National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the relics of St Jacinta and St Francisco

On Saturday/Sunday September 26th/27th the National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the relics of St Jacinta and St Francisco will be visiting Clifton Cathedral. For more details, please see the poster on the parish notice board.

TEAS AND COFFEES / REFRESHMENTS

Please remember: If you have allergies --- we cannot guarantee the food served on these premises, including cakes and biscuits, is free from allergenic ingredients and we can take no responsibility for cross contamination.

Children are under the supervision of their own parents during teas and coffees and at parish events.

In compliance with the current guidance from the diocesan insurers PLEASE DO NOT Light candles and place them on the windows or by the statues. Votive Candles should be lit and placed on the votive candle stands ONLY. Thank You

NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL. Please contact the parish office at St Mary’s to be added to our mailing list.

Journey in Faith (RCIA):

Our parish Journey in Faith group will commence on Wednesday 7th October at 6:45pm.

This will be a good opportunity for those interested in running the course to meet one another and discuss the programme in more detail.

The session will take place in the St Mary’s Upper Hall in Glastonbury.

These weekly sessions, which finish by 8:15pm, are intended for anyone who is interested in becoming a Catholic or who would simply like to find out more about the Faith. Please begin to encourage those you know to consider attending in October. For more information, please speak to Clare in the parish office or email.

CELEBRATING YOUNG PEOPLE:

Revival is a 6-step program from Million Minutes centred on listening to the voices of young people, responding to them, empowering and celebrating them, fostering a spirit of Catholic social action. The program will run for six sessions over a year. If you are aged 10 to 18 and interested see Anthony Morris (anthony.morris@cliftondiocese.com).

[OLG] PARISH HALL

Tea and coffee after Mass can recommence, if we can get enough volunteers for the rota, to set up and serve the refreshments.

Please note in the newsletter

[SM] represent events at St Michael’s, Shepton Mallet and

[OLG] represents events at The Shrine of Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury

[OLG] IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Please do not use the hall lift until further notice, as we are waiting on our annual safety inspection. We apologise for any inconvenience and will advise you when the lift is available for use again.

WELCOME TO OUR PARISH

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our parishioners and visitors attending Mass. Whether you are just passing through or looking for a spiritual home, we pray you find our church inviting and spiritually uplifting. If you are attending Mass on a regular basis, we encourage you to register with the parish. Please call our parish office and start the conversation!  Both our church is always open to you, your family, and friends.  

Pax et Bonum [Peace and All Good]

REQUEST FOR HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME

Please contact the parish office, if you are sick and unable to attend church and require Holy Communion at home. You can do this either by Email or by Telephone, if you are sick and unable to attend church and require Holy Communion at home.

Please do not make the request through friends or parishioners.

PRAYERS PLEASE.

For those who have made petitions requests, and all are ill at home or in hospital, prayers are asked for the repose of the soul of those whose anniversary occurs at this time, including: Maurice Davies, Biddy Barnett, Vanessa Pritchard, Tim Zetter.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS – September 

For the care of water

Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.

“KENYA BELIEVE IT”

We are staging a Quiz for St Peter’s Life-Line at our local gathering place - Sourdown Farm, Sub Rd, Butleigh BA6 8TQ on Sunday 27th September between 6pm and 9pm. See notice board for more information

[OLG] Prayer group: 

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

CAFOD’s Family Fast Day is on Friday 2 October.

This Harvest season, we have an opportunity to thank God for all we have received and to share those blessings with others. As one global family, we are called to put our faith into action by supporting our neighbours who don’t have enough food or safe water. CAFOD envelopes will be available next week for you to donate [or scan the QR code] to help communities around the world put food on the table. If you’re a UK taxpayer, please remember to complete the Gift Aid declaration, which increases your donation by 25 per cent at no extra cost to you.

Vocation Retreat Day: Explore, Learn, Reflect — Saturday 10 October, 10 am–5 pm,

St Mary on the Quay (Main Hall), Bristol. Join speakers from across the UK sharing how they found their calling in married life, religious life, and the diaconate — whether you're searching, settled, or simply curious. Includes Mass, confession, and time for reflection. Lunch and refreshments provided. Tickets and details are on the poster at the back of the church, or at https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/vocation-retreat-day-explore-learn-reflect.

