CONFESSIONS: After all Saturday Masses & anytime at call.
ROSARY: Daily before Mass at 8.45am.
ART GROUP: Meets every Tuesday at 10.30am in the Parish Centre.
1st HOLY COMMUNION PREP: Meets every Tuesday at 6.30pm in the Parish Centre.
WELCOME CLUB: Meets every Wednesday at 1.00pm in the Parish Centre
'LIFE IN THE SPIRIT' Meets every Thursday at 7.30pm in St Perter's Church, Gloucester.
Annual Appeal today for Clifton Children's Society (awarded Ofsted Outstanding in 2010). Please be as generous as you can in supporting their valuable work finding adoptive homes for the 4,000 vulnerable children in the UK care system. CCS prides itself on the lifelong support offered to all their families so if you or anyone you know is considering adoption, please contact CCS for an informal discussion and free information pack on 08451 22 00 77. Gift aid envelopes are available.
WEDNESDAY is ASH WEDNESDAY and sees the beginning of the penitential Season of Lent. It is ALSO a day of fasting and abstinence from ALL meat products. Mass will be at 9.15am and there will be the traditional blessing and distribution of ashes.
Jesus said more things than the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. On Ash Wednesday when we gather to have ashes placed on our foreheads we hear some other important lines from that sermon. Jesus put before us three practices which were precious in the history of the Old Testament, have been hallowed by Christian tradition ever since, and should occupy us especially during Lent: Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting.
Almsgiving: support for those in need was seen as essential to righteousness in the Old Testament, and Jesus makes it a condition for salvation. But don't trumpet your generosity abroad, he warns. Your Father in heaven knows the generosity of your heart. Take a look at yourself.
Prayer: the praise of God, pleading for our needs, repenting of our sins, all these find their place in the story of the Jewish people. Jesus also, by word and example, urges us to pray in sincerity and truth. Pray in secret, says Jesus, and your Father who sees everything will reward you.
Fasting: this discipline of the body has a distinguished history. Jesus himself fasted before his public ministry and he expected his disciples to fast also. But they were not to make a fuss about it. Don't show off, he says. Look cheerful and properly groomed. Your heavenly Father knows you are fasting and that is enough.
Why not make a special effort this Lent and combine fasting with almsgiving. Consume less and give what you save to CAFOD. Complete the good work with prayer for those in need.
DURING THE HOLY SEASON of Lent we will follow The Way of the Cross every Sunday afternoon at 3.00pm.
FREDERICK ‘FRED’ MARGETTS RIP—we remember Fred in our prayers, his wife Evelyn, and immediate members of his family. Fred’s Funeral Service will take place next Monday at 10.15am.
ST PATRICK’S NIGHT QUIZ. Starting after Mass on Saturday, 17th March {approx 7.30pm} in the Parish Centre. EVERYONE is invited—why not bring a friend! Come and enjoy a couple hours of fun! Please bring a bottle (OR 2) and a plate of food or nibbles to share!
THE FOOD BANK - Monday 27th Feb. at 7.30pm in St George's Church Hall, Court Rd (next to the library) Annaliese Sterry, Manager of the Food Bank in Gloucester is coming to talk/answer questions about the project, to which so many of you contribute - do come along.
WOMEN'S WORLD DAY of PRAYER - takes place on Friday 2nd March in the United Reformed Church, in Moorfield Rd., Brockworth at 10am. The service has been prepared by the women of Malaysia on the them of 'Let Justice Prevail'. All are welcome to this Service!
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR PARISH PILGRIMAGE :We have a few places left on our Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham . This will be Led by Fr Kevin Hennessey on Tuesday 5 th – Thursday 7 th June 2012. Costs will be £149 based on 30 – 39£149 and £99 for children under 14. This will include return travel fromChurchdown to Walsingham, 2 nights’ accommodation, breakfast and evening meal, all touring and transfers by air-conditioned coach, excursion included and all backed by AITO Trust 100% financial protection. Interested? For more information and a copy of the full itinerary please contact—Margaret & Adrian West-Sadler on Glos 857388.
Flame Congress 2012. On Saturday 24th March the CYMFed Flame congress is taking place in Wembley Arena. This will be the largest gathering of Catholic young people since the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. For your chance to be involved ask your Deacon for a letter and booking form, or download them from cliftondiocese.com/cymfed-flame This event is open to school age year 9+ and the total cost of the day is £30 including travel to and from different points in the diocese. Tickets are going quickly, so act fast and secure your place at THE event for Catholic young people in 2012.