CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

Fr Inna, Father Benedict and Deacon Mark along with Canon Hetherington wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and very prosperous New Year.

THANK YOU

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for your generous gifts, kind cards, and heartfelt wishes and above all for everything you are to our parish. Words are truly not enough to express how grateful I am for all that you do. Without your constant help and support, we could not move forward as a community. Our churches are beautiful and we are blessed with meaningful, prayerful liturgies because of your dedication. So many of you serve quietly behind the scenes, offering your time and effort without seeking recognition. Our parish simply would not be what it is without your generous hearts. You give your time, your talents and your love so freely to our parish and this is a true blessing for all of us. I am deeply thankful for your dedication, your sacrifices and your unwavering love for our church community. May God bless you and your families abundantly and reward you for every act of kindness and love you have shared with our parish. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Canon Hetherington for his availability to listen to our confessions. His continued support, guidance and pastoral care are deeply appreciated. With heartfelt thanks and prayers for you all – Father Inna

THE MESSENGER

Please take home the messenger as it covers two weekends 27/28th December and 3rd/4th January 2026.

PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY

The Parish Office will be closed until Monday 5th January 2026. All urgent calls will be answered so please leave a message.

Christmas Mass collections 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 offerings for them this will be most gratefully appreciated.

You may do so by –

• Christmas Offering Envelopes (In churches this weekend)
• By Cheque payee CDP GUERNSEY (mark reverse ‘Christmas Offering’) .
• Online Banking please ensure that for this particular payment only, it is reference PRIESTS.
• Dona Machines in all three Churches Crib Collections during Christmastide for Christian Families Struggling in The Holy Land via The Friends of The Holy land. Please visit www.friendso heholyland.org.uk/christmas to donate.

Thank you for your continued generosity!

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be having an evening of ‘ADORATION’ of the ‘BLESSED SACRAMENT’ on Monday 29th December from 7:30pm-9:00pm and then on the following last Monday of every month in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

There will be 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, either for the whole evening or for part of the time.

~oOo~

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

Tea/Coffee available from 7:00pm.

Everyone is welcome! For more information contact Frank on 07781 108394.

A huge thank you to all who support the Food Bank with such generosity. It is much needed and greatly appreciated.

There will be no collections now until the 4th January 2026.

Deacon Mark

Pastoral Letter – The Holy Year Closes

Bishop Philip’s letter will be read out at all Masses this weekend.

Copies will be available in the Church Porch and on the Website.

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS

Saturday 20th December – 10:00am Mass – St Joseph’s (Followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and individual confessions)

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Wednesday 24th December

5:00pm – St Joseph (Christmas Vigil Mass)

6:00pm – St Anne & St Mary Magdalen (Christmas Vigil Mass)

6:30pm – OLSS (Christmas Carols)

7:00pm – OLSS (Mass during the Night)

8:40pm – St Joseph (Christmas Carols)

9:00pm – St Joseph (Mass during the Night)

11:15pm – St Anne & St Mary Magdalen (Christmas Carols/Midnight Mass)

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 

Thursday 25th December

8:00am – Notre Dame (Mass at Dawn)

10:00am – OLSS (Mass during the Day)

10:00am – St Anne & St Mary Magdalen (Mass during the Day)

10:30am – St Joseph (Mass during the Day)

(No Evening Mass)

ST STEPHEN

Friday 26th December

10:00am – St Joseph (Mass for all Altar Servers)

ST JOHN

Saturday 27th December 

10:00am – St Joseph (Closing mass of The Jubilee year)

Please note for the 5:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve there will be strictly NO parking at Queens Road Medical Practice as they are open until 6:00pm.

There is overflow parking at Vauvert School by kind permission of the Headteacher.

For all the other Christmas Masses the parking at Queens Road Medical Practice can be used as per Sunday masses.

Father Inna invites all Altar servers in the parish to the Mass on 26th December 2025 (St. Stephens day) at 10:00am in St. Josephs.

This mass is especially offered for Altar Servers and medals are presented to those due to receive them.

Notre Dame and Delancey Servers are asked to bring along their ALBS from their respective Churches.

PARISH OFFICE

The Parish Office will be closed from 1:30pm on Tuesday 23rd December until Monday 5th January 2026.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas & New Year. Love and prayers to you all at this time.

NEWSLETTER

The Messenger will be a double newsletter issue next weekend to cover (27th/28th Dec & 3rd/4th January 2026).

Wednesday 24th December Le Platon will be holding a Vigil Mass at 4:00pm in The Chapel for residents, staff & their families.

Please note – there will be NO Coffee Morning on the 24th December (Christmas Eve).

The next Coffee Morning will be on Wednesday 14th January.

The First Holy Communion course starts in January. For those children who don’t attend one of the Catholic Schools, forms are available from the Parish Office.

The Delancey (OLSS) cleaning rota is losing some of its longest serving cleaners. Thanks to them for their years of service. More people are required desperately to join the rota.

Please contact Anne on 07781 423146 if you can help.

Dear Teachers, Children and Families,

As we come to the end of this busy and joy-filled season, I want to wish each one of you a very happy holiday and a well-deserved break. Over these past weeks, I have had the pleasure of attending your Christmas carol singing, nativity plays, and festive celebrations. They have been nothing short of outstanding, beautifully prepared, deeply moving, and presented with such professionalism.

To our wonderful teachers:

Thank you for your tireless work, your patience, and your unwavering dedication. Your efforts are evident in everything you do. Your support, guidance, and encouragement make all the difference, and we are truly grateful.

Dear children:

You were absolutely amazing. Your readings were clear, your performances full of joy and confidence and your singing truly top-class. You looked adorable, beautiful and so smart in your costumes. You have brought so much happiness to all of us this Christmas season.

To our loving families:

Thank you for being present, for supporting the children and for sharing in these special moments. Your love and encouragement mean more than words can express. Your presence is always precious and valued.

May this Christmas bring you peace, joy, warmth, and the blessings of togetherness. May you celebrate surrounded by your loved ones, carrying the true spirit of Christmas in your hearts. Wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year. With Many Thanks Fr. Inna

Bishop Philip is inviting any man in our Diocese, aged 17 or older, who is not married and who would like to know more about being a diocesan priest, to contact him and to come to a short meeting at the Cathedral on Sunday 4th January at 3:00pm (finishes at 5 pm).

Please scan the QR code to register.

The Delancey (OLSS) cleaning rota is losing some of its longest serving cleaners. Thanks to them for their years of service. More people are required desperately to join the rota.

Please contact Anne on 07781 423146 if you can help.

The rota for the period 28th December to 15th February 2026 will be available in the sacristy, please collect after Mass.

It will also be on the website next week.

Confirmation preparation starts in January for young people in Year 8 and above who would like to be confirmed this summer, or don’t necessarily want to be confirmed but just want to explore more about their faith.

Contact Tom – Tel: 07781 129310 / E-mail: youth@catholic.org.gg

Exposition of the Bless Sacrament & Adoration – A time of reflecting and spending time with the Lord.

Tuesdays & Thursdays – 10:00am-10:30am – St Josephs

Wednesdays (Holy Hour) – 7:00pm – St Josephs

A Mass Intention is a specific offering of a mass in honour of or in memory of someone by name at a specific mass time on a specific date. A Mass Intention is traditionally offered as a gift to someone who is grieving a recent loss or celebrating a milestone. Please do email us at office@catholic.org.gg or pop into the parish office if you would like to offer a mass for someone. Mass cards are also available to send to the family or person you are offering the mass for.