SUNDAY: Ascension in not just a feast that happens to fall in Eastertide: it is an integral part of the Easter mystery. Remember the Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “I am going to prepare a place for, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me.” The resurrection presumes the Lord’s return to the Father. This is therefore a feast of hope: our hope in the Lord’s return, as he went. Our hope that he will take us with him, when our bodies are raised as his was. Our hope that we will take our place in heaven, where he sits on the Father’s right.

WELCOME THIS WEEK to Fr Michael English who will celebrate Mass on Friday and to Canon Gerry Rodgers who will be here Saturday morning. Some of the children from school will also be with us on Friday for Mass.

WORLD COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY: This Sunday, we pray for those who work to promote the Gospel message through the varying forms of the mass media. The Catholic Communications Network of the Bishops’ Conference provides support for the bishops of England and Wales and the Church more widely in promoting the Gospel through the media on current issues. The office is the central point for media enquiries. It plays a key role in developing the public profile of the Church. This Sunday’s retiring collection supports this most important branch of the Bishops’ Conference and the Church’s work engaging with the media. Resources and details in the narthex.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: First Communion, this year, is being celebrated next Sunday – 27 May – at 10.30am – Pentecost Sunday. Do keep them our children in your prayers: Kieran Parsons, Evie Nathasingh, Divya Rajesh, Maisie Sanders, William Bennett, Georgina Cox, Shane Parry, Calum Chilcott, Archie Daniels, Joshua Sims, Billy Jackson, Megan Sanders, Tommy Holland, Joseph Bennett, Isabelle O’Toole, Tore Popek, Callum Witts, Lila Ibrahim, and Dario Vecchia. The final preparation session takes place this Wednesday and the run-through for the weekend takes place on Friday at 5.00pm.

TUESDAY CAFÉ: Beginning this Tuesday – 22 May – our parish will start a short series of catechesis, deepening our understanding of the person of Jesus. Titled ‘Who are you looking for? I am he.’ this course – spread out over nine weeks – will explore the person of Jesus we find in the Gospel. We meet after Mass at about 10.15am for a short little input and then leaving time for conversation around the table to explore the theme a little further. The sessions are open to everyone and you are warmly encouraged to come along and to bring friends with you. There will be some good coffee or tea and some delicious cakes, too. Dates: 22 May, 29 May, 12 June, 19 June, 26 June, 3 July, 10 July, and 17 July. We will meet for an hour… simple, informative, engaging, and uncomplicated. Posters and details are available for you to take away with you from the narthex. Do make a note of the dates… and feel free to come along bringing others with you.

DIOCESAN FAMILY DAY: Taking place at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College on Saturday 30 June, this fantastic opportunity to gather together as a diocesan family comes at the invitation of Bishop Declan. There is plenty for all the family from the young to the very young at heart. There are some superb speakers and workshop facilitators to nurture your faith, deepen your prayer, or allow you to explore particular things of interest. All you need do is sign up for the day giving details of the workshops you want to take part in. The day starts with registration from 9.15am. Poster and handouts in the narthex. IT’S FREE… so do go along and support them day if you can. Pick up a leaflet and have a browse.

DIAMOND JUBILEE ‘RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ SOCIAL: If you are not tootling off for half term over the diamond jubilee weekend, then come along to our parish social on Saturday 2 June at 7.15pm. There will be a tasty jubilee supper and chance to raise a glass, too. There will also be a couple of games of bingo with our fantastic bingo caller making a return visit. Great fun for all the family. The dress code is, of course, red, white and blue! You can pop your name on the list in the narthex from this weekend. We’ll also draw the big prizes of the 200 Club that evening, too. Details on the notice board.

GIFT AID AND TAX RECLAIM: Following changes to the tax thresholds in April 2012 please would you check to make sure that you will pay enough tax in 2012/2013 to cover your gift aid declaration. If you have any queries or would like further details please contact David Lavelle (01275 836779) the parish gift aid secretary.

DO YOU HAVE EXPERTISE IN PERSONNEL AND RECRUITMENT? Can you help our primary school? You may be aware that, our excellent school leadership teams are supported by individuals who volunteer their time to act as Governors, ensuring the good Governance of the schools. At present, due to the retirement of a Foundation Governor, we are seeking an individual from our parish community with Personnel and Recruitment expertise to join the board of Governors at our Primary School. It only involves a few hours per term and, although it is unpaid it can be very rewarding. If you can help, please call Father Christopher on 01275 833699 or Paul Harper, Vice Chair of Governors on 07768 952212 for a confidential discussion.

GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE: This year’s pilgrimage is on Sunday 8 July. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Declan at 3.30 pm in the Abbey grounds. Poster and full programme for the day on the notice board.

CHRISTIAN UNITY SERVICE: The service will be held at Counterslip Baptist Church on Thursday 24th May at 7.30 pm.  The service will be followed by refreshments and an opportunity to meet with our friends from the other local Christian churches.  Do go and represent our parish community if you can.

