Children’s Christmas Tree Service
Any children who would like to help to decorate the Christmas Tree at Our Lady of Walsingham Church and play and sing some carols, are invited to come to the church at 12noon on Monday 24th December.

Justice and Peace Day – The Good Steward
Next year’s Justice and Peace Day takes place on Saturday 16th February beginning at 10.00am at St Anne’s Catholic School, Rockstone Place, Southampton. This venue is only a fifteen minute walk from Southampton Railway Station. To book a place please ring 01329 835583.

Advent Reconciliation Services 2007
Sunday 16th December – St Margaret Mary, Park Gate 3.00pm

Monday 17th December – St Joseph’s, Gosport 7.00pm

Tuesday 18th December – St John’s, Lee-on-Solent 2.00pm

Thursday 20th December – St Philip Howard, Fareham 7.30pm

First Holy Communion
The next First Holy Communion meeting takes place on Saturday 5th January at St Jude’s at 10.00am.

Naval Mass – Diary Date
To celebrate our Parish links to the Royal Navy and in particular to recognise the recent achievements and acknowledgement of Paul Docherty and Pat O’Brien, we will be having a celebration Mass on Sunday 13th January at 11.00am in St Philip Howard Church. Bishop Crispian, Bishop Tom Burns, Bishop to HM Forces, and Mgr Paul Donovan, Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval), will be present and the HMS Collingwood Voluntary Band will provide the music. It is hoped that any Naval personnel attending will wear uniform. Obviously, all are welcome to this Mass.

Catholic Bible School
www.catholic-bible-school.org
Forthcoming events at the Catholic Bible School, Nutbourne House, Farm Lane, Nutbourne, Chichester:
Saturday 12th January 2008 Discovering God’s Will a study day led by Charles Whitehead – 10.30am to 3.30pm:

Wednesday 16th January 2008 Healing Service at 7.45pm:

Saturday 26th January 2008 The Road to Maturity a study day led by Mary Pytches and Prue Bedwell – 10.00am to 3.30pm:

Saturday 16th February 2008 Israel is Relevant a study day led by Roy Hendy 10.30am to 3.30pm:

To book, please ring 01243 371766.

Christmas Chocolate Tombola Stall
There will be a Chocolate Tombola Stall, Cake Stall and Raffle after all Masses this weekend. All proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal supporting ‘Home-Start’.

www.bibliaclerus.org
This website from the Congregation for the Clergy enables you to search a biblical text and commentary, read Canon Law and Commentaries in both the Latin and Eastern Codes and there is a Commentary on Sunday Liturgy enabling you to cross reference liturgical texts to homilies of the Church Fathers.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Park Place Sisters are organising a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr Andrew, ofm from Monday 3rd to 10th November 2008. The cost is £1000.00 per person in twin shared rooms; half board; 3* accommodation. If you are interested, please contact Sister Juliette on 01329 833043.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
Both the gospel and the first reading from Isaiah proclaim an alternate vision of what our world can be. This vision is one of a time of fulfilment and it resonates with the motif of judgement that marked the first two Sundays of Advent. Yet, with this Third Sunday we specifically begin to look forward to “the one who is to come.” We shift our focus from the Second Coming of Christ to his birth at the first coming. This suggests that we can’t really separate the comings of Christ; the incarnation is already a judgement!
From Living Liturgy

Shirley-Ann Pinto RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Shirley-Ann who died last weekend. Please also remember Carry, Jane, James and Nigel in your prayers. Details of Shirley-Ann’s funeral will be announced in due course.

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 to 3.30pm. This will include a Christmas Fun Quiz, music and song. Tickets: £2.50 for adults; 50p for children under 12 years of age, are available from Rebecca on 023 9238 1802.

First Friday Day of Prayer
Our Intention is for the community of the Solent Pastoral Area. The First Friday Day of Prayer will be on Friday 11th January 2008 as Father John Cooke will be away and not available until this date. We will be honouring the Feast of the Epiphany: 8.45am Rosary; 9.15am Mass; 10.30 to 11.30am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Father John will be there for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual direction. The discussion group will follow. For further details or a lift, ring Rebecca on 023 9238 1802.

