THIS SUNDAY: What does it mean to be a follower of the Lord Jesus? Surely to listen and hear his voice, and to go where he leads us. Today, as we enter the “ordinary” season of the year, we begin our story of Jesus’ life and ministry with the calling of the first disciples. John fulfils his ministry – pointing to the Lamb of God – and the disciples follow where he points. His word to them is simple and inviting: “Come and see.” This echoes the calling of Samuel – a simple call, by name, which Samuel does not understand: discipleship is about trust, which Samuel shows simply by saying “Speak, Lord; your servant is listening. The Psalm also underlines this, as we (the disciples of the Lord) sing together: “Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.” We hear his call, and we freely go to him, to listen again to the words of the Master.

ARCHBISHOP NICOLA GIRASOLI: We welcome to our parish this coming Sunday, Archbishop Girasoli who is en route from Zambia to his new posting in the beautiful region of the West Indies. He flies on Monday to take up his new responsibilities as representative of the Holy Father to the twelve states around Trinidad and Tobago. As stops over in the UK and has graciously accepted an invitation to spend a little time with us this Sunday. As we welcome him back to Whitchurch, we assure him of our continued prayer for all he does to represent the Church and its mission in what he does. Do come and say ‘hello’ to him this weekend.

THE CRIB: As we move into Ordinary Time, our church begins to be cleared of the decoration from Christmas. Over in the Lady Chapel, however, you will find that familiar scene of the crib which remains in place until 2 February. Do go and spend a little time at the crib, most especially with loved ones and family. We allow the loving touch of God precisely into the ordinariness of our lives so that we might know he is near to us in all that we do and all we go through in life. The little basket remains there, also, for you crib offerings for the homeless and the refugee in Bristol.

FIRST COMMUNION 2012: We continue to pray for: Graziella Bennett, Kieran Parsons, Joshua Sims, Evie Nathasingh, Billy Jackson, Divya Rajesh, Megan Sanders, Maisie Sanders, Tommy Holland, William Bennett, Joseph Bennett, Georgina Cox, Isabelle O’Toole, Shane Parry, Tore Popek, Calum Chilcott, Callum Witts, and Archie Daniels. The preparation sessions for our youngsters picks up again from Wednesday 25 January. There is a parents’ meeting this coming Thursday – 19 January – at 7.00pm in the Church. Please do make a note of the date.

CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE: Although it seems some time away, the Bishop invites all married couples to join him as part of National Marriage Week on Saturday 11 February in the Cathedral for Mass at 12noon. It’s a wonderful gathering from across our diocese. Do go along and celebrate the beautiful state of married life with him. Poster on the board and copies for you to take away from the narthex. If you are celebrating a significant anniversary this year (25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th…) please do let Fr Christopher know that he can ensure you receive your individual invitations from the bishop.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Responding to our Bishop’s pastoral letter last weekend and his invitation to listen to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, the next in our series of reflections on the Council is on Tuesday 24 January 2012 at 7.30pm. Fr Timothy Menezes will be leading our consideration 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.

PARISH FORUM GROUP meets again on Wednesday 8 February at 7.45pm in the presbytery.

GROWING IN CONFIDENCE IN OUR FAITH IN 2012: There will be one or two opportunities for us, as a parish community, to explore our faith, to ask questions about our faith, and grow in our confidence to live and proclaim our faith throughout this year. The spring will offer us chance to come together in an informal way to ask simple questions and find simple answers. There’s also something planned for the autumn to enable us, as a parish community, to take up the bishop’s invitation to explore to teachings of the Vatican Council. Watch this space and get ready to respond, maybe, to the invitations on offer.

FOR OUR PRAYERS: We keep in our prayers Raymond Balson who died recently and whose funeral takes place on January 19, and also Daniel Fenlon who died in Thailand just before Christmas, aged 25.  Daniel’s funeral took place this last Friday. We also remember Ronald O’Neil who died suddenly before last weekend and whose funeral will take place on Friday 27 January here in St Bernadette’s. We remember them and their families at this sad time. May they rest in peace.

PARISH LITURGY GROUP: Fr Christopher is pulling together all those with particular responsibilities for the liturgical side of our parish and those who coordinate the various liturgical ministries. 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.

ST BRENDAN’S OPEN EVENING: Thursday 9 February from 6.00pm until 9.00pm. Full details on the notice board in the narthex.

MISSING BAMBINO FROM CHRISTMAS: If you have accidentally picked up someone’s figure of the baby Jesus from midnight Mass this Christmas, please can you let FrC have it so that it can be reunited with someone’s remaining figures.

THIS SUNDAY: We continue to explore the meaning of baptism, of membership of the Church, of living a life which has been immersed in the life and death of Jesus Christ: in other words, we continue our ‘Mystagogy’ – our training in the mystery of Baptism and the other Sacraments. We hear more about ‘who Jesus is’, with another ‘I am’ statement: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. We are baptised into his way, his truth and his life. We hear about the earliest community struggling with the life they are called to by baptism, and Peter again reminds us that baptism builds us into a ‘spiritual house’ with Jesus as our cornerstone. The mystery of the Church is clearly before us today: the Church is the community of those baptised in Christ, the pilgrim people walking with Christ (who has shown us the Father) to the place he has prepared for us. Today’s reading can perhaps make us think a little about how we form part of this ‘spiritual house’, the Church, as we journey to the Father.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The children continue their preparation this Wednesday 25 May at 3.45pm in the bungalow of the school. They continue their preparation this week for their First Confession. Parents please make sure you note the parents’ meeting on Thursday 26 May at 7.00pm in the Church. This is the final meeting with parents before First Communion and it is important that every child on this year’s preparation programme is represented.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: We will continue our reflection and preparation for the new translation of the missal ~ Thursday 2 June and then 16 June. These sessions (an hour each) beginning at 7.00pm will give us an opportunity to reflect upon the Eucharist and the words we pray when we come together for Mass. Please do come along and take part in this catechesis. The final session on the 16 June will give us opportunity to celebrate Mass using the new translation so that we can see how the language of the new translation shapes the whole of the Liturgy. There will be no morning Mass that Thursday.

