Christmas Newsletter 2021
CAFOD World Gifts for Christmas
World Gifts are a wonderful way to share the peace and joy of Christmas with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Clifton Climate Liturgy, 23rd October 2021
Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Bishop Declan is set to lead the Holy Land pilgrimage in 2022
Extra charges: Single Rooms £445.00 Travel Insurance TBC
Gill Didino, Tangney Tours t: 01732 886666
e: adult.education@cliftondiocese.com
or download Booking Form/Terms & Conditions below:
Daughters of Divine Love - Mission Appeal Collection 3rd October
On 3rd October we will be holding an appeal collection for the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation who are putting Divine Love into Action. From feeding the hungry, educating the needy, visiting the lonely, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless; committed to corporal and spiritual work around the world. Collection baskets will be available in the porch. You can also donate online by going to ofdivinelove.com.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY - Climate Crisis Appeal
CAFOD's local experts are helping people all over the world to adapt to climate change and protect our common home. By donating to CAFOD this Family Fast Day, you can help communities affected by the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Applications for Places in Primary School
Time to Start School? If you have a child born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018, then now is the time to apply for a place at a Catholic primary school in the Diocese. You must complete an application form (either online or on paper) that is available from the school admissions team of the South Gloucester Council, for admission during the 2022-23 school year. If your child has been baptised, you must also provide a copy of the baptism certificate to your preferred school. Please ensure you apply by the closing date of 15 January 2022.
Bishop's Video for School Governors
Governors video.mp4 from Clifton Diocese on Vimeo.
There are 62 maintained schools in Clifton Diocese, educating 21,673 pupils. They are supported by a ‘volunteer army’ of school governors, including 350 Foundation Governors appointed by Bishop Declan. The Bishop wishes to recruit new candidates to join the governing bodies, to help grow and sustain Catholic education in the Diocese for current and future generations, and so has produced a new promotional video where the Bishop and current governors and Headteachers, talk about the importance and value of school governors. If you would like to support catholic education and so would like to apply to be a governor, please complete the online application form https://schools.cliftondiocese.com/form-2 or contact Bill McEntee, Governance Officer via bill.mcentee@cliftondiocese.com or call 07710094976 for more information – he would love to hear from you!LOV Verbum Dei Ministry - Explore the Gospel of John and Matthew
The LOV Verbum Dei Ministry (https://linktr.ee/lov_verbumdei) is very excited to explore the Gospel of John and Matthew with a 4-Part Series on the Word of God starting on Tuesday 31st August. 1 episode will be released on their YouTube channel on Tuesdays and Fridays over two weeks for all of us to immerse in a unique way into particular passages of the gospel. Please use the below link to watch the episodes and to slowly and attentively sink into the Word of God that lies behind the 'words' of the Scriptures. You can also listen each episode on the followings audio platforms (Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcast-simply search for "LOV Verbum Dei" where you can access all their audio resources). Please share it with whoever you think might benefit from it.
Link to the episodes - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnBD0Ooz7iN-DuHmh_nDSx7Dl2wc5geZK
CAFOD Faith in Action Day - 11th September 2021
Join CAFOD for an online day of talk
and prayer to learn more about this year’s climate talks, Pope Francis’s call
to action and how people in the Amazon region are leading the fight to care for
our common home. The countdown is on. In
a few months, the UK will host the largest gathering of world leaders ever to
take place on British soil: the ‘COP26’ climate talks. Our government has a
vital role to play in leading global efforts to tackle the climate crisis. But
as citizens of the host nation and as people of faith, we have an important
role to play too.This is the time to come together, build a community and act.
Do not miss our Faith in Action Day
2021 on Saturday 11 September, 11am-4pm.
Find out more about the UK government’s vision for COP26.
Connect with other Catholics in interactive sessions and find out how we can organise ourselves to build momentum for the climate talks in Glasgow this year.
Hear from environmental defenders in the Amazon about their struggle to protect our common home.
Explore Pope Francis’s Synod on the Amazon and his call for justice.
Get inspired by young Catholic campaigners and their fight for the climate crisis.
Stand in solidarity and pray together for our brothers and sisters who are suffering the most as a result of the climate crisis.
