A one day retreat led by Deacon Mark of special interest to those involved in visiting, befriending or involved in caring. On June 11th from 10:00am – 2:45pm at Monnaie Chapel, St Andrews. There are now three places left. If you are interested and would like further details please contact Deacon Mark 07781 416176. Please note he is off Island from 20th May until 22nd May.

Saturday 21st May Bishop Philip will be conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation at 11:00am in St Josephs Church. Please pray for our 18 young parishioners who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, also for all the catechists, family, sponsors and clergy supporting them. Grateful thanks to all the catechists who have carefully prepared the young people over the course of the last year.

St Padre Pio & St Philomena Prayer Group meet on Thursday 26th May at 7:30pm at the home of Bill & Jenny Trubuil. Please call 07781 425779 if lifts are needed.

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Fort Hommet, Vazon, (Perry’s Guide 13 E1 ) will be open on Saturday 28th May from 2:00pm – 4:00pm (weather permitting).

Rosary for the beatification of Edel Quinn (Legion of Mary) will be on Sunday 29th May at 2:00pm in St Joseph’s Church.

It is the intention to start children’s liturgy and we are taking the opportunity to review our procedures. Two of the catechists have attended children’s liturgy course by the Diocese and are fired up to restart. Currently we are reviewing both the safeguarding procedures and teaching resources for Children’s liturgy. The numbers of catechists for children’s liturgy is very small therefore for it to go forward in any meaningful way we need your help. Please contact the Parish office if you feel you could help with this important ministry for our children. Registration forms will soon be available.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to the tea party last Sunday, those who prepared the delicious refreshments, those who gave lifts and to Cathy and Theresa for raising all our spirits with their musical entertainment. For the appreciative guests this had been the first chance to get together for many months and it was a particular joy & blessing that Canon Chris, Father Inna, Deacon Mark and Canon Hetherington came to be with them. People are asking, when is the next one? On Thursday 18^th August we will meet again at Les Cotils for a special treat to help us through these hard times. So put this date in your diaries!

Prayer for all the Peoples of the Middle East & the Peace of Jerusalem on Sunday 5th June.

Please call Maud for time and venue – 729445

Divine Will Prayer Group meet on Thursday 9th June at 12 noon at Notre Dame du Rosaire Church and Tuesday 21st June at 7:00pm at the Centre For Peace.

All welcome -just turn up.

Greenpeace has run a project inviting people to count the amount of plastic they throw away this week. If you have taken part you will, like us be horrified at the amount we throw and if we multiply it by street, town, island it must make us make great effort to cut down individually and even more so as an island, and a world community to rid ourselves of being in thrall to it. If we don’t the future looks frightening.

Confirmation Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 21st May at 11:00am in St Joseph’s Church.

Please pray for our young people who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Pray that they may be strengthened through the prayers and encouragement of our parish community. Pray also for their parents and sponsors, that the graces they received at their own Confirmation are renewed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit during this time of preparation.

All very welcome to join our young parishioners on this special occasion.

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 2nd July at 11:00am. It is a wonderful occasion to celebrate and witness to Marriage.

If you would like to come, please register on Eventbrite below: https://significantweddinganniversary.eventbrite.co.uk or contact the Parish Office who will have a form for you to complete, or email the following address which is anniversaries@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Please note this address is not monitored daily and you may have to wait for a reply, so please be patient.

On Sunday 15th May Allegro would like to invite all the congregation to sing along with them. Hymns are chosen to be easily learnt by the children therefore are repetitive in places. Let’s raise the roof with all the congregation joining in with us, wouldn’t that be great. Remember to sing is to pray twice.

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Fort Hommet, Vazon, (Perry’s Guide 13 E1) will be open on Saturday 14th & 28th May from 2:00pm-4:00pm (weather permitting).

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group

Meet Monday 16th May in St Joseph’s Parish Room. Tea/coffee from 7:00pm and the prayer group starts at 7:30pm.

