Thanks
Thank you to all the Altar Servers, Choir, Musicians, Flower Arrangers, Cleaners, Sacristans, Readers, Administrative staff, Lay Ministers of Communion, Ushers, Liturgists, RCIA catechists and all who have worked so hard to prepare for and to make this Holy Week and Easter special to our parish.
Father Joe

Extraordinary Rite Mass
The 10.30am Mass at the Sacred Heart Church on Saturday 5th April will be celebrated in the Extraordinary Rite.

41 Portland Street, Fareham
The Parish has commenced refurbishment works at 41 Portland Street which are expected to last twelve weeks. No-one is allowed on the site at No. 41 without the permission of the contractor (this is a Health and Safety requirement.) The contractors will need places for their vehicles and equipment, therefore, the church car park in Hartlands Road is not to be used by parishioners for the duration of the contract. No unauthorised person is to park either in the Presbytery driveway or the drive of No. 41 in any circumstances. I know this is a real inconvenience, especially at Mass times, but we have no other option if we wish this work to continue.
Father Joe

Flower sale
The primulas in the Sacred Heart church will be for sale after the 9.00am Mass on Easter Sunday. Price £1 each, all proceeds to the Lenten Appeal.

‘Wishing for the Moon’ – Helen Andrews
Helen Andrews, from Our Lady of Walsingham church Portchester, is releasing her solo album ‘Wishing for the Moon’. It features 11 original tracks and is priced at £10 per copy. For more information please either speak to Helen or take a look at her website at www.helenandrewshq.com

Congratulations
Our congratulations are offered to Edward Rossitter and Nicola Fry who are to be married in the Sacred Heart Church on Saturday 29th March 2008 and also to Sinisha Ruvidic and Erin MacPherson who will be baptised into our community on Sunday 30th March.

Confirmation
Your prayers are asked for our Confirmation candidates/catechists as they continue their journey of faith with a retreat at Park Place on the 11th/12th April.

First Holy Communion
Parents are reminded that the next session for children taking part in the First Holy Communion programme will take place on Saturday 5th April at St Jude’s School from 10.00-11.30am. This will be followed on Sunday 6th April with a Celebration Mass at St Philip Howard Church at 11.00am.

The Carbon Fast
Fit aluminium foil behind your radiator – allowing you to turn the radiator down and save £10.00 per year per radiator.

THE UNION

Thought for the Week
Perhaps more than any other Easter gospel, this one can speak to us. Like the disciples in this account, we have no immediate evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. Rather, that wondrous event is mediated to us in the same way as for those disciples long ago. For us, Jesus’ risen presence is mediated through servant-disciples, who by their witness to Gospel living announce that Jesus is alive and with us.

Seeing and believing, we still do not understand. This seeming contradiction characterizes the Christian journey. Through the Scriptures and by the witness of faithful disciples, we gradually come to believe in the Good News that Jesus brought. We gradually learn to encounter Jesus in the ordinary circumstances of every day, seeing his risen presence in the goodness of others, in our worship and prayer, even in our very needs. These personal encounters strengthen our faith in the risen Lord, that he has not died in vain, and that we even now share in the new life his resurrection promises.

Like the disciples, we run all our lives to be servants of others, to announce the Good News that suffering and death is not all there is to our life. We cannot contain ourselves: we run to meet the risen Christ in others, and empty ourselves so others can meet the risen Christ in us. The mystery is beyond us at the same time it is within us! The Lord is truly risen!
From Living Liturgy

John Hamilton RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Hamilton who died on Tuesday 18th March. Please remember his wife, Joan, family and friends in your prayers. Details of John’s funeral mass will be given when available.

Ray Brickwood RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ray Brickwood who died recently. Please remember his family and friends in your prayers. Details of Ray’s funeral will be given when available.

William Tarling RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of William Tarling who died recently. Please remember his family and friends in your prayers. William’s funeral mass will take place at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 2nd April at Our Lady of Walsingham Church.

Youth Club
The Youth Club does not meet on Easter Sunday but resumes as usual the next week.

Calling the Youth of the Parish
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes. If you are aged 17 years plus and would like to volunteer as a helper during the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes from 22nd to 29th August 2008 please speak to Fr Joe for further information. Helpers are required for duties ranging from pushing wheelchairs, assisting in the Accueil, to serving meals. It is a marvellous experience and opportunity for young people to be in such an uplifting place and a privilege to care for the sick pilgrims. This special pilgrimage is under the leadership of Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton.