DO YOU ENJOY SINGING? It would be great if we could for some sort of music group or choir at St. Bernadette’s to help lead and enhance the singing. The first practice will be Friday 15th June, at 7.45pm. The main aim of the choir will be to support the liturgy at some of our Sunday morning Masses. Please come and share your talents and time, especially if you have previous experience of choral singing or  can read music.

The Tuesday Cafe sessions are open to everyone… and you’d be more than welcome.

May 22 – Who are you looking for – I am he!

May 29 – I am the bread of life

12 June – I am the light of the world

19 June – I am the good shepherd

26 June – I am the gate

3 July – I am the resurrection and the life

10 July – I am the vine, you are the branches

17 July – I am the way, the truth, and the life

There is a poster in the narthex.

THIS SUNDAY: Last week it was sheep: this week, the vine. Jesus offers us another (agricultural) image to explain the mystery of his offering of himself, and our belonging to him, our being part of him, which comes about through the sacrament of Baptism. This is, as was stated earlier, the period of Mystagogy, when the newly baptised are helped to see what life in Jesus Christ really means. Today this comes out strongly for all of us, with two of the three readings emphasising the moral aspects of life in Christ: it is not simply enough to “belong” to him: our belonging must be shown by the works we do, by the fruits we bear – while remembering of course that we cannot bear fruit except in him.

MISSIONARY APPEAL: You made Sister Irene of the Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver so welcome last Sunday. She was touched by your kindness and your care. You sent her away with £348.45 as our gift of support to the missions this year. Thank you for your generosity. That money goes to support the work of the congregations of Missionary Sisters based in this country with their foundations on the missions.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The children continue their preparation for First Communion this coming Wednesday. First Communion, this year, is being celebrated on Sunday 27 May at 10.30am – Pentecost Sunday. Do keep them in your prayers.

TUESDAY CAFÉ: Beginning on Tuesday 22 May, our parish will start a short series of catechesis, deepening our understanding of the person of Jesus. Titled ‘Who are you looking for? I am he.’ this course – spread out over nine weeks – will explore the person of Jesus we find in the Gospel. The format will be simple and uncomplicated. We meet after Mass at about 10.15am for a short little input and then leaving time for conversation around the table to explore the theme a little further. We have a wonderful, simple chance to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to be a Catholic… and the beauty of the friendship Christ draws us into. The sessions are open to everyone and you are warmly encouraged to come along and to bring friends with you. There will be some good coffee or tea and some delicious cakes, too. Dates: 22 May, 29 May, 12 June, 19 June, 26 June, 3 July, 10 July, and 17 July. We start at 10.15am and will meet for an hour… simple, informative, engaging, and uncomplicated. Posters and details are available for you to take away with you from the narthex. Do make a note of the dates… and feel free to come along.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: The group meets next on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30pm (after Mass) in the presbytery.

OPENING THE WINDOWS – IN CELEBRATION OF VATICAN II: The fifth lecture in our diocesan series takes place at the Cathedral on Tuesday 15 May, beginning at 7.30pm. Professor Gavin D’Costa from Bristol University leads the reflection upon the Church reaching out to those of other faiths. He will explore the Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions – Nostra Aetate, and the Declaration on Religious Freedom – Dignitatis Humanae. They have been fantastic lectures so far. Do go along. There’s plenty of parking and it is free to get in, too.

DIOCESAN FAMILY DAY: Taking place at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College on Saturday 30 June, this fantastic opportunity to gather together as a diocesan family comes at the invitation of Bishop Declan. There is plenty for all the family from the young to the very young at heart. There are some superb speakers and workshop facilitators to nurture your faith, deepen your prayer, or allow you to explore particular things of interest. All you need do is sign up for the day giving details of the workshops you want to take part in. The day starts with registration from 9.15am. Poster and handouts in the narthex. IT’S FREE… so do go along and support them day if you can. Pick up a leaflet and have a browse.

DIAMOND JUBILEE ‘RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ SOCIAL: If you are not tootling off for half term over the diamond jubilee weekend, then come along to our parish social on Saturday 2 June at 7.00pm. There will be a tasty jubilee supper and chance to raise a glass, too. There will also be a couple of games of bingo with our fantastic bingo caller making a return visit. Great fun for all the family. The dress code is, of course, red, white and blue! You’ll be able to pop your name on the list in the narthex next weekend. We’ll also draw the big prizes of the 200 Club that evening, too.

COALITION FOR MARRIAGE: From the news you will know that the Government is consulting as it wants to extend the definition of marriage to same-sex relationships. The Bishops are inviting you to add your voice to the petition against redefining marriage. You are also invited to contact your MP. You will find the petition and the points which you may like to include in your MP’s letter on the board in the narthex.  Marriage is so readily under threat in our society and this gives us chance to uphold its dignity and its place within society.

CLASS MASSES: Beginning this coming Friday, one of the Class groups from our primary school will be joining us again for Mass each Friday at 9.30am. This coming Friday we are joined by Year 6 (ahead of their SATS). Do make them welcome and encourage them as they come to join us in our prayer.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS: Pauline Long, who was received into the Church along with her husband, Michael, at last year’s Easter Vigil and has been a real part of our parish family over the last fourteen months, died peacefully in hospital on Friday morning. We keep her in our prayers and remember Michael and their family at this sad time. May she rest in peace.

