Our church offertory income consists of monthly standing orders, cash in numbered envelopes, and cash handed in at the collection during mass. All cash received is counted after the 10.30 Sunday mass and taken to the bank. Cash will always be an available option for making contributions, but it would be very helpful if those who can do so move to setting up a monthly standing order instead of using cash . If you donate using either a standing order or cash in numbered envelopes, and are paying UK income tax , as the church is a charity we are able to claim gift aid income from the government at no cost to you . All that is needed is the completion of a gift aid declaration. Please consider completing a declaration if you haven't already done so. Standing order and gift aid forms are available at the back of church on your way out and someone will be there to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your support in supporting our wonderful parish. Fr Chris
The next session of the 200 Club is underway. The 200 Club raises money towards the upkeep of both of our churches. It costs £10 for a 10 week session. The prizes are £30 and £20 each week, and, for the final draw on week 10, the prizes will be £100 and 2 x £50 prizes. There are plenty of spare numbers so we are seeking new members. The chances of winning are very high and it is a great way to support the parish. Please see Peter at the back of the church after Saturday and Sunday Masses.
Bishop Marcus will confer the sacrament of Confirmation in our Deanery on the 25th of November with the venue to be confirmed. As usual preparation for the sacrament for year 6 children will take place in our schools. There may be children who do not attend our schools who have already made their first reconciliation and communion who also need confirmation. If you know of anyone in this position please do get in touch with me as soon as possible. I would also like to hear from anyone in the parish who can help with the preparation programme for this sacrament (also the other “Sacraments of Initiation” - Reconciliation and Holy Communion) as last year I did these on my own. Thank you. Fr Chris
This meets every Wednesday at 10:30am to 12.00 in the meeting room at St Urban’s and is supported by Catholic Care. It is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to meet each other over tea, coffee and cake. Every week there are different activities. It is a place where you can be yourself, meet new people, and have some fun! More information is available from Louise on 07980 313333. The programme of activities is available at the back of the church.
HAS YOUR CHILD MADE THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION? If so they can become a member of our altar server team in either of our churches. It is a wonderful opportunity to draw nearer (literally) to the Lord Jesus in the Mass and to better understand what happens in the Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Training will be given.
We have some parishioners who would love to attend Sunday Mass but cannot get there by themselves. Please consider your own travel arrangements and if you could give someone a lift to Mass please do let me know via the office email address . Diocesan safeguarding applies. Thank you. Fr Chris
Our church offertory income consists of monthly standing orders, cash in numbered envelopes, and cash handed in at the collection during mass. All cash received is counted after the 10.30 Sunday mass and taken to the bank. Cash will always be an available option for making contributions, but it would be very helpful if those who can do so move to setting up a monthly standing order instead of using cash . If you donate using either a standing order or cash in numbered envelopes, and are paying UK income tax , as the church is a charity we are able to claim gift aid income from the government at no cost to you . All that is needed is the completion of a gift aid declaration. Please consider completing a declaration if you haven't already done so. Standing order and gift aid forms are available at the back of church on your way out and someone will be there to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your support in supporting our wonderful parish. Fr Chris
You are invited to our Harvest Festival Shared Lunch on Sunday 14th September in the meeting room at St Urban's at 12 noon. Everyone is welcome regardless of what Sunday Mass you attend. Those who come are encouraged to bring food to share with others. There is no list of what to bring but it always works out well with a very varied selection of food, and there is no obligation to bring food as there is always more than enough to share both savoury and sweet. If you can bring your own crockery this would be helpful as we only have a small amount. We welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help organise this - even if you can just help setting up or clearing away. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of both churches.
Bishop Marcus will confer the sacrament of Confirmation in our Deanery on the 25th of November with the venue to be confirmed. As usual preparation for the sacrament for year 6 children will take place in our schools. There may be children who do not attend our schools who have already made their first reconciliation and communion who also need confirmation. If you know of anyone in this position please do get in touch with me as soon as possible. I would also like to hear from anyone in the parish who can help with the preparation programme for this sacrament (also the other “Sacraments of Initiation” - Reconciliation and Holy Communion) as last year I did these on my own. Thank you. Fr Chris
You are invited to our Harvest Festival Shared Lunch on Sunday 14th September in the meeting room at St Urban's at 12 noon. Everyone is welcome regardless of what Sunday Mass you attend. Those who come are encouraged to bring food to share with others. There is no list of what to bring but it always works out well with a very varied selection of food, and there is no obligation to bring food as there is always more than enough to share both savoury and sweet. If you can bring your own crockery this would be helpful as we only have a small amount. We welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help organise this - even if you can just help setting up or clearing away. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of both churches.
Time for prayers, questions, input from a priest and social time. There are two groups meeting simultaneously; under 18s and over 18s. Fridays 6.30pm-8.15pm: 19th September (Hinsley Hall), 17th October (Hinsley Hall), 14th November (Cathedral Hall), 19th December (Hinsley Hall). Under 18 participants must complete and return a permission form prior to attending. For permission forms and to notify of attendance (all participants) please contact Vocations Promoter, Fr Simon Lodge simon.lodge@dioceseofleeds.org.uk .
