Highlights of the Week

Below are a few interesting news items from this week’s Bulletin.  To download the full version of our latest Bulletin,  please go to our Bulletin page. Thank you.

THOUGHT FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT                       

                                              JESUS – LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

We journey to the Pool of Baptism throughout Lent – journey to cleansing waters, to healing waters, to life-giving waters, to waters that bring us ‘enlightenment’. Many of the Churches of Eastern Tradition still call Baptism ‘the Enlightenment’. That is why the baptised person is given a baptismal candle lit from the Easter Candle of the Resurrection Light! For by living deeply our Baptism (‘living deeply our new life’) we are bearers of Jesus’ light into a world darkened by inhumanity, brutality, war and poverty.
Lent is a journey into the Light of Easter: and this Light of the Gospel Light of the Spirit, Light of Christ will challenge all the dark places that lurk in our hearts. To be ‘enlightened’ is to challenged to change, to be honest, to allow self-reality to dawn: for only the ‘truth sets us free’. Light will always convert us not only into more self-awareness and self-honesty, the only path to holiness, but also will convert us into more ‘otherness’: our lives will become a gift to others, a light that will guide another to the Waters of New Life and Hope of Freedom. Let us too go to the Pool this Easter.

CAFOD LENTEN FAST DAYS IN LENT The True Fast as the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah (ch 58) is to break the power of injustice and feed the hungry of our world. Please support very generously the CAFOD Lenten Fast Day and contribute money saved from fasting (and give more?) by using the CAFOD envelopes and placing them in the offertory collection. Why not make every Friday a Lenten Fast Day and to give weekly through the CAFOD envelopes as part of your Lenten journey ‘breaking the yoke of poverty’

WHY LENT?    We have joined with Christ Jesus’ 40 Days in the desert to journey with Him through the desert of silence and prayer, of deprivation and hunger, of thirst and yearning. Why? To grow to become more like Jesus in generosity of spirit, openness of heart, deeper communion with God, a readiness to give of ourselves to the Mission of the Gospel. These 40 Days express our communion with all catechumens of the Church journeying to the great moment of Baptism (or reception into Full Communion with the Church). These 40 Days are our journey to the renewal of our Baptism at Easter when we say again our ‘YES’ to being plunged into the Mystery of Christ and become truly Christ People, filled with His Spirit and knowing ourselves to be ‘Beloved of the Father’. Let us embrace these days of renewal.

LENT – A SEASON OF RENEWAL [1] As part of our lenten journey of renewal, we wish to hold Area Masses each week of Lent (except Holy Week). Would you be willing to host such a Mass in your home, welcoming parishioners who live in your geographical area. We will supply known addresses in the particular area so that the host can invite them to their home for the Mass. This will be in addition to other initiatives such as Stations of the Cross each Sunday after the refreshments after the Mass. If you are willing to host such a Mass in your home, please contact either Richard or the Parish Office Team as soon as possible.
[2] Try to come to at least one weekday mass each week, and joint the Stations of the Cross on Sundays after Mass
[3] Diocesan Lenten Reconciliation Services with Bishop Bosco – The Bristol Area Service is at 7.00pm on Thursday 24th March at Christ the King Church, Thornbury, Castle Street, BS35 1HA – all very welcome with many priests available.

THE TRUE FAST – ACCORDING TO POPE FRANCIS
“Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words and be silent – so you can listen.”

PASTORAL VISIT TO ST NICKS BY BISHOP BOSCO I am delighted that Bishop Bosco today, Sunday March 15th, presides at 10am Mass, then meet parishioners then hold a meeting of the Joint Committees (Parish pastoral Council, Parish Finance Committee, and The Legacy Management Group, together with the Community Stewards). Please everyone make it a priority to come and share Mass that day and stay on to meet our Bishop – his first official visit to St Nick’s Community.

