Latest Newsletter

Here are the latest Newsletter and bulletin sheets for this coming weekend onwards.

Please remember to book your place at Mass in order for us to hold 'track & trace' information and to help us plan correctly for each Mass. Thank you to all who have been using the booking service.

CLICK HERE for the link:

 

CREATIONTIDE:

Catholic and Protestant leaders in Europe invite Christians to take part in the Season of Creation and to work together to protect our common home.

They point out that Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, underlines, “the urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development." They also stress Pope Francis’s appeal “for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.”

CREATIONTIDE runs from 1st September until 4th October, and during this time and beyond we are asked to pray for the planet, to do what we can to address the environmental issue around us that we can change and to encourage change in others.

LOOK OUT FOR LOTS OF INITIATIVES, spearheaded by our own Bella Harding who is a Laudato Si Animator!

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome #creationtide

INFO RE: Starting School?

"If you have a child born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, then now is the time to apply for a place at a primary school for admission from September 2021 onwards. You must complete an application form that is available from the school admissions team of the South Gloucestershire Council. If your child has been baptised and you are applying for a Catholic school, you must also provide a copy of the baptism certificate to the school. Please ensure you apply by the closing date of 15 January 2021."

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Could you be a School Governor?

The Diocese is seeking to recruit people to serve on school governing bodies. If you believe in Catholic education, have enthusiasm and commitment, then you can make a valuable contribution to the governing body of a Catholic school. It also provides the opportunity to use your life/work skills and experience, for the benefit of the children in our schools. If you think you could serve as a Foundation Governor then please contact bill.mcentee@cliftondiocese.com or 07710094976 for more information – he would be delighted to hear from you.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Jean Coombs, another outstanding member of the Not So Young Club receiving the Wooden Spoon of Pride for a perfect quiz round score - well done Jean!

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Newsletter time

Here are the newsletters, bulletin sheets and kids sheets for the next 2 weeks (due to staff annual leave).

Please remember to book in for the Mass you wish to attend as this is so helpful for our planning but more importantly, for any track and trace, should we have someone test positive in our community. Please continue to assist anyone who does not have internet access but wishes to attend. Thank you.

CLICK HERE to book.

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Congratulations Renee!

Congratulations to Renee who was awarded the Wooden Spoon of Cleverness from the chair of the Not So Young Club, after Mass last night for a perfect score on a recent quiz round! Well done Renee!

Reflections of God

On arrival at Church last night, the sun was shining through the stained glass windows. I just had to share it...The window and its colours shining on the opposite wall... just beautiful.

Staying strong in these times....

Have a look at these tips to boost your mood, posted by South Glos Council.

Looking out for each other in these uncertain times, making the best of, and being thankful for, whatever positivity we have in our lives and, of course, prayer, is a way we can all stay strong.

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Coronavirus Prayer Resources

"We believe in a God who hears our prayers and responds.

Today, pause and pray for God's kingdom to come in our world in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic."

To see the Coronavirus Prayer resources from 24-7 Prayer International, CLICK HERE

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

St Nicholas' Church - Inclusive Masses

St Nicholas' Church in Bristol is now able to recommence their monthly celebration of the Eucharist for LGBTQI+ Catholics, families, and friends.

All are welcome to this inclusive celebration of the Eucharist.

"The stories which some of those attending have shared with members of our team have shown very clearly just how necessary this ministry is. We are grateful to those of you who help to spread word of our events, you are helping to make a significant difference to the lives of those visit us."

Please contact St. Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church, Bristol for details or use the email address shown in the poster.

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Creationtide approaches....

In light of our parishioner, Bella Harding, joining the team of 'Laudato Si animators', and as we approach 'Creationtide', we will share posts from the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Clifton Diocese' Justice & Peace Commission.

We encourage you to look at their websites for reflections and actions to help the future of this beautiful planet.

CLICK HERE for the Global Catholic Climate Movement's page and CLICK HERE for the Clifton Diocese' Justice and Peace page

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Feast of St Lawrence

Happy Feast Day to Fr Jim, Deacon Vincent, the Sisters and all the parishioners in our neighbouring Church, St Lawrence, in Chipping Sodbury!

