stbernadettewhitchurch.org » Outreach

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fr. Christopher — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:04:15 +0000

18th December 2011 – Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

THIS SUNDAY: Here we enter a new stage of Advent: having spent so much time on the Second Coming, now we look back, to remember the details of the Lord’s First Coming. Today we focus on the character of Mary, and hear of the angel Gabriel being sent to her, to invite her to take her part in the mystery of the Incarnation, “the revelation of the mystery kept secret for endless ages”. This mystery springs from the House of David, and so we lead into the Gospel by hearing of the establishing of that house. An interesting idea is that the first reading talks of David wishing to build a house for the Lord; through the prophet he is told not of the house that he would build, but the House which is his line: eventually, in Mary (betrothed to Joseph) the House of David does itself become the house of the Lord, the womb wherein he has a dwelling place.

RETIRING COLLECTION this Sunday morning (only): The Flower Ladies are seeking your help and support with their Christmas flower collection. Your support enables them to make our Church look so beautiful and stunning for the Christmas feasts. Thanks to the Saturday evening ‘crew’ for your kindness last weekend.

FAMILY CRIB SERVICE: This Sunday afternoon, we gather with the children of our parish to begin to re-trace that journey to Bethlehem and reflect upon the beauty of the Christmas story. The children are invited to come dressed as one of the characters of the nativity to help focus our reflection upon the people who responded to the invitation to welcome Christ into our world. All are most welcome and we begin at 3.30pm.

BLESSING OF THE BAMBINO: If you would like to bring into Mass over the Christmas weekend the bambino from your crib at home, please place them beneath the altar at which ever Mass you come to over the Christmas weekend. Seeking God’s blessing, we pray that his peace may rest upon us and in our homes.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE HOMELESS: You’ve been great in previous years wrapping socks, jumpers, toiletries and chocolates for the homeless at the Julian Trust shelter. Please leave your gifts in the Lady Chapel.

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS: There will be the usual Saturday morning session of Confessions Christmas Eve. On Tuesday 20 December, there will be a couple of priests hearing confessions from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Then on Thursday 22 December, an opportunity from 10am – 10.45am. Make room for the Lord this Advent!

BIG CLEAN FOR CHRISTMAS: On Wednesday 21 December from 10am onwards, willing volunteers are needed just to get the Church ready for the Christmas weekend. If you can spare a little time along with a duster and a brush, just turn up for half an hour or so and lend a hand. Many hands make light of the work.

A CHRISTMAS WELCOME AND OUT-REACH: There’s still time to take those postcards away with you and hand them around. Use this Christmas as an invitation to folk who may have lost touch with Church, and bring them home for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS TREE: The decorated and illuminated tree will be blessed at the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve.

CRIB OFFERINGS: As usual, there will be a little basket next to the crib for your offerings. This year, our crib offerings will go in support of the work done at St Nick’s, Lawford’s Gate for the homeless and the refugee.

CHRISTMAS MASSES: It’ll be great to see you sometime over this Christmas weekend. Do make note of the times. You have them on the newsletter, on our website, and on the Christmas postcards.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The children preparing for First Communion this summer celebrated their First Confession this weekend. We look forward to welcoming them at Mass in January for their enrolment into the next leg of the preparation for First Communion.

PARISH MAGAZINE: Pick up your copy this weekend. There’s no charge for the magazine. If you want to pop a little something into the newspaper pot, then please do.

200 CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Subscriptions for 2012 are due soon. Look out for your membership letter. Your membership supports our parish in such real ways. With all 200 numbers taken, half that subscription money goes to parish funds – that’s £1200 if all numbers are taken. The other £1200 is given out in prizes throughout the year – ten £25 monthly prizes and two Grand Draws (May and November) with the potential first prize of £200. Do think about renewing your subscription and, if you haven’t got a number, have a word with Colette and sign up before the end of this December.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: This next date for your diaries ready for the New Year – Tuesday 24 January 2012 at 7.30pm. Fr Timothy Menezes will be leading our reflection upon Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Council’s document on the liturgy. This fantastic series of talks Opening the Windows offers us a simple route into re-introducing ourselves to the fruits of the Second Vatican Council. Do go along if you can. It is free, open to everyone, and there’s plenty of parking, too. Downloads on diocesan website.

AND FINALLY… if you are travelling this week to spend Christmas with family or friends, drive safely, have a wonderful time, and return refreshed and spirit-cheered.

Third Sunday of Advent

Fr. Christopher — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:05:55 +0000

11 December 2011 – Gaudete Sunday ~ Third Sunday of Advent

THIS SUNDAY: So who is coming? This Sunday’s readings help to answer that question. John the Baptist is asked about the coming of the Messiah – is it him? He affirms his role as “a witness to speak for the light”, by pointing to the one who stands among the crowd unknown to them who is coming after him. This idea is present in the First Reading, where Isaiah proclaims what the “anointed one” (‘Messiah’ in Hebrew) will do, and the joy that this will bring. It is interesting that the Psalm appointed for this Sunday is the Magnificat – Mary’s song of praise at the announcement that the Messiah would be born of her – in which she sings of the works of the coming Messiah. Paul then reminds us that we are still waiting patiently: “God has called you, and he will not fail you.” This is why, on this ‘Gaudete’ Sunday, we as God’s people rejoice in his care, made visible in his promises, fulfilled in Jesus.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The children began their preparation for First Confession last Wednesday and continue their preparation this coming Wednesday in school. The children celebrate their First Confession this coming Saturday. We keep them in our prayers.

