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Scroll down to see all our latest news posts (& click 'older posts' at the bottom of the page to look back over the previous news.)
CHURCH OPENING TIMES: 
We are open for private prayer during the week 
(from about 8.30-4pm on days where there is no evening Mass)

and open for public Masses on;
Saturday at 6pm
Sunday at 9.30am
Tuesday at 7.30pm
Thursday at 10am
Friday at 7.30pm - but please check the week's Newsletter (Newsletter with Mass Times tab above) in case of changes.

PARISH OFFICE: Please note that the Parish Office is open a few days per week so emails will be checked periodically. In the event of an urgent query, please call the presbytery on 0117 9833939 and leave a message. 

Fr Barnabas Page - Resident Assistant Priest at St Augustine's Church
Fr Jim Williams - Priest in Charge 

Our Parishes in Communion for Mission covers us here in Downend, 
St John Fisher in Frenchay, 
St Lawrence in Chipping Sodbury with St Paul's in Yate, 
and Our Lady of Lourdes in Kingswood  


and we are part of the St Edmund of Abingdon Pastoral Area of Clifton Diocese, led by Fr Eugene Campbell of Holy Cross Parish, Patchway.
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Current Parish Rotas

Please click on the link for the Parish Duties Rota you would like to view (as a pdf)
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LENT HOUSE GROUPS:

7 groups met during Lent and the full report is shown, below, for you to read.

Click on each picture to zoom in

Here is a summary of the questions discussed:
Lessons post lockdown, how we feel about the Church & Mass, the role of women & fears about change, the riches of the church, youth & the issues of LGBT+ & the hunger & need for deeper catechesis, a desire to explore the challenges we face in our secular society & how we can live the Gospel convincingly.
~
Worries were expressed about change in the church as well as recognising the need for some kinds of change, but to continue to witness to a faith that is countercultural, while recognising the ways that Church teaching has hurt people.
Support for the Pope was expressed.
An overwhelming outcome was for better communication of what is going on, for the lay to take on more responsibility, for a better balance of roles of women & men in the church, better catechesis of young & adults, for us all to take our faith more seriously, & belief that the Holy Spirit will lead us into the future, into any changes, that the church will always stand for the unchanging truths of the Gospel while we all face undoubted change in our lives & in the world.
How do we discern the need for change or not?
What needs to be reimagined given the future lack of priests?
How we need to be missionaries of joy & hope?
This was a fruitful & interesting experience for all & we hope to repeat it from time to time in the next year, & for action to result.

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This week's news

PRAYERS FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.

Over this past couple of weeks and for the next few days, we have a place, just inside the church, for prayer & reflection for all our babies & children whose loss, pain or difficulties we grieve.

Many people may have personal experience of losing a child whether through miscarriage or stillbirth, early infant death, or loss later in life. Or we may be dealing with troubles our children are facing in their lives.

This is an opportunity to tie a ribbon in the tree outside, or write a reflection, as a tangible expression of our love and prayer for these, our children.

On Sunday 28th April, at our 9.30am Mass, we will bring up to the altar the box containing your thoughts, names and reflections as we pray for our children.
We remember those tiny lives lost at any age or stage of pregnancy, loss of a child at the start of, or later in life, or for our children who may be dealing with their own difficulties - on that day we will pray as a community together.

For those souls in heaven we pray, through the mercy of God, may they Rest in Peace. Amen

Below we have included some links to some relevant pages for getting support or advice.

Life - Creating a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone.

Gentle Footprints - Helping women and their families step forward after pregnancy and baby loss.
Samaritans - Support without judgement when you, or your children, are struggling or going through a tough time.


Action for Children - working to improve life for children in the UK, so every child has a safe and happy childhood - helping with down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust.



We just had to share this lovely post from our school's Instagram account with you all.
"Well done to everyone who handed in homework about our house saints or patron saint, St Augustine. As you can see, the finished art work was fabulous and takes pride of place in our foyer.
We have learnt a lot about St Patrick, St Brigid, St Joan of Arc, St Maximillian Kolbe and, of course, St Augustine of Canterbury."
#saintaugustineofcanterbury [StAugustinesPrimary on insta]


Cantonese Mass
Fr Bruno Lepeu from Hong Kong Diocese will be visiting Bristol and celebrating Pentecost Mass in Cantonese in our church on 19/05/2024. There will be the sacrament of reconciliation before celebrating the Mass and tea and coffee is served after the Mass in the Parish Hall. You are cordially invited to join the Sacraments.
For details, please refer to the attached Poster.