HEALING MASS with ANOINTING:

The next mass of Healing will take place on the SECOND Tuesday 13th October, at 6:00pm

[OLG] Prayer Ministry [for Healing] on Saturday 10th October

Confessions will be available from 8:15am

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered at 9.00am

After the celebration of the mass members of the parish prayer team will be available in the side chapel, if you would like to be prayed over and Fr Mark will be available for Anointing of the Sick during an extended period of Adoration from 9.40am-10.40am. All are welcome

[SM] A huge thank you to Jonathan Rendal

for all his voluntary work in maintaining the gardens at St Michael’s Parish, including overseeing health and safety of the garden grounds maintenance, gardening volunteers and the mowing team. Jonathan will be retiring from these responsibilities in January 2027. If anyone would be interested in taking on this role, please come forward and contact Father Mark or Clare in the Parish Office.

Starting School? 

If you have a child born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, then now is the time to apply for a place at a primary school for admission from September 2027 onwards. You must complete an application form that is available from the school admissions team of the SOMERSET COUNCIL. If your child has been baptised and you are applying for a Catholic school, you must also provide a copy of the baptism certificate to the school. Please ensure you apply by the closing date of 15 January 2027.

11-13 September: The JOY of FAITH

Come, refresh and deepen your knowledge and understanding of the Roman Catholic faith. During the weekend we will explore these topics: Prayer in the Roman Catholic tradition within the shape of the Liturgical Year; the place of Our Lady in the life of the Church; and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

24-27 September: Loving God, Living Simply, Living Deeply

Reflecting and learning from St. Francis of Assisi’s lifestyle which brought him the graces of freedom of heart, inner peace and confidence in God’s love.

6 -8 November: Vocation Weekend - Taste the goodness of the Lord who loves you

An opportunity to experience monastic life

A Call for Pilgrims: Adoremus 2026

The National Eucharistic Congress, takes place in London on Saturday 10th October 2026. Adoremus is a national celebration of the Eucharist, bringing together Catholics from across England and Wales for prayer, worship, catechesis, and public witness. Our Diocese has been allocated 45 places, and we are inviting priests & parishioners from across our pastoral areas and parishes to participate in this important event. For fairness, we are limiting tickets for each parish - name, email and parish details are required for each attendee. I would be grateful if you could promote this opportunity in your parish. You can register via Eventbrite, click here.

'IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS'

A talk led by Eddie Gilmore, will take place at St Francis, Nailsea, on Friday 2 October. This session will focus on what the saint from Assisi can teach us today about how to live in harmony with the earth and with each other. This year marks 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi and Pope Leo XIV has declared 2026 a special year to commemorate this.

Our speaker, Eddie Gilmore is a dedicated pilgrimage walker, a writer, a musician and regularly contributes to BBC Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’. Copies of Eddie’s books will be on sale at the event. We will start the talk at 7:00pm (refreshments from 6:30pm).

To register for the evening, please use the Eventbrite link.  All are most welcome!

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

This year marks 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi and Pope Leo XIV has declared a special Year to commemorate this. Saturday 3 October 2026 is exactly 800 years since St Francis died, and the day before his feast day. To mark this a walking pilgrimage is planned in the Diocese of Clifton with two legs: The Bristol leg will start at Clifton Cathedral at 10:30am (9.4 miles). The Clevedon leg will start at the Franciscan church of the Immaculate Conception in Clevedon at 1:00pm (6.4 miles). The two legs will convene at around 4:30pm at the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Nailsea for refreshments and prayer. Those who wish can stay for the 6:00pm Saturday evening Vigil Mass for the Feast of St Francis.

For more details and to register click here.

Caritas Clifton Administration Support

We have had a Caritas initiative in the Diocese as part of the Catholic Social Action Network for many years. The bishop is now keen that this is developed into a practical resource for parishes. We are looking for volunteers to assist in the setting up, and administration, of the initiative. This could be for a few hours per week or days. For more information, please contact Deacon Robert von Hawrylak by email

[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.

SAFEGUARDING

Our parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance, and both National and Diocesan policies & procedures at all times. SAFEGUARDING WEBPAGE:

Contact: Email for St. Michael’s or Email for Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury

CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT - SAFEGUARDING

In line with the CSSA ‘Creating a Safer Environment’, entry to the Sacristy from the Church, when there are servers present, must be recorded.

[OLG] ANYBODY ENTERING DIOCESAN PROPERTY

In compliance with Creating a Safer Environment, nobody has permission to access any of the key boxes unless the parish office has been notified prior to your visit. This week the Key Codes have been changed, going forward you will need to request the code from the parish office so that your details and the reason that you have the code can be recorded. Please do not pass on the codes to anybody, without checking with the parish office. Thank you for your co-operation.

EMERGENCY EXITS

Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the nearest exit, in case of an emergency. In the unlikely event of having to vacate the church unexpectedly, during a service, please follow the instructions of the priest and our stewards. They will direct you to the nearest exit. Please vacate promptly and leave all belongings. Thank you for helping us keep you safe.