ROOTED IN CHRIST: This fantastic series begins to draw to a close as we move to the final three sessions. Bishop Declan will lead us in reflection and study on the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic on Tuesday 14 June. This should be a most interesting session in the light of where we are on our diocesan journey and also in the light of the new translation of the Roman Missal. If you would like to go and might need a life, just ask FrC. Holy Family, Patchway, Tuesday 17 May beginning at 7.30pm.

BIBLEFRESH: An ecumenical celebration of the Word of God is taking place at Bristol Cathedral and on College Green this Sunday afternoon – 22 May. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the Word of God in our lives of Faith. In partnership with the Diocese of Bristol we are supporting this initiative of reflection and study, prayer and opportunity for study on this one day. Fr Nicholas King will be leading one of the seminar sessions in the afternoon. During the afternoon a variety of activities and seminars will be taking place including dance, meditation, drama, iconography, film, public bible reading, music, biblical song writing, activities for children, fair trade stalls, art exhibitions and much more. Full details can be found on the diocese of Bristol’s website: http://www.bristol.anglican.org/news/microblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Doc2.pdf    Do go along if you can. It should be a fantastic day.

MASS FOR NEWLY BAPTISED AND NEWLEY RECEIVED: This Mass of celebration and welcome takes place at St Nicholas of Tolentino this coming Saturday, 28 May at 11.00am. Bishop Declan will be celebrating that Mass and is inviting the diocesan community to gather with those welcomed into our diocesan family. Do go along if you can. St Nick’s is a beautiful church and it is good to be able to draw together with those welcomed into our communities this Easter.

CONGRATULATIONS to Evie and Isabelle Dolan & Zachary Leonard Muscat who were all baptised here last weekend. We congratulate their families, too.

MAY ~ THE MONTH OF MARY: Use this month to make use of the Rosary in your lives of prayer. We turn to Mary as a Mother and we ask her to pray for us and to pray with us. We turn to her as an example and our guide in all we do to be like Christ. She will lead us to Christ her Son, for she draws us into deeper company with him. Let’s use this month to rekindle that loving relationship with her. Maybe take one decade a day either at home, on the bus, in the car, on your way to work, out jogging or walking the dog. Let the familiarity of the words you pray draw you into deeper conversation with the Mother of God…and if you don’t have a rosary, why not pick one up from the repository. We’ll pray a decade of the Rosary each weekday after Mass, seeking our Lady’s prayers and intercession for our parish and our families.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Whilst it may seem some time away, Corpus Christi is celebrated on 26 June. That will launch us into a week of adoration each day before the Blessed Sacrament as we journey towards the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday 1 July. FrC will be looking for folk to take up the challenge of giving a little time during those five days to watch before the Blessed Sacrament so that we can ensure the Church is left open for those days of prayer. Watch this space for further details.

QUIZ NIGHT: An opportunity to get together to work those little grey cells as well as enjoy a Ploughman’s supper ~ Saturday June 4th at 7.30pm in the hall. Tickets cost £5.00 per person. You can bring your own drink. Please write names and numbers on the notice in the narthex so as to help with catering. Make up a team and come along. Look forward to seeing you there! Money raised goes in support of our outreach projects so by coming along and taking part we are also reaching out to those so less fortunate than ourselves. Gordon and Linda have details if you need more info.

GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE: Please put a note in your diaries: Sunday 10 July. Full programme and details on the notice board in the narthex. It’s always a great diocesan gathering at the beautiful shrine. Do go along if you can.

THIS SUNDAY: “Solid as a rock” is something we say about people we can trust and rely on: it’s an image which figures in our readings this Sunday: we are invited to consider where we are going to build our lives. What are the “props and supports” that will hold us up in times of difficulty and trouble? The Biblical texts teach us quite clearly that in the midst of a changing and sometimes unpredictable world, and even when we are let down by other people, there is something that we can always rely on – God. But relying on God does not always come easily – as Saint Paul reminds us, it springs from faith. Anyone who has faith can lean on God. We should “take courage”, and “hope in the Lord.”

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: We welcome those preparing for First Communion this June to Mass at 10.30 this weekend. As part of their journey they are reflecting upon the Scriptures in our lives of faith and are presented today with a copy of the scriptures. We use this opportunity to remind ourselves of the beauty of God’s Word – that it is a lamp for our steps and a light for our path. Preparation continues on Wednesday 9 March at 3.45pm in the school.

ASH WEDNESDAY and the beginning of Lent falls on Wednesday 9 March. Mass with the traditional imposition of ashes will be celebrated in Church at 10.00am (where we will be joined by KS2 children from school) and 7.00pm in the evening. It is also a day of Fasting and Abstinence.  Fasting should be observed by all aged 18 years and over (up to 60). One full meal and two ‘collations’ (light meals) adequate to maintain strength. Even though you may be ‘over’ 60, still there is that encouragement to embrace the spirit of fasting whilst still being sensible. We can fast from those little treats and those little extras that we don’t necessarily need. Abstinence is observed by those aged 14 years and older. No meat is to be eaten on days of abstinence.

