Holy Day of Obligation: 
As we prepare for the Holy Day of Obligation for All Saints this week, please note that we will have a vigil Mass on Tuesday 31st October at 7.30pm and a Mass on All Saints Day, Wed 1st, at 9.30am with our Primary School in attendance in Church.
Fr Barnabas will also celebrate Mass at 7.30pm that evening at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Kingswood.
Parish Christmas Cards on sale
This year we will be selling packs of Christmas cards on behalf of St Augustine's Church, with any profit made going to the Friends of the Earth Charity.
The cards will feature a photo of the beautiful icon hanging in our church, of St Francis with the child Jesus, painted by Patrick Tossell.
They will be packs of 10 cards for £5. (This may be limited to 2 packs per household)
Look out for them on sale at our Countdown to Christmas event on Saturday 18th November, from 12noon until 3pm in the school hall.
** CONFIRMATION 2024**
The deadline to send in your application for joining the Confirmation programme in 2024 is 31st October, so that the course can be prepared, ready for January.
If you haven't yet picked up a form, please email the office asap.
bristol.staugustine@cliftondiocese.com
The deadline to send in your application for joining the Confirmation programme in 2024 is 31st October, so that the course can be prepared, ready for January.
If you haven't yet picked up a form, please email the office asap.
bristol.staugustine@cliftondiocese.com
Our neighbours are, once again, raising money for the Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal from Saturday 18th November.
***ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE*** 
Their big switch on will be at 5.30pm that day, to which we are all invited, and they will be closing the road so that the festivities can happen safely in the street.
If you are planning to come to Mass by car that evening you'll need to approach the church by the bungalow/Lytchet drive side (as the other side closest to the hill/Downend Sports Centre will be closed off for a while) and park in teh car parks. Plus, it could be quite busy so please take care when parking etc.
We wish them well with their fundraising efforts for such a good cause and we'll be able to enjoy the lights every time we visit or drive past the church each evening from that date.
BristolAid4Ukraine are still collecting items to be driven over to help in the region. Please see the poster for details of what is needed and where/when to take any donations - directly to their storage and sorting depot in Kingswood.
Thank you
Thank you
Day of Prayer for Peace:
The Parish Christmas Draw IS BACK!
Available from church this weekend, there are some great prizes to be won, both cash amounts and gifts!
All the profit raised from this Draw will be shared equally between our Girl Guiding Association, the Church funds, the School’s PTFA and our Pre-school, as our parish knows the importance of the education of the children within our School and of helping the many Parish groups to survive and thrive.
I would appreciate your support in selling them to family and friends to help us raise as much money as possible to benefit our community.
I am aware of the many financial commitments on us all at this time of year and very much appreciate people’s generosity.
The Draw will take place during refreshments in the Parish Hall after the ‘Carols by Candlelight’ Concert at 3pm on Sunday 10th December to which everyone is invited.
Good Luck !
Available from church this weekend, there are some great prizes to be won, both cash amounts and gifts!
All the profit raised from this Draw will be shared equally between our Girl Guiding Association, the Church funds, the School’s PTFA and our Pre-school, as our parish knows the importance of the education of the children within our School and of helping the many Parish groups to survive and thrive.
I would appreciate your support in selling them to family and friends to help us raise as much money as possible to benefit our community.
I am aware of the many financial commitments on us all at this time of year and very much appreciate people’s generosity.
The Draw will take place during refreshments in the Parish Hall after the ‘Carols by Candlelight’ Concert at 3pm on Sunday 10th December to which everyone is invited.
Good Luck !
Marriage
Bishop Declan invited all married couples and those engaged to be married from across the diocese to a Celebration of Marriage Mass at Clifton Cathedral on Saturday 14 October.
He celebrated the Mass for couples and their families who came together to mark a combined total of 1703 years of marriage!
https://cliftondiocese.com/news/celebration-of-marriage-mass-at-clifton-cathedral/
He celebrated the Mass for couples and their families who came together to mark a combined total of 1703 years of marriage!
https://cliftondiocese.com/news/celebration-of-marriage-mass-at-clifton-cathedral/
Cake sale
Please come along to treat yourself to a delicious cake, all in a good cause. Donations of cakes welcomed
Quiz fun!
On Sunday 22nd, we had nearly 80 people 'quizzing' for charity in our parish hall in aid of the Mike Proctor Foundation, our overseas parish project. We even had a video message from Mike Proctor, thanking us for our support.
