UNIVERSITY

The University of Portsmouth Catholic Chaplaincy is open to everyone – inclusivity and hospitality are our priorities.

Come to us for:

• Friendship and support
• Confidential help and guidance
• Bereavement support
• Exploration of faith
• Spiritual direction
• Christian worship

Information about:

• Muslim prayer rooms
• Local churches, mosques and temples

Contact: 
Angela O’Donoghue
tel. 023 9284 3030
e. Angela.ODonoghue@port.ac.uk
website. http://www.port.ac.uk/chaplaincy

HOSPITAL

The Hospital Chaplaincy is an ecumenical team working at Queen Alexandra and St Mary's Hospitals, with pastoral responsibilities for all patients, their relatives and members of staff.

Queen Alexandra: Fr. Joe McNerney - Tel: 023 9228 6408
St. Mary’s: Fr. Steven Restori - Tel: 023 9266 0927
St. James’s: Fr. Simon Thomson - Tel: 023 9282 8305

NAVAL

Forces Bishopric Website: http://www.rcbishopricforces.org.uk/

The Naval Chaplaincy Service (NCS) provides for the men and women of the Naval Service - the Royal Navy and Royal Marines - who are often separated from family and friends and all the usual support people can get ashore. Catholic Chaplains form part of the NCS, and with their Anglican and Church of Scotland & Free Church colleagues, minister at sea, ashore and among the Royal Marines wherever they are deployed. About half of the Chaplaincy billets are in deployable Units and the other half in Training Establishments, Air Stations and Naval Bases.

The ministry has a strong ecumenical dimension and has had so since the management of the NCS was amalgamated in 1992. Each denominational branch has a Principal Chaplain and the three Principal Chaplains make up the Board of Management. The professional Head of the NCS, The Chaplain of the Fleet, can be of any denomination, and is currently Church of England. The other Principal Chaplains assume portfolios across the NCS. The Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain is the Principal Chaplain of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport, Hampshire, and the Principal Church of Scotland & Free Church Chaplain is the Royal Marines Brigade and Corps Chaplain and is based in Plymouth.

In ships, there will only be one Chaplain, who is to be "the friend and adviser of all onboard". A Sunday Service is always held in ships, whether there is a Chaplain or not. If there is a Chaplain, the Sunday Service is a Liturgy of the Word. If it is that Chaplain's denominational practice to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday, this is done at a different time. A Catholic Chaplain in an aircraft carrier, for example, might celebrate a Vigil Mass on Saturday, and the Liturgy of the Word for all-comers on Sunday.

Catholic Chaplains make up part of the Bishopric of the Forces, and the Principal Chaplain is a Vicar General. The Bishopric is a diocese without geographical boundaries: its remit is wherever there are British Armed Forces personnel. Only 7 of the 15 Catholic Chaplain billets in the Royal Navy are presently filled. To be a Chaplain, a priest needs to be fit for task:

• he will have served 3 years in a parish or pastoral role since ordination;
• can complete an Initial Commission of 6 years;
• has the permission of his Bishop or Religious Superior;
• has appropriate fitness required for the role and the training;
• and will be considered suitable by the Board of Management and the Admiralty Interview Board.

Upon applying, the potential Chaplain will spend a couple of days among Naval Chaplains and personnel seeing the scope of the work to appreciate at first hand what a privilege it is to be a Chaplain among these men and women in uniform. An interview with the Board of Management will allow the potential Chaplain to talk about the gifts and skills they bring to the work, and to discover what is expected of them. Finally, the potential Chaplain sits the Admiralty Interview Board, who will make the recommendation about his suitability.

Local to Portsmouth diocese:

HM NAVAL BASE PORTSMOUTH

Cdr Ian Crabtree

Pastoral Assistant to the Royal Navy Catholic Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy, Rodney Block, HMS NELSON, HM Naval Base Portsmouth, PO1 3HH
Tel: 023 9272 3000 Email. NAVYNBCP-Chaplaincy@mod.uk

Father David Conroy QCVS MA MMS IMS(Dip) Royal Navy

Father Conroy is a priest of Galloway Diocese in Scotland.

Father Charles Bruzon, Royal Navy

Father Bruzon is a priest of Gibraltar Diocese.