Churches Together in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
A United Service is to take place at St Thomas’ Cathedral, high Street, Portsmouth on Sunday 13th May 2007 at 3.00pm. The preacher is Matthew Reed, Director of Church and Community Christian Aid. Bishop Crispian and all the Church Leaders in Hampshire will be taking part in this Service. If you would like to join the choir for this event, Email David Price or ring 023 9243 9430.

Internet Petition
If you are on the Internet, Right to Life have asked if you would support Catholic adoption agencies in their fight to resist Government pressures under the proposed Sexual Orientation Regulations which reject the right of conscience and will force the agencies to accept adoption by homosexual couples. Go to: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Adoptionprotest/ and sign the following internet petition “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to exempt the Roman Catholic Church and all Faith adoption agencies from the requirements of the Government’s proposed new Gay Rights laws.” The deadline is 26th April 2007.

First Holy Communion
Volunteers are needed to help children prepare for their First Holy Communion. If you can spare two hours on Saturday once a month, please see Father Joe or ring Anna or Jackie on 01329 230674 or 01329 830168.

Day Retreat
On Saturday 24th March at St Joseph’s, Ann’s Hill, Gosport there will be a Retreat led by Fr Danilo Castello, a Verona Father. The theme for the day is “The Meals of Jesus”. Tea and coffee are served at 10.00am, the Retreat begins at 10.30am and ends with Mass at 3.00pm. There is no charge but you would need to bring a packed lunch, although tea and coffee will be available. All are welcome.

Women of Hope
The speaker for this month is Tina Burgess from Southampton. All are welcome to Fareham Community Church on Monday 26th March at 7.30pm to hear her testimony of miraculous healing. Tea and cakes will be served.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
The challenge of Lent is urgent: “repent or perish; bear fruit or be cut down.” But what does this urgency mean, for most of us really are scarcely huge sinners! Although murder and adultery and apostasy (giving up the Faith) and other public scandalous, heinous sins are as much a part of our Church now as they were when the early Church practised public penitence, the vast majority of us are just common sinful folk. Sometimes it is not so obvious to us of what we must repent. We are sort of stuck – like the fig tree; it was still alive, just wasn’t doing much.

The gospels are one way to help us to prune out our sins. They are the measure against which we can examine our daily living. Another way is to pay attention to the people around us. They can reflect back to us behaviours which need to change as well as draw us out of ourselves to act in charity and graciousness. Christian living - and repenting - isn’t something undertaken in isolation. It always involves other people. They are the “examples” who teach us what needs to change in us so that we can bear fruit – sometimes even a bumper crop!
From Living Liturgy

St Philip Howard Car Park
This is a reminder that the St Philip Howard Car Park is used during the week from 10.00am to 2.30pm but it should be available for dropping off for school and for picking up from St Jude’s. Between 10.00am and 2.30pm it is reserved for the Motor Cycle Training. However, if you need to park during these times, a few places are left around the back of the church. Please keep the rest of the car park free.

A Service for everyone affected by adoption
We have been advised by the Catholic Children’s Society that the Annual National Service of thanksgiving, reconciliation and hope for everyone affected by adoption takes place on Saturday 17th March at 3.00pm at St Thomas Anglican Cathedral, High Street, Portsmouth. This is for everyone whose life has been touched by adoption and is a multi-faith service for those of all faiths or none.

Catholic Marriage Care
The Portsmouth Centre is seeking to recruit someone, male or female, to work with couples experiencing relationship problems. The training offered will be provided through Marriage Care’s University accredited course and would be funded by the Centre. They are a voluntary organisation and you will be asked to commit yourself to one evening per week for up to two hours of client counselling. Out of pocket expenses are paid. If you are interested and would like to know more, please contact Gerald Johnson on 023 9246 3989.

Saturday Night Special
The next Saturday Night Special is on Saturday 17th March – ages 11 – 17 years – price £3.00. Just come along to Fareham Leisure Centre from 7.30pm to 10.00pm.

What do you know about Islam?
On Sunday 11th March at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church, Mr Yasin Rahim from the Wickham Mosque will be speaking about his Islamic Faith and will answer questions. All are welcome.

Thanks ......
From the UCM
The UCM thanks all the people who supported the quiz last Sunday. A great time was had and £97.50 was raised. Thanks to Dr Graham Goodlad for some challenging questions. Watch this space for the next one.

From Pat Kemp
“I would like to thank parishioners for their prayers and support during my illness, especially friends at St Jude’s and Anna and Peter Chandler for their spiritual bouquets.” Pat Kemp

Support of the Holy Land a Duty
The Holy See is reminding Catholic faithful that it is a duty to support Christians in the Holy Land with prayer and material help. The reminder came in a Lenten letter from Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Eastern Churches, addressed to Catholic bishops throughout the world. The Vatican congregation stands in solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land and those throughout the Middle East, “where the political and economic crisis….has not yet been resolved and shows evidence each day of unspeakable suffering,” the Cardinal said. The collection for the Holy Land, held in most dioceses on Good Friday, reminds everyone of the “absolute and urgent need to support our brothers and sisters in this land, and to do so in every possible manner,” the letter said. According to the Cardinal, “Catholics of the world must offer their prayer and expressions of solidarity, including those economic, to the Christian community of that same blessed land. Despite their countless difficulties, these Christians offer day by day, and in silence, an authentic witness to the Gospel.”

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

Third Sunday of Lent 10/11 March 2007 The Year of St Luke

125th Anniversary of the Diocese
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese. Two major diocesan events are being planned and further details will follow after Easter.

Chrism Mass
The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral on Tuesday of Holy Week, 3rd April, at 11.00am

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
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).

Church Keys
If you have a key to any of our churches would you please notify Joan at the Parish Office as we need to make an up-to-date list. Also, if you no longer regularly use your church key, would you please return it to the Parish Office? Many thanks.

Table Top Sale
17th March, St Patrick’s Day, 11.00am to 1.00pm and 18th March 10.00am to 11.30am in Sacred Heart Hall. Proceeds to the Parish Lenten Appeal supporting Adopt Sri Lanka. Light refreshments provided with a taste of Irish baking. Everyone most welcome.

Gift Aid
Envelopes will be available after all Masses on the weekends of 10th and 17th March. Members of the Finance Committee will be available for new Gift Aid and to answer any questions.

The Spirit of Diana Walk
Follow the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales, and help MAG (Mines Advisory Group) to stamp out landmines! Take part in a 10km sponsored walk through London on Saturday 28th April 2007 and help unexploded bomb clearance operations to help people affected by conflict. For a fundraising pack, call Harriett Christie on 0161 236 4311 or email. A registration fee and sponsorship target do apply and all proceeds will be used to support landmine clearance operations worldwide.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1493.30
Lenten Appeal – Sri Lanka Rainbow Centre - £603.22
CAFOD Family Fast Day - £515.50

Forthcoming Collections
18th March – Clergy Assistance Fund

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