WORK EXPERIENCE OFFER FOR 1ST AND 2ND YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
The Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) are working together to offer residential work experience for 20 young adults. All accommodation costs, meals and travel to the Office for the week are covered. It will be focussed on CAFOD NATIONAL OFFICE, ROMERO HOUSE, LONDON SE17JB. More information from email: KeziaH@svp.org.uk

Pope Leo XIV has released the first document of his pontificate, an Apostolic Exhortation called Dilexi te – ‘I have loved you’.
Underpinned by Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and the teaching of his predecessors, Dilexi te focuses on the Church’s love for the poor and God’s special concern for those living in poverty. It affirms the ways in which the magisterium should inform our pastoral practice in accompanying the poor and vulnerable to serve the common good. In continuity with Pope Francis’s final encyclical, Dilexit nos on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ, Pope Leo makes a clear link between this document and the new Exhortation:
“I share the desire of my beloved predecessor that all Christians come to appreciate the close connection between Christ’s love and his summons to care for the poor,” he writes in the opening paragraphs. “I too consider it essential to insist on this path.

Neurodiversity and our Faith research   The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are  conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith. If you’re an adult neurodivergent Catholic or a Caregiver of a neurodivergent Catholic, we want to hear from you. Your experiences will help us to become more inclusive and responsive to your needs. To find out more and to fill in our short surveys look here:
www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys
Survey Flyer Caregivers    Survey Flyer Adults 

ST EDMUND OF ABINGDON PASTORAL AREA (OR DEANERY)  We are part of this deanery which has 17 parishes, 2 university chaplaincies, 2 major hospital chaplaincies, one large Secondary school served by 12 priests and 6 deacons. We need more Lay ministry! The future of the Church depends on YOU, ON ALL OF US!  

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) We have not been able to restart this essential part of our Liturgy and the foundation of catechesis for our children through lack of enough volunteers to help our children and parish in this way. However we are having Children’s Liturgy of the Word each Sunday in Advent – starting next Sunday. BUT WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN  THIS IMPORTANT MINISTRY. Please offer some time and energy so that our children can enter more fully into the wonder of the Mass – Eucharist and the Word of God.

MONTHLY YOUTH-LED MASS       We congratulate our young people as they bring their special gifts and    to our monthly Youth-led Mass (on the Third Sunday of the Month). We all encourage our young people to fulfil a ministry on Sunday 15th March, when Bishop Bosco will be with us and on Sunday 19th April and subsequent third Sundays of the month.

Neurodiversity and our Faith research   The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are  conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith. If you’re an adult neurodivergent Catholic or a Caregiver of a neurodivergent Catholic, we want to hear from you. Your experiences will help us to become more inclusive and responsive to your needs. To find out more and to fill in our short surveys look here:
www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys

Pope’s Apostolic Letter ‘Drawing New Maps of Hope’
The Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, released on 28 October, marks the sixtieth anniversary of the conciliar declaration Gravissimum Educationis. In it, Pope Leo XIV reaffirms and expands that document’s vision, applying it to the challenges of the present time. Reflecting on the millions of children who still lack access to basic education, and on the educational crises caused by war, migration, inequality, and poverty, the Pope asks how Christian education can respond today.

THE VOCATION OF THE CATECHIST Jesus taught, accompanied and formed his disciples, making them ready for the Mission He was entrusting to them. This is what our Catechists are called to do – teach, accompany and form a new generation of ‘missionary’ disciples. This begins with Children’s Liturgy of the Word (sadly every fortnight rather than every Sunday), continues with preparing children and families for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation, then into adolescence with calling our young people to Confirmation in the Holy Spirit. Then there is the preparation of parents for their children’s Baptism and adults seeking to become Catholic Christians. And all this to form ‘missionary disciples proclaiming the Gospel and changing the world. WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE THIS FOUNDATION WORK – THINK ABOUT SERVING IN THIS MINISTRY – YOU PARISH REALLY NEEDS YOU,

  A HOUSE MASS IN YOUR HOUSE?     Because we are so widely spread out as a community, we have had several beautiful Area Masses which have brought parishioners together in the area where they live. Could you host one in your home? It does not need any complicated preparations, just a living room and a table. After such Masses we have simple refreshments – no cooking!      Please contact Richard if you will host a Mass.