ROOTED IN CHRIST: The talks have attracted many over the last couple of months and they are a simple way to begin to deepen our understanding of what we believe. The talks take place in Holy Family, Patchway, and are well worth going along to. The forthcoming series on the Sacraments should be a really good couple of sessions focusing on those tremendous signs of Christ’s presence on our journey through life. Fr Michael McAndrew is reflecting upon the Eucharist this week – Tuesday 8 March at 7.30pm. Find out more either on our diocesan website or else on our notice board in the narthex.

THE SEASON OF LENT – PREPARING FOR THE SACRAMENTS: Ash Wednesday – 9 March – marks the beginning of the season of preparation for Easter. It is also the traditional time whereby we accompany those who are journeying towards the Sacraments on Initiation at Easter. As a parish we are in a most fortunate position whereby (at the moment) we will have three adult Baptisms – Joe Alsop, David Fitzgerald and Rebecca Fitzgerald – as well as two celebrations of Confirmation – Nora O’Brien and John O’Brien.  This will mean that some of the Sunday’s in Lent (three, four and five) will be used to celebrate the Rites appropriate for those journeying towards Baptism and the Sacraments at Easter. We will also be celebrating the reception into the Church of six members of the Anglican Communion who are seeking entry into the Church through the Ordinariate – Pauline & Michael Long, Bernard and Beryl Coombs, and Ellie and John Haynes. They are part of a wider community spread across Bristol. This is a most encouraging prospect for our parish community and should find us wanting to use their journey as one that encourages us in our faith, too.  Keep them and all those journeying towards the Sacraments this Easter in your prayers. Each of them will be taking part in the Rite of Election in our Cathedral this coming Saturday at 11.00am. Do go along and take part if you can. It is always a wonderful welcome and affirmation of faith.

LENTEN SOUP LUNCHES: The series of Lenten Soup lunches taking place both here and at some of the other Churches round about will begin from the start of the Lenten Season. This is a great way of tapping into the spirit of Lenten fasting as well as supporting charitable causes through your giving. Friday 18 March  -  St Bernadette; Wednesday 23 March  – Christ Church, Petherton Road; Monday 28 March  -  United Reformed Church, Whitchurch Village; Saturday 9th April – St Nicholas, Whitchurch Village; Palm Sunday, 17 April – St Bernadette. All at 12 noon. Do go along and support this charitable initiative. The proceeds from our two lunches will go to support CAFOD.

CAFOD LENTEN FAST DAY: This important day focused on our charitable giving during Lent to some of the world’s hungriest people takes place on Friday 18 March. The CAFOD envelopes will be attached to the newsletter next weekend and, of course, the Lenten soup lunch also takes place on that Fast Day. The retiring collection on 20 March will be our Lenten gift to CAFOD.

CAFOD BOXES: To accompany your Lenten journey, there are some CAFOD pyramids and boxes for your Lenten gifts (alms) which you are free to use across the six weeks. Just bring them back to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday where they will be taken up with the gifts and our offerings for the poor.

LENTEN BRUNCH: make a note in your diaries, a good hearty brunch as British Summer Time begins will take place on Sunday 27 March following the 10.30am Mass. All proceeds will go in support of our parish outreach projects. There is a poster for you to secure yourself a place on the notice board – do sign up!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Each Sunday of Lent we will make that prayerful journey to the Cross and to the tomb following in the footsteps of Jesus. The Sundays of Lent at 4.00pm in the Church ending with benediction. Palm Sunday will find us celebrating Vespers at 4.00pm, and on Good Friday, the Stations for children and our young people will be celebrated at 11.00am. This gives the children a chance to enter into the story and the drama of Good Friday walking with Jesus to the Cross. This is also a chance for families to draw together on this important day in our lives of faith.

CHANGES TO THE PRAYERS OF THE MASS: As you know, some of the prayers of the Mass are undergoing a revision of translation. That means we will all have to get used to a new ‘language’ and a new translation. There is plenty of time for us to prepare for the new translation of the Missal which comes into effect at Advent 2011. During Lent we will use the new translation of the I confess and during Easter time, we can familiarise ourselves with the new translation to the Gloria. It will give us an opportunity to think about the prayers we can easily take for granted and maybe, even, think about why these prayers have been revised. Watch this space.

MONSIGNOR GIRASOLI: Our Nuncio friend in Zambia is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his Episcopal ordination this coming Saturday. Maria Amesbury will be representing our parish community at the Mass in the Cathedral in Ruvo, Italy, and presenting him with our gift of a Bristol Blue plate. We keep him in our prayers at this time and look forward to his forthcoming visit later this year.

THIS SUNDAY: Last week we heard Saint Matthew describing the beginnings of Jesus’ public ministry. This week Saint Matthew begins the most important summary of the proclamation of the kingdom of God – what we refer to as the “Sermon on the Mount.” This great collection of Jesus’ teachings begins with the Beatitudes – the Charter of the Kingdom. It is essential to understand these, if we are to understand what we will read in Saint Matthew during the rest of this year: the key, as underlined by the First Reading, is that the values of this world are not the values of the Kingdom of God – the Kingdom will see things turned upside down: happiness and blessing belong to those whom this world would ignore or mistreat. If we truly wish to live out the Gospel, we would do well to reflect on the virtues laid out in this familiar passage.

