This week's news

Celebrating Marriage

See the write up and photos from the Clifton Diocese Mass celebrating Married life on 14th February.

Use this link to go the the Diocesan Website.

Congratulations to all the couples celebrating their Anniversaries.

Here is Bishop Bosco's Pastoral Letter, read by Fr Barnabas at Mass this weekend - for the First Sunday of Lent: 22nd February 2026

This week's news

OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN CUPBOARD: Update....

This facility is now used many times each day & needs constant restocking. We are so pleased to be able to help those who need it (and use is certainly growing at a very fast rate) & we want to continue to help when we have items to offer and as and when we can get it in to restock.

**We are currently out of tea bags, instant coffee, tinned fish (tuna/sardines), tinned meat (meatballs, beans n sausages, fray bentos pies, tinned veg (sweetcorn, carrots, peas)
& very low on pasta, cereals, tinned fruits, custards, rice/suet puddings.

If you are able to buy 1 thing & leave in the box at the base of the Cupboard for sorting we’d be so grateful.

(If you are able to help join the sorting & restocking team, during the week, please contact the parish office as we'd love to have you as part of the team!)
Thank you all so much.

Wishing all members of our lovely Hong Kong Community, and all who celebrate, a Happy Lunar New Year 2026
恭喜發財
May the Year of the Horse bring you good health, great success, and overflowing happiness

Ash Wednesday Mass was a beautiful, reflective service this morning with nearly 130 attending. Fr Barnabas spoke to us about the season we are now starting. "At the beginning of Lent we are facing towards the cross, so we start Lent with a cross on our forehead as a sign of that journey."
Mass will take place at 7.30pm this evening at St Augustine's, Our Lady of Lourdes and St Paul's. Everyone is welcome to attend to begin the season in prayer.

CAFOD Lent Appeal.
Family Fast Day collection (Sat 28th Feb/Sun 1st March)
This Lent, live out the Gospel call to love your neighbour. By fasting and giving what you save, you join in Christ’s compassion and help another family put food on the table. Your donation can help families around the world grow food in difficult conditions – such as on flood-resistant floating gardens or using solar-powered water pumps in times of drought.
Collect a CAFOD envelope from the back of church from this weekend if you wish CAFOD to claim Gift Aid on your donation, or donate as you leave church in the basket or at the Contactless Donation Station - or to bless others with your support if not at Mass, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030. Text CAFODLENT to 70085 to donate £10.

ROME PILGRIMAGE ~A message from St Joseph's Catholic Church Bristol. "We are exploring the idea of a 7-day pilgrimage to Rome in September 2026 (flying from Bristol – morning flight - on Tuesday 22nd September and returning on Monday 28th September). At this stage, we’re simply gathering the names of those who might be interested to see if it’s viable to progress our plans further. Below is an estimated sliding scale of prices per person, sharing accommodation at a 4* hotel within 30 minutes driving distance from the Vatican including Breakfast and Dinner (prices do not include airfare. We cannot guarantee a price for this element until we confirm the booking as this will be dependent on group size.). Final prices will depend on the number of participants:

Minimum 45 People - £898 + airfare
Minimum 40 People - £958 + airfare
Minimum 35 People - £988 + airfare
Minimum 30 People - £1018 + airfare
If you would like to be kept informed as details develop, please register your interest in joining us as soon as possible by emailing Bristol.stjoseph@cliftondiocese.com. "

VACANCY: St Augustine of Canterbury preschool is looking to a point a Deputy manger and SENCo to join our wonderful preschool. Candidates need to have level 3 in early years education and level 3 SENCo qualifications.
We are also looking for an early years practitioner to join our team.
Any enquiries can be made to Kelly on 0117 956 1166 or email: staugustinesstaff@gmail.com

This week's News

LENT 2026

There is so much to get involved with over Lent and Holy Week this year, throughout our Parishes in Communion in Downend, Yate, Chipping Sodbury & Kingswood.
From Masses and Services, to reflections and courses, we hope you will find something that speaks to you amongst these many different activities to enhance your spiritual and social life this Lent.
All are Welcome to all events.

Parish Forum

On Saturday 31st Jan parishioners gathered for the St Augustine of Canterbury Church Forum for prayer and discussion on how we can grow in faith and serve others.

There was a shared desire for simple, accessible learning, reaching the missing generations, and more opportunities to use our gifts, alongside a renewed focus on outreach through kindness, personal invitation and understanding local needs.
Key themes of belonging, visibility, communication and shared responsibility emerged, with practical steps planned to help our parish become more welcoming, engaged and outward-looking, trusting that small seeds of faith can grow into lasting change.
More details will be available for you to read from the back of church or on the website soon.
We look forward to seeing you at the next forum in May.

DATE FOR THE DIARY:

Come & join us on Sunday 15th March at 7 (for 7.30 start) for another fun QUIZ NIGHT from Mike Ryan & gang.

Get your teams of 6(ish) ready as tickets go on sale soon at £5 pp.

More info to follow soon!

CAKES FOR PEACE

Please join us on Sunday 22nd February, after morning Mass, in the parish hall.

We will have a Cake Sale in aid of our Parish Project 'BristolAid4Ukraine' as we prepare to pass the 4th anniversary of the start of the conflict.

