Links to pages on our website:
Safeguarding is an essential part in the life and ministry of the Church. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure our parishes and institutions are safe places, especially for those who are vulnerable. Abuse and harm have no place in our diocese. There is zero tolerance to abuse, harm and any behaviour that falls short of appropriate safeguarding practices as expressed in National Policies.
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Marriage Week
Marriage Week is an annual celebration offering the opportunity to support and promote marriage and family life. It is celebrated from 7 - 14 February.
As we begin Marriage Week, we invite you to pray this novena each day for the vocation of marriage.
Marriage is the key foundation for a happy, healthy society, says Bishop Bosco
 In a message for the week, Bishop, the Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, said we should all be working towards a society that values marriage.
“We can offer our contribution towards a culture that respects and values marriage, knowing that it’s the foundation for a happy and healthy society,” he said. “National Marriage Week is a time for all of us to think about this special sacrament and how it can change lives. It’s a chance for married couples to strengthen their bond by being kind to each other, talking openly, and sharing experiences.
Full report:
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St Bakhita Day
 On 8 February, feast of St Bakhita, Catholics are encouraged to pray for all those affected by the crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking, and the people that work to eradicate this crime.
With over 136,000 people in Britain and an estimated 50 million worldwide trapped in modern slavery, the crime of human trafficking has become one of the most pervasive of our time.
Tackling this crisis requires a united effort from all sectors of society, including law enforcement, civil organisations, and faith communities.
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Blessing of SEN Unit at St Joseph’s Catholic College, Swindon
 Bishop Bosco MacDonald visited St Joseph’s Catholic College in Swindon this week to bless the St Aquinas Centre. The Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh, also attended the ceremony, together with other invited guests.
The St Aquinas Centre is the SEN Unit within St Joseph’s, providing sixty places for students with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) based on their particular needs. September 2024 marked the start of the first year that the Centre was full, with twelve students in each year group. During his visit, the Bishop explained to students that Saint Aquinas, the patron saint of scholars, had overcome a number of challenges in his early life and education,
finally becoming a renowned philosopher and theologian. As well as performing the main liturgy of the Blessing, the Bishop also blessed each classroom, talking to each year group in turn as he did so.
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The National Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope
 A walking pilgrimage for England & Wales for the 2025 Jubilee with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas in Nottingham.
The National Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope
Compassion, Faith, Prayer & Community
The Pilgrimage of Hope is a national walking pilgrimage with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, for shared prayer and celebration.
The Pilgrimage will culminate with Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 am on 14th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral. The Pilgrimage will embody the values of the Sisters of the Holy Cross of compassion, faith, prayer and community.
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Racial Justice Sunday - 16 February 2025
 Racial Justice Sunday is the day the Church focuses on the need to oppose racism and pursue racial justice with renewed vigour.
The theme for Racial Justice Sunday is: “Pilgrims of Hope: Our Journey Together Towards Racial Justice”.
The theme invites Catholics across England and Wales to reflect on the collective journey towards racial justice in our schools, parishes and wider society.
Bishop Paul McAleenan said: “2025 is a very special year. It marks both a Year of Jubilee and the 30th anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday.
“This year, we invite the Catholic community to reflect on the journey towards racial justice – past, present and future – by asking: ‘How far have we come, where are we now and what remains to be achieved?’
“Just as pilgrims must prepare for their journey and be properly equipped, we, too, need all that is necessary to propel us towards racial justice – the mind of Christ; examination of our progress and of the challenges that remain; a willingness to learn from one another together; and prayers for and on the journey.
“It is my hope that our Racial Justice Sunday 2025 resources will not only assist but inspire the People of God to continue walking and praying together on the path to racial justice.”
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Lenten Retreat – Sacrament of Reconciliation / Sacrament of Hope
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering a Lenten retreat in six online sessions, to reflect together on the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the Sacrament of Hope, to mark the 2025 Jubilee ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. The six Lenten sessions begin at 7.30pm on a Thursday evening:
6 March, 13 March, 20 March, 27 March, 3 April & 10 April.
To sign up for the series, click on the Zoom link here.
