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BAG COLLECTION Next Sun 1st March
Money for ‘old rope’! Bag up your old clothes,
shoes, bags, jewellery, and soft toys ... we can
take them! (NB No linen, towels, curtains or duvets) It
is an easy way for us to fundraise. We have raised c.
£2.3k during the last 2 years!
Collecting bags available in the Foyer
Please read them for what is acceptable and if you
want more please collected from wicker basket.
Collection Sunday is Sun 1st Mar after all Masses so get sorting through your drawers! Many thanks.
PORTSMOUTH DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Sat 16th May at Lakeside, North Harbour
St Margaret Mary would like to submit a team! We
need 20 young people (16 years and under) to take
part in this fun event.
No previous experience
necessary. Please contact Maggie if you are
interested (tel. 575375) and also watch this space for
date of information meeting. See the website for a
flavour of the fun! www.portsdragonboatfestival.co.uk
CHRISM MASS CHOIR - At the Cathedral
Come & join the Choir for this year’s ‘Mass of the Oils’
on Holy Tues 31st March at 11am.
Rehearsal on Saturday 7th Mar 10am - 1pm
St Bede's Ch, Popley Way, Basingstoke. RG24 9DX
Please email Chris Olding, with your contact details,
voice & parish at: [email protected]
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Fri 21st – Fri 28th Aug ‘15
If you wish to join the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage, please
speak with Fr John or Clare .
Flying from Southampton! We take about 120+
‘Portsmouth Pilgrims’ and we are always looking for
Volunteer Adult helpers, Nurses, Doctors & especially
the Young Helpers to join the Pilgrimage. Without
them, we could not take care of our Assisted Pilgrims
who are at the heart of this Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Please mention the pilgrimage to anyone who would
like to go to Lourdes, but is perhaps worried about
their health or ‘wisdom of years’. All are welcome!
LOURDES MASS AND REUNION ‘THANK YOU’
from Msgr. Vincent Harvey (Director of the Pilgrimage)
Msgr Vincent has written to thank the Parish for
hosting, yet again, the annual reunion of regular and
prospective pilgrims to Lourdes. “It was an excellent
day with no detail missed: from car parking to the
Mass (thanks to all who exercised a ministry), from
welcoming at the beginning to the reception at the end.
From beginning to end a memorable occasion.”
#
SWEET BAGS FOR THE RAINBOW CENTRE
Our thanks to Olivia Planner & Amber
McLaren for arranging the ‘pilot’ of the
sale of sweet bags after 10.15am Mass
in aid of the Rainbow centre.
The Rainbow centre, in Fareham, need to raise £500k
each year to continue their work. They help children
with cerebral palsy as well as working with adults who
have suffered a stroke or have M.S. or Parkinson’s.
Indeed several of our parishioners are benefitting from
their assistance. The girls sold out in minutes and
managed to raise £50 profit from this pilot!!
After Lent, the girls will have more bags to sell
regularly after Mass (at 30p/50p/75p). We hope you
can support them with this ongoing initiative. Well
done Olivia & Amber!
CRAFT GROUP Thurs 26th Feb 2-4pm
In Paray Room. All very welcome.
ROSARY - Mondays & Wednesdays at 10.30am
In the Lady Chapel after Mass. All very welcome.
BETHANY PRAYER GROUP Weds 10.30 - 11.45am
Meets in Paray Rm for prayer, reflection & bible study
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Thursdays 6 - 8pm Silent vigil of adoration
An oasis of peace and prayer. Feel free to pop in.
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE 2016
A 12 Day, all inclusive 3 centred experience
through the Holy Land; Negev, Jerusalem
and Galilee. Fully guided & all fees included.
Travelling Sun. 14th - Fri. 25th Feb 2016.
Brochures are available in the Foyer.
