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.