What will Easter bring this year?
Traditionally at Christmas, we pray for peace. But in this time of uncertainty perhaps this Easter we should pray for trust in God. I have never visited the third world but visitors often speak about the people’s faith even in the face of great difficulty. But how to be encouraged and encourage one another when we are living through this age of anxiety?
For me, three things help my faith. Firstly, at this time of year, Spring. Secondly, history; knowing that nothing has stopped the church for two thousand years. And thirdly, the example of people who are coping with all manner of problems, yet still live a life of friendly service to others.
Resurrection can be; the support of a friend: being able to laugh at yourself: seeing my first swallow (7th April), and managing to get a parking place at Southmead Hospital!
Fr Barnabas
Final Synod Document - online book club, Wednesday evenings from 21st May
On 26th October Pope Francis received the recommendations of the Rome Synod Assembly and declared them part of the Magisterium of the Church. The Final Synod Document is a beautiful, if densely written, expression of the three-year global process in becoming a missionary, synodal Church. The School for Synodality is offering a series of webinars to explore the FSD section by section with expert guests from around the world, including Archbishop Jason Gordon, Trinidad and Tobego. Watch live on Wednesday nights 7.30-8.30pm from 21st May - 25th June or at any time afterwards via YouTube. Suitable for small groups or individual reflection. To register follow this link here: https://www.schoolforsynodality.org.uk/our-resources/final-document-book-club-2025
Chrism Oils support Palestinian Farmers
At the Chrism Mass in Clifton Cathedral on Wednesday 16th April, oils will be presented by representatives from our Diocesan Community. Bishop Bosco will consecrate
the Holy Chrism oil and bless the Oil of Catechumens and Oil of the Sick. After Mass the Oils will then be distributed to Parishes within the Diocese.
In recent years, the Diocese has used naturally organic and ethically sourced olive oil from the very lands where Our Lord walked and preached. It is supplied by Zaytoun, the world’s first olive oil to be awarded Fairtrade certification in 2009.
Zaytoun is a social enterprise which supports small-scale Palestinian farmers in the Occupied West Bank. The farmers cultivate their lands and continue farming practices undertaken by Palestinian families for thousands of years.
A few years ago, Phil Gibbons (Communications Officer, Clifton Diocese) and Canon Christopher Whitehead visited some olive farmers in the Cremison Valley, Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, witnessing at first hand the increasing difficulties they faced due to the separation wall dividing their land.
May they look forward to a future when they can farm their lands in peace.
https://cliftondiocese.com/news/chrism-oils-support-palestinian-farmers/
Clifton Diocese Vacancy
RE Adviser - Schools & Colleges Department
The department are seeking to expand the team by appointing a part time, term-time colleague, to support the RE Led in securing high-quality Catholic education across the Diocese that ensures and supports the preservation of Catholic Schools. Experience in secondary and/or post 16 schools would be an advantage.
The successful candidate will have recent and relevant experience of teaching and/or advising in RE in Catholic schools, with a willingness to contribute to both Primary and Secondary/post-16 work of the Diocesan team.
The applicant will be knowledgeable about the new Religious Education Directory, the Prayer & Liturgy Directory, and experience as a CSI inspector would be an advantage. You should be confident in designing and delivering training, as well as conducting accurate reviews of schools.
The role will be 2 days per week, 39 weeks per year, based at Alexander House, Bristol, but will require extensive travel around the Diocese, as well as some evening work.
For further information and application form, visit the Clifton Diocese website. Closing date for applications: 9th May 2025
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Mary Cox, Director of Schools and Colleges or Louise White, RE Lead, on 0117 902 5590.
https://cliftondiocese.com/diocese/working-for-us/
Thanks to Deacon Vincent for his Reflections on the Sacred Triduum.
Holy (Maundy)Thursday Evening
We commence with the origins in Exodus of the Passover meal that heralded the people of God’s freedom from slavery in Egypt and the beginnings of the people of Israel. We have a brief reflection upon the full meaning of the Lord’s Passover Supper from St. Paul to the Corinthians. Then we have John’s first-hand account of very sombre moment in the Church’s year, as the priest washes the feet of his parishioners in remembrance of Christ washing the feet of his Apostles. It is an ongoing lesson in how we should serve one another, not Lord it over each other. We recall Jesus’ arrest and taking prisoner as we remove the Sacred Hosts after Communion from the main altar and place them in the Altar of Repose in another room. The Altar is now stripped to symbolise that the Lord has been taken away from us. We watch with the Lord for an hour at the altar of repose and leave quietly. There is no dismissal.
Friday the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)
We commence with a reading from the Third Isaiah of the “Suffering Servant”, God’s perfect servant. We are told how he will be treated, suffer and take our sins upon himself to conquer evil and set us free. St. Paul tells us how his suffering sets us an example to follow. We now have John’s very moving account of Jesus imprisonment, torture and crucifixion. The similarity to Isaiah’s vision of the suffering servant is remarkable. We now venerate the Cross, again a very moving acclamation by the people of “Thanksgiving” to the Lord for his great sacrifice. Communion is distributed and we all leave silently and sorrowfully. We are now without any Sacraments (The Lord’s Presence), imitating those terrible days after the Crucifixion when the Church was bereft of the Lord. There is no dismissal.
Holy Saturday
We light the Easter Fire and the Pascal Candle for the coming year, which symbolises the presence of the Risen Lord. It is carried into the Church in solemn procession and the Deacon Intones “Lumen Christi”, (Light of Christ) and the people respond with “Deo Gracias”, then in the gloom of the darkened church the Deacon intones the “Exultet”, a beautiful song of Christ’s resurrection. The lights go on the Gloria with all its solemnity and bells is sung. Now we sit through the reading of our redemption from creation to Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, Ezekial there are nine readings six or seven are usually read, then Baptisms occur if there are any people prepared, after which Mass of the Resurrection is celebrated with due pomp and solemnity. We hear St. Paul describe to us the full import of Baptism. We now hear how the astonishing event of the Resurrection is discovered in Luke’s Gospel by Mary Magdelene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. They dash to inform the Apostles and Disciples the amazing news, but they are not believed, but Peter dashes to the tomb and discovers everything as the women had told them, and he went home wondering what had happened. Mass continues and we have a very beautiful joyous dismissal by the Deacon after a Solemn Blessing. The one celebration from Thursday to Sunday morning is now concluded. We have witnessed our Salvation in ancient style and give glory to God for his great Mercy.
Let us never forget Christ’s great Sacrifice to set us free from sin. Deacon Vincent.
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