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The quiz succeeded in raising £674.30 for Emmanuel House. Many thanks to all participants for this magnificent result! Happy New Year to all, Dick Francis

The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s  list of prayer intentions  for the year 2026. Every month, Pope Leo asks Catholics around the world to pray for a particular intention. This initiative is accompanied by a video in which the pontiff expresses the reasons why he has chosen that particular intention. Below is the complete list of Pope Leo’s prayer intentions for 2026. January: For prayer with the word of God Let us pray that praying with the word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church. February: For children with incurable diseases Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope. March: For disarmament and peace Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. April: For priests in crisis Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer. May: That everyone might have food Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food. June: For the values of sports Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth. July: For respect for human life Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God. August: For evangelization in the city Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community. 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. October: For mental health ministry Let us pray that mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses. November: For the proper use of wealth Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less. December: For single-parent families Let us pray for families experiencing the absence of a mother or father, that they may find support and accompaniment in the Church, and help and strength in the faith during difficult times. This article was originally published by CNA .

From the Paul VI Audience Hall, Pope Leo XIV attends the First Advent Meditation delivered by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Roberto Pasolini, O.F.M. Cap., on the theme “Awaiting and Hastening the Coming of the Day of God” (2 Peter 3:12). Vatican News - Papal preacher: Advent is a time of trusting expectation Vatican News - Second Advent reflection: Communion is not uniformity

Contributed by a visiting university student from France When Saint Thomas Aquinas was a student, his classmates nicknamed him the “Dumb Ox.” This meant that he worked hard but quietly, never seeking attention, appearing even slow and silent. His teacher, Saint Albert the Great, replied: “You call him the dumb ox, but one day he will bellow so loudly that his voice will resound throughout the world.” That prophecy came true: Thomas became the greatest of all scholastic theologians. Do you know what Saint Aloysius (Louis) Gonzaga answered when someone asked him what he would do if he were to die within a quarter of an hour, while he was playing during recreation time? He simply replied that he would continue playing. Would we have answered the same way? Wouldn’t most of us have rushed off to confession? Both anecdotes happened during the childhood of two great saints—both of whom are invoked by students for their studies. So how can a student become a saint in today’s world? By building his life on three pillars: 1. The first pillar: the spiritual life A Catholic today cannot live without a spiritual life if he wishes to resist all the temptations that surround him. This spiritual life should be built upon morning and evening prayer, Sunday Mass, and the Rosary. If possible, we should also add daily Mass and spiritual reading. Our soul needs to be nourished. The Samaritan woman asked Jesus for water: “Give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty. “That should be our attitude: we must draw strength from Our Lord. Let us also strive to sanctify our day through ejaculatory prayers—they help us to make the present moment holy. Saint Francis de Sales described them as “arrows of love.” They are short prayers such as: “Lord, I love you,” or “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. “These will help us to maintain fervour throughout the day. 2. The second pillar: study Study is our duty of state, and we must not fail in it. Let us remember the parable of the two sons sent by their father to work in the vineyard (Matthew 21):one refused but later obeyed out of fidelity to his father. The duty of state is what God asks of each of us, and for students, it is the faithful pursuit of our studies. Let us not be mediocre! Let us also take time to study what the Church teaches—for example, by reading the papal encyclicals. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Quas Primas, the encyclical of Pope Pius XI on Christ the King. By reading it, we can discover many concrete and practical counsels that apply even to us students. By following them, we can grow in holiness—and make good use of our time. When we arrive in Heaven, God will ask us to account for every moment of our lives: “How was your time spent? “What a grace it will be if we can render an account of time well used! 3. The third pillar: friendship Student life is a privileged time to form true friendships. We will not go to Heaven alone.We must choose carefully the friends we spend time with. If they are good examples, solid Catholics, and help us grow in virtue, our path to Heaven will be much easier. But if, on the contrary, they drag us down, then we must part ways. A friend should be someone with whom we can relax in a wholesome way. Indeed, a student must have recreation—but he must do it well! A true friend will help him to do just that.

