125th Anniversary of the Diocese
This year marks the 125th anniversary of our Diocese. On Monday 21st May at St John’s Cathedral there will be a Diocesan Mass at 6.00pm.

Make Aid Work – the world can’t wait!
Come to a vigil of prayer, reflection and interaction on Friday 1st June from 7.30pm to 10.00pm at St John’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth. Details are on the notice board.

Live Simply Pilgrimage
You are invited to join the Pilgrimage on Sunday 29th May starting from Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon, Radley Road, Abingdon walking to the Carmelite Priory at Boar’s Hill for a picnic lunch and prayers in the chapel, before returning to Abingdon for tea and refreshments at approximately 4.30pm. A mini bus is being arranged and if you are interested, contact Esme Percival on 01329 319301. See the poster on the notice board for further details.

Open Air Mass
Date for your Diary – Open Air Mass Sunday 10th June at St Jude’s School Field. If anyone needs transport, please contact Alison Ivison on 01329 230049.

Open Garden for Charity
You are invited to attend an Open Garden for Charity on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June at 27 Elms Road, Fareham (garden open between 10.00am and 4.00pm. The entrance fee is Adults £1.50 and children 50p which includes Fairtrade refreshments kindly donated by Fareham branch of Friends of the Earth. A selection of paintings and a raffle will be available and all proceeds will be donated to Kids which helps 600 local disabled children, young people and their families.

APF Annual Reunion Mass
All promoters, Members and families and friends are invited to the Annual Reunion Mass on Sunday 3rd June at 2.30pm in St Joseph’s Church, Maidenhead. Tea and refreshments will be served after Mass. Those from Portchester who intend going to this are asked to contact Joan Hamilton on 023 9238 5559 and those from Fareham should contact Ron Lewis on 01329 847533.

Parish Diary
All group co-ordinators within the Parish are asked to send details of the dates, times and venues of their activities for the period of September 2007 to August 2008. It would be appreciated if these could arrive at the Parish Office by the end of May.

His Story – portraying the Gospel Story
Mustard Seed Songs present ‘The original Cast’ portraying the Gospel Story in a unique live musical and visual experience, at The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth on Saturday 23rd June at 7.30pm – prices £7.50 with 50% reductions for concessions. Tickets available from the box office only 023 9264 9000.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
The new creation and new life effected by Christ’s resurrection resulted in an entirely new self-understanding by the first Christian communities and a new religious order. Because we Christians today are so inundated with words and pay little attention to most of them, it is possible that any newness of the Resurrection escapes us or else the newness has become so commonplace that it has lost its power. Even “love” and “God’s word” are so overloaded with variant meanings that they have largely lost their power to stir us.

Each year our Easter celebration challenges us to assess our treasure trove. God’s dwelling among us, the relationship of hearing (living) God’s word and loving as Jesus did, being taught by the Holy Spirit. These cannot be discarded like cheap paperbacks. They are our life!
From Living Liturgy

CFH – The Caring Fellowship
The annual Mass for all people (able and disabled) and members of CFH Caring Fellowship is on Saturday 16th June at 2.30pm in St Bede’s Church, Popley, Basingstoke – a Memorial Mass for John Weaver, former Chairman of CFH Caring Fellowship. Tea in the hall after Mass. All welcome.

House Mass
Fr John Edwards, SJ who led our mission in November, is celebrating a House Mass at 6.00pm on 19th May at the North Boarhunt home of Yvette Harrington. Yvette and her husband, Larry Murawski, are new in the area and are keen to meet some parishioners, so if you are available, you would be most welcome. The House Mass will be followed by a buffet supper. Contact Yvette on 01329 832781 if you are able to attend.

Review of the Year 2006
Copies of the Review of 2006 are available in the church porch, free of charge. Please take one.

Monastic Retreat
There is an opportunity for single Catholic men aged 18 to 40 years to experience Benedictine monastic life at Pluscarden Abbey from 4th to 8th June 2007. For more information or to book a place (there is no charge for the retreat) please contact: Fr Augustine OSB, Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin, Moray IV30 8UA, Scotland or email – travel: coach/train to Elgin plus cheap flights to Aberdeen/Inverness.

