Footsteps Programme
Visit the pyramids, sphinx, old Cairo, Sinai, the Monastery of St Paul, the Father of Hermits and St Anthony the Great, Father of Monasticism. St Anthony’s Monastery is the oldest in the world and was established in 305AD. Optional excursions are also available. A minimum of four persons is required and the programmes can be altered to suit your requirements as they are tailor made. Details are on the notice board and if you are interested, please contact Lyn on 01329 825305 or mobile 07904 424753.

Welcome
A warm welcome to all visitors to Fareham and Portchester and welcome, also, to those who are newcomers to our parish. If you have recently moved to this area, please fill in one of our “Are you new” forms to be found at the entrance to the church and return this to the parish office. Alternatively complete our online form.

Garden open for the British Red Cross
Chris and Frankie Lane are opening their garden in aid of the British Red Cross on Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July from 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Both the front and back gardens have won silver medals in the Fareham in Bloom competition in recent years. Home-made cakes and tea/coffee will be served and plants will be on sale. The garden is at 50 Hill Park Road, Fareham. An entrance fee of £1.50 is charged and accompanied children are free.

Unfair Trade – Black Gold
This powerful and moving documentary, Black Gold, brings to light the truth behind our coffee cups – that millions of coffee farmers are living on less than 25p a day despite the £40 billion plus profits of the coffee industry. If this film is not showing at a cinema near you, please pledge to see it by leaving your pledge on the Black Gold website or ask your local cinema directly to show the film. Simply say you would like them to show Black Gold – if enough people ask, they will.

Fareham Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Volunteers are needed to work directly with the public in a receptionist role or “behind the scenes” providing administrative support to the staff and volunteers in the Bureau. The Bureau is open daily between 9.30am and 4.00pm and volunteers for either half day or whole day sessions would be warmly welcomed. Training will be given and expenses paid. Ring 023 9258 8347 for further details.

Would you volunteer to go to prison?
If so, join New Bridge, which is an organisation founded to recruit and train volunteers to write to, visit and befriend prisoners. Volunteers aged at least 21 years will receive accredited training, support and expenses. New Bridge is looking for patient, dependable and understanding people with a reasonably mature outlook. Initial training will take place in Fareham. Ring 023 9258 8347 for information.

New Vicar of Portchester
On Wednesday of this week, Reverend Charlotte Allen is to be inducted Vicar of Portchester at St Mary’s Church in Portchester Castle.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
For many reasons, the fish became a much-beloved symbol in early Christianity. The gospels make allusions to fish a number of times: some of the disciples were fishermen; Jesus commands them to put out their nets and they catch an abundance of fish; Jesus is cooking fish on the seashore for the disciples’ breakfast; the risen Jesus eats a piece of fish in the upper room. Later, the letters of the Greek word for fish, ichthus, became an acronym for “Jesus, Christ, God, Son, Saviour.”

The gospel for this solemnity mentions two fish but they were seemingly insufficient for the task at hand: feed a large, hungry crowd. At Jesus’ blessing the fish are sufficient and satisfying. Herein is a lesson: the fish is a symbol for self-giving. Jesus is the one who gave himself totally and continues to give himself to us in the Eucharist. Jesus not only fills the hungry with good things, he fills them to overflowing. This solemnity reminds us that Jesus’ generous extravagance is not measured only by the amount of food but by the kind of Food he offers – his very self in his Body and Blood.

We tend to limit our understanding of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Eucharistic elements. This gospel expands our perception to include the whole event of gathering, blessing, breaking, giving, eating, being satisfied.
From Living Liturgy

Dorothy Macbeth, RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Dorothy Macbeth, (Mary Cadogan’s mother) who died recently.

125th Anniversary of Portsmouth Diocese
On Friday 15th June 2007 at Winchester Cathedral, 7.00pm, there will be a Service in thanksgiving for 125 years of Catholic presence in this part of the South of England. Bishop Crispian and Bishop Michael Scott-Joynt, Bishop of Winchester, will be present together with representatives of all 24 pastoral areas, ecumenical guests and Catholic Clergy and laypeople from across the diocese.

