Shopping List   fill a bag with as many items as you can and   BRING BACK TO HOLY SPIRIT OR ST. ANNE’S CHURCH ON THE WEEKEND OF 13 TH  AND 14 TH  DECEMBER       Food:    Tinned Fruit, Rice pudding, custard, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, tins of meat, tins of tuna, tins of vegetables, tea and coffee, drinking chocolate, jars of pasta sauce, granulated sugar, jam and marmalade, biscuits, cereal bars, crisps, pot noodles, instant pasta pots, instant porridge pots, cup a soup, chocolate bars, canned fizzy drinks, ready diluted squash, small bottles water, long life milk, cereals, sugar, small packs crisps.     Non-food items:   Washing up liquid, Toothbrushes and toothpaste, Shower gel, deodorant (no aerosols) Sanitary pads, tampons, wet wipes, toilet rolls Large rucksacks/holdalls, Sleeping bags, Roll mats, Tents.     Clothing:   Joggers (medium and large), boxers (medium and large- new only), T-shirts – male any size, Trainers in good condition size 8/9 (men), 5+ (women), Warm waterproof medium jackets, leggings, jeans, hiking socks, jumpers, hoodies/fleeces, bras (new only), hats and gloves.

Inviting Your Voice: A Faith-Based Study on Neurodiversity The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith . If you are an adult neurodivergent Catholic or a Caregiver of a neurodivergent Catholic, we want to hear from you. Your experiences will help us to become more inclusive and responsive to your needs. To find out more and to fill in our short surveys look here: www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys/ Music to Counter Dark Days on Friday 5 th  December at 7.00pm Music to Counter Dark Days , a warm evening of traditional folk music with mulled wine and mince pies, is being held in Cathedral Hall, Nottingham NG1 5AW, on Friday 5 th  December at 7.00pm.  All are welcome to this free event, with arts and crafts, and Christmas gifts on sale too. Advent Online Retreat between Sunday 7th and Thursday 11th December The Jesuit Institute is offering an Advent Online Retreat between Sunday 7 th  and Thursday 11 th  December , giving participants   an opportunity to spend more time with God and listen to how God as at work in their lives in the lead up to Christmas.  Details, and booking information, is at:  www.jesuitinstitute.org/events/online-individually-guided-retreat---advent Young Adults Christmas Party at Saint Mary’s, Derby on Sunday 14th December All young adults are warmly invited to join for a Young Adults Christmas Party at Saint Mary’s, Derby, for Mass, mulled wine, mince pies, games, and prizes on Sunday 14 th  December  from 2.00pm.  No sign up required.  Contact charles.archer@dioceseofnottingham.uk  for more info! A Christmas Story: The Coming of the Lord on Friday 19th December in Saint Teresa's Catholic Church, Nottingham (NG8 3EP) The African Catholic Community Choir, Nottingham, warmly invites you to its Christmas Carol service A Christmas Story: The Coming of the Lord  on Friday 19 th  December  at 7.00pm, in Saint Teresa's Catholic Church, Nottingham (NG8 3EP).  Come and experience the beauty of the season through scripture, music, and reflection as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ.  All are welcome to share in this evening of faith, song, and community spirit. Men’s Retreat on either Wednesday 4th or Wednesday 11th February A Men’s Retreat  to experience Saint Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises in a 5-day, shortened form.  The retreat will be guided by the monastic community of Saint Joseph’s Abbey, Flavigny (France), founded with the charism of offering this version of the Exercises to men.  The retreat is open to men in all states of life, who wish to seek God’s will through a deepened detachment from the world, and is being held at the Christian Heritage Centre, Lancashire, starting on either Wednesday 4 th  or Wednesday 11 th  February.  More details can be found at: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/mens-retreat-spiritual-exercises-of-st-ignatius   Vacancies The Diocesan Finance Team as a Parish Bookkeeper, Join the Diocesan Finance Team as a Parish Bookkeeper , a rewarding opportunity to support parishes across the Diocese of Nottingham in maintaining accurate financial and Gift Aid records.  Based at St Hugh’s House in Nottingham, this 2-year fixed-term role (with potential transition into Deanery Service Hubs) offers a salary of £27–£30k pa, depending on experience.  The successful candidate will provide professional bookkeeping services, help clear backlogs, and ensure compliance with diocesan standards.  Strong technical skills and the ability to work collaboratively with clergy and volunteers are essential.  Apply by 9.00am on Monday 1 st  December via www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/careers/parishbookkeeper Part-time Parish Administrator - The Parish of Saint Ralph Sherwin, Derby The Parish of Saint Ralph Sherwin, Derby is seeking to appoint a part-time Parish Administrator  with finance to support the day-to-day running of the parish.  The role will be for 25 hours per week (Tuesday – Friday, 8.30am-2.45pm) at Band 4 (£14.17 per hour).  The parish is looking for a candidate with proven experience in administration and finance, ideally within parish, school, or charity settings.  The successful applicant will play a key role in supporting parish operations and financial processes.  For an informal chat about the role, contact Canon Andrew Cole andrew.cole@dioceseofnottingham.uk  and to request an application form, email office@dioceseofnottingham.uk   The closing date is Monday 8 th  December.

Rather than sending Christmas cards this year, we invite you to consider offering a donation to a charity that upholds our Catholic values. A card may last a moment, but a charitable gift can change a life. St Patrick's Missionary Society Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)

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]

Prayer 📖 Carlo's Official Website Prayer booklet 🌐 Explore More About Carlo   📖 Carlo’s Eucharistic Miracles Website:  http://www.miracolieucaristici.org   🎥 EWTN Documentary: I am With You - A Documentary on Carlo Acutis   🎥 Formed.org :  The Boy From Milan (watch the trailer ) 📰 Vatican News: Miracles attributed to Carlo Acutis YouTube 🎥 The Life of Carlo Acutis Saints in Seven: Carlo Acutis 🎥 Lego Short Film on Carlo Acutis 🎥 EWTN Cartoon About Carlo Acutis 🎥 What’s The Story of Blessed Carlo Acutis?

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:

Update - 3rd September, 2025 Bishop Patrick asks that parish priests encourage their parishioners to write to Peers in the House of Lords (and that parish priests write themselves) about the Assisted Suicide legislation which is being considered by the House of Lords.  Included with this Roundup are: The Statement of Archbishop John Sherrington ; Some suggestions about How to write to a Pee r ; Questions and Answers   about the proposed legislation prepared by the Catholic Union. Cardinal Nichols responds to Third Reading of Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Archbishop Sherrington statement on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Assisted Suicide The Catholic Church supports and upholds a compassionate response to those in the last stages of their life. However, there can be no safe or limited assisted suicide law. The Church, consistent with the nature of her mission, is clear that “we cannot directly choose to take the life of another, even if they request it.” For the terminally ill patient, “incurable cannot mean that care has come to an end.”

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