Father Paul Townsend
Bill Gainey RIP
Please pray for Bill Gainey who died last weekend.
Bill was known by many of us and he will be sadly missed. His body will
be received into the Sacred Heart Church at 5.30 pm on Monday 10th December.
There will be Vigil prayer at 7.00pm and his Funeral Mass will be at 9.30am
on Tuesday 11 December followed by cremation at Portchester.
Jesse Tree Service
16th December - 4.00pm at St Philip Howard Church
The First Communion children would like to invite you to a Jesse Tree
Service next Sunday. Please come and support the children. Refreshments
will be available in the hall afterwards.
CARE
A talk and exhibition including a video THE 'M' Word for 14-16 year olds
promoting marriage education run by CARE (Christian, Action, Research
& Education) is being held on Monday 26th November 7.30-9.30pm at
Kings Community Church, Hedge End (off Upper Northam Close) near J7, m27.
This is a must for teenagers, as well as those older, to help them get
a right perspective of Marriage. For more details phone Liz Slinn 0207
233 0455 or M.Vincent 01329 280058.
The Well - Vacancy.
A part time relief Manager on the catering side is required for Monday
and Saturdays. This person will also be required to cover holidays and
sickness for the Part time Food and Beverage Manager.
Please contact June Haye at The Well, 01329 318731.
The
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"COULD YOU NOT SPEND ONE HOUR WITH ME?"
Someone is needed to fill in the hour from 3.00pm to 4.00pm on Wednesdays
and also on Fridays from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. If you are able to help, please
contact Lily Peach on 01329 825447.
Youth Club
The last Youth Club for this term will be 16th December and will recommence
on 13th January 2002. There will be a meeting for all Youth Club leaders
on 30th December at 7.30pm in St. Philip Howard Hall after the 6.30pm
Mass. Anyone who is interested in helping with the Youth Club is also
invited to attend this Meeting.
Disco
A truly amazing evening for all 11-16 year olds - at the Youth Club in
St Philip Howard Hall on 16th December from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets cost
£2.00 including refreshments and will be available after each Mass,
at the Youth Club and on the door. Bring a friend or two!
Are You New?
Are you new to this parish? If you have recently moved to this area, please
fill in our online form, or alternatively
one of the "Are You New?" forms to be found at the entrance
to the church and return this to Father Paul or Father Chris or to the
parish office.
THE UNION
Thought for the Week
Advent is the season when we call to mind the terrible situation
that the world was in before Jesus came. Only by appreciating it can we
celebrate with proper joy Jesus' coming on the first Christmas. Yet, Advent
is more than this; it is also the season when we call to mind that Jesus
will come again to judge each one of us personally, on how well we have
contributed to the work that he left us to complete. We are now living
in the interval between the lightning of Jesus' first coming and the thunder
of his second coming. During this period we are given the opportunity
to amend our lives accordingly.
Charles Wallis tells a remarkable story that took place in the early days of Christianity in Britain. At that time, punishment for public crimes was often cruel and unusual. A man was caught stealing sheep. The authorities ordered that the letters S.T., standing for "Sheep Thief", to be branded on his forehead. The man spent the rest of his life trying to live down those words. He succeeded beautifully. When he reached old age, the letters S.T. could still be seen on his forehead. When children asked their parents what the letters stood for, their parents said reverently, "They stand for the word saint."
This is what Advent is all about. During Advent we recall
what God had in mind for us when he created us and what God wants us to
become. Advent is the season that invites us to transform ourselves from
sinners to saints. Where last weeks Gospel focused on the importance to
"stay awake" and "stand ready", this week's
Gospel asks us to take to heart the words of John the Baptist: "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" This Tuesday 11th December,
at 7.30pm, there will be an opportunity for us to do this at our Advent
Penitential Service at the Sacred Heart Church.
Diocesan Pastoral Council - Vacancy
There is a vacancy for Minutes Secretary for the Diocesan Pastoral
Council which meets three times a year. Please speak to Fr. Paul if you
are interested.
Carols in the Park
On Saturday 15th December there will be a Carol Service in Portchester
Park near the Community Centre beginning at 7.00pm. All are welcome. (Please
note the change of date).