VESPERS: This Sunday afternoon, the last of our Advent Vespers takes place at 4.00pm. This beautiful praying of the Prayer of the Church is a wonderful way to unite ourselves with the Church across the world at prayer.

FAMILY CRIB SERVICE: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent (18 December) we gather with the children of our parish to begin to re-trace that journey to Bethlehem and reflect upon the beauty of the Christmas story. The children are invited to come dressed as one of the characters of the nativity to help focus our reflection upon the people who responded to the invitation to welcome Christ into our world. All are most welcome and we begin at 3.30pm on Sunday 18th December here in the church. There will be refreshments afterwards.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE HOMELESS: Once again, we’ll be collecting your gifts for the guests of Julian House this Christmas. You’ve been great in previous years wrapping socks, jumpers, toiletries and chocolates for the homeless. The box will be in the Lady Chapel in time for the Crib Service, mid December.

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS: Responding to the call of John the Baptist to turn back to the Lord this Advent, you’ll see from the little postcards that there are opportunities other than the two usual Saturday sessions of Confessions. On Tuesday 20 December, there will be a couple of priests hearing confessions from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Then on Thursday 22 December, an opportunity from 10am – 10.45am. Don’t leave your Christmas confession until the last moment. Make room for the Lord this Advent!

A CHRISTMAS WELCOME AND OUT-REACH: There are some beautiful cards available from the narthex that give clear details of the week’s build up to Christmas so that you can ‘invite’ folk to join us for Christmas this year. The cards give times of the celebrations at St Bernadette’s, opportunities for confession, and allow you to encourage those who may not normally be with us at the weekend to come back and join us at this special time of year. This is a most important part of reaching out to folk and an important aspect of evangelisation. There may be friends, family, neighbours who just need that encouragement from you to put them back in touch with Church and with that living encounter with Christ.

CHRISTMAS MASSES: You’ll see from the little Christmas postcards that there are four masses over Christmas Day: 6.00pm Christmas Eve as well as Midnight (beginning 11.30pm with Carols) and then 8.30am and 10.30am on Christmas Day. It’ll be great to see you sometime over that Christmas weekend.

RETIRING COLLECTION this Sunday: the Flower Ladies are seeking your help and support through their Christmas flower collection. Your support enables them to make our Church look so beautiful and stunning for the Christmas feasts.

PARISH MAGAZINE: The Advent and Christmas edition of the parish magazine is available for you to collect from the Narthex. There are some fantastic articles in this edition – its well worth picking up. When you;ve finished with it, pass it on! There’s no charge for the magazine. If you want to pop a little something into the newspaper pot, then please do.

Second Sunday of Advent

Fr. Christopher — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:01:45 +0000

4 December 2011 – Second Sunday of Advent (B)

THIS SUNDAY: Throughout the first three weeks of Advent our focus is very clearly on the Second Coming of the Lord – not so much on the run up to Christmas (until the last week). If we view Advent as a preparation for Christmas these readings will make little sense – and neither will the figure of John the Baptist who appears today: if it’s about the preparation for Christmas, then John the Baptist, preaching after Jesus was born, is a confusing figure: but his role is to preach to us, as he did of old, and to prepare us for the (second) coming of the Lord. Today we have a very graphic reference to the end of time and the Second Coming in the reading from Saint Peter; it is a frightening picture, and so the first reading offers tender words of comfort to help us understand who is coming, and why we should be ready to meet him.

A HUGE ‘THANK YOU’: Mother Kathleen from the Little Sisters in Cotham has written to thank our parish for their continued support for the work at St Joseph’s. Some of the Sisters and the residents came to the bingo night last weekend and had a fantastic time out. You raised £550 for the Sisters last Saturday because of your generosity. Thanks to those who supported the evening and those who helped make it a fun time!

200 CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Subscriptions for 2012 are due soon. Look out for your membership letter. The Grand Draw took place during the bingo night last weekend and there were three lucky winners: £50 – Norah Smalldridge; £100 – Clare Taylor; £200 – Fr Christopher.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The children began their preparation for First Confession last Wednesday and continue their preparation this coming TUESDAY in school. We look forward to welcoming them for their Mass on Enrolment in January. Do keep them in your prayers as they journey towards the Sacraments.

VESPERS: Continuing this Sunday, there will be the celebration of Evening Prayer at 4.00pm on Advent Sunday I, II, and III. This is a beautiful way of praying the psalms drawing the day to a close. Do come along and make this a real part of your Advent journey of preparation.

WALK WITH ME: These simple books of reflection for each day of Advent, priced £1, from the narthex.

DIOCESAN YEARBOOKS AND DIRECTORIES: Get them while you can! There were only 20 directories (£5) and 8 liturgical yearbooks (£5.99) this year. You can pop the money into the newspaper money box.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: This coming Tuesday – 6 December at 7.30pm in our cathedral, Fr James Hanvey SJ will explore two of the influential and significant documents of the Second Vatican Council – Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes – drawing us into reflection and inviting us to think about how we are called to be the Church in the contemporary world. This fantastic series of talks Opening the Windows (the complete list is in the narthex) offers us a simple route into re-introduceing ourselves to the fruits of the Second Vatican Council. Do go along if you can. It is free, open to everyone, and there’s plenty of parking, too.