We are delighted to share the wonderful news of our recent diocesan pilgrimage to Rome for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. A group of 28 pilgrims from our diocese — including 14 young parishioners, Fr. Evarist, and Fr. Deogratias  — travelled together on this faith-filled 4-day journey. Our pilgrimage began in Assisi, where we visited the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Basilica of St. Clare, and the Basilica of St. Francis, learning about their unwavering faith and deep love for God. On 7th September, a beautiful and sunny day, we joined the Canonisation Mass together with 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, hundreds of priests, and an estimated 80,000 faithful from around the world. It was a powerful moment of prayer and joy for all of us. We concluded our pilgrimage with visits to the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Mary Major, where we had the privilege of walking through the Holy Doors at both basilicas and praying for our beloved late Pope Francis. These moments were deeply moving, symbolising grace, renewal, and the universal call to faith. This was truly a fruitful and inspiring journey, especially for our young pilgrims who returned home filled with excitement and renewed faith. A special thanks to Giorgia for keeping everyone connected and sharing updates on social media throughout the trip — it helped bring the pilgrimage experience to our wider parish family. Thank you once again for your generosity and support in making this pilgrimage possible. Femke - Year 10 at The South Wolds Academy and Sixth Form I feel ever since I took this journey to the holy city, something has truly shifted spiritually in my ideologies of what we, as humans- made in the image of God and the pinnacle of creation, should strive for. The holy atmosphere presented before my person made me aware that mankind should not be fooled by the feeble image of consumerism and materialistic depictions of "the next best trends" or money, but should pursue in something more dependable and fulfilling- like relationships with not only new people, but Christ himself. The lament embodied by statues and paintings within these glorious basilicas and historic landmarks I feel unites the community of Christianity and helps us as individuals to overcome the pain and turmoil we may face in society, attempting to steer us away from the correct path in hunger and urges of vengeance. The symbolism of gold and beauty conveyed through these picturesque structures emphasises that our trust and faith in the Lord will lead to strength and resilience, in learning how to be compassionate and loving towards our neighbours and enemies, as difficult as it may be, just as the Son did for each and every one of us. Recalling the day of the canonisation, I find myself overcome with gratitude to all the Fathers and Ceci :) for all making the visit so memorable. Being at the gates of St. Peter's square while waiting to witness the occasion, hearing the sounds of  harmonisation, illustrating the sacred portrayal of the Pope and the congregation as a whole, felt personally that we were in the presence of the Holy Spirit and Angels from God's kingdom from above. For the most part, if I were to summarise this journey into one sentence, it would be "life-changing". Louis - Year 9 at West Bridgford School, preparing to receive Sacrament of Baptism and Eucharist I found the trip to Rome and Assisi very good and also very moving. I was very excited when we all got onto the coach outside of the Holy Spirit Church and was still very excited when we got off the plane and onto the coach to Assisi. The hotel there was very nice apart from when me and Tristan had to put towels inside of the air conditioner because it stopped working and it was leaking water everywhere. When we got to Assisi it was great because the views from there were really good. Going into Saint Clare's Basilica was really moving, especially seeing Saint Clare and the Cross that Jesus spoke to Saint Francis through. When we saw Saint Carlo Acutis's body it quite strange because his body was preserved so well he looked like I could have seen him in one of my classes at school. It was quite strange seeing someone who was practically the same age as me becoming a Saint but it was a great reminder that anyone can achieve Sainthood. When we went to St Francis's Basilica for mass in one of the Chapels it was a really good mass and walking around it afterwards was great. Then leading the Rosary on the Coach ride back to Rome with the rest of the young people was great so was getting to tell people the coach how I found the trip so far was good too. When we got to Rome it was about 7 in the afternoon so we all had dinner in the hotel which was nice. When me and Tristan woke up in the morning on Sunday we had to rush to get downstairs for breakfast because we slept through our alarms at 5.45 and I had gotten woken up by a fire truck at 7 oclock so we had to rush getting dressed and brushing our teeth we then ran downstairs too breakfast. Waiting outside of the walls of the Vatican was quite good because we got into the Vatican in less time than I had expected then once we got in the mass was just about to start. When the mass had started I didn't really understand what was going on because I don't know any Latin but I also felt I knew what was going on a little. Going around Rome was nice seeing the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon was great The Colosseum was great to especially because we came there at night but the best place I went when I was walking around Rome was the Spanish Steps and the Trinita dei monti was great to not only because I won the race up the steps or because it's beautiful in there but also because me and all the young people there had a really good long talk outside of the Church which was good because I could really relate to the things that they were saying. On the last day I didn't oversleep, in fact I woke up early because I had set my alarm wrong. Going to St Peter's Basilica was really nice, especially carrying the Cross there. What I also found great was the St Mary Major Basilica because the Mass in one of the Chapels with the 3 Priests and the 5 Franciscan Friars was really good. Also seeing the tomb of Pope Francis was really moving, so was seeing the Manger Jesus was born in. Going to Rome and Assisi was amazing and I am so grateful for the people who donated for the trip so that me and other young people could go. I will never forget going there and it really helped me grow my Faith and get closer to God. Tinashe, Year 9 at the Becket School / Altar Server at Holy Spirit I had the privilege of joining the pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in September 2025 for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Our journey began in Nottingham, travelling to Stansted and then on to Italy. We first visited Assisi, where we attended Mass, bought souvenirs, and prayed at the resting place of Blessed Carlo. From there, we made our way to Rome.                     The highlight of the pilgrimage was the grand Canonisation Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Standing among tens of thousands of faithful, I felt part of a truly historic moment — one I will never forget. During our time in Rome, we also visited many beautiful churches, enjoyed sightseeing, and of course, tasted plenty of delicious Italian food! I am deeply grateful to God, our benefactors, priests, and all the supporters who made this pilgrimage possible. St. Carlo’s example of faith and service continues to inspire me — and I hope many other young people — to live selflessly and stay devoted to God. Tawana, Year 4 from St Peter’s Jnr School. My favourite part about the pilgrimage was going inside of St Peter’s basilica through the Holy door, but also seeing St Carlo Acutis, St Clare and St Francis’ tombs. I enjoyed seeing the Vatican the most and saying prayers together with the group.                                                  Seb and Tinashe, Year 11 and Year 9 at the Becket School

