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The place where our Parish Community is alive with news, information, and updates!
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Scroll down to see all our latest news posts (& click 'older posts' at the bottom of the page to look back over the previous news.)

CHURCH OPENING TIMES: 
We are open for private prayer during the week 
(from about 8.30-4pm on days where there is no evening Mass)

and open for public Masses on;
Saturday at 6pm
Sunday at 9.30am
Tuesday at 7.30pm
Thursday at 10am
Friday at 7.30pm - but please check the week's Newsletter (Newsletter with Mass Times tab above) in case of changes.

PARISH OFFICE: Please note that the Parish Office is open a few days per week so emails will be checked periodically. In the event of an urgent query, please call the presbytery on 0117 9833939 and leave a message. 

Fr Barnabas Page - Resident Assistant Priest at St Augustine's Church
Fr Jim Williams - Priest in Charge 

Our Parishes in Communion for Mission covers us here in Downend, 
St John Fisher in Frenchay, 
St Lawrence in Chipping Sodbury with St Paul's in Yate, 
and Our Lady of Lourdes in Kingswood  


and we are part of the St Edmund of Abingdon Pastoral Area of Clifton Diocese, led by Fr Eugene Campbell of Holy Cross Parish, Patchway.

Current Parish Rotas

Please click on the link for the Parish Duties Rota you would like to view (as a pdf)



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~ SOUP RUN ROTA ~ 


This Week's News

Confirmation 2024

We gathered on Sunday 17th March as a community of faith as we welcomed the young people from within our Parishes in Communion who are preparing for their Confirmation and those members of their families who will support them on that journey.

As members of this faith community, we will support and pray for them as they prepare to celebrate this sacrament. We ask God’s blessing on them all and pray that their time of preparation for Confirmation may be filled with grace.
Amen


Defibrillator Awareness

It was brilliant to see so many people come along for our defibrillator awareness session in the parish hall yesterday.
We watched Great Western Air Ambulance Charity's special video together and discussed various questions and then we practised chest compressions on pillows.
If you weren't able to make it, please grab a cuppa and take just 10 minutes out of your day to watch this informative video which shows the steps we can take should we ever have to try and help someone in cardiac arrest - we help to form "The Chain of Survival".
It shows us exactly how a defibrillator like ours works - an amazing piece of equipment which talks you through the whole process.
Thanks to all involved and again, to everyone who donated towards this vital piece of equipment.


Children's Stations of the Cross

Why not come along to church for 11am on Good Friday morning to learn about the story of Holy Week with music, prayers and stories. There will also be activities for the children (and us adults can get involved too.)

Whether you are 2 or 102, you are welcome to come along to join together for the story of Good Friday and then enjoy a cuppa and hot cross bun in the hall afterwards.

This week's news

A message from Clifton Diocese


We thank Bishop Declan for his 23 years of Episcopal Ministry as we announce that today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of the Right Reverend Declan Lang as Bishop of Clifton. Bishop Declan was ordained the ninth Bishop of Clifton on 28th March 2001 and has served the Diocese for 23 years as its bishop.
The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Canon Bosco MacDonald, a priest of the Diocese of Clifton, until now Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bristol, as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton.
Bishop-Elect Bosco MacDonald said, on hearing the news of his appointment:
I am humbled that His Holiness Pope Francis has called me to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton, following the retirement of Bishop Declan Lang who has served us so lovingly and faithfully for 23 years, giving his life completely to the joys and hopes as well as the challenges of our Catholic communities here in the West of England.
As I embark on this new journey, I am filled with gratitude for the prayers and affection of so many wonderful priests and people, family and friends far and wide.
I am eager to renew my profession of faith and deepen my communion with the Successor of Peter and my brother Bishops. And just as Pope Francis encourages Bishops to be close to their people in a spirit of service, I accept this new role in obedience to my priestly call with a commitment to serve the priests and people of Clifton to the best of my ability, with care, tenderness, and compassion.


May the love of Christ and the intercession of Our Blessed Lady, Conceived Without Sin guide every step I take as the 10th Bishop of this lovely Diocese of Clifton.
Bishop Declan Lang said:
I would like to congratulate Canon Bosco MacDonald and accompany him with my prayers on his appointment as the Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton. He has many years of pastoral experience having worked in a number of parishes both as an assistant priest, parish priest and Dean of Clifton Cathedral. He brings much experience to his new ministry within the diocese which he will carry out with dedication and faithfulness.
I am sure he will also be a valuable member to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales as we discern the way forward in a changing society.
Please remember Canon Bosco in your prayers as he prepares for this new ministry.
The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect MacDonald will take place in the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Clifton, Bristol. The date will be announced in due course.