The event, with its raffle, 'Head & Tails' game, half time pig racing and extra donations raised £750 for the cause.
Thanks to all who came and all who supported the event, especially Mike Ryan the Quiz Master, 'John the scoreboard', the team of markers and runners and Tim & Marie for helping with the refreshments and more. All involved had a great night.
For more information about the work the foundation does for vulnerable children in South Africa, please go to the website:
https://mikeprocterfoundationuk.org/
The event, with its raffle, 'Head & Tails' game, half time pig racing and extra donations raised £750 for the cause.
Thanks to all who came and all who supported the event, especially Mike Ryan the Quiz Master, 'John the scoreboard', the team of markers and runners and Tim & Marie for helping with the refreshments and more. All involved had a great night.
For more information about the work the foundation does for vulnerable children in South Africa, please go to the website:
https://mikeprocterfoundationuk.org/
Thanks for your Reflections for Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, Deacon Vincent.
1st Reading from the prophet Malachi 1: 14-2: 2, 8-10.
We are uncertain of the real name of the author of this last book in the Christian Old Testament. “Malachi” means “my messenger”. It is dated during the Persian period, after the re-building of the Temple. The author shares some of Nehemiah’s anxieties about priests who neglect their duties and fail to instruct the people, as well as people marrying unbelieving wives. The section we read today is dealing with the priests who are neglecting to worship God fittingly and misleading the people, as well as showing partiality in their administration. The author is challenged by God to castigate their behaviour and call them to return to God’s holy covenant made with our ancestors. It has a very current theme whereby the bad behaviour of the church leaders has brought about the disillusionment of the people. The opening passage could have been written yesterday, “An oracle of the word of the Lord over Israel (Ourselves), by the hand of his messenger; please take it to heart.”
Psalm 130.
A song of humble trust in the Lord. A very simple cry from the heart to hope in the Lord. We might recall it when we are feeling lost on our journey.
2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13.
Paul likens himself to a parent in his dealings with the Church, he constantly likens himself to a parent fostering his new birth, there is a great deal of love and tender care in this imagery. He also lets them know how hard he worked physically to support himself so as not to be a burden on his flock. Paul is giving a picture for them to follow in maintaining a unified and humble community, by a leadership of service rather than that of self-aggrandisement.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 23: 1-12.
This is a very stern assault upon the Pharisees, who were certainly not as awful as they are painted here. It is uncomfortable for the anti-Jewish sentiments which Christians have too often indulged in over the centuries by using such passages as these. First thing to remember that although Matthew’s gospel does express anti-Jewish sentiments in places, it is the most Jewish of the Gospels. It is an expression of two different kinds of Judaism. The criticisms levelled here are those which could be applied to many religious leaders of all faiths. Matthew is writing here as a warning for his own community, and by our study of this Gospel he is also, speaking to us. We must beware of falling into this same temptation.
May God Bless our endeavours to remain humble in the service of his people.
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. *
1st Reading from the prophet Malachi 1: 14-2: 2, 8-10.
We are uncertain of the real name of the author of this last book in the Christian Old Testament. “Malachi” means “my messenger”. It is dated during the Persian period, after the re-building of the Temple. The author shares some of Nehemiah’s anxieties about priests who neglect their duties and fail to instruct the people, as well as people marrying unbelieving wives. The section we read today is dealing with the priests who are neglecting to worship God fittingly and misleading the people, as well as showing partiality in their administration. The author is challenged by God to castigate their behaviour and call them to return to God’s holy covenant made with our ancestors. It has a very current theme whereby the bad behaviour of the church leaders has brought about the disillusionment of the people. The opening passage could have been written yesterday, “An oracle of the word of the Lord over Israel (Ourselves), by the hand of his messenger; please take it to heart.”
Psalm 130.
A song of humble trust in the Lord. A very simple cry from the heart to hope in the Lord. We might recall it when we are feeling lost on our journey.
2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13.
Paul likens himself to a parent in his dealings with the Church, he constantly likens himself to a parent fostering his new birth, there is a great deal of love and tender care in this imagery. He also lets them know how hard he worked physically to support himself so as not to be a burden on his flock. Paul is giving a picture for them to follow in maintaining a unified and humble community, by a leadership of service rather than that of self-aggrandisement.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 23: 1-12.
May God Bless our endeavours to remain humble in the service of his people.
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. *
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