We are regularly getting approx 170-200 people attending Mass over the week - this is a wonderful amount and so lovely to see so many of our parishioners who are now able to attend in person.
Remember, there is no Sunday obligation so you can attend Mass at any of the times of the week (so as to spread the numbers across the week to allow for the reduced capacity)
If you are able to attend Mass, please use the Eventbright link to read all the instructions for how Mass now operates/what to expect and then please book your place at the Mass of your choice so we can gauge numbers accordingly.
May God bless you all.
Newsletter:
Go to the Newsletter section of the website to see this weekend's bulletin and cover sheets...
Track and Trace
The Government's Track n Trace system is in place and we have our QR code ready for you to scan on arrival to 'check in' - find a poster on entry to the church to scan (we have put up a couple to make them easy to find and use). Here is the Government's latest message:
"The NHS COVID-19 app is the quickest way to help protect the people you love from coronavirus. It is completely anonymous, so you can protect others as well as your privacy. The app helps keep you and your data safe. Download it now from:
As Creationtide comes to an end, this weekend, here is the latest Reflection from Bella Harding...
"Happy Feast of St Francis and congratulations to so many of you that I know about and many more that I don't. You are *Champions of 'Saints and Sinners'* this Creationtide, because you took steps to reduce your carbon footprint right now.
Some people, Fr Frank among them, will not have used the same amount of petrol as we have not been traveling so much. Some have installed solar panels, many exchanged fruit and vegetables and plants from our harvests, many have holidayed at home instead of flights abroad, due to coronavirus but still, many have enjoyed walking in the local green areas, praying in the open, have prayed Laudato Si and taken it to heart, many have written to their MPS, demonstrated, reduced their shopping and made sure it is local, been careful in the use of water, and what they eat, have volunteered and donated to food banks and to CAFOD in solidarity with the poor worldwide. So thank you all, for all that you have done this Creationtide. Please award yourself this virtual rosette, and promise yourself that you will continue on this lifegiving path for ourselves and the planet. "
Thanks to Bella for once again spearheading such an active Creationtide Campaign for our Parish, albeit, this year, in a different way!
Pope Francis' latest Tweet
"If you live in the Downend, Emersons Green and Frenchay area in #SouthGlos and
- would like to hear what is happening in your area, - would like to raise any concerns that you have about your community, or
- would like to meet with representatives from the council and key organisations such as Avon & Somerset Police and voluntary & community groups.
Attend our virtual community engagement forums on MS teams on Wednesday 7th October 7-8pm.
Your voice counts towards shaping your community.
To request to join the meeting please email communityengagement@southglos.gov.uk
Congratulations Fr Thomas Lawes! Clifton Diocese welcomed a new Priest last week at his ordination in Clifton Cathedral.
Gospel of the Day (St Luke 9:46-50)
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side
and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
Pope Francis on Twitter:
What are you grateful for today?
Grassroots Suicide Prevention Charity posted this lovely message today...
"Did you know practising gratitude can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing? Research has shown expressing gratitude helps people reduce stress, improve their health, better cope with adversity, and build strong relationships."
We will now return to posting the weekly newsletter into the 'Newsletter' section of this website, rather than onto this latest news, hompage.
Click the tab for 'Newsletters' and you will see a link to view all the colour front page sheets (with the readings info and commentary) and then dated, weekly updates to show the inside 'Newsletter' information with Mass times, updates etc.
Preschool Vacancies Our lovely, friendly Preschool is currently recruiting! This is a great opportunity for new employment in the area. So if you know anyone who is looking for work please pass this on to them or share this post so they can spread the word widely and get the best candidates for the job.
See individual post information below.
🔹Preschool Manager
🔸Administrator
🔹Cleaner
🔸Relief Assistant
Pope Francis on Twitter:
Novena for the Planet
The Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales have published CAFOD's new Novena to St Francis ~ Nine brief reflections asking St Francis of Assisi to pray for us and our world, based on his beautiful Canticle of the Sun.
We would love to share those together with you over the next week... here are the first and second reflections...
