It was a shock to all of us to hear of the death of Pope Francis. It was amazing to see his fortitude during his last illness. Over the past few weeks personally I have been very moved by moments caught on camera, particularly his list visit to St Peter’s Basilica in his wheelchair devoid of papal robes with a blanket around his shoulders, it reminded me of occasions during my time as a nurse when you do your best to help someone in what they want to do at their end time without being overly concerned with niceties. Even then on that occasion he found the strength to bless a couple’s child. His last appearance in this life on Easter Sunday proved to be his farewell to us as he prepared to meet our risen Lord. May he rest in peace. During Masses we will have prayers for the repose of his dear soul. On Tuesday the 29th at 5.30pm there is a Requiem Mass celebrated by Bishop Marcus for Pope Francis in Leeds Cathedral. I would strongly encourage you to attend. I will be there which means that Mass on that day in the Parish will be at 10.00am in the morning. There will be no evening exposition or rosary but there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament commencing at 9.30am. Father Chris
Divine Mercy Sunday is a special time of grace and I am keen that people in the parish will have an opportunity to obtain the special plenary indulgence associated the Divine Mercy Sunday. On the 27th an image of Jesus in his Divine Mercy will be installed and blessed in St Urban’s at 2.00pm. After this confessions will be available, followed by Divine Mercy devotions concluding with the 3 o’clock prayer. The indulgence is available under the normal conditions - Confession with a detachment from sin and receipt of the Eucharist within a reasonable period afterwards (normally 7 days). Obviously prayers cannot be said for the intentions of the Holy Father at this time but the indulgence is still obtainable by following the other conditions. Father Chris
. Subscribers to the Update Service will be emailed 30 days before their renewal date to ask if they wish to stay subscribed. The renewal email will ask volunteers to access their Update Service Account and confirm that they wish to continue with the service. For those who confirm, this request will be repeated annually. If no confirmation is made, their volunteer subscription will automatically be cancelled. Volunteers who do not renew their subscription will not be able to keep their DBS certificate(s) up to date and organisations will not be able to check them. They will need to reapply for a DBS check if they need one in the future.
This is the most holy time of the year recalling the passion and death of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ culminating in his glorious resurrection. Jesus truly died, as we all will, but he also truly rose again by which heaven is open to us if we chose to accept the invitation to eternal life. Please note the changes to Mass times this week. Palm Sunday Masses will be at our usual Sunday Mass times with the first Mass of Palm Sunday on Saturday evening at 6.00pm at St Urban’s. There is no Mass in the parish on Wednesday due to the celebration of the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral at 11.00am by Bishop Marcus when all priests will renew their promises and the Holy Oils for 2025 will be blessed. All are welcome to the Chrism Mass which is a beautiful occasion. On Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at 8.00pm at St Urban’s followed by watching at the Altar of Repose until 10.00pm. On Good Friday the Celebration of the Lords Passion will be 3pm at Our Lady of Lourdes with Veneration of the Cross at 7.00pm at St Urban’s . On Holy Saturday the Vigil Mass will be at 8.00pm at St Urban’s when will we welcome seven wonderful people who have made a journey of faith into our parish community. Easter Sunday Masses will be at our normal times. For those unable to be in church the l ivestream at St Urban’s is available . From Thursday to Sunday we are invited to join the Lord Jesus as he gives us the Eucharist, and as he journeys from betrayal and suffering to resurrection and glory, a resurrection and glory offered to us; I look forward to walking this journey with you. Father Chris
Meets every Wednesday at 10:30am in the meeting room at St Urban’s. You are all welcome to join our Friendship Group for tea and cakes. There is a new programme of activities at the back of our churches.
This Sunday is Mothering Sunday. It’s an opportunity to thank our mothers for all that do, or have done, for us either by a gift or, for those who are with the Lord, a spiritual gift of prayer. Also remember that we have a mother in heaven, Mary Mother of Perpetual Help.