RETIRING COLLECTION this Sunday for the Poor Missions of the Diocese. We support the parishes that aren’t as fortunate as we are to have the finances to do what we do throughout the year. Some of our parishes struggle and so this collection invites us into solidarity and support with them in their need. On Sunday 18 December, the Flower Ladies will be seeking your help and support through their flower collection.

THANK YOU to Michael Long for the beautiful way he has inscribed the new Altar Missals with the names of those in whose memory the donations have been given.

Thirty Third Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:24:09 +0000

13 November 2012 – Thirty Third Sunday of the Year (A)

THIS SUNDAY: We must be very careful that the real point of today’s first reading is not washed away in genuine concerns over what one can and cannot say about the responsibilities of spouses. This is not, in fact, a recipe for ‘the perfect wife’, but an illustration, from one age, of the virtue of fully employing the talents God gives us. Some things are timeless, such as holding out a hand to the poor, while other talents shift and change. The point is that all of us are gifted in varying ways and degrees: none of us should begrudge anyone else their talents, for fear that we overlook our own. We work wisely and well, looking forward to the master’s return, when we can hand over to him not just what he gave us, but also the fruits that our labours have gained.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: This Sunday, we commemorate those who have lost their lives in conflicts across the twentieth century and during this century, too. We will observe a period of silence as part of the Bidding Prayers at the 10.30am Mass this Sunday bringing the dead into our prayer and praying, of course, for peace.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: The next date for your diary is Tuesday 6 December, 7.30pm in our cathedral when Fr James Hanvey SJ will explore Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes, inviting us to think about being the Church in the contemporary world.

200 CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Subscriptions for 2012 are due soon. Look out for your membership letter.
FIRST COMMUNION 2012: The complete list of preparation sessions, celebration Masses, and parents’ sessions can now be found on the notice board as well as on the parish website. If you missed the details and the meeting for whatever reason you will need to contact FrC this week, please. The children begin their preparation for First Confession at the end of this month. We look forward to welcoming them for their Mass on Enrolment in January.

FIRST FRIDAY SOUP LUNCH: The next First Friday soup lunch takes place on Friday 2 December, following Exposition, at 12.15pm. All are most welcome.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR: The Little Sisters were bowled over by your kindness, your welcome, and your terrific generosity last weekend. You sent them away with £604 towards their work – Thank you.

BINGO NIGHT – IN AID OF THE LITTLE SISTERS: Bingo night on Saturday 26 November (7.30pm) to raise money for the Little Sisters. A hearty supper for £5 and bingo cards will be available to buy on the night. Pop your name on the list in the narthex if you would like a seat… and bring your friends with you! There will be plenty of opportunities to help the Little Sisters raise a little money for their home in Cotham. The Grand Draw of the 200 Club will be drawn at the Bingo night – there’s a big cheque for £200 to be taken home!

NEW ALTAR MISSALS: The Sunday Missals should arrive in the next two or three weeks in readiness for Advent. Watch this space. Weekday missals ordered will be with us in January.

VESPERS FOR CHRIST THE KING: The last Sunday of the Church’s year falls on Sunday 20 November (next Sunday). There will be Vespers (4.00pm) for the feast of Christ the King as we draw the liturgical year to a close. It is also National Youth Sunday, a Sunday where we pray for the young people of our Church and also where we are asked to support our diocesan youth service through the retiring collection. There is so much to support our young people in our diocese and your gift through this collection works to encourage them and those who work with them to be confidently Catholic.

ADVENT: In two week’s time we begin a new year in the life of the Church, and the season of preparation for Christmas. There will be Vespers on the first three Sundays of Advent, and our Family Crib Service on Sunday 18 December. There will be little reflection books for Advent, allowing you to journey through the scriptures of the season each and every day. There will be details of the opportunities for Confession during Advent, and details of the ways in which we can use Advent as a season of prayer, too. Get your Advent Wreath ready for home and bring it along to mass the week after next for a blessing.

A CHRISTMAS WELCOME AND OUT-REACH: There will be some beautiful cards available NEXT week that will give clear details of the week’s build up to Christmas so that you can ‘invite’ folk to join us for Christmas this year. The cards give times of the celebrations at St Bernadette’s and allow you to encourage those who may not normally be with us at the weekend to come back and join us at this special time of year. This is a most important part of reaching out to folk at this time of the year. There may be friends, family, neighbours who just need that encouragement from you to put them back in touch with Church and with that living encounter with Christ. You will be encouraged to take the cards and hand them on!

OUR RETIRED PRIESTS: We are fortunate to be welcoming some of our retired priests back to St Bernadette’s for their annual mass and lunch with the Bishop on Wednesday 23 November. Mass will be celebrated late morning with Bishop Declan, so watch this space for details, and come along and help make these priests welcome.

DIOCESAN YEARBOOKS AND DIRECTORIES: Get them while you can! There are only 20 directories (£5) and 8 liturgical yearbooks (£5.99) this year. There were too many left last year, so get these whilst they are available from the Narthex. You can pop the money into the newspaper money box.

