Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2026

This Pilgrimage will be led by Bishop Bosco MacDonald with the Catholic Association of Lourdes UK.

Friday 21st ~ Friday 28th August 2026.

Including Airport transfers from Bristol to Birmingham Airport, Flights to Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport, hotel transfers.

Full pilgrimage programme, including visits to the Grotto of the Apparitions, Mass each day, Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Sacrament of Reconciliation, visits to sites related to St Bernadette, Open air Mass in the Cite-San– Pierre, Water Gesture, Station of the Cross. Diocesan Day Trip to Bartres (extra charge).

Please email Clifton Diocese Lourdes Pilgrimage to declare an interest.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Bishop Bosco invites you to join him during this season of Lent to celebrate the abundant mercy of God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Join him at one of the five venues across our diocese as part of your Lenten Pilgrimage.

Tuesday 10 March - Immaculate Conception, Devizes

Tuesday 17 March - St Joseph, Tewkesbury

Tuesday 24 March - Christ the King, Thornbury

Each Liturgy will start at 7:00pm.

Building upon the beautiful gatherings during Lent he is inviting our diocesan community to gather with him in celebration of God’s merciful love as part of our Lenten journey. There will be priests available at each venue to celebrate sacramental reconciliation. You will be most welcome at any of the venues.

[SM] Help in the garden:

Very soon our mowing volunteers will need to make a first cut of the grass behind the parish room. Sadly, this cannot be done until the area is cleared of twigs, rubbish etc. If you would be prepared to give an hour helping with this, please speak to Jonathan Rendel or email via the parish email address. Thank you.

[SM] Prolife Rosary

Please note a temporary change to our usual meeting schedule. Our group will meet on: Wednesday 11th March and Wednesday 25th March, we will then break for Easter. Meetings will resume on our usual Tuesdays starting on: Tuesday 14th April at 7:30pm. All are welcome.

[SM] Men's Group

Will next meet on Thursday 12th March 7:00pm in the parish room.

[SM] Catholic Mothers

Will next meet in the parish room at St Michael’s on Thursday 12th March 10:00am. All are welcome.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

will be prayed during Lent commencing on Wednesday 25th February after the scheduled masses on Wednesdays at St Mary’s [OLG], Thursdays at St Michael’s [SM] and Fridays at St Mary’s [OLG]

[SM] There will be No Mass, confessions or Adoration at St Michael’s on Thursday 12th March. Stations of the Cross can go ahead at 10:30am if someone can volunteer to lead them. Please speak with Jacky, if you can support this.

[OLG] LENTEN SOUP LUNCH

on Saturday 7 March at 12 noon in the Upper Hall. Please come along and enjoy our delicious homemade soups and support our well-deserved Charity at the same time.

Contact Maggy - 07973617057.

All proceeds will go to Mary’s Meals

[SM] Lent Lunches

Our two lent lunches this year will take place in the Parish Room on Thursdays 19th and 26th March. Homemade soup, roll and butter and tea. Everyone welcome, we start serving at 12 noon.

[SM] LENT PRAYER GROUP

A five-week Lent group will take place in the parish room on Monday evenings, 7:30pm, starting on February 23rd. We shall follow the Dare to Ask booklet. Thank you to those who have expressed an interest in attending.

For more information speak to Jacky.

LENT 2026 BIBLE STUDIES

You’re warmly invited to join the Lent 2026 Bible Studies, a FREE, six-week journey presented LIVE ONLINE by Mauro Iannicelli of Come & See Catholic Formation Ministries. We will lead you through an in-depth exploration of the six Lenten Sunday Gospels, preparing you to hear them proclaimed at Mass.

INFO & REGISTRATION

Breaking open each Lenten Sunday Gospel

• ‘Expository preaching’ teaching method

• Life Application Questions

• The Holy Mass will come alive in a new way

STARTS: Tuesday 17th February 2026

6 Tuesday Sessions: 17th Feb | 24th Feb | 3rd Mar | 10th Mar | 17th Mar | 24th Mar

TIME: 7:00pm - 8:15pm

[OLG & SM] Easter Flowers

There will be a second collection in both parishes for our Easter Flowers on the weekend of 7th & 8th March. Thank you for your generosity, and to all who give their time to make our churches look so beautiful, especially at Easter.

[SM] Flowers

Volunteers are always needed, but specifically this appeal is for help with the flower arranging. At present just one person is doing our lovely floral displays every week. She would be happy to show you what’s involved. Offers to Jacky initially please or via the parish email address.

BAPTISM

In asking to have your child baptised, parents are making a commitment to bring up their child to know and to practice their faith and the faith of the Church.

If you are ready to make that commitment, please contact Fr Mark. Please note at least two months’ notice is required.

RCIA

The next session will be Friday 13th March, in St Mary’s upper hall at 7:00pm.

FOUR LAST THINGS A talk on what does the Church teach about the end of our earthly life and the life to come after it. 7:00pm in St Marys upper hall on Tuesday 31st March.

All are welcome and refreshments will be available. Email benjamin.morris267@gmail.com

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME

[SM] The First Holy Communion preparation group will meet at St Michael’s, Shepton Mallet.

Next Session Wednesday 18th March at 5:30pm.

Please note date change.

