Acknowledgement from Cardinal Cormac
“……It was good to hear from you and I was indeed happy to re-open the small chapel in Galle. I was particularly glad that this was done on behalf of the Catholic Church in Fareham and Portchester, over which I have such happy memories.

I had a very fruitful and happy visit to Sri Lanka and was much impressed by the good work of the Aid Agencies and, in particular, CAFOD, who co-operate with the local Church and with other agencies in a very fruitful and constructive way. Thank you for sending me the article for the Parish Newsletter which is very nice indeed and which I read with great interest.

It is good to know that the Parish is flourishing and with my kindest wishes and prayers,

Yours devotedly in Christ,

+Cormac Murphy-Connor, Archbishop of Westminster”

Diocesan Fairtrade Day
On Saturday 4th February 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. A coach will be available at £7.00 per head and if you would like to take advantage of this, please ring Christine McGrew at St Jude’s School.

Prayer for the Solent Pastoral Area
On Friday 3rd February, there will be a Reflection on the Vision of Margaret Mary revealing the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We will start at 10.00am with Mass. Father James will be available for Confession and spiritual direction.

Calling all Lay Ministers of Communion and Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament
You may remember that Father Joe promised that there would be a Day of Retreat for all Ministers of Communion and Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. This has now been arranged and Father John Edwards SJ will be leading a Day of Reflection at Park Place on Saturday 11th March from 10.00am to 4.00pm (Mass will be celebrated at 3.00pm). There will be coffee/tea at 10.00am and a packed lunch at 12.00 noon. We need to know numbers, so would you please complete the tear-off slip below and return it to the Parish Office if you wish to attend. This notice will be in the newsletter for the next four weeks.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
O that today you would listen to his voice
Harden not your hearts. Psalm 94
Three thousand years later this message is still relevant amidst the fears that we are experiencing today. What are some of our fears – being made redundant, falling ill, break-up of family life and marriage, falling behind the Joneses in our way of life, attacks on vulnerable sections of society and of course, terrorist attacks. We are advised to go for Stress Management, take out insurances and live on borrowed money. These are solutions offered to us which could build up a barrier preventing us from hearing the voice of the Lord, the authoritative voice of Jesus.

Jesus came to make us free so that in being free we could generate all the productive and growth energies within ourselves to become what he wants us to be. He frees us from the ‘evil spirits’ of fear, compulsions, narrow self-centredness, anger, resentment, hostility and violence and helps us to experience ‘being alive’. “I have come that they may have life, life in abundance”.

Langford Vincent

Elisa Owen-Evans RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Elisa Owen-Evans who died recently. Please also remember to pray for her family and friends.

Lenten Discussion Groups
Witnessing Christ in the Conflict of Life is the topic for Fareham Lenten Ecumenical Discussion Groups. Portchester Ecumenical Groups will also be having Lenten Discussions but the topic has yet to be decided. Applications for the Fareham Groups are available at the back of the church and need to be returned by Tuesday 7th March at the latest. The Groups are small and these discussions are lively and home based in comfortable surroundings.

Diocesan Adviser for Justice and Peace
In the context of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, ‘Go Out and Bear Fruit’, Portsmouth Diocese is looking to appoint a part-time paid Adviser for Justice and Peace. Are you an enthusiastic person with a strong commitment to issues of justice and peace? Could you work across the Portsmouth Diocese to encourage and support existing initiatives at all levels and promote the development of new ones? Could you act as a focal point and provide co-ordination and support through developing and leading networks of volunteers involved in these issues? If you have appropriate leadership and organisational skills and would like to join the friendly team in the Department for Pastoral Formation, please contact Nicky Stevens, Head of Department and discuss the opportunity with her. This role calls for a car driver with access to a car who is prepared to travel around the Diocese. Salary: £15,000 per annum for 21 hours per week, to include some evening and weekend work. Closing date for applications is Friday 24th February. For further details call Nicky Stevens on 01329 835583. For application forms contact Eileen Stephenson on 01329 835583.

