there.
So the total cost to you for both bowling and refreshments will be just
£5.00. hope you will be able to come…please let me know (if
possible next week) as soon as possible so that I can make the bookings.
You would have to be at the Go Bowling centre (by Homebase) by 2.00pm
and the games should last until approximately 4.00pm. If you want to let
me know by phone, my number is 01489 583629. John”
Wrapping
presents!
The Wessex Cancer Trust are looking for volunteers to help in wrapping
up presents in Fareham shopping centre on 15th and 22nd December from
6.00pm to 8.00pm – paper and ties provided. If you can help, please
notify the Parish Office.
| A
Call to Prayer for the community of the Solent Pastoral Area If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, come and join us for the first Friday of every month at the Church of St Margaret Mary in Park Gate. Come for a day of prayer, reflection and spiritual formation. Our first day together will focus on the Feast of the Epiphany. We will start at 10.30am with Mass. This will be followed by adoration. Time will be given to intercession. Father James will be available for Confession and spiritual direction. We will end with devotions to the Sacred Heart and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. After a time of sharing over lunch, we will have Bible Study, reflection and sharing on the Scriptures. We will end with prayer and a time for tea. For further details, ring Rebecca on 023 9238 1802. |
Thanks
“Sincere thanks to all those who were Prayer Partners for last
year’s First Holy Communion children. If we haven’t approached
you this year, it is because we have a small group of children. We hope
we can call on you next year! Pat and the Catechists”
Thanks
from Steve Escott
“May I thank all of our friends who have offered good wishes, prayers
and Mass for myself during my recent illness. How blessed we all are to
live in such a Christian, caring, society. Stephen (and Monica) Escott.”
THE UNION
Thought
for the Week
Gaudete Sunday
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.”
Grumpy Christians do not further the cause of the Kingdom!
|
Open
House at the Presbytery |
Christmas
Services
Cards giving details of the Christmas Services are available in the church
porch. Details here and also on
the notice boards.
Churches
Together in Portchester Christmas Card
The
Portchester Churches have once again produced a Christmas Card giving
details of their Christmas Services. The cards are to be delivered to
every household in Portchester. If you are able to help with delivery
in your own road or one nearby, please speak to Joan Hamilton or Yvonne
Hart.
|
Fr
Tony Day’s Silver Jubilee |
Confirmation
Bishop Crispian will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in our Parish
on Friday 9th June 2006 in St Philip Howard Church. Prospective candidates
and parents are invited to come to an information evening on Wednesday
11th January 2006 at 7.00pm in St Philip Howard Church. Candidates should
be at least in their third year of secondary education (Year 9 and above).
Others who might have missed out are also invited to consider preparing
for this important Sacrament. Volunteers are required to help with the
delivery of this course – if you can help please contact Ric Burch
on 01329 319825.
Diocesan
Fairtrade Day – Date for your Diary
On Saturday 4th February 2006 from 10.00am to 4.00pm there will be a Diocesan
Fairtrade Day which will take place at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School,
Fawley Road, Reading. Bishop Crispian will celebrate Mass at 3.00pm to
conclude the day.
The Story
of the First Crib
“Not many know that St Francis of Assisi made this happen at Greccio.
On Friday 16th December at Sacred Heart Hall, Franciscans will tell the
story at 7.30pm. All are welcome. John Vivian Sfo”
Advent
Appeal Sale
There will be a Christmas chocolate tombola stall, cake stall and a raffle
after all Sunday Masses on the 17th and 18th December. If anyone would
like to donate cakes or chocolate, in any form, it would be very much
appreciated and can be left in the Parish Office or Sacred Heart Hall.
All proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal.
Flowers
for Christmas
Sacred Heart Flower Arrangers will be in the church hall on Friday
23rd December at 1.00pm making the garlands and arrangements to decorate
the church for Christmas. We would welcome any help with this happy activity.
Please bring your own secateurs and any evergreen foliage to spare from
your garden.
Portsmouth
Chorus
The Portsmouth Chorus present a Charity Concert at St Michael and All
Angels Church, Dunsbury Way, Leigh Park at 7.30pm on Saturday 17th December.
Tickets: £5.00 including a glass of wine.
Used
Postage Stamps
Thank you to everyone who has contributed used postage stamps. These have
been sent to the Scout Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides
holiday homes for handicapped Scouts (boys and girls). Please do continue
to put the stamps in the tin in the porch.
| Deanery
Altar Servers’ Mass All Altar Servers are invited. There will be no Mass at Sacred Heart Church that day. |
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
| Third Sunday of Advent 10/11th November 2005 The Year of St Mark |
 |
Lay Ministers of Communion
All Lay Ministers of Communion are asked to come to a very important meeting
which will take place on Tuesday 13th December at Sacred Heart Church
beginning at 7.30pm. Please do your best to attend.
Advent
Penitential Services
Penitential Services in our Deanery will take place as follows -
Monday 12th December – St Joseph’s, Gosport at 7.30pm
Tuesday 13th December – St John’s, Lee-on-the-Solent at 2.00pm
Wednesday 14th December – St Margaret Mary, Park Gate at 7.30pm
Thursday 15th December – Immaculate Conception Stubbington at 7.30pm
The Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
As usual there will be a break in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
during the Christmas holiday period. At Our Lady of Walsingham Church,
Adoration will end on Monday 12th December and resume on Monday 9th January.
At Sacred Heart Church, Adoration will end on Friday 16th December and
resume on Wednesday 4th January.
Contacts:
Fareham - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885, Portchester - Veronica
Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.
Advent
Breakfasts
Everyone is welcome to share in the Advent Breakfasts which will be
served on Thursday mornings during Advent in the Sacred Heart Hall, following
7.00am Mass. Proceeds will go to the Parish Advent Appeal.
Flower
Arranging at St Philip Howard Church
Someone is needed to take over the flower arranging at St Philip Howard
in the New Year, preferably from the weekend of 7th/8th January. If you
feel able to help, please contact Mary Wrightson on 01329 312706.
|
2005
Parish Advent Appeal – with children in mind The Rainbow Centre, Fareham “helping children with cerebral palsy learn to help themselves” and Catholic Children’s Society Portsmouth Diocese “making tomorrow a brighter day” for the many children under their tender care. |
Carol
Singing at Portchester
There is a group of parishioners from the Churches in Portchester
going Carol Singing on Tuesday 20th December. Anyone interested is welcome
to join in. Ring Rebecca for details on 023 9238 1802.
Carols
by Candlelight
There will be a family Christmas Carol Service at St Philip Howard Church
on Sunday 18th December at 4.00pm. It will be followed by refreshments
in the church hall. All are welcome to this Service to prepare for the
great celebration of Christmas.
Christmas
Meditation and Carols
A Service of Meditation and Carols is being held at the United Reformed
Church in Fareham on Friday 16th December at 7.30pm, led by the Music
and Worship Foundation, formerly Fareham Christians in Music. Admission
is free and there will be mince pies and soft drinks afterwards. All are
welcome.
House
Group
The next House Group meeting will be on Wednesday 14th December (7.45pm
for 8.00pm) at 101 The Avenue, Fareham. All are welcome. For more information
please ring 01329 847533.
Finance
Offertory Collection - £1960.70
Advent Appeal to date - £644.10
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
fill in the form and return it to Father Joe, or complete the online
form