READERS FOR CHRISTMAS: If you are available to read at either of the Christmas morning Masses (8½am or 10½am), please get in touch with FrC or Cora Pring asap. Readers for 6pm and Midnight have been sorted.

ROTAS: You’ll find the December rotas online and paper copies as well as notes for Readers in the narthex.

Thirtieth Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:57:11 +0000

23 October 2011 – Thirtieth Sunday of the Year (A)

THIS SUNDAY: When you look at something like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and see its 691 pages, or look at the 2,000 pages of the big Jerusalem Bible, you can be forgiven for thinking that Christianity is a complicated affair. But Jesus reminds us today that it is essentially very simple: everything can be summed up in two basic rules: love God, love your neighbour. Exodus backs this up, by talking about the simple love that we must show to each other. Not that this is easy – love is always costly, and involves some degree of sacrifice. We will have to change, to become perfect in love; but it is possible, and when we do, like the people of Thessalonica, we become a great example to people everywhere.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY: Every year we spend this Sunday reflecting upon those who bring the Gospel – in word and in action – to peoples and nations around our world. This weekend gives us a real opportunity to reflect upon how we are missionary, how we preach the gospel through the lives we lead. We are invited to those those on and in Mission through our gift to the APF Missio. Many of you support the missions through your red boxes. We may not be able to leave everything to bring the gospel to foreign lands, but we can support them with our help and our prayers. The retiring collection this weekend goes to support Missio.

NEW ALTAR MISSALS: News is that the new missals for the altar should be with us during this coming week. FrC will arrange for the list of intentions to be etched into the front plates of the altar missal thanks to the kindness of donations that have come in. The Sunday Missals should arrive in the next two or three weeks in readiness for Advent. Watch this space.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: The series got off to a fantastic start last Tuesday. The next date for your diary is Tuesday 6 December, 7.30pm in our cathedral when Fr James Hanvey SJ will explore Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes, inviting us to think about being the Church in the contemporary world.

VESPERS AND THE ROSARY: To end this beautiful month of the Holy Rosary, there will be Vespers and Devotions next Sunday – 30 October – at 4.00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to pray together as families and as a parish community, entrusting ourselves, through the psalms, through the Rosary, to the gentle Lord who keeps us close to him.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012 – PARENTS MEETING: Once again, we begin to think about preparation for First Communion. Parents of children in Year 3 of primary school who are considering putting their children forward for preparation beginning in January are invited to meet with Fr Christopher in the Church on Thursday 3 November at 7.00pm. This will be a short meeting outlining the programme for both children and, this year, for parents as well. The application forms as well as complete list of dates for the preparation programme will be available on that evening. If you need to get in touch with FrC before then, please do give him a call. The preparation for First Confession will take place during Advent (December) and then First Communion preparation will begin in January. It is so important that children are ‘registered’ for this year’s programme at that November meeting and don’t miss out.

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: Tuesday 1 November is a holyday of obligation. There will be two Masses that day – 10.00am with our children in school, and then 7.30pm in the evening in Church. The Wednesday, 2 November is the commemoration of All Souls. There will be two Masses that day, also: 9.30am and 7.00pm. It’s not a holyday of obligation, but it is an important celebration nevertheless. The list of Masses for the month of November can be found on the notice board. If you want to allocate a Mass for a particular intention then please print the name of the intention on the sheet – one intention per Mass, only, please. If you would kindly pop the name on an envelope and give it to FrC that would help enormously. Keep an eye on the newsletter for the intention during the week… just in case there are changes to the time of Mass.

BLESSING OF GRAVES: There will be a Blessing of graves on All Souls’ Day at Whitchurch cemetery at 2.00pm. If you have loved ones buried there, do join FrC for that short blessing. If you have a jam jar with a little night light, maybe bring that along with you.

MASS OF WELCOME: As last year, we will welcome the children who have started at the primary school along with their families on Sunday 6 November at 10.30am. It’s an important celebration to enable us to foster those necessary links with our parish school.

FIRST FRIDAY SOUP LUNCH: Our first Friday soup lunches started well. The next takes place on Friday 4 November. There will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the morning Mass until midday. A hearty, simple soup lunch will be served in the hall from 12.15pm. All are welcome and your offerings go to support those in need both at home and overseas.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR: The Little Sisters are with us again on Saturday 5/Sunday 6 November making an appeal for their most valuable work at St Joseph’s. Also, you might like to make note of the Bingo night on Saturday 26 November (7.30pm) to raise money for the Little Sisters. Supper for £5 and bingo cards available on the night. Details of how you can get a ticket will be available next weekend. All welcome.

CHRISTMAS MASSES: It’s two months away yet, but if you feel there would be a take up if we were to have a Vigil Mass of Christmas – focused on our families and our children – at 6.00pm on Christmas Eve, then please just have a word with FrC. We might have this in addition to our midnight Mass and Mass on Christmas Day. If there would be no take up or need then we’ll stick with what we usually have.

Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:16:25 +0000

16 October 2011 – Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year

THIS SUNDAY: Everyone on this earth belongs to God. All are made in his image. Therefore it is right that all men and women, ‘from the rising to the setting of the sun’, should know the God to whom they belong. The only desire of our God is that all should know and love him, and find in him the fulfilment that they seek. Even a pagan king like Cyrus is used to further this knowledge of God – just as Jesus uses Caesar’s head to make the point again: all belong to God, and the mission of all who acknowledge that belonging is to help others to find it. This is exactly what we see Paul, Silvanus and Timothy doing, as they write to the people of Thessalonica. to whom they carried the Good News of Jesus Christ.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: Keep using the Mass cards that are available. It is good to hear our community growing in its familiarity with the new texts. We persevere… together.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Starting on Tuesday 18 October (this Tuesday), our diocese is hosting a series of seven talks/lectures inviting us to re-engage with the teachings and the documents of the Second Vatican Council which began October 1962. Bishop Declan opens the series looking at one of the beautiful documents of the Council – Dei verbum. The talks take place at the Cathedral and start at 7.30pm. They are well worth going along to and give us an honest reflection of how we are called to be church in the contemporary world. Have a look at the Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter on the narthex notice board. There is also a poster on the board giving full details of dates and the details of our most competent speakers. If you want to read ahead of the Bishop’s opening talk, have a look at cliftondiocese.com or you may find some copies of the Vatican II texts and study guides in the narthex.

ST BRENDAN’S SIXTH FORM COLLEGE: Do have a look at the information poster in the narthex -15 October, 19 October and 20 October. Contact details for the college are on the poster.

CAFOD HARVEST FAST DAY: A big thank you for your kindness to CAFOD over last weekend. The retiring collection raised over £450 with more coming in during this last week. The First Friday soup lunch raised £130. The concert given most generously by the Community Choir raised £426, so we can happily send over £1000 to CAFOD from last weekend’s fundraising efforts. That comes down to your kindness, your generosity, and your commitment to reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves.

THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: Do make something of this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary. It may be that you take up the challenge of a decade a day during this month, maybe praying for vocations. Each weekday Mass will end with a decade, bringing our parish to the intercession of our Blessed Lady.

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: Tuesday 1 November is a holyday of obligation. There will be two Masses that day – 10.00am with our children in school, and then 7.30pm in the evening in Church. The Wednesday, 2 November is the commemoration of All Souls. There will be two Masses that day, also: 9.30am and 7.00pm. It’s not a holyday of obligation, but it is an important celebration nevertheless. There will be a Blessing of graves on All Souls’ Day at Whitchurch cemetery at 2.00pm. If you have loved ones buried there, do join FrC for that short blessing. The list of Masses for the month of November can be found on the notice board. If you want to allocate a Mass for a particular intention then please print the name of the intention on the sheet – one intention per Mass, only, please. If you would kindly pop the name on an envelope and give it to FrC that would help enormously. Keep an eye on the newsletter for the intention during the week… just in case there are changes to the time of Mass.

FRED WILLIAMS RIP: Our prayers are offered for Fred whose funeral Mass will be celebrated here on Monday afternoon at 2.30pm before cremation at South Bristol at 3.30pm. We pray that God will be good to Fred and bring him safely home. We remember Ron, all Fred’s family, and his friends in our prayers at this time.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR: The Little Sisters are with us again on Saturday 5/Sunday 6 November making an appeal for their most valuable work at St Joseph’s. More details later. Also, you might like to make note of the Bingo night on Saturday 26 November (7.30pm) to raise money for the Little Sisters. Bingo and supper for £5. More details next week.

Twenty Eighth Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:30:36 +0000

9 October 2011 – Twenty Eighth Sunday of the Year

THIS SUNDAY: The Church’s year is drawing to a close: in a few weeks we will be thinking very clearly about the end of time – but here we have a preview. The parable of the banquet is a link between the Gospels of recent weeks (which have as their theme: ‘Just who is going to be saved?’) and the looking forward to the end times which will follow. The big danger is complacency: we are baptised, we go to Church, we’ve got our invites to the wedding. But when the big day comes, will we be ready for it? Or will our thoughts be on the other things of life? Jesus speaks of himself as the Bridegroom, and today points out to the chosen people that they are in danger of missing the celebration. Our faith is that the Bridegroom will come again; let us be careful that the same parable is not addressed to us.

WELCOME to Mass this coming Saturday morning (15 October), those in formation for the permanent diaconate in our diocese. They will be here for one of their formation days, and will join us for Mass and Morning Prayer this coming Saturday. We keep them, of course, in our prayers.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: Keep using the Mass cards that are available. It is good to hear our community growing in its familiarity with the new texts. We persevere… together.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Our ministers of Holy Communion come together for their annual formation session On Wednesday 12 October at 7.30pm – after the evening Mass. We only come together once in the year so please do make a note in your diaries.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Beginning this October our diocese is hosting a series of seven talks/lectures inviting us to re-engage with the teachings and the documents of the Second Vatican Council which began October 1962. Starting on Tuesday 18 October, Bishop Declan opens the series. The talks take place at the Cathedral and start at 7.30pm. Have a look at the Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter on the narthex notice board. There is also a poster on the board giving full details of dates and the details of our most competent speakers. If you want to read ahead of the Bishop’s opening talk, have a look at cliftondiocese.com or you may find some copies of the Vatican II texts and study guides in the narthex.

A CONCERT FOR CAFOD this Saturday 8th October at 7.30pm in the church there will be a musical evening and refreshments for the refugee camp in Kenya. Please try and support this social event which is for a good cause.

ST BRENDAN’S SIXTH FORM COLLEGE: Do have a look at the information poster in the narthex -15 October, 19 October and 20 October. Contact details for the college are on the poster.