This event is part of the Great Big Green Week, a series of events happening in September to bring together communities across the country for climate and nature.
Register here:
https://cafod.org.uk/News/Events/Faith-in-Action-Day-2021
Agenda for the day can be found here: https://cafod.org.uk/content/download/56814/779052/version/1/file/-CAFOD%20FIA%20agenda.pdf
Virtual Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2021 & Prayer Requests
Our virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes starts from Friday 20th August, when there will be daily Mass livestreamed from around the Catholic Association on the diocesan website cliftondiocese.com, along with other events such as daily night prayers including our own Fr Michael Thomas on Wednesday evening.
On Sunday morning 22nd August, please join Bishop Declan at 9:30 am when he will be celebrating Mass from the Cathedral, this Mass will also be livestreamed on the diocesan website.
We shall also be joining the Lourdes
Chaplains in the Grotto, as they pray the Rosary in English on Tuesday 24th
August 2021 at 2.00 pm. There will be a special candle lit for the
Clifton Diocese and the pilgrims at this time. If anyone would like their
intentions to be prayed for during this Rosary, please send your petitions and
I will pass them to the Grotto for inclusion on the altar. Please send any
prayer requests to paul.thompson@cliftondiocese.com
Virtual Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes
The Grotto of the apparitions is the heart of the Sanctuary and is a place of prayer, hope, peace, respect, unity and silence. The spring and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes within it are the centre of prayer for all pilgrims.
Amongst other events, we shall be joining the Lourdes Chaplains in the Grotto, as they pray the Rosary in English on Tuesday 24th August 2021 at 3:00 pm. There will be a special candle lit for the Clifton Diocese and the pilgrims at this time. If anyone would like their intentions to be prayed for during this Rosary, please send your petitions and I will pass them to the Grotto for inclusion on the altar. Please send any prayer requests to paul.thompson@cliftondiocese.com .
Covid-19 Update - Lifting of Restrictions
As you all know the Covid-19 restrictions have in the main been lifted. However, The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have advised caution in areas where the cases of Covid-19 are above the national average. This applies to us in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, so we are keeping some restrictions in place. The wearing of masks is strongly advised. The one-way system after receiving Holy Communion will still operate. The restriction on the number sitting on a bench is lifted, but unless you are sitting within an already formed bubble, we politely ask you to leave some space between you and the person next to you. If you have any concerns regarding sitting close to someone, please let one of the stewards know and you can be moved to somewhere where you feel more comfortable. There will be entry and exit music but no singing for the time being.
Covid-19 Update
Following the Government announcement on Monday we look forward to the hope that the easing of further restrictions will bring to so many people and businesses, but recognise that we still need to proceed with caution.
Spiritual Direction
If you are looking for a safe, secure and confidential relationship in which to explore God's work in your life and have questions about the journey of Christian faith. Discover how helpful it can be to share our faith journey with someone who has experienced the ups and downs, the struggles, the challenges and the joys of life and faith.
The Diocese has a panel of directors who can offer this very important ministry to people. A dedicated webpage for them can be found under ‘Faith and Formation’ on the diocesan website www.cliftondiocese.com.
Click on this link for more information https://cliftondiocese.com/spiritual-direction/
CONFIRMATION - Thursday 9th June 2022
Latest Newsletter for Sunday 30th May
See our latest newsletter and Sunday Bulletin cover page by clicking on the links below:
#CandleofJustice: a moment of action on 25th May
Join Churches Together in England on 25 May 2021 for Candle of Justice: a moment of action – commemorating the first anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. The Candle of Justice will be a moment to light a candle, pray for racial justice and commit to taking personal and institutional action to tackle racial injustice in our society and our churches.
Join in
Follow these five
simple steps for how you and your church can get involved in the national
#CandleOfJustice campaign on 25 May:
2. Light your candle* (or alternatively shine a light from your phone)
3. Pray using the Candle of Justice prayer
4. Pause, reflect and make a personal commitment to tackling racial injustice
5. Share on social media – upload your candle photo or share the Candle of Justice prayer graphic. Remember to use the hashtag #CandleOfJustice and tag in @ChurchesEngland
Healthy Planet, Healthy People
Bishops' Pastoral Letter for Pentecost Sunday 2021
Read the letter by clicking on this link Pastoral Letter
Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all.