Life in the Spirit Seminars

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be running the ‘Life in the Spirit Seminars’ starting on Monday 23rd May in St Joseph’s Parish Room. This is a series of 7 weekly sessions designed to give us a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit and His gifts and to deepen our faith and bring it alive. Each session will start with tea and coffee from 7:00pm with the seminars starting at 7:30pm and finishing at 8:30pm. Everyone is welcome – do come and join us!

Contact numbers for more information –

Frank 07781 108394

Katrina 07781 419826

Judy 07781 461556

Sonia 07781 142287

Divine Will Prayer Group meet on Tuesday 17th May at 7:00pm at the Centre For Peace. All welcome.

Mothers Prayer Group meet on Friday 20th May with tea/coffee at 10:30am (prayers start at 11:00am). Venue Christine’s house. Tel: 259995 or email christineguernsey2014@gmail.com. www.mothersprayers.org

PACE on Saturday 18th June at 9:30am-4:00pm at Les Camps Methodist Church, Route Des Camps, St Martin.

Book online at www.Bible.org.uk or contact Sarah Snell on Tel: 07781 122402 / E-mail: hellopace@paceguernsey.com

Arrive from 9:00am. Please bring a packed lunch. Cost £14. Free for children 11-17 if accompanied by an adult.

Plastic produced by the oil companies and big corporations is being dumped in oceans and is poisoning land and killing wildlife. To make matters worse microplastics are building up in the air we breathe, our food, our bodies. We need to wake up to the danger and do what we can to limit our use of plastic.

May is known as the month of Mary. During this, Our Lady’s special month, you may like to consider taking the opportunity to pray the rosary in the community.

Mondays: 11:30am before Mass at Delancey

Wednesdays: 11:45am before Mass at Notre Dame and 7:00pm during Holy Hour at St Joseph’s

Fridays: 7:30pm at Centre for Peace (There is plenty of parking on site and the address is, Rue de L’Epinel, Forest, GY8 0HL. Perry’s Guide ref: 28C4)

Sunday: 5:30pm before the Mass at Notre Dame.

(Please remember to check the Mass schedule)

O Mother of Perpetual Help, Sweetest Mary, I ask you with your divine grace to watch over me, Give me the strength to take one day at a time. (This prayer can be repeated as often as you feel the need)

Wreath Laying

The Bailiff of Guernsey will lay a commemorative wreath at the War Memorial at 9:50am.

People’s Liberation Day Service

People’s Liberation Day Service 10:00am at St Saviour’s Church. All welcome.

Town Church Service 

Canon Chris will be in attendance at the Town Church Service at 11:00am.

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group 

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group meet on Monday 9th May in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

Tea/Coffee from 7:00pm and the prayer group starts at 7:30pm.

Life in the Spirit Seminars 

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be running the ‘Life in the Spirit Seminars’ starting on Monday 23rd May in St Joseph’s Parish Room. This is a series of 7 weekly sessions designed to give us a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit and His gifts and to deepen our faith and bring it alive. Each session will start with tea and coffee from 7:00pm with the seminars starting at 7:30pm and finishing at 8:30pm. Everyone is welcome – do come and join us!

Contact numbers for more information –

Frank – 07781 108394

Katrina – 07781 419826

Judy – 07781 461556

Sonia – 07781 142287

UCM meet on Tuesday 10th May at 7:30pm in the St Joseph’s Parish Hall. Come and join us for our Spring Highland Fling (Scottish Dancing). There will be a collection for the Guernsey Welfare instead of the usual raffle. Please bring a plate of your favourite food, nibbles cakes etc. to share.

A tip to save electricity heard on the BBC. Be aware of “vampire” gadgets in your home; the electric plugs we leave on “Stand By” which are using electricity just by being switched on. Apparently microwaves are particularly greedy. It’s worth going around your house and switching off those plugs when they are not in actual use. Save electricity; save money.

Christian Aid to Ukraine, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Syria and other places where there is much to be done to protect innocent people.

Sacrament of Confirmation Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 21st May 2022 at 11:00am in St Joseph’s Church. All very welcome to join our young parishioners on this special occasion.

