2008 Pastoral Area Diary

JULY 2008

Our Youth at Lourdes - Click here for more

Kathryn Turner of Holy Cross went to Africa to attend the ordination of Pere Anselme [see picture] - > Click here to share Kathryn's amazing experience from packing our donations to the warmth, kindness and devout faith of the people of Burkina Faso to the moving ordination.

JUNE 2008

Children of  St Swithun Wells CELEBRATE their FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Children of Holy Cross celebrate their First Holy Communion

Children of Out lady Queen of Apostles celebrate their First Holy Communion on 15th June!

Everyone had a happy day on Sunday 15th June when nine of our children received their First Communion at a special Mass celebrated by Father John.

Thanks and prayers to their parents and to Priscilla Meigh, Sister Veronica and all involved in preparing them so well.

It was a memorable day for all.

Burkina Faso - the Expedition

Last year, Holy Cross parishioner Kathryn Turner was fortunate enough to go to Kenya. The purpose was to look at mountain lakes in East Africa with her daughter Elizabeth but by a series of coincidences, she was able to attend the ordination of several young deacons in one of the suburbs of Nairobi. Among them was Anselme Tarpaga, a Missionary of Africa (formerly called White Fathers).

They kept in touch during the troubles in Kenya earlier this year and Kathryn was delighted to be invited to Anselme's ordination as priest in his home diocese in Burkina Faso. This will take place on Saturday 12 July in the Archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso, about 200 miles south-west of the capital, Ouagadougou. (See the map here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl )

As Air France offer a generous baggage allowance, it made sense to take out things that might be useful to the people in Anselme's home town (and, hopefully, to bring some fabrics and so on back!). If you would like to contribute something, one suggestion is clothing - especially for children and young people aged 5-15. Other ideas might be pencils (and sharpeners) and other bits of stationery (but please keep things light in weight - not too much heavy paper!) If you would prefer to make a small money donation, Kathryn could give this to the White Fathers or White Sisters who live nearby. The preferred foreign currency is euros so if you have any left over, this could give them a good home!

Internet access is a bit limited but Kathryn will be taking a travelling bear called Bilbo who has his very own blog: http://www.bilbosjourneys.blogspot.com/! They will add news (and photos) as and when they can.

8 children of St Joseph's also CELEBRATE their FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

What a happy day last Sunday (15th June) at St Joseph's as 8 of our dear children were honoured
to receive their First Holy Communion at a special mass celebrated by Father George.

The children and the parish offer thanks and prayers to Cathie Dunne and Sister Margaret who
helped the children with their preparations for this most special of days.

Kollangana 1 year on!

The school we raised money to build is up and running> click here for more

Report of the Holy Cross Car Treasure Hunt

which took place on Sunday June 8th. A total of 9 cars completed the 19 mile course although some travelled further! We explored areas around Upham and Owslebury and finished at The Lapstone pub in Horton Heath where we were made most welcome.

The winner was the car driven by Peter Schefer, who has 'offered' to set a course for the event next year! Everyone had enjoyed the glorious weather and discovering the beautiful countryside.

MAY 2008

Summary:

We were given a lovely send off after 11:00am Pentecost Mass at Eastleigh and cycled to Sothampton Parkway Station where Joan was waiting in a car to give us a lift to to Portsmouth and the ferry. The ferry left at 3:30pm and we cycled off the ferry in Ousterham Caen at around 11:45pm bound for our first night in an Hotel in Ifs which was 14 miles away but in a good position for the next day. We could have saved some miles from the ferry but the canal route in the dark might have been a problem so it was the the other route we took.

