Christmas Message from our Parish Priests

We are now coming to the end of another year in the life of our Parish Community and soon we will enter 2014.
During the past year many wonderful things and events have taken place within the Parish. We are grateful to all the people who make up our Community and for the various ways that all the people contribute to the material and spiritual welfare of the Parish. The School is an integral part of this and we congratulate the School on having received recently a 'good' report from OFSTED.
The Community is all about spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Good News can only be proclaimed by happy people. A happy person builds up the people of God. An unhappy person can destroy the Gospel message. In his recent document on the joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes “With Christ, joy in constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark on a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.”
We wish all our people a Joyful and Happy Christmas and may we take the words of Pope Francis to heart and enter the new year in a spirit of joy and happiness.
God bless you all. 

 Fr. Frank & Fr Jim

Christmas Mass times

Christmas Eve:

3.30pm
Carol Service followed by
                 Family Mass at 4.00pm
11.30pm 
Carol Service followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day:


9.00am Mass



For more information about services at our Church and elsewhere over the festive period please see the links on the left hand side of the homepage.

Movember

You may have noticed Deacon John has replaced his beard with a moustache!

 This is to highlight men's health issues and raise money to help fight diseases like prostate cancer. Click on the link below to read all about it on his blog and see a photo! 

 If you would like to donate you can do so here http://uk.movember.com/mospace/6677145


First Holy Communion 2014




Forms for First Holy Communion preparation 2014 are now available from school, Church or on our web page "How do I...?"


There will be a parents meeting on Sunday,12th January 2014, after morning Mass and you will receive a preparation timetable.

The date of the First Holy Communion Mass this year is 22nd June 2014.

The deadline for applications to the Parish Office is Friday,13th December 2013. 

(Please note if your child was not baptised in our Parish, a copy of their baptism certificate is required.)

Fr Patrick Auger- A reflection

Father Pat served the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood as Parish Priest from 2002 to 2010. During the eight years Father Pat spent as our Parish Priest we were all able to count on the core values he cherished, which made him such a wonderful man and priest. Among all the others, his stand-out qualities were no doubt his sincerity, warm heartedness, unfailing support and his heart full of compassion.

While with us, both of Father Pat’s parents fell seriously ill and indeed he subsequently suffered the loss of both of them within a very short space of time. He would often dash off to the family home in the north of England to help care for them, but always ensured he was back in time to celebrate weekend Mass.

Celebrating Mass was core to Father Pat’s faith and he had a special affinity with those who have preceded us in faith, which he demonstrated by celebrating special Masses for the dead in November and December. Easter embodies the centre of our faith and Father Pat would always dedicate all his energy to the preparation of the Easter Triduum. He wanted us all to share in the glory of the risen Christ and put all his efforts into ensuring we were prepared.

Father Pat did not enjoy the best of health, but he always took his medical concerns in his stride, displaying great resilience and a disarming sense of humour. He made a famous comment when announcing that he was obliged to go into hospital for the eighth time to have yet another operation on his head: “they haven’t found a brain yet, let’s hope they’re lucky this time!”

Father Pat was born on 23rd December 1954 and died on 31st October 2013. He was ordained as a Priest on 26th June 1992. Funeral Mass was held for him at Clifton Cathedral on 15th November 2013, celebrated by Bishop Declan, accompanied by around sixty priests and deacons.

The first reading was from Isaiah 25:6-9 which refers to the Lord removing the mourning veil and the wiping of tears from every cheek. The second reading from Romans 14:7-12 refers to us living and dying for the Lord. The Gospel was taken from St. John, the passage during which Jesus explains: “I am the Way, The Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

The homily was given by Father Pat’s very good friend, Rev Canon John Cunningham. Their friendship began when they both started training for the priesthood in Rome. Father Pat had obtained a degree in mathematics before entering training for the priesthood.

In the large congregation were many from our parish, reflecting the great love and respect our parishioners had for Father Pat. Also present were parishioners from Cheltenham where he served before he came to us and from Chard, where he went after leaving us. Father Pat accompanied many pilgrims to Lourdes and how pleasing it was to see many of those pilgrims paying their last respects.

Father Pat will be very fondly remembered by so many whose lives he touched. May he rest in peace.

Fr. Patrick Auger R.I.P.



Father Pat Auger, our Parish Priest from  2002-2010, died in the early hours of Thursday morning, 31st October. He had not been well for some time but his death was still unexpected.


His body will be received into The English Martyrs Church, in Chard (2 East Street, Chard, TA20 1EP) on Thursday 14th November with Mass at 7.00pm.

His Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 15th November at 12.00noon in Clifton Cathedral
(Cathedral Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Clifton Park, Bristol BS8 3BX)

Please remember him in your prayers as well as his family, friends and parishioners.

Donations required please!

Our Christmas Fayre will be held in the School on
 Saturday, 30th November 


Please help us to make this year's Fayre a roaring success! 

Can you donate any......toys, books, good quality bric-a-brac etc.
Items can be left in the Church Porch or they can be collected if required!

or bake a cake for our cake stall!
(to be brought up on the day only please).




Alternatively please support us by buying a book of our raffle tickets...
.and be in with a chance to win the £100  first prize!

CAFOD annual supporter day

CAFOD logo

 Clifton will be holding its annual Supporter Day on Saturday 21st September in the Apostle Room at Clifton Cathedral. The day runs from 11am to 4pm with refreshments from 10.30am. Tea and Coffee will be provided (bring a packed lunch). The keynote speaker is Neil Thorns, CAFOD’s Director of Advocacy who will be talking about CAFOD’s campaigns work and it work in Advocacy in the Global South. There will be other presentations of CAFOD’s work locally and internationally. 


ALL WELCOME.

To book a FREE place please go to www.cliftonsupporterday.eventbrite.co.uk or ring CAFOD Clifton on 0117 9 428 328

For more information about CAFOD'S work, their upcoming events or to make a donation please visit http://www.cafod.org.uk/

Avon & Somerset Police - Have your say...

Residents will have the chance to meet two of the top police chiefs in Avon and Somerset on Tuesday, 3rd September, 7pm at Kingswood Civic Centre.

The Public Forum at the Kingswood Civic Centre will give people living and working in South Gloucestershire a chance to meet Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Chief Constable Nick Gargan and ask them their questions.
PCC Sue Mountstevens said 'These forums provide the perfect opportunity for me to engage with the local community and find out what they think about how their area is policed.

I strongly welcome residents to come along and share their thoughts. Reserve  your seat by emailing or calling 01275 816377.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask you can email in advance. We recommend that you do this if you have a question that might need some research (ie: regarding a specific issue in your area).

Prayer at the start of a new school year

Image by Grant Cochrane
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

,

Gracious God,
as the summer begins to fade, new possibilities lie on the horizon.
Bless all of those who are beginning or returning to their roles as teachers and catechists as well as those who lead and support them in their efforts.
May this school year be a time of grace and potential as they teach, share, and challenge others to grow in faith, knowledge and wisdom.
Bless children and youth, along with their parents, as they begin a new school year. May their minds be open to learning and to the wonder of discovery and insight.
Be with us all as we embark on this new year.
Amen

Are you able to help?

Very many thanks to all of you who have helped out with all the various Ministries during Mass over the past months.  The current rotas end on 25th August - would you be willing to help in any capacity after that date? 

If you are able to consider helping as a welcomer, reader, collector, altar server, Church cleaner, offertory procession, or with the organ or flowers please phone  Claire at the Parish Office (Tel: 0117 9498743) and you will be contacted - any training will be given where required. We do understand that there will be occasions you are unable to attend so don't let this deter you - as long as we know cover can be arranged.

If you are no longer in a position to help just strike your name through on the rotas just inside the porch door and many thanks for your help previously.


Anyone who can continue to help do nothing- you will automatically be included on the next rota with many thanks!


Summer Fayre Thank You!

A BIG THANK YOU to our Social Committee and everyone who helped at our Summer Fayre.

A fun and enjoyable day was had by all despite it being held indoors due to the changeable weather and a fantastic £2085.14 profit was made for the Parish! 

Details of individual stall takings and our raffle winners can be found in the porch of the Church.

Thank you, once again,  to all our supporters and hard workers!!




Parish Summer Fayre - 22nd June


                                                 Our Summer Fayre is fast approaching!


Come along on Saturday 22nd June from 12 noon until 4pm!

Entry is free and you can enjoy our B-B-Q, Bar, Cafe, pony rides, archery,  face painting,  bouncy castle, music, strawberries and cream, children's craft, football shoot out, as well as lots of stalls....books, bottle, toys, sweets, white elephant and lots more!

(If bad weather it will be held inside and some activities may be cancelled)


First Communion Group Photos


Here are some photos of this year's First Holy Communion Class...courtesy of John Holbrook Photography.
To view more photos of your child please click here to log in.

John has kindly agreed to donate £1 from every photo sold to the Church.

Calling all detectives...

You have an invitation to a glittering evening at the BIFTA Awardsthe only problem is
there will be a “Murder”!!!!!


Following the success of the previous Murder Mystery Evenings,
‘The Woodland Players’ want to give everyone another opportunity
to enjoy this popular fundraising event.