 GREAT NEED FOR BLOOD DONATIONS – ESPECIALLY FROM BAME COMMUNITY      When you donate blood you could save up to 3 lives in 1 hour.
Information can be found on a few websites below:
ACTL partnership with NHSBT https://youtu.be/HzGIBjUfXpI?si=VNkm_9AItWvdEVpx
Disney Ironheart message about blood donation
https://youtu.be/DZNd37O0-ng?si=8DH2GW7Tc4ucasuH
African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust website  https://aclt.org                              NHS Blood and Transplant
https://www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/demand-for-different-blood-types/why-more-black-blood-donors-are-needed/

‘ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE’ It is our privilege to host here at St Nicks the Diocesan Ministry among the LBGTQ+ community. It would be a great sign of welcome, valuing ‘Gay’ Catholics, if more parishioners would come sometimes to our 3rd Sunday a month Mass with our LGBTQ+ friends. Do try to come occasionally and share with us.

CLEANING OUR CHURCH    We are short of people for the  weekly clean. This normally happens on a Friday morning, so if anyone has a little time then, some more hands would be very helpful. If you can’t come at that time, see Eddie and negotiate a time when you could do some of the cleaning. It’s like Tesco – every little helps!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE IN HOSPITAL: When a Catholic goes into hospital, the patient or their family MUST request a visit from the Catholic Chaplain – data protection and confidentiality rules in hospitals prohibit the passing on of information to chaplaincies otherwise. The Chaplain cannot visit a patient without prior request to visit.

HALL BOOKINGS        For hall bookings please contact Louise (our temporary Parish Administrator during Astrid’s maternity leave) in the office, either using the Parish Office email or phone number (see front of bulletin for both) or her work phone number: 07354895768.

 URGENT NEED for CATECHISTS        Have you ever thought about helping in the work of preparing our children for the sacraments? Our community always has a need for more people to help with this. You do not have to be a teacher or to have had previous experience as a catechist – training is available, and you can always start by supporting the catechists we already have. If you would like to think about the possibility a bit more, speak to Mary Hopper or to one of the people who currently help with one of the Catechetics groups.
Thank you for your help!

POPE FRANCIS ON DIVERSITY OF GIFTS, CHARISMS & MINISTRIES:   “The most beautiful experience is the discovery of all the different charisms and all the gifts of his Spirit that the Father showers on his Church! This must not be seen as a reason for confusion, for discomfort: they are all gifts that God gives to the Christian community, in order that it may grow in harmony, in the faith and in his love, as one body, the Body of Christ. The same Spirit who bestows this diversity of charisms unites the Church. It is always the same Spirit. Before this multitude of charisms, our heart, therefore, must open itself to joy and we must think: “What a beautiful thing! So many different gifts, because we are all God’s children, all loved in a unique way”. Never must these gifts become reasons for envy

NEED FOR WELCOMERS    It is so important that when people come to Mass on Sundays (especially if they are visitors or have not been to Church for a long time) that they are warmly welcomed. We need more volunteers for our Welcoming Ministry. It makes such a difference when people are greeted at the door. Welcomers will need to arrive no later than 9.30am for this Ministry, ready to hand out the bulletin and any Liturgy sheets.

CALLING SISTERS AND BROTHERS WHO FEEL ALIENATED FROM THE CHURCH
There are so many who have been hurt by their experiences in the Catholic Church and many reasons for that hurt. A particularly destructive hurt has been abuse especially by priests and religious. Yet Christ calls us to be a welcoming, safe and healing community.
Here at St Nick’s we seek to offer an unconditional welcome and a safe and respectful place to be and to speak your voice. We seek to echo the words of Jesus: ‘Come to me all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you peace’. So we want to welcome you, be a community where you can if you wish speak your pain, voice your hurt and anger, or just come and be. We understand that for many it is impossible to trust the Church again, and we do not expect or deserve that trust. But we do want to earn it and so offer to share your journey and make together the safe space that is your right. ‘Our community currently includes those who have expressed some of their own experience of this particular hurt. They, particularly, would like you to know:  “If you come to see us you won’t be alone – it isn’t easy but we do seek to journey together gently.”We understand it may be difficult for some to enter the Church. If you wish to make contact please tell us what might help to make things easier for you.

THE PARISH DATABASE  The Parish Pastoral Council seeks to create a comprehensive database to include all our parish members. Today forms will be distributed asking for some essential information – names of all family members, address with postcode, telephone and email contact details etc.The purpose of this is to enable effective pastoral care, community building and effective communication. The information given will be used solely for internal parish and pastoral reasons and will not be divulged to any other party. Please sign the forms giving your permission for us to hold your details on our database – this is essential for compliance with GDPR (Data Protection legislation). THANK YOU!

