Parish Groups

History and Update on our St Swithun’s Ascent Group

The Ascent Movement started 60 years ago by a retired catholic gentleman in Paris who noted that many of the mass attendees of his age group just attended mass and sadly went home afterwards without talking to anybody. He decided to change this and arranged to meet with some of them after mass for coffee. Out of this was born the Ascent movement for Christians in their middle and later years to meet for friendship and Christian fellowship.

The movement became international obtaining Papal Recognition and came to the UK just over 40 years ago by the magnificently inspired efforts of the current Southern region Vice President Paula Conrad.

Hearing of the movement parishioners Mike O’Connor and Harry Murray were inspired to form a meeting group in St Swithuns Parish, Southsea in March 1997. Monthly Group meetings were started in the Parish Hall with hymns; prayer; guest speaker, spiritual and inspiring readings with additional outings and lunches.

The current leadership since 2011 has now had to retire but wishing for this Southsea Group to continue asks for any St Swithuns’ parishioner or Catholic in the Portsmouth area feeling so inspired to consider offering themselves for leadership of this group. All help would be given for those wishing to take on this role.

Please contact Robert or Eileen Steward on 02392 833690 or email on robsteward@ntlworld.com for further information and details

Thanks Sincerely Robert Steward

ASCENT GROUP MEETING – Monday November 22nd 2021

Dear Ascent Group

The next Ascent Group Meeting will be on Monday the 22nd of November in St Swithuns Church Hall from 2-15 pm that day.

There will be a pre- Christmas musical entertainment followed by seasonal refreshments.

The Ascent group is for those members in their middle to later years and any new guests, whatever your age, will be most welcome”

Thanks Sincerely Robert Steward

Good News – THE ASCENT GROUP RE-START MEETING MONDAY THE 25th OF OCTOBER

Dear Ascent Group

Good News – THE ASCENT GROUP RE-START MEETING MONDAY THE 25th OF OCTOBER

The Ascent Group ‘re-start’ meeting will take place on Monday the 25th of October from 2-15 pm in St Swithuns Church Hall. This will be the first meeting for the Group post Lock-down and a warm welcome will be there for all members who are able to attend. A warm welcome for those also who may wish to attend to find out about the Ascent Movement and its activities for those in their middle and later years!

Ascent Group – Events 2021 Timetable

Dear Friends May you be blessed with a happy and hopeful New Year. Although we are still in the midst of illness and restrictions, there are signs of hope as vaccines begin to be rolled out. We thank God for the answers to prayers made right at the beginning of the pandemic, that vaccines would be developed quickly; and we continue to pray for those suffering and for an end to the global crisis.

ADoRE monthly sessions will continue online for the foreseable future, and we are encouraged by many positive reactions already to our 2021 programme plans – see below for information about the year and the January zoom meeting.

2020 has of course been an extraordinary year of challenges, but we praise and thank the Holy Spirit for inspiring and enabling us to respond by initiating new developments throughout the year, as summarised below.

We believe that in 2021, as we continue to worship the Lord ever more deeply, thanking Him for everything He is doing, we will see His glory shining ever more brightly and many more people experiencing Him at work in their lives.

Alastair and the Core Group

The Table below show all our activity for 2021 in general outline.

Please note that while we are under Covid restrictions all meetings will be via ZOOM online. Visit our website for registration and log on details each month.

Register NOW for our mini-retreat morning on Zoom and, through our worship at Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prophetic reflection, praise and inspiring talk, we will find out how the Lord is equipping us to share his Good News with the world through the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” – His empowerment, which is a current of grace for the whole Church.

