Monday 19th December – PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE

St Joseph – 7:00pm

Saturday 24th December – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

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

Delancey – 6:00pm (Christmas Vigil Mass)

St Joseph – 10:00pm (Mass during the Night)

Sunday 25th December – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Notre Dame – 8:00am – (Mass at Dawn – Quiet Mass)

Delancey – 9:15am – (Mass during the Day)

St Joseph – 10:30am – (Mass during the Day – No Evening Mass)

Monday 26th December – ST STEPHEN

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

Tuesday 27th December – ST JOHN

St Joseph – 10:00am

Wednesday 28th December – THE HOLY INNOCENTS

St Joseph – 9:30am

St Joseph – 6:00pm

Blanchelande College has acquired the Vauxbelets site, home of the College since 1999, for a purchase price of £1.4m.

The Vauxbelets estate is estimated to cover 40 acres and includes the original 18th century house Vauxbelets de Haut, Vauxbelets de Bas farm buildings, large early 20th century school buildings, extensive playing fields, additional outbuildings and agricultural land. The estate was formerly owned by the French province of the De La Salle Brothers, with whom the Trustees of Blanchelande College have been in negotiations to acquire ownership.

Since the College moved to Les Vauxbelets in 1999, the De La Salle Brothers have rented the property to Blanchelande on condition of it being run as a Catholic school, and the Trustees have confirmed that this understanding applies to the running of the College in the future.

In a letter to parents the Trustees state that the purchase of the Vauxbelets means that the development of the College can continue on the most sure footing possible. ‘Outwardly, for parents and students, the position remains as before with the site continuing to be used for the provision of education with a Catholic ethos by the College, except for those parts of the site used by commercial businesses. The provision of Catholic education, which plays so positive a part in the diversity of choice within Guernsey’s educational system, is at the very heart of the vision of both the Brothers and of The Blanchelande College Trust.’

In their letter, the Trustees reassure parents that the purchase is intended to facilitate future fundraising for investment. ‘The purchase brings the strong benefits of permanence and of course will be a more sound basis for effective fundraising for the further improvement of our educational facilities. Parents, former students and other supporters of Blanchelande regularly make generous donations to enable improvements to the physical development of the estate, and they will now do so knowing that the College has the security of ownership.

The Trustees have also emphasized the affordability of the repayment schedule. ‘Financially, the agreement has been carefully considered on both sides. The Brothers have agreed to receive payment over a ten-year period. We would like to acknowledge the commitment of the Brothers to securing the future of Blanchelande and to Catholic education on Guernsey.’

A massive thank you to everyone who donated so generously at this year’s Harvest Mass. Your donations have really made a difference and the charities were very grateful.

Thank you from The Children’s Liturgy Group.

Donations of raffle prizes for the Parish Lunch are gratefully needed and can be left at the Parish office.

Rotas for the period 4th December – 22nd December are now available for collection just inside the Sacristy.

Please wait until the end of Mass before collecting the rota.

On the 8th December the first World Women’s Rosary will take place with the purpose of honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

We would like to invite all women and parishioners to this wonderful celebration. More details to follow.

Charity Jam, Jelly and Chutney sale for Wayaya House on Sunday 11th December after the 9:15am Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea.

All produce homemade with most varieties not available in the shops.

Give a gift of hope this Christmas In Advent, let’s share the promise of hope that has been made to us with our sisters and brothers around the world. You can buy CAFOD’s World Gifts for family and friends this Christmas online at https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/ World Gifts such as “super soup kitchens”, “trees for life”, or “water for a family” will help transform lives in a world filled with challenges.

‘Life Changing Ministry’ Christmas Carols and Lunch at Les Cotils on 17th December, costing £17.00.

Names should be submitted to Jan – E-mail: revjanleb@gmail.com by Saturday 10th December.

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be having an evening of Praise & Adoration on Monday 28th November from 7:30pm-8:45pm 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. This month it will take place in the Parish Room at St Joseph’s. Tea and coffee will be available from 7:00pm. Anyone is invited to join us for these ‘Adoration’ evenings, even if you do not normally come to the prayer group.

You will notice how the Church is enhanced every week with vases and displays of flowers. We are extremely grateful and thankful to the wonderful team who have been on the rota for many years. Sadly, a few of them are now retiring so we ask please if you can offer your help and be part of the team? Please email or call the Parish Office.