GOD’S CALL TO SERVE THE LIFE AND MISSION OF YOUR PARISH   It is very clear that our parish, together with all churches and voluntary organisations around the country, has not yet recovered fully from the effects of the Covid Pandemic and the restrictions placed upon our meeting together during that time. A significant number of our community are not coming to Mass here for a variety of reasons. It is a joy to welcome new families and individuals who have found their way to St Nicks. However there has been great difficulty in drawing members of the parish into being part of the many ministries and tasks of the parish. Whether it is  the welcoming Ministry, Church Cleaning, the Foodbank, Catechists, the ministry of the Parish Office serving the wider community, too few are doing too much in support of the parish’s life and mission. We are all called by our baptism to serve and build the Church as a mission community. We are all called to sacrifice time and energy to build our parish community and support the Mission of Christ entrusted to us. I realise only too well that many have heavy commitments caring for children or elderly family members and juggling work and family. They are indeed serving Christ in these ways. But I do ask everyone to reflect whether some  time can be given to sustain the parish’s life and mission as we move towards a lay-led parish. This will be a great challenge for all of us. Please pray about this urgent need in building the future of our unique parish.

ST NICK’S AND COMMITMENT TO ‘SYNODALITY’ We have played our part in contributing to the Church’s world-wide ‘Synod’, as last year we gathered in different groups to listen to one another and share our thoughts and feelings about being part of the Catholic Church. The result was a 60 page report (which remains on our parish website for all to read) which we sent not only to our Bishop but also to those overseeing the Synod in the Vatican in  Rome. But this is only the beginning! For the first time the ‘International Synod of Bishops’ in October in Rome will include 70 non-bishops (clergy, religious, lay men and lay women) with full voting rights. This is a very significant step forward – but there is a long way to go yet! But what is equally important is that your Parish Pastoral Council is committed to finding ways of embedding ‘Synodality’ in the life and ‘governance’ of our parish community – prayerful listening to one another in order to discern what the Spirit is saying to us in our parish about the way forward into a future different from the past yet fully alive with Prayer, Community and Mission. The Synod’s working document emphasises that those who experience being excluded from church life “are bearers of Good News that the whole community needs to hear” and that “whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God.”

WHAT IS OUR COVENANT WITH THE POOR?    In preparation for the great Millenium of year 2000 the Bishops of England and Wales asked every parish to draw up and make a ‘Covenant with the Poor’. As part of our parish’s Covenant we pledged to pray regularly for Justice & Peace, to serve the homeless and poor who come in increasing numbers to  our extensive Food Bank and the Wild Goose Café and to encourage parishioners to volunteer time and energy to work in the Food Bank and the Wild Goose Café; and also to give non-perishable food (especially rice, pasta, tinned fruit and tomatoes, tinned fish and meat etc) and/or money (in special envelopes) to be used for the poor. This food and money goes to support our ministry among the poor of our area. During Lockdown this as greatly expanded and very many people inn Bristol are supporting us, in addition to our parishioners. We also founded and developed our Borderlands Charity (‘from exclusion to belonging’) to serve our asylum & refugee community that has remained serving throughout the periods of Lockdown. In normal times, the Offertory Procession at Mass regularly sees gifts to be shared with the poor and vulnerable, carried to the Altar (restoring the ancient meaning of the Offertory Procession). So the Covenant with the Poor that we renew solemnly at each Patronal Feast of St Nicholas of Tolentino (early September) has continued to grow and develop and as such has shaped the life, mission and witness of our parish community. The development of the ministry of the Parish Office has enabled us to develop our ‘Option for the Poor’ in obedience to the Gospel Let us praise God for such rich grace and love poured out upon our community, and though our community to many in their need.

LOVE THE CHRIST OF THE POOR – WORDS OF ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM   “Would you honour the Body of Christ? Do not despise His nakedness; do not honour him here in church clothed in silk vestments and then pass him by unclothed and frozen outside. Remember that He who said ‘This is my Body’ also said ‘You saw he hungry and gave me no food’. I am insisting that nothing can take the place of care for the poor. What use is it to adorn the altar with gold cloths and deny Christ a coat for his back? He would be outraged!”