Catholic Children's Society. Adoption
We are recruiting prospective adopters for children aged between 3 and
8 years. Anyone interested in adopting please contact Wendy Inman or Di
Emery 01962 842024.
Feeding the Homeless
During the year the parish help out at the Homeless centre on a monthly
basis. At Christmas the centre is open 24 hours a day for the guests.
If you can give 2-3 hours of your time on 28th December to help, this
would be much appreciated. Ring Kevin Field on 01329 238170.
Confirmation
Bishop Crispian will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish
on Friday the 14th of June 2002 at the St. Philip Howard Church at 7.30
pm. Preparations for this Sacrament will begin with an introductory meeting
for candidates and their parents on Thursday the 31st of January 2002
at 7.30 pm in the St. Philip Howard Church. If you wish to prepare to
receive this Sacrament, please contact the parish office immediately.
Candidates must be at least in their second year of secondary education
(Year 8). Other young people - or not so young - who, for one reason or
another, might have "missed out" are invited to consider preparing
for this important Sacrament.
Some useful Websites for Advent and Christmas
Prayer sites:
www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/index.html
Art sites:
www.christusrex.org/www2/art
www.heavenlyvisions.com
http://icons.virtualave.net/
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/
Sacred Heart Flower Arrangers
We would like to see anyone who has an hour to spare on Saturday 22nd
December at 11am in the church hall, to make the garlands which adorn
the church at Christmas.
Available from the Cathedral Discovery Centre:
"Be With Me Lord" - Prayers and reflection for Advent - only
50p!!
9th December 2001
Second Sunday of Advent
The Year of St Matthew
|
(Apologies for the confusion regarding the date for this) |
Morning Prayer during Advent
There will be Morning Prayer in the Sacred Heart Church each morning during
Advent, at 9.am.
Used Christmas Postage Stamps
Please bring your used postage stamps to church. These are sent to the
Scout Association to raise funds for the Trust that provides holiday homes
for handicapped Scouts (boys and girls).
The Advent Wreath
During Advent the sanctuaries in our Church are quite bare. A complete
lack of flowers and purple vestments speak to us of final judgement and
John the Baptist's demand for justice and repentance. The Advent Wreath
provides the only decoration. It represents the spiritual darkness of
our world waiting for the coming of our Messiah who is the light of the
world.
|
Monday 10th - St. Swithun Wells Tuesday 11tth - St. Damasus 1 Wednesday 12th - St. Jane Frances de Chantal Thursday 13th - St. Lucy Friday 14th - St. John of the Cross. |
Advent Breakfast
All are most welcome to share in a 'Workers' Breakfast which will be served
on Thursday mornings during Advent in the Sacred Heart Hall after the
7.00am Mass. This service is especially suited for Workers - attend early
morning Mass, indulge in a breakfast and then off to work. All proceeds
from these breakfasts will go towards the Parish Advent Appeal. The date
of the first breakfast is Thursday 6th December.
Advent Lunches
Simple lunches will be served on Fridays during Advent at 12.30pm
in the Sacred Heart Hall. All proceeds to the Parish Advent Appeal. All
are most welcome.
Baptism Courses
Monday 14 January, 21 January, 28 January 2002.
01329 319392
Monday 4 March, 11 March, 18 March 2002
01329 231949
Thursday 2 May, 9 May, 16 May 2002
01329 515991.
Parish/Scouts Christmas Social
This takes place at St Philip Howard Hall on Saturday 15th December -
doors open 7.30pm. Tickets at £2 per head or £5 per family
are available from Graham Stanton - 01329 284057. Meet Father Christmas;
enjoy a disco, American Supper, whisky roll, licensed bar, children's
bar.
Lourdes Cake Stall.
The next cake stall in aid of funds to send young
helpers to Lourdes will take place on the 22nd and 23rd December. Cakes
will be sold in the Sacred Heart Hall following the 6.30pm Saturday
Mass and the 9.30am Sunday Mass, also after the 10.00am Mass in the Church
of Our Lady of Walsingham and at St. Philip Howard Hall following
the 11.00am Mass. If you would like to make cakes for this fund raising
event, please call Pauline Jackson on 01329 236275.
Finance
Thank you for your generosity in giving
Fareham £1588.59 - Portchester £182.18
Advent Appeal - £439.50
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
contact Father Paul, or complete the online
form