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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Bishop Bosco: Place the gift of human life at the heart of the Church’s mission
Bishop Bosco MacDonald, the Bishop Conference’s Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, has offered a reflection on the recent document from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Life is Always a Good.
In it, he says that the Church’s defence of life needs to move beyond being “reactive” and towards a “culture of co-responsibility, where every baptised person is called to participate in the protection and promotion of human life”.
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Celebration of Marriage and Family Life Mass
Bishop Bosco is looking forward to celebrating Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday 17 May (12 noon) and is inviting all families to join him to acknowledge the joys and challenges of family life. In addition, we will celebrate those couples with significant anniversaries this year.
If you are, or know of a couple, celebrating a special anniversary during 2025 please do let us know.
You just need to send the names to our email address:
with an address so that a personal invitation can be sent out from the bishop, including the number of years celebrating.
It is always a wonderful Mass at the Cathedral, and it is always good to see so many of you there.
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Chrism Oils support Palestinian Farmers
 At the Chrism Mass in Clifton Cathedral on Wednesday 16th April, oils will be presented by representatives from our Diocesan Community. Bishop Bosco will consecrate the Holy Chrism oil and bless the Oil of Catechumens and Oil of the Sick. After Mass the Oils will then be distributed to Parishes within the Diocese.
In recent years, the Diocese has used naturally organic and ethically sourced olive oil from the very lands where Our Lord walked and preached. It is supplied by Zaytoun, the world’s first olive oil to be awarded Fairtrade certification in 2009.
Zaytoun is a social enterprise which supports small-scale Palestinian farmers in the Occupied West Bank. The farmers cultivate their lands and continue farming practices undertaken by Palestinian families for thousands of years.
A Pilgrimage group from the Diocese visited some olive farmers in the Cremison Valley, Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, witnessing at first hand the increasing difficulties they faced due to the separation wall dividing their land. May they look forward to a future when they can farm their lands in peace.
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Catechists’ Formation Course
We are running a new six-week formation course at St John the Evangelist, Bath, for new catechists and anyone who is interested in learning more about their faith & passing it onto others.
The sessions will take place on Thursday evenings (7 – 9pm), starting on 1 May. We will have refreshments from 6.30pm. Our series dates are 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May & 5 June.
This series is limited to 20 spaces, so please book early!
For more information, please email us at:
To register for this series, please click on the Eventbrite link:
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Public Speaking Contest for Catholic Schools 2025
Students from senior schools across the Diocese, together with teachers, family and friends, assembled at the Newman Hall in Bristol on Sunday afternoon 23rd March for this year’s event. The judging panel was chaired by Nick Tarr, a member of Bristol Catenian Circle. The other members of the panel were Clare Fraser, retired Headteacher, and Deacon James Patrick, Crown Court Judge. They are pictured here before the start of the contest.
Each of the nine speakers was introduced and allowed just four minutes to speak on their chosen subject. Judges and audience were entertained to speeches on the following topics:
- Honesty is said to be the best policy, but is this true for politicians?
- Is it more effective to try to reduce climate change or to adapt to it?
- Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
- Fake News: are you serious?
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Jubilee Celebration of Hope
We would like to invite you to our big Diocesan celebration on Saturday 19 July, where we will be gathering with Bishop Bosco for our Diocesan Jubilee Day of Hope.
Our venue will be Downside School & Abbey. We will have three keynote speakers for our adult programme (Jane Livesey CJ, Eddie Gilmore, Simon Uttley), as well as a children’s & young people’s programme throughout the day.
Children and Teen-Age Jubilee Programme - A full programme of activities will be run by experienced group leaders for our children and young people ranging in age from 3-16. We are delighted to announce that Rise Theatre Company will be offering the workshops for our 12-16 age group. Rise Theatre Company is a well-established Catholic Theatre Company who work extensively with schools and parishes to offer meaningful programmes, performances, and retreats.
Programme for the Day - Arrivals and Refreshments from 10am. Our programme of Prayer and talks will commence at 10.30am.
Refreshments - In addition to coffee and tea breaks, * a free hot two course lunch will be provided - this will be by ticket only (a lunch box is provided for children/young people). There will be a maximum of 300 tickets for this including children. * We have now reached the maximum number for the hot meals, if you register after 27 March, a picnic lunch will be provided on the day.
Mass - Our Jubilee Celebration of Mass will take place in the Abbey Church at 3pm. Principal Celebrant Bishop Bosco MacDonald and the Abbot of Downside Dom Nicholas Wetz OSB.
Booking - If you would like to join us for the day, booking through Eventbrite is essential.
For the purpose of catering to the right numbers, a printed or mobile ticket from Eventbrite is required for the day. The closing date for tickets is 7 July.
All are most welcome; we look forward to seeing you!
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Essential Training for Catechists
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering online Essential Training for Catechists.
This will include six sessions for the formation of catechists, beginning at 7.30pm on a Thursday evening. The dates and sessions are:
1 May – What is catechesis? An introduction to the ministry of catechesis
8 May – Proclaiming the Good News: Jesus Christ at the heart of catechesis
15 May – The Faith of the Church: discovering the sources of our faith
22 May – The Word of God: opening the treasure of Scriptures
29 May – Methods and Resources: a joyful work of charity
5 June – Preparing a Catechetical Session
This training is for seasoned or new catechists working with children, young people or adults, for everyone involved in Children’s liturgy of the Word, and for anyone interested in passing on the faith.
To sign up for the series, please click on the Zoom link here.
