Latest News
Launch of the ‘Year of Communion’
Bishop Declan is inviting our diocesan community to come together ahead of the launch of the 'Year of Communion'. There are two events to which the bishop extends an invitation to our parishes, schools and communities.On Saturday 19 October we gather at St...
St Bernadette’s parish youth retreat
St Bernadette’s parish, Whitchurch hosted their first Youth retreat in July.The theme of ‘Masks we wear' was inspired by scripture and was explored during the retreat.‘We all wear masks in our lives. We wear makeup to make ourselves feel prettier, we act...
Holy Land Pilgrims return after full week
By Fr. Anselm, Downside AbbeyArchaeology, Masses, Cable Cars, Prayer, Rafting, Swimming. Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, Masada, Qumran, Caesarea Philippi. These are just a few of the elements that made up the Downside Abbey and Clifton Diocese pilgrimage...
Swindon Youth Congress success
‘Who are you, Lord?’"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," He replied, when Saul, who supposedly knew all about God posed that question to him.Today we are still asking the same question that Saul asked Jesus 2000 years ago, and yet seem to be groping in...
Admission to the Ministry of Reader of two of our students
On Friday evening, 19 July, a number of our deacons and their wives, along with our diaconal students in formation, gathered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Stroud, to celebrate admission to the Ministry of Reader of two of our students – Eric...
Marriage Mass pictures and Homily
The Celebration of Marriage took place in our Cathedral on Saturday 13 July. Bishop Declan gave the Homily at this now annual celebration for the whole diocesan community, especially our married couples. You can hear his full Homily and blessing below.A...
Street Evangelisation in Clevedon
A team of twenty-five parishioners from the Franciscan Church of the Immaculate Conception took the church out on to Hill Rd, Clevedon on Saturday 13th July.With the gazebo and stall erected the team went to work sharing their love of Jesus and a care for...
1,400 people enjoy day in the sun at the Glastonbury Pilgrimage
Yet again the sun shone down on Our Lady of Glastonbury as around 1,400 people from our diocese gathered in her honour and come on pilgrimage to her shrine. People came from far and wide – from London to Swindon, Middlesbrough and Scotland to Salisbury…...
Father Conrad Lowry R.I.P.
It is with sadness that we announce that Father Conrad Lowry died on Tuesday 9th July 2019. Father Conrad’s body will be received into St Thomas More, Bradford-on-Avon on Monday 22nd July at 6.00pm followed by the celebration of Mass by Bishop Crispian Hollis and...
Diocesan day – video, podcast and pictures
On Saturday 6 July, hundreds of parishioners from our diocese gathered at St Brendan's College in Bristol to reflect, to celebrate and consider once more what it means for us to be Church at to enjoy and engage in a full Diocesan day.We were blessed to...
Cotswold Way Challenge success
Report by Ann Fowler, Deputy Director, Clifton Schools and Colleges. 8.30 Saturday morning June 29th. Over in Glastonbury people are just beginning to stir, waking up to celebrate the fact that this Glastonbury they are not mired in mud, the sun is...
Faith in Action information evenings
Clifton Diocese Youth Ministry is holding information and training evenings across the diocese to help all parishes prepare for Faith in Action. The Faith in Action award scheme is launching in the Clifton Diocese soon and it will provide a new way for our...
Deacon David McConkey – soon to be priest
David McConkey, a seminarian for Clifton Diocese, was ordained to the diaconate on Saturday at St Mary's College, Oscott.David, a former Anglican Clergyman, was received into the Catholic Church a couple of years ago. He is a parishioner of St Gregory's,...
Thomas – Candidate for Holy Orders
On Thursday 27th June, Thomas Lawes, one of our Clifton Diocese seminarians, completed the end of his fifth year of seminary formation with a special celebration. Thomas was admitted as a Candidate for Holy Orders. This means, God-willing, that he will be...
John Henry Newman to be Canonised on 13 October 2019
The Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory are delighted to announce that Pope Francis will canonise Blessed John Henry Newman in St Peter’s Square on Sunday 13 October 2019 alongside 4 others. This will make Cardinal Newman the first English person who has lived since the...
World Refugee Day: Pope Francis denounces situation of people forced to escape their country
This is Pope Francis' most recent appeal to draw world attention to the plight of refugees. He did so a few days ago, recalling that since 2001 the UN has celebrated World Refugee Day every June 20.POPE FRANCIS June 1, 2019“Today we want to remember in a...
Cruise chaplains – Stella Maris
Most of us are probably familiar with the idea of chaplains in prisons, hospitals, and schools, but we night not realise that chaplains can also be found on cruise ships.It’s not such an odd concept when you consider that a cruise ship resembles a small...
Young Catholics Prepare for Holy Land Pilgrimage 2019
A number of the young Catholic adult pilgrims travelling together to the Holy Land in July visited Downside Abbey recently as part of their preparation for the trip. Director of Vocations Fr. Matt Anscombe, and Dom Anselm Brumwell of Downside, were both on...