Mothering Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Lent is Mothering Sunday. Today is a day when children give presents, flowers and cards to their mothers but the history of Mothering Sunday has a much deeper origin. Most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England worship at their nearest parish or “daughter” church. Centuries ago, it was considered important for people to return to their home or “mother” church once a year. So, each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their “mother” church, or the main church or Cathedral of the area. This became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home and those working as domestic servants or apprentices were given the day off to visit their mother or family. They would often pick wild flowers to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.
Gift Aid Envelopes
Please do not forget to collect your Gift Aid Envelopes which will be available after all Masses this weekend. If anyone has any queries regarding Gift Aid or would like to know more, please speak to Yvonne Byrne.
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PARTY AFTER THE EASTER VIGIL |
Easter Chocolate Tombola Stall
There will be a chocolate tombola stall after the Vigil Mass and all Sunday Masses on 8th and 9th April. All proceeds to the Parish Lenten Appeal in support of AdoptSri Lanka. Donations of anything ‘chocolate’ would be much appreciated and can be left in the Parish Office or Sacred Heart Hall. Thank you.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent there will be Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7.00pm at the Sacred Heart Church which will be followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. There will be Stations of the Cross at Our Lady of Walsingham Church on Sundays at 4.00pm.
London Marathon 2006
John Corney, a parishioner of St John the Baptist Church, Andover is running the London Marathon, Great North Run and New York Marathon to raise funds for CAFOD. He is looking for sponsorship and there is a poster on the notice board giving details of how you can help him to reach his target.
Electric Organ available
Sue Parke has an electric organ available free of charge – you just need to be able to collect it. Telephone her on 01329 516145 for details.
Call to Prayer for Fareham Deanery Community
Do you feel the need for quiet and time for reflection? Do you wish for time away from the business of life? Do you wish for spiritual formation? Do you wish to answer the call of the Holy Spirit? If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, come and join us for the first Friday of every month in the church of St Margaret Mary in Park Gate. We have had three very successful and enriching days of prayer this year. Come and join our community. Our fourth day together on Friday 7th April, will focus on the third vision of Margaret Mary and the teaching she received about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We will start at 10.00am with Mass. Father James will be available for Confession and spiritual direction. After a time of sharing over lunch, we will have Bible Study, reflection and sharing. We will end with devotions to the Sacred Heart, general intercession and the Angelus. The day will finish at 3.00pm. Bring your own sandwiches. Tea, coffee and soup will be available. For further details, ring Rebecca on 023 9238 1802.
THE UNION
Thought
for the Week
“God so loved the world” that we have been given every means possible to believe and be saved. “And this is the verdict”: some still choose darkness over light, in spite of being given the incredible gift of Truth, God’s own Son who was raised up on a cross for us. What does God ask in return for such great gifts as a Son’s sacrifice and our eternal life? God asks for the total sacrifice of our own lives.
The Liturgy of the Word casts our Lenten penance as a contrast between dying and rising. We would naturally think of penance as a dying to self, and it is that. But it’s not only that. The positive aspect of penance is that the dying always leads to life, resurrection. We are barely half way through Lent and we are already invited to go through Lent with the Risen Christ. Even in our journey of repentance and conversion we are already shown that we will be given far more than we could ever give: all we need do is come to the light and life eternal is ours. All we need do is believe.
Of course, the real challenge is that the words of Scripture must leap from the page through proclamation into our hearts and sear so deeply that we live God’s word. In other words, we must move from paying lip service to Scripture and belief toward concrete, everyday actions that witness to our choice to come to the light: prayer, fasting, charitable works. In these concrete actions do we go from dying to self to new life.
From Living Liturgy
GIFT Bible Course
A Passover Meal
is being organised for Wednesday 12th April, open to all who have attended the Bible course however fleetingly. There will be a charge of £5.00 per head to cover the costs of catering and administration. This is a wonderful opportunity to embrace the atmosphere and teaching of the Jewish tradition. If you wish to come, please ring Rebecca Goodlad on 023 9238 1802.
