Solent Pastoral Area
Following the announcement of the formation of the Solent Pastoral Area as part of the Bishop’s Pastoral Plan, a steering group with a representative from each parish as well as one from the Pastoral Area Pastoral Council and our schools, has been formed. It will be gathering information over the next few months and advising on how we should take forward the process of deciding how we should implement the pastoral plan in our area. As yet they have only just started work – we will keep you informed as soon as there is something concrete to tell you. The representative for our parish is Paul O’Beirne, Gosport – Doug Savage; Stubbington and Lee – John Green; Park Gate – Angela Anderson.

Justice and Peace Day
17th February at Bishop Challoner School in Basingstoke. There are a few seats still available on the mini bus which will leave from Sacred Heart Church at 8.00am – cost £6.00. Closing date for booking is 10th February. If you wish to go, please contact John or Esme from PEG – tel. 023 9242 2129 or 01329 319301. You may also email Esme.

Douai Abbey Pastoral Programme
Saturday 10 Feb – 10.00am – Healing Workshop
Nicholas Broadbridge OSB
Saturday 24 Feb – 10.00am – Day of Recollection
Hugh Somerville-Knapman OSB
Friday – Sunday 02 – 04 March – Lent Retreat
John Bolton OSB
Monday – Friday 12 – 16 March – Quo Vadis?
Christopher Greener OSB & Gervase Holdaway OSB
Saturday – 17 March – Christian Art and Poetry
Oliver Holt OSB & Myra Cottingham
Friday – Sunday 23 – 25 March – Managing conflict the Benedictine Way
Fodhla McGrane & Gervase Holdaway OSB
For full information, contact Pastoral Programme Office, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ

Education Sunday
This weekend we celebrate Education Sunday – a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education. “Catholic schools and colleges are founded by communities of faith and characterised by a commitment to personal excellence and social justice. Through the example of parents, teachers, teaching assistants, chaplains, governors and the wider Catholic community, students will learn how to be truly happy and fulfilled.” (+Vincent Nichols, Chair of Catholic Education Service.) Please remember to pray for all those at St Jude’s School and for all involved in education. There will be a Retiring Collection for the Catholic Education Service this weekend.

Park Place Pastoral Centre
10th February 10.00am to 4.00pm – Looking at Our Shadow 2 – using painting and drama we shall be introduced to the Jungian concept of the shadow – cost £15.00 coffee/tea provided but please bring a packed lunch. 24th February 10.00am to 4.00pm – Sadhana Lenten Retreat Watch and Pray – based on the Awareness prayer of Fr A. D’mello – cost £15.00 coffee/tea provided but please bring a packed lunch.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
It is much easier for us to understand God’s call to holy people or to those close to God and to expect the call in appropriate places. With our hindsight it is even easy to understand Jesus’ call to Peter. We expect God’s call today to be to holy people and to come in sacred moments in sacred places. God calls me? I’m a sinner. Yet, if we pay attention to details in this gospel, we might be caught by surprise. Peter is a simple fisherman. The call comes while he is at work near his boat. This is no holy person in a holy place. This is an ordinary person like us going about his life.

God meets people where they are. Sinfulness isn’t a stumbling block to following God’s call. We simply go deeper……..beyond our sinfulness to hear God call each of us, because of our baptism, to discipleship. In spite of our objections, God gently and persistently says to each of us, “You’re still the one I want.” Like Isaiah and Peter, we are invited to be overwhelmed by God’s graciousness and self- revelation and answer, “Send me!”
From Living Liturgy

Niall’s African Adventure
Check out What’s New? to find out how Niall Tuttiett is enjoying life in Kenya.

Sheer Gift!
A day to celebrate and explore Catholic stewardship in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Come and hear how the principles of stewardship are beginning to transform communities from across the diocese. Saturday 28th April 2007 at St Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School, Hillcrest Avenue, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire – 10.00am coffee – 10.30am to 4.00pm – please bring a packed lunch. Space is limited, so booking is essential. To book your place please contact Eileen Stephenson, Department of Pastoral Formation on 01329 835583 or email.

