Newsletters and Notices
Parish News
Follow this link to St Aldhelm's in the local BBC News
Barn Dance 19 April 24
Lenten Lunch 2024
We are thrilled to share that the Mass held on the 19th of November at 10 am at St Aldhelm's was a dual celebration, marking two significant and joyous occasions.
Firstly, we commemorated the 10th anniversary of Deacon Steve's diaconal ordination, which took place on the 16th of November ten years ago. During this special Mass, our collective prayers were offered for Deacon Steve, his wife Fi, and their children, expressing gratitude for the decade of dedicated service.
Secondly, we extended our prayers to Michael and Ann-Marie de Quidt. The couple celebrated their wedding in August at Cambridge Jesus' Chapel, and though we haven't had the opportunity to celebrate with them at St. Aldhelm's yet, we wanted to acknowledge and pray for them during this Mass. We extended our heartfelt congratulations to Michael and Ann-Marie.
Papal blessings obtained from the Vatican were presented to both Deacon Steve and Michael and Ann-Marie during the Mass. It was a beautiful and meaningful gathering, bringing together our parish community to share in the joys and blessings of these two special milestones. Deacon Terry and Deacon Paul joined us on this occasion. Fr Andrew McMahon (brother priest of Loretta) also joined us for the Mass. May the grace of these celebrations continue to inspire and uplift us all.
Rome Synod Synthesis Report and the next steps leading to October 2024
As you will no doubt be aware, the Synod in Rome concluded at the end of October. Attached is a copy of the synthesis that was agreed in the final session when it was read to all those participating in Rome. It took 3.5 hours and each paragraph had to be voted on. The vast majority received a 90-95% affirmation. The section which received the most no votes was the section on the role of women as deacons. 20% of the votes did not agree here. The whole synthesis makes for interesting reading and has 81 proposals and around 20 calls for theological, canonical, and pastoral commissions to clarify and propose solutions.
Once more we will be encouraged to continue the Conversations in the Spirit that we started having when we first engaged with the Synodal process. This is how the Synod in Rome worked. We have to discern best to do that, but we will be encouraging you to have such conversations in your parishes and with the groups you are associated with. Until we have discerned how we might do this, can I encourage you take some time to read the synthesis report and begin to reflect on a personal level with what you read.
Diocesan Day 7th October 2023
On 7th October 2023, representatives from across the Diocese gathered at St. Bernadette’s School
in Bristol. The purpose of the gathering, which included clergy and lay people, was to explore
the ways by which the parishes within our new Pastoral Areas could work together.
The results of the day are captured in the attached booklet
News from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Sep 2023
We’ve been asked by the school to offer the parish an update as a community. Our role is to continue to support the teaching and relationship with the school, and to keep everyone in our prayers as the children start their new term
Two acting co-heads have started at St Joseph’s and are busy getting to know the pupils and staff. Mrs Woods is currently away from school.
The IEB wants to let the heads drive the school forward while it deals with issues prior to the start of the autumn term and develops the strategy with them to help the school grow again. They also want to celebrate the recent building project at the school which has created several new spaces and addressed an issue with some toilets. The project to make the school carbon-neutral is ongoing and the major part of that work will be completed at half-term.
The chair, Kirsty Martin, has been in regular contact with Father Thomas and Catherine Doody since her appointment in early July, and some of you will have noticed that the vice-chair Gabriella Tiley is now travelling to Malmesbury for Mass. The IEB would welcome ideas from the community about how it can help the school increase the number of pupils attending and to hear any other thoughts parishioners might have. Mrs Martin can be contacted atkirstymartin@st-joseph...and anyone should feel free to chat with Mrs Tiley on a Sunday morning.
The heads can be reached atpbacon@st-josephs-malm...andkbathe@st-josephs-malm.... They are happy to show prospective parents and their children around the school and to engage with anyone within the parish and wider community who would like to support the school.
EMHC and Readers Session on 25 May Thursday
On Thursday evening, we had the joy of being joined by our Eucharistic Ministers and Readers for the workshop and training session. We really had a great turn out, as you can see in the photos below. God bless all of you for your liturgical ministries. Our masses would not be the same without your assistance! We are deeply grateful for your decision to be an Extraordinary Minister and Reader.