- Reverend Said Ailabouni, Jesuitresource.org
May Marathon of Prayer
Kingswood Foodbank
An updated list of the items they need are printed in the parish newsletter every week or can be found on their Facebook page.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Bishop Declan invites us
all to participate in praying a Novena to the Holy Spirit beginning this week
on Thursday 13 May (Feast of the Ascension). Each of the nine days will focus
on a different fruit of the Spirit. You can access the prayer resource for the
Novena on the diocesan website: https://cliftondiocese.com/novena We
hope as many people will join us in praying the Novena as we continue to ‘Dare
to Dream’ and invite the Holy Spirit to bless our diocese as we move forward.
Laudato Si' Week 2021
Beginning on 16th May a week of free online events is taking place world-wide leading up to Pentecost.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 25th April 2021
Sunday 25th April 2021 is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
In the midst of all the noise of this world, which calls us and attracts us, we pray for the ability to hear the call of Jesus and for the courage to follow him. We pray for ongoing commitment to the vocation in life we have received, and for all the graces we need to face the challenges this brings. We pray for young people as they face the future: that they may recognise the contribution they can make to the well-being of our world. We pray that we may be such a community of faith that many of our young people may hear the invitation of Jesus to share in his mission as priests and religious.
Diocesal Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage, Friday 16th April
Friday 16th April is the Feast Day of St Bernadette Soubirous, so as part of our own ongoing virtual pilgrimage Monseigneur Liam Slattery will be celebrating a livestream Mass at 7:00 pm, please join us through the Clifton diocese website at www.cliftondiocese.com .
Sunday Mass on Zoom
Join the celebration of Mass on Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes church at 8.45am by clicking on the link below
https://zoom.us/j/92848637633?pwd=aDRjRGNvWTVSaG1hMmcwUjdXMGNjZz09Meeting ID: 928 4863 7633
Passcode: amen
Easter Services on Zoom
Join the celebration of mass for Maundy Thursday by clicking on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/99447766293?pwd=SXd2Vm1FYXJCVVIxVnB6WloyVlYxdz09
Meeting ID: 994 4776 6293
Passcode: amen
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Good Friday
Time: Apr 2, 2021 02:45 PM
Join the service of the Passion of the Lord by clicking on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/93686959640?pwd=VXh2WnJSOXpvcEt0OWQ1RldoMllrUT09
Meeting ID: 936 8695 9640
Passcode: amen
Easter Vigil
Time: Apr 3, 2021 05:45 PM
Join the Easter Vigil Service by clicking on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/92242223278?pwd=ZHFpZm14NjV0cC8vWVl2LzE5RmZsQT09
Meeting ID: 922 4222 3278
Passcode: amen
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Easter Sunday
Time: Apr 4, 2021 08:45 AM
Join the celebration for mass on Easter Sunday by clicking on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/98059040860?pwd=aloxclRHSXRCY2luaGVhU1dXbDBudz09
Meeting ID: 980 5904 0860
Passcode: amen
Holy Places Collection on Good Friday
We will have a basket as you enter/exit in the Church porch on Good Friday for the annual collection for "Holy Places", supporting the work of the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land who have the unique responsibility of maintaining the Holy Places and preserving the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Click the link below for more information.
Easter Mass / Service Times 2021
As we prepare for this holiest time of the year we wish to offer as much opportunity as possible for people to attend Mass, if they are able to, whilst keeping all our safety measures in place. All services will be shorter, simpler versions of the traditional Masses to limit time inside the church and you can attend any mass during the 8 days of Easter to fulfil your Easter Obligation (they are all Solemnities). With social distancing measures in place in church, we still cannot accommodate large numbers for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. Please note that due to safety limits on numbers, there will be no public invitation to the Chrism Mass at the cathedral this year. Our mass/service times over the Easter Triduum and the Octave of Easter are as follows
- Maundy Thursday, 1st April at 7.00pm
- Good Friday, 2nd April at 3.00pm
- Easter Vigil, 3rd April at 6.00pm
- Easter Sunday, 4th April at 9.00am
- Monday in the Octave of Easter, 5th April at
10.00am
- Tuesday in the Octave of Easter, 6th April at
9.30am
- Wednesday in the Octave
of Easter, 7th April at 10.00am
- Thursday in the Octave
of Easter at, 8th April at 9.30am
- Friday in the Octave of
Easter at, 9th April at 10.00am
- Saturday in the Octave of Easter at, 10th April at 10.00am
Palm Sunday Mass on Zoom, Sunday 28th March at 8.45am
https://zoom.us/j/92912272738?pwd=RFV2Qm9jVWdzd3VMNjNWMjFBK09pdz09
Meeting ID: 929 1227 2738
Passcode: amen
You can also download the Zoom video conferencing app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer and create a free account.
