Look out for all the Advent and Christmas events - see the calendar plus the Advent ideas sheet:
Celebrate have created a fantastic Advent Family pack, full of ideas, reflections, songs, book recommendations, videos, films to watch, prayers and much more.
The Parish has made a donation to Celebrate so please use this link to go to their website and download the pack and find some new things for your families to do this Advent.
Christmas Mass Time for our Parishes in Communion.Wed 24th December ~ Christmas Eve*3.30pm Carols & 4pm Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood.*6pm Family Vigil Mass here at St Augustine’s*6pm Vigil at St Paul’s, Yate *9pm Carols & 9.30 Night Mass here at St Augustine’s*Midnight Mass at St Paul’sThursday 25th December*9am Mass of Christmas Day here at St Augustine’s *9am at St Lawrence, Chipping Sodbury*10.30am at Our Lady of Lourdes *11am at St Paul’s
Missio ~ Please could all holders of red mission boxes bring them for emptying, giving them either to Peter Mason or leaving in the sacristy for collection. Thank you for your continued support.https://missio.org.uk/
VACANCY ~ at our lovely Preschool.
We are looking for a Qualified Member of staff to join our wonderful Preschool team, 2 or 3 days per week. Term time only.
Please Contact the preschool Manager, Kelly on 0117 9561166 or email: staugustinesstaff@gmail.com for more information.
Chaplaincy Report
On the 20th of November 2025, Bishop Bosco commissioned 478 pupils to become members of the chaplaincy teams in their schools. The readings were based on the Jubilee Year of Hope. The schools were each given a pilgrim’s shell, and all pupils were given a special Jubilee passport to stamp at the Cathedral.
During the homily Bishop Bosco talked about the role of the Chaplaincy team. He said they had been entrusted with something sacred, Christ’s mission to bring hope into their schools. He explained that one small thing, one act of kindness such as opening a door for someone, saying thank you, praying for someone, helping them and showing others kindness spreads like sunshine shining through clouds.
Bishop Bosco encouraged the chaplaincy teams to return to school and show peace and forgiveness, care for creation and be a ‘People of Hope.’
See the report and photos of the day here.
https://cliftondiocese.com/news/chaplaincy-commissioning-mass/
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Our wonderful children shared their 'Good News' with Helen, Odion and the other kids at the weekend when out at their Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) session, during Mass.
On the 3rd Sunday of Advent they learnt about Jesus being the one who will bring the Good News to the poor and so they were asked what their Good News was... 1 child has seen the Santa truck, another had gone to a wedding, 1 was excited to eat turkey, someone's brother has finally got well after having chicken pox and (apparently with no prompting!) that Jesus is going to be born!
The future of our Parish is in safe hands!
If you are coming to Mass with your kids on a Sunday morning, there will be a CLOW session in the hall during the first part of the Mass, for them to learn about the Gospel of the day in children's language with songs and activities, led by a team of CLOW helpers (all DBS checked). All children are welcome to join in - come on out with them at the start of Mass if they are still little.
Retrouvaille helps marriages. It can bring hope and healing to relationships.
Next date: 12th February 2026.
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Deacon Vincent's Reflections Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A
1st Reading the Prophet Isaiah 7: 10-14.
The Hebrew word here means “young woman of marriageable age.” The Greek translator uses the
word, “virgin” to transpose the meaning and that enables Matthew to cite this passage as a prediction of Jesus’ virgin birth. In its original text it might have referred to a Royal Princess, or perhaps Isaiah’s wife, however when God speaks for today it can also be applied to a plan that is in mind further into
the future. Whatever; God allows Matthew to use this quote of Isaiah to emphasise the spiritual nature of Jesus’ conception. We must remember that the early Christians trawled the Old Testament for references to Jesus coming and the way he developed in accordance with God’s plan for his Son.
Psalm 24(23): 1-6
A song concerning God’s entry into the Sanctuary, notice how the composer always associates God as the creator of the earth, its fruits and all who dwell upon it and in it. This world belongs to God; we are only tenants!
2nd Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 1: 1-7.
This opening of Paul’s most difficult and majestic epistle. In Greek it is a single sentence, so you can just imagine Paul dictating to his secretary who is struggling to keep up with Paul’s expanded opening to this letter. It sets out Paul’s store for the thrust of the letter. Paul introduces himself as a slave of Jesus
Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God. Paul will expand upon these themes as the document unfolds. It will trace the prophets’ promises of a coming Messiah, God’s son is traced through descent from David, he will touch on the power that makes a difference one can feel, and of course there is no gospel without the Resurrection. Gentiles are also called; the unconditional love of God is even on offer to non-Jews. The final blessing, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”, is full of profound theological weight. Now we are encouraged to read on and see how these themes are teased out in the rest of the letter.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-24.
Mary is extraordinarily found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit before she and Joseph
come together as man and wife; God is the Father of this child. Joseph’s
reaction shines a light upon what a descent fellow God has selected to look after his Son and the Mother Mary. Joseph is anxious to avoid Mary being stoned to death by a public scandal. Joseph, then has his first dream, whereby an Angel tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife for the child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit, his name is to be Jesus (Saviour), because he will save his people. Matthew asserts that God oversees events here. The quote from Isaiah is given in Greek for that version refers to Mary as a virgin, so Matthew’s community must have been familiar with Greek as well as Aramaic or Hebrew. Then we have Matthew apply the term “Emmanuel” a word that means “God with us”. It is no surprise when Joseph faithfully and precisely obeys his instructions, for that is what a “just man” is supposed to do in Matthew’s Gospel.
God grace us to be “Just people”, as the Gospel asks of us. Deacon Vincent.