Rosary for the beatification of Edel Quinn (Legion of Mary) will be on Sunday 27th November at 2:00pm in St Joseph’s Church.

The Hour of Grace on Thursday 8th December 12 noon at Notre Dame Church.

All welcome. Just Turn up.

“The crisis we face is a summons to profound interior conversion whereby the fruits of our relationship with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us.”

A thought provoking quotation from an article by John Arnold, Bishop of Salford and long time environmental activist.

PARISH CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Sunday 4th December at Les Roquettes Hotel. Three course lunch £27.95; Children 12yrs and under £15. Forms are available at back of the Church. Please return the forms by 25th November at the latest. Donations of raffle prizes gratefully accepted and can be left at the Parish office.

~oOo~

THE WAY OF THE NATIVITY BY CANDLELIGHT

An Advent service of prayer, readings and reflection on Tuesday 6th December at 7:00pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea.

As the world rushes frantically towards Christmas, Christians are called to walk. Our annual service will help us to slow down, reflect the meaning of the Nativity and accompany Christ to the crib. Do try and make time to come along.

~oOo~

MINCE PIES

Would you be willing to bake a few mince pies for the Parish Advent service on Tuesday 6th December? If so please contact the Parish Office or Sandy Leightley on 07781 193673 to arrange drop off date.

~oOo~

WORLD WOMAN’S ROSARY

On the 8th December the first World Women’s Rosary will take place with the purpose of honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We would like to invite all women and parishioners to this wonderful celebration. More details to follow.

~oOo~

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CHARITY ‘JAM’ SALE

Charity Jam, Jelly and Chutney sale for Wayaya House on Sunday 11th December after the 9:15am Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea.

All produce homemade with most varieties not available in the shops.

The Bishops Conference restored the Sunday Obligation on Pentecost 2022 for all Catholics to attend Mass in person each week. Watching Mass on line does not fulfil our obligation. Why would you want to miss out on the Community aspect of our Church? More importantly you are deigning yourselves Holy Communion. Different rules obviously apply to the Sick and Housebound, as we as a community hold them very close in our prayers. They receive Holy Communion from our ministers who visit them in their homes.

Notre Dame du Rosaire is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic member of staff who enjoys working with young people of primary age to supervise and assist during the lunchtime break both inside the school and in the outside area of the school premises. The lunchtime supervisor will ensure the security and safety of pupils, and work cooperatively to ensure that they behave in an appropriate manner.

Please contact the Headteacher if you are interested in applying for the position. £15.24 per hour.

Contact: Mary Robertshaw, Headteacher on E-mail: headteacher@notredame.sch.gg

St Mary & St Michael School PTFA Advent Bazaar on Sunday 27th November at 2:00pm-4:00pm.

Hamper raffle, Santa’s grotto, face painter, bottle stall, cake stall, games and more.

PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE BISHOP
appointed to be read in all churches and chapels of the Diocese of Portsmouth on 16th October 2022, the Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Year.

Download printable PDF

Dear All,

I am writing to you about the future of the Catholic Church.

The Church is a Divine Mystery. As we affirm in the Creed: “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”¹ The Church is founded on Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit.² She is the Bride of Christ, and Jesus promised He would be with Her until the end of time.³ But the Church is human as well as Divine. Christ is the Head but the Body is formed of people like you and me, human beings capable of greatness but also fallible, prone to error and sin. Whilst Jesus gave the gift of infallibility to His Church, that she would never err in her teachings on faith and morals,⁴ He never promised the Church would always last in any particular place. Look at North Africa. Once, this was the land of St. Cyprian, St. Augustine and many of the great Fathers of the Church, a land where important synods and councils assembled to defend the true faith. Today, there is nothing left. This is why I am writing to you about the future of the Catholic Church, at least the future of this Church in this place, the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Two weeks ago, I celebrated the tenth anniversary of my ordination as Bishop. I must thank you for the great number of prayers and cards you kindly sent. Over the last decade, despite the challenge of the pandemic and, more, the toxic effects of an affluent, secular culture, I have sought as the Shepherd of the flock to inspire everyone to look outwards to mission and service. The Church exists to evangelise.⁵ It does not have a mission: it is mission. Bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church is our purpose. Like breathing-in and breathing-out, evangelisation is about ourselves growing in faith, as much as about reaching out to others to propose faith.⁶ While the immediate goal of evangelisation is the conversion of individuals, the ultimate goal is the baptism of culture.⁷ So this is about digging deeper in order to go out into the deep. It is about renewal for the sake of outreach. It’s about growing in love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist in order to go out to serve Him in the poor.⁸ In this, progress cannot be measured simply by numbers. But the numbers have now become so challenging that we have to act more radically. Doing nothing or ‘business as usual,’⁹ is not an option, otherwise many, many churches across our Diocese will close down. This is why we now find ourselves, helped by your suggestions, with a much more comprehensive plan. Called You Will be My Witnesses, it is an exciting vision, a mission strategy for the next ten years.¹⁰ If the Lord spares me, that is where I believe He wants me to lead our Diocese in the decade ahead.

