Webmaster • August 31, 2025
Join March for Life UK, Saturday 6th September, London. The right to life underpins every other right and without it every other right is rendered meaningless. Abortion denies the most vulnerable in our society of their most basic right which is why this year's theme is “Human Rights For All Humans.” Join thousands at this family-friendly event to recognise the value of life from conception and stand up for all those who have been impacted by abortion. https://www.marchforlife.co.uk/ or email: info@marchforlife.co.uk.
: 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 .
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.
WINE CALL MY BLUFF (In Memory of Fr. Barrie Senior) Friday 17th October – 7pm - £15 per person Tickets will be on sale from from this weekend after Mass. Please see the events team or Fr. Gregory. Prior to the event from 6.15pm you are welcome to join Fr. Gregory at Fr. Barrie’s graveside, Sugar Lane Cemetery, to pray a decade of the Rosary. For anyone able to help tidy the grave Fr. Gregory will be there from 6pm. Please ask for more details. Christmas Fair Meeting: There will be a meeting of volunteers for our annual Christmas fair on Tuesday 30th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre
Prayer, fasting and (current ‘buffer-zone-law’-compliant) peaceful vigil in support of the unborn, their mothers, fathers and families. 7am-7pm daily from 24 September to 2 November. More info here: https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/event/40-days-for-life-2025/ Contact Chris via 07815 681343 & 40daysforlife@gmail.com
The St Vincent de Paul Charity are now selling Christmas Cards at their shop (in the Ridings), Wakefield. Please support them if you can. Opening hours are 9am until 16:30 Monday to Saturday, and 10am until 16:00 Sundays, contact is 01924367809
A very big thank you to everyone who has donated food, toiletries or clothing to CAP for the hungry and homeless in Wakefield. Your contributions make a big difference to those in need. We would also like to offer our support to refugees arriving in the city, including families with children. Clothing to help these vulnerable people would be very much appreciated and can be placed in the box in the Narthex. Thank you.
In Wakefield my plan is to visit family graves on Sunday lunchtimes. Please leave a note at the Presbytery of names and cemetery details if you hope to be present. Gregory.
In the parable found in today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts the life of a rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, who lives in the shadow of the rich man and his wealth. Both die. Lazarus finds himself in heaven, the rich man in the netherworld. The rich man asks for assistance from Lazarus in his torment. But Abraham reminds the rich man of the good things he had in his life and describes the current situation as a reversal of fortunes. The rich man then asks that Lazarus be sent to warn his family, but this is denied with the reminder that Moses and the prophets have warned of judgment for those who neglect the care of the poor. In the context of Luke's Gospel, this parable, delivered in the presence of a crowd of listeners, is part of Jesus' response to some Pharisees. These Pharisees are described in Luke's Gospel as “loving money.” (Note: The Pharisees were followers of a sect of Judaism active before, during, and after Jesus' lifetime. They taught an oral interpretation of the Law of Moses as the basis for popular Jewish piety. They put less emphasis on Temple worship and more on applying the law to everyday life. Though they are often portrayed negatively in the Gospels, they shared many of Jesus' and the early Church's concerns about the law.) Jesus observed that the actions of some Pharisees betrayed misplaced priorities: they spoke one way but acted in another. The story of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates the importance of the care of the poor and is a reminder to those who would follow Jesus of the unimportance of wealth in the eyes of God.
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.