St Augustine's School Ruby Anniversary

During 2011 our Primary School celebrated 40 years of success with many events for the whole school to enjoy. One of these was a trip over to neighbouring King George V palying fields where a commemorative garden and bench was revealed to the school, local residents, past pupils and local dignitaries. A great day of singing, clapping and cheering our success!

St Augustine's Youth Club

*** Currently not running *** Please contact the Parish Office if you can help re-start the club.

St Augustine's Parish provide a Youth Club on a Wednesday evenings, fortnightly, for the leavers of St Augustine's school to be able to meet back together after they have gone their separate ways in secondary school. It is run by a committee of that year's parents to provide this lovely opportunity, who volunteer and are cleared through the safeguarding process, working in teams.

The Year 6`s are invited to join in July. They are then able to socialise with classmates outside of school hours. They are encouraged to return in September when they start at secondary school and are hence given a chance to see people with whom they might otherwise lose contact. We provide an environment that stimulates a growth in friendship.

We play team games, quizzes, bingo, sports and play-station games. We have at least one outing per term, such as laser quest, bowling or ice-skating.

It runs 7.30pm to 9pm every other Wednesday. 
(Membership and Subscription is needed)


Sacristans

The Sacristans prepare the altar and the sacristy for the Mass and for other services.

There are currently five Sacristans who share the duties of preparing the altar, the sacred vessels, the linen and vestments for Mass. They take responsibility for ensuring that the linen, (Albs, Altar Cloths etc) is laundered. They also clean the Sanctuary, the Sacristy, and the Servers' Sacristy. For further details contact Fr Barnabas.

Refreshments (after Sunday Mass)

The purpose of the refreshments group is to provide tea, coffee, squash and biscuits in the parish hall after Sunday mass, so that parishioners can meet with their families in a friendly atmosphere for a chat, and an opportunity to meet new people. This is a well-attended and enjoyable gathering for all adults and children.

You can help the group by volunteering to go on the rota. If you are interested contact Myra Woods.

The team work on a rota basis to put out tables and chairs etc. before Mass, buy the milk in advance of their morning, serve people after Mass and clear up the hall afterwards.


 

Offertory Counters Team

The task of the offertory counters is to count the weekly offerings and to prepare for banking. The team also maintains records, which are required for full updating of the accounting system, giving accurate end of year accounts, and by the Inland Revenue in connection with Gift Aid.

Counters work in pairs, and approx eight teams who operate on a rota basis. The counting is done on Sunday mornings after Mass, when the offerings for the whole week are counted and logged into the records. Note, Standing Order offerings are dealt with separately, not by the counting teams.

We are always looking for more volunteers to join the teams so if you can, and would like to, please contact the parish office.

Parish Hall

We are lucky enough to have a fantastic Parish Hall facility which is used most days of the year by Parish Groups, such as the Prayer Group or Legion of Mary, parishioners own bookings for events and by private companies for regular group sessions, such as Slimming World, Alzheimers Society and the National Childbirth Trust.

It is also used when we hold social events, such as after Christmas or Easter services, for Charity meals and Lenten Lunches.

The parish hall can be hired for a variety of social and family occasions. For details please contact the Hall Secretary Bernadette Thomson (in the parish office) for details of costs and availability.


The Hall in use for our busy Lenten Lunches
A happy day in the hall when Bishop Moses came to visit!

At a recent 'Parish Mixer' evening

Flower Group

The flower group exists to decorate the Church with floral arrangements for Mass and for special occasions. The group creates the flower arrangements, co-ordinating them as appropriate with the Liturgy. You can help them by joining them, or by offering flowers,

The group meets to arrange flowers for each service (on a rota basis), and get together about four times a year for a general meeting. If you are interested, contact the Parish Office.

The Church decorated for the Flower Festival in 2006...


...and for Christmas

 

Drivers

As part of our wider service, S.V.P. provide transport for the sick, the housebound and the elderly. This is mainly lifts to Sunday Mass, but also when called upon to and from hospital.

