CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES: Masses at St Joseph’s on Christmas Eve are at 6.30pm and 11.30pm (Carols and Readings followed by Midnight Mass), and at 8.00am and 10.45am on Christmas Day. Mass at St Elizabeth’s is at 9.15am on Christmas Day.

PLEASE PRAY for the repose of the soul of Anthony (Tony) Walker who died recently.  His funeral will take place on Thursday 29th December at 11.00am.

SVP:  Next meeting will be at 7.00pm on Monday 9th January. 

UCM: Next meeting will be at 7.45pm on Tuesday 10th January.

CHRISTMAS TREE STARS:  If you would like the name of your deceased loved ones to be written on a star and placed on our Christmas tree, please collect a star from either end of the church - pens available to write names, as well as baskets in which to place stars.

ROTAS: New rotas for SPECIAL MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST, READERS, CASHIERS and helpers in the REPOSITORY are all available from the Sacristy.

CHURCH CLEANING: If anyone is able to offer some temporary help with the church cleaning, please see Fr Tom or contact the parish office.

THE OFFERTORY COLLECTION last weekend was £1077.10.  Thank you. The Offertory collection at the Christmas Masses is for the personal use of the clergy.   The CRIB COLLECTION is for the Christians in the Holy Land.

REPOSITORY:  The Repository will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and will re-open on Sunday 8th January.

JINJA GIRLS’ SCHOOL, EAST AFRICA:  Seven women have so far been trained on the knitting machine and are very grateful for your help and support.  Photos are on the notice board.

THANK YOU FROM CAFOD: Lynda and Laura from the CAFOD Portsmouth office would like to thank all parishioners for their support and generosity throughout the year and wish everyone a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.

RETREAT HOLIDAYS:  Retreat-Holidays in Northern Cyprus,  Italy, Andalucia, the Black Forest, Turkey (gulet-sailing) and the Holy Land.  Organised by Stephanie Rybak, from St Edmund Campion parish. www.retreat-holidays.co.uk Telephone 0845 458 8309. 

OPEN KITCHEN: Volunteers needed to help on Thursday evenings.  Your help will be much appreciated. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL:  We are full in every year group with waiting lists.  If you have a child, know of a family member or a neighbour with a child who has a birth date between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008 they need to apply now to the Borough and make sure that the school office has a completed supplementary information form.  This will ensure that the child is placed in the correct category for admissions. Late applicants, including siblings, who do not apply are at significant risk of not getting a place.

NEWSLETTER: Notices for next weekend should be phoned or emailed to the parish office by 11.00am on Tuesday. Alternatively, you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

With every good wish to you all for a very

 HAPPY CHRISTMAS!