When Monica was aware that her end was nigh, she said to Augustine*, “Lay this body anywhere, let not the care for it trouble you at all. This only I ask, that you will remember me at the Lord’s altar, wherever you be”. This last request to her son really struck me when I first read Augustine’s confessions.  He himself does not dwell on it, rather on ‘how she had ever burned with anxiety respecting her burial-place, which she had provided and prepared for herself by the body of her husband’, and his thankfulness that this had ceased to vex her in the end.  Perhaps he doesn’t comment on it because it was – by then – the most natural thing in the world to honour his mother by remembering her ‘at the Lord’s altar’.  It seems the least we can do, doesn’t it, to remember always in prayer the one who gave birth to us and who has sacrificed more than we will ever know for us?

This Mothering Sunday, among the cards and the flowers (here’s hoping) and the breakfast in bed (dreaming now), there’s an opportunity to consider how we are keeping the fourth commandment not only with respect to our mothers, but – as we hear the Gospel of the prodigal son – our fathers too.  The importance of ‘honour thy father and mother’ is reflected in its position within the Decalogue.  It comes immediately after the three commandments which deal with our relationship with God, and before ‘thou shalt not kill’.  In childhood, it meant obedience and respect, but what does it mean for us now?

Relationships are essentially dynamic things; they never stay still.  We are always growing closer to or further from people, and our relationship with our parents is no different.  We may not see them as often as we would like but no matter how far apart we are, no matter how busy our lives are, we can always, at the very least, remember them in our prayers.

_________________________

*Confessions, book IX chapter 11

THIS SUNDAY: “The man who thinks he is safe must be careful he does not fall.” This is the theme of this Sunday: it underlines the need for repentance, which is the focus of our Lenten journey in Year C. Jesus, in the Gospel, uses two recent events in order to illustrate his point about sin and repentance – there is a price to be paid for sin, but there is a way of avoiding it: if we repent, we will have salva¬tion and a new and real freedom. This idea is emphasised in the parable, where we see a tree not being condemned immediately, but given a chance to change and produce fruit. So are we. This links in with the two other readings, which also talk about escape – the escape of Israel from Egypt. This is to be a warning for us, as Saint Paul says: if we are Christians, we must live as Christians, and be aware of the need to watch our lives and the direction they are taking.                         (courtesy of www.salfordliturgy.org)

FAST DAY COLLECTION: A very generous response to CAFOD Lenten appeal. Added to the Soup Lunch offering of £336 was the amount of £511.36 which means that a cheque is being sent off to CAFOD for a total of £847.36 (plus whatever Gift Aid extras they claim back). Your kindness is outstanding and shows that solidarity with the poor and needy in our world. Thank you for your generosity.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The children from this year’s First Communion group celebrated their First Confession during this last week. We welcome the children to Mass this Sunday as they reflect upon the Word of God given as gift to guide us and lead us in the ways of the Lord. Each of the children will come to receive the gift of the scriptures today in the hope that it will allow them – through their reading and reflection – to come to a deeper knowledge of the God who speaks to them through his Word and calls them, by name, to follow him. we keep the children in our prayers during their preparation.

CAFOD ‘Give it up’ BOXES: CAFOD are once again inviting us to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most hungry through our Lenten ‘giving up’. Whatever we give up may enable someone else to grow this Lent. These boxes are for you to take away and keep at home during Lent. They can come back in at the end of Lent and handed in at the Mass of Holy Thursday. The smallest amount of money can transform and change lives for the better.  CAFOD have reminded us that £4, for example, can provide fresh water for a family. Lent invites us to show kindness and generosity to others from making those small sacrifices ourselves. Please hold onto your box until Holy Week.

WEEKLY CATECHESIS: Our weekly catechesis continues this coming Wednesday (10th March) as we continue through this Season of Lent. After the evening Mass each Wednesday of Lent, there will be a catechesis on the readings for the following Sunday. Do try and make this a real part of your Lenten resolutions. Each Wednesday of Lent the Catechesis will take place from 7.30pm in the hall. All are most welcome.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Lent possesses that wonderful characteristic of penance, inviting us to turn back to the Lord. To help us celebrate that return, as well as the two sessions on a Saturday, there will be an opportunity each Wednesday of Lent for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will take place from 6.30pm each Wednesday before the 7.00pm Mass. Do make use of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the healing love of the Lord.