Defibrillator training


This Sunday (17th) at 10.45am please come along to a short awareness session in our parish hall where we will share a training video on how to help in the event of a cardiac arrest and showing in detail how an AED works.

All, of course, with a cuppa and biccies!




Cake sale

On Palm Sunday, after Mass, there will be a cake sale in the Parish hall in aid of CAFOD.

Please support the sale if you can by either donating cakes for us to sell (please label all ingredients) or by popping in to buy some.

Any why not stay for a cuppa whilst you are there?




Quiz night anyone?

Get the date in your diary - Sunday 21st April - when Mike and gang will be back with a fun quiz night in aid of our Parish Projects: The Brandon Trust and Little Sisters of the Poor St Joseph’s Care Home Bristol .

As always, it will be 'A simple quiz for simple people'!

Tickets will be on sale soon, after weekend Masses or from the office.

Photo by Simone Secci on Unsplash

This week's news

As we travel together through Lent, see the dates and details of the events, services and Masses still to come.
Day of Prayer for Peace
Tomorrow we are being encouraged to pray for peace for the people of the Holy Land.
Visit the Bishops' Conference website for lots of details about this day of prayer, with resources and prayers, including this one from Pope Francis
“Let us pray with one heart and one soul – Lord come to our aid, grant us peace, teach us peace, guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: Never again war.’ Lord Hear Us.
May the weapons be stopped: they will never lead to peace, and may the conflict not widen! Enough! Enough, brothers! In Gaza, let the wounded be rescued immediately, let civilians be protected, let far more humanitarian aid be allowed to reach that stricken population. May the hostages be freed, including the elderly and children. Every human being, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, of any people or religion, every human being is sacred, is precious in the eyes of God and has the right to live in peace. Let us not lose hope: let us pray and work tirelessly so that the sense of humanity may prevail over hardness of heart.”
Amen.

CAFOD
Don't forget, during Lent our intrepid walkers, Bella and Joyce, are trying to walk 200km, raising money for CAFOD.
If you are able to donate whilst they pound the pavements, completing over 4 marathons, then please use this link.


Calling all the ladies in our local St Augustine's Community!
Our own PTFA have organised a lovely Wine and Cheese night for a post-Mother's Day treat!

Get Friday 15th March in your diary and tell your friends to join you to enjoy an evening together with pampering, shopping and wine & cheese!
Fabiola will be selling tickets after both Masses this weekend or contact the office and we will put you in touch.
Just £10 gets you entry to the night in the school with 2 free drinks and a cheese platter buffet! As well as that, the profits go towards the school. It's a win:win situation!
Why would you go to the Mother's Day night?...
..."because you're worth it"!
Mass at St Nick's
See poster for details of the monthly LGBTQ+ Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church, Bristol on Sunday 17th March.

Thanks Deacon Vincent for your Reflections for Fourth Sunday in Lent Year B
1st Reading from the second book of Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23.
The two books of Chronicles were just one volume in Hebrew. They belong in some way with Ezra and Nehemia, though scholars are divided about whether they all come from the same author. They trace the history of the People of God down to about fourth century BC. It is a bit of a puzzle as the Greek translator called it “Paralipomena” or “things left out”, which makes one think that the translator wondered why it had been written at all considering the areas were already covered in Samuel and Kings. Jerome called it a “Chronicle of all sacred history”, hence its’ current title. The Hebrew title is “The words of the days2, which translates to “Annals”, however, scholars are waking up to the fact that it is a very interesting composition. This section is dealing with the reason for the disaster of the Babylonian ransacking of the sanctuary of the Lord and the destruction of Jerusalem followed by the deportation of the people into Exile. The lesson for us is that God tied to warn the people that their misbehaviour would have consequences, but they ignored them, so that in the end, God could not stop their terrible and traumatic disaster. God is always trying to save us from our folly, we need to read the times and listen for God and his messengers, but not just listen as to heed God’s warnings and adjust our behaviour and attitude.

