We are pleased to welcome Fr Gregory Knowles as our new Parish Priest, accompanied by his pet snake plus 2 cats, Vincenzo and Bethlehem. He will be well known to some of our longer standing parishioners having served as curate here when Fr Barrie was the Parish Priest. He joins us after a number of years serving as the Parish Priest of Saint Cuthbert and First Martyrs in Bradford and is looking forward to meeting Parishioners new and old. For email contact please use his Diocese of Leeds address Gregorius.Knowles@dioceseofleeds.org.uk 

As the assisted suicide Bill progresses through the Lords, Peers have made it clear that receiving physical letters will have the most influence at this stage of the process. Right To Life UK has launched a new EasyAction tool that creates a personalised letter to be sent in the post to a Peer highlighting a key concern with the Bill, selects a Peer to receive it, and customises the letter so that it is addressed from you. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeersletter to send a letter to Peers asking them to oppose assisted suicide.

The Annual Leeds Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham will take place this year on Saturday 27th September . 12:00Noon Angelus and the celebration of Holy Mass, 2:30pm Solemn Procession into the village of Walsingham, 3.30pm Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the grounds of the Ancient Shrine. Bring a picnic lunch!

: 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 .

SEPTEMBER – SVP AWARENESS MONTH : Please see the display in the parish centre for more information about the work of the SVP. There are many of our local neighbours who face poverty, loneliness and isolation and the SVP can make a difference by offerings a friendly visit or much needed support. More members are needed to ensure that this work continues to grow and flourish. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact the SVP mobile no: 07526 099523. If you or anyone you know needs some practical help or a visit from the SVP, including a eucharistic visit if you are unable to get to Mass, please ring the mobile number or leave a message at the parish office. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

Please collect your certificate from the Narthex. If you no longer pay tax and have been claiming gift aid, please notify the parish office as soon as possible so that the necessary adjustment can be made to your gift aid claim. Alternatively, if you are a taxpayer and don’t gift aid your donations to the parish, please consider doing this as it increases your donation automatically by 25% at no extra expense to you. Forms can be found in the leaflet rack in the Narthex.

Fr Eamonn Hegarty and the Parish of St Mary's, Batley will once again be hosting the annual Batley Torchlight Procession on Monday 6th October , commencing at 7:30pm. The Procession will start at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and end at the nearby St Mary of the Angels’ Catholic Church. The Torchlight Procession is a fine expression of our Catholic faith and gives honour to Mary, Mother of God. Refreshments afterwards.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a steward who is dismissed because he is squandering his master's property. He is called dishonest because he is not serving the interests of the rich man, his employer. In response the steward, in an attempt to ensure favour for himself among the rich man's debtors, brokers repayment of the rich man's loans by foregoing the interest and fees that had been levied to line the steward's pockets. It is this action, in which the steward puts aside his greed and takes the longer perspective to enhance his security, which is commended by the rich man. The passage concludes with three morals for the listeners. The first exhorts the listener to be prudent about the use of wealth. Like the steward in the parable, those who would follow Jesus must put transitory affairs in proper perspective. Christians should handle the affairs of temporal life with an eye toward eternal life. The second concerns trustworthiness. Those who can be trusted in small things can also be trusted in great things. If Christians handle money and other passing things responsibly, then they can also be trusted with the affairs of the Kingdom of God. Finally, Jesus tells his listeners that no one can serve two masters simultaneously. God must be put ahead of money.

Over 60’s Group Autumn and Harvest Time – Bring along your favourite Autumn poem/song/lyrics/story and some Harvest food to share with the group (fruit or vegetable based) Monday 29 th September 2pm in the Parish Centre