THIS SUNDAY: This is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Gospel narratives (from John 10) read each year, in which Jesus talks of himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his flock. A general “theme” to the Scriptures is the person of Jesus and what he has achieved by the Paschal Mystery (his dying and rising): the first reading talks of his name, and the power of the name of Jesus to save: one of the results of the “power of this name” is that in him we are all God’s children, and are promised an eternal reward. All this is summed up in the Gospel, in which Jesus talks of himself as the real shepherd, who is prepared to do anything for his flock, even to the point of giving his life. This he said before his passion, but in Eastertide we read it with the benefit of hindsight. His words are true, and by his dying and rising he has truly saved his flock.

MISSIONARY WELCOME: We welcome to Mass this weekend the Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver who are appealing in our diocese this year and in parishes in our deanery this weekend. They will tell us something of their missionary work, the work of their congregation, and seek our support and our help for the work of all the missionary Sisters. Please do respond as generously as you can to this appeal.

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY – DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is a Sunday where we focus our prayer each year upon praying for Vocations to the Priesthood, the Diaconate, and to the Religious Life. We keep this intention in our prayers – not just today – asking God to touch the hearts of those he calls to respond generously and in love to his call.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The children preparing for First Communion come to celebrate the gift of the Cross this Sunday, 29 April, at the 10.30am Mass. They continue their preparation for First Communion this coming Wednesday. First Communion, this year, is being celebrated on Sunday 27 May at 10.30am.

WEDNESDAY CAFÉ: Beginning on Tuesday 22 May, our parish will start a short series of catechesis, deepening our understanding of the person of Jesus. Titled ‘Who are you looking for? I am he.’ this course spread out over nine weeks will explore the person of Jesus we find in the Gospel. The format will be simple and uncomplicated. We meet after Mass at about 10.15am for a short little input and then leaving time for conversation around the table to explore the theme a little further. We have a wonderful, simple chance to deepen our understanding of  who Jesus is and what it means to be a Catholic… and all over a cuppa, beginning to explore what lies at the heart of what we believe. The sessions are open to everyone and you are warmly encouraged to come along and to bring friends with you. There will be a good cup of coffee or tea and some cakes, too. Dates: 22 May, 29 May, 12 June, 19 June, 26 June, 3 July, 10 July, and 17 July. We start at 10.15am and will meet for an hour… simple, informative, engaging, and uncomplicated. Posters and details will be available for you to take away next weekend. Do make a note of the dates… and feel free to come along.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: The group meets next on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30pm (after Mass) in the presbytery.

OPENING THE WINDOWS – IN CELEBRATION OF VATICAN II: The fifth lecture in our diocesan series takes place at the Cathedral on Tuesday 15 May, beginning at 7.30pm. Professor Gavin D’Costa from Bristol University leads the reflection upon the Church reaching out to those of other faiths. He will explore the Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions – Nostra Aetate, and the Declaration on Religious Freedom – Dignitatis Humanae. They have been fantastic lectures so far. Do go along. There’s plenty of parking and it is free to get in, too.

PARISH MAGAZINE: The Easter/Spring edition of the parish Magazine is still available from the Narthex. Do pick your copy as there are some interesting articles in it. They are free and if you want to pop a little something towards production costs in with the newspaper money, then please feel free to do so.

SALVATORE COSTA RIP: We keep the Costa family very much in our prayers at this time. Salvatore’s funeral takes place at St Gerard’s this coming Wednesday at 11.00am followed by burial in Whitchurch cemetery. May he rest in peace.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME to Ayla Baker who was baptised here last Sunday.

DIAMOND JUBILEE ‘RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ SOCIAL: If you are not tootling off for half term over the diamond jubilee weekend, then come along to our parish social on Saturday 2 June at 7.00pm. There will be a tasty jubilee supper and chance to raise a glass, too. Great fun for all the family. The dress code is, of course, red, white and blue! Tickets available soon! We’ll also draw the big prizes of the 200 Club that evening, too.

TABLE TOP SALE – THANKS! There was a terrific buzz in the hall last Saturday that contributed £989.48 towards CLIC and SANDS. The total raised for those two charities over two events comes to £2000. Barbara thanks all those who supported and contributed to that wonderful total. Keep an eye on the notice board for the letters coming from those two charities.

COALITION FOR MARRIAGE: From the news you will know that the Government is consulting as it wants to extend the definition of marriage to same-sex relationships. The Bishops are inviting you to add your voice to the petition against redefining marriage. You are also invited to contact your MP. You will find the petition and the points which you may like to include in your MP’s letter on the board in the narthex.  Marriage is so readily under threat in our society and this gives us chance to uphold its dignity and its place within society.

THIS SUNDAY: In the weeks of Lent so far we have followed God’s work of salvation: we have seen the Covenants he established with Noah, Abraham, Moses and the people of Israel after the return from Babylon. Now we come to one of the most significant parts of the Old Testament: the promise of a brand new Covenant, which will be different from all those that went before. This Covenant will see God and Man living more closely together. For the ratification of a Covenant, something was always sacrificed as a sign of the new relationship – normally man would offer some animal offering to God. But the New Covenant will be ratified not with the death of sheep or bull, but by the death of Jesus Christ, God and Man. In this perfect sacrifice is the source of our eternal salvation.

