Our next baptism preparation session will take place on the 23rd of November at St Urbans at 2pm. Parents will learn about the scriptural context of baptism, the specific teaching of the church on baptism, and what is required for a baptism to take place. At each session there will be an opportunity for parents to book a date. There is no session in December because of the Christmas holiday
Volunteers are invited to join our readers rotas both at St Urban's and Our Lady of Lourdes. Volunteers are also needed to help with counting the offertory after the 10.30 Sunday Mass at St Urban’s and for cleaning on Monday mornings, again at St Urban’s. All are important forms of ministry. If you can help with either speak to Father Chris or email the parish office. Thank you.
Many of you will be aware by now that we had a burglary at St Urbans sometime on last Sunday afternoon/evening. Obviously, there was some damage done much of which has been repaired, but live stream camera and our public address system has been stolen and will need to be replaced. In the interim unfortunately in the short term we will have to manage without microphones and there will be no livestreaming of Mass. Sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Our 200 club has been going for 14 years. Peter, who kindly runs the club is still open to new members The session costs £10 and the prizes are £30 and £20 for 9 weeks and a final draw of £100 and 2 £50 prizes. People can pay either cash or through the terminal at the back of the churches. Thank you for your support.
Preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation, holy communion and confirmation take place in our primary schools. There will be children who do not go to our schools but who need to be prepared for these sacraments over the coming months. Please let Father Chris know as soon as possible if your child is not attending one of our schools and requires preparation. This is the final notice on this for now as we are about to agree timetables for the sacrament of Confirmation with our schools office.stjeannejugan@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
Harvest Appeal Daniel, a young man in Democratic Republic of the Congo, is carving a better future for his family with carpentry skills he learned in a CAFOD-funded training centre. Give to CAFOD next week and you will fund training, tools, equipment and safe spaces so more people like Daniel can learn new skills and fulfil their God-given potential. Use the envelope in church or give online at cafod.org.uk/envelope . Please take an envelope home with you today. There will be a special CAFOD collection at the end of each Mass on the 5th/6th October.
Friendship Group: Meet every Wednesday at 10:30am in the meeting room at St Urban’s. You are all welcome to join our Friendship Group for tea and cakes. All most welcome
Our 200 club has been going for 14 years. Peter, who kindly runs the club is still open to new members The session costs £10 and the prizes are £30 and £20 for 9 weeks and a final draw of £100 and 2 £50 prizes. People can pay either cash or through the terminal at the back of the churches. Thank you for your support.
Preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation, holy communion and confirmation take place in our primary schools. There will be children who do not go to our schools but who need to be prepared for these sacraments over the coming months. Please let Father Chris know as soon as possible if your child is not attending one of our schools and requires preparation. This is the final notice on this for now as we are about to agree timetables for the sacrament of Confirmation with our schools office.stjeannejugan@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
Our next baptism preparation session will take place on the 23rd of November at St Urbans at 2pm. Parents will learn about the scriptural context of baptism, the specific teaching of the church on baptism, and what is required for a baptism to take place. At each session there will be an opportunity for parents to book a date. There is no session in December because of the Christmas holiday
November – the month of the Holy Souls. The feast of Holy Souls falls this year on Saturday therefore there will be a Mass for the feast on Saturday morning at 10.00 at St Urbans. During the whole of the month of November we especially remember the loved ones we have lost and commit them to the care of our loving and compassionate Father in Heaven. Our annual Mass, when we will remember those who have died from December last year, will take place on the 12th of November at St Urban’s during at the 7.00pm Mass. You will also find at the back of our churches envelops for the Parish’s Dead List. Those on the Dead List have Masses offered for the repose of their Souls throughout the year.
Would you like to get to know others in the parish? The date for the next Tuesday evening socials is 5th of November . We will be back at the Meanwood Tavern for a drink and an optional slice of pizza. It would be lovely to meet some new faces and catch up with our regulars. We will walk up after Mass, or you can meet us there at 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.
A memorial for the coming week is St Charles Borromeo a 16th century saint. Though appointed a Cardinal by his uncle Pope Pius IV he was a great pastor and teacher to his people in Milan. He would also greet and bless English priests returning to England to the certain risk of martyrdom. There is an image of St Charles over the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in our Cathedral in Leeds, next time you are there perhaps ask him for this intercession for bishops and priests to be good and holy pastors of souls. As always, God bless and keep you all; I assure you that keep your intentions in my prayers every day. Fr Christopher
We have an awareness of the work of a number of great saints, this is true of a number of the apostles such as Peter, James and John, but there are a number of apostles who are listed among the twelve about who we know little other than their names. Two of these are Simon and Jude whose memory we celebrate this week. More often than not ministry is conducted silently and quietly, as was probably the case with Simon and Jude, but we are grateful for their faithfulness in serving the Lord. Perhaps you can spare a prayer this week for those priests, deacons and religious men and women working quietly, without fuss or publicity, in the Lord's vineyard? As always, God bless and keep you all; I assure you that keep your intentions in my prayers every day. Fr Christopher
This week we keep the memorial of St Pope John Paul II. Along with a small number of others, such as St Theresa of Kolkata, there are not many Saints who were alive during our own lifetime. The thing that I recall best about St John Paul is the simple phrase "do not be afraid". These are also the words that Jesus used immediately after his resurrection when he appeared to the apostles. Down successive generations we are also invited to have courage, to trust in in the Lord, and to have absolute trust and confidence in his promise of salvation if we are faithful to him and to each other. I apologise for last week's bulletin not being available due to a glitch in our software. As always, God bless and keep you all; I assure you that keep your intentions in my prayers every day. Fr Christopher
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.