CONGRATULATIONS to Lisa Armstrong, Abigail Armstrong, Rebecca Barr, Kieran Belcher, Curtis Chan, Joe Collins, Georgina Daly, Millie Dyer, Callum Fry, Siobhan Goff, Storm Hanks, Connor Humphries, Niall Jenkins, Dan Knight, Lucy Lipinski, Meenu Cyril, Alice Miller, Tasha Mwampamba, Kieran Nunnerley, Hannah O’Farrell, Stephanie Redhall, Jack Richards, Millie Talbot, and Elliot Wise who were confirmed by Bishop Declan this last Thursday evening. We continue to remember them in our prayers and pray that the good Lord will guide them along a path that leads to him.

DIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE: The Bishop is inviting our parish community, and especially our married couples, to join him in the cathedral for a diocesan celebration of marriage on Saturday 19 February at 12noon. We need as many from our parish to go along to join our bishop on this occasion. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the gift of marriage to our church and our society. It is a chance to come together, whatever state of life we find ourselves living, and join our diocesan community in celebrating the tremendous reflection of God’s love that is the gift of marriage. The bishop encourages those of you who are engaged and maybe marrying this year to come along and join him too. If any of you are celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, or 60 years of marriage, please let FrC know asap as the bishop would personally like to invite you along to this important celebration.

THE CRIB: After this coming Tuesday (the Feast of the Presentation), our crib will be dismantled as we come to the fortieth day after Christmas. Your crib offerings, our gift to the Missionaries of Charity, in support of the work of the Sisters in Lusaka and the orphans and children they care for, will be sent off to the Nuncio in Zambia after this week. If you want to contribute to the Sisters, then this weekend is your chance to do that. Thank you for the kindness you have shown over the last forty days.

PARISHES IN COMMUNION FOR MISSION: Bishop Declan visits St Bernadette’s this coming Tuesday – 1 February – to meet with parish representatives and enter into conversation with them about how they are working together with parishes around. As we are hosting this gathering of parish communities, it would be great if our own parish could be well represented. The members of the Parish Forum group are encouraged to come along, especially, but the evening is open to all those who wish to come along and take part in the conversation about how our diocese will be journeying over the next couple of years…and it is important that we do take part in this conversation. As you know, the Bishop’s recent document encourages us to work closer together with our neighbouring parishes, and we have been working with St Gerard’s and Christ the King over the last couple of months. The Bishop is with us to listen to how we are implementing the guidelines in our own area and maybe listen to our concerns and our anxieties. The evening is also a chance for us to listen to the experience of other parishes working together and maybe for us to pick up some ‘tools’ for how we grow and develop as a community of faith and mission. Please make a note of the date in your diaries and come along. The evening begins at 7.00pm with refreshments from 6.30pm.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: We pray for Rahul Vinoy, Oliver Towe, James Dean Fry, Chloe Jefferies, Fred Durow, Sophie Payne, George Cock, Rosie Pattison, Jessica Critten, Kara Richards, Rory Jones, Millie Gould, Eva Albert, Rory O’Driscoll, Sophie Lowson, Harry McGovern, Aldrich Virata, Isobella Khan, and Liam Monks as they began their preparation for First Communion last Wednesday. They meet this coming Wednesday in the Primary School at 3.45pm.

ROOTED IN CHRIST: This simple, reflective series looking at our faith continues after the Christmas break on Tuesday 8 February when Prof Gavin D’Costa will help us reflect upon Salvation and Redemption. The talks have attracted many over the last couple of months and they are a simple way to begin to deepen our understanding of what we believe. The talks take place in Holy Family, Patchway, and are well worth going along to. Full details on cliftondiocese.com or on our Notice Board.

HELP TO CLEAN OUR CHURCH: Nina is always looking for willing hands to make up a team to look after our church and flick the hoover and duster around the place. We are down to two teams of cleaners, only. If you would like to help out once in a while, please do get in touch with Nina who will gladly pop you on the cleaners’ rota. The more there are to help out, the less your turn comes round. Contact Nina King on 01275 835766

WELCOMERS: If you could see yourself helping to welcome people as they arrive for Mass, then please get in touch with Linda Hodgson and let her make up another team of Welcomers. This is such an important ministry in the life of our parish – it’s not just about handing out newsletters and hymnbooks, but ensuring that we are a welcoming community of faith.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE: Maria Amesbury is looking to organise a pilgrimage to the south east part of Italy’s heel, with the prospect of visiting the historic region around Ruvo di Puglia and the shrine of San Giovanni Rotondo where Padre Pio lies in the Church. She’ll need to know if there is any interest pretty soon as we will need to secure flights from Bristol. Have a word with Maria this weekend and let her know.

YEAR SIX join us for Mass this coming Friday. They continue the new cycle of classes joining us for Mass each Friday. It is good to have them with us.

JUDY CONNORS RIP: Judy sadly died suddenly on Friday morning. Her funeral will be celebrated on Thursday 10 February at 10.00am and then her body taken to South Bristol for cremation. We keep Judy and her family in our prayers.

