GIFT
Notice for all who have planned to attend the Course for 2006-7. This has been postponed for a year to 2007-8. This is partly for the formation of the new Pastoral Area and due to lack of manpower on the committee.

Civic Service – 24th September 2006 at 2.30pm
Parishioners are invited to the Mayor of Fareham’s Civic Service at St Peter and Paul’s Church, Fareham. The Service will be led by the Venerable Peter Hancock, Archdeacon of the Meon.

Catholic Children’s Society Christmas Cards
The Catholic Children’s Society has produced a range of Christmas cards to suit all tastes and ages. Proceeds support the work of the Society in caring for children, young people and families. Catalogues are available at the back of the church.

APF
Promoters will be coming to empty APF boxes over the next few weeks. (It would be a help, in some cases, if the Fareham Promoters can take the box and bring it back at a later date. This does not apply to Portchester APF. ) Thank you for your co-operation.

Family Mass
Father Joe is intending to introduce a regular Family Mass in the Parish. This will take place on the first Sunday of each month at the 11.00am Mass at St Philip Howard Church. For the first two months this will be co-ordinated by staff from St Jude’s School. It is hoped that we will then be able to have a team of people who will take the responsibility of preparing the Mass. Our children are the future of our Church so it is very important that they feel involved and appreciated from a young age. Please support this new venture and we look forward to seeing you on the 1st October 2006 at 11.00am – Sheelagh Pickard, Chair of Liturgy Group.

Helen Andrews would appreciate your votes
Helen Andrews, from Our Lady of Walsingham Choir, and Deborah Peake (Amalthea) have been nominated for an award in The News. Please vote for them in the Folk/Roots category under their name Amalthea. To listen to them click on www.myspace.com/amaltheauk.

Everybody’s Welcome Conference – 7th October at St Peter’s School, Winchester
This day is open to all, including clergy, catechists and those involved in ministry groups. The aim of the day is to explore ways in which our worshipping communities can be open and welcoming to everyone. It will include a variety of workshops which will explore different aspects of welcome within the life of a worshipping community. Bishop Crispian will be present together with Elizabeth Davies the Bishops’ Conference Co-ordinator for the Listening 2004 project. Mass will be celebrated in the afternoon. Contact the Department for Pastoral Formation for a booking form 01329 835583.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week

Pope Benedict on Ecumenical Progress
Pope Benedict XVI has said that the three keys to making progress on the way to Christian Unity are “confession of Christ, witness and love.”……

He reflected on the fourth chapter of the First Letter of John. The Apostle presents that which differentiates Christians: “the profession of faith, that is, the ‘confessio’, which ultimately distinguishes us as Christians: faith in the fact that Jesus is the Son of God who has come in the flesh.”……..

Pope Benedict warned that “In this time of inter-religious encounters we are easily tempted to attenuate somewhat this central confession or indeed even to hide it, but by doing this we do not do a service to encounter or dialogue. We only make God less accessible to others and to ourselves. It is important that we bring to the conversation not fragments, but the whole image of God. To be able to do so, our personal communion with Christ and our love of him must grow and deepen. In this common confession, and in this common task, there is no division between us. And we pray that this shared foundation will grow even stronger.”

He also stressed that this profession of faith in Christ…..must become witness. The witness of Christians of the various communities must lead their contemporaries “across all the historical barriers…to perceive Jesus anew, the Son sent by God, in whom we see the Father,” the Holy Father said, “To be a witness of Jesus Christ means above all to bear witness to a certain way of living. In a world full of confusion we must again bear witness to the standards that make life truly life….”

And thirdly, the Bishop of Rome presented the word “agape” – love – as the key in the advance toward full Christian unity. He recalled the passage of the New Testament on which he was commenting: “We know and believe the love God has for us. Yes, man can believe in love. Let us bear witness to our faith in such a way that it shines forth as the power of love, so that the world may believe.”

Hazel Larkin, RIP
Hazel passed peacefully away on Tuesday 12th September after a very long illness. A Mass and cremation will take place in Dulwich and a Requiem Mass has been arranged in Sacred Heart Church, Fareham for Friday 29th September at 11.30am. Please remember Hazel in your prayers.

Latin Mass
On Sunday 1st October at 3.30pm at St John’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth there will be Solemn High Mass using classical, centuries old “Tridentine” Liturgy with Mozart’s Coronation Mass, to mark the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. All are welcome.

Mass for the Sick
The next Mass for the sick will be on 30th September 2006 at 3.00pm at St Philip Howard Church. Will Lay Ministers of Communion make arrangements for transport of sick and elderly parishioners whom they visit, if appropriate. Tea will be provided after the service. Should anyone wish transport to the Service, please make contact with Mary Cadogan on 01329 235987 or Anne Lamb on 01329 289721.

National Climate March
Saturday 4th November 12.00noon - a rally at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London.

Cultural Exchange with China
Cultural Exchange with China is a new voluntary association from the world wide Catholic tradition to which many citizens of China and Britain belong. Its aim is to promote understanding, co-operation and mutually beneficial friendships between the people of Britain and China, based on respect for one another and in an ecumenical, interfaith and global context. They run a “Teachers in China” programme and are looking for those with competence to teach third level English language, a bachelor’s degree or teaching diploma and fluent speakers with clear enunciation and a lively teaching style with competence to teach journalism, law, engineering, import and export trade, computer science, biology, pharmacy and costume design. The contract would be for one year renewable and accommodation is usually provided free of charge on the campus. Salary is adequate for the needs of a simple but comfortable life-style. Unless they have an MA or higher degree, teachers pay their own fare to and from Hong Kong and insurance, orientation etc. See the poster in the church porch for full details.

NEWS FROM PEG
Save God’s Beautiful World with Mary Grey from Wells for India on Saturday 7th October at St Jude’s School from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Admission is free but by ticket obtainable via John Vivian on 023 9242 2129.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

24th Sunday of the Year 16/17 September 2006 The Year of St Mark

Thanks from the Apostleship of the Sea
“It is with deep sincerity that I write on behalf of the Seafarers we serve to thank you and your congregation for your generous contribution of £580.18 for the Apostleship of the Sea’s 2006 Sea Sunday collection. Thanks to your parish donations, AOS can continue to expand our much valued work of welcoming Seafarers in Christ’s name to our shores. Commodore Chris York, National Director”

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Contacts: Fareham - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885 Portchester – Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 or Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.

More adorers are needed for adoration at Our Lady of Walsingham. If you can spare one hour between 1.00pm and 4.00pm please let Rose Andrews or Veronica Reeves know.

Someone is also needed at Sacred Heart Church to do 3.00 – 4.00pm on Wednesday to cover illness. If you can help, simply turn up.

St George Catholic School, Southampton
An Open Evening will be held on Tuesday 3rd October from 6.00 – 9.00pm. St George is a Specialist Science and Humanities College where boys will find approved facilities in ICT and new opportunities for learning.

First Holy Communion Programme
Parents of those children of First Holy Communion Age (born before 31st August 1999) who wish for their children to prepare for this Sacrament next year are invited to a meeting on Thursday 28th September (note change of date) at 7.30pm in St Jude’s School. This will be an information meeting for parents where the programme will be discussed.

Finance
Thank you for the Offertory Collection - £1504.05

Forthcoming Collections
17th September – Catholic Agency for Support of Evangelisation
24th September - Cathedral

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