PALM SUNDAY SOUP LUNCH: The second of our parish soup lunches takes place on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12 noon onwards. Just sign up on the list in the Narthex to ensure you are well catered for.  What is raised goes to support our charitable, outreach projects.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: There will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction this afternoon in the Church at 4.00pm

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Morning Prayer in the Church each Sunday beginning at 9.45am.

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: This Friday the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am). This is the last of our Lenten Holy Hours.

MASS IN ITALIAN: For the beginning of Holy Week and the celebration of Palm Sunday, Fr Gerardo Fabrizio will be with us once again to celebrate Mass at 5.00pm on Palm Sunday in Italian (1 April). Do come along if you can. There will be refreshments in the Hall afterwards.

TAIZE MUSIC AND PRAYER: At the start of our journey of Holy Week this year, there will be an evening of Taize prayer in the Church. This beautiful and simple evening of reflection will draw our attention towards the cross. In song and prayer, reflecting upon the scriptures and drawing upon the spirituality of Taize, we come to the Lord. Monday 2 April at 7.30pm. Do come along – there will also be opportunities for confession that evening, too. The Community of Taize, based near Cluny in France, is an ecumenical community drawing pilgrims into deeper relationship with the Lord through prayer, through the scriptures, and through beautiful, simple, chant.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: There will opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as we journey through Lent. The two Saturday opportunities are there as well as an opportunity as part of Taize evening or prayer on 2 April (7.30pm); also on the Tuesday of Holy Week (3 April) from 6.00pm until 7.30pm (altered), and Spy Wednesday (4 April) from 7.30pm until 8.15pm, as well as on Good Friday afternoon after the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion.

THE ROAD TO CALVARY – A Passion Play: This reflection as we head towards Holy Week takes place at St Gerard’s, Knowle, on Friday 30 March at 7.00pm. Tickets cost £5. All are welcome.

TABLE TOP SALE: To raise some much needed funds for CLIC (Cancer and leukaemia in Children) and SANDS (Stillborn and neonatal death), Barbara Coles is hosting a table top sale in the Hall on Saturday 21 April from 12 – 200pm.  If you can help out by making baked goods, jams and preserves, or you have something for the gift table or some unused, unwanted toiletries, you can hand them into at the presbytery or contact Barbara on (01275) 837754 as soon as possible. Do come along on the day, though, and support these charities, please.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER: The schedule for Holy Week this year is available for you to take away. Do make sure you pick up an extra one or two copies to pass around to folk who might just need a little encouragement to come and celebrate Easter with us.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS: Kathleen Joyce’s funeral takes place here at St Bernadette’s on Monday 26 March at 10.00am. May she rest in peace.

OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL: Our primary school survived their full-on inspection this last week. They must await, now, the final report.

PRIMARY SCHOOL STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Our Year 5 pupils will be leading their beautiful Stations of the Cross as they approach the end of this term, here in the Church on Thursday at 10.00am. Do come and support them, encourage them, but also join them in prayer as we prepare to enter into Holy Week.

APF NEWS: The total collected in 2011 through your Red Boxes was £2424.00 – that’s a terrific amount for the Missions. Many thanks to all our red box holders, our annual members, and all who contributed in any way.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: New boxed sets are available from the Narthex. If you are a tax payer and would like a Gift Aid set of envelopes, have a word with Dave Lavelle.

EASTER FLOWERS: The flower ladies will be asking for your help and support through next weekend’s retiring collection for the flowers at Easter. Do, please, give them what support you can next weekend.

THIS SUNDAY: There were two remarkable moments in the story of the Old Testament where God saved his people; one was in the escape from Egypt – we’ll keep that for the Easter Vigil. The other was the end of their second exile, this time in Babylon, which we hear of today. Of course there was an even greater moment when God saved his people: the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God – and we hear Jesus tell Nicodemus about that today. So today’s theme is “salvation”: but to understand “being saved”, we must ask “What from?” Saved from slavery, from exile, from human enemies – these are all clear. But the last and greatest salvation brought by Jesus is harder to understand: saved from sin and death. These threaten us as much as any other enemy, and our salvation in Jesus is as real as any other. We are also at the mid-way point of Lent – Laetare Sunday invites us to to a certain joy as we near the events that celebrate our salvation.
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LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: The second of our parish soup lunches takes place on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12 noon onwards. A great way to tap into that Lenten fasting as well as reaching our in love to those less fortunate than ourselves.   Just sing up on the list in the Narthex to ensure you are well catered for.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent at 4.00pm, there will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Just for the Season of Lent, we will continue to celebrate Morning Prayer in the Church each Sunday beginning at 9.45am.

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: This Friday and for the remaining Fridays of Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am).