CAFOD HARVEST FAST DAY: Each year as we celebrate the abundance of God’s gift of creation, we enter into solidarity with those who ‘fast’ each and every day through hunger. Our gift to them through our second collection this weekend is our way of sharing from the many good things we have. You can put the envelopes handed out last weekend in the second collection, please.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012 – PARENTS’ MEETING: Once again, we begin to think about preparation for First Communion. Parents of children in Year 3 of primary school who are considering putting their children forward for preparation beginning in January are invited to meet with Fr Christopher in the Church on Thursday 3 November at 7.00pm. This will be a short meeting outlining the programme for both children and, this year, for parents as well. The application forms as well as complete list of dates for the preparation programme will be available on that evening. If you need to get in touch with FrC before then, please do give him a call.

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: Tuesday 1 November is a holyday of obligation. There will be two Masses that day – 10.00am with our children in school and then 7.30pm in the evening in Church. The Wednesday, 2 November is the commemoration of All Souls. There will be two Masses that day, also: 9.30am and 7.00pm. It’s not a holyday of obligation, but it is an important celebration nevertheless. There will be a Blessing of graves on All Souls’ Day at Whitchurch cemetery at 2.00pm. If you have loved ones buried there, do join FrC for that short blessing. The list of Masses for the month on November will be placed on the notice board during this week for you to allot Mass intentions during the month of the Holy Souls.

FIRST FRIDAY SOUP LUNCH: The first of our first Friday soup lunches went off very well. It was good to see people calling in for this simple, hearty lunch. Thank you to those who worked hard to provide us with lunch… most especially the range of tasty soups. You raised £130 which will be added to our CAFOD Harvest gift.

PARISH BAZAAR: We didn’t organise a bazaar this year, but we could arrange for one in the spring, sometime after Easter (maybe May). Have a think, and if you’d be interested in helping out with the bazaar, then FrC will be calling on your enthusiasm and your help once again. It’ll give us plenty of time to start thinking about the stalls we want, and how we draw in the ‘stuff’ we need to fill the stalls again. Watch this space!

Twenty Sixth Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:33:25 +0000

25 September 2011 – Twenty Sixth Sunday of the Year (A)

THIS SUNDAY: “Once a sinner, always a sinner.” That seems to be the attitude of the self-righteous in the first reading and the Gospel; they object that God is unjust, because he gives sinners another chance. But God tells them quite clearly that such attitudes are the real injustice – to allow prejudice and hardness of heart to come between repentance and forgiveness. The words of Christ in the Gospel must have struck a chill into the hard hearts of the so-called righteous chief priests – even today they can make us stop and think: “Prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you.” All our outward show matters little, if it does not correspond with what is deep in our hearts; all our words are meaningless, if they do not correspond with the way we live our lives.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: Keep using the Mass cards that are available. It is good to hear our community growing in its familiarity with the new texts. We persevere… together.

ONE YEAR ON EXHIBITION: The stunning images of the papal visit from the papal photographer, Marcin Mazur, are still on display at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bedminster Parade – Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. It’s a wonderful setting to pop into and you can get free parking at Asda behind the gallery. Entrance to the gallery is free and there’s a wonderful café there, too. Exhibition runs until this coming Saturday.

FRIDAY PENANCE AND THE FIRST FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH: Tied in with our Friday witness and penance, each first Friday the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the morning Mass until midday giving those who want to the chance to spend a little time in Church, and also allowing us to keep our Church open a little longer than usual. Do make use of this valuable opportunity to deepen prayer before the Lord. This will be followed (each first Friday at 12.15pm) with a very simple soup lunch (homemade soups with bread and cheese) to allow us to tap into that spirit of penance as well as in solidarity with the hungry of our world. Your donations will go to support projects that look after the hungry, the thirsty, and homeless in our own city. We begin on Friday 7 October – CAFOD harvest fast day.

THE DIARY OF GOD: This simple and uncomplicated series delving into the Scriptures is being hosted by Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym, and St Paul’s, Yate. Both courses begin in November and run over eight sessions. There is a poster in the narthex giving you full details. If you want a booking form, do ask FrC.

READERS PREPARATION EVENING: Our readers are invited along to their annual get-together on Tuesday 4 October at 7.00pm here in the Church and the hall. The new translation to the Missal gives us an opportunity to reflect, once again, upon the ministry of reading in Church. All are readers are asked to come along for this hour together.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Beginning this October our diocese is hosting a series of seven talks/lectures inviting us to re-engage with the teachings and the documents of the Second Vatican Council which began October 1962. Starting on Tuesday 18 October, Bishop Declan opens the series. The talks take place at the Cathedral and start at 7.30pm. Have a look at the Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter on the narthex notice board. There is also be a poster on the board giving full details. Ahead of the Bishop’s talk there will be chance to explore the first of the documents, Dei Verbum, on Thursday 6 October, at 7.00pm in the Church. Just come along. The document and study sheet are available from cliftondiocese.com.

A CONCERT FOR CAFOD on Saturday 8th October at 7.30pm in the church there will be a musical evening and refreshments for the refugee camp in Kenya. Please try and support this social event which is for a good cause.

