Webmaster • August 31, 2025
We recently donated non GBP/and old currency that we have received over many months as part of our weekly collections to Mary’s Meals. The following is a thank you from their team:
‘The coins & notes came from more than about 40 different countries! Your donation is enough to provide at least 10 children with a daily meal in school for a whole year or at 10p per serving, that’s enough to provide 2073 nutritious portions of Mary’s Meals. We are so very grateful for this wonderful support of our mission.
Many thanks from Mary’s Meals.’
Pathways Bereavement Café: Due to low numbers the Bereavement Cafe will no longer meet on the first Sunday of the month. Please be assured that Bereavement support is still available from the Bereavement Team on an appointment only basis via the Parish Office. If you need any support surrounding grief of any kind please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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.
The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill is expected to have its Second Reading in the House of Lords on Friday 12 September . Right To Life UK has launched an Easy action tool to help you write to a few Peers with a tailored message to highlight key concerns with the Bill. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeers to ask Peers to oppose assisted suicide - it takes just 30 seconds!
: 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 .
ST MARK’S WAY ON THE NATIONAL JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE OF HOPE: Begins on Saturday 6 September with 8am Mass at Leeds Cathedral. Walk all or part of the way between the Cathedral and the Jubilee Pilgrimage Church of St Austin in Wakefield. See Diocesan website for details of how to sign up.
40 Days for Life is a Prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil in support of the unborn, their mothers, fathers and families. There will be an information evening on Friday 5th September , 7-8pm at the Polish Catholic Centre, LS7 4JE.
Meals played an important role in the society in which Jesus lived. More than a time for sharing nourishment, they were a time to share ideas and to model different aspects of social relationships. In Luke's Gospel, the places that a person ate (at the home of a tax collector, 5:29), the people with whom a person ate (sinners, 5:30), whether a person washed before eating (11:38), and as is the case here, the place that a person sits while eating are all important. The narrator says Jesus tells a parable, but it is wise advice to both guests and hosts about finding true happiness at the heavenly banquet. Jesus warns guests to wait before taking their places at the table lest they be asked to move if someone more important arrives. This is more than just a lesson about dinner etiquette. It is advice on how to find your true place in the Kingdom of God. Jesus advises hosts not to invite people who would be expected to repay them to dinner but to invite those who could not repay: the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This is where real blessings can be found. In these sayings, Luke gives us not only advice on how to approach the end times but also on how to live according to Jesus' vision of a good society. Luke's Gospel also advises us how the Church must be part of bringing about this society. It is yet another example in Luke's Gospel of the reversal the kingdom brings about.
PARISH HEALING AND PRAYER MINISTRY In our Church we have witnessed healing, both physical and emotional through prayer ministry, and miraculous healing through prayer requests. When we think of miracles, we often imagine stories from Biblical times or the lives of the Saints long ago. However, miracles still happen in the modern world, touching the lives of ordinary people every day. These are a few testimonies of prayers said from our Church over the past year:
There will be a series of special Jubilee Masses in some of the churches in the Deanery. Parishioners are encouraged to go to some or all of these Masses and so become ‘pilgrims’ in this Holy Year whose theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Jubilee Masses are: Tuesday 9 September - St Michael’s Knottingley. All Jubilee Masses start at 7.00pm.
A BIG THANK YOU FROM FATHER STEVEN: Thank you For all the kind messages, cards and gifts I received ahead of my move to Rome. Your generosity is warmly appreciated. It was wonderful to see so many people come to celebrate Fr. Steven and his four years ministry with us last weekend. He will be greatly missed. We look forward to hearing all about Rome and wish him all the very best in his new ministry as Spiritual Director at the Beda College. For those who would like to keep in contact with Fr. Steven please use his Diocesan email address: steven.billington@dioceseofleeds.org.uk MASS INTENTIONS : If you would like Fr. Steven to continue to pray for your intentions please do contact him on the above email address to arrange this.