THIS SUNDAY: There is no break between Christmas and Ordinary Time – one flows almost seamlessly into the other through the Baptism of Jesus. We ended our Christmas Season thinking about the “revelation” of the Son of God – people realising who this “Jesus of Nazareth” actually was – and this continues today, as we interject a passage from Saint John before we begin our weekly reading through Saint Matthew’s Gospel. New Year is about beginnings, and as we return to the beginning of Our Lord’s public ministry there is a sense of something exciting about to happen – even though we know the story, we dive into it once more, like returning to a favourite novel or film. So it is with joy that we stand in the country of the river Jordan, and recognise Jesus of Nazareth as the Chosen One of God, who offers himself to do God’s work. The challenge from today’s liturgy is that, like John the Baptist, we need the courage to point out Christ to others, to point others in the direction of Christ and, by our words, reflect that he is the Lamb of God, and that he is the one who comes to set us free and offer us the tremendous love of the Father.

CONFIRMATION: The Bishop will be with us on Thursday 27 January to confirm our young people at Mass beginning at 7.00pm. You are warmly encouraged to come along to support our young people and pray for them with the Bishop. Do put the date in your diaries.  We pray for Lisa Armstrong, Abigail Armstrong, Rebecca Barr, Kieran Belcher, Curtis Chan, Joe Collins, Georgina Daly, Millie Dyer, Callum Fry, Siobhan Goff, Storm Hanks, Connor Humphries, Niall Jenkins, Dan Knight, Lucy Lipinski, Meenu Cyril, Alice Miller, Tasha Mwampamba, Kieran Nunnerley, Hannah O’Farrell, Stephanie Redhall, Jack Richards, Millie Talbot, and Elliot Wise. The youngsters gather on Tuesday 25 January for their rehearsal in the Church at 6.00pm.

DIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE: The Bishop is inviting our parish community, and especially our married couples, to join him in the cathedral for a diocesan celebration of marriage on Saturday 19 February at 12noon. We need as many from our parish to go along to join our bishop on this occasion. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the gift of marriage to our church and our society. It is a chance to come together, whatever state of life we find ourselves living, and join our diocesan community in celebrating the tremendous reflection of God’s love that is the gift of marriage. The bishop encourages those of you who are engaged and maybe marrying this year to come along and join him too. If any of you are celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, or 60 years of marriage, please let FrC know asap as the bishop would personally like to invite you along to this important celebration.

CRIB OFFERINGS: The crib will remain in its place until February 2 – the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple. Whilst you are here at Church during the Christmas season, and most especially if you come with children or as a family, do go and pay a visit to the crib, entrusting your family and those you love to the prayers and intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The basket next to the crib is, traditionally, for your crib offerings. This year, the offerings will go in support of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa’s nuns) who run a terrific orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia. The sisters work hard to make ends meet and rely on the generous donations that come their way. Our little gift to them will truly make a real difference to the lives of the children either abandoned, left, or orphaned. The offerings will be sent over to the Sisters once the crib has been taken down in February.

PARISHES IN COMMUNION FOR MISSION: Bishop Declan visits St Bernadette’s on Tuesday 1 February to meet with parish representatives and enter into conversation with them about how they are working together. As we are hosting this gathering of parish communities, it would be great if our own parish could be well represented. The members of the Parish Forum group are encouraged to come along, especially, but the evening is open to all those who wish to come along and take part in the conversation about how our diocese will be journeying over the next couple of years…and it is important that we do take part in this conversation. As you know, the Bishop’s recent document encourages us to work closer together with our neighbouring parishes. The Bishop is with us to listen to how we are implementing the guidelines in our own area. the evening is also a chance for us to listen to the experience of other parishes working together and maybe for us to pick up some ‘tools’ for how we grow and develop as a community of faith and mission. Please make a note of the date in your diaries and come along. The evening begins at 7.00pm with refreshments from 6.30pm.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: This year’s programme begins on Wednesday 26 January here in the church (first session only). The children gather, however, in Church on Sunday 23 January (next Sunday) for the presentation of their books and for the celebration of enrolment at 10.30am. Parents should have received information by post during this last week. The full details of the programme appear on our parish website.

DIOCESAN CERTIFICATE IN CATECHETICS: The course for 2011 begins this coming Wednesday – January 19. There are details in the narthex or on cliftondiocese.com if you need them. This is wonderful opportunity for anyone who wants to involve themselves in the important work of handing on the faith to others. Do see FrC if you are interested. The Bishop ‘begins’ the course which is taking place at Alexander House, Pennywell Road, on the 19th at 7.30pm.

ROOTED IN CHRIST: This simple, reflective series looking at our faith continues after the Christmas break on Tuesday 8 February when Prof Gavin D’Costa will help us reflect upon Salvation and Redemption. The talks have attracted many over the last couple of months and they are a simple way to begin to deepen our understanding of what we believe. The talks take place in Holy Family, Patchway, and are well worth going along to. Full details on cliftondiocese.com or on our Notice Board.

THANK YOU to the Wednesday Coffee Club for the delicious Christmas lunch they provided in the hall last Saturday. We need to thank them, also, for their contribution of £500 to our parish funds as well as the raffle proceeds towards our crib offerings.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: This annual and important week of prayer begins this coming Tuesday (18th) and lasts until the 25th. We pray that Christ’s desire for one flock and one fold may come to bear fruit in all that we do to draw the Christian family together in trust, in faith, and in love.

THIS SUNDAY: In the East, this Season of Christmas is called the “Time of Manifestation”, or Showing. Today is the ‘Feast of the Manifestation’, or the Showing of the Saviour to the whole world, to all nations. In the wise men who travel from the East, we see all the nations other than the people of Israel being welcomed at the New Temple of the New Covenant – the new born child in the manger. A look at the Psalm response shows this: “All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.” The same is true of the key word in the second reading: “Revelation”. Remember that for the people of Israel this was to be their Messiah, come to restore their fortunes. By this feast, we proclaim God’s plan was to extend his salvation to men and women of every nation, of every time and every place – including us. In many ways this is our Christmas Feast, when we celebrate the Good News of the Saviour’s birth revealed at last to us.