SECONDARY SCHOOL OPEN EVENINGS: Our Secondary School is holding its annual Open Days on Thursday 29th September and Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th October for parents of children in year 5 and year 6, who will transfer to secondary school in 2012. Full details of timings available from the school.

ST BRENDAN’S SIXTH FORM COLLEGE: Do have a look at the information poster in the narthex -15 October, 19 October and 20 October. Contact details for the college are on the poster.

RELICS AND ROSES: Its two years since the relics of St Therese came to Bristol. There is a beautiful and moving documentary of the visit being screened at St Theresa’s, Filton, on Wednesday, 5 October. The producer, Michael Whyte, will be there to set the film in its proper context. It’s free. Mass in the Church at 7.00pm and film afterwards in the parish hall. Poster in the narthex.

CAFOD HARVEST FAST DAY: Envelopes will be handed out next weekend in readiness for the annual Harvest Fast Day – Friday 7 October. Each year as we celebrate the abundance of God’s gift of creation, we enter into solidarity with those who ‘fast’ each and every day through hunger. Our gift to them is our way of sharing from the many good things we have.

TRAIDCRAFT STALL: If you can help ‘man’ the stall, most especially after Mass on Saturday evening, please have a word with Ann Kerrigan this weekend.

Twenty Second Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:08:01 +0000

THIS SUNDAY: A quick glance at last week’s Gospel reveals the interesting development of the story: last week, we heard Peter proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah, and being given authority as a result. This week, Peter gets it wrong: he is rebuked by the Lord because he does not understand who the Messiah is. The Messiah is the one who will give everything for his people – even his own life. To be a follower of Jesus demands an understanding and acceptance of this fact, and a willingness to take up the cross as Jesus did. Our introduction to this is the prophet Jeremiah – also persecuted for doing and saying what was right. Have a look at the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, where this twinning of Jeremiah and prophecy of persecution also appears.

FIRST-STAGE-LAST BIKE RIDE: Following on from bike rides in 2007 across Spain and in 2009 through France, Gordon Hodgson intends to cycle from St. Bernadette’s to Paris, Chartres and Lisieux to complete the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Leaving on 2nd September (this coming Friday), Gordon hopes to raise as much sponsorship money as possible for our Outreach projects. Sponsorship forms are available and your support and generosity would be appreciated. Last chance to support him this weekend!

PAPAL VISIT – ONE YEAR ON: In celebration of the first anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father this September, Ann Widdecombe is coming to St John’s, Bath, to reflect upon the impact and legacy on the historic visit of Pope Benedict last September. Wednesday 21 September at 7.30pm. Pop the date in your diaries and go along. It is set to be a most informative, reflective and interesting evening.

ONE YEAR ON EXHIBITION: There is a photographic exhibition of some of the stunning images of the papal visit from the papal photographer, Marcin Mazur, at the Grant Bradley Gallery from 3 September to 1 October, Bedminster Parade – Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The gallery are hosting the exhibition for us. It’s a wonderful setting to pop into and you can get free parking at Asda behind the gallery. Entrance to the gallery is free and there’s a wonderful café there, too.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: From next Sunday we begin to familiarise ourselves with and use the texts of the new translation to the Roman Missal. A long time in the arriving, we have until Advent to ‘get used’ to these texts that part of the English speaking world is already using. The new missal will be available from Advent, so we have the interim texts so as to allow us to prepare. Mass cards will be used each week to ease us into these new prayers that we pray and we listen to. We’ll also start to get to grips with the music affected by the new translation, too.

WEEKDAY AND SUNDAY MISSALS: An order has been placed for those who popped their names on the list. The CTS have offered us 25% discount on each Missal. The Sunday ones will be produced in time for Advent and the Weekday ones just after Christmas – the printers, as you can imagine – are working overtime. They are printed to the same high quality spec as the altar missals. There’s still time to order one if you have a word with FrC.

THE NEW MISSAL DONATIONS: Thanks for the donations received so far. There’s still time if you want to add your donation, most especially if in memory of someone. The list of names in whose memories the Missals will be inscribed are on the notice board – please check the spelling in case of typos!

CLOW TRAINING: Sr Jackie Brain is leading a formation morning on 24 September at Christ the King from 10.00am – 12.30pm. Open to all those who are engaged with Children’s Liturgy, it should be a great opportunity for resources and ideas. Please get in touch with Sr Joanna in Filwood Broadway if you intend to go along by 12 September. You can contact Sr Joanna on 0117 966 4854.

FRIDAY FASTING: Tied in with marking the first anniversary of the Holy Father’s visit last September, our bishops are inviting us to take up, once again, the practice of Friday fasting and abstinence beginning 16 September. They are inviting us re-establish the discipline of not eating meat on a Friday as a sign of penance, giving Fridays back that characteristic of penance so that just as each Sunday gives us a glimpse of Easter, so each Friday give us a glimpse and a reminder of Good Friday. More next week.

MARY THERESA ALLWARD RIP: Mary (Mary Puddy’s daughter) died this last week and her requiem mass will be celebrated on Thursday 8 September at 11.00am. May she rest in peace.

WEDNESDAY COFFEE CLUB: For a number of reasons, the Wednesday Coffee Club will come to an end at the end of September. It has been a tremendous social outlet for so many over the last couple of years and we offer our appreciation for those who have so generously given their time to keep it going. We also thank them for the kindness that has led them to be generous to our parish funds across those years, too.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR FUNDRAISING EVENING: the Little Sisters will be with us on Saturday 26 November for a Bingo evening and supper to help them raise some funds for their home. It’s a little way away at the moment, but put the date in your diaries, please.

