Car Parking near St Philip Howard Church
Several people park in the lay-by outside St Philip Howard Church on a Sunday as an overflow, even though it is double yellow lines. Recently, parking tickets were received by some parishioners who had parked there and this is likely to happen again.

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.

Plant Sale
Thank you to Frankie Lane and her green fingers for raising £170.00 from her recent plant sale. Frankie kindly donated the money to Adopt Sri Lanka, in support of the Rainbow Centre in Bentota, Sri Lanka.

Mumbaba
Bring your babies and toddlers to Mumbaba music – just turn up and join the fun on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 11.00am in Odyssey Young Persons’ Centre, Portchester Community School, White Hart Lane. Phone Carol on 023 9238 6516 for full details.

National Network of Pastoral Musicians
This is a network of people of all Christian denominations active and interested in liturgy and music who wish to be in touch with others doing similar things. In particular through the publication of ACCORD, which comes out three times a year, members of the Network receive useful information about courses, conferences, music days and other opportunities of interest to them. The Portsmouth Diocese Representative is Ruth Cunio – tel. 023 8032 1899.

Park Place Garden Party
The Friends of Park Place are holding a summer garden party to be held on Sunday 15th July 2007 at Park Place Pastoral Centre from 3.00pm until 5.30pm. Tickets are £5.00 for adults; 0.50p for children including afternoon tea. All proceeds will go towards Franciscan Projects in India providing medicines and medical care to rural communities in Rajistan and caring for disturbed and handicapped children in Mhow. Tickets and further information from Park Place Pastoral Centre – 01329 833043.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
Of all the stories and Scripture references about John the Baptist, probably the one most impressed on our minds is that of his beheading and the daughter of Herodias presenting the head of John the Baptist on a platter to Herod. One would expect, since John was and is a much-revered martyr, that the colour for this Solemnity would be red. Instead, it is white, marking not the martyrdom but the birth of John. Thus our attention for this solemnity is turned away from John’s martyrdom to his role in the history of salvation and relationship to Jesus as precursor.

The centre piece of this gospel is the naming of John. “John” means “the Lord is gracious.” The Lord is gracious, certainly, in granting Zechariah and Elizabeth a son; gracious, certainly, in sending John to herald the coming of Jesus but most gracious in sending the Son to bring “salvation…to the ends of the earth.” In celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, we are, indeed, celebrating the manifold graciousness of God.

John preceded Jesus; we are the disciples who follow Jesus. Our own bold announcing of the Messiah’s presence and good news does not flow from miraculous conception and naming. This, however, hardly makes us any less precious in God’s graciousness. We, too, are precursors of the Lord’s coming. By our own faithfulness to who we are we witness to the presence of the risen Christ among us. We must be as faithful to our identity and mission as was John.
From Living Liturgy

Annual Naval Mass
Mgr Paul Donovan RN, Principal Roman Catholic Royal Navy, will be the principal celebrant at this year’s Annual Naval Mass on 8th July at St John’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth at 10.00am. All serving and retired Royal Navy parishioners are invited to attend what is always a moving and memorable service. It is an opportunity to connect with the wider Royal Navy Catholic community, and a chance to meet old colleagues.

Clifton Diocese – Youth Ministry Co-ordinator
Salisbury Catholic Deanery are seeking someone to co-ordinate and promote youth activities. If you are able to demonstrate the following qualities, they would love to hear from you:

• Experience of working with young people and adults
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to motivate others
• An awareness and empathy for issues relating to young people
• A car driver with a reliable vehicle.

This position would suit a practising Catholic with a real passion for working with young people, seeking to enable each one to reach their spiritual potential and live life fully. £16,500 - £18,000 (depending on experience) – flexible 35 hour week to include weekends and evenings – 3 year fixed contract. For an application pack please contact: YMCMT, Salisbury Deanery, c/o Unit 7, The Old Barn, Manor Farm, Chilmark, Wiltshire SP3 5AF or you may Email. Closing date 4th July 2007, interview date 19th July 2007.

First Friday Days of Reflection
There will be no First Friday Days of Reflection in July and August. They will resume in September.

Snowdon Challenge
Ruth Moorhen will be speaking at Mass this weekend about the Snowdon Challenge and raising sponsorship to help support people with Multiple Sclerosis.

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

Nativity of St John the Baptist 23rd/24th June 2007 The Year of St Luke

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.

Retiring Collection
There is a Retiring Collection this weekend for Peter’s Pence, the annual collection to assist with the upkeep of the Holy See.

Syro-Malabar Church – Pastoral Letter
A Pastoral Letter from Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church will be available at all Masses next Sunday, 1st July. This has been issued to all members of the Syro-Malabar community on the occasion of the feast of St Thomas on the 3rd July, the Dukrana.

APF Annual Mission Mass
All APF Promoters, red-box holders, members and anyone interested in “Mission” are invited to celebrate the Annual Mission Mass which takes place on Wednesday 11th July at St John’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth beginning at 7.30pm. After Mass there will be a 20 minute film depicting Catholic Social Services in Jinger Diocese, Uganda, helping to rehabilitate women and children victims of the civil war.

Fareham Borough Fairtrade
Afternoon Tea at St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Upper St Michael’s Grove, Fareham – Sunday 8th July 3.00pm to 5.00pm. Fairtrade stall and Fairtrade displays – no entry fee or charge for refreshments.

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.

St Cecilia’s Guild
St Cecilia’s Guild is part of the Catholic Central Library and provides a postal lending library service for the visually impaired. Most of its 500+ audio books are of a predominantly religious or spiritual nature. No charge is made for the service but the Guild is always grateful for donations towards its work. For further details contact The Librarian, St Cecilia’s Guild, Holy Trinity Monastery, St Mary’s Road, East Hendred, Wantage, Oxon, )X12 8LF

Have you ever considered adoption?
The Catholic Children’s Society is seeking to recruit adoptive parents for children needing permanent families. You are invited to attend an information evening on Tuesday 17th July from 7.30 to 9.30pm or Tuesday 2nd October from 7.30 to 9.30pm at 7 Bridge Street, Winchester. If you would like to attend, please contact Paulette Josephs on 01962 842024 to book a place. The Society is recruiting prospective adopters for children aged between 2 and 10 years.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1672.87

Forthcoming Collections
24th June - Peter's Pence
1st July – Day for Life

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