This week's news

The countdown to the 'Countdown to Christmas' is on!


Could you donate a prize (or 2) for our Tombola stalls?
If you are able to buy, or have around the house, a new, unopened bottle or box of chocs or unwanted gift, we would LOVE to have a few more prizes for our tombola stalls....

If you are able to help please pop donations to the parish office.

Many thanks for your support.




Dilexi te – Pope Leo XIV’s first papal document: Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Exhortation sees the love of Christ incarnated in love for the poor, in caring for the sick, opposing slavery, defending women who experience exclusion and violence, making education available to all, accompanying migrants, charitable giving, working for equality and more. With this document, signed on 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo situates himself firmly on the path laid out by his predecessors from St Pope John XXIII through to Pope Francis.



Saying Goodbye, (part of Mariposa International (SG)) are coming to Wiltshire next month with a very special Baby loss remembrance and support service (part of an international chain of events).  

Mariposa International (SG)'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. 

13 years on, over 220 services have taken place at Cathedrals and Minsters across the UK, US, and France, and 2025 will see 25 services across England, Wales, Ireland, France and the US. 
On the 22nd November at 4pm in Malmesbury Cathedral, we will be hosting one of our Saying Goodbye Services and as this is the most local service to you this year, we wanted to share this information with you.
So who is the service for?
Anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members' or friends' loss.  Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend. We have also extended the services, and gladly welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven't had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility, or for other reasons - but all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is truly a family event for all.
We know that as 1 in 4 women suffer miscarriage and baby loss, you will have contact with a significant number of people who have either personally suffered baby loss, or who have a partner or family member that has, so we wanted to ask if you would help us in promoting the service.
 To read more on the charity, please see the Saying Goodbye website, which you can find at: www.sayinggoodbye.org

A message from the Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People at the Vassall Centre, Fishponds.
"We have yet another fantastic event in store for hard of hearing people. ‘Living with Hearing Loss Event’, there will be Lip-reading & BSL taster sessions, workshops and free hearing checks & hearing aid servicing. This event is for hard of hearing people, which will have live captions. If you, or anyone that you know is hard of hearing, and/or wanting to live well with their hearing loss, please do get in touch with CfD to reserve your place for the event.
The event link is: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-with-hearing-loss-tickets-1757947902499?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Parish Christmas Draw IS BACK!
Tickets are 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.
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 7th December to which everyone is invited.
Good Luck !


Quiz thanks!
Thanks to all who came along and supported the Quiz night in aid of our 2 Parish Projects (Chhanv Foundation and our Parish development fund) It was a really fun night for all (even with the singing!) with worthy winners and celebratory wine and a 'best endeavours' team with their wooden spoons!
Thanks to Mike and gang for all the hard work to make the 3rd Quiz of 2025 such a success, raising £661.18 to be split between the 2 projects.




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This week's News

Taster evening at St Augustine's Parish.
Please share with anyone who you think might be curious....
On Friday 17th October we will have a meeting for anyone who might be interested in the Catholic Church.
This will follow the 7.30pm Mass in the Church and the meeting will be from 8-9pm in the Parish Hall next door.
...... even if you are just being curious, please do come along. We'd love to meet you.
Fr Barnabas. 


Daily Rosary for Peace at St Augustine's.

Pope Leo invited Catholics across the globe

to unite & pray the Rosary for peace in war-torn lands during October, the month the Church dedicates to the Holy Rosary.
“I invite everyone, each day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace—personally, in the family, and in community,” he said.
Our Legion of Mary will offer Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & the saying of the Rosary in church, for approx 20 minutes, every day of October, should you wish to pray your rosary with others.
This will be at the following times:
Mondays at 12noon
Tuesdays at 7pm
Wednesday at 12noon
Thursdays at 9.30am
Fridays at 7pm (not 24th Oct due to a funeral)
Saturdays at 5.30pm
& Sundays at the end of 9.30am Mass.

All are welcome to come along for prayer and reflection at this troubled time for the world.
Click here for the Vatican news page


CONFIRMATION 2026: 

Applications are now open for any students of secondary school age who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next year. 

Pick up a form from the back of church or email the parish for a copy & return it to the parish office by end of Oct, so the 2026 course can be planned based on numbers.

Volunteers needed...

We'd love a few more volunteers to help make our 'Countdown to Christmas' event as successful as possible

1) anyone fancy helping set up on Friday 14th Nov in the school at 4pm until about 6pm? We'll need a goo few hands to get tables moved and set up, things brought over from the garages etc...
2) anyone free during the day (Sat 15th) to help run a stall? We have 1 stall still to find volunteers for...
All offers greatly appreciated and you will get a wonderful reward! ...well, as Fr Franks always says, we run on the 'God Bless You' reward system!

Please contact Bernadette in the office if you have some time to help us out.


Primary School Admissions for 2026-27

If you have a child born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, then now is the time to apply for a school place for admission from September 2026 onwards. You must complete the application form that is available from the School Admissions team of South Gloucestershire Council. Please visit the school admissions page of the LA website to access their online 2026-27 Reception Intake online application form (or contact them to request a paper form).
If your child is Catholic, you should also provide a copy of the baptism certificate to your preferred Catholic school. If your child is of another denomination or faith, please see the school’s admission arrangements for details of the oversubscription criteria and required supporting evidence. Admission arrangements and Supplementary Information Forms are available from our schools’ websites & offices.
Please ensure you apply by the closing date of 15 January 2026. If you miss the closing date (and/or forget to provide your preferred Catholic school with a copy of your child’s baptism certificate (if applicable), it may reduce the chances of being offered a place – so please do it as soon as possible!