龐神父將於19/05/2024聖神降臨節到Bristol St Augustine’s Canterbury Church 舉行廣東話彌撒，彌撒前有收和聖事。彌撒後可於堂區中心作短聚。詳情見附件海報。有興趣嘅朋友可自行安排時間參與聖事。


CAFOD EMERGENCY APPEAL
Please read the message received from CAFOD this week about the Sudan crisis - if you are able to make a donation online or at Church this weekend in the retiring basket collection, please give what you can:
“Dear Father, the people of Sudan need our help urgently. We are launching an emergency appeal for donations to get aid to them on the biggest scale we can muster.
When violence broke out last year in Sudan between government and paramilitaries, most aid agencies evacuated. Now, humanitarian workers are struggling to get back into Sudan to help, meaning severe delays in getting aid to the people, and the challenges of getting into areas where fighting is still going on remain. Many borders are shut as the government say they need to keep weapons out.

But the Church and our local partners are still there. Please, stand with them today.
The situation has gone from serious to desperate very quickly. The UN is calling it ‘the world’s worst displacement crisis’. At least 8 million people have had to flee their homes; famine looms.
- “At least 25 million Sudanese need immediate, emergency help. Families are already going hungry and famine is looming. This crisis threatens to become the worst in living memory.” Telley Sadia, CAFOD’s country representative for Sudan.

Let us, as Cardinal Nichols and Bishop Swarbrick wrote recently to Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Archbishop of Juba and president of the Sudanese Bishops’ Conference, ‘extend to you the prayerful support of the Church in England and Wales and… express our solidarity with you in your current circumstances of profound distress. We have heard your cry in your recent statement, in which you reminded the international community of the need for support to bring about an end to the civil conflict and allow for immediate humanitarian access to alleviate hunger across Sudan.’
Our Caritas and Church networks are there when many aid agencies aren’t, where people are in a desperate situation. The Church in Sudan is already responding and asking us to help them do more. Even in this year of economic stretch for many people here, we know that the Catholic community will want to respond with compassion to help people facing famine.
Despite this overwhelming scale, you will have seen how media attention is limited. We are calling on the Catholic community of England and Wales to give the people of Sudan our attention, and our hearts.
I sign off with my deep gratitude for your ongoing prayers and support for all those we work with facing dire need.
Jo Kitterick
Director, Fundraising and Participation, CAFOD
https://cafod.org.uk/give/donate-to-emergencies/sudan-crisis-appeal

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This Week's News



Red Box 2023: A Thank You!
In 2023, St Augustine's parish raised £1,055 through our Red Boxes and donations to Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries. Thank you! Our missionary community here at St Augustine's is part of a worldwide network of people supporting missionaries overseas through prayer and financial assistance. Your support of Missionary Priests, like Fr Ignatuis MHM working with a rural community in Uganda, enables people to come together to celebrate the Eucharist and to work together to improve the lives of the whole community.
Visit www.missio.org.uk to find out more.

Our next celebration of the Eucharist for the LGBT+ community, family, friends and allies will be at 3pm on Sunday 21 April. As always, all are most welcome. For details, see poster.
It is now five years since this ministry began. Thank you to all who have supported it over the years, and please help us to continue to raise awareness.
Best regards
Clifton diocese LGBT+ ministry team.

Clifton Diocese Safeguarding:
The Diocese Safeguarding team are currently looking for an individual to join the Safeguarding Committee and sit in on the Risk Allegation Review meetings. Suitable volunteers should have in depth knowledge and experience of safeguarding, particularly health/mental health.
The role is voluntary and would require a commitment of one 2hour meeting approximately five times per year for the Safeguarding Committee and also the Risk Allegation Review Meeting.
The meetings can be attended in person or online and there will be some pre-reading prior to the meetings.
If you are passionate about safeguarding and would like to volunteer your experience and services to the team, or would like to discuss the role further, please contact the Safeguarding Coordinator Janice Pearson on janice.pearson@cliftondiocese.com or 07887 990385.

Reflections for Fourth Sunday of Easter Year B from Deacon Vincent.

1st Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4: 8-12.
Just like Jesus, the Apostles are brought before the authorities. Like Elizabeth in (Luke 1: 41) and Jesus in (Luke 4: 14, 15, 18.), Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit, and he quotes Psalm 117: 22. To describe Jesus as, (the stone rejected by the builders, has become the corner stone.) Peter insists on the healing having occurred at the name of Jesus. This becomes a common theme throughout the Acts. Their lack of education and the fact that they knew Jesus, counts as evidence of their central claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. What is the response of the authorities? They forbid them to speak or heal in the name of Jesus. We, know how this is a forlorn hope, as the message is still being proclaimed today.

