The Latest News from Our Parishes
First Holy Communion 2024 / Confirmation
Application forms for children in school year 3 to 6 to make their First Holy Communion in our parishes are now available in our churches and also from the parish website. If your child is in school year 7 or above and would like to make their First Holy Communion please speak with Fr. Gerry.
https://gloucesteremaoc.com/sacraments
Confirmation for children in school year 9 and above is scheduled for early summer 2025
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults – OCIA
For adults over the age of 18 wishing to enquire about the Catholic Faith or who wish to enter into full communion with the Church, a separate programme of initiation will be held. Application forms are now available in both parishes and also from the parish website. Anyone may also contact Fr. Gerry at any time to enquire about the Faith.
CAFOD Harvest Lunch and Auction – St. Augustine’s
Sunday, 15th October 2023
This will commence immediately after the Sunday Mass on this day, a lunch with beef chilli or a vegetarian option. £5 per person. And afterwards an auction will be held of the cakes, confectionary, breads, jams, pickles, hams, sausages, wines, beers, fruit and vegetables brought to the church for the Harvest Festival. Everyone is invited. It will be a fun afternoon.
Tickets for this parish event will be on sale after the Sunday and Saturday Evening Masses.
Proceeds will be donated to the CAFOD Harvest Appeal.
[ CAFOD ]
Faith Discussion Group – St. Augustine’s
Wednesday, 27th September 2023
The Faith Discussion Group will next meet on this day to continue their study of the Acts of the Apostles. Starting at 7.30pm with refreshments from 7.15pm. All are welcome.
Children’s Liturgy – St Augustine’s
Children’s Liturgy at St. Augustine’s has restarted. It will continue to be held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month. We are delighted that several people have come forward to help, but it would be nice to have a few more. Please contact Moira for more information.
Children’s Mass – English Martyrs
Children’s Masses have resumed at English Martyrs. Please encourage your children to be actively involved; to take part in the Mass, to be in the choir or in the offertory procession. They may bring an offertory gift suitable for the Gloucester Food Bank: wrapped sweets or non-perishable baby products. Please help us to make this venture a success. For more information speak with Nikki O’Neill or Flit Rogers.
English Martyrs Gift Fayre
Saturday, 11th November
This will take place on this day from 12 to 4. We will have several stalls selling all sorts of crafts / gifts plus a cake stall and a parish stall. Our Cafe will be open for lunches or tea with cakes. If you would like a stall then please see Nora after Mass. This is a lovely parish event that brings the community together so put the date in your diary.
New Deanery Structure / Fr. Gary Brassington
The deanery structure within the diocese is being changed. Our two parishes will be in the new deanery / pastoral area of St. Wulstan. The deanery will serve the parishes in Churchdown, Cinderford, Coleford, Dursley, Gloucester, Newent, Nympsfield, Stonehouse, Stroud, Thornbury, Woodchester and Wotton-under-Edge.
Fr. Gary Brassington, former parish priest of English Martyrs and St. Augustine’s, has been appointed by Bishop Declan to serve as our new Dean.
The Bishop’s pastoral letter on the changes
Autumn Fete – St. Augustine’s
Saturday, 25th November 2023
The St. Augustine’s Autumn Fete will be held on this day, from 12 to 4. Donations for the fete can be given any time up to the day itself. Books, toys, items for the raffle, items for the tombola, quality bric-a-brac, bottles, jam, freshly made cakes. There will be plenty of activities. Please do support this fundraising event.
Priests Retirement Fund / Clergy Training
The retirement fund allows the diocese to help provide for the needs of priests who have retired from pastoral duties. They might be living on their own and having to pay their own costs, or they might be needing the support of professional carers. The diocese needs around £300,000 per year to support its sick and retired priests. Your generosity will be much appreciated. Donations can be made online from the Clifton Diocese web page. Please gift-aid your donation if possible.
On the same web page you may also donate to help those who are in training for the priesthood.
Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
The conflict in Ukraine has displaced and affected many people. They are in need of shelter, food, water and medical assistance. Please support the work of international charities by making a donation. Donations may be made on the web site of the Disasters Emergency Committee ( DEC ). Please be generous and also gift-aid your donation if possible.
[ Disasters Emergency Committee ]
Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Peace.
On 25th March 2022 shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine Pope Francis Consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In his General Audience on Wednesday 22nd March 2023 he encouraged everyone to renew the Consecration. The prayer Pope Francis used in 2022 can be found by clicking on this link.
Pope Francis Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Music – St. Augustine’s
Our folk group accompanies the 11am Mass on the first Sunday of every month. The St Augustine’s Singers additionally provides music on every third Sunday of the month. The groups practise on the Wednesday beforehand at 6:15pm to run through the music for the Sunday Mass. If you would like to join a group you would be made very welcome. Just pop up to the choir loft and introduce yourself or come along to a practice.
Gloucester Food Bank
Thank you to all who have been donating. Please continue to be generous. The service that the Food Bank provides is now more urgently needed than ever before. Dry or tinned foods can be donated. They cannot accept frozen items, fresh vegetables or anything with alcohol. Weekly collection from English Martyrs. Items can also be left in the lobby at St. Augustines.
Energy Cost Increases
Energy costs have risen for everyone. The parish energy bills, unlike for individual households, are not capped, and are not elegible for any government support. Our electrictiy tariff is 2.5 times higher than it was in the past. There was also a huge increase in the price for gas. Please be mindful of these costs when using church premises, and help minimise wastage.
Health and Safety
We have a collective responsibility to ensure that church premises are safe. Please be aware of potential hazards, be careful when using church equipment and do not try to hurry. In case of any accident, incident or near-miss an accident report will need to be completed and given to Fr. Gerry. At English Martyrs the accident book is with the first aid kit in the corridor. At St. Augustines it is in the kitchen.
The health and safety representatives are Anna Marie Paulet at English Martyrs and Francis Brown at St. Augustines.
Buildings and Maintenance – St Augustine’s
Various jobs need to be done around the church. For this we need volunteers who would be willing to help. Please consider whether you can help. If you can then please make it known to Francis Brown.
Please also let Francis know of any defects, repairs or work items that need doing, no matter how small.
Hiring of our Halls for Private Events
Following consultation with the diocese the policy for hiring our halls for private events has changed.
- The halls can only be hired by parishioners or family members.
- Hirers will need to complete the new Individual Hire Contract form.
- A cut-off time of 7pm will apply, except when expressly agreed.
- A deposit of £100 will be required if the hirer is not well-known.
These resistrictions do not apply for parish functions. Also our halls will continue to be available for hire by businesses, clubs and other organisations.
Enquiries about availability should be addressed to Marisa ( for English Martyrs ) or to Dariusz ( for St. Augustine’s ).