The Tea Party date given last week should have been 15th May not June. So this will be taking place next Sunday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in the School Hall at St Mary and St Michael. Those who are housebound or have difficulty getting to Mass are especially welcome but if you are in the ‘senior’ age range and yearning for an opportunity to meet up with fellow parishioners you are very welcome too. If you would like to come please contact Angela 07781112 221 or Meg 252401 as soon as possible and tell them if you require a lift or may need a wheelchair taxi.

Le Platon Lottery Results

March:

1st – 19 – £100

2nd – 43 – £50

3rd – 56 – £25

April:

1st – 10 – £100

2nd – 36 – £50

3rd – 4 – £25

Eamonn & Ann Finnerty are doing the 30/30 bike ride for the 8th year in a row, riding 30 hours in the month of May to raise funds for Les Bourgs Hospice. If anyone would care to sponsor them you can donate either by cash/cheque payable to Les Bourgs or I attach a link to the Les Bourgs website: https://www.lesbourgshospice.org.gg/events/sponsor-someone/? id=f83751b2-0217-4dc6-9e8d-125ee45e0ffd&rid=6106

All donations go straight to this amazing charity so any donations would be most welcome.

Our Parish Synod has now been collated along with all the other parishes in the diocese and was presented to Bishop Philip at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. The finished document is most interesting and gives us much food for thought.

For background information and an introduction video from Bishop Philip go to https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/synod

Download the Synod document

May is known as the month of Mary. During this, Our Lady’s special month, you may like to consider taking the opportunity to pray the rosary in the community.

Mondays: 11:30am before Mass at Delancey

Wednesdays: 11:45am before Mass at Notre Dame and 7.00pm during Holy Hour at St Joseph’s

Fridays: 7:30pm at Centre for Peace (There is plenty of parking on site and the address is, Rue de L’Epinel, Forest, GY8 0HL. Perry’s Guide ref: 28C4)

Sunday: 5:30pm before the Mass at Notre Dame.

(Please remember to check the Mass schedule)

The safeguarding of our children is paramount and following Diocesans guidelines, Notre Dame School needs to be kept secure. Therefore it is not possible to access the Church through the school grounds during term time.

To attend the 7:30am Mass at Notre Dame please use the footpath at Port Vase– opposite Le Platon or the steps at George Street going up to Burnt Lane.

The top playground car park is only available on Sundays.

Divine Will Prayer Group will meet on Thursday 5th May at 12 noon at Notre Dame du Rosaire Church also on Tuesday 17th May at 7:00pm at the Centre For Peace. All are welcome. Just turn up.

Thank you to everyone at Our Lady and the Saints of Guernsey for your generous support for CAFOD this year and for your latest donation of £4,984 received on the 5th April 2022. Thank you for donating to our Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Your parish’s prayers and donation to help our Ukrainian sisters and brothers is so appreciated.

Our local Ukrainian aid workers and volunteers are already reaching families in need who have been forced to leave their homes due to the conflict, especially women and children. We are supporting our Caritas sister agencies to reach communities most needed inside Ukraine, and in the neighbouring countries. Your donation will provide much needed food, water, healthcare and travel onto safe areas or neighbouring countries.

UCM meet on Tuesday 10th May at 7:30pm in St Josephs Parish Hall.

Come and join us for our Spring Highland Fling (Scottish Dancing).

There will be a collection for the Guernsey Welfare instead of the usual raffle.

Tea Party – a chance for a Catch up!

Parish Befrienders are planning the next tea party on Sunday 15th June! This will be at St Mary and St Michael School Hall from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

Invitations will be sent to parishioners we know to be housebound or those who now have difficulty getting to Mass.

We do not necessarily have your contact details so if you feel this is for you and would love to come please phone Angela 07781 112221 or Meg 252401 and we will give you more details and arrange a lift as necessary.

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Fort Hommet, Vazon, (Perry’s Guide 13 E1) will be open on Saturday 7th, 14th & 28th May from 2:00pm-4:00pm (weather permitting).

Canon Chris, Fr Gaston and Fr Inna thank you all for the cards and Easter offerings.

Special thanks to ALL who helped prepare the Churches for Easter including the cleaners, musicians, choirs, welcomers, flower arrangers etc.

