Many people saw Jesus die. We venerated an image of his cross on Good Friday. Crosses and crucifixes are the central symbols of Christianity. No-one saw him rise again, and only the eyes of faith can sustain us in our belief that he overcame death. Extraordinarily, in the Gospel today, the voice of Jesus is not heard – as at Christmas, the second greatest feast of the year. Women are the first to hear the news of the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene is mentioned by three evangelists as one of the first to see the empty tomb, but does not know what it means: she only thinks Jesus has been taken away, (in Luke, read at the Easter Vigil, Mary is one of several women who are told by the angels that Jesus is risen; and in the next verses of John, she is the first to see the Lord.) Peter doesn’t understand either; it is only the beloved disciple who realises what ‘rising from the dead’ means, and presumably tells the others. Nevertheless, Peter is seen in the first reading preaching as a witness to the risen Christ – he ‘ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.’ If we feel rather bereft – they have taken the Lord away – we can learn from the reactions of the people who were there, and follow their journey to faith, through amazement and fear to joy. We too have eaten and drunk with Jesus. We do it at every Mass.
CELEBRATING THE JUBILEE YEAR 2025
Following two years of preparation, which have focused on Vatican II and Prayer we are now invited to embark on a Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope. This Jubilee Year reminds us of the ‘jubilee’ of Israel when the land was rested, and debts were to be cancelled, and God called people to be reconciled with one another and importantly with God’s self. We, too, are called to be reconciled with one another, to proclaim God’s abundant mercy and the Good News of Jesus Christ. Bishop Bosco will formally open the Jubilee Year in the diocese at the 11.15am Mass at Clifton Cathedral on 29th December. The Cathedral will be open every day for Pilgrims to come and experience the ‘Pilgrims’ Way, within the Cathedral itself. This prayerful journey around the Cathedral will invite us to pray for hope in our lives and in our world. On 5th April, ‘Embracing the Mercy of God’ will be an opportunity for the diocese to come together to celebrate the great Sacrament of Hope which we have been given in the form of Reconciliation. Our diocesan day on 19th July will be a further opportunity for us to gather as a community to consider how we take this message of Hope to the world with activities for children and young people, we hope that many people will make the pilgrimage to Bristol for this joyful gathering.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2025
Application forms are now available for the First Holy Communion Programme for 2025. Sessions will take place at St John’s Parish Centre on Thursday evenings from mid-January onwards. The programme is open to anyone in Year 3 or above. Please return completed application forms to Fr Richard by Christmas. More details of the programme will be provided soon.
First Holy Communion Application Form First Holy Communion Application Form PDF
46 Day Marian Consecration
We would like to invite you to join our Mary’s Mantle prayer community. Starting on 28th October we will individually pray a daily rosary until 12th December when we will consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please see the parish website for further details. We will be united in our shared intentions and through our WhatsApp group.
October : Month of The Holy Rosary
On Sunday 6th October you are invited to join the Children’s Rosary group in St John’s Church from 9.45am-10.15am where the children will lead us in praying the rosary. If you would like to join us in the Parish Centre for the rest of October you would be so welcome. Everyone is welcome to join us on Mondays and/or Wednesdays to pray the Healing Rosary for Families at 9am.
Flower Arrangers – St John’s
Would you be able to help out with the flower arranging at St John’s? More volunteers are needed, either to go on to the flower arranging rota or just to help with watering during the week. If anyone is interested, please contact Joan Boorer on 07815 753542.
Confirmation
Bishop Bosco will be coming to Saint John’s to celebrate this year’s Confirmation Mass on Tuesday 19th November. Application forms are now available, and a programme of preparation will begin in September. Copies of the form are available in all of the churches and have been sent out with the newsletter. Anyone who will be in Year 9 (current
Year 8) or above can apply for the programme. Please return completed application forms to the presbytery,
or email to richard.elson@cliftondiocese.com
The form is also available to download Confirmation Application Form 2024
APPEAL FOR CATECHISTS
I will need some help from catechists with running this year’s Confirmation programme, and with next year’s First Holy Communion programme. Many thanks for those who have already replied; if anyone else feels that they may be able to help out, please let me know.
Fr Richard.
Calling Musicians
If you can play a musical instrument and would like to be part of the Music group within the Parish, then PLEASE make yourself known. Come along and say Hello after the 10.30 Sunday Mass at St. John’s.
Music worship within the Parish has always been a central part of the services, we do not ask for lots of commitment just that you would like to thank and Praise God though the talents that you have and come along and join in and play when you are available. You may be new to the parish and have musical ideas to share which would be very welcome. We look forward to meeting you whoever you are.
Trowbridge Food Bank
As always, a massive thankyou to all who have contributed to the Trowbridge Foodbank Collection each month. Many people rely on your generosity. Collections are on the last weekend of the month. Please leave you donated goods in the Church Porch at St. John’s and St. Bernadette’s.
300 Club
If you wish to join the 300 Club, please ask Fr. Richard or Mike Heather for an application form. They are also available on this website.
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