Diocesan Year Book 2007
The Diocesan Year Books for next year are on sale from the Repository – price £3.50.

Sacred Heart Flower Arrangers
Sacred Heart Flower Arrangers will be meeting on Friday 22nd December at 2.00pm in Sacred Heart Hall to prepare the garlands and arrangements for decorating the church for Christmas. They would like to invite anyone who would like to help in this happy activity. Please bring your own secateurs and greenery if you have any. Refreshments will be provided. Any inquiries to Chris Watts on 01329 826785.

Greetings………
Father Manuel sends his best wishes to all his friends in the Parish.

Vera Petrova sends greetings from Moscow to all her friends at Our Lady of Walsingham Church.

Fr Michael Peters gives his sincere thanks for all the support he received on his birthday. This came through cards, donations to ‘Save the Children’ and attendance on the Fun Day. He also offers his prayers for a peaceful Christmas and a year of hope and happiness ahead.

URGENT – HELP REQUIRED!
St Philip Howard Church
“Due to ill health, my husband and I can no longer clean St Philip Howard Church – that just leaves two to clean. If you can help, please come to the church on 20th December by 10.00am. I do hope someone can help. Thank you, Anna.”

First Holy Communion
Helpers are still needed for the First Holy Communion Programme. Please ring Jackie on 01329 833758 if you feel able to join the team.

May we remind parents that the next meeting for Holy Communion children will be on 6th January 2007 in St Jude’s School.

Desperate Appeal for Help
Your Christmas Gift will be gratefully accepted for a vehicle urgently needed for a Clinic in a remote village in Ethiopia to supply medicines to Aids and Leprosy patients in the neighbouring areas. Please make cheques payable to Park Place Appeal Fund and send to Sister Juliette, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, Wickham, Fareham, Hants. PO17 5HA.

The Future’s not Bright if you’re Orange!
A talk on the plight of the Orang-utan and the threat to the people of the rainforests from Palm Oil Tree Plantations – Speaker Ed Matthew of Friends of the Earth. The venue is St Vincent College, Forton Road, Gosport – Monday 8th January 2007 at 7.30pm. This has been organised by Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth and all are welcome.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
With this Third Sunday of Advent we reach a turning point in our expectation. Until now we have focused on the awaited second coming of Christ. Now, the Liturgy of the Word turns us toward the Jesus who is near, the One who teaches us the good news of our salvation: “the Lord is in your midst” (first reading); “for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (responsorial psalm)……

Traditionally, this is “Gaudete,” “rejoice” Sunday, taken from the second reading which suggests to us that the cause of our joy is Christ and Christ alone (“The Lord is near.”) When we say “The Lord is near” we do not mean that Christmas is almost here, but that Christ is always being enfleshed in our midst. Again, let us say rejoice.
From Living Liturgy

Masses for Christmas 2006

here

Christmas Chocolate, Tombola and Cake Stall
This takes place on this weekend. All Proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal supporting Aid to the Church in Need.

A Message from the Finance Committee
Christmas is a time of giving thanks for the blessing of Jesus’ birth. Let us show this by remembering the wonderful work carried out by Father Joe. It is our custom that the collection on Christmas Day is our personal gift to him. He does so much for us so let us be generous in return. Don’t forget, if you contribute by way of Gift Aid (either by standing order or envelopes) the Church can reclaim the tax paid on your gift. Simply use an envelope and mark it clearly with your number or your name and the words “Christmas Gift.”

Calling Families!!!
Raise money for FORT, Friends of Radiotherapy, at St Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth, carol singing from 6.00pm – 7.00/7.30pm at The Keep, Portchester. Meet at the entrance in Castle Street. If you would like to come, ring 023 9238 1802.

Our Lady of Walsingham Concert
“Thank you to all who supported the concert and to Ann for all her help. A total of £215.00 was raised for the Advent Appeal. Thank you again, love Rose and Helen.”