Day 1 Ifs to Marcon 130 miles

We left Ifs at 6:00am and for our first full day in the saddle following the route in my GPS, breakfast in Falaise, Coffee in Argentan and then off to Avencon and then Le-Mans for a bite to eat around 5:00pm. Here we suffered our first psychological crisis, we had done 95 miles to Le-Mans and the prospect of another 38 miles turned our legs to lead! But soon after getting back on the bikes I found a small shortcut that took a few miles off and that gave us a bit of a lift and by just after 9:00pm we arived at Monica and Charles Hunt's lovely house in Marcon about 25miles north of Tours. Fr. celebrated Mass in their home. Before bed we read all the messages that we received during the day, that I'm sure helped us get the strength we needed for the next day.

> Click here to follow the whole story with pictures.

Saturday 17th May at 8pm At Our Lady Queen of Apostles Martin Street, Bishops Waltham SO32 1DN

The Luard Trio in Concert - “Sacred, Secular and Sensational”

The performance is to raise funds to enable Anna Carter & Emily Dirks from our parish to join the Pope’s World Youth Day Pilgrimage in Sydney, Australia.

Price per ticket £10.00 - children under 12 only £5 (includes nibbles and glass of wine at interval!) Lucky Ticket draw. Contact Anthony on 01489 877448 or Joanna on 01489 891540

> Click here for more information

CAFOD is working with other national charities to offer those aged 55 and over the opportunity to have their wills written or updated by participating local solicitors, free of charge. This Free Wills Fortnight offer is limited and will run between 15th and 30th May in towns and cities across the UK, including Southampton.

There is no obligation to leave a gift to any of the organisations involved, although this could be the perfect opportunity to put your affairs in order and help a favourite cause at the same time. You do not need to live in Southampton to take up this offer. However the solicitors taking part in this initiative will be based there.

At CAFOD, legacies fund more than fifth of our overseas work and allow us to make long term commitments to some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable communities. So a gift in your will, no matter how large or small, could make an enormous difference to our brothers and sisters living in poverty.

To find out more, pick up a leaflet in your church porch, call the Free Wills Fortnight information line on 0845 020 4309, email info@freewillsfortnight.org.uk or visit  www.freewillsfortnight.org.uk 

Thank you for your support.

10th Anniversary of the building of our new church at Bishop's Waltham

We are planning a celebration at Pentecost - watch this space! 

Bishop's Waltham Garden Fair 4th May 2008

10.00am - 4.00pm in Bishop's Waltham Palace grounds in aid of St. John Ambulance. Come and find everything you need for the garden and the gardener. Entrance £3.50 Children under 14 free Ask the expert Andy McIndoe all your garden queries. Over 60 stalls and a children’s corner. Homemade refreshments on sale. Cuff Billett's New Europa Jazz Band

Click here > for Our Lady Queen of Apostles web pages

EXHIBITION EXTENDED TO 26TH MAY

About the Exhibition - 'Intervention'

R o m s e y A b b e y     3 -18th May    during Abbey Opening Hours

Following the success of last years Exhibition, raising money for the Catholic Live Simply project, Tim is really pleased to have the opportunity to hold an exhibition of new paintings and sculptures to support the Helderberg Street Peoples Project. Donations made at the exhibition will go towards helping homeless and impoverished people in Cape Town, South Africa.

Many thanks to all who supported and contributed - we managed to raise hundresd of pounds for the Helderberg Street Peoples Project

Tim

  www.timpatrick.co.uk

Pentecost Sunday!

A glorious and wonderful day for all in 3 Rivers!

WHY? Because it was a truly momentous weekend and glorious Pentecost for 3 Rivers – joyous international masses, 25th anniversary mass for Mr. & Mrs. Foster at North Baddesley and a lovely 10th anniversary celebration at Bishops Waltham  – surely the spirit did descend on us all this Sunday - and the sun shone!

CLICK > HERE for our 'Pentecost Special' page

Father M and Steve getting ready on Sunday with brave smiles.

CLICK HERE TO TRACK THEIR PROGRESS

LATEST NEWS: Father M and Steve will set off tomorrow from Holy Cross Church after the International Pentecost mass!

