Church of the Catholic Parish of Jersey

Catholic Community of Jersey

How do we collaborate as one island parish?

In keeping with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, "Go Out and Bear Fruit" the structure of the Catholic community in Jersey has evolved  from having  seven individual Parishes in 1999 to One Island Parish today  This evolution is still in formation and at its heart remains the principal of subsidiarity, that is,  respect for  the uniqueness of individual communities; as an example, awareness of the difference between what might be described as urban and rural communities.

Monsignor Nicholas France is our Dean and Parish Priest, mandated by the Bishop to pastor and implement Diocesan policies in our Island Parish. He is joined in this ministry by Fr Kevin Hoiles, as Associate Parish Priest, Fr. James McAuley, as Assistant Priest, and two Deacons, Iain MacFirbhisigh and Tony Ward together with members of the Team at Catholic Pastoral Services.  In this way we seek to deliver the Bishop’s vision of collaborative ministry for the Island Parish. Fr Brian Sandeman is Hospital Chaplain and Fr Don Clements, Chaplain to the Little Sisters of the Poor. There is also a Priest for the Polish community, Fr Jan Swiatek.

Monsignor France is assisted in determining the pastoral mission of the Parish by a Steering Group, facilitated by Maureen Corrigan, Co-ordinator of Catholic Pastoral Services, members of the Clergy and Pastoral Assistants including the Stewardship Co-ordinator, Delia Hardiman. The Steering Group generally meets once a fortnight.

The Island Pastoral Council is made up of The Steering Group, the Island Clergy, the Pastoral Assistants, representatives of the area Pastoral Stewardship Groups and the Catholic School Chaplains.  Two members of this team are also delegated to represent the Island Catholic Parish on the Portsmouth Diocesan Pastoral Council. The Island Pastoral Council meets in plenary session three times a year. These meetings are open to any member of our Island Catholic Parish and are reported in the Island Newsletter. The area Pastoral Stewardship groups, successors of the previous local pastoral councils, meet together when necessary and after each termly meeting of the Island Pastoral Council, on the same night,  following Mass and a shared supper.

At the heart of "Go Out and Bear Fruit" is the priority of  the Sunday Mass in the  churches of the Island. The basic make-up of our community is these Mass-going communities.  There are eight churches in three areas, East, West and Centre. For each of these Churches, or at least areas, we are forming individual Pastoral Stewardship Groups consisting of a priest and/or deacon together with members representing the various ministries of the local community, whose principle function is to serve the needs and aspirations of these communities and relate to the whole.

 In each area there a Finance and Property Sub-Committee which relates to the Island Finance and Property Committee,  and this in turn reports to the Diocesan Department for Finance and Property.