Portchester Voluntary Care
This group has co-ordinators who receive requests by telephone for help with transport. They then find a suitable volunteer who will provide transport and if necessary, an escort, to Health Centres, Hospitals, Dentists etc. Donations are appreciated and can be placed in an envelope provided by the driver who will return it to the treasurer. Volunteer drivers can, if they wish, claim expenses. If you feel this service might be of help to you or if you would like to volunteer to be a driver or escort, please telephone 023 9232 1788.

A Day with Mary Pilgrimages 2006
Details of pilgrimages to Fatima and Rome together with booking details are on the notice board.

Catholic Bible School
www.catholic-bible-school.org
The next Saturday Study Day takes place on 18th February from 10.00am to 3.30pm and is entitled ‘Marriage Matters’. This will consider Marriage from a biblical perspective.

The next Healing Service will be held at Nutbourne Chapel on Wednesday 15th March at 7.45pm

Further details may be obtained from the Catholic Bible School, Nutbourne House, Farm Lane, Nutbourne, Chichester, W. Sussex PO18 8SD – telephone 01243 371766.

Accommodation/job required
A Spanish woman aged 29 years and currently living in Park Gate Parish is seeking work as an au pair to children aged 2 years and above. If this is not possible, she would very much like to rent a room in Fareham. She attends St Margaret Mary Church and can supply references. She may be contacted by e-mail on inmaculadavicent@hotmail.com or by telephone 07792683564.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

4th Sunday of the Year 28th/29th January 2006   The Year of St Mark

Deacon Tony Strike
Deacon Tony will be speaking about the Diaconate at all Masses next weekend.

Free Books
Does anyone know of any organisation home or abroad that would be interested in books, fiction (mainly primary age) and non-fiction (school closing down?) For details ring 023 9237 5553.

Diocesan Year Books
These are now available from the Repository and cost £3.50. The Year Book contains details of Mass times throughout the Diocese, some interesting photos and much more. Get your copy today!

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. Lily will be away from 16th-31st January 2006. During this period Maria Kelly (tel. 01329 511370) will be in charge of Adoration at Fareham. Please refer to the substitute list should you need help with your Holy Hour.

Mass in Malayalam
On Sunday 5th February, Mass will be celebrated in Malayalam at Sacred Heart Church at 4.00pm. This will be followed by refreshments in the hall. All are welcome.

Schola Gregoriana
The Schola Gregoriana is a Male Voice Schola supporting the use of Gregorian Chant – new members always welcome – no previous experience needed – both four and five line music given out. We meet in St John’s Room at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth on most Friday evenings. Contacts: Neville McNally 023 9286 2384 or Christopher Savage 01789 344541.

Franciscan Group
Would you like to learn more about the Franciscan family? On Saturday 11th February, the Franciscan Group will be meeting in Sacred Heart Hall following the 10.30am Mass. Why not come along to pray, talk and find out about Franciscans.

News from The Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI says he aims to recover the meaning of the word ‘love’ with the theme of his first encyclical.

“Today the word ‘love’ is so tarnished, so spoiled and so abused, that one is almost afraid to pronounce it with one’s lips,” the Pope told a congress on charity, held in the Vatican. He was explaining the key points of his encyclical, ‘Deus Caritas Est’ (God is Love). “And yet, it is a primordial word, expression of the primordial reality,” the Holy Father said. “We cannot simply abandon it, we must take it up again, purify it and give back to it its original splendour so that it might illuminate our life and lead it on the right path.”

St Edmund’s Catholic School, Portsmouth
The Governors of St Edmund’s School are looking for a temporary ICT Technician to cover paternity leave for approximately four weeks with immediate effect. Details from 023 9282 3766. Applicants will need a CRB check

School Uniform Shop
St Edmund’s Catholic School has a selection of second hand school uniform in the Uniform Shop, for sale at much reduced prices. Do you have an old school uniform that is in good condition? Do not throw it out, it can be added to the second hand uniform rail. Please take it, clean and washed, to the school reception. The Uniform Shop is open from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm (term time).

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1463.25

Forthcoming Collection –
12th February – Catholic Education Service

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

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