VATICAN II COURSE: Keep 20 March (that’s this coming Tuesday) free in your diaries – Clifton Cathedral, 7.30pm. Professor Paul Murray from Durham University will be with us to talk about the Decree on Ecumenism and the Council’s ecumenical outreach and, of course, its impact on what we are called to be, as Church, today. Prof Murray is well able to deepen our understanding of the Council’s ecumenical initiatives, and it’ll be great to reflect upon how we continue to live the fruit of that invitation today. All are welcome – a fantastic series so far!

MASS IN ITALIAN: For the start of Holy Week and the celebration of Palm Sunday, Fr Gerardo Fabrizio will be with us to celebrate Mass at 5.00pm on Palm Sunday in Italian (1 April). Do come along if you can. There will be refreshments in the Hall afterwards.

TAIZE MUSIC AND PRAYER: At the start of our journey of Holy Week this year, there will be an evening of Taize prayer in the Church. This beautiful and simple evening of reflection will draw our attention towards the cross. In song and prayer, reflecting upon the scriptures and drawing upon the spirituality of Taize, we come to the Lord. Monday 2 April at 7.30pm. Do come along – there will also be opportunities for confession that evening, too.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: There will opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as we journey through Lent. The two Saturday opportunities are there as well as an opportunity as part of Taize evening or prayer on 2 April (7.30pm); also on the Tuesday of Holy Week (3 April) from 6.00pm until 7.30pm (altered), and Spy Wednesday (4 April) from 7.30pm until 8.15pm. There will be a couple of priests available those evenings.

THE ROAD TO CALVARY – A Passion Play: This reflection as we head towards Holy Week takes place at St Gerard’s, Knowle, on Friday 30 March at 7.00pm. Tickets cost £5. All are welcome.

TABLE TOP SALE: To raise some much needed funds for CLIC (Cancer and leukaemia in Children) and SANDS (Stillborn and neonatal death), Barbara Coles is hosting a table top sale in the Hall on Saturday 21 April from 12 – 200pm.  If you can help out by making baked goods, jams and preserves, or you have something for the gift table or some unused, unwanted toiletries, you can hand them into at the presbytery or contact Barbara on (01275) 837754 as soon as possible. Do come along on the day, though, and support these charities, please.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER: The schedule for Holy Week this year is available for you to take away. Do make sure you pick up an extra one or two copies to pass around to folk who might just need a little encouragement to come and celebrate Easter with us.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS: We remember in our prayers Evelyn Welling and Kathleen Joyce who both died during this last week. Evelyn’s funeral will take place at South Bristol Crematorium this coming Friday at 2.00pm, and Kathleen Joyce’s funeral takes place here at St Bernadette’s on Monday 26 March at 10.00am. May they rest in peace.

OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL: Do keep our primary school in your prayers this week as they welcome the Section 48 (RE) inspector into school on Tuesday and Thursday.

THIS SUNDAY: This week, in our journey through the Old Testament, we reach Covenant Number Three: and this is the big one – the Covenant with Moses at Sinai. The Ten Commandments are (or should be) familiar to us all: they form our side of the agreement with God – if we stick to these rules and commands, then we are truly God’s people, and he is truly our God. If we ignore them, or break them, then we break the Covenant or relationship.  The Temple was, for the people of Israel, the place that guaranteed the permanence of this Covenant – God dwelling with man. Jesus alerts us to the new Temple – himself – since he is the core of the New Covenant, God and Man in perfect unity. Only by the destruction of this new Temple, in his death, will he rise again as an eternal Temple, and the eternal guarantee of the New Covenant which we enjoy.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: We welcome the children to 10.30am Mass this Sunday as they are presented with a copy of the scriptures, reminding them of Christ’s presence to us in his Word – a Word that grow attentive to each and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

THE SEASON OF LENT ~ a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that we might be re-moulded, renewed, re-imagined, refreshed and re-fashioned to become more like Christ.

CAFOD FAST DAY: A big thank you for your great kindness shown through our Lenten CAFOD collection. You raise a whopping £1577.34 which, of course, with the Government £1 for £1, is a staggering amount of money (£3154.68) for those without clean water. Thank you.

LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: The second of our parish soup lunches takes place on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12 noon onwards. A great way to tap into that Lenten fasting as well as reaching our in love to those less fortunate than ourselves. Details of the ecumenical lunches in the local churches are on the notice board.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent at 4.00pm, there will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Just for the Season of Lent, we will continue to celebrate Morning Prayer in the Church each Sunday beginning at 9.45am.

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: This Friday and for the remaining Fridays of Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am).

MASS IN ITALIAN: For the start of Holy Week and the celebration of Palm Sunday, Fr Gerardo Fabrizio will be with us to celebrate Mass at 5.00pm on Palm Sunday (1 April). Do come along if you can.

TAIZE MUSIC AND PRAYER: At the start of our journey of Holy Week this year, there will be an evening of Taize prayer in the Church. This beautiful and simple evening of reflection will draw our attention towards the cross. In song and prayer, reflecting upon the scriptures and drawing upon the spirituality of Taize, we come to the Lord. Monday 2 April at 7.30pm. Do come along – there will also be opportunities for confession that evening, too.