Oaklands Catholic School, Waterlooville
Present and former students and their parents are warmly invited to attend a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Crispian at Oaklands Catholic School on Friday 6th July 2007 at 6.15pm to mark the retirement of Chris Whitfield as Headteacher. Mass will be followed by refreshments. Those wishing to attend are asked to telephone the school office on 023 9225 9214 to indicate numbers for seating and catering purposes.

Day of Prayer
Our Lady Queen of Peace invitation to a Day of Prayer on Saturday 30th June at St Edmund’s Church, Southampton from 11.00am to 5.00pm. The day will be led by Fr Ronnie Mitchell and will include Mass at 11.00am, rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Please bring a packed lunch and invite your friends. Please ring Heather on 023 8026 9778 for further information.

Loud and Clear 2007 – Exeter University 16-19th July
This is for everyone who wants to deepen their faith and understanding and has been organised by Clifton, Portsmouth and Plymouth Dioceses. It will be informal and stimulating with the participation of Bishop Crispian, Bishop Declan Lang and Bishop Christopher Budd. If you wish to book or need more information, please ring Nicky Stevens on 01329 835583. The cost is £295.00 fully residential but if this would prevent you coming, please discuss with Nicky.

Portchester Amnesty Group
Portchester Amnesty Group will be a reading a one act play celebrating the 60th birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, otherwise knows as the Lady of Burma, on Tuesday 19th June at St Peter’s, Titchfield.

Portchester Proms and Fireworks Concert
The annual Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra fireworks concert at Portchester Castle takes place on Saturday 7th July beginning at 8.00pm. Tickets cost £20.00 and are available from Ferneham Hall. Why not enjoy a picnic in the castle grounds before the concert begins?

St Jude's RC Primary School
Newsletter here

Corpus Christi 9th/10th June 2007 The Year of St Luke

To the People of Fareham and Portchester Parish
“Thank you all for your handsome electric reclining chair which I received on Wednesday 30th May. It is a gift which I will greatly appreciate for many a year and it will always be a reminder of your love and generosity. God bless you all. I will keep you in my prayers. Father Charlie”

Congratulations to Canon Richard Hind
We offer our congratulations to Canon Richard who has recently been invested a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in Southwark Cathedral.

Retreat Weekend led by Fr John Edwards SJ
Yvette Harrington is organising a retreat for the weekend of 31st August to 2nd September, led by Fr John Edwards, SJ, who led our mission last November. The retreat will be held at St Benedict’s Convent in Brighton (transport available) and the cost will be approximately £92.00 inclusive of all meals. Programme will include talks, Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church, Masses, a Reconciliation Service and time for private prayer. Yvette has been organising retreats for five years and the weekends are always blessed occasions. For more information, contact Yvette Harrington on 01329 832781 by 20th June at the latest. If you’ve never been on a retreat before, you will be especially welcome.

His Story
On Saturday 23rd June at 7.30pm in The New Theatre Royal, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, Mustard Seed Songs present “His Story”. This tells the story of the Gospel with live music and song. With great music ranging in style from choral, pop, ballad, soul, folk and gospel, His Story features great musicians, singers and actors in a show which has been described as awesome and stunning. Tickets: £7.50 - £12.50, £3.75 -£6.25 concessions available from the Box Office – 023 9264 9000.

Can You Help in the Church?
Our three churches are cared for in many ways by different people. Each of our three churches has a small group of people who meet once a week to clean that particular church. Similarly, a small number of people take a turn to help to arrange the flowers. More helpers are needed. If you could spare a little time to help to clean one of our churches or to take a turn in arranging the flower displays, please speak to Father Joe. More details of these activities are available in our Parish Handbook.

Parish Youth Club
Twenty Youth Club members, with four adults, will be going to Thorpe Park next Saturday 16th June. The coach leaves promptly at 9.00am from St Philip Howard Car Park.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1518.60

Forthcoming Collections
10th June - SVP
24th June - Peter's Pence

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