If you would like to help with transport on some occasions, we would be pleased to hear from you. There are separate meetings for those providing transport, please see S.V.P.

If you would to help please contact one pf the following Chris Cottrell, Renee Farmer, Kath McBraida, or Frank Cully.

Church Cleaning

The purpose of this group is to ensure the church is kept in a clean and hygienic state. 

The cleaning involves vacuuming / brushing floors, and cleaning marks from furniture, doors, glass etc.

You can help by volunteering to join the team. If you would like to help, please contact the Parish Office.

Church Shop & Repository

*** We are looking for new volunteers to re-open the church shop - please contact the parish office if you can help ***

Whilst we wait for new shop organisers, t
he Church shop area is now opened at Mass times for people to bring, exchange or take away Catholic papers, as well as look through a large selection of faith inspired books and leaflets to help yourself to.

All our past stock of Catholic books, Christian cards and gifts for all special occasions, crucifixes, rosaries, and an extensive range of Catholic artefacts are on display - these will be individually priced so please hand the money for your items into the parish office.

Uniformed Organisations (Scouts and Guides)


The purpose of the organisations is to promote the spiritual, physical and mental development of each member based on the Scout/Guide Law and Promise, which is made in accordance with the age and understanding of the different units.

The meetings of the units are designed to assist each member to achieve their potential in a variety of activities towards a series of Awards and Badges. Outdoor activities such as camping, cooking, hiking canoeing, etc. play a vital part of this process. We aim to make this process fun, as well as a learning experience.

You can help by becoming leaders or assistant leaders in the training units, or by joining our Supporters Association, which raises the necessary funds for the unit’s activities.
The units’ Headquarters are at St John Fisher Church and their meeting times are there and, for some of the units, at St Augustine's Parish Hall.

Beavers (Boys & girls, age 6-8 yrs.)

Scouts (Boys & girls, age 10 - 14 yrs.)

Rainbows (Girls, aged 5 - 7 yrs)

Brownies (Girls, age 7 - 10 yrs.)

Guides (Girls, age 10 - 15 yrs.)

For further details see the website at http://www.staugustinesscoutsandguides.org.uk/

Skittles Teams

The Ladies & Men’s Skittles teams plays in the Catholic Skittles Leagues, and aim to create a welcoming social atmosphere for their members.

The League involves winter league games against other Parishes in the Bristol area, most games being during the months of September to April.

For the men’s league they meet at the Horseshoe in Downend on a Tuesday 7.30 p.m. New members are always welcome to both the ladies and men's teams.

Pre-school

We ensure that our children thrive in a happy and safe environment.
Our community Preschool is run by a management committee of parents. We first opened our doors in 1978 and have gone from strength to strength.

The self contained building that we use is located in the grounds of St Augustine's Primary school, Downend, Bristol.

Putting children first

The Preschool uses the Early Years Foundation Stage as guidance for the activities we plan for the children. However, our main inspiration comes from careful observations of the children during play, regular reports are shared with parents and parents are always welcome to discuss their child’s progress with their key person. We communicate with other settings that a child attends, by doing this we are able to ensure that individual needs and interests are being met.
For more information contact the Pre school direct on 9561166 or go to the website 
- click here

 

The 'Not-so-Young Club'

The Not So Young Club gives retired people a chance to meet on a monthly basis to socialise, make new friends, share interests and experiences and also support one another. 

We have a wide variety of interesting guest speakers and there is a sales table, raffle and refreshments at every meeting. 

We also aim to have 3 day trips spread across the year and a yearly holiday in the UK, usually in June. 

We support St. Augustine’s church with any fund raising events and also at times raise money for charity ourselves. 

We meet at 10am on the last Wednesday of the month at St. Augustine’s parish hall and the subscription is £5 per year. 

If you are interested contact Mike Ryan, Chairman, through the parish office.