Psalm 136: 1-6.
This song continues the theme of the first reading as we witness the heart break of the Exiles, as they mourn the loss of their homeland. Any exile can equate with these sentiments it is a very evocative song.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 2: 4-10.
We are invited to be astonished at the generosity of God, and to feel the impact on our lives. We need to concentrate upon the main precepts of Pauline belief. One) God raised Jesus from the dead; Two) The Resurrection has a clear impact on the lives of Christians: Three) This is not because Christians have deserved this privilege, but because of God’s loving generosity. It is wonderful to consider ourselves as his great works of art. God is the potter, we are the clay.

The Holy Gospel according to John 3: 14-21.
This is the first example of what is called “Johannine irony”, This happens when Jesus is talking to someone who completely fails to understand him, while the reader understands perfectly well. This reveals the two stages on which this Gospel operates. If you belong “up there”, you understand Jesus, if you belong “down there”, you do not. Hence Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, signifying that he is “down there”. Hence, he only listens to the words, and is unable to comprehend the deeper meaning that Jesus is driving at. It is worth remembering that Nicodemus is a member of those whom Jesus did not trust himself to, as we read in last weeks extract, of this Gospel. For those of us who are post resurrection Christians it is obvious that Jesus, when talking of how he must be lifted up as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, he was of course referring to his crucifixion. But have we pondered the real meaning of Moses lifting the serpent, it was to cure those who had been attacked and bitten by a serpent and save their lives. Jesus having been lifted up for us, is to be our life saver and bring us to full life in the Spirit. We need to ask ourselves if that is what is happening in our lives at the present. During this coming week of Lent it might be worth us examining our response to Jesus great sacrifice, and trying to make really more effective.

God bless our endeavours to straighten out our lives.
Deacon Vincent.

*I fully acknowledge the assist given me by Nicholas King’s Study Bible in this and all my reflections. For his insight into the books and writings of the Holy Bible. He has been my inspiration and insight into the wonders of Holy Scripture.






CHAP
Did you know there is a Community History and Arts Project (CHAP) in Downend and Emersons Green?
"CHAP aims to create a coherent identity for Downend (we include Emersons Green in this), built around interesting or significant places, people and events from the past, and to share this with the local community through arts, publications, music and events.
Our goal is to build a sense of belonging and commitment to Downend, an understanding of its character, residents, businesses and visitors, and to enhance social cohesion between people of all ages and backgrounds through enjoyable and inclusive activities."

See their website for all the information
https://www.downendchap.org/


Update from our local Parish Council:
The Annual Assembly will take place on 18th April, 7.30pm at Badminton Road Methodist Church
All our welcome to join the meeting.

https://www.dbhparishcouncil.uk/your-council/meetings/annual-assembly/annual-assembly/annual-assembly-2

This week's News

Lent Meeting

We hope as many people as possible are taking up the offer of joining a Lent Parish House Group.
As well as the local groups, we will be hosting a main group get together *this Saturday (2nd March)* from 10am until 12noon - all invited to come to the parish hall for a chance to join he conversation that is taking place in the home groups.
All are welcome.


Rite of Election

On the first Saturday of Lent, as at the start of every Lent, our diocesan family gathered at the cathedral together with our bishop to celebrate the Rite of Election, where those who are journeying towards becoming part of our Catholic community are presented to Bishop Declan.
Click below to read the write up on the Clifton Diocese Rite of Election.
Congratulations to all the new candidates as they joined together with their family and friends


A message from the Department of Adult Education and Evangelisation

We are starting a new formation course in Stroud on a Wednesday evening called 'Invited'. These formation sessions are for parishioners who are interested in learning more about their faith and passing it onto others. I would be grateful if you could promote this in your newsletter/noticeboard/website. The details are:

 

Invited - God offers us a radical invitation but what does it mean to say yes? What does it mean to be a Catholic? What do we believe and how do we grow deeper in our Faith? This twelve-week course will enable us to explore a variety of questions relating to Catholic Teaching.  Who is Invited? This is a course for anyone who is interested in learning more about their faith and passing it onto othersso very useful for new and experienced catechists. The course will take place at The Immaculate Conception, Stroud. The Wednesday evening dates are: 17 April, 24 April;  1 May, 15 May, 22 May;  5 June, 12 June, 19 June, 26 June;  3 July, 10 July, 17 July.