*St Augustine's Catholic Primary School is holding Open Days starting this week. Contact the school to book a place*


Gifts for the children and soldiers of Ukraine

Please consider supporting 1 or both of the following appeals for gifts.

1) 'Shoe Box for the soldiers' appeal - simple but welcomed gifts you can put inside your shoe box such as:
• Warm socks, gloves, hand warmers, hats in dark colours
• Hygiene items (toothpaste, wipes, lip balm)
• Medical (painkillers, multivitamins, antivirals, plasters, first aid items, antiseptic)
• Treats (chocolate, coffee sachets, nuts, energy bars, cup-a-soups, noodles)
• Power banks, head torches, pocket games such as chess, sudoku
• Add a short note or Christmas card — these messages of support often mean the most.
Please avoid - Liquids, alcohol, sharp items, or perishable is foods.
Please wrap the box and lid separately, secure with string/elastic bands and label it for the soldiers - drop off at St Augustine's Church or Presbytery before the deadline of 10th November.

2) We are also offering to be a drop off point if you would like to wrap up a new gift for a child and label it so it can be handed out in Ukraine.
Good ideas for gifts would be toys which do not need batteries (unless also able to supply them too), soft toys, edible treats with a long enough date, puzzles etc.
Please steer clear of books in English as would limit who can enjoy them and anything related to guns or warfare.
Wrap your present and label it so it can handed out - labels such as: "Young girl 5-10", "Teenage boy", "Any child 0-3"... label for the gift you are able to buy. Please add an extra note to it saying what type of gift it is, which can be removed in Ukraine, just to help with any legalities of border crossings.
Drop these to the presbytery before 10th November and they can go off in the November run to Ukraine in time for Christmas.

These gifts can make a real difference — a reminder that kindness travels across borders.
Many thanks to you all


"What Climate Crisis?"

Please come along on for films and discussions on the climate crisis and what we can do to help bring about hope and change.....
Saturdays from 10am until 12noon in the hall,
on 25th October, 1st & 8th November.


Neurodiversity and our Faith experience
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith experience.
We want to hear from you.
In this Participatory Research we want to:
a) Understand what helps neurodivergent Catholics in England and Wales.
b) What gets in the way for neurodivergent Catholics in England and Wales.
Your insights can help us to become more inclusive and responsive.

Please consider completing these online surveys.
They are anonymous.
They are short (10-20 minutes).

If you are:
1. Catholic (practising or not).
You are Neurodivergent.
You are 18+ years old.
You live in England or Wales
there is a link in the page below

2. A Caregiver of a Neurodivergent Catholic.
A caregiver (parent or other) of a Catholic care recipient (who is either practising or not).
Your care recipient is neurodivergent (2+ years old).
Your care recipient lives in England or Wales
there is a separate link in the page below for your thoughts.

Deadline is: 11.59pm, Monday 12th January 2026

https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys/


As the annual Baby Loss Awareness Week begins, we remember all those tiny lives lost. We pray that they are held in Jesus' loving embrace and that we, as a community, put our arms around all those suffering the pain of baby and child loss.

Please feel free to visit our church for a moment of quiet reflection or prayer, or to light a candle.
Please reach out for support if you are suffering - there are many support groups and charities available to you.
Baby Loss Awareness UK
The Lullaby Trust
Sands - baby loss charity
Gentle Footprints
Tommy's
Miscarriage Association
Life

Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, and Bishop Bosco MacDonald, Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, have released a statement to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week that runs from 9-15 October.

"Baby Loss Awareness Week is a national initiative of remembrance taking place from 9-15 October. It is an opportunity to pause and acknowledge the deep sorrow suffered by parents who have experienced the loss of a baby.
Each of these losses involves the death of a small child and the parents need our compassion and support through their bereavement.
Many women and parents carry this painful loss silently. It is difficult to talk about, and the Church has also found this difficult. We invite parents to mark baby loss in meaningful ways: through prayer, memorials or liturgical remembrance and mass. These acts help affirm the dignity and innocence of the child and support you in your journey of grief and healing. We encourage parishes to invite parents to pray in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament or light a candle for their children at any time.
“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139)."

See the full statement here: https://cliftondiocese.com/news/statement-to-mark-baby-loss-awareness-week-2025/

Credit to Life charity for the beautiful prayer

MISSIO - World Mission Sunday - 19th October
In this special message our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, invites you to take part in World Mission Sunday on 19 October.
We will hold a retiring collection at both Masses. There are red envelopes available to fill in if you wish to Gift Aid your donation.
In the video, Pope Leo is urging every Catholic and every parish across the globe to unite in prayer and practical support for missionaries who work alongside communities in need in the most remote and troubled parts of our world.
In recalling his missionary experience in Peru, Pope Leo says: ‘When I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities’.
The Pope explains how your prayers and support on World Mission Sunday are vital in spreading the Gospel and in supporting the Church’s outreach and mission in very practical ways. Your support, coordinated by Missio, helps build churches, chapels and schools and supports missionaries as they enable people to experience God’s compassion and love through their care and the witness of their lives.
Visit missio.org.uk/wms now, and see how you can join us for World Mission Sunday


Calling all budding artists! (well.... actually, calling anyone who ISN'T a budding artist too!)

We invite you to come along for a new fundraising event for our Parish Projects.
On Sun 2nd November 7pm-10pm in the parish hall, Catherine, a brilliant local artist, will be helping us to paint our own piece of art to take home, in a fun & friendly atmosphere!
For just £15pp, you'll enjoy drinks & nibbles & be given all the art materials you'll need to create your masterpiece!
(I have been asked the question and, no, it isn't a "Life Drawing class"! 😉 )
Tickets for the 50 places are now on sale after weekend Masses or contact the parish office.
All in aid of our 2 Projects, for Parish building funds and Chhanv Foundation







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