St Vincent’s Centre The Centre always needs supplies of non-perishable foods also toiletries. These can be left in the boxes at the back of our churches and are taken to the Centre by members of our SVP. The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, so thank you all for your donations which are sincerely appreciated. https://www.svp.org.uk/
SVP LEEDS – ANNUAL FAMILY SPONSORED WALK IN AID OF THE ST VINCENT’S SUPPORT CENTRE : Will take place in the countryside around Wetherby on Sunday 18th May 2025. All walkers new and old are most welcome. There are 2 walks: one of 3 miles and one of 9 miles to suit all ages and abilities. The shorter walk is especially suitable for primary school children and their families. For more information, please visit our website https://svp.org.uk/stvincentsleeds or contact Leigh Bradley: LeighB@svp.org.uk //0113 -2484126 or from our Parish SVP Conference. Please also look out for the posters in the Narthex. Please support our unique Leeds based project helping the disadvantaged & those living in poverty throughout Leeds. The Centre always needs supplies of non-perishable foods also toiletries. These can be left in the boxes at the back of our churches and are taken to the Centre by members of our SVP. The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, so thank you all for your donations which are sincerely appreciated.
Our schools will soon begin to prepare children in Year 3 for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Year 4 for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. There are a number of children in the parish who are not in our schools but who need to be prepared for these sacraments. Please email the parish office if you have a child requiring this preparation. Sessions are likely to be on a Saturday afternoon and dates will be announced shortly
It was a shock to all of us to hear of the death of Pope Francis. It was amazing to see his fortitude during his last illness. Over the past few weeks personally I have been very moved by moments caught on camera, particularly his list visit to St Peter’s Basilica in his wheelchair devoid of papal robes with a blanket around his shoulders, it reminded me of occasions during my time as a nurse when you do your best to help someone in what they want to do at their end time without being overly concerned with niceties. Even then on that occasion he found the strength to bless a couple’s child. His last appearance in this life on Easter Sunday proved to be his farewell to us as he prepared to meet our risen Lord. May he rest in peace. During Masses we will have prayers for the repose of his dear soul. On Tuesday the 29th at 5.30pm there is a Requiem Mass celebrated by Bishop Marcus for Pope Francis in Leeds Cathedral. I would strongly encourage you to attend. I will be there which means that Mass on that day in the Parish will be at 10.00am in the morning. There will be no evening exposition or rosary but there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament commencing at 9.30am. Father Chris
Divine Mercy Sunday is a special time of grace and I am keen that people in the parish will have an opportunity to obtain the special plenary indulgence associated the Divine Mercy Sunday. On the 27th an image of Jesus in his Divine Mercy will be installed and blessed in St Urban’s at 2.00pm. After this confessions will be available, followed by Divine Mercy devotions concluding with the 3 o’clock prayer. The indulgence is available under the normal conditions - Confession with a detachment from sin and receipt of the Eucharist within a reasonable period afterwards (normally 7 days). Obviously prayers cannot be said for the intentions of the Holy Father at this time but the indulgence is still obtainable by following the other conditions. Father Chris
This is the most holy time of the year recalling the passion and death of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ culminating in his glorious resurrection. Jesus truly died, as we all will, but he also truly rose again by which heaven is open to us if we chose to accept the invitation to eternal life. Please note the changes to Mass times this week. Palm Sunday Masses will be at our usual Sunday Mass times with the first Mass of Palm Sunday on Saturday evening at 6.00pm at St Urban’s. There is no Mass in the parish on Wednesday due to the celebration of the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral at 11.00am by Bishop Marcus when all priests will renew their promises and the Holy Oils for 2025 will be blessed. All are welcome to the Chrism Mass which is a beautiful occasion. On Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at 8.00pm at St Urban’s followed by watching at the Altar of Repose until 10.00pm. On Good Friday the Celebration of the Lords Passion will be 3pm at Our Lady of Lourdes with Veneration of the Cross at 7.00pm at St Urban’s . On Holy Saturday the Vigil Mass will be at 8.00pm at St Urban’s when will we welcome seven wonderful people who have made a journey of faith into our parish community. Easter Sunday Masses will be at our normal times. For those unable to be in church the l ivestream at St Urban’s is available . From Thursday to Sunday we are invited to join the Lord Jesus as he gives us the Eucharist, and as he journeys from betrayal and suffering to resurrection and glory, a resurrection and glory offered to us; I look forward to walking this journey with you. Father Chris
