With Holy Week fast approaching we look forward to seeing you at Mass this weekend for Palm Sunday - Saturday 6pm or Sunday 9.30am - and at the Holy Week services, listed below.
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.
A message from the Diocese:
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 - Friday 23rd ~ 30th August 2024.
There is still time to book, to join us on the Pilgrimage.
For information of the hotels, we use and the Bristol to Toulouse Flight please contact Lourdes@cliftondiocese.com.
For assisted pilgrims, you can book via the Catholic Association — Assisted Pilgrims www.catholicassociation.co.uk/assisted-pilgrims . Flights for assisted pilgrims are available from Birmingham and London Stansted.
The Catholic Association are also looking for volunteer helpers, doctors / nurses, young helpers (17-25), musicians, fund raisers, Subsidies available. for more information please complete the online form at CA Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 - Expression of Interest (jotform.com) www.catholicassociation.co.uk/stage
.... save the date, people! More details to follow....
Thanks to Deacon Vincent for his Reflections for Palm Sunday Year B
1st Holy Gospel according to Mark 11: 1-10. At last Jesus comes to Jerusalem, entering from the desert side as the predicted direction the Messiah would come. Jesus arranges a colt to be fetched; they throw their cloaks over the colt for him to ride, and so the triumphal entry begins. There is an air of excitement, garments are laid on the ground in front of him as well as leafy branches. The crowd begin to sing from psalm 118, verses 25 & 26. It is worth noting that, “Hosanna” is Hebrew for “please save us”, there is an expectancy of Jesus leading the nation to liberty from the Roman oppression. However, this is not how Jesus will liberate us, he will not lead a military revolt, but a spiritual liberation from all oppression into a new life of conformity with God.
1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 50: 4-7. This the third song of the “Suffering Servant”, and it is easy to see how the early Christians used this text as a way of understanding the appalling fate that had befallen Jesus. We are being prepared for the reading of Christ’s passion.
Psalm 21: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24. Our response is the opening line of this psalm. It is a cry to be delivered from suffering. The song describes the terrible trauma of crucifixion but ends with a cry of victory. This psalm Jesus cries out from his cross. Those standing by know this psalm hence they are wondering if God will come and save him.
2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2: 6-11. In Paul’s letter he is addressing a problem of disunity among the Philippians, and this passage is urging them to have the same attitude as Jesus. If we empty ourselves, regarding others as superior, then we build solidarity within the community. As always Paul urges us to become more like his beloved Jesus. We cannot tell whether this hymn was composed by Paul or part of an existing liturgy, but it is the most beautiful theological description Jesus and remains a firm favourite among Christians.
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 14: 1-15, 47.
In contrast with the plotting of the religious leaders and the small mindedness of Jesus’ fellow guests the woman is obviously the heroine of the story. Jesus interprets her anointing him as Messiah as an anointing for his burial, so sets the tone for our reading of the Passion. The Passover Meal is a very solemn and disturbing affair with the prediction of his betrayal by one of them, nor does the mood lift very much as he takes the bread and wine and says, “This is my body ….. this is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for many.” This sounds like death is stalking Jesus. They sing hymns then retire to the Mountain of Olives. Then Jesus warns them that they are on the point of deserting him, but they protest they will never leave him. We witness the loneliness of Jesus as he prays that the cup should pass him bye, there is no answer, but he has obviously experienced something for Jesus is the only one to walk tall after this moment. The Sanhedrin finds evidence against Jesus, when Jesus answers the High Priest’s question, “Are you the Messiah?”, Jesus answers “I AM”, and so becomes victim to the charge of blasphemy. His loneliness becomes utter when Peter denies him three times. Peter weeps for his frailty. Jesus is taken before Pilate who reluctantly agrees to his death on the cross. We witness his journey to Golgotha and his very lonely death on the cross. We hear the verdict on his death, the veil of the Temple is torn in two from top to bottom. That is God’s comment on the part played by the Temple authorities on Jesus’ death. The Centurion’s verdict is even more remarkable, “Truly this man was Son of God.” The climax of Mark’s Gospel is extraordinary, after such a terrible death this is a very different Messiah, but he is Messiah and Son of God, nonetheless.
What an amazing Messiah we have in Jesus.
Let us always Praise and Glorify Him.
Deacon Vincent
1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 50: 4-7. This the third song of the “Suffering Servant”, and it is easy to see how the early Christians used this text as a way of understanding the appalling fate that had befallen Jesus. We are being prepared for the reading of Christ’s passion.
Psalm 21: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24. Our response is the opening line of this psalm. It is a cry to be delivered from suffering. The song describes the terrible trauma of crucifixion but ends with a cry of victory. This psalm Jesus cries out from his cross. Those standing by know this psalm hence they are wondering if God will come and save him.
2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2: 6-11. In Paul’s letter he is addressing a problem of disunity among the Philippians, and this passage is urging them to have the same attitude as Jesus. If we empty ourselves, regarding others as superior, then we build solidarity within the community. As always Paul urges us to become more like his beloved Jesus. We cannot tell whether this hymn was composed by Paul or part of an existing liturgy, but it is the most beautiful theological description Jesus and remains a firm favourite among Christians.
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 14: 1-15, 47.
In contrast with the plotting of the religious leaders and the small mindedness of Jesus’ fellow guests the woman is obviously the heroine of the story. Jesus interprets her anointing him as Messiah as an anointing for his burial, so sets the tone for our reading of the Passion. The Passover Meal is a very solemn and disturbing affair with the prediction of his betrayal by one of them, nor does the mood lift very much as he takes the bread and wine and says, “This is my body ….. this is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for many.” This sounds like death is stalking Jesus. They sing hymns then retire to the Mountain of Olives. Then Jesus warns them that they are on the point of deserting him, but they protest they will never leave him. We witness the loneliness of Jesus as he prays that the cup should pass him bye, there is no answer, but he has obviously experienced something for Jesus is the only one to walk tall after this moment. The Sanhedrin finds evidence against Jesus, when Jesus answers the High Priest’s question, “Are you the Messiah?”, Jesus answers “I AM”, and so becomes victim to the charge of blasphemy. His loneliness becomes utter when Peter denies him three times. Peter weeps for his frailty. Jesus is taken before Pilate who reluctantly agrees to his death on the cross. We witness his journey to Golgotha and his very lonely death on the cross. We hear the verdict on his death, the veil of the Temple is torn in two from top to bottom. That is God’s comment on the part played by the Temple authorities on Jesus’ death. The Centurion’s verdict is even more remarkable, “Truly this man was Son of God.” The climax of Mark’s Gospel is extraordinary, after such a terrible death this is a very different Messiah, but he is Messiah and Son of God, nonetheless.
What an amazing Messiah we have in Jesus.
Let us always Praise and Glorify Him.
Deacon Vincent
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