The Stewardship Committee of St. Joseph’s parish has organised the followed Lenten programme for the whole pastoral area. Everybody is invited to take part.

All the children are invited to make Easter gardens or Easter bonnets for Easter Sunday this year. Both must contain some aspect of the Easter story. Three prizes for each category will be given at the 9.00am Mass at Emsworth and the 11.00am Mass in Havant.

Family Publications has produced a beautiful little booklet of prayers to our patron saint. Since many people do the Novena to St. Joseph, this would be ideal for that use. Price £3.

There will be Mass at 7.30pm on Friday, 19th March in St. Joseph’s followed by light refreshments in the presbytery. All welcome.

Brian died on Monday, 1st March. His Requiem Mass is on Friday, 19th March at 12 noon in the Cathedral. He will be buried in St. Patrick’s, Hayling, Island.

St. Edmund’s, Horndean has organised a fun day for everybody, including families, on Saturday, 20th March from 10.30am to 4.00pm.

Speakers include David Payne, Director of Catholic Faith Exploration and Steve Murray, mime artist. See the attached form for all the details and application form.

Len died last Sunday in Q.A. Hospital. He was 96 and one of our oldest parishioners. He was a very dedicated member of St. Joseph’s parish for many decades. His funeral Mass will take place on Monday, 8th March at 12.45pm in St. Joseph’s Church. May he rest in peace.

Please note that there will no Mass at 9.30am that morning.

In our diocese alone, we have 203 people who wish to join the Church at Easter. There are many hundreds more around the country. In one of the Catholic papers, there was an estimate of 3,000 coming into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

Today, we have the first of the three scrutinies which are intended to ‘search and call the elect’ to holiness and grace. We have two people who have been under instruction for some months now. They are Bernard and Sharon. We are greatly honoured that these people wish to join the Catholic Church.

The Bishops have issued a document called ‘Choosing the Common Good’ in preparation for the forthcoming general election. It has been sent electronically to over 100 parishioners who have let the parish office know of their email address.

Thursday, 27th May at 2.00pm. Limited availability, £35 per adult. See Fr. Tom as soon as possible. This is the show which has played to West End audiences for many years with Michael Ball and Les Dennis.

All offers of help and cakes are very welcome. Phone Alison on (023) 9245 1649.

People living in Highland Close and Highland Road will receive a letter from the parish this week with our prayers and best wishes.

Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, on Saturday, 20th March from 9.00am to 7.00pm. Speakers will include Mary Jo Bane (Harvard University), Lesley Ann Knight (Director, Caritas International and parishioner of St. Joseph’s), Abbot Christopher Jamison OSB and Fr. Timothy Radcliffe. If you would like to attend, see Fr. Tom (special conditions apply).

Palm Sunday at 6.30pm in St. Faith’s Church, Havant. Featuring combined choirs of St. Faith’s and St. John’s, Westbourne.

During Lent, there are opportunities for reconciliation for children and young adults at St. Thomas More’s School and at Oaklands.

As a parish, we would like to offer an opportunity for children’s confessions on Saturday, 20th March at 3.00pm at Ss. Thomas’, Emsworth. We have invited all children who have made their 1st Holy Communion in the last three years. All other children are most welcome too.

We would like a few people to offer to come forward to say a few personal words about mothers, the giftedness of the role, the talents, time and treasure needed. Any volunteers?

We had another interesting evening in our rounds of the pastoral area on Wednesday. The faith community at Horndean warmly welcomed about 40 people. Canon Tim Healy gave an excellent talk on ‘the Pastoral Area’ and it generated a great discussion on all sorts of issues but especially on communications between us and the need for a pastoral area Pastoral Council.

Next week we meet on Tuesday, 9th March at 7.00pm at St. Peter’s School, Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville. Fr. Kevin Bidgood and his community will be our hosts. All welcome.

If you are able to offer a lift, or need a lift on these nights, please contact David Barrett on (023) 9247 6230 or Vince Kelly on (01243 )528628.