The Catholic Women's League (CWL)

The purpose of the C.W.L. is to unite all Catholic Women in a bond of common fellowship forming a national non party-political organisation. We aim to train and encourage members to use their talents and skills in the service of the church. The C.W.L. is part of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisation, which bands together women of all nations in Christian work and duties.

At Parish level, our members undertake many varied tasks in the community according to local needs and circumstances. They are ready to help in the work of the church and parish. i.e. visiting the sick, transporting the elderly to Mass, and many other duties including fund raising for overseas charities. We support human rights and give support to those unjustly imprisoned. The C.W.L. is one of the leading refugee agencies in England.

You can support us by coming to our meetings. A warm welcome awaits you, and even if you are unable to undertake works, your prayers and subscription will help the works of the `League` You can also support us when we are fund-raising, often by attending one of the functions we arrange, such as fund-raising dinners.

We meet in the Parish hall, on the evening of the first Friday of each month. For information contact the chairman, Mrs Myra Woods

Some of our CWL members at the Branch AGM 2012


 

Bumps, Babies and Toddler Group

*Currently not running*

This group was formed to provide an opportunity for carers with their under 5s to get together once a week and get to know others in the Parish.

A wide range of toys are available for free play for the children and tea/coffee is provided for the adults. The children also enjoy a storytime session with squash and a biscuit and we do regular craft activities.

As well as its weekly meetings the group also:
-Holds fund raising and social events
-Helps out at Parish events, the Christmas Bazaar, Soup Run and Lenten Lunches
-Supports various charities

Meetings are held during term time in the Parish Centre, on Friday mornings from 9-11.30am. New people are most welcome - members live in the area, they could be members of the parish or have children at St Augustine’s school or Pre-school. We encourage all to join in the social and fundraising events we hold and we have a committee of willing helpers – the more the merrier.

Please contact the Parish Office for more information and we will put you in touch with the current committee.

Fun at the end of Year BBT Party!


 

St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)

The S.V.P. is part of an international lay Christian voluntary organisation actively working in over 130 countries with the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised. Inspired by our principal founder, the Blessed Frederic Ozanam we strive to bring the love of Christ to those we serve, in the spirit of the Gospel message “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”.

The S.V.P. encourages its members to put their Christian faith into action by working at local level to help those in need. Accordingly we engage in a variety of works, primarily helping those who have material needs, visiting the sick and housebound, and supporting the elderly. Other special works are: Prison Visiting, Youth Work, Arranging Holidays, Welfare of Seamen, Fund-Raising and Maintaining Furniture. Many conferences are twinned with conferences in the third world, i.e. India, Sudan. The aim of this is to support those who are helping in their own communities.

You can help us in St Augustine’s by joining us, by responding to our occasional appeals for items of furniture etc., and by supporting our fund-raising. (Box in Narthex). In St Augustine’s we currently have six members, including our spiritual director, and need more members. Our basic work is in the Parish.

The Downend Conference meets every Thursday at 8.00pm, currently in the Sacristy.

If you would like to find out more, please contact any of the following Chris Cottrell, Renee Farmer, Kath McBraida , or Frank Cully.

'Welcomers'

The Welcoming stewards assist the Priest and Deacons in the practical aspects of ensuring that the Mass and other Services runs smoothly.

The purpose of the Welcomers group is to make visitors and parishioners feel welcome as they come to mass. We aim to offer a smile and a few friendly words to as many people as possible, whilst handing out the hymnbooks and the weekly church bulletin. This task is important, to make people feel at welcome.

We operate on a rota basis, turning up about 20/30 minutes before the start of the Mass. Initial duties include obtaining bulletins, leaflets, collection baskets, attendance book etc. Checking to see if the first aid box, and bottles of water are out. 

Then, ensuring that people are available for the offertory procession - usually asking families of the Mass' intention. We assist people to find seats if the church is crowded, and ensure church ventilation is adequate, depending on the weather.

