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.

On this Faith in Action Day you will:
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.

Speakers  Confirmed speakers include Camilla Born (Deputy Director of Strategy for COP26), Josianne Gauthier (CIDSE Secretary General), Claudelice Silva dos Santos (Amazon and human rights defender), young Catholic activists and many more.
 
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

For full details, schedule and a welcome message from Fr. Nick King SJ please go to www.cliftondiocese.com/lourdes-2021/

Virtual Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes


Unfortunately, we are unable to travel to Lourdes once again this year, but we shall all be at the Sanctuary spiritually. During the week from 20th August to 27th August we shall be joined together virtually on our website with various events.
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.

Prayer Petitions
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 .