LENT SOUP LUNCHES: There is something happening around the weeks of Lent: Monday 15 March at12.30pm – URC. Here, in our Hall, on Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday) at 12 noon the second of the Lenten Soup Lunches will take place. There will be a hearty homemade soup lunch provided with fruit and fresh bread as well as cheese to launch us into the final week of Lenten fasting. If you would like to come along (there’s no cost, just a simple donation to our outreach causes) then pop your name on the list in the porch so that we can cater for everyone.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday afternoon of Lent at 4.00pm we celebrate the Stations of the Cross using a different reflection each week as we journey with the Lord to the Cross and the tomb. Please do come along if you can.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER TRIDUUM: It is worth putting dates in your diary even at this stage of the season of Lent. Palm Sunday: Vespers at 4.00pm; Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Mass at 8.00pm; Good Friday – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion: 3.00pm; Holy Saturday – The Great Easter Vigil: 8.00pm; Easter Sunday: Mass at 8.00am & 10.30am, Vespers at 4.00pm.

DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE TRIDUUM – The Promise of New Life: Saturday, March 13th at St Nicholas’ Church, Lawford’s Gate. This is a real opportunity to reflect upon those three great days of Holy Week. Fr Christopher is leading the day of prayer and reflection as Director of our diocesan department of Adult Education & Evangelisation and it is open to anyone. Pick up a leaflet from the Narthex for fuller details.

SUNDAY TEAS AND COFFEE: Don’t forget that there is always a welcome in the hall after Mass and a chance to be social over a cup of tea or coffee. Just pop in!

FORUM GROUP meets on Tuesday 9th March at 7.00pm in Pensford (please note the change of venue).

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: New supplies for the coming year (beginning April) will be available in the narthex on Sat/Sun 21st March. Did you know that by signing a Gift Aid form, your offering to the Church is increased by some 20%?   If you would like to join the scheme, or have further information, please see Dave Lavelle or enter your name and contact number on the list, and Dave will get in touch with you. A huge thank you to those who support the parish in this way. The envelopes also allow you to plan your giving – whether Gift Aided or not.

PARISH BAZAAR: Hopefully, there will be chance for us to have this year’s bazaar after the summer break (late September). Keep your eyes on the newsletter for the initial gathering of those willing to lend a hand.

PARISH DAY OF RECOLLECTION: Fr John Edwards SJ is coming to our Parish on Saturday May 8th to lead a day of reflection for us. He will explore ways of praying and invite us to deepen our lives of prayer, too. Do come along. It will be a wonderful opportunity to have someone ‘guide us’ in our prayer as well as teaching us to pray, anew. We don’t often get chance to go off on retreat, so we let the retreat giver come to us, even if just for the day. Please do try and make time to come along – all are most welcome… even bring someone with you.

The angels of God are especially prevalent in our Lenten liturgy.  On the first Sunday of Lent, the devil tempts Jesus by reminding him of the angels whom God had commanded ‘to keep you in all your ways.  They shall bear you upon their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone…’  Both Matthew and Mark (though not Luke, admittedly) tell of the angels who ministered to Jesus during his 40 days in the wilderness.  This Sunday we’ll hear of an angel appearing to Moses, then next Sunday, just immediately before we hear of the prodigal son, Jesus declares, ‘I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents’. Then, of course, in Gethsemene, ‘there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him’.

From the annunciation through the nativity, the wilderness, Jesus’ public ministry, to the cross, the resurrection and ascension, there are angels flitting in and out of the story of Jesus’ life… and so too do they surround us from day to day.  I wonder though, if our guardian angels weren’t such generous spirits, how many might comment on a job-satisfaction survey that they were over-worked and under-valued?

St Jerome wrote of our guardian angels, ‘So valuable to heaven is the dignity of the human soul that every member of the human race has a guardian angel from the moment the person begins to be’.  Although our guardian angels are widely credited for protecting us from physical harm, I should think that they spend most of their efforts guarding our souls from peril.  We know that the closer we draw to God, the more jealous the Tempter becomes.  At this stage in Lent, then, we should not be surprised to find him particularly busy.  Perhaps our initial enthusiasm has worn off a bit, but we’re not far enough in to see any progress and we still have a long way to go.  Remember the image of St Michael.  When we look ahead and foresee a day of battle, St Michael sees a walk in the park.

Angels of God, defend us on this day of battle!

THIS SUNDAY: Every year, on the Second Sunday of Lent, we hear about the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top. Why? Jesus revealed his glory to the three apostles in order to strengthen them for the journey ahead – the journey to Jerusalem, Gethsemane and Golgotha. The same vision is today offered to us, to strengthen us in our Lenten Journey of Faith. Last week we heard about temptation: this week we are driven onwards by a vision of glory that will be ours – the goal of our lives of faith and all that we do as Christians. The transfiguration represents the final destination of our lives, if we are faithful in resisting temptation and living each day as faithful members of Jesus Christ. In our journey of renewal and new commitment through Lent, we are spurred on and encouraged by today’s vision to see why the effort is worth it.

FAST DAY COLLECTION: The retiring collection after both Masses this weekend is our Lenten contribution to CAFOD from the fruits of our Lenten fast day this Friday, just gone. From what we have gone without, others can, basically, go with because of our thoughtfulness and our generosity. The envelopes that were handed out last weekend can be returned in the retiring collection this weekend.