Parish Christmas Dinner 2006
Enormous thanks to everyone who helped in so many ways to make the Parish Dinner such a happy and joyous occasion. So many people gave of their gifts and talents from Becky with ‘dramatic lighting’ to Mike, designer of Menus and tickets, to name just two. At present the money raised from the dinner stands at £1574.00 which goes towards our Parish Advent Appeal for Aid to the Church in Need.

Pastoral Area Property Administrator
This post is to manage the properties attached to the four parishes within the new Pastoral Area in Southampton. The person appointed will be expected to monitor the maintenance and development of all properties, ensure compliance with all legislation and guidance and report to the Pastoral Area Property Group. Salary £16,500 to £18,600, 4½ days per week. – closing date for applications is 18th December. For application form and job description please phone 023 8033 3589.

Vacancy at The Well, West Street, Fareham
Relief Food and Beverage Manager. This is a paid position requiring approximately six hours per week to be worked each Friday plus one Saturday (full day) per month. The salary for this post is £5.35 per hour. The Relief Manager is responsible for the coffee shop on a day to day basis. A qualification in food management is desirable, but not essential. If you are interested please write with a full CV by Friday 5th January 2007 to June Haye, General Manager, The Well, 116-118 West Street, Fareham, Hants. PO16 0EP or ring 01329 318731 if you need further details.

St Jude's Carol Singing
The school choirs will be singing carols on the KS1 playground on Monday 18th December from 2.30 – 3.00pm, as parents come to collect their children from school. Mince pies will be served in the reception conservatory. Money raised will go to SHELTER and any donations will be gratefully received.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

Third Sunday of Advent 16/17 December 2006 The Year of St Luke

The Parish Office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from lunchtime on Wednesday 20th December and will re-open on Friday 5th January 2007. 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 Tuesday 19th December.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“The Divine Eucharist forms the principal substance of the Christian’s life; it is the inexhaustible source of consolations and supernatural comforts which soothes the sorrows and sufferings of poor mankind better than any human remedy. Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the clement and peaceful King who still lives amongst us under the Sacramental veils” (Pope Pius XI).

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ceases on Tuesday 19th December at Our Lady of Walsingham Church and Wednesday 20th December at Sacred Heart Church. Adoration resumes on Monday 8th January 2007.

Contacts: Fareham (and Tuesday evenings) - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885 Portchester – Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864

Day with Mary Pilgrimages 2007
Details of the following pilgrimages are on the notice board:

Fatima – 12 – 20 July including a 3 day conference on Our Lady;

Rome – 8 – 16 September visiting Subiaco and Manoppello;

For full details and booking forms, contact Trevor Downs, 15 Carlton Crescent, North Cheam, Surrey. SM3 9TS.

Thanks
“Many thanks to the SVP for the wonderful party they gave us on Saturday – it was very enjoyable.” Ann

Call to Prayer for our Pastoral Area
Do you feel anxious about the proposed changes to the churches of our Pastoral area? 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 these questions is “yes”, come for the First Friday of January to St Margaret Mary Church in Park Gate. We begin at 10.00am with Mass. Father James will be available for confession and spiritual direction during the Holy Hour. We will focus on the Epiphany. After a shared lunch, we will have Bible Study and reflection. The day will finish at 3.00pm. Bring your own sandwiches but tea, coffee and soup will be available. For further details or a lift, ring Rebecca on 023 9238 1802.

Diocesan Day for Justice and Peace – Becoming Stewards of God’s Creation
Saturday 17th February at Bishop Challoner School, Basingstoke from 10.00am to 4.30pm. Registration and coffee from 9.30am. If you wish to attend, please complete a booking form. These are available in the church porch.

Churches Together in Portchester Christmas Cards
The Portchester Churches have produced cards giving details of Christmas Services to be delivered to every house in Portchester. If you can help with delivery, please speak to Joan Hamilton or Yvonne Hart.

Accommodation required
A young professional female urgently needs accommodation in the Fareham area. If you can help, please ring Jim or Pat Gilhooley on 01329 845307.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1753.51

Advent Appeal – Aid to the Church in Need - £419.02

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