VESPERS FOR THE EPIPHANY: To continue our festive celebration of Christmas and the Epiphany, there will be sung Vespers today – Sunday, 2 January – at 4.00pm. Do come along if you can.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION:  The fifth session of preparation takes place on Wednesday January 12. The Bishop will be with us on Thursday 27 January. Let us keep them in our prayers as they journey towards the Sacrament of Confirmation.

COFFEE CLUB CHRISTMAS LUNCH: The annual Christmas Lunch hosted by the Coffee Club is taking place on Saturday 8 January (this coming Saturday) at 12.30pm. Please sign up on the notice board in the narthex ~ this is always a great social occasion; be sure not to miss out!

DIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE: The Bishop is inviting our parish community, and especially our married couples, to join him in the cathedral for a diocesan celebration of marriage on Saturday 19 February at 12noon. We need as many from our parish to go along to join our bishop on this occasion. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the gift of marriage to our church and our society. It is a chance to come together, whatever state of life we find ourselves living, and join our diocesan community in celebrating the tremendous reflection of God’s love that is the gift of marriage. The bishop encourages those of you who are engaged and maybe marrying this year to come along and join him too. More details to follow.

A VISIT TO THE CRIB: Once again, to grace our celebration of Christmas, the crib has taken up position in the Lady Chapel. This simple retelling of the nativity story invites us to gaze on and see the wonder of the first Christmas. The crib will remain in its place until February 2 – the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple. Whilst you are here at Church during the Christmas season, and most especially if you come with children or as a family, do go and pay a visit to the crib, entrusting your family and those you love to the prayers and intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

CRIB OFFERINGS: The basket next to the crib is, traditionally, for your crib offerings. This year, the offerings will go in support of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa’s nuns) who run a terrific orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia. The sisters work hard to make ends meet and rely on the generous donations that come their way. Our little gift to them will truly make a real difference to the lives of the children either abandoned, left, or orphaned. The offerings will be sent over to the Sisters once the crib has been taken down in February.

PARISHES IN COMMUNION FOR MISSION: Bishop Declan visits St Bernadette’s on Tuesday 1 February to meet with parish representatives and enter into conversation with them about how they are working together. As we are hosting this gathering of parish communities, it would be great if our own parish could be well represented. The members of the Parish Forum group are encouraged to come along, especially, but the evening is open to all those who wish to come along and take part in the conversation about how our diocese will be journeying over the next couple of years. As you know, the Bishop’s recent document encourages us to work closer together with our neighbouring parishes. The Bishop is with us to listen to how we are implementing the guidelines in our own area. the evening is also a chance for us to listen to the experience of other parishes working together and maybe for us to pick up some ‘tools’ for how we grow and develop as a community of faith and mission. Please make a note of the date in your diaries and come along. The evening begins at 7.00pm with refreshments from 6.30pm.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: This coming year’s programme begins on Wednesday 26 January. The children gather in Church on Sunday 23 January for the presentation of their books and for the celebration of enrolment. Details to follow.

THANK YOU: So much hard work has gone into the beginnings of our Christmas celebration. You only have to look at our Church to see the care and attention to detail. If you were here over the last couple of days you will appreciate the tremendous hard work that went into the Liturgies to make them truly prayerful occasions. So many people continue to show great commitment and generosity to our parish by giving so generously of their time and their talents. We are so fortunate as a community to be in a position where we can benefit from the skills and imagination of others to grace our celebrations and our liturgy. Fr Christopher wants to note his appreciation of the hard work put in by so many of you to make the beginnings of the Christmas season so wonderful.

POLISH CULTURAL EVENING: Some of the Polish families in our parish are treating us to a cultural evening on Saturday 15 January. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity and a chance to taste some of the delights of Poland. There will be a note on the notice board next weekend for you to sign up on to ensure you have a place. You will be able to taste some of the tasty delicacies of Poland from the hands of the talents Polish cooks within our own parish community. Doors open at 7.30pm next Saturday and it will cost you a donation towards some of our outreach projects. Sign up on the board and come along to what should be a tasty, enjoyable evening.

NEXT SUNDAY: Our Christmas season draws to a close with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. There will be Evening Prayer at 4.00pm next Sunday.

A LETTER OF THANKS from Fr Michael is to be found on the notice board in the nathex.

THIS SUNDAY: This Sunday is all about the “Divine Community” – in other words, the way in which our God is in himself a communion of love: Father, Son and Spirit, distinct yet perfectly united – three persons, one God.  We hear of the perfect union between Father and Son, revealed in the mysterious poem of the First Reading, where the Son is “Wisdom” joining the Father in the act of creation. This union bears fruit in the Spirit, who pours this perfect love into our hearts, so that we may imitate the “Communion of Love” by living together and hoping for our place within the Divine Community.

