Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent

Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 33(34):4-7,16-19; Matthew 6:7-15

Tonight we begin a series of talks based on the well known - perhaps the best known of all - prayers, the Our Father.

The Our Father is so familiar we easily miss its importance. Matthew places it right in the middle of his long account of the sermon on the mount. It is therefore of the utmost importance, given the pride of place in the key section of Matthews Gospel in which Jesus teaches us the way to live a full life.

Come, if you can, each Tuesday evening in Lent at 19:00 to St Thomas more Church, Princess Elisabeth Way, and learn in detail this tremendous prayer, where it comes from, and where it can take us on too.

Confirmation Program

Confirmation - What is it?

Our first session in this years confirmation program takes place this Sunday 14th January upstairs in the Old Priory directly after the 09:30 Mass

If you have missed signing up but still want to come - please turn up and ask for Maggie and Graham (who are the administrators). You must be Able to provide a Parent or Guardian's phone number. The session concludes at 12:30.

John Huntriss, Talk on Scripture

The Diary of God - 14th December 2023

We welcome John Huntriss as guest speaker. John is a well known and respected speaker on Scripture, who has recently published "The Diary of God". This book guides us through the entire bible over the three year cycle of the Liturgy of daily Mass, and is recommended by our Bishop who wrote the forward. John will be selling copies after the talk (£5:00, cash only).

This event forms part of our RCIA Journey in Faith program, and like all of these events is open to all of the Parish: all are very welcome to come!

Bike Theft

From outside Church during Mass

Sadly a Parishioner had their bike stolen from outside the church during Sunday morning Mass recently.

The bike was locked, and it appears that the theft was achieved by cropping the cable type lock used.

Police advice is to use a 'sold secure' D type lock, noting that many low cost D locks are not difficult for thieves to cut using tools easily concealed about their person.

We have a new Deacon

By the grace of God, John Andrews was ordained into the Permanent Diaconate on 23rd September at Clifton Cathedral. A coach of Parishioners went and others travelling by rail and road to the celebration of ordination of 5 Deacons at 11:00.

After Sunday morning masses, Parishioners joined in a celebration buffet.

Please pray for all five candidates for ordination as they enter their ministry following 5 years of formation: John Andrews, Andrew Bent, Charles Hickman, Bartek Kowalewski and Joe Almeida.

John thanks all for their prayers and support on his journey.

Ride and Stride

Ride and Stride

On what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, a good number of our parishioners were out and about raising money for Ride and Stride - a county wide event raising money for Historic Churches. 50% of the donations go directly to our own church preservation fund, the balance to the Historic Churches - who have themselves been most generous in supporting the recent renovation of our church.

Father David and his team walked out into the countryside to visit some of the oldest churches in Gloucestershire. Stella Kinmond and others visited a number of churches in town on foot. Jane, Jayne, Margaret and Tom took to bicycles (one tandem, one trike and one standard) and visited 18 churches during a 34 mile bike ride. John and Zoe Wilson rode a circular tour of Cheltenham churches.

Please give generously! Much has been raised, can we do better?

Stations of Creation

As part of this years Season of Creation – a Catholic and Ecumenical season in which we consider our environment – we repeated the stations of creation which took place two years ago.

The walk was interspersed with prayers about creation. and was inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’

 

If you want to read more these links may be of interest:

Laudato Si (Text in English – other languages are available).

A review by Catholic Bishops on the impact of the Laudato Si’ encyclical in England.

Bishop Robert Baron – a brief introduction to Laudato Si’ (video)

RCIA – Journey in Faith Meeting 31 August

Meeting 31 August at 19:00

RCIA Journey in Faith - information meeting

The journey in faith group met in the Old Priory on 31 August.

We discussed "Who, or what is God" and the RCIA program in general. All welcome. For those who could not come, please watch the video on this link. This contains questions - please answer them for yourselves. If you want to discuss these please contact John.

Session 2: The Existence of God

Parking near Church

Please be aware of where you park your vehicle within the vicinity of St James’ Square.  Please do not obstruct driveways, dropped kerbs and gates where there are residential homes.  There is also the facility of a car park close by to St James’ Square (by the roundabout) for you to use.  Thank you.

Pastoral Ministry – Diocesan course

We are now actively seeking to recruit for the next Pastoral Ministry Formation course which begins in September 2023. The course is ideal for ANY parishioner who seeks to develop their capacity to serve the parish in anyway which they believe the Lord is calling them. If you are a catechist – this course is for you. If you are a minister in any form – this course if for you. If you are not involved in any way – but would like to be – this course if for you! Interested? – then please do come to one of our information evenings which will be taking place around the Diocese in June. Here you will hear in more detail about the two courses, content of both, time commitment involved and costs including the role of parishes to support those who take on either of the courses.

Jane Andrews has recently completed this program, and would be delighted to discuss it with you. Please find her before the start of 09:30 Sunday Mass with the music group, or click here to email her.

 

Dates and venues for information sessions are below. Each session starts at 7pm, no need to book, just turn up on the evening.

 

Thursday 1 June:  English Martyrs, Chard

Tuesday 6 June:  St George, Taunton

Wednesday 7 June:  St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham

Monday 12 June:  St George, Warminster

Tuesday 13 June:  Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym

Wednesday 14 June:  St John the Evangelist, Bath

Thursday 15 June:  St Peter, Swindon

 

Tuesday 20 June: St Margaret Mary, Coleford

 

 

 

With all good wishes,

 

Sarah

 

 

Sarah Adams

 

Director for the Department of Adult Education and Evangelisation

Alexander House

160 Pennywell Road

Bristol

BS50TX

 

Tel. 07779003431

0117 902 5595