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Rite of Election
This year’s Rite of Election takes place in our Cathedral at 11am on Saturday 8 March. On this first Saturday of Lent, as at the start of every Lent, our diocesan family will gather at the cathedral together with our bishop to celebrate the Rite of Election, where those who are journeying towards becoming part of our Catholic community are presented to Bishop Bosco.
For many of those who attend it will be their first experience of a liturgy in the Cathedral. Here family and friends, sponsors and godparents, will join with those preparing for Baptism (catechumens) and those preparing to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church (candidates) as they come to this stage of their journey towards reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
The catechumens and candidates will be supported by their own communities and the wider diocesan family for this celebration of their faith and their commitment to live out the gospel which they are now embracing, forming a loving friendship with God whom they are called to know and make known. The witness that these candidates and catechumens give in taking this brave step is always an inspiration to those who come to pray for them and to support them in their journey. It is also a reminder of our own call to continual conversion of our hearts and our lives.
Please do join our diocesan family as we welcome to our Cathedral both catechumens and candidates. All are most welcome to attend!
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The Happy Life of Virtue
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering 5 more sessions to discover the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, keys to a holy and happy life, in communion with God and in imitation of Our Blessed Mother Mary.
We continue on 10 January with our second session ‘Hope’. This and the following sessions will take place every second Friday of the Month, at 7.30 pm.
14 February – 3: Charity
14 March – 4: Prudence
11 April – 5: Justice
9 May – 6: Fortitude
13 June – 7: Temperance
This course is designed for the Catholic Women’s Association and is open to everyone.
To sign up for the series, please click on the Zoom link here.
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Reconciliation Liturgies
Bishop Bosco invites you to join him during this season of Lent to celebrate the abundant mercy of God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Join him at one of the five venues across our diocese as part of your Lenten Pilgrimage.
Thursday 13 March: Immaculate Conception, Stroud
Thursday 20 March: St Peter, Swindon
Thursday 27 March: St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham
Thursday 3 April: St George, Taunton
Thursday 10 April: St Francis, Nailsea
Each Liturgy will start at 7pm
Building upon the beautiful gatherings during Lent he is, once again, inviting our diocesan community to gather with him in celebration of God’s merciful love as part of our Lenten journey.
There will be priests available at each venue to celebrate sacramental reconciliation. You will be most welcome at any of the venues.
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Embracing the Loving Mercy of God
Embracing the Loving Mercy of God: on 5th April we have a Lent Retreat day to reflect upon and experience Reconciliation as the Sacrament of Hope.
Speakers:
Fr. Brendan Callaghan SJ former Novice Master of the United Noviceship of the British, Irish, Flemish and Dutch Jesuit Provinces and former Master of Campion Hall. When responding to the invitation to speak Fr. Brendan wrote ‘It is a sacrament which I find intensely consoling to celebrate’. He is particularly delighted to return to Bristol where he celebrated the Sacrament for the first time at St. Mary on the Quay.
Margaret and Barry Mizzen whose son Jimmy was brutally murdered the day after his 16th birthday. Margaret and Barry have refused to give into hate and have worked tirelessly since Jimmy’s death to promote peace and reconciliation, particularly among young people.
The day will provide the opportunity for conversation and reflection on the two presentations. The day will finish with a Service of Reconciliation and the opportunity for individual confession with Bishop Bosco and priests from around the Diocese.
Venue: St. Bernadette’s Catholic School, Whitchurch, Bristol.
Refreshments from 9.30am, welcome and opening prayer will be at 10am. Please bring a packed lunch. Our day will end by 3.30pm.
To register for the day, please click on the Eventbrite link:
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National Conference: Re-imagining Baptism
For a number of months, a group comprising parish catechists, diocesan employees (for catechesis, evangelisation, and marriage and family life), religious sisters, and clergy have continued a conversation about baptism catechesis and how baptism is understood in the life of the Church today. This group, called the Baptism Collaborative, believes that the time is right for a wider exploration of these themes and would appreciate your support in gathering interested parties to a national conference next May. Your encouragement, to your clergy and catechists, will help us all make the most of this precious opportunity. Of course, we would be delighted if you, personally, would be able to attend.
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