Charity Concert
On Friday 28th April there will be a concert at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Portchester (charity to be announced later). If anyone would like to join in or would like to help in any way, please ring Rose Andrews on 023 9238 8494.

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.

Lent Reflections – The Last Seven Words of Christ…
These take place on the following Mondays at 7.15pm at St Dominic’s Priory, Shirley Holms, Lymington, Hants: March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th and on 3rd April – Hayden Recital in the Chapel. Donation £2.50 – Recital donation £8.00.

Confirmation 2006
The next session takes place on Wednesday 8th March at St Jude’s School from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.

Lourdes Buffet Lunch
The next Lourdes Lunch will take place in St Jude’s School Hall on Saturday 18th March at 12.30pm. The lunch is in aid of the fund to send young helpers to Lourdes. Tickets, £5.00 each, will be on sale next weekend from Ann Corr on 01329 235575 or Pauline Jackson on 01329 236275.

House Group
The next meeting of the House Group will be on Wednesday 8th March at 101 The Avenue, Fareham. All are welcome. For more information, ring 01329 847533.

Lenten Fast Day for CAFOD
Friday 10th March is Lenten Fast Day. Please collect your envelope after Mass and return it next weekend.

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.

Park Place Lenten Retreat
Sister Frances fsma will be leading a Lenten Retreat, Watch and Pray on Saturday 11th March at Park Place Pastoral Centre from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Tea and coffee will be provided but you will need to bring a packed lunch. The cost is £15.00. Contact the Secretary, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, Wickham, Fareham,Hants PO17 5HA to book your place. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
Historically, Lent is a season of final, intense preparation for initiation sacraments. The whole Church joins in a conversion process with those to be baptised or make their profession of faith. Lent is conversion and journey; its goal is a renewed sense of our identity as daughters and sons of God. Lent is a time for us to assess our baptismal, covenantal relationship with God. It is our time to face evil and choose to live in righteousness. By so doing, we – with Christ – proclaim by our lives that the “kingdom of God is at hand.” Living the paschal mystery calls us to die to the sin within us so that we can rise to the life given us in baptism. The gospel this weekend appears brief and simple but the task it describes is neither. The conflict between Jesus and Satan is a titanic struggle between good and evil and lasts forty days. Our task of repenting is as intense a struggle and lasts a lifetime.

From Living Liturgy

Jim McGovern RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jim McGovern who died recently. Please also remember to pray for his family and friends.

Jean Carter RIP
“I would like to thank everybody for the tremendous amount of sympathy, support, love and encouragement that I received following the recent death of my beloved Jean, evidence indeed of just how well loved Jean was. I found it very moving and uplifting and I am very grateful. Thank you once again and God bless you all. Bob Carter”

Christina Greenfield RIP
The whole of Chris’s family would like to say “thank you” to Fr Joe, Fr Charles, Fr John Doran, Fr Mark Hogan, Deacon Langford and everyone in the parish, for the tremendous number of cards and prayers and heart felt sympathy which they received following the recent loss of their mother. The Cardinal has sent the following message to Pauline regarding her mother: “I remember Christina so well from my days in Fareham. She was a devoted member of the parish and was always very kind to me during my four years at Fareham and Portchester. She had a long and fruitful life in the Church and may God reward her as a good and faithful servant. With kind wishes and especially my prayers for the repose of the soul of Christina.” +Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.

“Pope and the Iceberg”
This Lent, St John’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth is focusing on ‘Climate Justice’. They have invited Mary Colwell, who has been producing television films and radio commentaries for nearly twenty years with the BBC’s Natural History Unit. She is a committed Catholic and will speak passionately about how our faith can turn the world around. This talk takes place on Monday 13th March at 7.30pm in the Cathedral and is open to everyone. Entrance is free.

Nuclear Energy
Also on Monday 13th March there will be a debate and displays about nuclear power as part of national science week at St Vincent College, Mill Lane, Gosport from 7.30 to 9.00pm and admission is free.

Parish Lenten Appeal
This year’s Lenten Appeal is in support of AdoptSri 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 beginning on Ash Wednesday, 1st March. 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. Catholics will be responsible for the lunch and service on 15th March.

Organ Recital
The following recitals will take place at St Wilfrid’s Church in Cowplain and will be given by the organists of St Mary’s Church, Portsea: Saturday 13th May – Michael Stoddart (Director of Music) – Saturday 25th November – Matthew Dixon (Assistant Organist). Both recitals begin at 7.30pm. Michael and Matthew will be Conductor and Organist at the “Come and Sing” event on Good Friday, 14th April, in St Mary’s Church, Portsea when Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’ will be performed at 7.00pm.

Calling all Altar Servers
There will be a meeting for experienced Servers at 2.00pm on Saturday 18th March at St Philip Howard Church. On the same day there will be a meeting for all new Altar Servers at 4.00pm also at St Philip Howard Church.

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 and their topic is Where is God? There is a list in the porch for the Portchester Groups – please sign and indicate which day of the week you would prefer.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Current newsletter here

First Sunday of Lent 4th/5th March 2006   The Year of St Mark

Rite of Election
Please pray for the members of our Parish who attended the Rite of Election at St John’s Cathedral. Andrew Brown, Dawn Donnelly, Dawn Gillmore, Joan Horner, Desmond Quick, Grace Salter and Hilary Weller will be presented to our community this weekend at the 11.00am Mass at St Philip Howard Church.

Welcome!!
Making people feel welcome at Mass, distributing hymn books and finding seats all help in preparation for the celebration of the Eucharist. We would be very pleased to hear from anyone who would be willing to join our team of welcomes either as ushers or greeters at 9.00am Mass.

If you are interested in assisting with this important ministry would you please contact Terry and Theresa Phillips either at Mass or by telephoning 01489 880619.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“If we really love the good God, we will find it a joy and happiness to spend some time near him, to adore him, and keep company with so good a friend. He is there in the tabernacle. What is Jesus doing in this sacrament of love? He is loving us.” (St John Vianney)

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

Fareham Fairtrade Day
Come and see Fairtrade in action. Mark Hoban MP will also be there on Saturday 11th March from 9.30am to 2.30pm at the Bandstand, West Street Precinct.

Fairtrade Goods
Fairtrade goods will be on sale after each Mass of the weekend 11/12 March. If you would like to help please contact John Vivian on 023 9242 2129.

GIFT Bible Course
The meeting for March will take place on Wednesday 15th entitled, ‘Making sense of the Scriptures of Lent and Easter’ led by Nicky Stevens and Angela Wills. Coffee and tea will be served from 7.30pm onwards. This is an opportunity to make time for study in Lent if you are unable to make the Lenten courses on offer.

PEG Questionnaire
There is a box at the back of each church to return completed questionnaires for the PEG survey.

His Story
This is a unique live musical and visual experience portraying the Gospel Story and takes place at the Kings Theatre, Southsea on Saturday 6th May at 2.00pm and 7.30pm. Linvoy Primus from Portsmouth Football Club will be making a special guest appearance. Tickets are available from the Box Office – Matinee: Adult £6.50 – child and concessions £4.50 (2 free adult tickets per 10 seats booked) – Evening: Adult £8.50 – child and concessions £6.50 – double ticket £15.00 – family tickets: 2 adults, 2 children £25.00.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1612.70
Catholic Children’s Society - £267.13

Forthcoming Collection –
11/12th March – Family Fast Day Envelopes (CAFOD)

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

Copyright © 1996-2008 Web Page Design - Cyber Innovations. All Rights Reserved. All Trademarks Recognised