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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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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Synodal Invitation – Telling our Story; being the Church today
Additional Synodal online information sessions - Telling our Story: an opportunity to hear and find out more about the next stage of implementing the final document which came from the Synod in Rome. During these short online sessions, we will share with you what is being asked of our parishes over the coming months in the run up to a Diocesan Assembly in June 2027.
Please do come with all your questions and help us to shape the way forward. Sign up for one of the sessions and encourage your fellow parishioners to join us. We are offering an additional three online Teams information sessions which may also help you to decide if you wish to be involved. You only need to attend one.
These will take place on:
When you register for one of these you will receive the Teams link to the meeting within your Eventbrite ticket.
Please feel free to invite anyone, especially new parishioners, people newly received into the Church and young people. If you have any questions about any of this, please do contact the Synodal team by emailing synod@cliftondiocese.com
We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to this exciting new stage of the journey.
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Encounter 2027
The Encounter group will be meeting in the Apostle Room on Saturday 10th October from 10.30 – to 1pm. This is a group of people from across the Diocese seeking to deepen our relationship with God through prayer and praise, testimony and teaching.
All welcome.
For more information, contact Ann Tarr on 07815 751 556 or
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Saint Francis Celebrations in Nailsea
This year of 2026 marks 800 years since the death of Saint Francis, and it is a milestone that is being celebrated throughout the whole church.
Nailsea was originally a Mass centre run the Friars in Clevedon. It was taken over by the diocese in 1982, and a new church and school were built. It is the only parish in the diocese dedicated to Saint Francis. Nailsea and Portishead are now sister parishes and are proud of their Franciscan heritage.
Our week of celebrations began with a school Mass in Nailsea. Some of the children from both Nailsea and Portishead made altar frontals for both churches depicting the canticle of creation. A Portishead parishioner has produced some excellent pictures depicting the life of Saint Francis and these are now on the church walls of Saint Francis’ church.
On Friday 2nd October we welcomed Eddie Gilmore to give a talk on Saint Francis and the meaning of Pilgrimage. On Saturday a group made a pilgrimage walk from both Clevedon and the cathedral to Nailsea. On Sunday we celebrated Masses in honour of Saint Francis and shared a cake after the 11.00am Mass.
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Flower Festival and Blessing of the Animals
As part of the Season of Creation celebrations, and to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, St Bonaventure’s Parish in Bishopston, Bristol, held a Flower Festival and Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 3 October.
Parishioners brought along their pets to be blessed by the Parish Priest, Canon Tom Finnegan. St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology, making the blessing a fitting way to celebrate his love and care for all of God’s creation.
A flower festival was held in the church, with beautiful arrangements created by a number of parish groups and displayed throughout the building. Each group interpreted the theme in its own way, resulting in a colourful and varied display.
Children were invited to take part in their own competition, creating creatures using fruit, vegetables and natural objects. There were some wonderfully imaginative creations, adding a fun and colourful element to the celebrations.
The day brought together parishioners of all ages to celebrate our faith, community and the wonderful diversity of God’s creation.
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Celebrations at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Yeovil
Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Yeovil marked a momentous triple celebration on 30th September, bringing together the parishioners and the clergy to honour the 80th birthday of Fr Jose MSFS, the 54th ordination anniversary of Fr Terry McGrath MSFS, and the annual Founder's Day of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS).
Following the Holy Mass, the congregation moved to continue the festivities with a communal gathering at parish hall. Parishioners and clergy partook in a ceremonial cake-cutting to honour both Fr Jose and Fr Terry. The celebration concluded with a vibrant bring-and-share meal featuring culinary contributions prepared by the diverse cultural communities that make up the parish, highlighting the unity, warmth, and fellowship shared within the Yeovil Parish community.
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Magnifica Humanitas
The first encyclical letter of Pope Leo has been received with great interest and excitement from around the world. Pope Leo has, from the beginning of his Papacy, focused on AI as a central issue and sees it as a new phase of the industrial revolution. His great desire is that we should not be fearful of engaging with the conversation, whoever we are, because we are all embodied beings who desire real human relationships.
A day exploring Magnifica Humanitas on 24 October at St Brendan's College, Brislington, offers all the opportunity to go deeper into the encyclical. We are delighted to say that we will have with us Bishop Bosco, Dr Austen Ivereigh and Professor Carmody Grey (tbc) who together, will unpack for us the encyclical from their perspective and lead us into conversation.
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‘From seed to plant’ – the Theological Life Journey with Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau OP
‘From seed to plant’ - the Theological Life Journey with Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau OP. A day for all catechists and those interested in becoming catechists. Bishop Bosco will celebrate Mass for us and commission the successful students who have completed the two-year ‘Light of Truth’ formation in Catechesis course.
The day will take place on Saturday 17 October and our venue will be St John the Evangelist, Bath. The Church is close to Bath railway station but if coming by car please use the park & ride as parking at the Church is limited. We will have refreshments from 9.30am, for a 10am start. We will finish around 4pm. Please bring a packed lunch.
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Vocation Retreat Day: Explore, Learn, Reflect
What is God calling you to? Whether discerning your own path or simply curious about how others live out their faith, this day retreat is a chance to pause, explore, learn and reflect together as a community. Open to both men and women, the day brings together speakers from across different vocations, including married life, religious life and the diaconate, each sharing their story of how they found their calling. The day includes Mass and time for confession, with lunch and refreshments included in the ticket price.
Saturday 10th October, 10am to 5.00pm, at St Mary on the Quay, Bristol.
Tickets from £10, available via Eventbrite/Zeffy. For enquiries, please contact
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