O God, who chose your servant Leo XIV, in succession to the Apostle Peter as shepherd of the whole flock, look favourably on the supplications of your people and grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth, he may confirm his brethren and that of the whole Church may be in communion with him in the bond of unity, love and peace, so that in you, the shepherd of souls all may know the truth and attain life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Sprit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Only one Priest is available from 12th May – 19th May therefore the holiday Mass schedule will apply.  We are also covering Alderney for May in an emergency.

Mass Times for the Weekend 17th/18th May

Our Lady Star of the Sea – 6:00pm (First Mass of Sunday)

St Josephs – 8:00am

St Josephs – 10:30am

Notre Dame Du Rosaire – 6:00pm

The Life in the Spirit seminars will be starting on Monday 12th May with an introduction to the series and the 1st of the 7 sessions, entitled ‘God’s love’.

Each session starts at 7:30pm in St Joseph’s Parish Room with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along!

The UCM will meet on Tuesday 13th May at 2:00pm at GROW, Guernsey.

The Guernsey Catenians will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross at Les Vauxbelets on Saturday 24th May. Members of the parish are most welcome to join in this annual event and can meet Brothers outside the old clockmaker’s shop at 10:30am. Stations will be led by Deacon Mark and should last about 45 minutes. Prayers will be offered at the Brothers’ cemetery after this. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Iain Kilpatrick on 07781421813.

Coffee Morning on Wednesday 14th May in St Joseph’s Parish Room and on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

Drop in any time between 9:30am-11:30am for coffee, cake & a chat.

Everyone is welcome!

Praying for the Wisdom in the Upcoming Conclave –

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Counsellor, enter the hearts of the Cardinals gathered in sacred duty. Dispel all fear and division; kindle in them the fire of Your Love. Grant wisdom beyond words, clarity beyond sight, that they may choose a shepherd after Your own heart. Guide them gently but surely, that through their discernment, Your Church may be renewed in faith and unity. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen. 

The Liberation Day Service will be held on Friday 9th May at 12:00pm in The Town Church.

Canon Chris will be taking part along with Anglican Dean and Methodist Superintendent.

Everybody Is Welcome!

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be meeting on Monday 5th May from 7:30pm-9:00pm in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

Tea/Coffee available from 7:00pm.

Everyone is welcome.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS

The Life in the Spirit seminars will be starting on Monday 12th May with an introduction to the series and the 1st of the 7 sessions, entitled ‘God’s love’.

Each session starts at 7:30pm in St Joseph’s Parish Room with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along!

The Liberation 80 Concert will involve local musicians who will perform with the Biberach Youth Orchestra. The performance on Saturday 10th May at 6:00pm in the Sir John Loveridge Hall, Beau Sejour will celebrate the strong relationship that has been formed with Biberach, the town in Germany where more than 800 Islanders were deported during the war. The German Youth Orchestra will perform alongside the Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society (GCOS), Guernsey Chamber Choir, Bel Canto, Guernsey Music Service students from Cantabile and the Youth Orchestra, and other local singers and musicians. The concert will also feature works by other local composers Lydia Sullivan-Pugh, Martin Cordall and songs written by Len Collins and Ernie Webster who were interned at Laufen Camp. This is a free concert and tickets are available from Beau Sejour.

Parish Befrienders Tea Party on Sunday 18th May from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in St Mary and St Michael School Hall. We are having a get together for a good chat, tea, coffee etc and delicious refreshments. St Mary and St Michael Infant Choir have kindly agreed to entertain us. If you know anyone who is housebound, elderly or isolated etc who would like to come and catch up with old friends, then please contact Angela on 07781 112 221 or Meg on 252401.

When receiving Holy Communion the Clergy or the Ministers will say, “The Body of Christ.” The correct reply to that statement is simply “Amen”.

No other response should be said. The simple “Amen” says it all for us! It means, “Yes, absolutely, I agree it is the Body of Christ!” it also means, “It is true!” “Truly!”

Please contact the Parish Office for pre-orders of the new Weekday Missals.

There is also a release of a Daily Missal (Note: due to it being both Sunday and Weekday it is a large volume)

Prices approximately £55.00 – £69.99 respectively.

A Memorial Mass for Pope Francis will be held on Friday 25th April at 6:00pm in St Joseph Church.

All welcome.

“It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.”

POPE FRANCIS RIP

For centuries the Shroud of Turin has fascinated and intrigued both scientists and Christians alike. Now in the care of the Church it is widely held by many to be the burial cloth of Christ. St Josephs is soon to host this very exciting exhibition which tells its story and will highlight the shrouds remarkable history. It will also include a life size replica along with other exhibits. The exhibition will open with a talk in St Josephs by leading shroud expert Pamela Moon on the 21st May at 7:00pm, details to follow but meanwhile do save the date.

Devotions on Sunday 27th April at 2:45pm in St Joseph’s Church followed by light refreshments in the Parish Room.

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be having an evening of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Monday 28th April from 7:30pm-9:00pm in St Joseph’s Parish Room and also on the last Monday of every month. This will include some hymns followed by silent ‘Adoration’.

Prayer ministry will be available for anyone who would like individual prayer.

Tea/Coffee will be available from 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you normally come to the prayer group.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS

This is a series of 7 weekly sessions aimed at giving us a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. They have been encouraged by the Pope and by our diocese and will run in tandem with the diocesan online seminars. The first session will be on Monday 12th May St Joseph’s Parish Room.