Stewardship Steering Group
Members of the Stewardship Steering group are reminded that the next meeting is scheduled for Sunday 20th April at St Jude’s School after the 11.00am Sunday Mass.

A Message from the Finance Committee
“It is our usual custom that the collection taken at the Easter Masses is our personal gift to Father Joe. Please be generous.”

Thanks
Lucy Docherty would like to thank all those who have so kindly sent messages and cards to her and the family following the death of her mother, the Revd. Diana Ormsby. It has been a huge comfort and support to know that we have been in so many people’s prayers.

St Jude's Catholic Primary School
Newsletter 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.

Easter Sunday 22/23 March 2008 The Year of St Matthew Year A

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ceased on Wednesday 19th March at the Sacred Heart church and will resume on Tuesday 25th March at 8.00am. Contact Lily Peach on 07833 911370 for Sacred Heart church or Veronica Reeves on 023 9237 2864 for Our Lady of Walsingham church.

Parish Office - Newsletter
Please note there will be no newsletter next weekend, 29th/30th March. The next newsletter to be printed will be for the weekend of 5th/6th April 2008.

British Summer Time
A reminder that British Summer Time begins on the 2nd Sunday of Easter, 30th March, and clocks should be put forward one hour.

A Call to Prayer
All are invited to a Day of Reflection on Friday 4th April 2008 at the Church of St. Margaret Mary, Park Gate starting at 9.15am. The day will begin with the Rosary at 9.15am followed by mass at 9.45am. After a break for coffee there will be Adoration. Father John will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual direction. This will be followed by Bible Study (which will focus on Easter: Resurrection and Renewal) and discussion. Bring your own lunch – tea and coffee will be available. For further details or a lift, please telephone 02392 381802.

Understanding CAFOD
CAFOD Portsmouth will be holding a special session for supporters in the Solent Pastoral Area on Saturday 10th May 2008 from 10.30am to 3.30pm in St Philip Howard Church Hall. The day is for anyone who is interested in getting to know CAFOD or anyone who would like an update on CAFOD’s work. Lunch is included. Please ring Laura or Lynda on 01252 329385 or email to book a place on the day.

Volunteer Vacancies
The Mary Rose Trust are looking for committed volunteers to assist Museum staff in the day to day running of the museum.
The Speech and Language Department at St Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth are seeking conversation partners to work with people suffering from aphasia – speech and language difficulties following strokes and similar problems. Training will be given.
The Rainbow Centre
The Rainbow Centre in Fareham helps children with cerebral palsy learn to overcome their difficulties using conductive education. Can you provide administrative or clerical support to the Centre’s office staff?
Help in Bereavement – Volunteer Visitors
Help in Bereavement provides a visiting service available to all bereaved persons residing in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and neighbouring areas. They offer support and friendship to those in distress because of bereavement. They need volunteers who have an ability to listen, keep confidences and empathise with those who are grieving. Their next training 12 week training session is due to start in September.
If you are able to help with any of these vacancies, please contact the Volunteer Centre on 023 9258 8347 or 023 9258 3836 – Monday and Friday between 10.00am and 1.30pm; Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Fareham and Gosport Gang Show
Ferneham Hall is the venue for over 100 members of Fareham and Gosport Scouts, Guides and Brownies for this year’s performance of the Gang Show. Times and dates: Wednesday 16th April evening at 7.30pm @ £8.00; Thursday 17th April matinee at 1.30pm @ £5.50 and evening at 7.30pm @ £9.00; Saturday 19th April matinee at 1.30pm @ £5.50 and evening at 7.43pm @ £10.00. Booking Office 023 9234 1494 or www.gosportgangshow.co.uk.
A show for all the family – NOT TO BE MISSED!

World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Sunday 13th April is a World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Benedict XV1 has chosen the theme of ‘Vocations at the service of the Church on mission’. He writes ‘Vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life can only flourish in a spiritual soil that is well cultivated. Christian communities that live the missionary dimension of the mystery of the Church in a profound way will never be inward looking. Mission, as a witness of divine love, becomes particularly effective when it is shared in a community, “so that the world may believe” (cf. Jn 17: 21). The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission.’ We pray that ‘that those whom God is calling to ordained ministry or consecrated religious life may hear the Shepherd’s voice and have the courage to follow.’

Finance
Offertory Collection - £1687.51
Lent Appeal - £4636.85 (to date)

Forthcoming Collection
13th April – Clergy Training Fund

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

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