FIRST COMMUNION/CONFESSION PREPARATION: The children celebrate First Confession on Thursday 4th March here in the Church (2.00pm) and then the parents gather with Bishop Declan that same evening (7.00pm). Do continue to the children in your prayers during this time of prep. The children also come together NEXT Sunday, March 7th, for the Presentation of the Scriptures as part of their preparation. They will be here for the 10.30am Mass that Sunday.

CAFOD ‘Give it up’ BOXES: CAFOD are once again inviting us to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most hungry through our Lenten ‘giving up’. Whatever we give up may enable someone else to grow this Lent. These boxes are for you to take away and keep at home during Lent. They can come back in at the end of Lent and handed in at the Mass of Holy Thursday. The smallest amount of money can transform and change lives for the better.  CAFOD have reminded us that £4, for example, can provide fresh water for a family. Lent invites us to show kindness and generosity to others from making those small sacrifices ourselves. Please hold onto your box until Holy Week.

WEEKLY CATECHESIS: Our weekly catechesis continues this coming Wednesday (3rd March) as we continue through this Season of Lent. After the evening Mass each Wednesday of Lent, there will be a catechesis on the readings for the following Sunday. Do try and make this a real part of your Lenten resolutions. Each Wednesday of Lent the Catechesis will take place from 7.30pm in the hall. All are most welcome.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Lent possesses that wonderful characteristic of penance, inviting us to turn back to the Lord. To help us celebrate that return, as well as the two sessions on a Saturday, there will be an opportunity each Wednesday of Lent for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will take place from 6.30pm each Wednesday before the 7.00pm Mass. Do make use of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the healing love of the Lord.

LENT SOUP LUNCHES: A huge thank you to those who provided the splendid Lenten Soup lunch to mark CAFOD fast day. Your kindness and generous support brought in £336. The other local churches have picked up what we are doing once again and have taken up the challenge to do likewise so that there is something happening around the weeks of Lent: Wednesday 3 March at 12 – 1 pm – Christchurch; Friday 6 March at 12 noon – Counterslip; Monday 15 March at12.30pm – URC; Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday) at 12 noon here at St Bernadette.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday afternoon of Lent at 4.00pm we celebrate the Stations of the Cross using a different reflection each week as we journey with the Lord to the Cross and the tomb. Please do come along if you can.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER TRIDUUM: It is worth putting dates in your diary even at this stage of the season of Lent. Palm Sunday: Vespers at 4.00pm; Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Mass at 8.00pm; Good Friday – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion: 3.00pm; Holy Saturday – The Great Easter Vigil: 8.00pm; Easter Sunday: Mass at 8.00am & 10.30am, Vespers at 4.00pm.

DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE TRIDUUM – The Promise of New Life: Saturday, March 13th at St Nicholas’ Church, Lawford’s Gate. This is a real opportunity to reflect upon those three great days of Holy Week. Fr Christopher is leading the day of prayer and reflection as Director of our diocesan department of Adult Education & Evangelisation and it is open to anyone. Pick up a leaflet from the Narthex for fuller details.

YEAR OF PRIESTS: As we have become accustomed to doing on the First Friday of the month, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during the day to allow people to come into Church and spend a little time in prayer for our priests. This coming Friday – March 5th – one of the classes from our school will join us for Mass at 10.00am (please note the change of time) to enable them to take part in this opportunity for prayer. The list is in the Narthex for you to sign up for one of those half hour slots. The day of prayer ends with Vespers at 6.00pm.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: This year the Day of Prayer takes place on Friday 5th March and is being hosted at Counterslip Baptist Church with the Service of Prayer beginning at 11.00am. All are welcome to this ecumenical gathering. Please go along and represent St Bernadette’s if you can.

SUNDAY TEAS AND COFFEE: Don’t forget that there is always a welcome in the hall after Mass and a chance to be social over a cup of tea or coffee. Just pop in!

OUR PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY are extended to Angela Sims and her family on the news of her mother’s death, and to the family of Gordon Wookey. Both funerals take place this coming week. May they rest in peace.

FORUM GROUP meets on Tuesday 9th March at 7.00pm in the Presbytery.

‘When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (Mt 6:16)

If these hypocrites were drawing attention to their fasting, surely that means that fasting must have been fashionable to some extent?  These days, it’s not so much an act of humility to fast inconspicuously, but humiliating if we have to bear witness to our fasting.  Fasting is not just ‘deeply unfashionable’ in contemporary society; it simply doesn’t exist.  Losing weight, oh yes – we’re a nation obsessed – but fasting isn’t about losing weight.