A VERY WARM WELCOME to Fr Oswald Mallya. Fr Oswald is one of our valued contacts in Zambia and is studying in Kent on a sabbatical. Fr Oswald was the priest of the St Lawrence Community Project that we, as a parish, have been supporting in simple ways over the last two years. He is visiting us this weekend and he will be with us at both Masses that weekend and so tell us how what we have sent out has been used for the community on the outskirts of Lusaka. There will be a little drink after Mass on Saturday in the Narthex giving you chance to say hello to Fr Oswald whilst he is here with us. On Sunday, you can meet him in the hall for coffee after Mass.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The period of preparation has come to an end for another year and 26 children from our parish come to receive Holy Communion for the first time this coming Saturday at 12noon. The rehearsal for FHC is on Friday 4th June at 5.00pm in the Church. The whole group join us for mass next Sunday at 10.30am where they come also to receive their certificates. Let’s keep them in our prayers over this next week: Ellena Trickey, Ellis Gould, Taylor Kabuye, Bonitta Nakitto, Kelvin Kalungi, Alfie Condon, Ciaran Jones, Niall McGirr, Yasmin McDonald, Jade Osborne, Charley O’Toole, Oskar Kleszcz, Jacob Hynes. Michal Komada, Finlay O’Regan, Leah Holland, Rico Russo, Luca Mercato, Carlo Mercato, Jessica James, Jack Phillips, Lauren Sanders, Isobel Heard, Oliver Murphy, Ben McGovern, and Paddy Browne.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 6 June this year is the celebration of Corpus Christi. There will be, as we have done in previous years, sung Vespers at 4.00pm followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament with benediction ‘over’ Whitchurch, praying for the people of our city and our area. Please do come along if you can. This is a beautiful feast and chance for us to renew our faith in Christ’s living presence among us.

PRIESTS’ RETIREMENT FUND: By the end of this year there will be 39 priests living in retirement. The annual collection seeks our support in offering them a little security after many years of active service to the people of Clifton, many of whom continue (like Fr Michael) to support us in so many ways. The report for 2009 will be given out this weekend along with Gift Aid envelopes for those of you who pay tax. The collection should be taken this weekend but with the papal visit appeal last weekend it seems to be more prudent to leave it a week. Saturday 5/Sunday 6 June. Please be as generous as you can towards our retired priests.

YEAR FOR PRIESTS: Bishop Declan invites you to join him at the close of this Year for Priests at the Cathedral on Friday 11 June (Feast of the Sacred Heart) at 11.00am. He will be joined by many of the priests of our diocese to bring this spiritual year to a prayerful close. There’s plenty of room in the Cathedral so please do go along and join our Bishop and our priests.

PARISH BAZAAR: Our Bazaar takes place, this year, on Saturday 9th October. Details of how you can help in the weeks and months leading up to it will be given out next weekend… so watch this space. You might like to think about what you might be able to let one of the stalls have. Bottles, cakes, jams and chutneys, fancy goods and gifts, bric-a-brac and toys… now’s the time to start thinking. Details of stalls and stall holders will also be on the notice board THIS COMING week so you can contact the appropriate person.

200 CLUB SOCIAL: Cream Tea will be served this Sunday afternoon – Sunday 30th May – from 3.30pm until 5.30pm. Sandwiches, scones with cream and jam as well as cakes will be served along with lashings of hot, fresh tea. Tea will cost £3 and you can sign up in the narthex and simply come along any time during that couple of hours. The three May ‘big’ prizes (first prize £200) will be drawn during the afternoon at 4.30pm… and it could be your number! Do come along if you can.

GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE: The annual diocesan pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady at Glastonbury is taking place on Sunday 11 July. This is a great gathering of the people of our diocese in honour of the Mother of God… and it is always a good day out, too. Fr Healy is arranging a coach from St Pius X and is prepared to call in at St Bernadette’s to pick up those who would like to join with them. The coach will leave St B’s and take you to Glastonbury. If you would like to go along, please sign up on the notice board.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION: Fr Christopher paid a visit to the secondary school last week inviting those in year 8 and above who would like to embark upon the preparation for Confirmation to sign up. The Bishop will be with us after Christmas and preparation will begin after the summer holidays. If you would like to take part in this year’s programme have a look at our website or get in touch with FrC asap.

CONGRATULATIONS to Bernard and Valerie Price who successfully completed the diocesan Certificate in Catechesis which was awarded to them by Bishop Declan on 19 May.

THE DIARY OF GOD: John Huntriss is leading a course spread over eight weeks during the autumn on the scriptures taking us gently through the story of God and his love for his people and enabling us to deepen our understanding of the Word of God. Full details and application forms for the course (which is taking place here at St Bernadette’s) can be found in the narthex. The eight week’s course costs £24. It is a most valuable course and well worthwhile signing up for, Do pick up one of the forms and if you want to know more, have a word with FrC. You can hand your form into FrC or send it onto the Adult education office. Poster on the notice board.

PAPAL VISIT COLLECTION: Thank you for the great generosity you showed through last weekend’s retiring collection as part of our support for the Holy Father’s visit in September. You raised a superb £398.36 thanks to your kindness and this will be sent on with the Gift Aid forms only to enhance your gifts.  If you haven’t done so yet, please pick up one of the prayer cards from the Narthex.

The many outreach activities in our parish include our involvement through Amplius the ecumenical group of local churches, support for the Julian Trust and the Ministry of the Door at St. Nicholas of Tolentino, our links with Cafod, Missio (formerly the APF), the HCPT, Traidcraft, Samaritans Purse shoebox presents from our youth club, our support for projects in Zambia and our prayer links.

Awareness of the needs of others has prompted action by many parishioners. We enjoy many social events, themed evenings and meals prepared by our Italian, Malaysian and Indian parishioners. Money raised from these events supports local and overseas projects.