Date	Register by Zoom	Topic	Guest Speakers
January 23rd 2021 10am	mini-retreat morning on Zoom	“God's Love” God loves you; He wants to be in a personal relationship with you and to give you a better life.	Charles Whitehead, respected international speaker and author; former chair of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service.
February 27th 2021 10am	Zoom	"Salvation". God sent his Son Jesus to give you new life through his death and resurrection. Jesus is your Lord and Saviour.	Fr Paul Leonard, Parish Priest at Sacred Heart, Hook. Mass celebrant at Celebrate Southampton Conference.
March 27th 2021 10am	Zoom	“New Life” Jesus came so that you could be given the source of new life, the Holy Spirit.	Jenny Baker. Vice Chair of Renewal Services England; Celebrate conference co-ordinator and speaker; presenter of CaFE Catholic faith exploration DVDs.
April 24th 2021 10am	Zoom	"Receiving God's Gift." To receive new life you must turn away from those things which block our relationship with God and accept Jesus as your Lord.	Peter Hobbs, leader of Parish formation and confirmation courses.
May 22nd 2021 10am	Zoom	"Praying for Baptism in the Holy Spirit." Surrender to the Lord and expect to receive the new life in the Holy Spirit.	Fr Anthony Meredith, Vicar General of the Institute of Charity (the Rosminians) and former Chaplain to ADoRE.
June 26th 2021 10am	Zoom	"Growth." Grow your Christian life in the Spirit through prayer, study, service and community.	Carol Ann Harnett, independent trainer in forming adults as catechists. Formerly with the Maryvale Institute and School of the Annunciation.
July 24th 2021 10am	Zoom	Transformation in Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in you to change you and make you holier.	Maria Heath, Chair of Charismatic Renewal Services England and a passionate speaker on making parishes more missionary.
August 21st: 2021 10am	Zoom	“Gifts of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts to enable you to be Jesus to others. Special focus on charisms of Tongues and Miracles.	Fr. Gareth Leyshon, working with the Sion Community to train parish missionaries.
September 18th 2021 10am	Zoom	“Healing through the Holy Spirit." Special focus on the charisms of healing and deliverance.	Geoff and Gina Poulter former directors of the Catholic Bible School with over 25 years healing ministry experience.
October 23rd 2021 10am	Zoom	“Guidance of the Holy Spirit." Jesus promised the Spirit will guide you into all truth. Special focus on charisms of Wisdom, Prophecy and Discernment.	Kristina Cooper, conference speaker and former editor of Good News Magazine .
November 27th 2021 10am	Zoom	“Fruit of the Holy Spirit." As you give the Spirit more control of your life, he grows you to look like Jesus.	Andrew Lawrence. Lead Elder of Harvest Church, Alton and part of the leadership team of Commission, an international family of churches.

Meeting Formats

Mini-retreat for spiritual renewal with Mass, Adoration, prophetic reflection, praise, inspiring talk and sharing. With guest speaker international Catholic renewal leader, author and speaker Charles Whitehead.
Topic: see the table for list of monthly topics

Part of our 2021 programme: “ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT -filled with all the fullness of God.” We explore how the Holy Spirit inspires and empowers us to be missionary disciples.

TIMETABLE (approx)

10.00 Mass celebrated by Fr. Anthony Meredith,
followed by Adoration
10.50 Prophetic reflection
11.15 Praise and worship
11.30 Talk by Charles Whitehead
12.15 Prayer for renewal in the Holy Spirit
12.30 Testimony and Sharing in groups
13.00 Finish

Testimony from participant: “As always, the power of the Holy Spirit was not diminished by the fact that we could not be physically together. This is to me the most remarkable thing about Adore online. The event is well organised and presented.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE Adore 2021 Poster

CLICK HERE FOR THE ADORE WEBSITE:

Message from the Ascent Group due to Covid

Dear Ascent Group

As you are aware we have not met as a group in St Swithuns church hall since February this year due to the restrictions imposed by the Corona virus situation. The full year,2020, had been booked for meetings and outings and it is considered that we may be able to pick up on this programme in the next year, 2021. This of course would be dependent on any imposed restrictions due to the continuation of the virus then! An encouraging email from Paula Conrad (Our Southwark Region Vice President) is in part reproduced below.

‘Dear All – What a very long time it has been since we were all in touch.

I wonder how you have been coping with the lockdown. I am endeavouring to put together a small Journal as it is important to keep everyone informed and united.
If you have anything of interest that you feel would make an interesting article for the winter Journal, I would be so happy to receive it. During these months, people have been developing forgotten skills or neighbourliness or helping others in special ways. Please do let me know of anything you feel others would like to hear about. (Contact Paula on Tel. 020 8653 5206)
Whether you have met or otherwise I Send you all my very best wishes and praying all will be well very soon. God be close to us all – Paula'”

The Table below show all our activity for 2021 in general outline.

Meeting Formats

TIMETABLE (approx)

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