Would you like to find out about becoming a Catholic? Have you been baptised in another faith and wish to be received into the Catholic Church? Have you been baptised a Catholic but have never received the Sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation?

The RCIA programme will be starting in our Parish each Thursday commencing 6th October 2022 from 7:00pm-8:30pm in St Magloire room and takes place over the equivalent of two academic terms (October through to April) with the aim of receiving the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass. Anyone interested in following the RCIA process is invited to make contact with the Parish Office. More information is on this website under Parish Groups & Ministries.

The first session will be a general introduction and getting to know each other.

The draft of this very important document for the diocese has now been published. Bishop Philip asks that we all read it, reflect and discuss it.

For more details and to download copies of the document please see the website or e-News –

Home

e-News

Hard copies will be made available in the coming weeks

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group meet on Monday 3rd October in St Joseph’s Parish Room.

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

“Christ & Scrooge” a UCM Day of Reflection with Deacon Mark on Saturday 8th October commencing with Mass at 9:30am – 3:00pm in the Parish Room.

Please bring a packed lunch. Teas and Coffees will be available.

The twice postponed Service of Healing and Blessing is now planned to take place on Saturday 15th October at 2:30pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea. During this Service the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be offered to anyone suffering from illness, physical or mental or the frailties of old age. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes this sacrament as ‘a particular gift of the Holy Spirit bringing the grace of strengthening, peace and courage so renewing our faith and trust in God.’

Any relatives or friends who are not Catholics will be welcome to receive a blessing. The service will be followed by refreshments in the adjoining Guernsey Alzheimer’s Centre.

If you would like to come please phone Angela 07781 112 221 or Meg 252401 by 10th October.

Please let us know should you require a lift and if you use a wheelchair we have special funds to cover the expense.

Prayer for all peoples of the Holy Land and the Peace of Jerusalem on Sunday 2nd October.

Contact Maud for time & venue Tel. 729445

Divine Will Prayer Group meet on Tuesday 18th October at 7:00pm at the Centre For Peace and Wednesday 19th October at 12 noon at Notre Dame du Rosaire Church.

All welcome – just turn up.

Singalong Hymns Delancey Music Group would like to thank those who a ended the singalong/tea and cake afternoon last Sunday.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and we raised over £200 in sponsorship for Liz Mills who is running the London marathon in aid of the local MS society.

Blanchelande College invites Year 6 pupils to our Assessment for Year 7 entry in September 2023 on Saturday 8th October, 9:30 am – 12:30pm. Come and show us what you’ve learned so far in Maths and English And enjoy a morning exploring the school, including breakfast, games, explosive Science experiments!

All current Year 6 pupils wishing to a end who have not yet registered, please contact Mrs Sonia Hollowell for details hollowells@blanchelande.sch.gg

The course for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion begins on Sunday 6th November for children in Year 3 and above. Children at the Catholic schools will get the Enrolment forms and information from their own school.

Parents with children at non Catholic schools can find the Enrolment forms and information in the churches this weekend or can contact the Parish Office. There is a parents information evening on Wednesday 12th October at 6:00pm in Notre Dame School Infant Hall, La Couperderie.

General helpers required particularly at Our Lady Star of the Sea; not just to explain the Gospel message but also to help the Liturgy leader. There are many ways you can support our young people please give us a call and we can explain the role, it is not onerous and very rewarding.

The children are the future of the church please help us make these sessions a safe environment for them to explore the gospel readings in a child friendly way. If we have enough volunteers we can have a rota so that you will not be required every week. Any support you can give the teams would be much appreciated.

Please contact Di Mathews for Our Lady Star of the Sea – E-mail: dianeelisemathews@gmail.com (or via parish office) or Marie Banton for St Joseph’s – Tel: 07781422558 / E-mail: mariebanton22@gmail.com

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be having an evening of Praise & Adoration in St Joseph’s Church on Monday 26th September from 7:30pm-8.30pm and also on the last Monday of every following month after that. This will include some hymns followed by silent ‘Adoration’. Prayer ministry will be available for anyone who would like individual prayer. There will be tea and coffee in the parish room from 7:00pm before we go into the church. Anyone is invited to join us for these ‘Adoration’ evenings, even if you do not normally come to the prayer group.

Sts Padre Pio & Philomena Prayer Group meet on Thursday 29th September at 7:30pm at Jenny & Bill Trubuil’s home.