Please keep the hope of Peace in your prayers

'Getting to know you meal'

We had a lovely night on Saturday where members of the parish came along for a 2 course meal and 'got to know' their fellow parishioners. 'People Bingo' was a fun and illuminating game... (who knew it would be so hard to find someone who actually enjoys swimming!) and then their knowledge of Mexico was tested between courses.
With Fabulous Food from Tim's Catering Emporium, it was a really enjoyable night.

Thanks to all who came and supported the social life of the parish.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Next Wednesday (18th) sees the start of our Lent journey for 2026.

There will be an Ash Wednesday Mass in St Augustine's at both 10am and 7.30pm that day, to which everyone is invited.

Come and receive this special blessing to begin our 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare for the joy of Easter.

WALK WITH ME

We have copies of the thoughtful, reflective and informative 'Walk with Me' booklets now on sale from the church shop.

It is a A6 booklet which contains a brief reflection, either on the scripture reading of the day or on a catechetical theme. The beauty about Walk with Me is the size of the booklet (its an ideal fit for a pocket or handbag), the price, costing only £1.50 and its approach, it is written in a simple and accessible style. We only have 25 copies so get yours asap, ready for the Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday. The younger parishioners won't miss out as we'll be handing out Lent Calendars to them for free in Children's Liturgy during Mass this Sunday.

A message from World Wide Marriage Encounter.

“Embrace your life together in Love” - Invitation to Couples to get away together and join us for a weekend to discover ways to grow deeper in love for a happier marriage and a happier life!
The weekend draws on Marriage Encounters’ 50 years of wisdom and experience, based on scriptural truths, and might just be the gear change you didn't know you needed or thought possible.
Couples welcome whether married or in long term relationships, with faith or no faith.
ME Weekend 27th Feb - 1st Mar - Swindon - Holiday Inn Express West - To find out more or book : Visit our website: wwme.org.uk

A message from CTVC to all our parishioners:

"Come and sing with Songs of Praise! One of the world's longest-running TV programmes invites you to a special event at John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol.
You are warmly invited to a Songs of Praise recording at John Wesley’s New Room, Bristol, conducted by Simon Lole. All are welcome, so please join us!
Sunday 1st March 2026
Doors Open: 12:00
Recording: 13:00 – 17:30
[30-minute break included. Tea, coffee and cake will be provided]
We will be singing:
Love Divine, All Love Excelling (Blaenwern)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
Love’s Redeeming Work Is Done (Savannah)
Ye Servants of God (Laudate Dominum)
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)
Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies (Ratisbon)
Location:
John Wesley's New Room
36 The Horsefair
Bristol BS1 3JE
To book your free tickets, either scan the QR Code or follow this link to be taken to our congregation application form: https://forms.office.com/e/T66UB5nLqx?origin=lprLink
The Songs of Praise Team
https://www.ctvc.co.uk/our-work/songs-of-praise/

Bristol Male Voice Choir

Do you like what you hear and would you like to hear more?...

Pop Saturday 18th April in your diary and watch this space!
More details to follow soon...

Join us for a Lent Course: Faith Formation.
We will meet on Saturdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 March from 10 -12 am in the Parish Hall, to explore aspects of our Christian/Catholic faith.
The theme is the Raising of Lazarus, 'Unbind him'.
Each Saturday is 'stand-alone' so drop in to one or all!
An opportunity to share your thoughts and listen to other opinions.

Week 1 The Raising of Lazarus;
Week 2 Friendship with Jesus;
Week 3 Prayer;
Week 4 Sin: Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, Healing.

This week's news

Parish 'Getting to know you meal'

** Last chance today ** to get your tickets for the 'Parish Social' on Sat 7th Feb. If you haven't got yours yet, don't dispare! Just call the office or email us to secure your tickets - only £15 pp for a 2 course meal and a chance to get to know even more of your fellow parishioners! (We'll need to know final numbers by tomorrow so we can cater accordingly and to allow for any dietary requirements/allergies etc.)
See you there!

Handel's Messiah

One of our Parishioners is in a Gospel choir - the Renewal Choir - who are performing Handel's Messiah in the Bristol Beacon on the evening of Mother's Day. They thought maybe some of our community might like to go along and be blessed.

See details in the link below.

https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/handels-messiah-soulful-celebration/

Date for your diaries -  Diocesan Day on 4th July

Bishop Bosco warmly invites you to join him on 4 July for our Diocesan Day celebration entitled: 'The Joy of Love' at Downside School & Abbey.

We will have Patti Boulaye OBE as our keynote speaker, as well as a children’s & young people’s programme.
Arrivals/refreshments from 10am. A hot lunch will be provided (a lunch box for the children).
Our Diocesan Day Mass will take place in the Abbey Church at 3.30pm, with the day ending around 4.30pm. There will be a maximum of 400 tickets. If you would like to join us for the day, please register via: https://joyoflove.eventbrite.co.uk for your ticket. For the catering/safeguarding requirements, booking through Eventbrite is essential. The closing date for tickets is 24 June unless fully booked beforehand.

https://cliftondiocese.com/news/diocesan-day-2026-joy-of-love-saturday-4-july/