O God, giver of that ardour of love for you by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service and glorious in martyrdom, grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

The latest reflection from Bella Harding:

Dear all, I hope you are all well and keeping safe. I miss meeting as a community so much. However I am trying to use the time productively and have become one of the Diocese's handful of Laudato Si animators, doing a training course to help spread the ideas of Laudato Si and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development ( a mouthful I know).

This is starting a seven year rolling programme to enlist parishes into the celebration of Jubilee and the implementation of the insight of Laudato Si, to make our world a more just and sustainable environment. I know we as a parish, have done lots over the last year, but this is the time for even more transformation, especially at this time when so much is changing and being renewed. And the Season of Creation is coming up for us to really get moving!

The course is truly inspiring, with zoom webinars with so many people internationally, it broke the 'break out' facility, with presentations from people all over the world, but a particularly good one from Fr Joshtrom Kureethadam from the Dicastery. We have been invited to read Laudato Si, and rereading it I was struck forcibly by how prophetic it was five years ago, and how urgent it is that we act, so I am so glad that the church is really moving on this.

As part of our 'homeworks' (no rest for the wicked!) we were asked to take some quotes from Laudato Si, and since I know that many people don't have time or inclination to read vatican documents, I picked out some of what I think are really important points from the first four chapters. The course runs for another two weeks. See also attached if you would like to glance over it and think about what it might mean for our 'new normal', even though we have not yet got rid of the virus to 'get back' to anything!

Above all I ask you to pray, and there were two new insights on the course for prayer.

The first was applying Lectio Divina to the natural world: the process, as you know is

Lectio - to contemplate something in the natural world,

meditatio to observe it closely and what occurs to you,

oratio to listen to what God is saying and

contemplatio to rest in that thankful awareness. See an attachment that explains it much better than that.

There is also the Laudato Si chaplet, which involves praying as with Rosary beads, each prayer ten times, followed by the Glory Be.

So;

Praised be you, my Lord through Brother Air - when we can contemplate the importance of air for life, symbol of God

Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water - its importance for life and to signify God's action ie baptism

Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire - often an image of God's presence

Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Earth - which is the creation on which we depend.

You can alternate each one with a phrase like the Canticle of Daniel, 'To you glory and praise for evermore'.

I hope this is really lifegiving for you in your prayer and in all the struggles we face at the moment.

Incidentally this year has been dedicated to Laudato Si from May 2020 to May 2021, so apparently, we are specially privileged Laudato Si animators who will get a special award. All this just means I think the Church is really moving on this and I have great hopes...

Best wishes, Bella

Latest Newsletter

See attached the newsletter and bulletin sheets (inc kid's sheets) for this coming weekend/week.

PLEASE remember to book your place using the Eventbright link (CLICK HERE) for the Masses you would like to attend as not only does this help us with the planning/capacity but also acts as the track and trace information should we ever be contacted by the service. (Please assist anyone you know who wants to attend but does not have internet access, by booking for them or asking them to call us and we will make a note.) Thank you.

Prayers for recovery...

Please find a moment today to pray for the recovery of Lebenon after the devastating explosion in Beirut.

*Caution - this video from World Vision UK Television (click here) contains disturbing images*

Pray for those who have lost families, homes and hope.

Pray for those who are still in danger.

Pray for the decision makers - both the leaders in the country and those around the world who can help. Pray for mercy, compassion and wisdom as they deal with the crisis.

Pray for clergy, churches and non-government organisations that they can be equipped with all they need to bring aid in the region.

Pray for recovery.

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Prayer ideas from

24-7 Prayer

Are you missing singing hymns too?

An annual job in the office is to declare, to the Copyright companies, the hymn lyrics we have printed out in booklets for Masses, funerals, weddings etc which has reminded me today just how much I am missing singing hymns. Is anyone else missing them too?

... it reminded me of an interview the comedian Peter Kay did on Irish television years ago in which he was discussing hymns, especially the 'old favourites' from his childhood, he broke into song and the band joined in! I went searching for it and here it is... it's as funny as I remember!

CLICK HERE to watch - I think it is impossible not to join in!