VATICAN II COURSE: Keep 20 March free in your diaries – Clifton Cathedral, 7.30pm. Professor Paul Murray from Durham University will be with us to talk about the Council’s ecumenical outreach and its impact on what we are called to be, as Church, today. Prof Murray is well able to deepen our understanding of the Council’s ecumenical initiatives, and it’ll be great to reflect upon how we continue to live the fruit of that invitation today. All are welcome – a fantastic series so far!

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: There will opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as we journey through Lent. The two Saturday opportunities are there as well as an opportunity as part of Taize evening or prayer on 2 April (7.30pm); also on the Tuesday of Holy Week (3 April) from 6.00pm until 7.30pm (altered), and Spy Wednesday (4 April) from 7.30pm until 8.15pm. There will be a couple of priests available those evenings.

THE ROAD TO CALVARY – A Passion Play: This reflection as we head towards Holy Week takes place at St Gerard’s, Knowle, on Friday 30 March at 7.00pm. Tickets cost £5. All are welcome.

BRISTOL IRISH SOCIETY: There’s a poster on the board with details of this coming weekend’s St Patrick’s celebrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

TABLE TOP SALE: To raise some much needed funds for CLIC (Cancer and leukaemia in Children) and SANDS (Stillborn and neonatal death), Barbara Coles is hosting a table top sale in the Hall on Saturday 21 April from 12 – 200pm.  If you can help out by making baked goods, jams and preserves, or you have something for the gift table or some unused, unwanted toiletries, you can hand them into at the presbytery or contact Barbara on (01275) 837754 as soon as possible. Do come along on the day, though, and support these charities, please.

LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOPS NICHOLS AND SMITH: A copy of the Archbishops’ letter on same sex marriage is available for you to take away from the Narthex. Please do pick up your copy.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER: Hopefully, the Holy Week and Easter schedule will be available for next weekend.

4 March 2012 – Second Sunday of Lent (B)

THIS SUNDAY: We spool forward a few centuries in the story of the Old Testament, to arrive at Abraham, “our Father in faith”. Keep that theme of Covenant in the front of your minds as you listen to the readings this Sunday. We hear of another Covenant (like last week) – even though the word is not used. God promises Abraham descendants like “the stars of heaven”, and the showering of blessings. This shows how much God loves Abraham, and all his children.  This love is proved for us in Jesus: God loves us so much he sacrificed his only Son (just as Abraham was willing to do); but this is not all: Jesus also rose from the dead, to stand at God’s right hand and plead for us. All this is revealed in the story of the Transfiguration, where Jesus is seen in the glory that is rightfully his as the only Son of God. Not until after the Resurrection will the disciples see this fully again.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: We welcome the children to 10.30am Mass on Sunday 11 March (next Sunday) as they are presented with a copy of the scriptures, reminding them of Christ’s presence to us in his Word – a Word that grow attentive to each and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: This little fledgling group meets on Tuesday 6 March at 7.00pm. It is made up of representatives from the ‘liturgical’ side of our parish community: someone to represent our readers, our extra-ordinary ministers, our Children’s Liturgy, our servers, our welcomers, our musicians and cantors, our flowers ladies, those who beautify the Church for us, and those who put the rotas together for us. It is a real way of communicating and coming together with a common vision as well as planning and providing opportunity for preparation.

THE SEASON OF LENT ~ a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that we might be re-moulded, renewed, re-imagined, refreshed and re-fashioned to become more like Christ.

CAFOD FAST DAY: Envelopes that were attached to last week’s newsletter can be popped into the Retiring Collection, please, which will take place after all Masses. This year’s collection is focused upon giving clean water to communities without. There is a government price match – for every £1 we raise for CAFOD, the government will match it with another £1. Please do make use of your envelope (especially if you are a tax payer) and please give as generously as you can to this important Lenten retiring collection.

LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: The second of our parish soup lunches takes place on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12 noon onwards. A great way to tap into that Lenten fasting as well as reaching our in love to those less fortunate than ourselves. Details of the ecumenical lunches in the local churches are on the notice board.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent at 4.00pm, there will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction. This prayerful journey to the Cross draws us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s love for us. If you can make this a real part of your Lenten prayer, please do come along. We’ll use a different set of reflections for each of the weeks.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Just for the Season of Lent, we will continue to celebrate Morning Prayer in the Church each Sunday beginning at 9.45am. If you want to make this part of your Lenten Prayer, then please come along. The Liturgy of the Hours is a beautiful celebration of the psalms sung to simple tones and enables us to pray, not only for the Church, but with and on behalf of the Church, too. This is only for the six Sundays of Lent… so come and see!

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: Continuing this Friday and the remaining Fridays of Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am) just to allow those who want to, to either stay on or to allow folk to just pop in for a moment of prayer. The Church will be open, so do make use of this little opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Lord.

TAIZE MUSIC AND PRAYER: At the start of our journey of Holy Week this year, there will be an evening of Taize prayer in the Church. This beautiful and simple evening of reflection will draw our attention towards the cross. In song and prayer, reflecting upon the scriptures and drawing upon the spirituality of Taize, we come to the Lord. Monday 2 April at 7.30pm. Do come along – there will also be opportunities for confession that evening, too.