Please call 255163/07781 425779

Prayer brings change. Sharing the faith with others and encouraging each other in our stewardship of the earth brings change.

The little things we do for the planet’s healing and revival bring change.

“What we Believe – The beauty of the Catholic Faith”

• What is the Catholic Church all about?
• What does it mean to be Catholic?
• What do Catholics actually believe?

These are some of the questions that will be explored on the course. Maybe you’ve been Catholic your entire life. Maybe you’re just beginning to explore the Catholic Faith.

This 10 week course will start on Monday 26th September and end on 28th November 7:30pm-9:00pm.

You can register by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/453shfdXXmg7kVrc6

The Little Chapel Foundation is keen for there to be greater Catholic involvement in the day to day running of the Chapel. If anyone feels that they are able to spare some time or expertise they are asked to hand their name and contact details in to the Parish Office and they will be forwarded on.

We would urge you to please seriously consider this and to find out more about what is involved.

Congratulations

To King Charles III on his accession to the Throne.

A Prayer For The New King

Everlasting God, we pray for our new King, Bless his reign and the life of our nation. Help us to work together so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness flourish among us; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Would you like to find out about becoming a Catholic? Have you been baptised in another faith and wish to be received into the Catholic Church? Have you been baptised a Catholic but have never received the Sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation? The RCIA programme will be starting in our Parish at the end of September 2022 and takes place over the equivalent of two academic terms (September through to April) with the aim of receiving the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass. Anyone interested in following the RCIA process is invited to make contact with the Parish Office. More information is on this website under Parish Groups & Ministries.

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group meet on Monday 19th September in St. Joseph’s Parish Room. Tea/coffee from 7:00pm and the prayer group starts at 7:30pm.

~oOo~

The Holy Spirit Prayer Group will be having an evening of Praise & Adoration in the church at St Joseph’s on Monday September 26th from 7:30-8:30pm and also on the last Monday of every following month after that. This will include some hymns followed by silent ‘Adoration’. Prayer ministry will be available for anyone who would like individual prayer. There will be tea and coffee in the parish room from 7:00pm before we go into the church. Anyone is invited to join us for these ‘Adoration’ evenings, even if you do not normally come to the prayer group.

International Day of Peace Concert on Wednesday 21st September at 7:00pm in St Joseph’s Church.

Featuring the Festiva Choir and Les Encores Children.

Director: José Paine / Accompanist: Luke O’Donnell.

Followed by refreshments and Guernsey Gache! Join us for this truly ecumenical evening of song, scripture, and worship.

Singalong Hymns on Sunday 25th September at 2:30pm-4:00pm in Delancey Parish Centre. Come and join the Delancey Music group for a social afternoon of enjoying hymns. You can sing with friends or bring an instrument and play along to your favourite hymns. Any requests can be given to the music group or put in the suggestions box in the porch at OLSS. Teas, coffee and cake will also be served with donations going to Liz Mills to run the London marathon to raise money for the MS society.

There will be a Mass of celebration giving thanks to God for the 10th Anniversary of our Bishop on the 29th September at 11:00am in St John’s Cathedral Portsmouth followed by a Reception in the Cathedral Centre. All are welcome to attend.

Blanchelande College Opening Morning on Saturday 24th September at 10:00am – 12:30pm.

Come and visit Guernsey’s Catholic independent school for boys and girls from age 2 ½ to 18.

The Principal, Robert O’Brien, will give a brief presentation at 10:00am, followed by guided tours.

For enquiries contact Sonia Hollowell (Registrar) on 232744 or hollowells@blanchelande.sch.gg.

Mothers Prayer Group meet on Friday 23rd September with tea/coffee at 10:30am (prayers start at 11:00am).

Venue Christine’s house. Tel: 259995

To avoid being part of a consumer driven society we might think of our grandmothers who lived more simply and sustainably. Instead of “Throwing Out” which we do at a tremendous rate. Let “CARE and REPAIR ” be our motto. An encouraging note is that at last many electric goods firms are being obliged by law to produce replacement parts for their goods; that should cut down on much throwing away.