Fasting is one of those things that you just need to get on and do in order to learn its multifaceted goodness, but perhaps we need some convincing to adopt this charism as a positive choice.  We see the link between fasting and alms-giving when we fast and give what we have saved to the poor.  In the quotation that follows, however, Dom Guillerand* links the two in a different way:

Fasting is an alms given directly to God.  It is for his sake that we fast.  It is in order that we may become more strongly attached to Him that we deprive ourselves of that food which comes from Him, and of which we can partake only for His sake.

So far, so good, yes?  I got stuck on this next bit, though:

To offer Him the sacrifice of what is not absolutely indispensable for our physical well being is thus to raise ourselves from our level to His.

Now Guillerand was a Carthusian and no stranger to mystical union with God.  However, to me, where I am, ‘raise ourselves from our level to His’ sounds more than a little tricky.  I read it and thought, ‘well good for you, Father!  God may well raise me up in prayer if he so desires, but that’s up to Him.  I just try to make sure there’s no obstacle between us that might dampen my love of Him or render me out of earshot of His still, small voice’.   The phrase stayed with me, though.  Guillerand talks sense – such perfect sense – and the difference in our perceptions bothered me… until I realised that our two views are not incompatible and it’s exactly there (‘just making sure there’s no obstacle between us that might dampen my love of Him…’) that fasting comes in.  An ‘over-fond attachment’ to food might become an obstacle between us and God.

Are you familiar with the concept of ‘comfort eating’?  You feel sad, fed up, let down, whatever, and so eat something to make you feel better.  Well, with that in mind, look at this intercession from last Thursday’s Morning Prayer  –

May we come to Christ when we are burdened, for he is the spring of living water who refreshes all who thirst.

We can easily fall into a habit of coming to the biscuit tin (or whatever) when we are burdened, although in the cold light of day, we know that biscuits don’t work.  It strikes me that a proper understanding and practice of fasting frees us up to look to the Lord for our comfort.  God loves us and draws us all to Himself, if only we let Him, so by clearing obstacles out of the way though fasting we enable God to raise us ‘from our level to His.’

I hope this helps with your Lenten fasting.

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mt 11:28-30)

____________________

*Dom Augustin Guillerand, The Prayer of the Presence of God chapter 11

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: Preparation resumes after the half term break this coming Wednesday. The children meet in the Hall in readiness for 4.00pm. The children also gather this coming Saturday (27th) beginning at 10.30am for their day’s preparation for First Confession. The children celebrate First Confession on Thursday 4th March here in the Church and then the parents gather with Bishop Declan that same evening (7.00pm). Do continue to the children in your prayers during this time of prep. The children also come together on Sunday, March 7th, for the Presentation of the Scriptures as part of their preparation. They will be here for the 10.30am Mass that Sunday.

READERS’ NOTES: Copies of the little ‘readers’ pointers’ for each Sunday of Lent are available from the Narthex. If you are a reader, please collect yours.

CAFOD ‘Give it up’ BOXES: CAFOD are once again inviting us to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most hungry through our Lenten ‘giving up’. Whatever we give up may enable someone else to grow this Lent. These boxes are for you to take away and keep at home during Lent. They can come back in at the end of Lent and handed in at the Mass of Holy Thursday. The smallest amount of money can transform and change lives for the better. This Sunday, the CAFOD Fast Day envelopes will be attached to the newsletter in anticipation of CAFOD Lenten Fast Day on Friday 26th Feb. The Fast Day this Friday invites us to go without a little something and , with the money we might have spent, offer it up for those who go without as an everyday experience.

WEEKLY CATECHESIS: Our weekly catechesis continues this coming Wednesday (24th February) as we begin the start of the Season of Lent. After the evening Mass each Wednesday of Lent, there will be a catechesis on the readings for the following Sunday. Do try and make this a real part of your Lenten resolutions. Each Wednesday of Lent the Catechesis will take place from 7.30pm in the hall. All are most welcome.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Lent possesses that wonderful characteristic of penance, inviting us to turn back to the Lord. To help us celebrate that return, as well as the two sessions on a Saturday, there will be an opportunity each Wednesday of Lent for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will take place from 6.30pm each Wednesday before the 7.00pm Mass (beginning 24th Feb). Do make use of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the healing love of the Lord.

LENT SOUP LUNCHES: The first in a season of soup lunches for Lent across the churches takes place here at St Bernadette’s this coming Friday 26th February. As it is CAFOD Lenten Fast Day it is a great way of tapping into both the Lenten charism of fasting and almsgiving. There’s no cost, just a donation for some of the world’s hungry and poor. The other local churches have picked up what we are doing once again and have taken up the challenge to do likewise so that there is something happening around the weeks of Lent: Thursday 18 February 12.30pm  St Nicholas; Friday 26 February at12.30 – St Bernadette; Wednesday 3 March at 12 – 1 pm – Christchurch; Friday 6 March at 12 noon -  Counterslip; Monday 15 March at12.30 – URC; Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday) at 12 noon here at St Bernadette.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday afternoon of Lent at 4.00pm (beginning 21st February – this Sunday) we celebrate the Stations of the Cross using a different reflection each week as we journey with the Lord to the Cross and the tomb. Please do come along if you can.

