: 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. There are prayer cards available at the back of our churches, please do take one also feel free to gve them to others who may like one. Father Chris
Many of you will be aware that this meets every Wednesday at 10:30am in the meeting room at St Urban’s and is supported by Catholic Care. It is something I very much value (and it’s not just the homemade cakes!). It is a wonderful opportunity to people to mutually support each other, regardless of age. The truth is that the numbers attending are putting its viability at risk. Please do come along , you won’t regret it. The new programme of activities is at the cack of the church. 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
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
The next dates for the Tuesday evening socials are the 6th of May , the 3rd of June and the and the 1st of July . 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. Don't worry if you've not been before, you're more than welcome! 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.
: 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. There are prayer cards available at the back of our churches, please do take one also feel free to gve them to others who may like one. Father Chris
Because of the Marathon on the 11th of May , and difficulty of access, there will be no morning Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, instead there will be a Mass of Sunday at 4.00pm on Saturday the 10th of May. I have decided for the future to give people an opportunity for confession before Sunday Mass. 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
It is kind of appropriate that as we await the election of a new Holy Father the gospel this Sunday largely features the Lord Jesus and Peter. Peter is one of my heroes. He is inspired by the Holy Spirit to be the first who correctly identify who Jesus is. In this Jesus makes Peter first among the Apostles. However he often gets carried away by his enthusiasm. Most notably, before the passion of the Lord, he tells Jesus that he will willingly die for him. Shortly afterwards he denies Jesus three times, and in one gospel it is inferred that Jesus actually hears him do this when he turns and looks at Peter after the third denial. Peter is devastated and we are told that he goes out and weeps bitter tears. Personally, there have been times when I have wept over my sins and weakness, so I can identify with Peter at that moment of shame. But Peter shows us how to come through weakness and fragility. We see in the Acts of the Apostles that he is transformed from being uncertain and fearful to being a dynamic leader who is absolutely committed to spreading the gospel. He is indeed the key to establishing Christ’s church on earth, just a Jesus said he would be. Peter is a sign to all of us of the transformative power of grace if we let the Holy Spirit into our hearts and souls. Before this, however, we see how this week Jesus mirrors Peter’s three denials with three simple questions, “do you love me”; as Peter denied Jesus three times he confirms his love three times and he is healed of his betrayal. We too are healed when we come to Jesus in confession. The act of going to confession is a deep act of faith in Jesus where just by being there we say “Lord you know everything (about me), you know that I love you”. In a sense Catholics, with our recognition of the Pope as our Holy Father and the successor of Peter, are the spiritual descendants of Peter. So let us pray that we will have a new chief shepherd on earth soon. O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. Of course, also continue to pray for the repose of our dear Pope Francis. By total coincidence I am in Rome from Monday to Friday next week. Please be assured of my prayers for your needs and intentions at the holy sites. Fr 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
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.