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Diocesan Schools Singing Programme / Junior Choir Director
Part-time – 21 hours per week (Term Time – 39 weeks)
Two-year Fixed Term Contract
This new role covers two linked aspects:
1. The Diocesan Director of the National Schools Singing Programme (NSSP) for Clifton Diocese.
2. The Cathedral Junior Choir Director at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol.
The NSSP scheme is a national scheme that seeks to encourage singing in schools in the UK. The scheme supports both Anglican cathedrals and Catholic state schools.
The successful applicant would be expected to initiate the NSSP in schools within the Diocese and be committed to both schools and choral music. Importantly, a willingness to travel to schools across our large diocese would be crucial. The aim is to introduce pupils in schools to formal sung church music, especially so that schools can join Diocesan events, at the Cathedral for example, and contribute to the singing of the Mass and other liturgies.
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RE Adviser – Schools & Colleges Department
The department are seeking to expand the team by appointing a part time, term-time colleague, to support the RE Led in securing high-quality Catholic education across the Diocese that ensures and supports the preservation of Catholic Schools. Experience in secondary and/or post 16 schools would be an advantage.
The successful candidate will have recent and relevant experience of teaching and/or advising in RE in Catholic schools, with a willingness to contribute to both Primary and Secondary/post-16 work of the Diocesan team.
The applicant will be knowledgeable about the new Religious Education Directory, the Prayer & Liturgy Directory, and experience as a CSI inspector would be an advantage. You should be confident in designing and delivering training, as well as conducting accurate reviews of schools.
The role will be 2 days per week, 39 weeks per year, based at Alexander House, Bristol, but will require extensive travel around the Diocese, as well as some evening work.
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Mary Cox, Director of Schools and Colleges or Louise White, RE Lead, on 0117 902 5590.
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Certificate in Catechesis – Open Evening online
Certificate in Catechesis – Open Evening online – 30 Apr 2025, 7.30pm-8.30pm.
Discover the Light of Truth Two Year Certificate in Catechesis – Presentation, Testimonials, and Discussion. Join the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph to discover the 2-year Certificate in Catechesis they offer through their Apostolate, ‘Light of Truth.’ Ask your questions, listen to testimonials, and find out all the details of the course.
To sign up for the online session, please click on the Zoom link here.
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The Stations of the Cross:
Bishop Bosco has shared with us all some reflections and prayers for Stations of the Cross, drawing on traditional themes while incorporating modern day reflections.
"The Stations of the Cross, a deeply meaningful Catholic tradition, have been reimagined many times to connect with modern struggles and spiritual reflections. Here are some short reflections for 2025, drawing on traditional themes while incorporating present-day challenges and insights.
These reflections invite us to see Christ’s Passion not just as a historical event, but as a living journey that mirrors our struggles today. By walking this path prayerfully, we connect our sufferings with Christ’s, finding meaning and hope in his Resurrection.
The prayers I have chosen reflect timeless wisdom from early Church Fathers while connecting with each station’s theme of suffering and redemption through Christ’s Passion."
+ Bosco MacDonald
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Jubilee visits to the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury
You are warmly invited to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury during the Jubilee of Hope in 2025. This Shrine is one of two designated pilgrimage churches in the Clifton Diocese for the Jubilee Year.
The Jubilee Icon will be touring the country throughout the Jubilee Year and will be at the Shrine from 7th to 9th May. Additionally, the Jubilee Year offers a plenary indulgence for those who make a pilgrimage to this Jubilee church.
As you explore this beautiful Shrine, we hope you find peace and tranquillity, leaving you with a renewed sense of hope.
Both individuals and groups are welcome to visit the Shrine. To arrange your visit, please either call the Parish Office on 01458 835931 (weekdays from 9.00am to 1.00pm) or use the enquiry form on the Shrine’s webpage:
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The Jubilee Icon in Clifton diocese and Webinar
In order to celebrate and commemorate the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, an icon was commissioned from artist Mulugeta Araya in Ethiopia, for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Ethiopia was chosen because of the strong tradition of iconography within the country and to demonstrate that this is a global Jubilee.
The Icon is touring our dioceses in England and Wales and will be in Clifton between 28th April-9th May, following the below schedule:
28th-30th April: St John the Evangelist, Bath
1st -2nd May: St Nicholas of Tolentino, Bristol
3rd May: Encounter 2025 event
4th-6th May: Holy Rood, Swindon
7th-9th May: Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury
Prior to the Icon's arrival, we would like to invite you to our webinar to explore the meaning and symbolism of this unique sacred artwork.
 The Jubilee icon was blessed by Cardinal Vincent Nichols at Adoremus on Saturday 14 September 2024
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Encounter 2025
Encounter 2025 is a diocesan wide programme to equip and empower people to share their faith and be renewed in heart and mind. The first step is to deepen our understanding of the Holy Spirit and cultivate a closer, more intimate relationship with God - this is at the heart of what we hope to achieve between Easter and Pentecost.
The programme will officially begin on Saturday, 3rd May, with a launch event at the Cathedral, open to all ages.
We are delighted to offer children’s streams, ensuring families can fully participate in this exciting journey together.
Weekly sessions will follow on Wednesday evenings, live-streamed from the Cathedral, enabling everyone across the Diocese to join in, wherever they are.
These will be recorded and available to view at a later date.
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2025 Lourdes Pilgrimage - Bookings open now!
The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Friday 22nd August to Friday 29th August 2025.
As usual, we shall be part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage. Tagney tours will be taking bookings for hotels and flights. Details are yet to be finalised, but we shall be travelling from Birmingham airport direct to Tarbes-Lourdes airport.
Bookings are now open via the Tangney Tours website here:
Clifton Pilgrims are requested to book either the Astrid or the Irelande hotels.
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The Happy Life of Virtue
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering 3 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 14 March with our session ‘Prudence’. This and the following sessions will take place every second Friday of the Month, at 7.30 pm.
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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