We would like to thank the parish for your donations and prayers to our DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal. Our partners have been able to deliver immediate food and medical relief to flood affected communities in Sindh Province in Pakistan and will continue to do so. Our current focus on emergencies in the Commonwealth countries of Pakistan and Kenya feels apt as we join with the rest of the UK in mourning the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. She was a good and faithful servant of God and the country and we pray for her. CAFOD has shared prayer intentions for the Queen and her family on our website and social media pages at cafod.org.uk/ News/UK-news/Prayers-for-HM-The-Queen.

Thank you, as ever, for your support and prayers.

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Queen Elizabeth 11 . She was a woman of deep faith, service and duty. We give thanks to God for her life and the way in which she served her people tirelessly for over seventy years.

Canon Chris joins his prayers to ours for the Repose of her Soul together with our thoughts and prayers for the Royal Family at this sad time.

The Divine Will Prayer Group meet on Tuesday 13th September at 7:00pm at the Centre For Peace and Wednesday 14th September at 12 noon at Notre Dame du Rosaire Church.

All welcome – just turn up.

We are keen to recruit musicians to our Allegro choir especially pianist, violinist or any budding musician or vocalist to share their talents with the congregation.

Please contact if you can help at Mariebanton22@gmail.com.

The Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe has proposed a day of prayer to be held across Europe on Wednesday 14th September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, for Ukraine.

Win one week’s all included package trip to Medjugorje for one person. This includes 7 nights B&B, return airport transfer and flight (up to €300 flight & luggage value). To be in with a chance to win go to our website www.med-irishcentre.com. For more details tel. 00353 1443 4510 or email reservations@med-irishcentre.com.

Join us to find out more about CAFOD’s World Food Crisis Appeal On Saturday 10th September there is an online meeting from 10:30 am to 12:30pm at which Catherine Ogolla CAFOD’s Country Representative for Kenya and Uganda will give an update on the desperate situation in East Africa which is the focus of our Harvest Fast Day on Friday 7th October. To book your place please contact Jo Lewry on portsmouth@cafod.org.uk or call 07710 094447.

~oOo~

Many, many thanks for your generous response. £989 was collected. This money will go along way to support families affected by climate change to buy drought resistant seeds, sturdy goats and much more. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Would you like to find out about becoming a Catholic? Have you been baptised in another faith and wish to be received into the Catholic Church? Have you been baptised a Catholic but have never received the Sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation? The RCIA programme will be starting in our Parish at the end of September 2022 and takes place over the equivalent of two academic terms (September through to April) with the aim of receiving the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass. Anyone interested in following the RCIA process is invited to make contact, in the first instance with Canon Chris. More information is on this website under Parish Groups & Ministries.

In September and October this year, the relics of St Bernadette will journey on pilgrimage to England, Scotland and Wales for the very first time. This very special once in a lifetime event will provide an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes, in a church or cathedral near them. Visit the St Bernadette Relic Tour website for more information: stbernadette.org.uk or see the posters at back of Church.

“I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendour of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus Himself”

St Bernadette

New Appointments from 8th September Bishop Philip writes…

This is the time of the year when we have been planning the deployment of clergy from the autumn. Today in e-News, we announce the new clergy appointments effective from 8th September 2022, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I would like to express immense gratitude to the priests who are moving for all their hard work for the Lord in their current appointments and to thank them for agreeing to take on these new assignments. It is deeply moving to receive the humble obedience and joyful willingness of these priests. Moving from one appointment and then settling into another is about the hardest thing we do as diocesan priests. It is also a great challenge for our deacons and for all our parishioners. I pray earnestly that the Lord, Who I am convinced has been guiding this whole process, will grant us all the strengthening and refreshing grace we need. There are a few more announcements to come over the next weeks but below you can read the main list. Whilst the appointments become effective on 8th September, the exact changeover dates will vary depending on the schedules of both incoming and outgoing priests.

HERE IS THE LIST SO FAR:

Canon Michael Dennehy is on sabbatical leave this coming year;

Fr. James McAuley moves to Portsmouth to become Dean of St. John’s Cathedral

Fr. Pat Madden is on sabbatical leave this coming year in the Diocese of Galway

Fr. Ansel D’Mello moves to Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph’s Christchurch with Holy Redeemer, Highcliffe as parish priest, assisted pro tem by Fr. John Chadwick