APRIL 2008

The photograph shows the winner receiving one of the hampers at St. Swithun Wells Church in Fair Oak. (l-r - Sony Long, Father Michael, Collette Allen and Eastleigh Fair-trade representative Alain Hunt).

MARCH 2008

Wisdom House Spirituality Centre News

• Entering the Darkness that leads us to Light.

Over 25 people from as far afield as Bournemouth, Lymington and Church Crookham, came to Wisdom House Spirituality Centre on the evening of Wednesday 19 March to share an evening of reflection on Lent and Holy Week and to prepare spiritually for the celebration of the Triduum. These are the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday and mark the key events that shape our lives as Christians: the institution of the Eucharist and Jesus’ example of service; the Passion and Death of Jesus and his Resurrection.

The evening was informal but deeply prayerful as people came together for short periods of guided reflection and then took advantage of all the rooms open to them for prayer.

The first reflection followed the Sundays of Lent – and what may have touched us personally as we recalled the Gospels: The Temptation of Jesus, his Transfiguration, the meeting with the Woman at the Well; the Healing of the Man born Blind; the Raising of Lazarus. There was also the invitation to reflect on events in our own lives that may have changed the pattern of Lent – something unexpected that “got in the way” but may, in fact, have been something that actually enriched our Lent – or something long expected which may nonetheless have caused us to rethink our keeping of Lent.

The second reflection looked at the Gospels of the first part of Holy Week: the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem – Mary’s anointing of the feet of Jesus; Judas betrayal and Peter’s assertion that he would stand by Jesus no matter what. We reflected on what we would want to have done for Jesus if we, like Mary, had sensed the worst looming on the horizon. And with Judas – what was in Jesus’ heart as he watched Judas leave and what would have been in his heart knowing Judas had given way to despair... and what if Judas had waited just a few days and laid his remorse at the feet of his Risen Lord? And Peter – so keen to show that he was strong enough to follow Jesus to the end – but somewhere deep down knowing that he wasn’t... as yet.

Prayer Stations had been set up around the Centre to aid people’s reflections – including bread and grapes for the blessing of bread and wine – small twigs and twine to make small crosses – oils to recall Mary’s anointing – and an opportunity to recall favourite words from Scripture and decorate them. For some people, it was enough simply to go to the Quiet Room or Sitting Room to read or to be still. The Centre was enveloped in a profound silence.

The evening closed with a contemporary Tenebrae liturgy. This was a way of marking the gathering of the shadows around Jesus in those last few days. A short time of readings and reflection in each room led to a Lamentation – a Psalm or Canticle of sorrow – and the extinguishing of candles and lights and closing of doors as the group moved on to the next room. The liturgy ended in the Reception Area where symbols from the Prayer Stations were brought and placed by “Contemplation” – a print of a painting by Tim Patrick, which seemed to represent Jesus as the darkness of his earthly life deepened and the tragic events of Holy Thursday night and Good Friday began to unfold.

JOY AT THE EASTER VIGIL
with the festival of light and baptisms of our new brothers and sisters

The lovely and most special Service of Light

For some time the Easter Triduum services have been shared between the parishes of Holy Cross and St. Swithum Wells, Eastleigh, and St. Edward the Confessor, Chandler's Ford.

A happy and Holy WELCOME to Scott Roberts, Amanda Freeman, Matthew Milner, Estrella Pethen, Eileen Cooper and Matthew Mollicone who were received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Here you see Fr. Michael Dennehy and Fr. Clement Marshall performing the laying on of hands during the rite of Reception.

Scott Roberts was baptised during the Easter Vigil at St. Edward the Confessor, Church, Chandler's Ford - a joyous welcome to you Scott!.

EASTER SATURDAY

Many Polish families came to Holy Cross to have their Easter Food blessed > click here for more information and pictures.

Wishing Well Thanks
Huge thanks to Shirley Griffin for her cheque for £50, from the sale of her
beautiful cards.
· Thanks to all those who came to the quiz – what a great night! We raised £247.