VATICAN II COURSE: Keep 20 March free in your diaries – Clifton Cathedral, 7.30pm. Professor Paul Murray from Durham University will be with us to talk about the Council’s ecumenical outreach and its impact on what we are called to be, as Church, today. Prof Murray is well able to deepen our understanding of the Council’s ecumenical initiatives, and it’ll be great to reflect upon how we continue to live the fruit of that invitation today. All are welcome – a fantastic series so far!

LENTEN CONFESSIONS: There will opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as we journey through Lent. The two Saturday opportunities are there as well as an opportunity as part of Taize evening or prayer on 2 April (7.30pm); also on the Tuesday of Holy Week (3 April) at 10.00am until 10.45am, and Spy Wednesday (4 April) from 7.30pm until 8.15pm. There will be a couple of priests available that evening.

THE ROAD TO CALVARY – A Passion Play: This reflection as we head towards Holy Week takes place at St Gerard’s, Knowle, on Friday 30 March at 7.00pm. Tickets cost £5. All are welcome.

THIS SUNDAY: We begin our Lenten journey at the decisive moment of the flood, when God establishes his first Covenant with man, in the person of Noah. Noah was saved from the waters, while we (as Saint Peter points out) are saved by the waters of Baptism. This is the Covenant we live in, thanks to Christ, who came to establish this “new and eternal Covenant in his blood”. He is the only one who can do this, because he is without sin, despite “having been tempted in every way that we are”.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The preparation sessions for our youngsters continue this coming week -Wednesday, 29 February – at 11.00am in school.  The children will still have their books in school already, but if they haven’t, parents are asked to make sure you send them in, please. We welcome the children to 10.30am Mass on Sunday 11 March as they are presented with a copy of the scriptures, reminding them of Christ’s presence to us in his Word – a Word that grow attentive to each and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

WOMENS WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: This year, the Day of Prayer takes place on Friday 2 March beginning at 11.00am in Christchurch, Petherton Road. Please do go along and support this annual day which, this year, has been put together by the women of Malaysia. A light lunch served afterwards.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: This gathering will look at ensuring that each of our ministers is formed and supported, as well as providing a real opportunity to reflect upon what we do as a community of prayer. The meeting aims, also, at allowing each of those coordinators to communicate with one another and facilitate a planning of what takes place here when it comes to our prayer. They meet on Tuesday 6 March at 7.00pm.

THE SEASON OF LENT ~ a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that we might be re-moulded, renewed, re-imagined, refreshed and re-fashioned to become more like Christ.

CAFOD FAST DAY: This year, the CAFOD fast day takes place on Friday 2 March. Envelopes are attached to this week’s newsletter in readiness for the collection which will take place on Saturday 3/Sunday 4 March (Second Sunday of Lent). This year’s collection is focused upon giving clean water to communities. There is a government price match – for every £1 we raise for CAFOD, the government will match it with another £1. Please do make use of your envelope and please give as generously as you can.

LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: Lent got off to a good, nourishing start this last Friday. The second of our parish soup lunches takes place on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12noon onwards. A great way to tap into that Lenten fasting as well as reaching our in love to those less fortunate than ourselves. Details of the ecumenical lunches in the local churches are on the notice board.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent, beginning this Sunday – 26 February – at 4.00pm, there will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction. This prayerful journey to the Cross draws us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s love for us. If you can make this a real part of your Lenten prayer, please do come along. We’ll use a different set of reflections for each of the weeks.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Just for the Season of Lent, there will be Morning Prayer in the Church on Sundays beginning at 9.45am. If you want to make this part of your Lenten Prayer, then please come along. The Liturgy of the Hours is a beautiful celebration of the psalms sung to simple tones and enables us to pray, not only for the Church, but with and on behalf of the Church, too. We’ll begin Morning Prayer this Sunday on 26 February. This is only for the six Sundays of Lent… so come and see!

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: On each of the Fridays of Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am) just to allow those who want to, to either stay on or to allow folk to just pop in for a moment of prayer. The Church will be open, so do make use of this little opportunity to deepen our relation with the Lord.

WALK WITH ME: These beautiful little books of Lenten reflections are available from the Narthex. They cost £1 and will take you through each day of the six weeks of Lent. Pick up your copy whilst they are there. The money can be popped in with the newspaper money.

TAIZE MUSIC AND PRAYER: At the start of our journey of Holy Week this year, there will be an evening of Taize prayer in the Church. This beautiful and simple evening of reflection will draw our attention towards the cross. In song and prayer, reflecting upon the scriptures and drawing upon the spirituality of Taize, we come to the Lord. Monday 2 April at 7.30pm. Do come along – there will also be opportunities for confession that evening, too.

BORN FOR THIS: A powerful musical recounting the story of Easter is being performed in our Cathedral by talented young people from our diocese. Taking place on Saturday 3 March in the Cathedral, this wonderful musical presentation begins at 7.30pm… and all are welcome. Entry is free. An ideal opportunity to celebrate the Season of Lent and look forward to the wonder of Easter. Do go along and support our young people, our secondary schools, and our Diocesan Youth Service. Poster in the narthex for more info.

