The situation, as all will be aware, changes on virtually a daily basis. Sadly, in line with government directives, we are now unable to keep our church open as planned and Father Tony will now say Mass privately at his own residence for all parishioners and their intentions.

Please feel free to telephone Father directly or through the office 01684 293273 if you have any special requests or need his pastoral help.

Mass Intentions

All Masses for which intentions have been received will be celebrated on the dates as close to those originally agreed as possible.

Funerals

These will be arranged on an individual basis.

Anointing of the Sick

If you know you are going into hospital, please ensure that you are anointed before you go in, as visits to hospitals have been severely restricted. Email or text Fr Tony on 07485 190392

Parish Meetings

All parish meetings are suspended until further notice.

How to Participate in the Eucharist while no Public Masses are available

You can find streamed Masses via the internet on many sites including:

https://mass-online.org (masses timed throughout the day)

Alternatively www.thedailymass.com or visit our own diocesan website at www.cliftondiocese.com and follow the instructions/links

During Streamed Masses, or indeed during times of prayer, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament, you can make an act of Spiritual Communion whereby though not physically receiving Holy Communion you can nevertheless participate in the Eucharist.  The following prayer is ideal for this purpose:Prayer for use for Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul, so that may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.

 We are encourage to read the Gospels, pray with our families, or join your prayers to those of the Universal Church if you are in isolation. Please  continue your Lenten Discipline, especially as regards acts of charity and alms-giving at a time when so many people are in need.  Our priests will pray for you all when they offer Mass in private each day. Please remember all those afflicted in this pandemic, the Church and her leaders. This is not a happy time in the life of the Church, the country or the world, but if we are faithful in prayer and adhering to the word of God, good might yet come from this period of trial.

Bishop Declan expects to be conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday 3rd October this year at 11.00am.  The preparation programme will be open to all young people in school Years 9 and above.  If you wish to join the programme, which started earlier this year please contact Father David Mills at St Gregory’s Cheltenham to enquire whether you or your child could join the preparation classes at this late stage If you were not baptised at St Gregory’s or St Thomas More or Sacred Hearts, you will need to supply a copy of your baptismal certificate, which will be returned to you as soon as it has been processed.

If you shop on line your chosen charities can benefit

How TheGivingMachine Works

tgm-infopack

Click on the links above to learn about this scheme, promoted by the Diocese.

What’s the catch? There isn’t one. No fees, no hassle. All you need to do is click via TheGivingMachine every time you shop online. It’s as simple as that!

On the first Sunday in the month we recite the Rosary at 8.30am prior to our Mass at 9.00am.  We ask Our Lady to intercede for us with God.

The month of October is a great one to start this habit if you are not already in it!

Whenever you find the rosary being recited prior to Mass, please join in as soon as you arrive at church.

Dear Parishioner

Thank you all so much for your unbelievable generosity over the last number of years in response to our appeals for aid, made on behalf of Samara Levi.

The charity founded five years ago this month has, over time, dispatched in excess of 100 shipping containers full of medical equipment, countless dignity bags for ladies and girls, essential items for children and babies, bedding etc, and even a number of ambulances!

Alongside this, Samara has funded the re-establishment of badly damaged hospitals and had the brilliant idea of having a number of the empty containers coverted into frontline trauma centres.

We were expecting another appeal during last January however, following feedback from sources in Syria that the border was closing to foreign aid, the shipment was cancelled.

As a result, our refugee support group (TRSG) decided to divert the aid we had accumultated to a well known charity that were, due to having a greater historic connection with the Middle East, able to access the areas in most neeed.

We have sinc suspended large scale appeals, but have continued to receive small quantities of clothing, knitted items etc that have been delivered to a charity in Malvern that has continued to sort and supply these to where they are most needed.

As a matter of interest, Samara continues to work tirelessly in support for the needs of the millions of Syrians still desperately short of health care provision and so much more.

If you are interested in finding out more about the charity please go the website  www.samarasaidappeal.org

She has, in fact, just had published a book telling her own story on how she was so moved to start this work – You can find it on Amazon entitiled “Rebuilding the Ruins”

Smara’s focus now is to raise funds to build a new hospital, which is currently in the early stages of being designed.  However, this is a fairly long term project and will need funding.

In terms of future aid supplies, there is a suggestion that later this year there will be an appeal for children’s school items where we will be asked to provide school bags filled with all the small but necessary things for their education.

Finally, our situation isn’t ideal for us to commit  full time to this rewarding work.  If there is anyone feeling  able to help we would be so very grateful.

Best wishes

Richard and Bridget Sear

 

 

 

Samara’s Aid Appeal is a charity registered in England and Wales number 1171707. Registered address 28 Highview Way, Brighton, BN1 8WS, United Kingdom

CLIFTON DIOCESE. A Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 10462076. A registered charity number 1170168. Registered Office: St Ambrose North Road Leigh Woods Bristol BS8 3PW