Memories from the Parish
Thank you to Mary Daly for sharing this great photo of Bishop Moses. How lovely to see Vera's smiling face again too. (She was never happier than when she was looking after 'her Priests'.)
We love to see photos from the past from our parish events, special Masses etc... Feel free to send them to us if you have a treasured photo to share...
CAFOD's Family Fast Event this Autumn is raising awareness of how the world needs help, more than ever, due to the effects of COVID.
"This Harvest, we are launching a series of online events around Family Fast Day from 8-11 October so that we can come together and bring hope and help to those who are most in need. This is a Harvest like no other as many families face chronic food shortages, malnutrition and poverty as the result of coronavirus. With your support, we can help people all over the world rebuild their lives."
Visit the CAFOD website (CAFOD.org.uk) for online events, prayer resources to use and share and to make a donation if you are able to.
Watch their short video to show how they are trying to help around the world...
World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
On Sunday 27 September the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
For the theme of his message this year, Pope Francis chose “Like Jesus Christ, Forced to Flee”, calling us to see the face of God in migrants and refugees. He also made a special appeal for the world's 45.7 million internally displaced people.
Watch a zoom conversation lead by Bishop Paul McAleenan...
As the season of Creationtide continues, this Friday sees an online 'Climate Strike' day of action and awareness...
If you would like to show your solidarity with those who care for the planet's future, feel free to follow this link for all the information.
~
"On Friday, September 25th participate in the #ClimateStrike! How to do it? Follow these steps; Download this poster, print it and write your message, take a picture with it and publish it on social media with the hashtags #SeasonOfCreation#ClimateAction#ClimateStrike"
The Feast of St Matthew ~ 21st September O God, who with untold mercy were pleased to choose as an Apostle Saint Matthew, the tax collector, grant that, sustained by his example and intercession, we may merit to hold firm in following you. 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
'Saying Goodbye' ~ Baby Loss Support
Following St Augustine's involvement with the Mariposa Trust's 'Saying Goodbye' services last year we are happy to promote the details of their upcoming services both online, and in the South West area.
Please visit their Facebook page or website for all the details of venues, to book tickets to an event and for more information on how they can help anyone going through the pain of baby loss.
We stand in loving support with all bereaved parents who have lost babies at any stage or age. May their souls rest in peace.
" 'Saying Goodbye', (part of the Mariposa Trust) are coming back to several venues in October with a Baby loss support remembrance and support service (part of a Nationwide chain of events). Due to Covid-19 this is not a traditional service but we are happy to be able to bring a service to bereaved parents in your area.
The Mariposa Trust’s core objective is to support people who have lost babies at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy. It was founded in 2012, by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, who saw a critical lack of support for people like them, who had gone through baby loss. With over 258,000 babies being lost yearly in the UK alone, the charity needed to be able to offer not only a comprehensive package of befriending and support but also national baby loss remembrance services (called Saying Goodbye Services), for people to join together and remember the children they had lost. 5 years on over 120 services have taken place at Cathedrals and Minsters across the UK, US, and France, and 2020 will see services across England, Wales, and Scotland, Covid-19 permitting."
~
10 Years a Saint for John Henry Newman
10 years ago, in Birmingham, Pope Benedict presided over the beatification of Cardinal Newman.
“To live is to change, and to change often is to become more perfect.” Cardinal H Newman
Creationtide 2020
CAFOD ~ We continue to pray for all those around the world, who are struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. Let us foster respect and solidarity with others, especially those who are weak and poor, as we rebuild our world.
To mark the tenth anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has shared his memories of the historic four-day visit.
The Apostolic Journey took place from 16 to 19 September 2010.
“There are many highlights that stand out in my mind. One was the drive down the great road approaching Buckingham Palace – The Mall – decorated on either side with papal flags and Union Jacks. Packed with people on both sides.
"It was a sight I thought I would never see. A warm, rapturous welcome to the Pope of Rome in this country, which has, for the last 400 years, struggled with its understanding of its relationship to the Catholic Church.”
How many of us were able to see the Pope while he was here?