Fr. Leo Odomeja moves to St. John Bosco, Woodley

Fr. Joseph Tangka (Bamenda) goes as assistant to Guernsey

Fr. Anthony Ikhenoba moves to Annunciation and St. Edmund Campion, Bournemouth

Fr. Bill Wilson moves to Our Lady of Lourdes, New Milton

Fr. Anthony Chiatu moves to Immaculate Conception, Portswood

Fr. Gaston Forbah moves to English Martyrs, Reading

Fr. Daniel Agber moves to Christ the King, Reading and becomes Coordinator of the Catholic Chaplaincy to Reading Hospital

Fr. Paul Leonard moves to St. Joseph’s Basingstoke

Fr. Benedict Ndikum (Bamenda) goes as assistant to Winchester

Fr. James Lewis goes as assistant to Waterlooville and Horndean and becomes Coordinator of the QA Hospital Chaplaincy

Rev. Edward Hauschild goes as assistant to Jersey parish.

Fr. Dominic Adeiza moves to English Martyrs’ Didcot with St. John’s Wallingford

Fr. Anthony Fyk to St. John’s Cathedral as Bishop’s Secretary

Fr. John Lee moves to Basingstoke Holy Ghost and St. Bede’s as parish priest and coordinating pastor

Fr. Phillip Harris moves to Sacred Heart, Hook

Deacon Andrew Collins to assist in Stubbington and Lee-on-the-Solent

Deacon Timothy Graham (Ordinariate) to assist in Grayshore and Liphook

WELCOME

We welcome to the Diocese, Fr. Jean-Patrice Coulon, a Franzalian priest, currently the parish priest of Yeovil (Diocese of Clifton) and chaplain to the prison HMP Erlstoke. From 1st August, Fr. Jean-Patrice will be the part-time Catholic chaplain to HMP Winchester. He will also be part-time assistant at Basingstoke Holy Ghost and St. Bede’s.

NEW SALESIAN PARISH PRIEST

The Salesian Provincial has appointed Fr. Michael Hynes SDB as the new parish priest of Our Lady Help of Christians, Farnborough. He will begin his ministry on the weekend of 23rd and 24th July.

CHANGES IN THE DOUAI PARISH

Abbot Paul Gunter OSB has appointed Fr. Alban Hood OSB as the new parish priest of the Douai parish from 1st September, in succession to Fr. Gabriel Wilson.

NEW DEAN AND VICAR GENERAL

Fr. James McAuley becomes a Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia (in succession to Canon Michael Dennehy).

EPISCOPAL VICAR FOR EDUCATION

Canon PJ Smith has kindly agreed to work full-time from September as the Episcopal Vicar for Education. He will be priest in residence St. Edmund’s Horndean.

FAREWELL

This September we will say good-bye to Fr. Bernadine Nsom who returns to the Archdiocese of Bamenda and Fr. George Ngwa who returns to the Archdiocese of Bamenda.

RETIREMENT

Fr. Anthony Gatt, parish priest of Immaculate Conception, Portswood is retiring this autumn, having reached the canonical age. We give many thanks to God for his dedicated ministry.

FLAME

The largest Catholic youth event in England and Wales where 10,000 young people will fill OVO Arena Wembley for an inspiring day of prayer, adoration, catechesis, reflection, celebration and praise. Saturday 4th March 2023 for young people from school Year 9 to university-age. The Guernsey group will travel across on the Friday evening and return to the island on Sunday afternoon. To book or find out more contact Tom 07781 129310 / youth@catholic.org.gg

~oOo~

World Youth Day – Lisbon 2023

Pope Francis invites the young people of the world to meet with him in Lisbon, 1st-6th August 2023. If you’ll be aged 16 by July 2023 then come and join the diocesan pilgrimage led by Bishop Philip. Price tbc, but to be approximately £1,200 (which we’ll subsidise with fundraising). Hurry! Spaces are limited! Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/wyd23 AND tell Tom 07781 129310 youth@catholic.org.gg so that we can prepare and fundraise together as a Guernsey group. To find out more about what happens at WYD (and sample some Portuguese food) come to St Joseph’s Parish Room on Thursday 14th July from 7:30pm-8:30pm.

I am organising a parish pilgrimage to Lourdes 13th-19th May 2023. Please put the date in your diary. More details to follow. Canon Chris

PACE – Practical Assistance In Christian Education Schools’ Work Vacancy

If you have experience working with children or youth, are creative and confident, and passionate about the Bible and its relevance to young people, you could become an important part of our schools’ work team. For further details, please contact hellopace@paceguernsey.com