WALK WITH ME: The little Lenten reflection books are still available from the narthex – priced £1. Pick up your copy. There are also some Lenten calendars for the youngsters. Help yourself!

HOLY WEEK & EASTER TRIDUUM: It is worth putting dates in your diary even at this stage of the season of Lent. Palm Sunday: Vespers at 4.00pm; Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Mass at 8.00pm; Good Friday – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion: 3.00pm; Holy Saturday – The Great Easter Vigil: 8.00pm; Easter Sunday: Mass at 8.00am & 10.30am, Vespers at 4.00pm.

DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE TRIDUUM – The Promise of New Life: Saturday, March 13th at St Nicholas’ Church, Lawford’s Gate. This is a real opportunity to reflect upon those three great days of Holy Week. Fr Christopher is leading the day of prayer and reflection as Director of our diocesan department of Adult Education & Evangelisation and it is open to anyone. Pick up a leaflet from the Narthex for fuller details.

YEAR OF PRIESTS: As we have become accustomed to doing on the First Friday of the month, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during the day to allow people to come into Church and spend a little time in prayer for our priests. On March 5th, one of the classes from our school will join us for Mass at 10.00am (please note the change of time) to enable them to take part in this opportunity for prayer. The list is in the Narthex for you to sign up for one of those half hour slots. The day of prayer ends with Vespers at 6.00pm.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: This year the Day of Prayer takes place on Friday 5th March and is being hosted at Counterslip Baptist Church with the Service of Prayer beginning at 11.00am. All are welcome to this ecumenical gathering. Please go along and represent St Bernadette’s if you can.

200 CLUB WINNER: Congratulations to Anthony Irvine who picks up the £25 January draw prize.

HOLY FATHER’S LETTER FOR LENT: The Letter of the Holy Father for this Lent 2010 is available from the narthex. It offers us a little spiritual reflection at the start of the season of preparation.

That snowdrop is the first sign of hundreds of Spring bulbs to follow, many of which are already shooting forth, and I look forward to seeing them in all their glory.  But in the cold and the damp of February, there is a beauty present now – not only around the corner in Spring, but now, in a garden of bare trees and the messy undergrowth, with grass which is pocked by hungry badgers and still not recovered from all that sledging.  If I can stop looking to future blossoming, I can see beauty in the winter’s old and bare canvas.

As Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote in her poem, Aurora Leigh,

Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.

We can all appreciate the beauty of a flower or a sunrise, but it takes a conscious effort to see the loveliness of other created matter, and this is an excellent time of the year to practise!  God sees the beauty in all he has made.  We strive to see as he sees; to see the beauty in his plants, animals, and above all in his people, made in his own image and likeness.

In the poem St. Francis and the Sow (thank you, Fr Christopher for bringing it to my attention), Galway Kinnell tells of St Francis finding beauty in another unusual place.

The bud
stands for all things,
even those things that don’t flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow
of the flower
and retell it in words and in touch
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;
as St. Francis
put his hand on the creased forehead
of the sow, and told her in words and in touch
blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow
began remembering all down her thick length,
from the earthen snout all the way
through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of
the tail,
from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine
down through the great broken heart
to the blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering
from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking
and blowing beneath them:
the long, perfect loveliness of sow.

For the beauty of a winter garden, for the beauty of a mucky pig, thanks be to God.

Between the 14th and 21st of September 2009, Fr. Christopher led a pilgrimage to Poland. Two of the pilgrims Donna Cooper and Gerry Panter shared with us their thoughts and impressions in the last edition of the Parish Magazine. Here are some extracts from there travel diaries which we published.

First from Donna :-

Day 1: Monday 14th.

Twenty-two pilgrims, from various parishes, gathered together in Bristol Airport eagerly anticipating the week ahead. On arrival to Krakow airport our tour escort for the week, Andrzej, greeted us and then took us to our hotel.

Before dinner Andrzej gave us a brief tour of the local surroundings and a little taste of what was to come. One of the distinctive features of Krakow is that there are very few modern buildings and it almost felt like stepping back into a different time period.

Day 2: Tuesday 15th.

After breakfast we met Andrzej for a guided walking tour of Krakow. This was our first real taste of the city. Andrzej pointed out the main attractions including the Dominican and Franciscan Churches and the vast Archbishop’s Palace, which is famous for being the former residence of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II.

Before lunch, we celebrated Mass in the stunning fifteenth century Church of St. Mary’s. One of the central features of St. Mary’s is its polyptych High Altar by the Gothic wood-carver, Veit Stross. Originally the shutters remained closed for most of the liturgical year and were opened only for important feasts. Today however, the shutters are opened daily for visitors to see the magnificent inside panels that depict key scenes from Christ’s life.