Our grateful thanks to Catherine, Loretta, Bernice and Jim for looking after the hospitality. Your dedication and service is an inspiration to all memebers of our congregation.
We also thank Gabrielle our Parish safeguarding rep and Deacon Steve for looking after the admin stuff.
Please find in the attachment the resources we used for the session.
Mary Lillis completed Pastoral Ministry Formation Course 2023
Put simply, in taking the words from a reflection document for young people by the youth organisation, Million Minutes, the Pastoral Ministry Skills course allowed me a time to Be, a time for listening and healing, and growing in closer friendship and relationship with the Risen Lord.
I journeyed alongside an amazing first cohort of people on this course, from all walks of life, around the diocese, who give their time in many areas of catechesis or parish projects, with people of all ages. I now feel able to call them friends, with whom we will continue to meet, exchange ideas, and share the common dream of our Diocese to be a Future Full of Hope through, Prayer, Community and Mission in our respective parishes.
The Pastoral Ministry Skills course, derived to encourage more lay people, through development of their own faith and understanding of self, to take an active part in supporting clergy and parish life, was dreamt of, coordinated, and delivered by the immense work of Sarah Adams, Head of Adult Evangelisation, Clifton Diocese, in conjunction with two other wonderful and insightful course leaders, including a priest.
My journey towards the Pastoral Ministry course really started many years ago, in helping with Liturgy of the Word for Children in the parish, then continuing this with my children, to eventually becoming a catechist, assisting with First Holy Communion formation, alongside for a time, assisting formation and delivery of a parish youth group until the pandemic.
Being already involved in FHC formation and youth ministry in the parish, and having enjoyed attending diocesan online presentations for catechists, my ‘calling’ to the Pastoral Ministry Skills course seemed a natural extension and opportunity to fulfil a ‘thirst’ to understand scripture in more depth, in the way that was enlightening to hear in my Catechist formation course, delivered by then Fr Christopher Whitehouse, now Canon, and in the invigorating and challenging way we are blessed to hear, in our Sunday Gospels and parish homilies by Fr Thomas and Deacon Steve and beforehand, from the dear late Fathers, Martin and George. Having heard a presentation delivered by Sarah, on the Pastoral Ministry course and on further discussion, I was encouraged to consider taking it up and so very glad I did!
The course developed my prior experience of welcome, passive listening and refreshing explanation of scripture, through group work, encouraging the development of two main ways of appreciating scripture: using Lectio Divina (Holy Reading) and Gospel Contemplation. As a group, we learnt to listen to scripture and each other, with active listening of the heart (rather than the ego) and in using our senses in imaginative prayer and reflection. Then in smaller groups of two or three, each taking a turn to be a speaker, listener, or an observer, we discerned what the Holy Spirit was leading us to consider as individuals, through the scripture we had listened to, often relating to perhaps current personal, or catechetical concerns in parish work. I was often amazed at the common themes arising among us, where sharing helped potential solutions to grow.
Each of us felt guided by the Holy Spirit in how to guide the other. The essence of emphasis of the course, is learning the art of accompaniment to guide the other, and at the same time being guided ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit and personal spiritual direction from a Spiritual Director.
Whilst it has felt in many ways a culmination of many years of inquiry on my part, all the while being gently and discretely guided by others around me, towards this goal (initially unknown to me), of achieving my certificate, I also recognise it is only the beginning of further accompaniment and journeying with others, to bring them and myself, to the joy of closer friendship with the risen Lord, despite whatever obstacles we may feel are in their way.
I would wholeheartedly encourage others who feel any sort of ‘calling’ towards a deeper inquiry and experience of their faith, to consider attending the June roadshow presentations on the next Pastoral Ministry Skills course: https://cliftondiocese.com/news/celebration-for-those-completing-the-formation-certificate-in-pastoral-ministry-skills/
To understand the idea of a ‘calling’ whether to a vocation or other pastoral work, I recommend listening to the wonderfully encouraging video presentation, of the deep, mature faith of two young people: ‘Meet our Seminarians’, Neil and Nohil, in training for the priesthood, from Holy Rood Parish, Swindon: https://cliftondiocese.com/vocations/
Post Christmas Party Jan 2023
New Lights at church entrance
Beautiful light streaming through our little church last Sunday morning
Stained Glass Window for St Francis de Sales installed
In the year in which we commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of St. Francis de Sales, it is momentous that we have a stained-glass window erected for St Francis de Sales at St Aldhelms, along with Blessed Carlo Acutis. The window basically is in imitation of the statue we have for him at St Aldhelms.
