Canon Richard Hind
We offer our congratulations to Father Richard who has recently been appointed Canon. His installation will take place later in the year.

Pilgrimages to Fatima
26th – 30th July (five days) £340.00; 26th July – 2nd August (8 days) £385.00; 4th – 8th August (five days) £340.00. For more information, please contact Fr John Doran on 0118 940 6766.

Sick and Housebound Parishioners
Do you know of any Parishioner who is sick or housebound and would appreciate the opportunity to receive Holy Communion at home? If so, please notify Deacon Langford or the Parish Office in order that arrangements may be made.

House Group
The next meeting of the House Group will be on Wednesday 21st June at 101 The Avenue, Fareham (7.45pm for 8.00pm) For more information, ring 01329 847533. All are welcome.

Concert by Paprsky – date for your diary
You may recall that this group of some 30 young singers and musicians from the Czech Republic visited our parish last year. This July they are making a welcome return to the UK and will be singing and playing at St Mary’s Church in Portchester Castle on Friday 21st July at 8.00pm. They are mostly Catholics and through their music provide a remarkable witness to their Christian faith. The name ‘Paprsky’ means ‘sunbeam’ and when you hear them you will see what an appropriate name this is: for they bring brightness, light and brilliance to their music. They have an imaginative line-up: the backbone is a rhythm section of keyboard, bass, drums with both rock guitar and acoustic guitar. The band is augmented by a string quartet and woodwind solos. The choir is made up of male and female voices. Come and hear them – there is no admission charge but any donations would be appreciated. So, come along to a wonderful evening of great music.

Parish Diary
All group co-ordinators within the Parish who have not yet done so, are asked to send details of the dates, times and venues of their activities for the period of September 2006 to August 2007.

St Anne’s Catholic School, Carlton Road, Southampton
Admissions information evening – Monday 26th June 2006 at 7.00pm. Parents with daughters in Year 5 considering applying for admission to St Anne’s are invited to the evening, in the school hall.

Park Place Garden Party
This takes place on Sunday 16th July from 3.00 to 5.30pm in aid of street children in Brazil. Tickets cost £5.00 and may be obtained from Park Place.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week

At the heart of the life of the Catholic Church has always been the celebration of the Eucharist, or the Mass, as Catholics often call it. Taking part in the Mass is the hallmark of the Catholic, central and crucial to our Catholic identity. The first Christians devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to their ‘communion’ with each other and to prayer, and met together in their homes for ‘the Breaking of Bread’. Over the centuries, Catholics in many countries have risked their lives in order to celebrate Mass in times of persecution. Their courageous faith remains an inspiration and example to the Catholic community today. For Catholics now, as in the past, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. It is the vital centre of all that the Church is and does, because at its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, continuing and making available his saving work among us. The Second Vatican Council reminded us: ‘the most holy Eucharist holds within itself the whole spiritual treasure of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Passover and our living bread’.

As we explore working in a new way in our Pastoral Areas, we must keep this in mind.

Open Garden
Chris and Frankie Lane will once again be opening their garden in aid of the British Red Cross on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July from 2.00pm to 6.00pm. They live at 50 Hill Park Road, Fareham. Entrance will be £1.50, accompanied children free. Plants will be on sale and tea and home made cakes will be served. Both the front and back gardens have been prize winners in Fareham in Bloom for the last three years.

Open Air Mass
The Parish Open Air Mass this year takes place on Sunday 2nd July at 11.00am at St Jude’s School Playing Field. This will be combined with a Parish Open Day followed by a picnic. We will be providing transportation to make sure that everyone will have the opportunity to attend. However, we do realise that there are commitments that people have which would make this impossible .Because of this there will be a vigil Mass on Saturday 1st July at 6.00pm at Our Lady of Walsingham Church and Mass on Sunday at 6.00pm at Sacred Heart Church.

Anyone needing a lift to/from the Open Air Mass or able to offer a lift, please contact Alison Ivison on 01329 230049.

Lay Ministers of Communion at Fareham
Would Fareham Lay Ministers of Communion please collect the new rotas after Mass this weekend.

Portchester Lent Lunches
A total of £299.62 was raised at the Churches Together Lent Lunches and this will be shared between CAFOD and Christian Aid. Thanks to all who supported these lunches.

Free Books for Toddlers!
If your child is aged between 18 months – 2 and a half years you can collect your free ‘Bookstart Plus’ bags in any Fareham Library. To collect one for your child, simply take their Health Record Book along to your local library. The pack contains two free books and is packaged in a brightly coloured school style book bag with Velcro fastening. It also contains some bookplates, wax crayons and paper and a number frieze.

Catholic Bible School Thought for the Week
Children often follow footprints their parents thought they’d covered up.

Portchester Arts Festival
Pupils and staff at Portchester Community School in White Hart Lane are staging an Arts Festival in the school grounds. Four nights of concerts will take place in a marquee on the school field from 12th July to 15th July. The school’s famous Sounds of Steel, who have won the Notting Hill Carnival steel band contest, open the festival. Also performing are the Hampshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, Amalthea (Helen Andrews of Our Lady of Walsingham choir and Deborah Peake) and Rob Johnston. There will also be a Concert in the Quad which will feature steel pans, Japanese drumming, Cuban and Indonesian tunes, a swing band, choir and dancing. The event will close with Fareham Philharmonic Choir’s concert. There will be a barbecue and licensed bar. Further information regarding ticket prices and times may be obtained by ringing the school on 023 9236 4399.

Cleaning of Our Lady of Walsingham Church
Help with the cleaning of Our Lady of Walsingham Church is required; it is a good way to make friends and feel that you are contributing to our community. The cleaning takes place on Fridays after Mass and coffee for 1 – 2 hours. Just come along, have a cup of coffee and help. Dusters, cleaning materials and chocolate biscuits provided!

Thanks
“Many thanks for allowing our speaker to make an appeal at your churches on 14th May and for the welcome and hospitality extended. The total amount raised was £1803.00 for which we are extremely grateful. It will be a great help with our work. …With every good wish and renewed thanks. Simon P. Foran, Director, SURVIVE-MIVA.”

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

11th Sunday of the Year 17/18th June 2006   The Year of St Mark

Your community needs you!
Local groups will soon be taking their members out an about to enjoy local attractions. Can you help? These trips provide a day out for people who may not otherwise get one, but drivers are desperately needed for the Community Transport minibuses. Previous experience of driving larger vehicles and a MIDAS certificate would be an advantage, but training can be given. If you can help, please phone Jane Allison on 01329 310231.

First Holy Communion
Please pray for the young people from the Parish who are receiving their First Holy Communion this month.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament grant to our parish the gift of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The Memorare: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

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

A Message from Ruth and Franki Moorhen
“Time passes so quickly. Here we are, my daughter Franki and I, once again preparing for the Snowdon Challenge. As many of you will remember, we have done this for the past two years in aid of the Solent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre to raise much-needed funds to support people affected by this disease in the whole of the Solent area. The Centre was very grateful for your support and hopes to gain it once more this year. We will be at all Masses this weekend collecting sponsorship. If you miss us and wish to sponsor, please ring 01329 318451.”

Home to School Transport
Parents and parishioners will be disappointed to learn that the County Council has decided to change the policy with regard to Free Home to School Transport. They have ignored the findings of the consultation and have decided to move to a policy of charging £1 a day for children travelling by bus to their local Catholic School with effect from September 2007. See the notice board for further details.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1800.30

Forthcoming Collection
25th June – Peter’s Pence

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