“[Love for the poor] is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.” (Pope Leo XIV) More Resources The text of Dilexi Te   [Download Link] An Infographic outlining the Exhortation. [Download Link] A presentation of Dilexi Te from Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. [Download Link] A presentation from Father Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté. [Download Link] A presentation from Sister Clémence. [Download Link] A Synthesis of the Exhortation. [Download Link]

We are deeply grateful for the care and thought so many of you gave to our recent parish consultation. The response was truly remarkable — a sign of the love you have for our Church and our shared mission. From your feedback, we know the process was not perfect and had some shortcomings. We have listened and learned from these. What you shared is both important and valuable: it reveals the strength of our faith, the vitality of our communities, and our shared desire to be missionary disciples. It also points us towards key questions and new directions for the future. Full Consultation Report The full report is 14 pages — clear, easy to read, and a fascinating picture of where we are as a parish and as local communities. Download the full report [CLICK HERE] . If you need a printed copy, please contact the Parish Office . Summary Version A 2-page summary with key headlines is available at the back of the church. Download the summary [CLICK HERE] . We want to thank especially our volunteer team who analysed the data for their careful data analysis, and the Parish Mission  Group (PMG) and Local Church Group (LCG) for their tireless effort in reaching this important milestone. Your hard work has made this consultation possible. We’re delighted to share this report with you promptly, so everyone has space to read, pray, and reflect on what it shows us. In the weeks ahead, we will continue discerning together and consult with the Diocese and the Bishop as we plan the way forward. Please take some time over the next couple of weeks to read the report, share and discuss it in your local communities, and continue this spirit of listening and hope. Let us give thanks that so many voices have been heard — voices that express concerns but also deep hope for our future. Together, guided by the Holy Spirit, we move forward with faith and confidence. Related post Missionary Discipleship Lived Out: Roadshow 2025 Report:

The Parish Finance Statements are now available.   If you would like to get more details about this report, please contact Cecilia Cheung (Parish Finance Administrator), cecilia.cheung@dioceseofnottingham.uk

Services marking the death and celebrating the life of Pope Francis Vespers for the Dead | Holy Spirit, West Bridgford Friday 25th April at 7.00PM Adoration at 6.30pm and followed by Vespers and then Mass at 7.30pm Solemn Vespers | Saint Barnabas Cathedral Friday 25th April at 7.00PM Live Stream Link Diocesan Requiem Mass for His Holiness Pope Francis | Saint Barnabas Cathedral Saturday 26th April at 6.30PM Live Stream Link Parish Requiem Mass | St Margaret Clitherow, Keyworth Sunday 27th April at 9AM Jubilee Churches with Books of Remembrance Cathedral Church of Saint Barnabas | 7AM - 7PM Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe | 7AM - 8.30PM Saint Philip Neri, Mansfield Our Lady of Lincoln, Lincoln Our Lady and Saint Norbert, Spalding Saint Mary, Derby Saint Joseph, Matlock Holy Cross Priory, Leicester | 7.30AM - 7.30PM Saint Mary of the Annunciation, Loughborough Our churches with Books of Remembrance Holy Spirit: open daily | 9AM - 4PM St Anne, Radcliffe on Trent | open daily St Margaret Clitherow, Keyworth: Thursday and Friday 24th and 25th April | 9AM - 12 NOON Our Lady of Grace, Cotgrave: Thursday and Friday 24th and 25th April | 10AM - 12 NOON Prayers for the late Holy Father, and for the Church Official Prayer Card prepared by the Liturgy Office Diocese of Nottingham - Online book of remembrance, as well as the biography, statement and information relating to the death of Pope Francis Read more