Our Diocese 'put a coach on' to see Pope Benedict in Birmingham - a wet day, an early start but a fantastic event to be at! We would love you to share your memories of the visit with us...
Bulletins for this coming weekend:
The Global Catholic Climate Movement:
"Would you like to take care of the environment but don't know how to start? On the occasion of the #SeasonOfCreation we are sharing with you 10 saints whose passion and love for God's creation can motivate you to take action for our common home.
Which Saint would you ask for his or her intercession and advice?"
Thank you to Bella for another lovely Reflection. "Hello again, hoping all are well and safe despite the fears of an increase in the virus we are in God's hands and he knows what he is doing.
I invite you to really thank God for the beauty of the world, and for all the good that is being achieved, all the kindness and neighbourliness, and for our sincere repentance for all the less good things we have discovered and have been tolerating. There is so much that is positive going on in this Season of Creation.I enclose lots of things to read and think about, and some ideas of what we can do. This is a real Kairos moment or moment of opportunity.
The Bishops of England and Wales issued this important statement for the Season of Creation:
The Pope has also been using his weekly Wednesday audiences, at first socially restricted to the Vatican Library but streamed worldwide, to teach us about healing the world in this time of Coronavirus. It is a series that begins on 2nd August and continues even now. The theme of the Pope's development of Laudato Si is Jubilee, and he is about to bring out another Encyclical, Tutti Fratelli, which in Italian means all are brothers and sisters, which means all life on earth. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/papal-audience.html
Read Pope Francis' messages delivered during his Papal Audiences. Vatican News: the official news source of the Holy See.
www.vaticannews.va
These are very exciting times, but we are only just in time if we react right now, as David Attenborough told us, with many other notable experts in his film this week, Extinction The Facts.
With a million species at risk of extinction, David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, including putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases ...
www.bbc.co.uk
This is a profoundly moving, positive, hopeful and motivating analysis of the things happening in our world, and how we can stop it getting worse. I was in tears from start to finish. It deals effectively with many of the arguments about what we can and must do.
Parliament is also going to debate importantly the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill which you can read about here:
This Saturday is a day for Beach Clean up. Since we cannot meet socially, I invite you to do your bit by doing a little litter picking in the area of your choice, while thanking God for the beauty of our world which is ravaged by our lack of care.
I also invite you to make a special effort to say a grace before you eat or drink anything since all is a gift from God.
I hope you get much enjoyment and inspiration from some of these websites and videos, and I wish you all the happiness of the Season of Creation. Don't forget to share your surplus garden or allotment produce at the church in celebration of the Harvest.
Today marks the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Dating back to the 12th century, this feast date is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, her compassion, and the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus.
Radio Bristol shared this amazing photo today, taken by a viewer, of the stunning sunrise in our lovely city.
Please help spread the word about our wonderful Primary School to anyone with children of school age. The open days start soon to look round the brilliant facilities - appointments needed. Call the school to register.
In this season of Creationtide, remember to pray for the recovery of the planet and for those whose lives are made difficult by economic or environmental pressures.
What else can we do to help?
Another idea is to donate an item to our local foodbank... see the poster below for details of what is needed and where to drop your donation.
Office space available in Bishopston, Bristol, close to the Gloucester Road! A great alternative to working from home: Offices for one person up to a small team. We have the perfect space for you! Get in touch for info" CLICK HERE to go to their website
Our Parishioner, Clare Davis, who is a trainer for mental health first aid in the workplace, has set up a "Mental Health Chats" channel on youtube. It features discussions with experts, information, and tips on healthy wellbeing. (Find it here to watch and subscribe)
*Be aware that this post includes the topic of suicide*
We are sharing this discussion she posted from August, in which she chats to another of our parishioners, Sue Mulrenan, an emergency ambulance care assistant, about the subject of suicide and what we could do if ever faced with the prospect of someone who is contemplating taking their own life. As our parish project this year is 'Grassroots', the suicide prevention charity, and following the widespread success of suicide prevention day, we are keen to promote groups and services that offer assistance with healthy wellbeing wherever we can.