Happy Easter, or as they say in Italy "Buona Pasqua"! Thank you all so much for your best wishes. I want you to know that, with the help of God and Our Blessed Mother, and despite my many failings and weaknesses, I willingly recommit myself to do my best to be a good spiritual father to you all. Christ is risen. Both in his divinity and his humanity he has broken the chains of sin and death and liberated us in order to share in his divine life which is nothing less than the life of the Trinity itself. This week has proved to be momentous in both our life of faith and in the life of the Church. Who would have thought that on Easter Sunday we would bear farewell to the Holy Father Pope Francis. We all knew that he was very unwell but somehow he kept coming back from the brink. Throughout everything his indomitable spirit shone through. He continued doing God's work right up to the very end, including meeting prisoners on Holy Thursday, and blessing a family in St Peter's in his wheelchair, shorn of all the trappings of the Papacy and covered by a blanket. How did he manage to do this? Well, I think that his conviction about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, his absolute confidence in the promise of eternal life, and his dependence on the divine mercy of Our Lord and Saviour carried him onwards, God willing, to and beyond the gates of heaven. Rest in peace dear Pappa, if anyone deserves it you do. Please do pray for the repose of his soul. Up until the commencement of the Conclave we are specifically praying for this at every Mass. Pray also for the Cardinals, including our former Bishop Arthur, as they commence their work on choosing a successor to the Holy Father. May the Holy Spirit guide them. This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, an extraordinary day for us when we have the opportunity to open our hearts to the Lord and receive his love, mercy and forgiveness. On Sunday I will bless an image of Divine Mercy in St Urban's to complement the one already in Our Lady of Lourdes. I still wish you all a very happy and blessed Easter and please be assured of my prayers for you and your intentions during this holy time. Fr Chris
I am writing this on Good Friday. In the account of the Passion of Our Lord and Saviour we hear of darkness over the land. We all encounter darkness in our lives and it takes many forms, sin, broken relationships, bereavement, isolation, sickness. There are moments in all of our lives when our hearts and souls cry out using the words of Jesus on the cross, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". Why does Jesus use these words of anguish? I like to think that they are words of reassurance to us where Jesus shows us that he knows, understands, and joins himself to, the darkest moments of our lives when we feel lost and forsaken. Yet we know that this moment of crisis for Jesus is not the end, a few short days later he bursts the chains of death and despair and rises triumphant. He very much desires and invites us to join us to his victory. His resurrection is our invitation to join him in the glory of the life of the Holy Trinity. In the midst of our lives and difficulties this promise of glory can feel like something far away and distant in the context of our day to day circumstances but it is assured. The light of Christ is with us. When Jesus is with his friends after his resurrection he says two things "peace be with with you" and "do not be afraid". I offer these words of the Lord to you today. May you always hear the reassurance of Jesus in your hearts and souls. A very happy and blessed Easter to you all. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your intentions during this holy time. Fr Chris
Many of you will be aware that since my arrival I have largely been a oneman band with parish administration. I have worked with the Diocese on shaping a role for a parish administrator. Self-evidently the job will be primarily to assist me with the various administrative tasks involved in running the Parish. What is needed is a good all-rounder with administrative and people skills to work in the Parish Office. The hours are initially 7 per week but subject to review. You may know someone outside our parish community who would be suitable for the role. Please speak to me for more information. The closing date for applications is the Monday the 5th of May2025 . Father 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.