Together with other local churches we hold weekly lunches during Lent, a Good Friday walk of witness and a Christmas concert.

Our links with Cafod are strengthened through our Family Fast days and our pyramid box donations during Lent. The Cafod national and diocesan organisers keep in regular contact informing us of events in the diocese and overseas.

Support for building and aid projects in Zambia is co-ordinated through the Papal Nuncio to Zambia, Monsignor Girasoli and local priests and religious.

Through the weekly prayer list of intercessions posted at St. Joseph’s statue in the church we remember the needs of those in our parish and the wider world. Parishioners are invited to add their special intentions to the list so that all the parish can support them in our prayers.

The work of the different groups in the parish is supported by representatives meeting together regularly. Our parish contacts are :

Zambia projects – Fr. Christopher and Maria Amesbury

Cafod – Linda and Gordon Hodgson

Missio – Judith Lavelle

HCPT – Maureen Case

Traidcraft – Marie Forester

Amplius – Gerry Panter and Mike Forde

Samaritans Purse – Youth Club

At present we are collecting groceries for the Julian Trust and gifts and donations for the Samaritans Purse appeal as well as meeting together with other local churches in a community choir to prepare for our Amplius Christmas concert.

Events during Advent include the Amplius Christmas concert in St. Bernadettes school hall on Friday December 4th and a quiz night with fish and chip supper in the parish hall on Saturday December 5th.

We are always looking for new ideas and our Outreach group would welcome suggestions from parish members in addition to the generosity, prayers and support we already receive.

This was our first encounter with Africa: a beautiful dawn, long lines of people walking to work, children holding hands in pristine uniforms, walking to school.

A short drive brought us to the Vatican embassy; a big white marbled house with a luscious, colourful garden. We were shown to our rooms, they were filled with fresh flowers and fruit, bottled water and drinks… then the white mosquito net hanging over the bed reminded me of where I was.

On our desk we found our very busy schedule for the week, the visits to some of the projects supported by Mons Girasoli: Mother Theresa’s hospice, The City of Hope, Kasisi orphanage, Saint Lawrence Community School, Chirundu orphanage.

There was no time to lose, on the first day Mons Girasoli took us to the brand new Catholic Cathedral, modern and imposing. The Anglican Cathedral was older, and boasted a very important organ. A plaque on the wall informed us that the dioceses of Bath and Wells had donated some money.

Nothing could have prepared us for our first visit, Mother Theresa’s hospice for terminally sick people with HIV and AIDS. The Mother Superior led us inside their home, into a courtyard where hundreds of little children with smiling faces were gathered singing “welcome, welcome…” It was overwhelming, I looked at Father Christopher for strength and courage but he was also visibly touched, tears falling down his face. The children sang, they performed little poems for us and curtsied, and presented us with flowers.

We were led into the dormitories where we saw the sick children, lying there in their little cots; there were several rows of cots filling the small room. As we passed through the children smiled and stretched their little arms towards us, looking for a little attention, a little love. And then the adults: the men and women were both suffering, but while the men had slipped into sadness and despair, the women seemed to be more resilient, they sang with courage, about wanting to get better and return to their families.

On day 3 we went to “the City of Hope”, a home for “girls at risk”, girls who have been orphaned by aids, abandoned, abused, sold by their parents.

We were shown around and met some of the girls, as well as the teachers, nuns and volunteers. Sister Maria Mazzone, the founder of City of Hope, talked about the financial difficulties of running the home, and the practicalities of dealing with 80 teenagers! The girls seemed shy but they improvised a little show for us. Their singing was lovely – our British pop stars are not half as good. The school also takes in day students and in total the City of hope welcomed so many more than we ever imagined.

Our next visit was to Saint Lawrence Community School, situated just outside one of the poorest “compounds” in Lusaka, the school cares for 1100 boys and girls. We met the inspiring and charismatic Father Oswald, he had a big white smile, and vigorous hand shake. Inside, the classrooms were small but well looked after and lively with about 45 students per class.

When we left, Father Oswald asked if we wanted to see where all the children came from. He took us to the compound: It was a place beyond description, but its images are still so vivid in my mind. We both felt uneasy; we had never seen such degradation. Father Oswald had a kind word for each one of the hundreds of people there, He listened to a grandmother who had to look after so many grandchildren and her legs are not what they used to be…

As we moved from place to place, the ‘shopping list of needs’ simply grew.

Zambia, and indeed, Africa, is a huge problem and we realised that we could not solve the problem alone. All we had the opportunity to do was offer a few little drops into a rather big ocean…but drops that would mean so much.

We came away resolved to help each of the projects that had welcomed us, a little something to help them where they needed it most. At the school in the St Lawrence project, we pledged enough money to pay for a teacher for one year; for Mother Theresa’s orphanage, we would pay for food and for a ‘mami’ for one year; for the City of Hope, likewise; and also for the Project at Kasisi – supplies for their classrooms as well as the staff to help the children to learn.

Already we have been fortunate to be able to start raising the money we pledged. Gordon Hodgson has already cycled along the northern route of the pilgrimage to Santiago in September. He raised £1100 through sponsorship.

We have other events planned that will enable us to reach our little targets.

We were fortunate to welcome Sr Maria Mazzone, the superior of the City of Hope, to Whitchurch in November. Our school gave her £260 for the children of her school when she visited. They raised the money through their October Harvest Cake Sale.

We’re hoping that this page on the website will keep you up to speed on how we are doing, the money we are raising, and keeping you in touch with the projects we are sponsoring.

Keep watching!