The Second Sunday of Easter, “Divine Mercy Sunday” is a special time of grace and I am keen that our parish community has the opportunity to obtain the plenary indulgence associated with this day. Our Divine Mercy liturgy will commence at 2.00pm at St Urban’s with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition Confession will be available, followed by Divine Mercy devotions concluding with the 3 o’clock prayer. The plenary indulgence is available under the normal conditions – Confession with a detachment from sin, receipt of the Eucharist within a reasonable period (normally 7 days), and prayers for the intentions of our Holy Father Pope Leo.
This is the most holy time of the year recalling the passion, death of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, culminating in his glorious resurrection. Jesus truly died, as we will, but He also truly rose again by which Heaven is opened to us if we choose to accept the invitation to eternal life. Please note the changes to Mass times this week Palm Sunday Masses will be at our usual Sunday Mass times with the First Mass of Palm Sunday on Saturday evening at 6.00pm at St Urbans. There will be Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday at 3.00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes. There is no Mass in the parish on Wednesday due to the celebration of the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral at 11.00am celebrated by Bishop Marcus where all the priests of the Diocese will renew their promises and the Holy Oils for 2026 will be blessed. All are welcome at the Chrism Mass which is a beautiful occasion. On Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, including the “Mandatum” the washing of feet, will be celebrated at 8.00pm at St Urban’s followed by watching at the Altar of Repose until 10.00pm. On Good Friday the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be at 3.00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes with Veneration of the Cross at 7.00pm at St Urban’s . On Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil Mass will be at 8.00pm at St Urban’s; this Mass meets the obligation for Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday Masses will be at our normal times.
As part of the consultation currently taking place across our two Dioceses, there is an opportunity for all clergy, religious and members of the lay faithful to contribute by completing an online questionnaire, either individually or as a parish group. Prayerful reflection should be given to the questions so that the Holy Spirit may guide this process of discernment. Prayer resources and a presentation are available on the diocesan website to support this process. Responses should be submitted no later than Friday, 22nd May 2026 . For more information and to complete the questionnaire, please visit: https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/leeds-middlesbrough-consultation-2026/
The winning numbers for the 7 th draw are £30. 142. £20. 28. Congratulations to the winners
We are invited to join Bishop Marcus with his prayer for vocations for men and women: “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.”
After the 10.30 Mass at St Urbans on Easter Sunday we will hold our annual easter egg raffle . It is still not too late to kindly donate an easter egg as a prize. It’s a great way to support our parish family, including enabling the purchase an easter gift for housebound parishioners
A series of 15 sessions of Prayer and Life Workshops, a program where you “learn to pray and you learn to live”, will be held in the meeting room at St Urban’s every Wednesday from 6.45pm to 8.45pm starting on the 15th April 2026.
Baptism preparation sessions will be held on the 18th of April and the 23rd of May both at 3.00pm in the meeting room at St Urban’s.
The St Vincent de Paul Society and CAFOD are working together to offer a week of free residential work experience for 20 young adults in England and Wales. The experience will run from 21st – 26th June in London. Candidates must be aged 18-25 years old, but priority will be given to those in their first or second year at university. Apply here: https://svp1.formstack.com/forms/work_experience_application_form_2026 . Applications close on 6th April. For any queries, please contact KeziaH@svp.org.uk
The Second Sunday of Easter, “Divine Mercy Sunday” is a special time of grace and I am keen that our parish community has the opportunity to obtain the plenary indulgence associated with this day. Our Divine Mercy liturgy will commence at 2.00pm at St Urban’s with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition Confession will be available, followed by Divine Mercy devotions concluding with the 3 o’clock prayer. The plenary indulgence is available under the normal conditions – Confession with a detachment from sin, receipt of the Eucharist within a reasonable period (normally 7 days), and prayers for the intentions of our Holy Father Pope Leo.
This is the most holy time of the year recalling the passion, death of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, culminating in his glorious resurrection. Jesus truly died, as we will, but He also truly rose again by which Heaven is opened to us if we choose to accept the invitation to eternal life. Please note the changes to Mass times this week Palm Sunday Masses will be at our usual Sunday Mass times with the First Mass of Palm Sunday on Saturday evening at 6.00pm at St Urbans. There will be Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday at 3.00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes. There is no Mass in the parish on Wednesday due to the celebration of the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral at 11.00am celebrated by Bishop Marcus where all the priests of the Diocese will renew their promises and the Holy Oils for 2026 will be blessed. All are welcome at the Chrism Mass which is a beautiful occasion. On Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, including the “Mandatum” the washing of feet, will be celebrated at 8.00pm at St Urban’s followed by watching at the Altar of Repose until 10.00pm. On Good Friday the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be at 3.00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes with Veneration of the Cross at 7.00pm at St Urban’s . On Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil Mass will be at 8.00pm at St Urban’s; this Mass meets the obligation for Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday Masses will be at our normal times.
After the 10.30 Mass at St Urbans on Easter Sunday we will hold our annual easter egg raffle . It is still not too late to kindly donate an easter egg as a prize. It’s a great way to support our parish family, including enabling the purchase an easter gift for housebound parishioners
Please see the lists at the back of St Urban’s asking for volunteers to help with our Holy Week liturgies . Roles include volunteering to have feet washed on Holy Thursday; people to help carry the canopy to the Alter of Repose on Holy Thursday; readers for the liturgies on Thursday, Friday and the Holy Saturday Vigil. It is a great way to play a part of honouring The Lord’s passion and resurrection.
A series of 15 sessions of Prayer and Life Workshops, a program where you “learn to pray and you learn to live”, will be held in the meeting room at St Urban’s every Wednesday from 6.45pm to 8.45pm starting on the 15th April 2026.
Baptism preparation sessions will be held on the 18th of April and the 23rd of May both at 3.00pm in the meeting room at St Urban’s.
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.