Passover Supper Celebration took place at 7.45 pm on Wednesday 12 March at St. Swithun Wells Church, Fair Oak. You are invited to join with the Fellowship Group, Confirmation candidates, catechists and parents and the young adults going to Australia in this celebration of Passover.

" On Wednesday evening 12th March, the St. Swithun Wells Fellowship Group organised a Passover Celebration. This was attended by 60 people; Parishioners, Confirmation Candidates, Catechists and Young Adults going to Sydney. The celebration was led by Peter Baggott who introduced the evening by explaining what the different symbols meant that would be used during the celebration and a short history of Passover, and its relation to us as Christians. The evening began with singing the traditional opening hymn, 'Open your ears, you chosen people' led by Marion and Deacon Bob Birtles, followed by the lighting of a candle by a mother who then passed the light on to those around. Throughout the evening, everyone joined in wholeheartedly with both the singing and responses to the prayers.

The buffet meal was fantastic, everyone bringing food to share and as usual far too much! No-one went home hungry, or thirsty! (During the Passover, 4 glasses of wine are drunk, needless to say, the glasses were not filled!)

For many, especially the young people, it was the first passover they had attended and they found it very meaningful. As one parishioner remarked 'I have been to mass for many, many years and yet I never realised that some of the prayers we use at mass have their origins in the Passover'.

Thanks must go to The Fellowship Group who organised and set up the whole evening and to everyone who came along and joined in so enthusiastically.

The evening ended with singing 'Shalom, my friends' in a two part round, again ably led by Marion and Bob Birtles. When it finished, everyone shouted out that they wanted to sing it again and so we did, many times over!

Patricia Baggott

REPORT FROM Phyllis McGann:

i am pleased to report that the evening went really well and was attended by 57 people ,we raised a total of £402.20 from the door and raffle.

Estraja and Steve made a fantastic Beef Chilli and Vegetarian Option,Ildta and Frank made her Brazilian friends' Black Bean Stew which was so tasty and Daisy made a delicious Dominican Republic Chicken Stew.
We finished the meal off with fresh fruit and niblets of fairtrade chocolate.

Dave Cardinal did wonders with the computer ,projector and screen to create our 'Tv Show' with Jessie and Eric at the News Desk andd Lizzy and Miguel performing and amusing Credo Arts sketch to great effect and applause.

Thanks to everyone who came along and supported the event,bought raffle tickets from Siobhan (£118.20) and the Fairtrade Products from The Fairtrade Shop Shirley ( sale to date £189.50) thanks also to the Life Group' who kindly kindly allowed me to share the venue, Pauline who was such a support in the office and Brian and friend who directed the cars.

My one problem is that Sam (our son ) our usual photographer at these yearly events was ill we forgot to replace him, I do apologise it was really hectic !

FEBRUARY 2008

  Please join us in praying for KENYA in particular Benn and - Helen. We have been supporting schools and communities in Kware who must be suffering! - click here > to see LATEST and about Father Michael's visit last summer in happier times.

Our Lady Queen of Apostles - Bishop's Waltham

Well done to Vanessa Wills and all who helped raise £1000 from the St Valentine's Bridge  fundraising event!

Here is Vanessa's report:

I've had the most wonderful day primarily because everyone helping was so generous with their time and comments.

The guests arrived at 12 Noon and were greeted with a glass of wine so in no time the hall was buzzing with merriment. The most scrumptious lunch (chicken in white wine), cooked by Joan Ferrer with the help of her husband Chris, soon had the hall hushed and from every table came songs of praise. Meanwhile, Anne Coleman, Berry Wareham and Locket Ward were busy ferrying food to and fro with deserts and coffee to follow. What a team!

In a moment of quiet while the bridge players got underway, Ros Masterman helped with tea preparation leaving her busy household, to help with the Bridge instead. Then Gilda Iaccobucci and Lily Willis arrived,
both with lovely smiles, to help clear away from Tea. Father gave a warm welcome to everyone and helped clear away.

