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.
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.
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 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! Future activities include 13th of August a visit to Grag House; 20th of August, Summer Garden Party; 27th of August chair yoga and meditation. More information is available from Louise on 07980 313333. The programme of activities is available at the back of the church.
Catherine Liddle takes up her appointment this week as parish administrator. Many of you will know Catherine from Our Lady of Lourdes. Catherine will work the equivalent of one day a week based in the St Urban’s office. I must confess it is a great relief to have some dedicated admin support. Fr Chris
It’s good to be back with you all after two week working as a chaplain in Lourdes, the first week with our own Diocesan pilgrimage, the second week as a chaplain to the Ampleforth pilgrimage. It has been a very busy but grace filled two weeks. I prayed for your intentions every day and I offered Masses for them too. It was particularly good to see our teenagers and, on the second week, young adults caring for the sick and the vulnerable with great compassion, care and concern. God willing their faith has been strengthened too. I want to sincerely apologise for any disruption or inconvenience my absence may have caused, especially due to unexpected illness. I am very grateful to Fr Paddy also Cannons Nunan and Cassidy for their support in covering my time away. At the back of the church you will find a small prayer card for you from me as a token of my prayers for you at the shrine. Hopefully there will be enough for everyone. 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.
This will take place on Saturday the 27th of September. It’s a great day out and an opportunity to visit Our Blessed Mother in the beautiful “England’s Nazareth”. There is an early start with a return in the evening but it really is worth it. It would be great if we could get enough numbers for a parish coach. I will leave a sign-up sheet at the back of our churches to canvass initial interest. Fr Chris
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.
The next baptism preparation session will take place on the 23rd of August at 2.00pm at St Urban’s. Please remember that booking a baptism cannot be happen without first attending a preparation session.
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.
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.
What do you treasure in life? My treasure in this world are letters, many are over 40 years old from loved ones; words of love and encouragement. They are things that I still look at from time to time hearing in my mind’s eye the voices of departed loved ones. A vulnerable and fragile treasure of paper; irreplaceable if lost or damaged. Attachment to things is part of human nature. Attachment begins early. We form an attachment to our parents immediately at the time of our birth, particularly to our mother. It’s as though we are created to be attached in some way, within our families, to our friends, and to God our loving Father. We are not fully human without being attached in some way. Jesus in his humanity had his attachments too. In particular an attachment to His friends and His followers, including, of course his mother. But we need to keep our attachments in perspective if we are not to become a captive, enslaved to the things that we think are our treasure, in particular those material possessions that we convince ourselves that we cannot do without. Without discernment our treasure can and will become our millstone. But be encouraged. The Father has as a free gift for us, an unimaginable treasure; his kingdom. This kingdom is a kingdom of both “now” and “not yet”. It is here and now through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through Jesus we already participate in the divine life of God through the love of God and our neighbour and the sacraments. The kingdom is also a kingdom of “not yet” as we await the end of time when Jesus will return in glory (as he insists that he will). In this Sunday's gospel Jesus, tells us to be ready for the moment of his promised return, he says that we must remain “dressed for action”. None of us knows when the end time will be, but every day of our existence it is the end time for someone, somewhere, as it will be for us one day too . The treasure of the kingdom is not gold silver and jewels, the treasure is found in the gentleness of heart, the tenderness of embracing a person in distress, a smile and greeting to the homeless and destitute on street corner, the loving caress of parent to child, accompanying people with compassion in the distress of sickness or bereavement. This is a treasure trail that is the path to eternal life, light, peace and joy. Today ask the Holy Spirit to help you to take a look into your heart, what is your treasure? As always please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions. Fr Chris
This will take place on Saturday the 27th of September. It’s a great day out and an opportunity to visit Our Blessed Mother in the beautiful “England’s Nazareth”. There is an early start with a return in the evening but it really is worth it. It would be great if we could get enough numbers for a parish coach. I will leave a sign-up sheet at the back of our churches to canvass initial interest. 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.