Thanks from CAFOD
“Thank you very much for your kind Fast Day donation. As I hope you heard, we are diverting all Fast Day funds to address the critical food shortage in Zimbabwe. Your support will enable us to reach 18,000 of the most vulnerable families with food, seeds and tools. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and the trust you place in CAFOD. We will ensure your money is used to respond where the need is most severe……”Steve Tassie, Head of Supporter Services.

Sacred Heart Messenger
Orders are now being taken for the following publications:

• The Sacred Heart Messenger 2008 -
  £9.60 annual subscription
• Living Prayer 2008
  (Apostleship of Prayer) £1.40
• Sacred Heart Calendar 2008
  £2.20 + p.p.

Please contact Anna Chandler 01329 234436 by Friday 30th November.

The Rowans Hospice
The Rowans Hospice is holding its annual ‘Light up a Life’ remembrance service in the Guildhall Square, Portsmouth from 4.00pm on Sunday 9th December 2007. Parishioners are invited to celebrate and remember those who have died by dedicating a light on the Christmas tree that stands in the Guildhall Square throughout the Christmas period. The lights will be illuminated following a short service led by the Hospice Chaplain, Lance Blake, and after the service refreshments will be served in the Guildhall Restaurant. Dedication forms are available in the church porch and may also be downloaded from www.rowanshospice.co.uk.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
Many of us have a hard time connecting with the idea of king and kingdom. What we are celebrating in this solemnity is not a style of government but the sovereignty of God. Jesus is hung on a cross. This hardly fits our expectation of a “king”. Yet, this is the ultimate meaning: Christ attains glory through the cross and, thereby, establishes forever his reign. So do we take up our own cross and by doing so we attain our glory. Just as in the first reading David shepherds his people Israel, so does Jesus shepherd us. True, it is a strange kind of protection and shepherding which leads us to the same fate as he suffered! If we have no eyes to see, this is all there is: a cross.

With the second criminal we, too, ask, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The response to us, as to the second criminal, is “you will be with me in Paradise.” Jesus promises. He always makes good on his promises. This is why we are faithful along the way. This is why we persevere in following Jesus. This is why we are willing to empty ourselves for the sake of others……because by dying we rise. By giving of ourselves we enter with Jesus into Paradise. Our journey ends at the cross. The cross is the door to Paradise.
From Living Liturgy

Equipe Notre Dame
Teams of Our Lady, Portchester 1 will meet on Friday 30th November. Teams of Our Lady, Fareham 4 will meet on Saturday 1st December.

St Jude’s Catholic Primary School – Vacancy for a Parent Foundation Governor
Bishop Crispian, who has absolute discretion in the appointment of Foundation Governors, is seeking applications from committed baptised Catholics who are parents of children currently registered at the school. The governors of a Catholic school work as a team, in close co-operation with the headteacher and all staff. In addition to the legal responsibilities of the Governing Body, the Foundation Governors have a responsibility for preserving the religious character of the school, sustaining and developing the school as a Catholic educating community in accordance with Canon (Church) Law and the teaching of the Catholic Church and giving clear witness, as individuals, and as a team, to the Gospel message and to the Church’s teaching. Appropriate training is available during the period of service. Lack of experience in education in a Catholic school should not deter anyone from applying if there is a genuine desire to serve the mission of the Church. Application packs are available from the Parish Priest, the School Office, or the Department for Schools Governance, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, Wickham. PO17 5HA. Closing date for receipt of applications is 7th December 2007.

Date for your Diary….Epiphany Lunch and Concert
All parishioners are invited to an Epiphany Lunch and Concert at Our Lady of Walsingham Church on Sunday 6th January from 1.00 – 4.00pm. Tickets will be on sale in due course.

First Friday Day of Prayer
All are invited to a day of prayer for our pastoral area on Friday 7th December at St Margaret Mary Church in Park Gate. We begin with Rosary at 8.45am, Mass at 9.15am which will be followed by coffee. There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Scripture Study. Fr John will be available for Confession and Spiritual Direction.

Advent – Iona Service
Churches Together in Fareham have arranged an Advent Service for Sunday 2nd December at St Columba Church, Hilson Drive, Fareham beginning at 6.30pm. All are welcome.

St Jude's Catholic Primary School
Website here

Welcome
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.

Christ the King 24/25 November 2007 The Year of St Luke

Extraordinary Rite Mass
The 10.30am Mass at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday 1st December will be celebrated in the Extraordinary Rite.

Howard Brebner
Howard’s wife is seriously ill and he has asked us to keep them both in our prayers.

First Holy Communion
The next children’s session takes place on Saturday 1st December from 10.00am to 11.30am at St Philip Howard Church.

Advent Breakfasts
Everyone is most welcome to share in the Advent Breakfasts which will be served every Thursday morning during Advent in the Sacred Heart Hall, following the 7.00am Mass. The first hearty breakfast will be served by candlelight, on Thursday 6th December. All proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal in aid of a local charity ‘Home-Start’ Fareham and Gosport.

Christian Ecology Link News
The 8th December Climate March will be the biggest international climate change demonstration ever. Join the CEL at St Matthew’s Church, 20 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2BU for a service of worship before the march. The church is open for coffee from 10.00am onwards; Taize singing from 10.45am; Service from 11.00am to 11.45am. Show that Christians care about climate justice. For more information visit www.christian-ecology.org.uk/cs-2007 or www.ecocongregation.org or ring 01252 849904.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
“Could you not spend one hour with Me?” – Jesus asked His Apostles. Can we not take even a little time from our busy lives to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Contact Lily Peach on 0796 4167 384 (Fareham) or Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 (Portchester).

Chantmarle Christian Resource Centre
Chantmarle Christian Retreat and Resource Centre invites you to an Open Day at the centre which is in Frome St Quentin, Dorset. The Open Day will take place on Saturday 1st December beginning at 3.30pm with time for tea and coffee, worship session and tour of the centre and facilities, followed by a buffet. This Centre is set in the Dorset countryside, half an hour’s drive from Weymouth, West Bay, Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Contact the Centre on 01935 483201 if you wish to attend the Open Day, for catering purposes.

Department for Pastoral Formation
Details of forthcoming courses and events organised by the Department for Pastoral Formation are on the notice board. A message to Catechists from Cardinal Hummes, is available in the church porch.

PEG
Brian Arthur from CAFOD will speak about Africa at PEG’s Meeting on Friday 30th November at Sacred Heart Hall – 7.30pm. All are welcome – bring a friend.

Malayalam Mass
On Sunday 2nd December there will be Catechism at 4.00pm and Malayalam Mass at 5.00pm at Our Lady of Walsingham Church. Please contact Pauly Vareed on 023 9235 7640 for further details.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1419.90
Advent Appeal – Home Start

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