This weeks news

Get the date in your diary!

On Saturday 7th Feb the Social Committee invite you to another fun evening together, mixing with and getting to know your fellow parishioners.

Only £15 pp for a delicious 'Mexican inspired' 2 course meal (jackets, beans and cheese-non spicy alternatives for those who want it) plus soft and hot drinks available - but you can BYO drinks/alcohol. (Don't forget to let us know about any dietary requirements)

- Get your tickets after weekend Masses or from the parish office from 24th Jan - all profits to the Parish Building & Maintenance Funds.

See you there! Ahí te veo!

Our Sunday guest...

Last Sunday was the start of Christian Unity Week.

The Ministers/ Priests from the local Denominations visited each others Churches.

Colin from Staple Hill Salvation Army came and introduced himself at the 9.30 Mass. He then joined us for coffee in the hall and met some of the parishioners. We are grateful to their congregation for the good work they do locally and for coming and playing at the Community Carol Event.

Fr Barnabas will do a return visit to the Sally Army for a mid week Service.

Forum

Join us on Saturday 31st Jan at 10am in the parish hall for our Parish Forum - The outcome from the AGM in Sept was to continue talking about the future of our Parish.

The focus will be on Formation/Education & Outreach & have an opportunity to ask questions.

Please come along & support the future direction of the parish. There will be cake for us all share together! We’ll start at 10am finishing at 12noon - You are welcome to bring your own lunch to stay for further social time.

The new parish rota is now out, from 7/8th Feb until 9/10th May.
Posted up at the back of church or view online on the website - go to the Rota post from the home page.
(Holy Week and Easter services will be organised separately)
Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who help our parish to thrive!

A message from our friends at BristolAid4Ukraine
(We are a drop off point - see the blue crate near to the church shop to place any items in this list by next Thursday please)

"On Friday, 6th February at 6:00 PM, we are planning to hold a workshop to make trench candles, which will be sent to Ukraine.
To make these candles, we urgently need the following materials:
🕯 TIN CANS (e.g. from sweetcorn, tuna or dog/cat food)
• Must be short and wide — the diameter should be the same as or wider than the height
• Thoroughly washed
• Paper labels/wrappers removed
📦 CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
🕯 CANDLE WAX
• Can be used or broken candles
• Unscented only (very important)
🙏 Please help us collect these materials so we can make as many trench candles as possible and help, even in a small way, to keep people in our native Ukraine warm.
Every donation counts. Thank you for your support 🇺🇦💙💛

ELECTRICS!

Our second electronics amnesty resulted in another car's worth of goods taken away, much to our clients' relief to empty their cupboards!

This will earn money for our parish projects so wins all round and the precious metals are being saved and not put into landfill which is such a waste.

Thank you to all who took part.

Vacancy Details:
Part-Time Parish Administrator (Maternity Cover to 31st December 2026)
St. Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church, Bristol are recruiting for a Part-Time (14hrs per week) Parish Administrator to oversee all parish office tasks and support the Parish Priest and Team in the day to day running of the parish. Reporting to the Parish Priest, the successful candidate will have excellent verbal, written and communication skills. They should be organised and pro-active with the ability to work alone and prioritise work demands in an often-busy environment. The Candidate will often be the first point of contact for enquiries from parishioners and members of the local community with varying needs who will visit the office for help and support. An excellent knowledge of Microsoft 365 programmes and computer skills is required. Any experience in a similar role would be desirable. For further information and an application form, please visit the parish website St Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church, Bristol or by email to paula.asquith@cliftondiocese.com. Closing date for Applications: Monday 9th February 2026
https://www.tolentino.org.uk/

This week's news

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh..."

A message from our friends in the Ukrainian Church.

Dear friends!
Please come and enjoy the magic of Xmas and support Ukraine at our theatrical performance "Christmas Night" this Sunday 11th January.
We look forward to welcoming you at 17:00 in St Augustine's Church, Downend.
Come and share in the magic - a night of joy, music, and togetherness.
Because miracles do happen. Especially on Christmas Night.

Information and tickets available here

Encounter Revive Day - Clifton Cathedral , 17th January 2026 – 9.30am to 4 pm.

Begin 2026 in the fire of the Holy Spirit by joining us for a Day of Encounter with guest speaker Ros Powell. Let us start the New Year “awake and alert” 1 Thess 5:6.

This is a day to renew heart, hope and mission.

For more information about the day, email Encounter@cliftondiocese.com

or contact Ann on 07815 751556.

All welcome.

PARISH PROJECT VOTING

It is time for us to choose new Parish Projects to support in 2026.

There have been 2 charities nominated for the International Project so it is time to vote for who you would like the Parish to raise money for this year, to help overseas.

Please complete a voting slip at Mass this weekend and all votes will be counted at the end of the day on Sunday 11th Jan.

Thank you!

Reflections for Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Deacon Vincent

1^st Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6.

This is a selection from Isaiah’s Second Song of the
Suffering Servant, and it is very significant for the “I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” God is commissioning the people of Israel to take out his message of salvation to the world and for the early Christians this was embodied in Jesus Christ’s message. In Luke’s Gospel 2: 30-31, Simeon applies this quote to Jesus, and in John’s
Gospel 1: 4-9, Jesus is presented as the “Light of the world.” Isaiah’s verse is again quoted in the Acts of the Apostles !3: 47, in defence of the move to preaching to the Gentiles rather than the Jews. Matthew’s Gospel 28: 19, ends with what Christians call the “great commission, “Make disciples of all nations”. We begin to see how Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant songs were very important in establishing exactly who Christ was for the early Christians. Psalm 40(39): 2, 4, 7-10.
A song of “Thanksgiving” and “Help”. “You delight not in sacrifice and sin offering, but in an open ear.” God is always looking for us to listen to what is asked of us. We always should be guided by the
Commandments and the Beatitudes. If we trust these, then peace and harmony will follow us.

2^nd Reading from the beginning of the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1: 1-3.
In the ancient world as in the modern world, the opening lines of a letter can often be mere formality, but Paul makes the opening of his letters work for him. He is called to be an Apostle through the will of
God. This is not a task he has chosen for himself but one for which he has a divine vocation. Paul is not working alone but with fellow Christians. Jesus is mentioned four times in just this brief opening. It seems that Paul can hardly write a sentence without mentioning his beloved. He reminds the Corinthians that their gifts of holiness are not due to their merit but are gifts from God’s generous action. He reminds the Corinthians that Jesus does not belong just to them but to all who call upon him. He is not their private property. Finally, he wishes “grace and peace” upon them from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God is Father of All, and the Lord Jesus Christ is inexorably linked to that universality.

The Holy Gospel according to John 1: 29-34.
This is an amazing revelation given to John. He came baptising with water, seeking the one who would bring the Holy Spirit. Now John gives Jesus a title, “Lamb of God”, a sure signal that he would be the
sacrificial lamb to take away our sins. This title appears nowhere else in the New Testament except in the Book of Revelation. We cannot be precisely sure of its’ force, but evidently it found its’ way into the Christian Eucharistic liturgy, evoking the sacrificial “Passover Lamb”, and the scapegoat is suggested
by the idea that this “Lamb”, “takes away the sins of the world.” John then exclaims “This is the Son of God”.  John was thinking aloud and two of his disciples hearing him, will leave him and become followers of Jesus. One of the followers was Andrew the brother of Peter. This is a very important part of the launch of Jesus having followers that would flourish and become the foundations of the Church. It is extraordinary how God makes things work. God’s Will be Done!!

God grace us to always carry out your Will.  Deacon Vincent