Psalm 117: 1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28-29.
So, we continue to follow Peter’s example with quotes from the 117 Psalm, appropriately quoting how God is more to be trusted than Princes or powers. “This is a marvel in our eyes” and of course we join with the crowds on Palm Sunday proclaiming, “Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.”

2nd Reading from the first letter of St. John 3: 1-2.
A beautiful description John gives us of exactly what a great dignity God has disposed upon us. We are God’s children, hence the world which refused to acknowledge Jesus, God’s beloved Son; it will not acknowledge us. But we all know that, this is a revealed truth for us today, as well. Although, things are difficult for us at the present; when it is time, we will become like Jesus, and see Jesus and the Father, as they really are. This is a great joy for us to constantly retain before us, throughout this vale of tears.

The Holy Gospel according to John 10: 11-18.
Jesus, here, takes an old image of the Father, as the Shepherd, and applies it to himself, thereby giving himself a godly presence, and he further goes on to use the “I AM”, no less than four times. (Jews would immediately recognise the answer God gave to Moses when Moses asked for God’s name, in the book of Genesis). Jesus describes himself as the “GOOD SHEPHERD”, he is not a hired shepherd who runs away at the first sign of danger. No; his sheep know him, and he knows us. Jesus will lay down his life for his sheep. Throughout this impassioned speech, Jesus, by using the “I AM”, is claiming to be at one with the Father, hence there will be great commotion amongst his followers and the authorities, as they considered any such claim as blasphemous. We are viewing this speech with hindsight, so we have lost the great significance and excitement that this speech evoked at the time. We need to contemplate the depth of what Jesus is telling us about himself and indeed what he is telling us about how important we are to Jesus.

We are his sheep, let us show how we trust him to look after us, by staying as close to him, as possible.

Let us always live as members of Jesus’ flock.
Deacon Vincent.

Mass for Married Life and Families
The bishop is celebrating Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday 25 May (12 noon) and is inviting all families to join him to celebrate the joys & challenges of marriage and family life.
In addition, we will celebrate those couples celebrating a significant anniversary during 2024.
All are welcome.
ENCOUNTER - DAY OF RENEWAL
There will be a special day of renewal at St. Bonaventure's Church Bristol from 10am to 4pm starting with Mass on Saturday 25th May.
Mass, uplifting worship, inspiring teaching and testimonies. Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available and prayer for baptism in the Holy Spirit. Childrens' stream available too. Refreshments provided but bring a packed lunch. To give us an idea of numbers for the day, we ask you to book a free ticket for all members of your party here: www.dftholyspirit.com/encounter-may-2024

Shared from our local area 'Heathboard' group:
Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council have produced a Local Climate and Nature Action Plan (LCNAP) which is an initiative many other local parish councils have taken forward in response to the declaration of a climate emergency by the local authority.
The plan will be available on the Parish website.
Our ideas and insights, as locals ,will be really valuable and can shape the plan as its taken forward. Our natural environment matters to us all and to our families too. It's an interesting read!"

Here is the link to click to see the action plan pdf.
https://www.dbhparishcouncil.uk/media/attachments/2024/04/19/downend_lcnapv2.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3LU6ypilSecaHHOzO_28GroZrQgqlY1sNeTdzIWtM8oLdeGc7_Li_2Ktw_aem_AfNuEuAuXOF20q-qr2TijdtNN_ZbyX2fkFIYSnMkFLj7uY-c3Twq2nPlUVP_6A9eVIgy72xbC0YQv8s217AZfySb

and here is a link to their website:
https://www.dbhparishcouncil.uk/


VACANCY - Clifton Diocese, Finance and Property Support Officer

The Clifton Diocese Curia offices are currently looking to recruit a Finance and Property Support Officer to strengthen it's central finance and property functions. The role is a part-time, 2year fixed term contract, to be worked over 25 hours per week and based at Alexander House, Pennywell Road, Bristol.

The successful applicant will need to have a comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office, good communication and organisational skills, to include time management and working on various tasks simultaneously. Previous administrative experience and a can-do flexible attitude are essential.

For further information please go to Working for us on the Clifton Diocese website or contact Simon Hussey, Head of Finance on 0117 902 5591. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 10th May 2024.

https://cliftondiocese.com/diocese/working-for-us/

Clifton Diocese Safeguarding: The Diocese Safeguarding team are currently looking for an individual to join the Safeguarding Committee and sit in on the Risk Allegation Review meetings.

