ST JUDE’S SCHOOL MASS Weds. 6th November 1.30pm St Philip Howard Ch All are very welcome to join us as we honour our patron!

SOLENT PASTORAL AREA & PARISH Feedback from meetings - and a new PPC Bishop Philip visited the Pastoral Area on Tues 29 October to hear from the Solent Pastoral Area Advisory Group (SPAAG) about our progress in implementing the greater integration of our four parishes called for in the diocesan Ten Year Plan. After a busy 2-hour discussion he was very positive about what we are doing and was particularly pleased that our plan is more focussed on the empowerment of evangelisation rather than just the finances. In his feedback he said that he sensed a real momentum in the way that we are already working together. We owe a huge debt of thanks to the SPAAG and especially to the chair, Andy Jordan, for all the time and effort he has invested in steering this process. The feedback from the parish meetings held recently in all four parishes has now been gathered into a single document with parishioners’ comments grouped together under common themes. These results will now be made available so that you can see what was said in our parish - and in the other parishes as well. The feedback runs to many pages so it will probably be displayed in the church halls, and for those who wish to study the remarks at their leisure, it will also be available on the parish website. Watch out for a new website page dedicated to the “Solent Pastoral Area”. At our Parish Meetings some people raised questions about the Evangelisation Strategy Team – what was it for? who were the members? and so on. Originally set up to support the parish priest in determining ways to develop news ways to evangelise, its activities have expanded way beyond this remit (especially since the publication of the diocesan Ten Year Plan) so, at its latest meeting, it was decided that the group’s name should be changed to reflect what it really does – it is really a Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) – and will be known as such with immediate effect. This was a timely decision because one of the strong recommendations of the Bishops’ Synod in Rome last week was that Pastoral Councils should be a mandatory requirement in all local churches globally. To help ensure that parishioners know what the PPC is doing, a short report will be made available after each meeting for you to access in whatever is your preferred method – on noticeboards, on the website, and in hard copy. To address one of the other queries from the parish meetings about who was representing the parish on this group, photos are being taken of all members so that boards with named photos can be placed in both churches. They should be ready sometime during SOLENT PASTORAL AREA & PARISH UPDATE What comes after the Parish Meetings? Thank you to the nearly 100 parishioners who attended one of the parish meetings to hear about the issues facing the diocese and to share their views about the future direc-tion of the Solent Pastoral Area. Our three neighbouring parishes have held similar meetings and there are many common themes running through parishioners’ comments although, of course, there are also differences which reflect local considerations. Our parish comments have been gathered together and, to ensure that everyone is kept “in the picture”, a response is being worked up to each of the points raised. Once that has been done (no later than mid-November) the com-ments and responses will be shared with all parishioners. The Bishop will be visiting the Pastoral Area on Tuesday 29th October to talk with the parish priests and members of the Solent Pastoral Area Advisory Group to discuss how our plans are progressing and to offer his thoughts, support and guidance. Remember – the Diocesan Plan can be found on our website at https://www.catholicchurchfareham.org.uk/Portsmouthdiocesenews --------------------------------- SOLENT PASTORAL AREA & PARISH Parish Open Meetings Fri 27th Sept & Sat 5th Oct At St Philip Howard Church Hall This Friday (27th at 7.30pm) sees the first of two important parish meetings where we will all have a chance to share our views about how we should take forward the Diocesan Ten Year plan in the Solent Pastoral Area. Don’t expect a “great reveal” telling us what the answers are because there are none as yet. These meetings are a step on the process of working it all out and they give us an opportunity to hear a brief summary of the issues we face, and then the chance to share our thoughts on what we want the future Pastoral Area to look like. Like the meetings being held in Park Gate, Stubbington and Gosport, these gatherings are a great example of the listening church that the Pope wants us to be - walking together on a Synodal path whose purpose is “to involve all the baptised”. And this means that we all have a responsibility for contributing to the plan that needs to be developed to bring the four communities on the Fareham- Gosport peninsula closer together. So ... Please put Friday 27th September at 7.30pm or Sat 5th October at 10.30am in your diary and come prepared to share your views and shape the future of YOUR parish. The Diocesan Plan can be found on our website at https://www.catholicchurchfareham.org.uk/ Portsmouthdiocesenews

ALL SOULS’ DAY Saturday 2nd November 10am. St Margaret Mary, Park Gate

BAPTISM PREPARATION Session 1 - Mon 18th Nov, 8pm via Zoom Session 2 - Mon 25th Nov, 8pm via Zoom Please contact the Parish Office on 01329 318 869 or email: farehamportchester@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk Why not take part while “still expecting”?

ST PHILIP HOWARD CAR PARK Please note this is a private car park and is for parishioner use only and for use of our parents who are dropping off /picking up from St Jude’s, our Parish School.

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SOLENT PASTORAL AREA & PARISH ACTS 2:46-47 UNITED IN CHRIST. Gosport & Bridgemary, Lee & Stubbington, Park Gate and Fareham & Portchester OUR FOCUS ON MISSION both to, and with, a wider community is set to grow. Hopefully you have seen the notes in the newsletters and heard Cn John speak at Mass, about the changes outlined in the Diocesan Ten-Year Plan. For us locally, the Plan proposes that the Solent Pastoral Area (SPA) made up of the four parishes on the Fareham-Gosport peninsula should share their resources, talents and services with each other. How this will happen is still a long way from being decided but YOUR views are an important part of setting the agenda so you are not just invited, but are strongly encouraged, to attend one of the two Parish Open Meetings (both in St Philip Howard Hall) on: Fri 27th Sept. at 7.30pm and Sat 5th Oct. at 10.30am. PLEASE come and share your views and comments. This is your opportunity to shape the future of YOUR parish. The Diocesan Plan can be found on our website at https://www.catholicchurchfareham.org.uk/ Portsmouthdiocesenews

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS’ FORMATION Saturday 19th October 10am - 1pm. Immaculate Conception Church, Stubbington. Our Pastoral area (soon to be Parish) are holding a Formation session for new and existing Eucharistic Ministers. There will be reflections on our understanding of the Eucharist and good practice for helping with the distribution of Our Lord at Mass. We will also look at the ministry of taking the Lord to the sick and housebound which is a very rewarding ministry and fulfilment of the Gospel. We do need extra help with this area and hope the session will give confidence to those considering helping with this valuable offering of time and charity. A DBS and references will be required for this part of the ministry. If you are a Catholic of good standing and wish to be considered for this ministry please speak to Cn John.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION -  Sacred Heart Ch Every Thursday after 10am Mass; 1st Saturday of the month 10am - 11am; Remaining Saturdays 5 - 6pm.