In the afternoon we took a short coach trip to the nearby Salt Mines that used to be one of the world’s largest and most profitable industrial centres, when common salt was the medieval equivalent of today’s oil. Today however it is simply a tourist attraction and visitors can walk down the 800 steps to the oldest part of the mine. We were shown the mining museum and the Chapel of St. Kinga -a full-blown Church, 200 meters below the earth’s surface and the altar, candlesticks and statues are carved entirely from salt.

Day 3: Wednesday 16th.

This was a free day for us to explore the city further, shop, or simply relaxes in the market square. A group of us decided to re-visit some of the sites Andrzej had took us to the previous day including the Royal Castle and Krakow Cathedral. The magnificent staterooms, which were used for official functions, and the private apartments, are the main attractions of the castle. Krakow Cathedral is equally as impressive. It is simply impossible to see everything in one visit. There are numerous painting, side chapels and royal tombs and the Cathedral contains the relics of St. Stanislaw, the Patron Saint of Poland.

In the afternoon, we returned to the main square for some lunch, shopping and even a ride in a horse drawn carriage!

Day 6: Saturday 19th.

We travelled to Zakopane, a beautiful resort that lies at the bottom of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane contains some breathtaking views and fascinating wooden architecture, including the church where we had Mass, which was made entirely from wood. Much of the day was free for us to explore the region, take a ride in the funicular and look around the Zakapane equivalent of a shopping centre- little wooden huts containing various crafts, clothes, and food stalls.

Day 7: Sunday 20th.

In the morning we made the short journey to Lagiewniki where St. Faustina received visions of Christ and the message of the Divine Mercy. After Mass, a young nun who explained to us the significance of Christ’s message to St. Faustina for the world gave us a talk.

We returned to Krakow for an afternoon at leisure. A group of us went to the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, Kazimierz, and looked at the various Synagogues and museums. At one time Kazimierz was a leading centre of Jewish culture and learning but after the Nazi occupation most of the Jewish community was destroyed. There are signs however; that the Jewish community is once again beginning to grow, a sure sign that the Nazi regime was not entirely successful.

–Donna Cooper

Now Gerry gives us his account :-

Led by Father Christoper I was one of a party of twenty that set off from Bristol Airport for our destination in Southern Poland.

The group was made up of people from our own parish and neighbouring parishes, even one from far away as Reading!

We were based throughout our stay in beautiful Krakow. While we there we had an opportunity to visit places of pilgrimage and historical interest.

On Thursday we left for Czestochowa one of the greatest pilgrim sites in the Christian world. The focus here is the Icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, attributed to Saint Luke, discovered by St Helena of Jerusalem, which eventually found its way to Poland where it was placed in the Jasna Gora Monastery in 1382. She was proclaimed ‘Queen of Poland’. We toured the treasures and paintings of the great monastery where we celebrated Mass at the Icon Altar.

Friday- we set off for the church at Kalwari, where during the 17^th century following a vision of the ‘three crosses’ and other miraculous occurrences a ‘Via Dolorosa’ was built in the surrounding chapels marking each ‘station’. From Here it was then off to Wadice where Pope John Paul was born and baptized.

In the afternoon we then traveled on to visit the infamous concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. We were greatly moved by what we saw as well as the holocaust suffered by the Jews we also saw the shrine dedicated to St Maximilian Kolbe who gave his life to save that of another fellow prisoner.

Other places we visited were the Tatra Mountains and the resort of Zakopane an almost alpine like place with many buildings made of timber including the churches. We again celebrated Mass in on of these timber churches.

Our last full day was mostly spent at the Lagiewniki Monastery where St Faustina lived. We had Mass in the old convent where St Faustina spent most of her religious life. After Mass one of the Sisters gave a talk on the life and mission of the Saint.

My lasting impression of Krakow and Poland is of a country and people who have a great love and fervour for the Faith and loyalty to the Church. They are rightly proud of the late Pope John Paul the second/. Everywhere you go you will statues and pictures of him festooned with fresh flowers.

Our pilgrimage was and uplifting experience. Our thanks must go to Father Christopher who helped plan the itinerary also in celebrating Mass and in leading us in prayer and highlighting the Spiritual significance of the places we visited.

–Gerry Panter

THIS SUNDAY: Life is often about picking our way through opposites – choices and decisions that surround every moment of every day: should I do this or that, choose this way or that way, and so on. Just as there are choices on either side, so there are opposing consequences ­blessings and curses, in the language of the first reading, happiness and woe in the lan­guage of the Gospel. In Saint Luke’s version of the Beati­tudes, we see Jesus setting out very clearly the teaching that life is about choices, and that we must take control, and be responsi­ble for the life we choose, or even the condi­tions of life that we embrace or accept.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: Preparation takes a week’s break as the children are on half-term. we continue on Wednesday (23 Feb) but this week, the children meet in the Hall. Do continue to the children in your prayers during this time of prep. The children also come together on March 7^th for the presentation of the Scriptures

READERS’ NOTES: Copies of the little ‘readers’ pointers’ for each Sunday of Lent are available from the Narthex. If you are a reader, please collect yours.