JAMS AND PRESERVES on sale in the narthex this weekend.

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year

Fr. Christopher — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:18:28 +0000

24 July 2011 – Seventeenth Sunday of the Year (A)

THIS SUNDAY: What a gift it is, to be able to recognise the true value of things, and choose those which will last forever and bring us true happiness! Solomon, renowned for wisdom, is able to make the right choices when offered the chance to have anything he wants. What would we choose? The parable in the Gospel tells us that, in a sense, the choice is already before us: we can see the kingdom of heaven waiting for us: it is of greater value than anything else, and so all our hearts should be set on it. Nothing should stand in our way.

CAFOD ~THE CLERGY REVIEW: It’s back and it’s on at the Colston Hall at 7.30pm on Friday 30 September. Twenty £10 seats have been reserved for us and these have now all been taken. Gordon and Linda will be collecting the monies for these reserved tickets so please ensure you have only reserved tickets that you require as they all need to be paid for. Coach details will also be listed shortly. Several of our Clifton Priests are taking part and performing for our entertainment and to raise funds for CAFOD.

SUMMER CREAM TEA: To welcome in the summer holidays and to support CAFOD’s drought appeal in East Africa, there will be a cream tea this Sunday afternoon – 24 July – from 3.00pm to 5.00pm. £3 per place and you are contributing to support so many people hungry, thirsty and displaced from their homeland at this time. There will also be a stall selling home-made marmalades, jams and preserves also in aid of the CAFOD East Africa Appeal. Do come along; bring the family and your friends with you – the more, the merrier.

FIRST-STAGE-LAST BIKE RIDE: Following on from bike rides in 2007 across Spain and in 2009 through France, Gordon Hodgson intends to cycle from St. Bernadette to Paris, Chartres and Lisieux to complete the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Leaving on 2nd September, Gordon hopes to raise as much sponsorship money as possible for our Outreach projects. Sponsorship forms are available and your support and generosity would be appreciated.

THE DIARY OF GOD: There is another chance to pick up this engaging course dipping into deepening our understanding of the scriptures in the autumn. Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym and Chipping Sodbury are hosting the course in November onwards. There is a poster in the narthex for you to peruse and consider. More details and booking forms will follow later.

ONE YEAR ON: In celebration of the first anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father this September, Ann Widdecombe is coming to St John’s, Bath, to reflect upon the impact and legacy on the historic visit of Pope Benedict last September. Wednesday 21 September at 7.30pm. Pop the date in your diaries and go along. It is set to be a most informative, reflective and interesting evening. There will also be a photographic exhibition of some of the stunning images from the papal photographer, Marcin Mazur, at the Grant Bradley Gallery from 3 September to 1 October, Bedminster Parade – Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The gallery are hosting the exhibition for us. It’s a wonderful setting to pop into. Its free and there’s a wonderful café there, too.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Beginning this October our diocese is hosting a series of seven talks/lectures inviting us to re-engage with the teachings and the documents of the Second Vatican Council which began October 1962. Starting on Tuesday 18 October, Bishop Declan opens the series. The talks take place at the Cathedral and start at 7.30pm. Have a look at the Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter on the narthex notice board. There will also be a poster on the board giving full details of the series next week.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: As you know, the English speaking world receives a new translation of the Missal from the autumn of this year. From September, we will begin to use and familiarise ourselves with these new texts. The Mass remains the same, but the words we use and the some of the words we hear will alter. Over the month of August, the newsletter will begin to prepare us for some of these linguistic changes that will touch us all when we come to Mass week by week and day by day. The new translation timetable suggests that we begin to make use of some of the texts this coming September so that we have a chance to ease in the changes bit by bit. FrC will make available Mass cards detailing the new texts for the Mass. If you would like to order a new Missal – either Sunday or weekday – then you will be able to place an order through the Parish. At present there are no details of publication dates or prices, so it is a case of watch this space for the moment. The readings will remain the same texts but the texts of the Mass itself will change. There are also some new CTS simple prayer books in the narthex. Back when Mass was first celebrated in English in the 1970s, the first translation of the Latin Missal was done in rather a hurry—many people have commented in the intervening years that it is not a very faithful translation, and that some phrases have lost a lot of their poetry and scriptural links. A good example of this is the response “Et cum spiritu tuo”, which our current translation gives as “And also with you”. Starting in September, we will all be using the new translation “And with your spirit”, which is much closer to the original Latin, and closer too to other modern language translations in the Church. We will see many similar examples in the New Translation, where we will discover richer meanings and phrases – recovering words and images that we have not yet used in English, but are truly part of the Mass.

PARISH MAGAZINE: The summer edition of the magazine is out in the narthex. You are most welcome to pick up a copy. They are free and if you want to make a contribution towards printing costs, then please feel free to pop something in with the newspaper money. The magazine is packed with some wonderful articles from parishioners. When you’ve read it, why not pass it on to someone else.

ROTAS: The rotas for August onwards are available from the narthex as well as online at our parish website.

DIOCESAN WEBSITE: Don’t forget to keep up to date with what’s happening in our diocese via cliftondiocese.com