Cake Stall in aid of the Lenten Appeal
This will take place on 8th and 9th April following the Parish weekend Masses. If you are able to bake a cake, make biscuits, scones, home-made jams……these can be left in the Sacred Heart Hall on Friday morning of 7th or Saturday 8th from 3.00pm.
Fareham Lay Ministers of Communion
Would Fareham Lay Ministers of Communion please collect the new Rotas from the church porch.
Fareham Readers
Would Fareham Readers please collect the new Rotas from the church porch.
Parish Lenten Appeal
This year’s Lenten Appeal is in support of Adopt Sri Lanka. With so many families still living in temporary shelter fourteen months after the tsunami, it is hoped through our Appeal, to fund the building of a simple house for a most needy family in southern Sri Lanka. During this season of Lent, let us look beyond ourselves and look forward to helping the poor. Please help in any way you can to support this Appeal. Buckets will be at the back of each church after the weekend Masses during Lent.
Lent Breakfasts
All are most welcome to share in the simple breakfasts which will be served each Thursday during Lent in the Sacred Heart Hall, following the 7.00am Mass. All proceeds from these breakfasts will go towards the Parish Lenten Appeal in support of AdoptSri Lanka.
Lent Lunches
The Portchester Churches will be holding Shoppers’ Services and Lent Lunches every Wednesday in Lent. The Services begin at 12.00 noon and take place at Portchester Methodist Church in Castle Street and are followed at 12.30pm by a simple lunch. Do support these lunches as all proceeds will be shared between CAFOD and Christian Aid.
Larger Pastoral Areas
Those who wish to respond to the Larger Pastoral Areas discussion document are reminded that their comments should be sent to the Implementation Steering Group at Peterhouse, St Peter Street, Winchester, Hants SO23 8BW by Friday 7th April.
Children’s Liturgy
If you are able to help with Children’s Liturgy at St Philip Howard Church please notify the Parish Office.
School Transport
A reminder that all objections to the proposals to change the existing policy regarding school transport should be sent to: Mr Terry Rath, Education Officer, Hampshire County Council, County Office, Children’s Services Department, The Castle, Winchester, Hants. SO23 8UG by 31st March 2006.
Traidcraft
On the first Sunday of every month, the children of St Jude’s School are going to hold a Traidcraft Stall after Mass at 11.00am. The goods are being provided from The Well and this is all in connection with Avril Cockshoot.
St Jude's
RC Primary School
Current newsletter here
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Fourth Sunday of Lent 25th/26th March 2006
The Year of St Mark |
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Thank You
“We would like to thank everyone for all the prayers you have said for our grandson, Matthew, during his stay in hospital and his operation. They have seen him through a difficult time. God bless you all.” Carol and Ian Dean
Latin Mass
Experience the peace and prayerfulness of the Latin Mass at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth on 23rd April 2006 (Low Sunday) at 1.30pm – male voice schola supporting the use of Gregorian Chant. Contacts: Neville McNally 023 9286 2384 and Christopher Savage 01798 344541.
The Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
Contacts:
Contacts: Fareham - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885, Portchester
- Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.
Adoration at Our Lady of Walsingham Church ends on Monday 27th March and resumes on Monday 24th April. At Sacred Heart Church Adoration ends on Friday 31st March and resumes on Wednesday 19th April.
Lourdes Lunch
The Lourdes Lunch held last weekend raised £471.00 for the fund which helps send young people to Lourdes. If you are 17 years plus and wish to join the Diocesan Pilgrimage as a helper, please telephone Jane Cadogan 01329 235987 for further details. The pilgrimage takes place from 25th August to 1st September 2006. Thank you to everyone who contributed in so many ways and supported the Lourdes Lunch.
A wonderful donation
A beautiful hand-made quilted single bed-spread has been kindly donated to us. It will be raffled along with two other grand prizes over two weekends commencing 1st and 2nd April. All proceeds towards the Parish Lenten Appeal.
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News from The Vatican 2007 Papal Trip to Britain Ruled Out
Murder of Priest in Goa |
Finance
Offertory Collection - £1709.05
Lent Appeal to date - £1603.70
Forthcoming Collection –
25/26th March – Clergy Assistance Fund
14th April – Holy Places
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
