This week's News

Starting School?

If you have a child born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, then now is the time to apply for a place at a primary school for admission from September 2025 onwards. You must complete an application form that is available from the school admissions team of 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 2025.

We’ve got some exciting news to share with you from our school's PTFA.

Parentkind – a charity that supports school PTAs - have teamed up with Asda, who is making millions of pounds available to donate to primary schools across the UK through their ‘Cashpot for Schools’ initiative. To support our PTA, all you have to do is opt-in through the Asda Rewards app, choose our school, shop and scan in store or shop online at Asda.com.

It’s as easy as 1,2,3
1. Download the Asda Rewards app, register and opt-in to Cashpot for Schools (make sure you have the latest version of the app installed)
2. Choose our Primary School – either searching by name or postcode
3. Shop instore across Asda and George, or online at Asda.com and start filling your Cashpot as you shop
Asda does the rest, all money raised will be donated to schools to spend on the things they need the most. We are aiming to spend our donations on further Ipads for the children.
Between 2nd September and 30th November 2024 – every time you shop with Asda using your Asda Rewards app, Asda will donate 0.5% of the value of your shop to your chosen Primary school. Also, every time somebody opts-in to support our Primary school, Asda will give an additional £1 to the school Cashpot. Plus, it doesn’t stop there – Asda are also giving £50 to every school to get them started.
Remember, anyone can sign up – so start spreading the news and raising funds for our school.

It's back! 😃 Sunday 20th October - from 7pm - get your team of 'about 6' together and come along to another fun Quiz Night ("A Simple Quiz for Simple People!") with Mike Ryan and gang, raising money for our 2 parish projects, Brandon Trust and Little Sisters of the Poor St Joseph’s Care Home Bristol .
Just £5 pp to enter and with a raffle, games and cuppas on sale it will be another brilliant night out together. (Don't forget your pound coins for the famous 'heads n tails' game)
BYO drinks and nibbles for your table and get revising some very general knowledge!
Tickets on sale after Mass or from the parish office.

Thanks Deacon Vincent for your reflections for Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

1st Reading from the book of Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20.
Early Christians would have immediately looked at these verses and instantly have thought of those who persecuted Jesus to death, for it aligns with the Gospel narratives. The authorities whilst proclaiming their loyalty to God, saw in Jesus an annoying virtuous man. They were unable to find any fault to lay on him, so lets’ put him to the test, the ultimate test, lets’ kill him. Jesus, the Word, is the real virtuous man and they hate him; was it jealousy, or fear he would stir up trouble with the Romans, and their livelihoods would be at stake? Whatever their motive, here in Wisdom is a perfect picture of their actions. Once again there is an echo in the New Testament from the Old Testament. The two Testaments are interwoven.

Psalm53: 3-6, 8.
A song to God my helper. Following on from our first reading, this song relates how God upholds the virtuous man, whether in the here and now or in the future, God will rectify the wrong inflicted upon his virtuous followers. God is very near to his people; they are never abandoned. This is a wonderful song of hope in a just God.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. James 3: 16-4: 3.
There are strong links with Paul to the Galatians here in the listing of the virtues from above and the opposed views from below. Above comes from God, and below from the evil one. The reference to “Peacemakers” could be linked with the seventh beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount. James is carefully interweaving other sources into his letter to give greater emphasis to what is being proclaimed. It is laying out true wisdom and how to avoid future troubles in the community. This is a very pastoral letter that James has composed for his people.

The Holy Gospel according to Mark 9: 30-37.
This is the second time that Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, but they haven’t the foggiest idea of what he is telling them, but they do not have the bottle to ask him what he is meaning. They seem more interested in seeking out the number one Apostle amongst them. Jesus needs to stop this sort of talk amongst his chosen men. If you wish to be the leader, you must be the servant of all. Anyone who welcomes a little one in Jesus’ name welcomes Jesus himself, but more than this he welcomes the one who sent Jesus; God himself. As we look at any stranger, we need to understand that God has been there first, we are in fact looking at God in each other. That way we will always respect each other and treat each other with care. This is the Gospel life, illustrated for us in each of the passages of the Holy Gospels. So, we go from Gospel to life and life to Gospel.

God, grace us to find you in each other, and grant us “Peace”. Deacon Vincent