ANNUAL LOURDES DINNER DANCE : Friday 13th February 2026 at the Met hotel in Leeds. Tickets are available from Phil Marshall at £45 or £400 for a table of 10. The ticket price includes reception drink, a 3 course Meal, Tea & coffee, DJ and entertainment throughout the evening. To secure your tickets for this popular event, contact Phil on 07766 148375 or email philmarshall49@outlook.com. All profits at the event go to the Diocesan Lourdes fund.

RELICS OF ST GERARD MAJELLA: The Diocese will have the privilege of hosting the relics of St Gerard Majella at various venues across the Diocese in the week of 26th January. He is popularly invoked as a patron of mothers, particularly expectant mothers, couples trying to conceive, and those looking for work. Come along to pray in front of his relics, participate in Mass and receive a blessing with his relics. For times, dates and venues please see poster on the noticeboard.

THE DIOCESE OF LEEDS COMMUNITY CHOIR: welcomes all parish musicians and parishioners, all choir parents and friends, and all school and Diocesan staff to come together and sing! Rehearsals work towards singing Mass in Leeds Cathedral. Rehearsals will take place from 2.30pm - 4pm  25 January, 8 and 22 February, 8, 15 and 22 March at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Moortown. To sign up please email: office@dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk

Today’s Gospel describes beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels), Jesus’ public ministry begins after his baptism by John the Baptist and after his retreat to the desert where he was tempted by the devil. When Jesus returns from the desert, he hears that John has been arrested. The first part of today’s Gospel places Jesus’ ministry in the context of the writings of the prophet, Isaiah. Matthew wants to show that Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies given to the people of Israel, and he refers to Isaiah to do so. Isaiah says that the Messiah will begin his ministry in Galilee, the land of the Gentiles. When Jesus begins to preach in Galilee, Matthew points to his ministry as a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, proof that Jesus is the Messiah. When Jesus called his first disciples, the Gospel tells us that the fishermen (Peter and Andrew, James and John) dropped everything to follow Jesus immediately. Yet this Gospel tells us little about the prior experience that the fishermen had of Jesus. Did they know him? Had they heard him preach? What kind of person must Jesus have been to invoke such a response? We can imagine that Jesus was a powerful presence to elicit a response as immediate and complete as these first disciples gave. The Gospel concludes with a description of the ministry that Jesus begins in Galilee. Jesus inaugurates the Kingdom of God with his work. He teaches in the synagogue and preaches the kingdom. His ability to cure people’s diseases and illness is a sign of the kingdom. In Jesus’ ministry, we already begin to see the Kingdom of God among us.

Our Lady of Unfailing Help! Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send labourers into His harvest and that He will grant an abundance of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life within the Diocese of Leeds, and throughout the world. Amen.

For Prayer With The Word Of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

LOURDES NURSES VOLUNTEER APPEAL: Are you a qualified nurse? Would you like to join the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes (3-9 July 2026)? Please contact: lourdes.enquiries@dioceseofleeds.org.uk for further information. We desperately need registered nurses to join the team to enable our assisted pilgrims to travel to Lourdes. This is a wonderful experience, and many nurses return year after year. Please consider joining our friendly, happy team of volunteers and enjoy a truly blessed week with our assisted pilgrims.

JOIN BISHOP MARCUS IN PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS: Our Lady of Unfailing Help!  Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send labourers into His harvest and that He will grant an abundance of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life within the Diocese of Leeds, and throughout the world. Amen.

If you have any unwanted gifts, our social events team are making a plea for donations by leaving a box in the Narthex where you can donate your items to be utilised at their events through the year. Alternatively, please contact Annette Allsop on 07717 756770 if you want to donate anything directly. Thank you for your support.