On this feast day, we give special thanks and praise to God for the sublime gift of His Body and Blood that Christ left us at the Last Supper. Our First Holy Communicants will lead the procession at the 10:30am St Joseph’s Mass sprinkling petals along the way to Our Lady’s Grotto in the Presbytery garden (weather permitting).

We invite The First Holy Communion Children to come in their Outfits that they wore at FHC this Weekend.

Assist with your spirit of Counsel and fortitude the people of Guernsey as they elect the new States of Deliberation. May the chosen Deputies be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful for the people they serve. May they have respect for virtue and religion, may they execute law with justice and mercy, may they seek to restrain crime, vice and immorality and strive for harmony and peace. Amen

The Life in the Spirit Seminars continue on Monday 16th June with week 6 – ‘Growth’.

This will be in St Joseph’s Parish Room starting at 7:30pm with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

LAUDATO SI GROUP

Meeting on Monday 16th June at 7:00pm in the St Yves Parish Room, St Joseph’s.

All are welcome to come along and find out more about the group.

TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC

Choose loose produce: most supermarket stores offer a range of loose produce including potatoes, carrots, broccoli, apples etc

The Celebration of First Holy Communions will take place on Saturday 21st June at 10:00am in St Josephs Church.

Let us keep all the First Communicants in our prayers.

Discover the secret of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Fort Hommet, Vazon of a WW2 bunker by Hubert Le Galloudec transformed from a place of war into a place of peace and beauty using local seashells.

Open every Saturday and Tuesday 2:00pm-4:00pm weather permitting.

Free entry, donations welcome.

www.sacredheart.org.gg

If anyone has a little bit of time to spare and would like to help with the upkeep and running of the iconic Little Chapel they would be most welcome.

Please contact the Chapel team via admin@thelittlechapel.gg.

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, thrust into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Only one Priest is available from the 23rd June – 5th July therefore the holiday Mass schedule will apply.

Mass Times for the Weekend 28/29th June

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

8:00am – St. Josephs

10:30am – St. Josephs

6:00pm – Notre Dame Du Rosaire

The Life in the Spirit seminars continue on Monday 9th June with week 5 – ‘Praying for Baptism in the Holy Spirit’

This will be in St Joseph’s Parish Room, starting at 7:30pm with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

The next coffee morning will be on Wednesday 11th June and on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

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

Everyone is welcome!

The Forest Parish Church is hosting a series of four summer concerts. They all start at 7:30pm and will last about an hour with refreshments being provided.

Free entry with retiring collections at each event. Parking is available in the church car park and Forest Stores.

Please see Church noticeboards for concert dates and line ups.

First Holy Communion Gifts can be purchased from the Repository at St. Joseph’s Church.

Le Platon Lottery results of the May draw –

1st – 87 – £100

2nd – 7 – £50

3rd – 5 – £25

“Come Holy Spirit Come”

On the day of Pentecost, God pours out the Spirit upon the earth.

Acts 2:1–21

The Life in the Spirit Seminars continue on Monday 2nd June with week 4 – ‘Receiving God’s gift’.

This will be in St Joseph’s Parish Room starting at 7:30pm with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

The new Tea/Coffee rota beginning 6th July is now available in the folder in the Sacristy. Grateful thanks to all who are on the rota.

Thank you to our Scholars Pamela & Phil Moon for The Shroud of Turin exhibition which really was a great success, we especially want to thank Deacon Mark for all of his hard work that he has dedicated to make this happen. We are so grateful for all you do, so thank you so much. Thank you also for all your kind donations.

Our next concert in St Saviour’s church will be on Friday 13th June at 7:30pm with the The Accidentals. Their last appearance at St Saviour’s was in 2020, so we are particularly delighted to welcome them back!! As usual, no tickets, free refreshments and a retiring collection. An added bonus is that this will be during our church Flower Festival. If you can’t make the concert on the Friday night perhaps you would like to come to the Tea Party on Thursday 12th June, 3:00-5:00pm in the church with lots of cake! Or come to both! Everybody is welcome.

JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES

Join Bishop Philip on a Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes from 7th to 11th July 2025. 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 available also at the Parish Office.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDESA CALL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Are you about to finish your A-levels? Why not give something back… Our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is taking place from 7th-11th July 2025. If you have a passport valid until at least January 2026, we need you to help us push some wheelchairs. Due to the popularity of our pilgrimage and the increased number of pilgrims that need assistance we have need of people to help us push wheelchairs, provide a supportive arm, and help carry a dinner plate for a pilgrim at mealtimes. Our Youth pilgrims are an essential part of our pilgrimage and they tell us each year of the amazing time they have had, returning many times to serve our pilgrims. If you would like to know more about joining us, contact lourdes@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk without delay.

David Cusack is climbing 15 mountain peaks all over 3000 feet in under 24 hours on the 14th June. He is raising money for Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief and Guernsey Community Nurses.

Donations would be gratefully received for these worthwhile causes.

To donate use the QR Code – Thank you

The exhibition continues this week in St Josephs Church –

Opening Times:

Fri 23rd May – 10:30am – 4:00pm

Sat 24th May – 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Sun 25th May – 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Mon 26th May – 10:30am – 4:00pm

Tue 27th May – 10:30am – 7:00pm

Wed 28th May – 10:30am – 4:00pm

Admission Free

Ascension of the Lord – Holy Day of Obligation

Wednesday 28th May

St Josephs – Vigil Mass – 6:00pm

Thursday 29th May

St Josephs – 9.30am

Blanchelande College – 10:00am (Outdoor Mass)

OLSS – 6:00pm

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary the Laudato Si Group will join the Catenians this Saturday 24th May for the outdoor Stations at The Little Chapel.

The Guernsey Catenians will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross on Saturday 24th May at Les Vauxbelets. 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.

Rosary for the beatification of Edel Quinn (Legion of Mary) will take place this Sunday 25th May at 2:00pm at St Joseph’s Church.

The Life in the Spirit seminars continue on Monday 26th May with week 3 – ‘New life’.

This will be in St Joseph’s Parish Room starting at 7:30pm with a light supper available at 7:00pm.

Following the seminar there will be ‘Adoration’ in the church from 8:45pm – 9:15pm.

Everyone is welcome to come to ‘Adoration’ whether or not you are attending the seminars.

The next coffee morning will be on Wednesday 28th May and on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

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

Everyone is welcome!

Bishop Philip has asked that we have a proper confessional that fulfils Safeguarding requirements and is a permanent and place for the Sacrament. It is difficult to know where to place this, but one idea is to use the room opposite the Sacristy. This would involve putting an extra door for access for the penitent. I hope to have a plan of this soon so you can air your views. If you have any other ideas about where a permanent confessional could be placed please let me know.

Thank you – Canon Chris

Thank you to everyone who came to the Parish Befrienders Spring Tea Party last Sunday and contributed to a very happy afternoon enabling old friends, many of whom are housebound, to meet up and enjoy each others company as well as a delicious tea. As always this tea party was made possible through the support of volunteers. There were close to 20 this time, so too many to name but special thanks must go to one, Audrey, who had responsibility to organise the venue, gather refreshments and lead the team of servers which she did with her usual skill and charm. We would also like to thank the members of the choir of St Mary and St Michael school who came in to sing for us so delightfully.

Le Platon Lottery results for the April draw –

1st – 46 – £100

2nd – 25 – £5

3rd – 5 – £25

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

“Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close, help us with her intercession and love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.” (Pope Leo XIV)

The Life in the Spirit Seminars continue with week 2 on Monday 19th May.

A light supper is available at 7:00pm and the seminar starts at 7:30pm in Joseph’s Parish Room.

The theme this week is ‘Salvation’ and what Jesus has done for us.

It’s not too late to join in so if you missed last week – don’t worry you can still come along. Everyone is welcome!

Laudato Si Meeting

The Laudato Si meeting will be on Monday 19th May at 7:00pm in St. Yves Room

Laudato Si 10th Anniversary

Laudato Si will be joining the Catenians on the 24th May for their Stations of the Cross at the Little Chapel, with a Laudato si theme, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis Encyclical Laudato Si.

Join Bishop Philip on a Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes from 7th to 11th July 2025.

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

Application forms are available also at the Parish Office.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.