The sessions will run from 7:30-pm-8:30pm each week with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

Please do come along and experience the wonders of renewal – after all we all need to be renewed! Everyone is welcome.

The Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph are holding an online open evening on the 30th April at 7:30pm for people to learn more about the 2 year Certificate in Catechesis.

The course starts in September 2025 to find out more information please visit http://www.lightoftruth.uk.

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Fort Hommet – Vazon will be open every Saturday and Tuesday until 28th October from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Weather permitting.

St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School would like to extend our deepest thanks to our wonderful family, friends, and parishioners for their incredible generosity.

Through your support, our class fundraisers, cakes sales and our Big Lent Walk, we have raised an amazing £2,326 for CAFOD!

Just in case you missed the opportunity to donate, here is the link or pop into school: https://www.justgiving.com/page/stmarystmichael-1736764532058

Father Inna will be on Holiday from 21st April – 2nd May.

As only Canon Chris will be on Island the following is the schedule Mass times for the Weekend 26th/27th April –

Our Lady Star of the Sea – 6:00pm (First Mass of Sunday)

St. Josephs – 8:00am

St. Josephs – 10:30am

Notre Dame Du Rosaire – 6:00pm

Service on Wednesday 23rd April at 11:00am at the White Rock. Canon Chris will be in attendance.

Grateful thanks to all who supported the Lenten Talks so faithfully and helping to ensure their success.

We wholeheartedly also thank our speakers without whom the series of talks would not have been possible Deacon Mark.

We would like to wish all the teachers and students a wonderful Easter break. This is a time when we rejoice in the new life Christ gave us through His death and resurrection.

We wish every family a very peace-filled Easter and restful holiday.

Canon Chris, Fr Inna, Deacon Mark & Canon Hetherington

Wednesday 23rd April – 10th Anniversary Afternoon Tea Celebration from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Shiloh Community Church. Raising money for The Tumaini Fund. Bring along some cakes and biscuits to share.

Divine Mercy Sunday 27th April – Devotions at 2:45pm in St Joseph’s Church followed by light refreshments in the Parish Room.

Sunday 18th May – Parish Befrienders Spring Tea Party from 2:30pm-4:30pm at St Mary and St Michael School. Invitations will go out after Easter. If you know anyone who is housebound, elderly or isolated etc who would like to come and catch up with old friends, then please contact Angela on 07781 112 221.

GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION

The Pontifical Good Friday Collection supports the Christian community in the Middle East. This last year has been particularly challenging for this small community which seeks ‘to be the salt, light and leaven of the Gospel’ in the region, often living in difficult circumstances. “May this year’s collection pro Terra Sancta be an opportunity for everyone not to ignore the difficult situation of our brothers and sisters of the Holy Places but rather to lighten their burdens.” Leonardo Card. Sandri

EASTER MASS OFFERINGS

Are for the personal use of our priests and form a substantial part of their income. Please remember our priests and if you can give your usual offering for them this will be most gratefully appreciated. You may do so in one of four ways –

• Easter Offering Envelopes (cash/cheque): available in the Churches please bring them along to the Easter Vigil/Sunday Masses.
• DONA machines: ‘Easter Offerings’
• Online Banking: Please reference ‘Easter Offering’
• By Cheque to the Parish Office payee ‘CDP Guernsey’. Please reference ‘Easter Offering’ on back of the cheque.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

Coffee Morning on Wednesday 09th April in St Joseph’s Parish Room and on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

Drop in any time between 9:30am-11:30am for coffee, cake & a chat.

Everyone is welcome!

Afternoon Tea Celebration on Wednesday 23rd April from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Shiloh Community Church, raising money for The Tumaini Fund.

Bring along some cakes and biscuits to share. Let’s celebrate together.

Are you celebrating a 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or anniversary over 60 years? If so, Bishop Philip would like to invite you to a Mass of celebration. This will take place at St Bede’s Church in Basingstoke on Saturday 21st June at 11:00am. This will be followed by a buffet lunch. This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate and witness to Marriage.

Please email anniversaries@portsmouthdiocese.org.gg or you can pick up a form from the Parish Office.

Le Platon results of the March draw –

1st – 49 – £100

2nd – 44 – £50

3rd – 62 – £25

In this Jubilee year of hope please join me, Bishop Philip on our Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes from 7th to 11th July 2025 when we can carry the flame of hope in procession with our sick brothers and sisters; sing the song of hope in the language of every nation gathered; and pray to Mary, the Way of Hope.

To find out more and to book a place please, telephone 07780 221686 or write to Canon PJ Smith at St Edmund’s House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth PO1 3QA.

Application forms are also available at the Parish Office.

Thank you all so much for your generosity. £2286 will be sent to CAFOD to support people like Lokho who need a safety net to survive in these times of climate change and war. A special thanks to the St Patrick’s Day party people who had a collection and to Renate, Greg, Anne and Pierre who gave the talks after Mass. If anyone missed the collection or would like to donate further, please support our two primary schools and Yve Rose who are doing the Big Lent Walk. Again, thank you all for your faithful support and your prayers.

Please contact the Parish Office for pre-orders of the new Weekday Missals.

There is also a release of a Daily Missal (Note: due to it being both Sunday and Weekday it is a large volume).

Prices approximately £55 – £69.99 respectively.