Our Lady Queen of Apostles is my second home, and I just adore everyone there. We raised £1000 today!
Thank you to Locket for the delicious Chocolate Brownies, Kate Ross for her yummy scones and Morgan for having done such a great job on the raffle

FAIR TRADE: From Phyllis McGann - The St Swithin Wells Shopping Evening wasn't as busy as last year,but despite this we sold £118 worth of goods. The most popular items were the jewellery which is mostly handmade in India and Africa and the tradecraft chocolate specialties also went down well. On Sunday 2nd December at St Edward the Confessor, I was also selling Christmas gifts and did sell a few, but its hard to choose for other people and suggest its really worth a visit to the shop in Shirley as there is such a vast display. Luckily my regular Fairtrade food customers did not let me down . Phyllis

2007 Diary

DECEMBER

St Joseph's and St Andrew's

Come Home for Christmas

Come Home For Christmas is a new initiative of the Catholic Church in 2007 to offer a seasonal welcome to Catholics who for different reasons no longer or rarely attend Mass.

Whatever their (or your) story or journey, click here we are ready to listen and offer a warm welcome OR for more information > click here.

We can reach out to the Roman Catholic Community across the world with our prayers and support - Arthur Roberts of Romsey & North Baddesley raised a petition to be handed to the Chinese Embassy in December 2007 to protest about the persecuted Catholics in China.

St EDWARD THE CONFESSOR

The pupils of St Swithun Wells, our Catholic primary school, in Chandler's Ford. collected packed and wrapped a total of 71 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

This is a project of Samaritan's Purse which is an international relief organisation meeting the needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster, while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. The children collected and decorated the boxes filling them with a selection of gifts : sweets, small toys, pencils, puzzles, gloves, hats, scarves, etc. A simple act of generosity to less fortunate children caught up in dire circumstances to show them that they have not been forgotten, and to bring them hope and a smile.

FAIR-TRADE AT CHRISTMAS

Phyllis is willing to take people to the Fair Trade shop in Shirley, if they can't find it -  a great place to buy caring gifts for Christmas.

Phyllis is running a craft and gift stall at the Craft evening on November 22nd at St.Swithin Wells school in Chandlers Ford.

FAIR TRADE report: From Phyllis McGann - The St Swithin Wells Shopping Evening wasn't as busy as last year,but despite this we sold £118 worth of goods. The most popular items were the jewellery which is mostly handmade in India and Africa and the tradecraft chocolate specialties also went down well. On Sunday 2nd December at St Edward the Confessor, I was also selling Christmas gifts and did sell a few, but its hard to choose for other people and suggest its really worth a visit to the shop in Shirley as there is such a vast display. Luckily my regular Fairtrade food customers did not let me down . Phyllis

NOVEMBER

ST JOSEPH'S & ST ANDREW'S

Happy First Anniversary to our Dear Father George! from the worshipping communities in North Baddesley and Romsey - click here >  for pictures of our celebration!

JULY

ST SWITHUN WELLS

Helping our Friends in Kenya and Uganda - 2007

There are some 500,000 people living in the Kware Slums in the South Eastern limits of Nairobi, Kenya.  75% of their population are children. 

St Thomas Handshake to Kware is a Registered Charity in the U.K.  In Kenya, the project is classified as a Self Help Project titled 'St Thomas' handshake to the Kware Slums'. Click here for their web site.

The parishioners of Holy Cross, St Swithun Wells and St Edward decided to raise money for this project.

Parishioner, Steven Carter, recently cycled over 700 miles and raised thousands of pounds - click here  to see the web site about his epic journey

Father Michael visited Kware in July and was made most welcome:

Please click here > for more pictures from his visit

APRIL

The Romsey and North Baddesley Lenten 'Live Simply' Appeal to raise money to build a school for deprived girls in Koolengana, South West India.

• Included an exhibition of figurative art in Romsey Abbey, by young art student and parishioner, Timothy Patrick

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