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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Reflection of Catechists Day
On Saturday 17th October, we gathered in St John the Evangelist Parish Hall Bath, for a diocesan day of formation with the theme ‘From Seed to Plant’—a day for catechists from across the diocese, but also to mark the commissioning of those who had completed the two-year Light of Truth course with the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph.
The formation was centred around the Parable of the Sower, hence the title ‘From Seed to Plant’: catechesis is like a seed that is planted; the seed is the Word of God, and the planter is God. We are both seed and planter at different stages of our lives, but also the different soils depicted in the parable.
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Telling our Story
A Conference to explore how our parishes can flourish in Communion for Mission and the challenges we face. Our keynote speaker will be Fr Jerome Ajakaiye, who will offer his thoughts and encouragement as a Parish Priest.
Location: St John the Baptist, Trowbridge
Date: Saturday 14 November, 10am - 3pm
As we Parishes we are being invited to participate in a reflection on the good things that we are doing in our Parishes which demonstrate how we are working and flourishing together as Parishes in Communion for Mission. Through this we nurture a culture of synodality. However, we recognise that not everyone may see what they are doing as synodal.
Please do come and take this opportunity to learn how to recognise synodality in your own Parish and how to encourage your Parish to share with each other the shoots of hope that are present.
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Addressing the challenge of Artificial Intelligence
 Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, dealing with the challenges facing humanity in an era of Artificial Intelligence, has stimulated debate around the world. So it was appropriate that the Diocese organised a study day on the document on Saturday 24 October at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College in Bristol.
Participants from across the diocese braved the wind and rain of Storm Austen to hear expert speakers look at the content and implications of this document.
Bishop Bosco examined the impact that technology is already having on our lives, but also brought out distinctive features of being human. He stressed the infinite dignity of every human being, the ability to love and to care for others, our ability to make moral decisions and the fundamental fact that we are physical beings in a real world.
Dr Austen Ivereigh looked at the developments in Catholic thought that had led to the encyclical, as well as engagement between the Church and the AI industry. He also noted that both Pope Leo and Pope Francis referred to our time as a change of era, a point at which our world changes dramatically.
Dr Daniele Palmer, who grew up in the diocese, looked at the way in which Catholic Social Teaching underpins the encyclical. Both he and Dr Ivereigh stressed the need for us to work to create a world where technology serves the good of humanity and of the natural world, rather than one where technology dominates us.
All three presentations can be viewed below:
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The Clifton Franciscan Walking Pilgrimage
The Clifton Franciscan Walking Pilgrimage was held on Saturday 3rd October 2026, the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. One leg walked from Clevedon to the Church of St Francis in Nailsea, and the other leg from Clifton Cathedral to Nailsea. Later the pilgrims joined the parish Mass for the Vigil of the St Francis' feast day. Mary Cutts and Henry Kenyon share their memories of the day.
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I AM READY PORTAL
This website is for victims and survivors of non-recent child sexual abuse and exploitation.
IAmReady is here to help victims and survivors request a review of their case, where the Police or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to take ‘No Further Action’ (NFA).
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The Essential Mission of the Church: Proclaiming the Gospel
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering ‘The Essential Mission of the Church: Proclaiming the Gospel’. This is a session to explore the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel by looking at essential documents, such as Dei Verbum, Evangelii Nuntiandi and Christifideles Laici.
The session will take place on Friday 6 November 2026, 7pm-8pm. To sign up for the session, please click on the Zoom link here.
More information on other courses & sessions run by the Dominican Sisters can be found on the following link:
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Poppy display for Remembrance at St Mary's Catholic Church, Bath
After Remembrance Day last year, the St Mary's Open Church group took up the suggestion of making and creating a Poppy display for our church in 2026.
They opened the challenge to our parishioners, and many got involved such that knitted and crocheted poppies started coming in!
The initial ambition was to create 1,000. Three of the group went to Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School regularly and taught some of the children to knit and they helped with some of the displays.
The group now has nearly 3,400 poppies!
We plan to open our church on a number of days during November from 10.00am-12.00pm and 2.00pm -4.00pm so people can see the display (both inside and outside the church) whilst also remembering all those who have fought for our country during the wars and those who have lost their lives:
Wk 1: Mon 2nd, Wed 4th (am only) and Thurs 5th
Wk 2: Wed 11th, Sat 14th
Wk 3: Tues 17th, Fri 20th
Wk 4: Mon 23rd (am only)
In addition, the church will be open for our usual Masses - Sundays at 09:00, 10:30 and 17:00 plus 10:00 normally on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays but check the parish website https://www.stmarysbath.org.uk/
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Celebration Mass for Marriage & Family Life
Bishop Bosco is to celebrate Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday 6 February (12 noon) and is inviting all families to join him to acknowledge the joys & challenges of family life. In addition, we will celebrate those couples with significant anniversaries in 2027. You are all very welcome to join our diocesan family for this Mass.
If you are, or know of a couple, celebrating a special anniversary during 2027 please do let us know. You just need to send names to:
with an address so that a personal invitation can be sent out from the bishop. Please include the number of years celebrating. It is always a wonderful Mass at the Cathedral, we look forward to seeing you there.
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