Royal Marines Wind Ensemble
On Friday 9th February at 7.30pm the Band of the Royal Marines will perform an inspirational evening of music at the prestigious Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton University. Tickets cost £6.00 (Concessions £5.00, children £3.00) For tickets please call, 023 9272 6182.

Church Singing Workshop for Parish Choirs
Are you interested in developing music in your parish? Could any choir members do with some vocal tuition? Would an organist like some help with accompanying the choir and congregation? Do you need suggestions for repertoire? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you might wish to take advantage of a Church Singing Workshop that is taking place at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh on Saturday 9th June 2007.

The event is hosted by St John’s Seminary in association with The Music Makers, an independent liturgical music publisher which has the overall mission to try to help improve the state of Catholic music at parish level. Full information on the day may be found at www.themusicmakers.org. The charge per person for the day is £15.00 including lunch in the seminary’s refectory. Enquiries to the General Manager of The Music Makers on 020 7207 5501.

Confraternity of the Rosary Pilgrimage
The Confraternity of the Rosary have arranged a pilgrimage to Lisieux following the life of St Therese. It will take place from Monday 9th July to Friday 13th July 2007 staying full board at the Grand Hotel de l’Esperance. There will be Mass each day, a visit to the Basilica in Lisieux and two coach excursions – one to Alencon where St Therese spent her first years and a visit to Les Buissonet, her childhood home.

They will be sailing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and continue by coach to the hotel, returning on the Friday sailing from Caen to Portsmouth. The coach will pick up from a Parish near you and you will be returned to your pick-up point. Included in the pilgrimage cost of £415.00 – all coach travel and excursions, accommodation full-board, travel insurance, sailing by Brittany Ferries. Fr John Dunne and Fr David Quarmby will be the spiritual leaders. A deposit is required as soon as possible to confirm sailing by Brittany Ferries - £80.00 - which includes the travel insurance. This will, of course, be deducted from the cost of the pilgrimage. Cheques to be made payable to (Pilgrimage Account). If you need further information, please ring Janet or Max on 023 9282 0744.

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

5th Sunday of the Year 03/04 February 2007 The Year of St Luke

Faith and Light
There will be a Mass this Sunday at 3.00pm in St Philip Howard Church for the Faith and Light group, to celebrate Candlemas.

Chinese Lunar New Year
There will be a Mass to celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday 18th February at 12.00 noon at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“The purpose of the Holy Hour is to encourage a deep personal encounter with Christ. The holy and glorious God is constantly inviting us to come to Him, to hold converse with Him, to ask for such things as we need, and to experience what a blessing there is in fellowship with Him.” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

Contacts: Fareham (and Tuesday evenings) - Lily Peach on 077 678 98885 Portchester – Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 (Monday Adoration at Our Lady of Walsingham Church only).

Diocese of Portsmouth Youth News
Copies of the January edition of Youth News are available from the church porch.

Portsmouth People
The February edition of Portsmouth People is also available from the church porch.

Teaching Vacancies at Oaklands Catholic School, Waterlooville
Required for September 2007:
Suitably qualified and experienced graduate teacher to be Co-ordinator for Curriculum Development and Teaching and Learning in Science – Scale TLR 1.Level 2 and to support the Head of Department in leading a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers of Science and will have the skills and leadership potential to enthuse other members of the team. He/she will be able to teach ‘A’ level in one discipline and will have a record of successful classroom practice at all levels.

A Teacher of Science/Main Scale is also required for September 2007. Newly qualified teachers are welcome to apply.

Oaklands is a very popular and successful school which is described by Ofsted as a “very good school with some excellent features” and categorised by the LA as “highly effective”. Please contact the Head, Mr Chris Whitfield B.A., M.Ed. immediately on 023 9224 8043. Closing date: Monday 19th February 2007.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1610.90
White Flower Appeal (Society for Protection of Unborn Children) - £275.58

Forthcoming Collections
4th February – Catholic Education Service
18th February – Catholic Children’s Society

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