Suitable volunteers should have in depth knowledge and experience of safeguarding, particularly health/mental health.

The role is voluntary and would require a commitment of one 2hour meeting approximately five times per year for the Safeguarding Committee and also the Risk Allegation Review Meeting. The meetings can be attended in person or online and there will be some pre-reading prior to the meetings.

If you are passionate about safeguarding and would like to volunteer your experience and services to the team, or would like to discuss the role further, please contact the Safeguarding Coordinator Janice Pearson on janice.pearson@cliftondiocese.com or 07887 990385.
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This week's news

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Happy Easter!




Children's Stations of the Cross

On Good Friday we shared a lovely morning together.
Firstly, in Church, helping the children learn about the Story of Holy Week and then sharing Hot Cross Buns in the hall afterwards!
What a lovely morning!
Thanks to all who came along and supported the children of the parish, to all the musicians and singers, those who helped run the stations of the cross and those who provided the lovely refreshments.

   

 




On Easter Saturday, The Ukrainian Church met for a traditional Easter blessing.
Vera shared these words and photos with us.
"A beautiful morning with so many fellow Ukrainians blessings Easter baskets followed by kids Easter egg hunt around the church."

"The Eucharist: a bond of love which can never be undone.”


There is an opportunity on Saturday 8 June at St Bernadette’s Secondary School, Whitchurch, Bristol, for the whole diocese to deepen our understanding and love for the Eucharist as we grow in our desire to be a people of communion, participating together as the Body of Christ so that we may be the Body of Christ to the world.

We are delighted that Fr. Michael McAndrew will lead us in our reflections and conversations. The day will include a time of prayerful Adoration with words, music, and silence. Refreshments will be available from 9.30am. Attendees are asked to bring a packed lunch. We will finish by 4pm.

Please use the Eventbrite link: https://cliftoneucharist.eventbrite.co.uk/ to register for the day

A message from St Patricks Catholic Church in Redfield.

"We would like to invite your parishioners to our Pan African Mass on the 14th of April ’24 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Redfield at 1pm.
The Mass will be followed by refreshments in Brooks Hall.
We would like to invite all African’s, their families, and friends.
We look forward to celebrating with you, fellow parishioners, their families and friends."


Thanks to Deacon Vincent for his Reflections for Second Sunday of Easter Year B

1st Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-35.
This is the second volume of Luke’s narrative and whereas the first volume was undoubtedly about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this second volume could be said to be the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit”. There is a restlessness about it, always on the move and as the Pentecost incident has Luke portraying the Holy Spirit as “fire and “mighty wind”, so, as we read through this extraordinary book, we watch as this is made evident. In this passage for us today, we have Luke painting a beautiful picture of the early community, completely at one, but Luke knows that this wasn’t the complete picture, as later we encounter cheats within this community, taking advantage of their free spirit. We have before us a picture of how it can be, and how we should respond to each other. If we look at the various congregations and orders that have grown up in the Church one can see how there is still that call to a oneness in the Risen Lord, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 117: 2-4, 15-18, 22-24.
This delightful song is celebrating God in the Temple, and the “stone rejected by the builders became the corner stone”, is a theme that is taken up in several places in the New Testament.

2nd Reading is from the first letter of St. John 5: 1-6.
This letter of John’s is deemed by some scholars as a theological commentary on John’s Gospel, perhaps affirming the full humanity of Jesus, which readers of the Fourth Gospel might have been inclined to underplay. You will notice in this excerpt before us, how John is insisting upon the key issue of the humanity of Jesus. There must have been false prophets proclaiming that Jesus was not completely human, but somehow God playing at being human. John encourages us to distinguish spirit of truth (God), and the deception which is endemic in the world’s philosophy. If we acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in Flesh, then that prophet is from God, and anyone who says he is not human is from the spirit of deception. Although Jesus is God’s Son, he is also wholly human. His Godliness comes from his intimate relationship with God.