ALPHA VISION & TRAINING
Sat 28th March 10am-2pm
at Bishop Challoner School, Basingstoke
A training day with Michael Roche from Alpha in a
Catholic Context. The day includes an intro to Alpha
in a Catholic Context, Principles of Alpha, Intro to
Small Groups and prayer ministry followed by a lunch
and a concluding session on where do we go from
here. All welcome. To book your place, please email
[email protected].
Fr John would be delighted if parishioners would
consider attending this, with a view to helping start
Alpha (in a Catholic context) for our community. Alpha
is an introduction to a relationship with Jesus, for
those who are at a basic enquiry level. It is a great
tool for Evangelisation, that could be a useful method
of outreach and invitation to sharing our faith. Please
let us know if you’d be interested in attending this day.
FAREHAM FOOD BANK
Thank you so much for your support.
Donations welcome of: tinned fish/meat,
tinned rice pudding, tinned fruit/veg/soup, squash,
dried pasta, biscuits, custard, cereals, soap, sugar,
coffee, tea, long life milk, jam, pasta sauce, shampoo,
toothpaste, deodorants, razors, toilet rolls, nappies &
wipes. Please leave donations in the box in the Foyer.
The Catholic Parish of
Our Lady Star of the Sea,
Fareham & Gosport
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Year: B Weekday: Cycle 1
22NDFEBRUARY 2015
Prayer of the Church: Psalter Week 1
SUNDAY THOUGHT:
Make room for God in your life - be a cheerful giver.
Fr Peter Glas
ARE YOU TOO BUSY FOR GOD?
So many times when we invite people to pray, study the
WOMEN’S* WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday 6th March
Bible or to do something extra for their spiritual life they are
not very enthusiastic or willing. The excuse they give is that This year the service has been prepared by Christian
they are just too busy. They would love to but they just women of the Bahamas on the Theme:
Jesus said to them:
don’t have time right now but…… perhaps later…….
“Do you know what I have done to you?”
Everyone in our culture seems to want to have lots going There will be services throughout the local area – this
on. Maybe we use busyness to help us know we’re valued,
service is interdenominational and is open to all.
or maybe it’s just the by-product of too many options. It is *It is called Women’s World Day of Prayer because it is
just so hard to say ‘no’ when there are so many wonderful
prepared by women but is not exclusive to women
things to say ‘yes’ to! Whatever the case may be, if we are
too busy for God, then we are too busy.
MAKE A NOTE OF THESE DATES:
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE [CWL] MEETING –
Lent is upon us. It is traditionally a time when we give
WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH - MARYHOUSE, GOSPORT.
things up, stop doing things we like, make ‘sacrifices’ for
TH
– SACRED HEART, FAREHAM
God. I’m giving up chocolate and ‘a pint’, and limiting FIRST FRIDAY – 6 MARCH
TH
FIRST
SATURDAY
–
7
M
ARCH
– ST MARY’S, GOSPORT
myself to one DVD a week during Lent. But there is more
to Lent than simply ‘giving things up’. Lent is also about DID YOU TAKE HOME YOUR COPY OF THE LENT ANCHOR?
taking positive action to do something for God. In choosing
PLEASE NOTE: THE RECONCILIATION SERVICE in St Mary’s,
what we are going to ‘do for Lent’, it might help if there is
Gosport, will be on WEDS 25TH MARCH (NOT TUESDAY) after
some purpose to it…. What positive actions that we might
the 7PM MASS
take…. perhaps by taking positive steps in our faith.
Taking a decision to not just give something(s) up, but to
take positive actions, may involve sacrifice and involve “my
private time,” but it will ultimately help us grow in our
relationship with God. I invite you to consider this idea
more closely as your plan for Lent. Can you ‘un-busy’ your
life and make time for the worship of God.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline we are familiar with in the
season of Lent. Why not make the ‘Fasting’ be about giving
more time to the Lord – time gained by sacrificing
something you enjoy. I really believe God will bless us with
our deepest heart's desires, but we have to give
God something to work with………..