Referred to as the “Gentleman Saint” because of his meek and humble demeanour, St. Francis de Sales became bishop of Geneva at the age of 35 (note that he is wearing a ring in his hand). During his life, he wrote and published books and pamphlets that taught God’s love and how to live the Christian life. His two most famous books were Treatise on the Love of God and The Introduction to the Devout Life. The latter taught that all are called into the service of God, as well as to be saints.
St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of deaf individuals. He is also the patron of journalists and writers because of his many written religious works. Because of these publications, he is depicted with a book in the left hand and a quill pen in the right.
Saint Francis de Sales wrote more than 20,000 letters during his lifetime. Perhaps in an age of computers and e-mail communication, this number may not seem as impressive as it was in the seventeenth century. But four hundred years ago, there were no large databases, copy machines, or mass mailings. In those times each letter had to be written by hand. A feather quill, ink and paper were the only things available to a writer in those times ... and, yes, a candle to light his desk at night!
Francis de Sales wrote on the average two letters per day, sometimes as many as ten. Some Salesian scholars suggest that perhaps as many as forty or fifty left his quarters in Annecy near the episcopal church. Whether these numbers are totally correct cannot be established today with exactitude. The quality of the 2,100 letters from Francis de Sales which are still extant certainly lends credence to these figures.
These are not purposeless letters in post card style, but small gems in polished French in which the bishop of Geneva dealt with the widest variety of themes and requests. They contain his spiritual direction, which touched upon the most personal questions of people who asked for his advice and consoling words. They include episcopal decrees to pastors and abbots, canonical and liturgical instructions for reforms, short theological tracts on questions about the true teachings of the faith or preparation for the office of bishop, and detailed accounts on the political and ecclesiastical situation of his diocese and of his country. These latter were written to the Duke of Savoy, to the kings of France, to the papal nuncio, to episcopal friends, and to the Holy Father in Rome.
Not only does his language fascinate, but Francis de Sales could almost effortlessly place himself in the shoes of those he addressed. His style varied according to who his reader was. The very same topic was handled in totally different words and examples with a cloistered nun than with the president of the parliament of Bourges or the scholarly Jesuit, Possevino. But one thing is for certain – his letters always exhibit a high degree of respect, which Francis de Sales wanted to express to each individual. The inquiry each one made, regardless of what it might be, is important to that person Thus, he tried to take the matter at hand as seriously as if it were the most important thing in the world.
Grateful thanks to the Artist Michael Vincent (M. Vincent Windows and Glazing (mvincentwindows.co.uk)for this beautiful artwork which forms a wonderful addition to St Aldhelms. Grateful thanks to all the donors from the parish.
Parish Calendar 2023
Very glad to communicate to you that the parish calendar for 2023 is ready. They will be available after all masses beginning from this weekend, and also kept in the porch during the week. Payment can be done either by envelope through the presbytery or by using the DONA portal- Saint Aldhelms Malmesbury
We have priced the calendar at £10. The production cost including designing was nearly £6. Four pounds will go as a profit to the fundraising for our parish new hall. Note: Add £4 for orders by post.
Our calendar has an 'added value' to compare with other calendars on the market, a tool, guiding the faithful along the liturgical year: dates with Memorial of Saints, Feasts, Solemnities. It is a stapled A4 landscape calendar (opening to A3). There are mini-calendars on the right hand side to find a date in the previous or next month without the need to turn the page. Below the mini-calendars, there is a 'quote of the month' very similar to what we have in the Parish Newsletter. In the calendar there will also the proper of Saints of the local calendar of Clifton Diocese.
You might like to gift a few copies of the calendars to your friends and family who live beyond the territory of our parish. This would be a wonderful Christmas Gift. The additional value of the calendar is that it can be as a keepsake as it has photos of the parish.