During Mass, we undertake the collection(s) from upstairs and downstairs. We also count the congregation as we take the collection. Congregation numbers are recorded in the attendance book. We ensure that the offertory procession takes place in the correct order, manner and time.

If there is a retiring collection, one of the welcomers will hold the collection basket as people leave.

At the end of Mass we open all interior and exterior doors, collect and stack hymn books, tidy the Narthex, and return those items that are kept in the Sacristy. Finally we turn off lights and heating and close all doors.


You can help by becoming a 'Welcomer'. Contact Fr Barnabas

Soup Run

The soup run meets a need to support rough sleepers who are not covered by other agencies. 'Bristol Soup Run Trust' is a registered charity approved by the City Council. All workers are voluntary, not even receiving expenses.

Every night of the year, the Trust's volunteers go out with food, hot drinks, clothes, blankets, and other essential needs, meeting rough sleepers at designated drop-off points, and doing a 'walk round' to catch those who have already bedded down for the night.

Our 2 team's at St Augustine’s cover alternate Saturdays. The people we meet are friendly, polite, and share a noticeable sense of community and support for each other.

You can help us in a number of ways....

*Firstly by praying for the homeless and the work of the trust. 

*People with a genuine interest in helping and meeting the homeless can help for one evening, to see if the work suits them out on the run. 

*We also need the following items: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, disposable razors, candles, matches, wrapped chocolate snack bars, and deodorant. (There is a place in the Narthex where you can leave all donations for the `Soup Run`) Also tinned sandwich fillings and items of clothing, and blankets –good condition please * * However, we cannot take bedding other than blankets - please, no duvets, sheets or pillows - as these cannot be used by people on the streets - imagine how heavy a rain soaked duvet is... Note. New Underwear and socks are especially needed, as these cannot be purchased in Charity shops. 

*We also need people to be part of the 'back room' rota, making up the rolls on the Saturdays, heating up the soup and making cakes. At present we have a brilliant number of volunteers to make a nice rota, but could always do with more.

*We have a small team who look after the 'garage' - our main store area, preparing for each run, fortnightly. ****** We are currently in need of a new volunteer, or 2, to help increase the team *******

*We also are delighted to accept donations of homemade soup. Please contact the parish office for details of what we need and where to take it.

To find out more, contact Philip McWilliams via the parish office.



New Life Prayer Group

Hebrews 4:16


“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near
the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in good time for every need.”

Our charismatic and ecumenical "New Life Prayer Group" meets every Monday evening from 7.30 - 9pm, upstairs in the Parish Hall next to St. Augustine’s Church.  

God’s Holy Spirit is at the heart of our meetings.  Leave your worries and cares at the foot of Jesus’ cross and be blessed and uplifted.  

You are warmly invited to join our friendly group for some heartfelt praise and worship, deep sharing of the Word of God, quiet reflection, powerful prayer and sincere fellowship.  

Or you can write your prayer requests in our Book of Intentions at the back of the church which are prayed for each week.

We would love to see you!

For further information, please get in touch with us via the parish office email: bristol.staugustine@cliftondiocese.com or call 0117 9833939

Parish Projects

Each year the parish selects two charities (usually one local and one abroad) as the `Parish Projects`.

Five percent of parish offertory income is donated to this project, in addition to the proceeds of various fund raising events. The whole Parish is asked to submit new project nominations and if more than 2 projects are requested everyone is invited to voted on it. 

Previous projects include Mike Procter Foundation in South Africa, Friends of the Earth's Plant a Tree campaign,  'The Medaille Trust', the Haven Home project in India, local group ‘Paul’s Place’, Brain Tumour Support, HCPT, Bishop Moses Costa's Diocese in Bangladesh, Patrick Wilde Trust and more...

You can help not only by supporting fund raising events, but by prayer.

For further details contact Bella Harding from the Justice and Peace Group via the parish office.