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Canon Frank’s latest message for us all:

"Dear friends in Christ. We are living in the most unusual of times.

Since we were allowed to open our churches from early July, the coronavirus remains active in the world. Although we are very limited to the number of people allowed at Mass, never the less, there is hope and also a lovely spirit of prayer developing. The government appears to be constantly moving the goalposts, leading many people to be over-anxious. I ask all of us to try and remain positive. Be like the optimist who looks at the glass half full rather than the pessimist who looks at the glass half empty. As long as we do our best to follow the guidelines we don’t need to panic. God always cares for the people.

Thanks to all the volunteers who are helping to make the church building a safe place to pray in. The past has gone, be positive about the future. God bless you all.

Fr Frank."

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Evening Prayer

Thank you Martin, as ever, for sharing your music with us.

We pray with the hope that it won't be long until we can sing in Church together once again.

Apart, yet together. #churchathome

Parish Award!

Congratulations to Tom Wells who was (safely) awarded the wooden spoon of pride from Mike Ryan, chair of the Not So Young Club, after Mass last week, as Tom is an official 'clever clogs' getting 25 out of 25 on a recent quiz round! Well done Tom!

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Well done Peter!

Here is the final update from our fundraising parishioner, Peter Taylor. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU PETER on such a wonderful achievement! You are our own, much younger, Captain Tom!

"How is the 100-mile sponsored walk going? Week 4!

We made it!!!! This is the last of my updates, and I am delighted to tell you that I COMPLETED MY 100 MILE JOURNEY sometime last Thursday!!! My total this week was 24 miles making 110 miles altogether. Yay!!!!

We have raised an astonishing £940 so far for the school and its 50-year celebration. That is nearly twice what we set out to do – thanks to your generosity. Well done everyone who contributed. Thank you all SO MUCH!!!!!

A different direction… When I started this project, one of my two aims was to honour and encourage the amazing young people who are helping our planet stay safe by walking, cycling and scooting to school. Here is a story for them, and maybe for the rest of us as well. It is a true story, published in the Jesuit Missions Annual Review for 2019.

St Joseph’s Hurst Green, in Longridge near Preston, Lancashire is the oldest, and smallest Jesuit school in the country. It is a smaller primary school, like St. Augustines.

In 2019 Lynn and Theresa from the Jesuit Missions team visited the school, and the children heard from recycling enthusiasts, the Wombles of Wimbledon Common. Workshops followed to encourage the children to think about ways they could improve efforts to care for our common home.

After hearing from the Wombles, Jeannie Wilkinson, aged 9, wrote to the local Mayor, Steve Ashcroft, in May 2019, asking that he declare Longridge a plastic free town. She wrote:

“Plastic is a disaster for our planet, because it disintegrates but it doesn’t go away completely. After it is used, it goes in the ocean or landfill… We really must do something. I ask you to declare Longridge a plastic free town.”

Mr Ashcroft met with local councillors who agreed unanimously to do it, and the initiative was launched in October 2019. He said, “The key element is the involvement of the community. It’s not going to work otherwise.” So well done Jeannie for showing what a big difference a young person can make when they speak and act in a heartfelt, courteous way.

What is the project all about?

I have been raising money to help celebrate St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School’s 50th anniversary. Any surplus will be paid over to the school fund, to be spend at the Head Teacher, Mr Hilliam’s, discretion.

From Sunday 5th July to Monday 3rd August, I’ve undertaken a sponsored walk for 3.5 miles a day, Covid 19 and my creaking knees permitting, so that I cover over 100 miles over 30 days, in and around Winterbourne where I live. I’ve been issuing a weekly progress report to let you know how it’s going!

It’s never too late to donate (but it’s getting close)!! To do that, log in to this Just Giving Website below, and click on “Donate”. Make sure to modify the donation to JustGiving itself – it is pre-set to £4.50 or more! Anything from £0.05 to £0.30 should be ample!!

I hope you enjoyed the update! Peter."

JustGiving Website: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Peter-Taylor72

Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome

Up, up and away!

Good morning to you all.

... what a beautiful sight ... what a beautiful city we live in.

❤️