Parish Priest:
Fr John Cooke:
01489 572797
Associate Parish Priests:
Fr Joe Gruszkiewicz:
01329 318869
Fr Peter Glas:
02392 580119
Fr John Chandler
01329 663435
Q.A. Hospital Chaplain
Fr Joe McNerney:
02392 286 408
HEALING MASS in St Mary’s Church, High St, Gosport, on
FRI 27TH FEB at 7pm, followed by prayer for healing of the
family tree, deliverance prayer, & individual healing prayer,
plus anointing & blessing from Fr Peter. All are welcome.
Keep in touch with the latest news! The Diocese of
Portsmouth now issues a weekly e-news with photos,
news, and information from around the Diocese. Go to
www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk and add your email
address to receive these updates.
Are you on Facebook? Like ‘Diocese of Portsmouth’ to
see the Lent Video Clips & the latest info as it happens.
Parish Deacon:
Dcn Langford Vincent:
01329 285617
Parish Staff:
Clare Ryan (PG):
Doug Savege (G):
Maria Owen (L&S):
Daniel Russell (F&P):
01489 572797
02392 580119
01329 664260
01329 318869
Our Church Communities
St Mary’s, Gosport; Sacred Heart, Fareham; St John the Evangelist, Lee-on-the-Solent; St Margaret Mary, Park Gate;
St Columba, Bridgemary; Immaculate Conception, Stubbington; St Philip Howard, Fareham; St Mary’s Anglican Church,
Portchester; The Chapel of St Thomas More, Park Place, Wickham
Parish Website: ww.ourladystarofthesea.info
ST. MARGARET MARY CHURCH
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish: Fareham & Gosport
Middle Road, Park Gate, Southampton, SO31 7GH
Tel: 01489 572797 Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.stmm.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 246871
Priest: Rev. John Cooke.
First Sunday of Lent
Year of Mark (B)
Sun 22nd February 2015
THE WEEK AHEAD Diary - at a glance ...
BAPTISM ‘Welcome to God’s Family!’
Sun 22nd 3pm
5pm
8pm
Mon
8am
10.30am
12 noon
7pm
Tues
6pm
7.30pm
Weds
10.30am
Thurs
6pm
Fri
am/pm
10.30am
1.25pm
5pm
Sat
7am
10.30am
11am
2pm
Sun 1st
am/pm
3pm
4.30pm
5pm
Our next preparation sessions
Mondays 11th & 18th May at 7.30pm (Hall)
Application forms with details of preparation sessions
are available in the Foyer. Why not take part while you
are still expecting? One less thing to worry about!
Meeting with a wedding couple
Stations of the Cross & Benediction
Padre Pio Prayer Group
Lourdes School Roadshow
Rosary in Lady Chapel
HMP Winchester ‘Sycamore’ project
RCIA ‘Jesus the Messiah’
Baptism Family Visit
Choir Practice
Bethany Group & Rosary
Exposition of Blessed Sacrament
CAFOD Fast Day
SVP Meeting
St George College Mass
Baptism Family Visit
HMP Winchester
FHC Family Workshop
Diocesan Youth Worker Day Winch
SVP ‘Vinnies’ drop in
Bag Collection Sunday
Meeting with a wedding couple
Confirmation session
Stations of the Cross & Benediction
CHANGES IN THE O.L.S.O.T.S. PARISH ...
At Masses this weekend, we will share a letter from the
Bishop with some exciting news regard a project within
our area. This has been a ‘work in progress’ since the
New Year, and both Fr John & Mrs Clare Ryan have
been very involved with it, working with the Diocesan
curia & the Bishop’s Vicar Generals. Please watch this
space for further details & developments!
The project is going to take some resource from St
Margaret Mary’s, especially in the short term, to help
oversee things. This comes as part of Fr John’s role as
Co-ordinating Pastor (along with the setting up of an
Evangelisation Strategy Team), and on top of the
Chaplaincy work at HMP Winchester, and the extras
with the annual Lourdes Pilgrimage ...