Mike Procter Foundation's 'Human Fruit Machine' at the recent Summer Event
Bella's Friends of the Earth Stall at the recent Summer Event
 


Legion of Mary

The Legion offers us an opportunity through Jesus and Mary to advance in holiness, and in so doing foster the desire to be Christ’s representative in the community. It does not advocate the fulfilment of extraordinary things, but only the doing of ordinary things, extraordinarily well. Frank Duff is quoted as saying: “The Legion is Our Lady’s Spirit come to life in people”. This Spirit in-turn is made manifest in the undertaking of apostolic works.

We visit the sick and lonely, people often forgotten in a busy world. We offer them a listening ear, in what might otherwise be a silent day, and reassure them that their suffering is not in vain, but which in union with Jesus can be of infinite value.

We visit lapsed Catholics, to let them know that Jesus has not for one moment forgotten them, but yearns for their return to the Mass and Sacraments. We also visit Non-Catholics, and if the opportunity arises, they are humbly told of a treasure, based not on the luck of today’s lottery, but on the coming of Christ.

You can help us by becoming a member. The Legion offers two types of membership, Active and Auxiliary. The former is open to all from 18 onwards, and involves members attending a weekly meeting for prayer, planning and discussion in a friendly setting on how we can best serve the community. The visits are undertaken later in the week, in pairs, and would be of a nature comfortable to that of each of the member’s ability. Auxiliary membership is confined to the saying of the Rosary, and the Legion prayers on a daily basis for Our Lady’s Intentions. Auxiliary membership is considered an indispensable part of the Legion family.

We hold meetings throughout the year. For further information contact John Jordan

Justice and Peace Group

The aim of the group is to fund-raise and educate ourselves about important issues and campaigns, and to raise these issues before the church community.

The Justice & Peace group recently lead the Parish to become award winners of the CAFOD 'Live Simply' scheme and help raise awareness of the practical things we can do to help to combat climate change; such as becoming a Fairtrade Parish - where, as much as we can, we buy Fairtrade products for our consumables.

We meet monthly, and also for some one-off events like the Traidcraft fashion show. We lobby M.P.`s as appropriate. There is usually an update in the weekly newsletter with things to think about or take action on, each week.

For more information contact Bella Harding via the parish office.


H C P T - The Pilgrimage Trust

The purpose of the Trust is to take `Special needs` children, in family groups, on a spiritual holiday to meet Our Lady in Lourdes.

The activities of the Trust include recruitment of helpers, identifying children who can go to Lourdes, and fundraising to finance the trip, pocket money, and any day-trips that we might make. There is also of course the planning and organisation of each trip. You can help us by fund-raising, or by coming along to support our fund-raising events. We are happy to give a talk on our activities to any group interested. Finally, you can help by praying for the success of our activities, especially our trips to Lourdes. If you want to find out more, please contact Deacon Peter Hinchey

Parish Development Committee

The informal committee exists to arrange events of a social nature in order to raise funds for Parish Development. We organise Theatre Trips, the `Getting to Know You Meal`, the Christmas Bazaar, and the Annual Draw.

You can help by volunteering to arrange and run stalls at the Bazaar, or by helping with setting-up or clearing-up. Or you can join us to help organise and promote events.

We meet as and when necessary. The Bazaar meetings are in January (to review the last Bazaar) and then in Sept., Oct., and Nov. to prepare for the Bazaar. To find out more, contact the parish office.

Parish Finance & Fabric Committee

The finance committee is required by Canon Law in each parish to help the Parish Priest to administer the goods of the parish.

The committee meets every quarter to review the income and expenditure of the parish from the reports produced by the Parish Treasurer and his assistant. 

The committee is also responsible for production of the parish budget and planning for the upkeep and investment in the fabric of the buildings and parish assets.

Members of the Finance Committee are normally invited to join because of their financial or other relevant experience. 

Current Members are:
Fr Jim, Shaun Boycott-Taylor (our Parish Treasurer), Deacon Michael Belt, Michael Norris, Marek Kowalewski, Rosemary Stephens, Neville Wooding and Bernadette Thomson.