VATICAN II COURSE: Keep 20 March free in your diaries – Clifton Cathedral, 7.30pm. Details next week. Professor Paul Murray from Durham University will be with us to talk about the Council’s ecumenical outreach and its impact on what we are called to be, as Church, today. All are welcome – a fantastic series so far!

THIS SUNDAY: There are many “themes” running through the Gospel today—faith, perseverance, healing—which seem dramatic to us. But the theme highlighted by our first reading is that of the power of Jesus to forgive sins—something that would perhaps have been more remarkable in his own time. Saint Mark is clearly revealing to us something important about Jesus of Nazareth—something which shocks and surprises the scribes listening to Jesus. Such an immediate forgiveness of sins was, to them, new and disturbing. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves if we take forgiveness for granted sometimes: when the paralytic, after all the struggles and efforts of his family and friends, heard Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven”, was he disappointed or delighted?

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The preparation sessions for our youngsters start up again this coming week -Wednesday, 22 February – at 11.00am in school.  The children will still have their books in school already, but if they haven’t, parents are asked to make sure you send them in, please. We welcome the children to 10.30am Mass on Sunday 11 March as they are presented with a copy of the scriptures, reminding them of Christ’s presence to us in his Word – a Word that grow attentive to each and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

BATH HALF MARATHON: Maria Murphy is planning to run this year’s half marathon to raise funds for the Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases (MPS), diseases that causes progressive physical disability as well as severe degenerative mental deterioration in children. Maria has put a sponsor form on the notice board in the narthex, so if you would care to sponsor her, please sign up! The half marathon takes place on 11 March… so there’s time to give her your support.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: This gathering will look at ensuring that each of our ministers is formed and supported, as well as providing a real opportunity to reflect upon what we do as a community of prayer. The meeting aims, also, at allowing each of those coordinators to communicate with one another and facilitate a planning of what takes place here when it comes to our prayer. They meet on Tuesday 6 March at 7.00pm.

THE SEASON OF LENT ~ a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that we might be re-moulded, renewed, re-imagined, refreshed and re-fashioned to become more like Christ.

CAFOD FAST DAY: This year, the CAFOD fast day takes place on Friday 2 March. Envelopes will be attached to next week’s newsletter in readiness for the start of Lent and the Lenten collection will take place on Saturday 3/Sunday 4 March (Second Sunday of Lent). This year’s collection is focused upon giving clean water to communities. There is a government price match – for every £1 we raise for CAFOD, the government will match it with another £1. Look out for your envelope and please give as generously as you can.

ASH WEDNESDAY: The Season of Lent begins on Wednesday 22 February. Two Masses in Church – 9.30am and 7.00pm. There will also be a Liturgy of the Word with the distribution of Ashes in our primary school. It’s not a Holyday of Obligation, but it is an important start to this season on renewal, growth, and preparation.

LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: These two wonderfully nourishing yet simple soup lunches that mark the start and the end of Lent in our parish will take place on Friday 24 February at 12noon onwards (…that’s this coming Friday), and also on Palm Sunday – 1 April – from 12noon onwards. A great way to tap into that Lenten fasting as well as reaching our in love to those less fortunate than ourselves. Details of the ecumenical lunches will appear in the newsletter next week. Just sign up in the narthex for this coming Friday’s.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent, beginning 26 February at 4.00pm, there will be the celebration of the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction. This prayerful journey to the Cross draws us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s love for us. If you can make this a real part of your Lenten prayer, please do come along. We’ll use a different set of reflections for each of the weeks.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: Just for the Season of Lent, there will be Morning Prayer in the Church on Sundays beginning at 9.45am. If you want to make this part of your Lenten Prayer, then please come along. The Liturgy of the Hours is a beautiful celebration of the psalms sung to simple tones and enables us to pray, not only for the Church, but with and on behalf of the Church, too. We’ll begin Morning Prayer next Sundays on 26 February. This is only for the six Sundays of Lent… so come and see!

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: On each of the Fridays of Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for an hour of prayer after the morning Mass (so from 10.00am until 11.00am) just to allow those who want to, to either stay on or to allow folk to just pop in for a moment of prayer. The Church will be open, so do make use of this little opportunity to deepen our relation with the Lord.

WALK WITH ME: These beautiful little books of Lenten reflections are available from the Narthex. They cost £1 and will take you through each day of the six weeks of Lent. Pick up your copy whilst they are there. The money can be popped in with the newspaper money.

BORN FOR THIS: A powerful musical recounting the story of Easter is being performed in our Cathedral by talented young people from our diocese. Taking place on Saturday 3 March in the Cathedral, this wonderful musical presentation begins at 7.30pm… and all are welcome. Entry is free. An ideal opportunity to celebrate the Season of Lent and look forward to the wonder of Easter. Do go along and support our young people, our secondary schools, and our Diocesan Youth Service. Poster in the narthex for more info.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER taking place on Friday 2 March.  This year the service for the local Christian Churches is being held at Christchurch, Petherton Road at 11.00am and the theme prepared by the women of Malaysia is for Justice to Prevail throughtout the World.  Following the service a light lunch will be offered. Please do go along and join them as well as representing St B’s.