Diocesan Year Book 2008
The Diocesan Year Books for next year are on sale from the Repository – price £3.50.

Parish Diaries
Parish Diaries will be available shortly.

A Day with Mary Pilgrimages 2008
Fatima – 11th to 19th July (9 days) - £535 in twin room, £585 single, mainly full board, flight etc. Rome and La Verna – 25th September to 4th October (10 days) £625 in twin room, £675 single, mainly full board, hotel by Vatican, flight etc. See the notice board for further details.

Carols by Candlelight
“If anyone is interested in two tickets to the ‘Carols by Candlelight’ concert at the Albert Hall in London on 24th December at 2.30pm, please ring Mrs Groves on 01329 312863. It is a mix of traditional carols with festive classical music and readings from Scripture. My relatives are unable to attend so the tickets need a good home!” M. Groves

Oaklands Catholic School – Vacancy
Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville has a vacancy for a Temporary Cook – required for 1st January 2008 to 31st July 2008 – to cover maternity leave. For further information, please contact the Finance and Administration Manager, Mr G. Briggs, immediately on 023 9225 9214.

Youth Club
Next Sunday, 23rd December, is Party Night for the Youth Club – no subs., free food and drink and the Youth Club will rest until 13th January.

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.

3rd Sunday of Advent 15/16 December 2007 The Year of St Matthew

Concert
The concert scheduled to take place at Our Lady of Walsingham Church this Sunday, 16th December, in aid of the Advent Appeal, has been cancelled.

Fr Mark Hogan
Our congratulations go to Fr Mark Hogan who has successfully completed his Masters Degree at Oxford. He managed to finish his thesis in the early days of his being appointed Parish Priest at St Joseph’s Church in Basingstoke – quite a feat! I have heard through the grapevine that his ministry is greatly appreciated by the parishioners. Well done Mark!

A Message from the Finance Committee
As is the usual custom, the collection on Christmas Day is our personal gift to Father Joe. He is always there for us so let us be generous to him in return. Don’t forget, if you contribute by way of Gift Aid (either by standing order or by envelopes) the Church can reclaim the tax paid on your gift. Simply use an envelope and mark it clearly with your number or your name and the words ‘Christmas Gift’.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
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).

Please note that Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ceases on 18th December at Our Lady of Walsingham Church and resumes on 7th January and ceases on 21st December at Sacred Heart Church and resumes on 2nd January.

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. All proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal in aid of a local charity ‘Home-Start’ Fareham and Gosport.

Churches Together in Portchester Christmas Cards
The Portchester Churches have produced cards giving details of Christmas Services to be delivered to every house in Portchester. If you can help with delivery, please speak to Joan Hamilton or Yvonne Hart.

Parish Office
The Parish Office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from lunchtime on Friday 21st December and will re-open on Friday 4th January 2008.
Joan would like to thank all the volunteers who help in the office with a variety of tasks throughout the year. Biddings Writers who are due to write Biddings for Christmas and New Year are asked to send them in by Tuesday 18th December.

“Portchester Was Here First” – an exciting new community play
Before Portsmouth, Fareham and Southampton, Portchester, with its magnificent Roman Fort, was the place in this area to settle. This fact has been one of the driving forces behind the Extended Services Group. This group are hoping to help the Portchester community to produce a play in the grounds of the Castle in July 2009. The main theme will be based on living memories and oral recordings made by the Portchester Civic Society. If you would like to become involved in this play, please contact Mr Roberts at Portchester Community School via email.

Calling all Altar Servers - Date for your Diary
The Annual Pastoral Area Altar Servers’ Mass will take place on Wednesday 26th December at 11.00am in St Mary’s Church, High Street, Gosport.

Carols in Fareham Shopping Centre
On Saturday 22nd December there will be carol singing in Fareham shopping centre from 10.00am until 12.00 noon led by Peter Hall from Trinity Church. There will also be the usual Christmas wrapping service and any monies collected will be given to charity. Everyone is very welcome to come along and join in. We will be meeting outside BHS again this year.

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1528.70
Advent Appeal – Home Start - £2585.20 to date

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