We are very grateful to the Parish Council and the Finance Committee for the collaboration. Our grateful thanks to Remi Thivet for the design and Kevin Mullins for the photography.
Baptism 9th October 2022
Welcome to David and Matthew who were baptised and received into the Catholic Church on Sunday 9th of Oct. All three sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion-known as sacraments of initiation) were conferred on them at the same service.
David Lamaitre
He has been with us for over one year, and very fervent and zealous about the catholic faith. He has become part and parcel of our community now, and sings in the choir. He has been preparing himself going through the online RCIA course, and is ready to be baptised and received into the catholic church.
Hin (Matthew) Lun Lo
Matthew moved to the UK from Hong Kong and had done most part of the RCIA program in his home parish. Once he moved to the UK, and given the covid situation, he had the opportunity to complete the program online. New Paragraph
Thank you and Farewell
Sheryl and Bert Becher and their two children will be leaving us mid July to go back to the Philippines, as their work contract is coming to end. Sheryl was the PC representative for the Filipino brothers and sisters for over last two years. And Bert used to be on our livestreaming team. They brought so much vitality and joy to the parish by coordinating the Filipino families for the liturgies animated by them. We will really miss them, and their two kids, their beautiful smile. A big thank you, and our best wishes and blessings as they embark on new ventures and returning to their home country.
Stained Glass Window dedicated for Blessed Carlo Acutis at St Aldhelm's
St Aldhelm’s perhaps is the first parish in the country to have stained glass window created for Blessed Carlo Acutis, which is indeed a proud moment for all of us. Carlo is popularly known as “The Millennial Saint”. He was just 15 when he died. But this computer programming millennial has left a powerful legacy that inspires young people around the world. He is yet to enter the Universal liturgical calendar of canons of saints. However, 'Blesseds' are in fact saints who can be venerated in the local church. We have obtained from the diocese the special permission needed to erect this window.
You will see the image includes a phone in Carlo’s rucksack strap, a watch on his left arm and the IHS symbol on his top. There is a feel of movement to show his journey with a smile. Under the image, you have Bl. Carlo’s one of the most popular quotes, “The Eucharist is the highway to heaven”. The artist has captured much of his features to resemble him as close as possible. When seen in person in the church, the light throughout the day gives a whole new perspective of feel and colour.
There is a replacement pane of glass from ‘Bl.’ To ‘St.’ kept safe until the time arrives. The window has been created keeping in mind the structure of the church and also other windows which are already there dedicated to St Aldhelms, Our Lady, Sacred Heart, St Joseph, Our Lady of Guadalupe. We are very grateful to the donor who sponsored the whole window.
Process that Mr Michael Vincent the artist went through to create this image
After the initial design came the full-scale drawing stage, this is called a ‘Cartoon’ it gives one a full size blueprint of the window that can be used for glass cutting and lead lines. At this stage the glass can be chosen and cut to suit the lead matrix. In this case he used a variety of glass which is mostly mouth blown glass; some from the UK and Germany, this also includes some flashed glass whereby he has removed the flashed surface with Hydrofluoric acid. By doing this gives the option to have more colours within one pane of glass. After this, painting begins; the aim here is to essentially paint with light, first by painting the trace lines to give an outline to work with.
Next the glass is waxed up onto a large sheet of clear glass which can then be put up to the studio window; utilising a natural light source. The next stage is matting, whereby several layers of paint is then applied to the glass using various application brushes and mediums. When the paint is dry it can be removed and worked with stiff or soft brushes to let light through where needed and creating form; there are many different techniques that can be used to achieve different effects. Mike adds that between applications of paint, the glass is removed from the easel and placed in a kiln. Firing in the kiln up to 650° fusing the glass paint to the surface of the glass creating a permanent bond. The majority of the glass paint used is black, bistre, umber and silver stain, the majority of colours you see is the raw glass itself and not the paint. When this stage is complete it can then be leaded together using Cames; a u channel shaped lead section the glass slots into which then is soldered together with a gas iron forming the structure of the window. The window is then cemented, cement is a form of runny black putty that is used to waterproof and give strength to the window when cured, a thorough clean and polish and the window is ready for installation.
The methods used to create this stained-glass window apart from gas irons and electric Kilns have remained unchanged for hundreds of years.