Annual Account Reports are produced in January and always displayed at the back of church. We invite people to look through and ask any questions.

For further information contact Fr Barnabas, Fr Jim or please come and speak to one of the committee members.
WELCOMERS

You can help by joining the 'welcomers' rota. This requires you to be at church about 30 minutes early when it is your turn, to arrange the books and bulletins prior to handing them out. If you are interested, contact the Parish Office.

Readers

Readers have the responsibility to read one of the readings during Holy Mass. The aim is to read in a manner that the congregation can hear clearly, with intonation and punctuation that aid understanding.

They go onto a rota, which will lead to them reading about every four or five weeks. Training can be given to new readers, plus a chance to practice at the microphone.

If you would like to find out more about being a reader, speak to the parish office.

Extraodinary Ministers of Holy Communion

The main task of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion is to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass. This is done on a rota basis, on a Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning. Training is provided for new ministers. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion can ask other commissioned ministers to stand in for them as required.

In addition, those who have been trained and received clearance through safeguarding, with permission from the Parish Priest, take the Blessed Sacrament to a sick or housebound member of the parish. This is organised through the visiting team, run by Gill Johnson and John Jordan.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be Catholics in good standing, and are usually appointed by the invitation of the Parish Priest.

For further information contact Fr Barnabas.

Musical Talents!

We are lucky enough to have several musical groups who help enhance the liturgy, at weekend Masses and for special occasions.

CHOIR
The choir is organised by Martyn Le Poidevin and Bella Harding and exists to lead the church congregation in singing. We welcome new members - Some knowledge of music is helpful, but not essential, the main requirement being that you are keen to sing! If you would like to find out more or join, contact the parish office.

CANTABILE
Cantabile is a small music group of friends who enjoy singing and making music together. Between us we are able to sing harmonies in three parts, play violin, viola, piano, flute, clarinet, bass guitar and guitaer and three types of recorder.
We try to share the love of God through our music making and have a good time whilst doing so!
If you would like our skills for either a particular church service or another function, please contact us through the Parish Office.

We also have a new youth music group who are finding their feet and starting to play at Masses - fantastic!

Also a talented parishioner who plays the keyboard for us at regular intervals and also a couple of parishioners who lead us in acapella singing when there is no one on the rota to play.

If you can help by joining a group, or starting a new group up, or by playing/singing solo - please contact Fr Barnabas or call the parish office.


Altar Servers

The purpose of Serving is to assist the Priest and Deacons at the altar in order that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may be offered reverently. Servers are invited to volunteer after making their First Holy Communion. They receive training sessions and then begin serving. On the next Feast of St Stephen they will be inducted as Probationers. After a year of Probation, they will be enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen. Servers need to be at church at least ten minutes before the start of Mass.

Adult help is needed in the servers’ sacristy before and after Mass to ensure that all Servers are correctly vested. Laundering of the Servers' Albs is undertaken by some of these helpers.

If you would like your child to be a server, or would like to be a helper, please contact the Parish Office.

Lenten Lunches 2012

Once again, our now famous annual Lenten Lunch was a great success raising a huge amount of money for CAFOD and giving us all a lovely lunch each Friday during Lent with great company and a fantastic selection of home made soups to choose from. Great work by the members of the CWL who ran the lunches so brilliantly.

St Augustine's Primary School's 40th Anniversary

Our Primary school celebrated 40 years of being open during 2011 and so the whole school celebrated the day with many events, including the revealing of a commemorative bench in neighbouring King George V playing fields next to a new commemorative garden. Local dignitaries came along for the ceremony and the whole school were there to sing, clap and cheer!

CWL AGM - Photo Album

Sacramental life

BAPTISM PREPARATION
The purpose of this programme is to prepare parents who present their children for Baptism to understand and accept their responsibilities, and the importance of their role in the development of the child’s faith.

The programme covers an explanation of the Rite of Baptism, explanation of the way the child will be prepared, a visit to the church to view the baptismal font, and a mini rehearsal of the sacred liturgy. A baptism video may also be shown.

