Parish News

If you are a man between 30 to 60 years, prayerful, with the desire to love God and God's people, involved within your parish community, and feeling drawn to a closer relationship with Christ and His Church, you might be called to be a Permanent Deacon. An information session will take place on the 24th of January between 10.30am and 12.00pm at Hinsley Hall. More information is available from Deacon David Arblaster (Director of Deacons) david.arblaster@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or Deacon Joe Cortis (Assistant Director-Formation) joseph.cortis@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Would you like to join the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes (3-9 July 2026)? Please contact: lourdes.enquiries@dioceseofleeds.org.uk for further information. Registered nurses and volunteer carers are desperately needed to join the team to enable assisted pilgrims to travel to Lourdes . This is a wonderful experience and I know from personal experience that some nurses and carers return year after year including some members of our parish. Please consider joining the friendly, happy team of volunteers and enjoy a truly blessed week with the assisted pilgrims.  Fr Chris

The SVP would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all who have made monetary and grocery donations throughout 2025. We have been able to provide significant and regular food donations to the SVP foodbank which have been promptly distributed to those in need. Similarly, all monetary donations have been distributed to members of our community who are struggling. We are incredibly grateful for your continued generosity and would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year.

As we continue to celebrate Christmas and now enter 2026, I want to extend a sincere thank you to you all for your contribution to the life of our parish and to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. There are so many of you who have a role in supporting parish life in many different ways, including cleaning, flower arranging, music, gardening, the work of the SVP, children’s liturgy, readers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, altar serving, safeguarding, counting our offertory, hospitality in serving tea and coffee, and many, many other things. Each are different ways of supporting our community and at the same time a different form of ministry to our Heavenly Father. I also want to take a moment to sincerely thank you all for your support to my ministry as your spiritual father. I have been bowled over by the number of cards, gifts and messages I have received. I know that you know that the life of a priest is not for the fainthearted, and undoubtedly there will have been times when I have made mistakes, perhaps there have been times when I have inadvertently upset people. For all of those occasions please accept my unreserved apology.  Every day I ask God, though the Holy Spirit, to enable me to be the best priest that I can be to serve Him and you to the best of my poor ability. Despite the ups and downs of the complexities of parish life, as we look towards 2026, I renew my unreserved commitment to the Lord and you. Let’s pray over the coming months that our bond as brothers and sisters will be strengthened and that our community may be salt to the earth and light to the world around us. God bless and keep you all. Fr Chris

This winter St Urban’s meeting room will be open on the first Wednesday of each month from 7pm to 8.30pm as a warm and welcome space for anyone who has suffered loss, however long ago, and who would like an opportunity to talk about it. This is not counselling, it is just a warm and welcome space where your experience of loss can be shared, if you wish. The dates are: 7th January, 4th February and the 4th of March . No booking is needed, just turn up. Also we need volunteers to provide cake, to help prepare the room, to welcome people, to make and serve hot drinks and to clean the room afterwards. It is a wonderful ministry to others and if you feel called to offer any help at all please contact Breda on 07858517163.

THE ANNUAL LOURDES DINNER DANCE: will take place on 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 and 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.

PARISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP: : This continues to meet every Wednesday at 10:30am to 12.00 in the meeting room at St Urban’s and is supported by Catholic Care. It is a wonderful opportunity for people to meet each other over tea, coffee and cake. Every week there are different activities. It is a place where you can be yourself, meet new people, and have some fun! Look out for their first programme for 2026.  More information is available from Louise on 07980 313333.

For many years it has been a tradition for parishioners to donate a poinsettia plant as part of the Christmas display in memory of a loved one. If you would like to donate a plant (either red or white) please bring it to church as soon as possible. Thank you.

THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL (SVP): The SVP would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all who have made monetary and grocery donations throughout 2025. We have been able to provide significant and regular food donations to the SVP foodbank which have been promptly distributed to those in need. Similarly, all monetary donations have been distributed to members of our community who are struggling. We are incredibly grateful for your continued generosity and would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year.