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: We meet at the Meanwood Tavern for a drink and some pizza. It's a great opportunity to meet new people in the parish and catch up with others. We walk up after Tuesday evening Mass, or you can meet us there at around 7.45pm. For any questions, or to join the WhatsApp group for reminders, please get in touch with Joaquim Messa on 07454 678034 or Sarah Messa on 07952723416. Look out for future dates.
Jesus was a party person. In Sunday's gospel Jesus is found with others and meals feature an awful lot in the gospels. Sometimes Jesus is with dubious types we would not want to be seen with; at other times he is invited by people who really did not want him to be there but wanted to catch him out. I guess that we have all had people around sometimes that we don’t really want, but hopefully never when we are just deliberately waiting for someone to embarrass themselves when we can take some kind of moral high ground or superior position. Jesus knows how to behave as a guest; there are times too when he’s direct with people about what they should say and do. He’s very good at "giving feedback" you might say. However somethings never change in human nature, if we are honest all of us are somehow impelled to go for the best seats at events we go to. At the time of Jesus it was common practice for the most important people at a dinner party to arrive last so it was sound practical advice from Jesus to take a lower place first, particularly when, at that time, the seating was ordered by importance and honour. But of course the skill of Jesus is that the simplest things having a deeper meaning. In the gospel he tells us how to get the best out of a party not by bigging ourselves up, but by taking a bit of a back seat and waiting to be approached by the host. He shows that humility will be rewarded. After all if you choose or are in the lowest place the only way is up. For God the truly humble person will finish up where they ought to be and receive the honour which is due to them. Humility takes different forms. I was privileged to know someone who had a habit of throwing lavish parties. They were not always for family and friends. Sometimes they would invite people who were never invited anywhere - the sick, elderly and the lonely. They ensured that the guests had a wonderful evening with fine food and drink and great company. They did not expect a reward, and could never expect one, but they simply took pleasure in the experience of making people happy and relieving their burdens for a short while. That same person is now with God and, God willing, they, with some of their onetime earthly guests, are enjoying the hospitality of heaven. So be like Jesus, be a party person; be a good guest; be a great host; be generous; make your heart larger by making yourself a bit smaller. I promise, you will not go unrewarded. As always please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions. Fr Chris
These are a series of workshops where you learn to pray and you learn to live, they are every Thursday in the meeting room at St Urban’s from 7:00pm to 9:00pm (please note the new time) . For more information see www.tovpil.org or contact Vincenzo on 07367150001, Solange on 07446004352 , or Francis on 07940856029.
When I was training as a nurse we were taught a golden rule “never assume”. An assumption being accepting something as being true without proof. This principle is important in the context of the medical professions as the wrong assumption can have very serious consequences. But there are times for all of us when we have to make assumptions. There will be times when the information we have is incomplete and we have to use our intuition and prior experiences to fill in the gaps and reach conclusions. Perhaps assumptions are part and parcel of being a Christian. After all St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that we see things dimly in a mirror. But St Paul was writing around 53 AD at a time when the gospels were being formulated from people’s recollections of the life of Jesus. On Sunday we hear from Luke’s gospel written between 80 and 90 AD. By the time Luke is putting pen to paper, the time for assumptions about the good news of Jesus has passed. The core of the teaching of Jesus was in place. All of the gospels address, in one way or another, the end of history, both the end of our personal history in this life at our death, and the end of time itself. Jesus time and time again warns us to be ready for both, are we? Are you? Am I? As part of hospital and hospice ministry I see people who are approaching their personal end time here on earth. It is a grace and joy to be able to offer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to people, to cleanse them of the spiritual ills alongside their medical treatment. At the same time there is a feeling in some parts of the Christian world and more generally in society that spiritual interventions and remedies like this are unimportant, irrelevant, not needed. It’s just between the person and God. It’s an assumption that all people are saved and enjoying the eternal beauty of the vision of God. Of course no one can comprehend the scope of the love and mercy of God for us, either in this life or the next, but we need to be careful, the idea that a person can do everything on their own to attain grace and eternal life is an ancient heresy called Pelagianism. We know from our own experience of life, and what we see in the world, that we cannot simply save ourselves let alone our world, and that the exercise of our will cannot save us. If it could the world would already be a very different and better place. We need God or loving Father; we need Jesus; we need the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Only God’s free gift of grace, mediated in this life through the medicine for our souls, the sacraments, can bring about the personal transformation that we need and that the world desperately seeks. The Mass and the sacraments is the narrow door, narrow but always open, to those with a sincere heart. So how are your assumptions today about your life as a Christian? How are you today with loving God with your heart mind and soul and the stranger as yourself? How well do you know Jesus? How well does Jesus know the real you? He desperately wants to know you; he wants to work with you to transform you into something beautiful, something eternal. Do not be afraid. He wants to invite you to the feast of eternal joy. Please, please, don’t pass it up. This week's bulletin is attached. As always please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions. Fr Chris
Pope Francis
If peoples are to remain brothers and sisters, prayer must rise unceasingly to Heaven, and one single word constantly echo on earth: peace.