|  Stewardship – a request from the Parish Finance Committee
As part of the Stewardship Programme, some good people have already volunteered their talents and services for Parish needs, but we are asking for more particularly to assist with practical, day-to-day matters such as simple maintenance, handyman type jobs, painting and cleaning. We naturally have to employ professionals for certain jobs such as all electrical and building work, but there are many simple jobs which are appropriate to be carried out by certain parishioners. If you can spare some time, no matter how small each week, or each month and you feel that you could help – then please call the Parish Office to register your interest. Thank you in anticipation. Father Joe
Entrance Antiphons for this week
Monday - This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God, never cowed by the threats of the wicked; his house was built on solid rock.
Tuesday – The Spirit of God is upon me; he has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor, and to heal the broken-hearted.
Wednesday - The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go and tell my brothers that I shall ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and to your God.
Thursday – Honour the woman who fears the Lord. Her sons will bless her, and her husband praise her.
Friday - The just man will rejoice in the Lord and hope in him and all the upright of heart will be praised.
Saturday - Walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee, mending their nets and he called them to follow him. |
Sponsored Walk for Park Place
The St Philip Howard Choir Ramblers’ Group is going to do a ten mile walk on 5th September 2009 and will be asking for sponsorship from parishioners. Members of the St Philip Howard Choir will be in attendance at the end of certain Masses. For more details contact Barbara or Dave on 01329 314001. |
From Father Joe
For the liturgists of the Church, the late 1990’s are known as the years of the liturgy wars. After the reform of the liturgy in the late 60’s which brought about a monumental shift in the ways Catholics worshipped, two schools of thought emerged: one was that, with the reforms of the second Vatican council, the new Mass along with everything else in the life of the Church constituted a complete break with the past and the church, basically, started over again. The other view was that what came out of the Council and that included the new form of Mass was part of the on-going development of the church’s life and very much in continuity with what had gone before.
Up until the mid 90’s the former was clearly in the ascendancy throughout most of the western Church. And this had certain practical considerations for the liturgy: Liturgical rules, known as rubrics, were seen to be as not all that important and could be ignored. At the same time a creative mentality crept in to worship that said “let’s go further and make the Mass more relevant and interesting” by adding this or dropping that. With this mentality parishes were encouraged to “move forward” and to continue the break with the past. The feeling was if something had been done in the past it was automatically suspect. People or groups who objected to this and were attached to tradition and the “old ways” were often derided and were seen as blocking this necessary progress.
But then by the mid nineties a shift had happened and many people—not just liturgists—began to feel that the baby had been thrown out with the bathwater. To re-connect with Catholic Tradition was not necessarily a bad thing. Of course there were a staunch few who felt everything that had come out of the Second Vatican Council was suspect and the whole thing, new Mass included, should be rejected. Some even left the Church over this very issue. But these were very much in the minority. So gradually things began to change. These two opposing schools of thought found that what was at stake was not just the way or style in which Mass was celebrated but what lay at the heart of what the Mass and what the Church is. This tension is still going on and has even heightened under the papacy of Benedict XVI.
Next week I’ll explore how this was and is to be played out at the parish level. |
John Grist RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Grist, who died recently. Please also remember John’s family and friends in your prayers.
Healing Service
for the Solent Pastoral Area to be led by Fr Peter Glas at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Stubbington on Friday 24th July at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.
Closure of St Philip Howard Pre-School
The Pre-School will be closing on 17th July 2009 after serving the Parish and community for 22 years and has built up and maintained an excellent reputation for early years’ childcare. It is with great regret that this decision has come about, however, with a decreasing intake our Pre-School is no longer sustainable in its current location.
Solent Cruise
With family gifts and the collection on board, £816.91 was raised for The Rainbow Trust. Gift aided, the charity benefited by just over £1000. Thank you for your company and generosity. Jean Blanchard.
The Anchor – SPA Newsletter
With this week’s newsletter you will find the current issue of the Solent Pastoral Area Newsletter. You are asked to read the article from Fr John Humphreys regarding the One Parish subject and to make your views known so that feedback may be given to PPC’s and to the Solent Pastoral Area Council.
St Jude's
Catholic Primary School
Web site here
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. |
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19th July 2009
16th Sunday of the Year |
 From Father Andrew Chandler
“I am looking for Ministers of Holy Communion to help take Communion on a Sunday to our hospital patients – now we have moved patient numbers have increased and those who are patients find the Sunday visit and Eucharist really connects them to the ordinary sense of parish/Sunday life.” Any Extraordinary Ministers of Communion who feel able to help are asked to contact Father Andrew at QA Hospital Chaplaincy. The number is in this newsletter. It is hoped, eventually, to have a rota so that you would need to minister only once a month.”
Thanks from CAFOD
“Thanks to Churches Together in Portchester for your generous gift of £150.71 which enables us to continue our vital work around the world……....Please continue to pray for peace and justice for all people in need wherever they may be.
Table Top Sale
Sacred Heart Hall:
Saturday 1st August 10.30am to 1.00pm Sunday 2nd August following 9.00am Mass
St Philip Howard Hall:
Sunday 2nd August following 11.00am Mass. Proceeds to church refurbishment.
New Prayer Group
The first meeting of the Prayer Group went very well with some 60 people in attendance from across the Solent Pastoral and Portsmouth Areas. The second meeting will be on Thursday 23rd July in the Church of Our Lady of Walsingham, Portchester at 7.30pm. There will then be a break for the summer before resuming in September. All are welcome to come and pray together even if you missed the first meeting.
Help needed!
Donations of money or flowers from your gardens would be greatly appreciated to help adorn our three beautiful churches. (PLEASE HELP). Ring Jane White on 01329 517664.
The Well
The Well Bookshop and Café will change its closing times for the summer period up until the end of September. The Bookshop opening and closing times will be Monday and Saturday 9.30am until 4.00m; mid-week 9.30am until 3.30pm. The Café will be closed one hour before these times.
Thank you from Park Place
The sun shone and you came and joined in the Garden Party activities with great gusto and generosity. A sincere thank you from the Sisters and Friends of Park Place for making the afternoon a happy and successful occasion. The amount raised has not yet been confirmed but all will be given to the Sisters for their urgent projects at home and abroad. Thank you.
Annual APF Mass
On Tuesday 21st July at 7.30pm in St John’s Cathedral, Fr Frank Thompson will celebrate the annual APF Mass. This will be followed by tea/coffee and a short film ‘Malana Papua.’ All welcome.
Book of Remembrance
On 1st November, the Book of Remembrance will be open again in Sacred Heart Church. If anyone would care to have a photo of a departed loved one put into the Book or maybe a special prayer, please put it in an envelope marked “Book of Remembrance” and leave it in the Parish Office.
No picture or prayer can be returned.
Finance
Offertory Collection - £1820.60
Apostleship of the Sea - £372.00
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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