For Lent 2025 For the LVIII World Day of Peace: 1st January 2025

Michael spent the month of January 2025 in our parish for his pastoral placement. Here are his reflections on this meaningful experience. Greeting from Michael Furey, Pastoral Placement during January Dear Parishioners of the Annunciation, Rushcliffe, My name is Michael Furey, and I am a student for the priesthood for the Diocese of Nottingham. I am currently in my third year at St Mary’s College, Oscott in Birmingham. I am originally from Derby and my home parish is St Joseph’s in the city centre, where I was baptised, made my first holy communion and was confirmed. I attended St Joseph’s primary school and St Benedict secondary school. I first thought about the possibility of becoming a priest when I became an altar server but forgot about the idea when I began secondary school. However, the idea of priesthood probably never left me completely and then when I was fourteen the possibility came back to me and the thought of becoming a priest has never left me since. After leaving school I had a few different jobs, then in 2021 I applied for the formation programme for our diocese and was accepted by Bishop Patrick and sent to the Royal English College of St Alban’s in Valladolid, Spain. This is a college where students go for their first year of seminary studies to focus predominantly on their spiritual and human development before proceeding to their next seminary to study subjects like philosophy and theology. I have previously had pastoral placements in parishes in Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester and Glossop working with schools, a university and a prison. I have also done a separate placement in Edinburgh working with adults with learning disabilities in residential homes. At Oscott I have a weekly placement at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton visiting patients and their families on the wards bringing them Holy Communion, praying with them and getting to know them. Myself and other seminarians work alongside a team of hospital chaplains to provide whatever help we can to those who are patients, relatives and those who work in the hospital. I am very grateful to Father John and Father Evarist for agreeing to host and mentor me for this placement and I look forward very much to meeting you all and spending the month of January with you and getting to know the people in West Bridgford, Cotgrave, Keyworth and Radcliffe-on-Trent. Michael J. Furey. 10th January 2025 Dear Friends, Thank you all for the warm welcome I have received since arriving in your parish for my placement. It has been great getting to meet so many of you and being able to help with Altar Serving, reading at mass, giving out Holy Communion and meeting the catechists and candidates for their First Holy Communion and Confirmation. I will be joining the confirmation group on their trip to the Briars this Saturday, and this will be my first time visiting the Briars since 2020 so am looking forward to it very much. I am also looking forward to shortly visiting St Edmund Campion and the Becket schools and hopefully go out with some of the Eucharistic Ministers to bring Holy Communion to some of our parishioners at home. While I am here with you if anyone would like to ask me anything, or have any questions about priesthood, vocations, seminary life or anything else feel free to do so and I will be more than happy to try my best to answer them. Wishing you all and your families a good and happy week and with my prayers for you and for our parish. Michael Furey. 17th January 2025 Thank you to the Parish of the Annunciation, Rushcliffe Dear Friends, Thank you all so much for the wonderful experience you have given me while on placement in your parish. The time has now sadly come for me to say goodbye to you all and return to the seminary for the next semester. I have enjoyed every moment of my placement and have learnt so much. There is so much that seminary life does not teach you about parish life and it is only thanks to the generosity of Fr John, Fr Evarist and all of you that I have learnt so much. The work has been varied with visits to the schools, Nottingham prison, all four of our churches, the briars and engaging in programs like Confirmation and RCIA. It has been great for me to get to know so many people and to share my experience so far of seminary and parish life. Its also been nice to have some friendly fun about our local derby, (yes, for those who don’t already know I am a Rams fan and proud of it)! This is something which brings ordinary everyday things to life and makes it easy to build up a good rapport and remember that there is time for business and pleasure whilst on placement, (although being a Rams fan doesn’t bring much pleasure just now, but enough about that). As I prepare to return to seminary could I please ask you for your continued prayers for myself and our other diocesan seminarian, Lukas Mickevicius who is two years below me, and pray that other young men in our diocese may consider the option of the priesthood. We do face a challenging future in our diocese with fewer priests and seminarians and the parish was, in my case, where I first considered the possibility of becoming a priest. So please do pray for vocations to the priesthood and also to the diaconate, religious life and marriage. My deepest thanks to you all once again and a special word of thanks to Fr John, Fr Evarist, Margaret, Cecilia and Ceci. Be assured of my prayers for you and the parish and I hope to return for a visit when possible. Finally…   UP THE RAMS!!! God Bless Michael. 31st January 2025