Plant Sales for Adopt Sri Lanka
Plants will be on sale after 11.00am Mass on Sundays 13th and 20th May. All proceeds will go to the Adopt Sri Lanka Appeal. Anyone not at those Masses who would like to buy plants is welcome to call Frankie Lane on 01329 310785 and arrangements can be made to buy the plants from home. If anyone wants to order specific plants – particularly tomatoes as these go very quickly – then contact Frankie as soon as possible.

Vacancy at Oaklands Catholic School
Required as soon as possible an Assistant Caretaker/Site person to join a dedicated and hardworking Site Team. The successful candidate will be a team player who is not afraid of hard work. He/She will also be prepared to undertake general maintenance duties as part of the team approach to site maintenance. Salary Scale: Grade B Slot Level 1 £13,014 for a 37 hour week. Overtime may be available. Cost of living increase expected shortly. Send an A5 stamped addressed envelope for further details and application form by writing to the Head: Mr C Whitfield, Oaklands Catholic School, Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville, Hants. PO7 7BW. Closing date is Monday 14th May 2007.

Thanks
“Danny and Sue McMullan would like to thank everyone for their cards, prayers and support during Sue’s recent illness. They were much appreciated. We are delighted to say that Sue is very well now and enjoying life again, thank God. The Lord does indeed still work miracles! Danny and Sue”

A Message of thanks from CAFOD
“Thank you very much for your kind Fast Day donation…..Your support of Lent Fast Day during the year of the Live Simply Challenge allows us to reach out in solidarity to those who suffer the effects of poverty and injustice. Salud Relatado, living in the Philippines said: ‘You are changing our lives and I hope you will continue this support not only to us, but to other poor people.’ Thank you once again for your generous support on Lent Fast Day. Michelle Oakford, Team Leader Supporter Response Centre.”

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

Sixth Sunday of Easter 12/13 May 2007 The Year of St Luke

United Service
The Churches Together in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight United Service takes place this Sunday 13th May at 3.00pm in St Thomas’ Cathedral, High Street, Portsmouth. The Preacher is Matthew Reed, Director of Church and Community, Christian Aid. Do come to the Service and join other Christians as we celebrate Working Together.

Father Charlie
The Parish farewell social evening for Father Charlie takes place on Thursday 17th May from 6.00pm to 8.00pm (approximately), in Sacred Heart Hall. This evening will give us an opportunity to give him our good wishes and to thank him for all he has done for us during his time here.

May Concert
All are invited to a May Concert this Sunday 13th May at St Philip Howard Church starting at 7.30pm. There will be light refreshments after the Sunday evening Mass prior to the concert. Father John Glynn is Parish Priest at Wickford in Essex. He is a musician and hymn writer. He has been performing locally for some years and is coming with his group Aquila, to share his love of spiritual song with us. Among his more well-known hymns are ‘Where are you bound, Mary?’ and ‘Peace is the gift of Christ to the World.’

Rosary Rally 2007
The annual Rosary Rally takes place on Saturday 19th May at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth beginning with Mass at 12.15pm and followed by the rosary, procession, hymns and prayers. At 2.30pm there will be Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and enrolment into the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the afternoon ends with tea in the Cathedral Centre.

Free Wills Fortnight
From Friday 18th to Thursday 31st May CAFOD and nine other charities are offering those aged 55+ the chance to make a will for free with participating solicitors in Southampton. Call Free Wills Fortnight on 0845 020 4309.

Job Vacancy
Cleaner required, 4 hours per week, at St Philip Howard Church Hall. For further details please contact the Parish Office.

Youth Club
Because of the concert, the Youth Club will not be meeting in St Philip Howard Hall this Sunday. Those going tenpin bowling instead should be at the Go Bowling centre by 6.45pm. All back to normal next week! Club members who have booked for the Thorpe Park trip on 16th June but who still have not paid the deposit should contact John Monfort urgently on 01489 583629 as there is big demand for places.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1594.83
Father Charles - £1202.00

Forthcoming Collections
20th May –World Communications

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