To allow us the flexibility to be able to respond to the
evolving situation, the Diocese has offered to fund
some temporary admin support to assist both Fr John &
Clare. Mr Chris Lane, who already works in the office
on a voluntary basis, has kindly agreed to take up this
post, initially on a 6 month contract. Chris will be
working in the Parish Office Tuesday to Thursday, from
8.30am til 12.30pm. These will be the new Office
‘Opening Hours’. It maybe the office is open at other
times, but this can’t be guaranteed. Please keep us,
and the project, in your prayers.
FIRST EUCHARIST PROGRAMME 2015
Family Workshop ‘ We look at our lives’.
Sat 28th Feb 10.30am-12.30pm in the Hall.
‘Simply Perfect’, a stockist of First Holy Communion
clothes/shoes/gifts will be in the Paray Room too.
CONFIRMATION 2016
Session: ‘Dignity of the human person’
Sun 1st March 4.30 - 6pm in the Hall
ADULT JOURNEY IN FAITH - R.C.I.A.
Meeting in the Paray Room, the room on
the right as you enter the Foyer.
Mon 23rd Feb. 7pm - 8.30pm
Theme: ‘Jesus, the Messiah. Why did he die?’
Our group is an ongoing programme for Adults who
may be considering becoming a Catholic, or would like
to be Confirmed. If you would like to know more
please speak to Suzanne Hogg, Fr. John or Clare.
REST IN PEACE
Please pray for Tony Trigg RIP who died on
11th Feb. No date has been arranged for his
funeral as yet. Please keep Ann and all the family in
your prayers. Also, please pray for Regis Nobre RIP
(aged 40) who died in a motorbike accident last week.
May they rest in peace & rise in glory.
PRAYERS PLEASE
For Frankie Lane, who suffered a serious fall on
Monday and has broken her ankle. Prayers also for
Joseph Tobin suffering from bowel cancer and very is
very close to being called by the Lord.
LENT Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
Lent is here! A season of grace in which we
prepare ourselves to celebrate with profound
joy the death and resurrection of Our Lord,
Jesus Christ. During Lent we are called to
fast, to pray and to give alms.
Stations of the Cross & Benediction Sundays 5pm
CAFOD Family Fast Day - Friday 27th February
Collection of savings taken on Sunday 1st March.
‘40 hours’ Vigil Fri 13th Mar 3pm - Sun 15th Mar 7am
Continuous Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Lenten Reflection Evenings
Weds 4th & 18th March 7 - 8pm
Service of Reconciliation
with Confessions
Sun 22nd March 3pm
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Fri 6th March 2pm at Duncan Road Church
Please join us (men welcome too!)
‘EUCHARISTIC MINISTER’ APPEAL
Sat. 7th Mar. 2015 - Wembley Arena.
This fantastic event is organised by the Catholic Youth
Ministry Federation for those in Year 9 to Young
Adults. Prayer, worship, speakers, 10,000 others,
music & lots more. We have 50 tickets for our parish
youth - with a coach going to / from
Park Gate. Please ask for a consent
form asap - tickets are going fast and
you don’t want to miss out!!
We urgently need some more Extraordinary Ministers
of the Eucharist who are willing to take the Lord to sick
& housebound parishioners on a regular basis. If you
are willing and able (and either have, or are happy to
have, a D.B.S. check done), please contact Mr Chris
Sadler on email: [email protected] or phone
01489 580426. Fr John will need to meet with you and
then we can offer you some training!