You can help your child or Godchild in the development of their faith and understanding of the Christian life.

Baptism preparation is flexible and is arranged to suit the needs and the availability of individual parents. For details contact Fr Barnabas.


CONFIRMATION PREPARATION
We aim to fill the hearts of our young candidates with a zeal for the faith and a deep love of the Faith. This is a wonderful opportunity to hand on knowledge about the Church and her teachings, to give our youngsters a good spiritual grounding to help them as they advance through the challenges of secondary school and university. Their Faith will be subjected to many attacks, and the greater their knowledge, and the deeper their appreciation of the Sacraments, the stronger they will be.

The Confirmation retreat in 2009

The Bishop organises the Confirmation dates, which can be annual or every other year. Once this is known, the next group of candidates are ‘gathered together!’

The group of candidates for confirmation then meet weekly in term time for a few months led by a team of catechists. The course usually includes a day or weekend away on retreat.

You can help by volunteering to assist as a catechist for our next course. If you are interested in this for future years, please speak to Fr Barnabas. If you are unable to do this, then please pray for the young people, and for us.


FIRST CONFESSION PREPARATION

Candidates in 2011 after making their 1st Confession

We all need to acknowledge our sins and bring them to Almighty God in confession, in order to restore our relationship with Him. Every time we come to Confession we encounter the love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and we experience His Divine Mercy and forgiveness. This is the message that we try to get across to our children who are preparing to make their first Confession.

Preparation for First Confession and First Communion takes place on a Sunday. The year 3` children come together once a week in the months before they receive these sacraments under the guidance of a team of catechists, in order to find out the true meaning of the sacraments.

We ask everyone in the parish to pray for the children as they prepare for their first confession, and we hope and pray that our children will make regular confessions throughout their lives. We also encourage parents and catechists to go to confession frequently to encourage our children by this good example.


FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Receiving Our Lord Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion, is indescribably powerful and moving. Every child should remember the day of his or her first reception of this life-changing gift, for the rest of their lives. As adults, we should strive to receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion with the same devotion as a child on their first Holy Communion. In our preparation course, we explore the deeper realities behind the miracle of the Mass, and begin to open up the door to this mystery. Children have a great capacity for transcendence, and we do not patronise them but hope to open their eyes to something wonderful, and something they will need to learn more about as they grow older.

Preparation for First Confession and First Communion is no longer done in the School. The `year 3` children come together once a month, after Sunday  Mass in the 9 months before they receive these sacraments, under the guidance of a team of catechists, in order to understand the true meaning of the sacraments.

You can help us if your child is due to make his or her first Confession and Communion, by volunteering to become a catechist. We ask everyone in the parish to pray for the children and for us.

We meet monthly from October until the weekend of receiving the 1st Holy Communion. Applications are open usually from to end of July To find out more contact Deacon Mike Belt.


MARRIAGE PREPARATION

Marriage preparation is conducted by the Priest or Deacon performing the marriage ceremony, and is done to suit the particular needs of the couple being married. In addition, the celebrant may recommend a one-day course run by Marriage Care.

For further details talk to the Priest or the Deacon conducting the ceremony.

Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass

The aim of CLOW is to provide the children of the Parish with the Gospel presented at a level appropriate to their age group, and an opportunity to discuss what it means and how it is applicable to their own life.

At the 9.30am Sunday morning Mass, the children invited up and are escorted from the church to the Parish Hall at the beginning of Mass, and we return for the offertory. 

We read the Gospel, or one of the readings from Mass at their own level. They talk about it and sometimes have an activity such as colouring a picture, which they take with them back to church and to their families. We have singing and signing and fun!

You can help by volunteering to help with any of the groups on a rota basis, training will be given to ensure you comply with our safeguarding practices and all team members are cleared under the DBS system.

There are no regular meetings, but leaders on the rota sometimes meet to plan their sessions. 
For further details contact the parish office.