THE SEASON OF LENT

ASH WEDNESDAY: Lent begins this coming Wednesday – 17^th February. Mass will be celebrated with the distribution of ashes at 10.00am and 7.00pm. It is an important beginning to our Lenten journey so do make a note of the times.

DAY OF FASTING & ABSTINENCE: There are now only two ‘official’ days of fasting & abstinence although these are things we are encouraged to practise most especially on a Friday. At the beginning of this Season of Lent there is that honest and humbling invitation to open our hearts to the Lord who seeks to heal us. Fasting should be observed by all aged 18 years and over (up to 60). One full meal and two ‘collations’ (light meals) adequate to maintain strength. Even though you may be ‘over’ 60, still there is that encouragement to embrace the spirit of fasting whilst still being sensible. We can fast from those little treats and those little extras that we don’t necessarily need. Abstinence is observed by those aged 14 years and older. No meat is to be eaten on these abstinence days.

CAFOD ‘Give it up’ BOXES: CAFOD are once again inviting us to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most hungry through our Lenten ‘giving up’. Whatever we give up may enable someone else to grow this Lent. These boxes are for you to take away and keep at home during Lent. They can come back in at the end of Lent and handed in at the Mass of Holy Thursday. The smallest amount of money can transform and change lives for the better. Next Sunday, the CAFOD Fast Day envelopes will be attached to the newsletter in anticipation of CAFOD Lenten Fast Day on Friday 26^th Feb.

WEEKLY CATECHESIS: Our weekly catechesis will begin this coming Wednesday – Ash Wednesday (17^th February) as we begin the start of the Season of Lent. After the evening Mass on Ash Wednesday, there will be a short catechesis on the readings for the following Sunday (1^st Lent). Do try and make this a real part of your Lenten resolutions. Each Wednesday of Lent the Catechesis will take place from 7.30pm in the hall. All are most welcome.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Lent possesses that wonderful characteristic of penance, inviting us to turn back to the Lord. To help us celebrate that return, as well as the two sessions on a Saturday, there will be an opportunity each Wednesday of Lent for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will take place from 6.30pm each Wednesday before the 7.00pm Mass (beginning 24^th Feb). Do make use of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the healing love of the Lord.

LENT SOUP LUNCHES: The first in a season of soup lunches for Lent across the churches takes place here at St Bernadette’s on Friday 26^th February. As it is CAFOD Lenten Fast Day it is a great way of tapping into both the Lenten charism of fasting and almsgiving. There’s no cost, just a donation for some of the world’s hungry and poor. The other local churches have picked up what we are doing once again and have taken up the challenge to do likewise so that there is something happening around Lent: Thursday 18 February 12.30  St Nicholas; Friday 26 February at12.30 - St Bernadette; Wednesday 3 March at 12 – 1 pm - Christchurch; Friday 6 March at 12 noon -  Counterslip; Monday 15 March at12.30 – URC; Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday) at 12 noon here at St Bernadette.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday afternoon of Lent at 4.00pm (beginning 21^st February – NEXT Sunday) we celebrate the Stations of the Cross using a different reflection each week as we journey with the Lord to the Cross and the tomb. We end each Sunday with Benediction. Please do come along if you can.

WALK WITH ME: The little Lenten reflection books are available from the narthex – priced £1. Pick up your copy. There are also some Lenten calendars for the youngsters. Help yourself!

COMMUNITY CHOIR: If you enjoy singing then come and join others at the Community Choir.  Next practise will be on Tuesday 16th February at 7pm at Bridge Farm School with a view to performing a small concert on 17th April in aid of the people of Haiti.  Details on notice board.

PARISH DAY OF RECOLLECTION: A date for your diaries! Fr John Edwards SJ has accepted an invitation to come and lead a parish weekend of prayer and reflection. He will be with us for Saturday May 8^th and Sunday 9^th May. Fr John is a great writer and speaker on prayer and it is good to be able to have him with us. More details nearer the time but please make room in your diaries for the Saturday, most especially!

YEAR OF PRIESTS: As we have become accustomed to doing on the First Friday of the month, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during the day to allow people to come into Church and spend a little time in prayer for our priests. On March 5^th, one of the classes from our school will join us for Mass at 10.00am (please note the change of time) to enable them to take part in this opportunity for prayer. The list is in the Narthex for you to sign up for one of those half hour slots.