PARISH S.V.P. GROUP ‘St Vincent de Paul’
For Irene Hollywood, Wyn Harfield, Susan Morris, Margaret & Ces
Smith, Cathy Hutley, James Brown, Julia Taylor, Pat Juke, Leila
Kroon, Marion Scott, Abigail & Siobhan Jefferies, Samantha
Donohoe, Paddie Hughes, Tim Healey, May & Bernard Maginn,
Marion Celand, Alan Dixon, Simon Zasc, Florrie Jones, Eileen
Parsons, Shauna Corr, Danny Watts, Joseph Dolan, Ellen
Notley, Stuart Mercer, Jane Savage, Ernest Anthony, John
Marvao, Pat Cooke, Thomas McCartney, Dennis Allen, Kol
Thelis, Pat Elward, Bob Slater, Polly Stansbridge, Joan Jones,
Chris & Frankie Lane, Susan & John Forer. Thank you.
Bishop Philip writes:
“Could God be calling you to help the Evangelisation
Strategy Team? Do you love Christ and his Church?
Do you have a passion for others to come to know
Jesus? Do you have basic skills in organisation,
collaboration and communication? Are you keen to
find new and creative ways to help others discover
Christ and build a relationship with him? You could be
just the person we need for our Pastoral Area’s
Evangelisation Strategy Team!
The commitment
would be one meeting a term, in addition to assisting
with simple, realistic Evangelistic projects.
If you feel God might be calling you to join the team,
please contact Fr John.”
To find out more, go to
www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk /evangelisation-teams
‘THANK YOU’
Our grateful thanks to the anonymous donor of a new
Lectionary Vol II (Weekday Scripture Readings). Our
copy was defaced by someone in the Lady Chapel.
PADRE PIO SUNDAY PRAYER GROUP
Sun 22nd Feb 8pm in Lady Chapel. All welcome.
We will also include the Divine Mercy Chaplet
as recommended by Pope Francis. Please join us.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Thursdays from 6 - 8pm
NATIONAL YOUTH CONGRESS - ‘FLAME 2’
PRAYERS PLEASE
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP PHILIP
Evangelisation Strategy Teams
Last Saturday of the month 2-4pm
'Vinnies' Drop-in. (Next date 28th Feb)
Please pop in for a Cuppa, Chat, some time for you
We will either be in the Paray Room or the Hall.
SUNDAY COLLECTION Thank you for your generosity.
Sun 15th Feb Loose Plate £247.92 Envelopes £326.68
Bankers Orders c.£470 TOTAL
£1,014.60
Today, a second collection for the Easter Flowers
Next weekend, a CAFOD Family Fast Day collection
Mass Times, Services & Intentions
First Sunday of Lent B
Sun 22nd Feb ‘15
Lent - Week 1 of 6
Prayer of the Church Week 1
Dawn Mass
8am
Day Mass
10.15am
Lent Devotions
5pm
Evening Mass 6.30pm
Tony Trigg RIP (Mudie)
For the People of the Parish
Stations Cross & Benediction
Margaret Harnett RIP
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Lent
Lent
Lent
Lent
Lent
9.45am
12 noon
9.45am
9.45am
9.45am
1.25pm
Sat HMP Winch 10.30am
—
Liturgy of Word & Eucharist
Y. & A. Zino RIP (Armstrong)
Ints. of Joseph Tobin
Liturgy of Word & Eucharist
Holy Souls (Ip)
At St George College
Ints. of the prisoners
Sorry, no confessions
Second Sun of Lent B
Sun 1st Mar ‘15
Lent - Week 2 of 6
Prayer of the Church Week 2
Dawn Mass
8am
Day Mass
10.15am
Lent Devotions
5pm
Evening Mass 6.30pm
For the People of the Parish
Holy Souls - FOSS (Armstrong)
Stations Cross & Benediction
Mary Morrish RIP
Sacrament of Reconciliation Sorry, no confessions
PPC & Group Reps Chair Mrs Helen Gardner. Tel. 557580
Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Clare Ryan c/o Church Office
Contact tel. 572797 / e-mail: [email protected]
Church Office open: Tues-Thurs 8.30-12.30pm
Safeguarding Co-ordinator Mrs. Christine Millward
Concerns & Advice Tel. 023 9281 6396 (Diocesan Office)
St Anthony’s Primary & Pre-School Office Tel. 579100