I want to ask you something. I would like you to download a copy of You will be My Witnesses or to take away a leaflet as you leave church, to read it and to reflect on its hope-filled contents. Please then discuss it with your friends and with others in your parish and school communities. Over these next weeks, I’ve asked all our clergy to lead a consultation, so that we can finalise the plan.¹¹

I am sorry: the plan is about change. Indeed, it’s about the hardest change of all: changing ourselves. How can I become more holy, closer to Christ? How can I become better formed in my faith? How can our parish put Christ more at the centre? How can we pass on the Faith to the young? What works of charity, justice and ecology might we undertake? Given that across the Diocese the average donation is £2.35 a week – less than a cappuccino – how can we encourage real stewardship, responsibility and tithing? And how can our parish witness to the Gospel in our area? I always remember the challenging question: “If your parish closed tomorrow, would anyone who is not a member care?”¹²

When you read You will be My Witnesses, many will focus on the proposed changes to parish structures. Those four pages at the end are about pruning, to release resources for mission. But don’t be fooled! Structural change will fail without a deep spiritual change in ourselves and in our communities. We will not be saved by structures: change the structures and all will be well. Sadly, it won’t. What we all need now is to draw closer to the Sacred Heart of Christ.

This Christmas, I am going to send you a prayer book. I will also write again, because I want us all to engage in a diocesan Year of Prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking God the Holy Spirit to energise us and to lead us. Indeed, I am going to ask you to establish or pledge to develop six holy habits:

• to keep Sunday special, a family day, by attending Mass;
• to spend 5 minutes a day in prayer using the Scriptures;
• to do penance on Fridays, and to serve the poor and needy;
• every fortnight to make a Holy Half Hour before the Blessed Sacrament;
• to go to Confession once a month; and
• to join a small group for formation, prayer and fellowship.

For every one person who becomes a Catholic, six leave.¹³ A key reason why they leave is because, they say, their spiritual needs are not being met.¹⁴ This is deplorable, given that the Church has two thousand years of expertise in prayer, spirituality and sanctity. Yet without beauty and solemnity in our parish Liturgy, without personal help to prayer and meditation, without meeting faith-filled people and families whose hearts and imaginations are on fire with love for the Lord, many will fail to develop a personal friendship with God. No amount of programmes, plans or structural changes can enable this, only an encounter with the Person of Jesus Himself – He Who lays down His life for us. For this to happen, we need authentically converted disciples; we need warm, welcoming and inclusive parish communities, so that through us they can meet Him.¹⁵

In today’s Gospel, about the “need to pray continually and never lose heart,” Jesus seems to end on a note of exasperation: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on earth?”¹⁶ Like the widow relentlessly petitioning the judge until he gave in, so we too need to be people of prayer. Think of Moses in the First Reading: “As long as he kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage; but when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek.”¹⁷ True, today many exclude God from their lives or feel they have no need of Him; they live as if there is no God.¹⁸ Yet many others are seeking Him, and Jesus told us: “you will be my witnesses.”¹⁹ So we need to be holy. We need to be women and men of prayer. We need to pray continually so that others can find the Way. We need to support and keep close to our parish clergy. And we need to change. Just imagine the revolution in our Diocese if everyone committed to the six holy habits! Imagine the amazing difference it would make if everyone lived life relying on the Holy Spirit! So let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide our Diocese, to help us change and through the prayers of Mary Immaculate and St. Edmund our patron, to bring people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church.