CONFIRMATION COURSE

[OLG] Confirmation lessons will be on Wednesday 11th March, in St Mary's Lower Hall.

Lessons will run every Wednesday evening in term-time, at 7:00pm until 8:30pm.

Contact at stmarysglastonburyconfirmation@gmail.com, or Anthony Morris to sign up or for further details.

Thinking about getting married ... Need some formal preparation?

Check out https://engaged-encounter.org.uk for more information.

“Embrace your life together in Love”

To find out more or book : Visit Marriage Encounter website.

Invitation to Couples to get away together and join us for a weekend to discover ways to grow deeper in love for a happier marriage and a happier life! The weekend draws on Marriage Encounters’ 50 years of wisdom and experience, based on scriptural truths, and might just be the gear change you didn't know you needed or thought possible.

ST FRANCIS LEPROSY GUILD (SFLG)

Is the UK’s only Catholic leprosy charity, has been caring for people with leprosy for over 130 years. Sadly, leprosy is not just a disease of ancient biblical times. Across the world, children are foregoing their education to care for relatives living with the disease; healthcare workers travel for days or even months to reach remote communities where leprosy is endemic. By supporting over 30 leprosy centres and projects in Africa, Asia and Brazil, SFLG is working towards a leprosy-free world. During this Lenten season of prayer and almsgiving, please take time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves, and keep people with leprosy in your prayers. Click here SFLG to donate. Thank you. Any donation, large or small, takes us a step closer to a leprosy free world.

[SM] 100 Club

The first draw of 2026 was made last Sunday. The winners were:

January draw, 1st Catherine Johnstone, 2nd Francis Floyd,

February draw, 1st Tia Edward, 2nd Mary Barry

[OLG] CHURCH CLEANING [Extra hands make light work]

Extra volunteers are needed to help keep our church clean and tidy. We need 3 or 4 more volunteers to give just a couple of hours of their time once a month (less frequently if we have more volunteers). PLEASE contact the Parish Office or speak with Sara Abbiss if you can help.

[SM] Teas & coffees after Mass on Sunday, in the Parish room.

[OLG] Teas & coffees after Mass on Sunday in the Hall.

[OLG] CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER AND LECTIO DIVINA

Both groups meet fortnightly at 2:30pm on Thursdays at the United Reformed Church, High Street, Glastonbury (main front door). For more information visit and check the schedule on the Prayer Groups page on the Shrine’s website. All welcome.

• Lectio Divina: Practises slow Scripture reading, reflection, discussion, and stillness.

• Contemplative Prayer: Brief introduction, 30 minutes of silence, and optional sharing.

(OLG) PRAYER GROUP

Centred around the Catechism of the Catholic Church will begin on Wednesday 18th March 7:00pm in the Lower Room. The group will meet weekly, every Wednesday. All are very welcome to attend.

[SM] Recycling Help: Do you live near the church?

We are looking for someone who would be prepared to regularly put out St Michael’s recycling and wheelie bins on their respective evenings for collection the following morning please, and if possible, bring them back in. Offers to Jacky or Fr Mark.

STOP ASSISTED SUICIDE - further action needed! Please take 30 seconds to stop assisted suicide from being forced into law. Right To Life UK has made an EasyAction tool to email your MP asking them to oppose attempts to force assisted suicide into law by bypassing the House of Lords. Please visit www.righttolife.org.uk/ASCommons2026 to ask your MP to oppose forcing the assisted suicide Bill into law.

CAFOD: Family Fast day, Friday 27th February 2026

Thank you from Cafod. Thank you for your generous support this family fast day - your kindness is helping families like Shorai’s in Zimbabwe and Rejoices in South Sudan grow food, even in the face of drought and floods. You have shown what it means to love your neighbour this Lent - fasting praying and giving so families can put food on the table. Find out how your donations are helping to build a better world at, donate online or call or text CAFODLENT to 70085 to donate £10.

(SM) MISSIO

On 24th May we shall welcome Br Eddie Slawinski MHM from Mill Hill Missionaries to give an Appeal on behalf of
MISSIO. Meanwhile, as MISSO local secretary, I invite all Red Box holders to bring in their box for emptying any time during March and to collect their personal copy of Mission Today, available in the porch. Not much in your box? It all adds up, as the annual returns testify. Thank you. Jacky Tucker

Stay Awake 2026

Our 8th all-age, all-day Catholic Christian Conference with music and worship on 2nd May at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, DT1 2ET from 10:00am to 6:00pm. The theme this year is: 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.' (Ps 51:10).

Your place can be booked. We invite all parishioners – whatever age - to a fun faith-filled day with appropriate children’s streams (so that adults can engage) and David Wells is our main keynote speaker! We have a choice of workshops too and more! Refreshments supplied including home-made cakes and free pizza after Mass. Free for children and £12.50 for the rest of us!

See you there! More details click here.

Asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to assist all who suffer and are in need of compassion, consolation and a listening ear. Let us seek her intercession with this ancient prayer, that has been invoked in families for those living with illness and pain:

Sweet Mother, do not part from me.
Turn not your eyes away from me.
Walk with me at every moment
and never leave me alone.
You who always protect me
as a true Mother,
obtain for me the blessing of the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.