THIS SUNDAY: We hear the call of another prophet this week – Isaiah. This introduces the Gospel, where we see Jesus calling his first disciples to follow him. Notice that the initiative is Jesus’ there is no application process or interview procedure! Notice also the way that Jesus calls his disciples in this account – not with words, but with a miracle that is also a parable. It is, in a way, a miraculous “job description”: if the disciple trusts completely in the one who calls, then the result will be truly amazing – a huge catch of men and women hungry for God. Simon’s simple words “if you say so” give us an example of Christian discipleship: we should leave our own concerns behind, and simply follow the Lord with great trust.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: Preparation continues this Wednesday (10 Feb) but this week, the children meet in the Hall. Do continue to the children in your prayers over this next six months.

EDUCATION SUNDAY: The postponed retiring collection for CES will take place this weekend – 7th February. This money goes to support the work of the Catholic Education Service. The CES supports Catholic Education in our country and offers tremendous support, not only to our schools, but through conversations and liaison with Government departments to ensure that Catholic Education is as good as it should be in our country. Apologies for two collections one after another!

THE SEASON OF LENT is just under a month away. There will be details of what is happening here during Lent to make our Lenten journey fruitful. Watch this space.

ASH WEDNESDAY: Lent begins on Wednesday 17th February. Mass will be celebrated with the distribution of ashes at 10.00am and 7.00pm. It is an important beginning to our Lenten journey so do make a note of the times.

CAFOD ‘Give it up’ BOXES: CAFOD are once again inviting us to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most hungry through our Lenten ‘giving up’. Whatever we give up may enable someone else to grow this Lent. These boxes are for you to take away and keep at home during Lent. They can come back in at the end of Lent and handed in at the Mass of Holy Thursday. The smallest amount of money can transform and change lives for the better.

WEEKLY CATECHESIS: Our weekly catechesis will begin on Ash Wednesday (17th February) as we begin the start of the Season of Lent. After the evening Mass on Ash Wednesday, there will be a short catechesis on the readings for the following Sunday (1st Lent). Do try and make this a real part of your Lenten resolutions. Each Wednesday of Lent the Catechesis will take place from 7.30pm in the hall. All are most welcome.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Lent possesses that wonderful characteristic of penance, inviting us to turn back to the Lord. To help us celebrate that return, as well as the two sessions on a Saturday, there will be an opportunity each Wednesday of Lent for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will take place from 6.30pm each Wednesday before the 7.00pm Mass. Do make use of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the healing love of the Lord.

LENT SOUP LUNCH: The first in a season of soup lunches for Lent across the churches takes place here at St Bernadette’s on Friday 26th February. As it is CAFOD Lenten Fast Day it is a great way of tapping into both the Lenten charism of fasting and almsgiving. There’s no cost, just a donation for some of the world’s hungry and poor. The other local churches will be offering similar soup lunches during Lent, so watch out for the dates. We are here again on Palm Sunday. More news later.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday afternoon of Lent at 4.00pm (beginning 21st February) we celebrate the Stations of the Cross using a different reflection each week as we journey with the Lord to the Cross and the tomb. We end each Sunday with Benediction. Please do come along if you can.

WALK WITH ME: The little Lenten reflection books are available from the narthex – priced £1. Pick up your copy. there are also some Lenten calendars for the youngsters. Help yourself!

COMMUNITY CHOIR: If you enjoy singing then come and join others at the Community Choir.  Rehearsals start on Thursday 4th February at 7.30pm at Bridge Farm Primary School with a view to performing a small concert on 17th April in aid of the people of Haiti.  Details on notice board.

HCPT APPEAL: Thank you for the generosity you showed towards the HCPT appeal last weekend. We sent off a cheque for £700 as our gift to support a child on their Easter pilgrimage to Lourdes this year. Don’t forget that we continue to support HCPT through your teas and coffees after Mass each Sunday morning.

THANK YOU to the Wednesday Coffee Club for their kind donation given after their Christmas Lunch.

CRIB OFFERINGS: Thanks you, also, for the generosity you have shown through your simple crib offerings. Since Christmas, the little basket next to the crib has raised £442 and this will go to support the Kasisi Orphanage in Lusaka. Your offerings will support those without a family or abandoned by their own families because of their sickness (some suffering from HIV and AIDS) in very practical ways. If you want to see more about the orphanage, have a look at their website -   www.kasisichildren.org – where you will find images of the orphanage as well as details of their expenses.

PARISH DAY OF RECOLLECTION: A date for your diaries! Fr John Edwards SJ has accepted an invitation to come and lead a parish weekend of prayer and reflection. He will be with us for Saturday May 8th and Sunday 9th May. Fr John is a great writer and speaker on prayer and it is good to be able to have him with us. More details nearer the time but please make room in your diaries for the Saturday, most especially!

REGINALD STEVENS died during this last week and his funeral is at South Bristol Crematorium Chapel on Monday (8th February) at 2.30pm. Our prayers and sympathy are extended to his family. May he rest in peace.