As the numbers of Covid cases are on the decline we are delighted to announce that face masks are no longer required. However if you wish you may continue to wear them in Church, then please do so. Thank you. Canon Chris

Workshop with Sr Hyacinthe, Op

Where is the Holy Spirit in my life?

In the midst of the various challenges of life, we can feel over­whelmed and alone, with a sense of isolation and lack of direc­tion. Yet we are never alone! In a 6 sessions course, we are going to reflect together on the sacrament of confirmation and on the action of the Holy Spirit in our life. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, the giver of all the gifts necessary to our life with God and with each other as we grow in holiness and charity each day. Join us to discover who He is and what He does for us. Thursday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:30pm from the 28th April to the 02nd June.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZUuceyoqTwjH9cWyP-c-_Vchh-lJrNdNFGI

Readers Rotas beginning 1st May for Our Lady Star of the Sea are now available in the Church porch.

Rotas for the period 24th April-12th June are now available for collection from the folder on the table outside of the Sacristy.

If you are unable to attend on the dates please contact:

Eileen Baird (Readers) – Tel: 244856/ E-mail: eileenb@cwgsy.net

Marie Maclure (Eucharistic Ministers) – Tel: 235251 / E-mail: mtmaclure@cwgsy.net

Guernsey Choral Society Jubilee Concert on Saturday 21st May at 7:30pm at the Guernsey Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre.

Tickets: Adults £10 +£0.65 booking fee

OAP £7.50 + £0.49 booking fee

Please book your ticket online at –  www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/venueplan/RdiEJKhzXNnT

Life with Christ is a Wonderful Adventure!

Most UK diocese have a tradition of going on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Portsmouth is no exception. Our pilgrimage has various unique aspects, so whether you’ve been many times before or this is your first time, you’re guaranteed an incredible experience. Flying from Bournemouth Airport. The cost of the pilgrimage is £675 per person (based on two people sharing a room) Single rooms are available at a supplement. We will be staying at the hotel La Solitude full board. In previous years our pilgrims have been very pleased with the hotel, its proximity to the Domain meaning they could visit independently when they wanted to and the plentiful and varied food options suited everyone’s needs, with some even making use of the hotel’s indoor swimming pool. As before, the pilgrimage will be supported by the Youth of the Diocese. Those aged 15-35 volunteer to support the pilgrimage by helping with music, the liturgy, companionship for our pilgrims, and physically supporting those in need by pushing wheelchairs etc. The cost for a youth pilgrim is £575 (based on three young people sharing). To get in touch, either call us on 07780 221686 or send an email to lourdes@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

From Bishop Philip

At the end of our Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of England and Wales issued a statement entitled “Honouring Sunday.” The bishops do not possess the authority to suspend the Sunday obligation. However, since March 2020 the bishops have sought to give guidance to the faithful on the changing conditions in which it is possible to fulfil this obligation. Conditions have clearly moved on since the state of national lockdown last year. Yet, the bishops recognise the uncertainties of the Winter ahead of us and write “At this time, we recognise that for some people there may be certain factors which hinder attendance at Sunday Mass. The pandemic is clearly not over. The risk of infection is still present. For some, there is legitimate fear in gathering together. As your bishops, we recognise that these prevailing circumstances suggest that not everyone is yet in a position to fulfil the absolute duty to attend freely Sunday Mass.” However, the bishops ask every Catholic to honestly review their situation motivated by real love which must be our personal response to Christ’s total self-offering in the Holy Eucharist.

We now encourage all Catholics to look again at the patterns which they have formed in recent months with regard to going to Mass on Sundays. This would include consideration and reflection about what we might do on Sundays, such as sports or shopping, or other leisure and social activities. This review, and the decisions which arise from it, fall to every Catholic and we trust this will be done with honesty, motivated by a real love for the Lord whom we encounter in the Mass. To read the full statement go to www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-statement-honouring-sunday

From Canon Christopher 

We are following in our three Churches the guidelines regarding COVID. As we move to living with covid we should try to make every effort to come back to Mass. Our Churches are one of the safest environments to be in. Remember LFT, Mask and Hand Hygiene before Mass. (If unwell stay at home)