Our Church Re-Opens for Celebration of Mass, Sunday 7th March at 9am
We look forward the the public celebration of mass which will resume from Sunday 7th March at 9.00am. Thereafter, mass will be celebrated as usual on Tuesday and Thursday at 9.30am unless otherwise noted in the weekly newsletter. Please be mindful that all the safety measures we had in place before the closing are still in place. Remember that during this time there is still no Sunday obligation so you can attend Mass at any of the time in the week. Please only attend mass if you are well and free of Covid-19 symptoms.
CAFOD Family Fast Day 26th Feb 2021
Masses for the Victims of Covid-19
This initiative aims to offer a sign of communion
and hope for the entire continent.
On Tuesday 2nd March, Cardinal
Vincent will celebrate a special Mass at 5.30pm in Westminster Cathedral as
part of this Eucharistic chain, and invites us all to join him via livestream
at www.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Redemptorist Publications Free Online Retreat: Reflecting with Paintings with Fr Denis McBride
Father Denis McBride will be leading a FREE online retreat this Lent, based on his two books Reflecting with Paintings Vol 1 and Vol 2 from Wednesday 24th February 2021
Each video will be uploaded on the dates
given below. You can choose to watch each video at a day/time
that suits you. You can access the retreat from the
Redemptorist Publications website by clicking on this link Reflecting with Paintings | Retreat with Denis McBride |
RP Books
Reflecting with paintings
One
of the things that has always intrigued me about Jesus is how so much of his
teaching he chose to do through the medium of fiction. All his parables
are fiction: each could begin ‘Once upon a time.’ Jesus asked his hearers to
leave their own world and come with him into an imaginary world, and then
return to their world to have an inner conversation of how they see things in
the light of the parable. Jesus’ parable world is a world of great
variety. You meet all sorts of people: difficult judges, committed
burglars, broken families, wounded beggars, awkward neighbours, selfish
priests, eccentric employers, desperate hosts, surprised guests, wise and
foolish virgins.
Paintings,
too, have their own language, from pictorial to representative, to coded, to
abstract, to you-name-it – communicating another world to the onlooker, another
slant on looking at people and things, or simply to provoke unspoken
communication between the artist’s emotions and the viewer’s. For this Lenten
retreat I invite you to look at selected paintings, to imagine another world,
and then to return to your own story in the hope that some inner conversation
might be provoked through the strange encounters.
- Denis McBride, CSsR -
- First week
in Lent - Wed 24 Feb
Praying the Rosary – Old Woman Praying the Rosary by Paul Cézanne - Second week
in Lent - Wed 3 Mar
Growing up hyphenated – Jojo by J W Miller - Third week
in Lent - Wed 10 Mar
Food for thought – The Promenade by Fernando Botero - Fourth week
in Lent - Wed 17 Mar
Facing the truth – Logo for Frankfurt Book Fair, 1998 - Fifth week
in Lent - Wed 24 Mar
Bearing up – Peasant Woman with Buckets and a Child by Kasimir Malevich - Palm Sunday
- Sun 28 Mar
Hat trick – Pilate’s Wife by Sebastien Champion - Good Friday
- Wed 31 Mar
Letting go – Pieta by Vincent Van Gogh
When words are not enough – The Reconciliation of Peter by Iain McKillop
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11th February
Latest News
Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2021
It is with regret that we announce that the Diocesan and Catholic Association Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year has been cancelled. The Pilgrimage, which was scheduled for 21-27 August 2021 has been cancelled in light of the on-going effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a schedule for special virtual events throughout 2021 and the virtual Pilgrimage programme will be announced very soon.