The Holy Gospel according to John 20: 19-31.
This passage unfolds in two phases. The first establishes that the disciples were frightened and certainly did not believe in the “Resurrection”. It affirms that Jesus is risen from the dead, and that the disciples have a mission. For John, the Holy Spirit is the very breath of God. The second phase comes from the incredulity of Thomas. Jesus approaches Thomas and offers his hands and his side for Thomas to feel the marks the nails and spear made on Jesus body. We are not told whether Thomas accepts the challenge, but we have the dramatic outburst of Thomas, “My Lord and My God.”, which is where this Gospel has been leading us all along; for us to be able to declare, with Thomas, that wonderful acclamation. Finally, we have ourselves being addressed by Jesus himself, “Happy are those who have not seen, yet believe.” Jesus is promising true Happiness to his believers.
He is truly Risen, Alleluia.
May we always abide in that Happiness.
Deacon Vincent


*Living the Common Good: Discerning Challenges and Responses*


The Clifton Evangelist invites us all to join together on Saturday 18th May at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College (Broomhill Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5RQ) for Living the Common Good: Discerning Challenges and Responses.

It will be a day of formation and community, bringing people together in prayer to discern the practical ways to live the common good in our parishes, pastoral areas, and diocese. We are blessed to have Jenny Sinclair from 'Together for the Common Good' guiding us through our discernment process, and focusing on identifying the specific areas for mission in our communities as well as the practical steps we can take to serve those needs and proclaim the Gospel by our lives.
There is no cost to attend. Please register at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-the-common-good-discerning-challenges-and-responses-tickets-877814957167?aff=oddtdtcreator


Pope Francis' Stations of the Cross

This year, Independent Catholic News has reported that the Holy Father has written the Stations as a dialogue with Jesus, a face-to-face conversation with Christ, made up of reflections, questions, introspections, confessions, and invocations.

See them here: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/49452
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This Week's News


Holy Week Services

Maundy Thursday - 7.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday - 11am Children's Stations of the Cross
(all welcome, not just for kids)

Good Friday - 3pm The Passion

Easter Saturday Vigil - 8pm for all our Parishes in Communion

Easter Sunday - 9.30am Mass of the Resurrection





Easter Message from Fr Barnabas

Dear all.

I wish you every blessing for Easter despite everything that is going wrong in our world at present. This is why the message of Christ is so important. Christ lived under the brutal Roman occupations of his land & yet His Good News still set individuals free.

As we carry the light of Christ into the darkness at the Easter vigil this symbolises the power of the Resurrection to bring us hope.

And I Thank God we live in the Northern hemisphere where Easter coincides with Spring!

Thank you all & Bless you.



Thank you to Deacon Vincent for your Reflections for the Easter Vigil (Year B)

The Easter Fire is lit and a new Pascal Candle is lighted and carried into the darkened Church. It symbolises the light of Christ Risen from the Dead.
The Easter Proclamation (The Exultet) is then sung by the Deacon a lone voice in the darkened Church proclaims the Risen Christ. Church is lighted.
Seven Readings from Genesis, Exodus, Prophet Isaiah, Prophet Baruch and the Prophet Ezekiel trace Salvation history from the creation till the preparation for the Messiah.

1st Reading of the Mass from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans 6: 3-11.
Paul makes the contrast between death through sin and life through the Risen Christ. He describes Baptism as going into the tomb with Christ and Rising with him in a new life, liberated from the pull of sin. Paul insists on the centrality of Jesus Resurrection from death to life and then for all Christians following him from death to life. For Paul the whole story is one of movement from sin (death) to the power of the resurrection to life. This completes his contrast from Adam to Christ. Through Aam came death, but through Christ comes life.

Psalm 117: 1-2, 16-17. 22-23.
At last we have our Alleluias. This psalm is celebrating God in his Temple, but it relates so beautifully, to our celebration of Jesus Resurrection especially in relation to the rejection of the corner stone that has become the key stone. So descriptive of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The Holy Gospel according to Mark 16: 1-7.
This is believed to be the original ending of Mark’s Gospel and the additions that followed were added by those who thought it needed more, but there is a wonderful urgency about the women going through the Sabbath impatiently waiting till they can buy the spices to anoint the body. Then their concern for who will move the large stone from the entrance to the tomb. Thy were not expecting the Resurrection, hence wanting to anoint the dead body. It is thought that Mark makes a rather gentle joke at the expense of the ladies by stating that, “The Sun had already Risen.” If we think the ladies were foolish not to think about how to roll the stone away, we might ask ourselves, where were the men? Only the women venture forth. We guess by the description that this young man might be an Angel, but it is him who makes the Easter Proclamation, “He is risen.” It is a shame we finish the Gospel at this point because Mark has another hidden message when the women had heard the message to give to the disciples and Peter, they fled away from the tomb, “for quivering and astonishment had hold of them”. Quivering and astonishment is the sign of the presence of God. This really is a powerful ending to the Gospel.

Let us Rejoice for Jesus is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Happy Easter from Deacon Vincent
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