For the full outline of the course please see here: cliftondiocese.com/news/invited-a-formation-course-in-stroud/. To express your interest please complete the booking form on the diocesan website and send to catechists@cliftondiocese.com or post to the Department of Adult Education & Evangelisation, Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX.

 

Cost of Full Course £50 or £6 per session (bacs details are on the booking form). Although it is not necessary to attend every session (they are stand-alone) we hope that the group will grow together as a community. The sessions will be 7pm to 9pm including time for refreshments.

 


Thanks to Deacon Vincent for his Reflections for Third Sunday in Lent Year B


1st Reading from the book of Exodus 20: 1-17.
The ten commandments or “ten words” (Decalogue) are sometimes explained as “a manifesto for a free society”. Don’t get hitched up on their apparent negativity. God is offering us a route map for a loving relationship, we can either attempt to live it out for God’s sake or ignore it and slip into a free for all society where anything goes, which usually signals a selfish view of life pleasing to ourselves and not necessarily pleasing to others. The first three concern how we recognise our God and treat God with the respect deserved by the God who rescued the Israelites from a life of servitude in Egypt. God gave them back their national identity. The other seven concern how we should live as a people who attempt to be Holy as God is Holy. This will enable God to prepare a people to receive His only Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World, and enable the new creation to continue to live in harmony, and at one with God. In our respect and gratitude to God we attempt to develop a sweetness of spirit towards God and each other. When the seven are ignored in part or in all; disharmony, terrors and wars ensue. Far from being restrictive, when we try to observe these guidelines; happiness and harmony become the fruits.

Psalm 18: 8-11.
A song in glory of the Law (Ten Commandments), singing joyously of the great gift God has given us and its’ fruits. “The command of the Lord is a bright light”, which is a wonderful description of the fruits of God’s Law.

2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1: 22-25.
In this selection from Paul’s letter, we are entering at a point where Paul is emphasising that the message he brings is about Christ Crucified, which is anathema to the Jews who can’t comprehend God’s plan in such an act, and absolute madness for Greeks. However, Paul insists with great confidence almost breathtaking audacity that “for those called; Jesus Christ is God’s power and wisdom, for God’s stupidity is wiser than human beings, and God’s weakness is stronger than human beings.” Jesus Christ is irresistible in Paul’s experience, because he is God’s Word. The Spirit of Christ captivated Paul and sent him to the Gentile world to convert firstly his Jewish brethren and then offer the Gentiles God’s reconciliation through the Crucified Jesus Christ. By Jesus’ sacrifice we are purchased for God and into God’s Law.

The Holy Gospel according to John 2: 13-25.

We know the authority for Jesus driving out those doing business in God’s Sanctury, but those who witnessed it did not know, even his disciples were not completely sure that Jesus was God’s Son. However, it is at the Resurrection that they begin to be enlightened and they remember Psalm 69: 9, “Zeal for your house will devour me.” But more importantly they realise that Jesus was talking about His Body, not the building. So right at the creation of the Church they say, “they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus said.” Jesus is already extraordinarily authoritative. There is also an ominous warning, “Many came to faith in his name”. Jesus did not entrust himself to them, for Jesus could read people’s hearts. We might remember that in our dealings with Jesus. He can read our hearts!! We cannot deceive him. We are required to be always perfectly honest with Jesus. Let us not deceive ourselves in the matter of our Faith. It is not about power, but about relationships with Jesus and God, everything else fades into insignificance.

May God open our minds to grow ever closer to Jesus and the Father through the Holy Spirit.

Deacon Vincent


This week's news

Our New AED

We were delighted to welcome Janet Biggin, Chair of Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council, to our special Mass on Sunday morning, where we blessed our new community AED (defibrillator) and prayed for all who work in emergency and health care.

Janet said "I'm honoured to be invited to attend this Sunday Mass and very proud to be part of the service and witness to the blessing. Our parish council were happy to offer help for the purchase of this AED and the lifesaving asset it will be for our community."

We have also had a 'bleed kit' fitted by Heartsafe during the week so we are able to offer 24/7 access to that emergency medical kit as well to help within our area if ever needed. We are very grateful to them for this free equipment.

Thanks to the team who worked hard to make this happen and to all within our parish community who fundraised and donated to reach our goal, especially Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council.

Please come along to an awareness session in our parish hall on Sunday 17th March at 10.45am where we will share a training video on how to help in the event of a cardiac arrest and showing in detail how the AED works.
  