In Corde Iesu,
+Philip
Bishop of Portsmouth

_________________
¹ These four attributes or ‘marks’ of the Church are explored in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (London, CTS: 2016) – henceforth CCC – paragraphs 811-870.
² CCC 787-801.
³ Cf. Matthew 28: 20. Cf. CCC 807-808.
⁴ “God, who is absolutely infallible, thus deigned to bestow upon His new people, which is the Church, a certain shared infallibility, which is restricted to matters of faith and morals, which is present when the whole People of God unhesitatingly holds a point of doctrine pertaining to these matters, and finally which always depends upon the wise providence and anointing of the grace of the Holy Spirit, who leads the Church into all truth until the glorious coming of her Lord” SCDF (1973) Mysterium Ecclesiae 2 in H. Denzinger ed. P. Hünermann Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarationem de rebus fidei et morum 43rd Edition (San Francisco, Ignatius: 2012) – henceforth DH – DH 4531.
⁵ See Pope St. Paul VI (1975) Evangelii Nuntiandi 14 in DH 4573.
⁶ As Pope St. Paul VI put it: “The Church is an evangeliser, but she begins by being evangelised herself. She is the community of believers, the community of hope lived and communicated, the community of brotherly love, and she needs to listen unceasingly to what she must believe, to her reasons for hoping, to the new commandment of love” (Evangelii Nuntiandi 15).
⁷ See Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium (London, CTS: 2013) 176-258.
⁸ We see this in the life of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and many of the saints. Thus, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron of our youth, once said: “Jesus pays me a visit in Holy Communion every morning, and I repay him in the miserable way I can by visiting Him in His poor.” See C Siccardi Pier Giorgio Frassati – A Hero for our Times (San Francisco, Ignatius Press: 2016), 153.
⁹ “Until recently, the culture in those places appeared to be soundly Catholic even while the world was embracing a secular orientation. Yet in the space of one generation, the bottom of the Christendom culture fell out”. For a discussion of the outcomes of a ‘business as usual’ type of approach as seen in the ‘evaporation’ of Catholicism in places such as Ireland, Belgium, Quebec, Germany and many parts of Latin America, see J. Shea From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age (Bismarck ND, University of Mary Press: 2020) especially 29-34
¹⁰ Diocese of Portsmouth (2022): You will be My Witnesses. Ten-Year Mission Plan for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth (Draft). This is available for download from www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk (October 2022). Of course, we are not the only Diocese in England and Wales facing challenges. Others too are embarking on similar exercises.
¹¹ A feedback form (available on the diocesan website) will help to structure your reflection.
¹² J. Mallon Divine Renovation Beyond the Parish (Frederick Me, The Word Among Us Press: 2020) 35
¹³ See S. Bullivant Catholic Research Forum Reports 1. Contemporary Catholicism in England and Wales: A statistical report based on recent British Social Attitudes survey data (Twickenham, St. Mary’s University, Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society: 2016) available from https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/research/centres/benedict-xvi/docs/2018-feb-contemporary-catholicism-report- may16.pdf (October 2022).
¹⁴ S. Weddell Forming Intentional Disciples (Huntington, Our Sunday Visitor: 2012) 15-47.
¹⁵ A priest wrote to me recently: “My own response is to combat all of this by a strategic campaign against poverty: spiritual poverty, by elevating the Liturgy, material poverty, by feeding the poor and our provision of food banks, intellectual poverty, by the provision of catechesis and formation, and aesthetic poverty, by the reclaiming of the beauty of our churches … Despite being willing, able, and committed to this task, all of these campaigns are nothing compared to the one thing necessary, the gift of Faith. I see the four aspects of the Grand Campaign as so many opportunities to turn whatever we can into the vehicles, mechanisms, or catalysts that bring, turn, or ignite the spark of Faith within those hearts that have not yet come to God, or where the fire is dormant or wavering.”
¹⁶ Luke 18: 1-8.
¹⁷ Exodus 17: 8-13.
¹⁸ That is, etsi Deus non daretur. This phrase was coined by the Dutch lawyer Hugo Grotius (d. 1645) in his De iure belli ac pacis: cf. Benedict XVI General Audience (14th November 2012) online at www.vatican.va (October 2022).
¹⁹ Acts 1: 8.

Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation starts in January for young people in Year 8 and above who would like to be confirmed, or just want to explore more about their faith.

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