Are there any Poirot’s or Miss Marple’s out there?
Are you ready to solve the crime?

Come along at 7pm to the school hall on Saturday June 15th
and see how good a detective you can be. 

Solve the mystery, work out ‘Who Done It’.

Enter as a team of 6 or 8 or join another team, either way you are guaranteed to have fun!

Tickets priced £10.00 (including a light supper) to be purchased in advance and are available from Josie Reed Tel: 0117 9675747

First Communion Photos

Photos of your children and families are now available to view from the First Holy Communion celebration on Sunday. Simply click this link http://www.johnholbrookphotography.co.uk/user-login.asp to view and order your photos.

If you do not have the password please contact Claire Westbury at the Parish Office (Tel 0117 9498743 or email olol@catholic.org)

Here's a snapshot below of the children preparing to walk over to Church...you can see their excitement or is it nerves?
Getting ready to walk over to Church 

Pictures from our First Holy Communion class

Thank you to our First Holy Communion class for these beautiful pictures as they get ready to receive the sacrament for the first time on Sunday 2nd June at 1.00pm.
Please remember them, their families and our catechists in your prayers on this very holy and special occasion.


Posted by Picasa

CAFOD Clifton newsletter- Pentecost Issue AVAILABLE NOW!


It's been a busy few months for CAFOD Clifton and supporters have been doing lots of work in their schools and parishes, not only to raise money but to raise awareness of the issues of global poverty. All of this and more can be read about in the latest CAFOD Clifton newsletter, which is available to download from www.cliftondiocese.com/a-busy-few-months-at-cafod-clifton


The next issue which is going to be both a paper and electronic version is published in September in advance of Harvest Fast Day on October 4th. If you would like to receive a copy either by post or electronically please send an email to clifton@cafod.org.uk or ring the CAFOD Clifton office on 0117 9 428 328t


Aspiration Day at the school

Our Lady of Lourdes primary school in Kingswood aspirations day happened last Friday where the students had to dress up as the career they want to be. There were Fireman, nurses, school teachers and accountants mixing with Policemen and doctors. A good day was had by all and it is part of the schools aspirations week that is coming up in a few weeks time where they learn more about people's careers and businesses.

Clifton Diocese Podcast - Listen to the teachers and Children talk about the day.


You really should listen to this Podcast it terrific. Well done to all at the school and thanks to Phil Gibbons for putting it all together.

You can see the original post at:
http://www.cliftondiocese.com/our-lady-of-lourdes-aspirations-day1


My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We have just completed our first half term of the First Communion programme for the children in our parish. Over 20 children are taking part in a 6 month programme of lessons, events and sacraments this year in which they will learn about and experience our faith. 

We have been focusing on reconciliation and the children have learned all about saying sorry to God for what they have done wrong, about being forgiven and about being saved by Jesus. We have given them each a small handout to help them prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation and we thought that you might like to take a look at it. It is of course designed to help the children prepare for their first reconciliation (or Confession) but if you haven't been for a while it's a very simple reminder of the prayers and the format that the sacrament takes.


The course is brilliantly put together and teaches big and complex theology, but it's always with simple and clear language that the children understand. It's been a real joy for Emma and myself to teach and lead the programme.

One of the first things we ask the children to do is to pray everyday. We will be teaching them several prayers over the programme but the first prayer is called 'I Belong' and it's a prayer we will say together every week at the start and the end of the lesson.


We would like you to pray for the children taking part in the programme and for yourself. We all need to prepare to receive the Eucharist whether that's for the first time or the thousandth time. Maybe you will join the children in their prayer 'I belong' tonight before you go to sleep. 

God Bless,
Deacon John

Pope Bendict XV1 Resignation

On Monday, 11th February the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, announced that he willl resign on 28 February 2013.

To read a statement from the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and read the full text of the Pope's declaration please follow this link to the Clifton Diocese webpage.

Parishes in Communion Lent Retreat

Theme: Do I need salvation?



Lady of Lourdes & St Bernadette parish are organising a retreat in Lent for our Parishes in Communion, to Brownshill Monastery on Saturday 16th March 2013 from 10.30am - 4.30pm.

There will be: groups sharing their personal experiences of salvation, their hope and their faith; prayer with the Monastery Sister's at 12.30pm and Mass at 2.00pm led by Fr. Jim Williams.

A cooked lunch can be provided (£12) or you can bring your own (£8).
A coach has been organised (£3 each) which will depart from OLOL car park at 9.00am.



If you are interested please contact Claire Westbury, Parish Administrator by email at  olol@catholic.org or telephone 0117 9498743 and leave your details.