Mike Procter RIP

We are so sad to hear of the death of Mike Procter at the weekend. As you'll remember, our parish supported the Gloucestershire cricketer's South African children's charity as one of our parish projects just last year and it was wonderful that Mike was able to visited us and joined in with our Summer event. (see picture)

His Foundation sent the sad news to the charity's supporters and announced online saying that he died in hospital near his home in Durban after relatively routine surgery but suffered a heart attack afterwards. His family were able to join his bedside before he died. Foundation trustees were together only two weeks ago with new sports coaches at a new school
"It was Mike's wish that the Foundation supports this vision after he is gone. The Trustees are committed to making this happen and to do Mike proud."

Please pray for Mike's family, friends, Foundation colleagues and all who are supported by his charitable works.
May He Rest In Peace.

https://mikeprocterfoundationuk.org/



Aid to the Church in Need UK
Steve from Aid to the Church in Need UK came to visit Fr Barnabas this Sunday for Mass and shared with him news of the current projects they are undertaking to support Christians where they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need.

We are planning an appeal for later in the year, but we encourage you to visit their website to see for yourself the work they do to help around the world, and especially at this time, in the Holy Land.


Reflections for Second Sunday in Lent Year B from Deacon Vincent

1st Reading from the book of Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18.

We have this famous story of the Patriarch Abraham; being tested in the most terrible way by God. God requests Abraham’s only son as a sacrifice. Abraham trusts the Lord so much he does not hesitate to follow the Lord’s instructions. On the third day Abraham spots the place designated for the sacrifice. He sets the altar, lights the fire and draws his knife to strike Isaac, but the Lord sends an Angel to stop him striking the boy. Abraham finds a ram caught by its’ horns in a bush and sacrifices the ram in place of the boy. One can view it as an early example of how God draws his people away from human sacrifice or as many Christians saw a parallel between how God saved Abraham from a sacrifice that God himself would make with Christ, who was God’s only Son. God, having tested Abraham, shows Abraham’s descendants exactly how much he loved us, by making that sacrifice to bring us into God’s kingdom. God has proven exactly what lengths He will go to, to save his creation, in Christ Jesus our Lord. We begin to visualise the full magnitude of sin, when we view the sacrifice required, to negate it.

Psalm 115: 10, 15-19.

A selection from a song of “thanksgiving”, which we can imagine Abraham singing on his return journey from the harrowing test he had undergone. It is a song we might call to mind after any stressful experience.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. paul to the Romans 8: 31-34.

We have a very small selection from one of Paul’s longest letters, but it is such a joyous message for us it is worth shouting from the rooftops. “If God is on our side, who is against us?” What a wonderful thought to ponder during our Lenten reflections. “Christ Jesus is the one who died …. Was raised…He is the one who is at God’s right hand. He is the one who intercedes for us.” Who can help but be buoyed up by the poetical certainty of Paul’s optimism.

The Holy Gospel according to Mark 9: 2-10.

Jesus takes his most trusted disciples, Peter James and John up to a high mountain privately, on their own. This is a very private revelation for them. Suddenly Jesus is “transfigured” and we glimpse the truth about him. His glory is revealed, but more than this, Moses and Elijah appear and are in conversation with Jesus. We are looking at the Law and the Prophets accepting Jesus, at least, as their equal. Peter is overcome and wants this to go on, so he offers to build three tents for them so they can stay a while. But now we witness the descent of the cloud, and the voice of God is heard. “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.” The disciples are terrified, but when they look up there is only Jesus with them. They receive their instruction to say nothing till Jesus be raised from the dead. They obey the instruction but talk amongst themselves what “Rising from the dead could mean.” This vision can only be understood in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection. These three disciples will be very important in the post resurrection story. This vision will help them through the traumatic events of “Good Friday”. It is good from time to time to reflect upon Jesus’ glory. He is the light that draws us like moths to the candle. We need to be dazzled by him and then allow his words to sink deep into our souls. Jesus is our guide so let us get as close to him as possible this Lent, lest we lose sight of him in the business of our lives.

May God keep us close to Jesus this Lent. 

Deacon Vincent

*I fully acknowledge the assist given me by Nicholas King’s Study Bible in this and all my reflections. For his insight into the books and writings of the Holy Bible. He has been my inspiration and insight into the wonders of Holy Scripture. *