Parish News

When I was at school one of my closest friends was probably the brainiest kid there, in fact he is one of the cleverest people I know. In my school there were some groupings; some who spent a lot of time in the art room listening to Pink Floyd being trendy and fashionable, others who were the school sport’s stars. My particular group were interested in things like books and ideas, I guess you would call us geeks, but it didn’t bother us. My friend went on to be a nuclear physicist but at some point he became interested in what motivates people and what makes a great leader. He made it his career and it made him a wealthy man. During the course of his ministry time and again Jesus shows that he has all of the qualities of a great leader. Like all true leaders there is something attractive about him, people just sense in some way that he is different and today we see an example of this. In Sunday's gospel John the Baptist somehow knows that Jesus is special. In Jesus’ society older people were more senior to younger people and John was also an established religious leader, and yet John defers to Jesus when it should have been the other way round. Jesus does not demand respect and deference. He is the sinless one and he does not need John’s baptism (which was not a baptism as we understand it) but he not only accepts it but he presses John for it. He puts himself in second place to John. Jesus wants John’s baptism to set us an example of what he later tells the apostles to do, but Jesus’ baptism is not symbolic like John’s but is the gateway to a relationship with him and the Father through the Holy Spirit, it is full of power and grace. Even at this, the beginning of his public ministry, in an invisible way, Jesus pulls people towards him – in this case John. It’s as though he has a kind of magnet inside him, but magnets not only attract they also repel. This is true of Jesus where the women and men who follow him just want to be with him. At the same time there are others who want nothing to do with him and even want him dead. For me, it’s less about magnets and more about the Holy Spirit at work silently speaking in His follower’s hearts. This was true for John the Baptist and it is as true for us as Christians. We are Christian by accident of coercion; we are Christians because of the fundamental attraction of Jesus. Later in the gospels Jesus tells us that he is not “a way” but “the way” and the way by which Jesus leads his people, leads you and me, is by his example, as he does in Sunday’s gospel. Jesus leads as much as by example as by his words. His model of leadership not grand empty loud rhetoric but by grounding what he says in what he does. All of us are in some way broken reeds or wavering flames. All of us are in one way or another damaged and fragile. Jesus in the fullness of his humanity knows this. He desires to open the blinded eyes of our hearts and souls, he wants to set us free from the prison of sin, he wants to bring us from darkness into the light of his presence. Jesus wants to lead us towards something that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, something beautiful and eternal a place of love and peace. Jesus’ way of leadership is something that he calls us to do too, to lead others to belief in him and the assurance of eternal life. Jesus shows us time and again how to do this, to make ourselves bigger by making ourselves smaller; by taking the lesser place; by behaving with modesty and humility; by being tolerant; by being forgiving; by doing our best to be people of love not hate. Doing this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, if you listen with the ears of your heart and see with the eyes of your soul, God your loving Father will say to you “you are my beloved, my favour rests on you”. God bless and keep you all. I am away for a few days next week but be assured that you will be in my daily prayers. Fr Chris

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

Some of you will be aware that priests are permitted to take a break after both Christmas and Easter. I will be away from Monday the 12th to Friday the 16th. I am trying to arrange for at least one Mass to be said in the parish during the week. Please keep an eye on next week’s bulletin in this regard. I managed to get a cheap flight to Rome - £50 each way!  Though I will not be on pilgrimage as such, as is my custom I am always happy to receive any intentions you may have that I can pray for on your behalf at the tombs of the Apostles.

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.  The next meeting of the SVP is this Monday the 5th of January, 07.00pm at St Urban’s. A wonderful new year’s resolution would be to join the SVP in the parish.

This Tuesday is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. There will be Mass for the feast at our normal Tuesday evening Mass time of 7pm at St Urbans’s. During the day I will be celebrating a Mass in each of our schools – 11.00am at St Urbans and 02.00pm at Sacred Heart . If you cannot make the evening Mass, and one of the daytime ones is better for you, I am sure that our schools will welcome you as they always welcome parishioners at school Masses.

Everybody loves a baby. One of the most rewarding times of my nursing career was the time spent in maternity services. Particularly in the labour suite witnessing and assisting a new life into the world, a split second in time when the baby emerges and all of a sudden, when it takes its first breath, is filled with life. Then, helping to look after the newborn and their mothers, the gurgles, the smiles and the cuddles of the baby and helping new mothers to grow in confidence. I guess that Our Lady had something of these experiences too both as a mother and with other women.  The Lord Jesus enters the story of humanity in a way which from the start makes him instantly approachable, inviting a smile, an embrace, inviting the feeling and look of love. Everybody loves a baby. This Sunday we hear from St John. In his gospel and letters he tells us of his direct encounter with Jesus during Jesus’ adult life, his death and His resurrection. His gospel is “part 1” of what he wants to say; his letters in the New Testament are “part 2” where he sets out his understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to be a believer. In his first letter he says, “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands”. In other words Jesus was and is real and tangible just like you. But in Sunday's gospel John reminds us that Jesus is much more. He is more that the baby in the feeding trough, real and beautiful though that is. St John tells us that Jesus is “the word” and how he is something beyond the grasp our poor intellects and intelligence. He is with God and He is God. All things in the universe were and are made through him, stars and galaxies, you and me. Without him there was and is nothing in creation. In the gospel we see how John the Baptist, though he is six months older than Jesus, also says that Jesus existed before him. Jesus is yesterday, today and forever. One of the miracles of Christmas is that God in Jesus directly enters the experiences of each and everyone of us, except sin. He is joined to our joys and sorrows, our laughter and tears, our fears and our hopes. This is more than God somehow having an excursion into the existence and experience of humanity. It is God being human, something that we can encounter and relate to. In our beginning God planted something of himself in us, what we call our souls. With the first sin the light of God within us was darkened. After that our inheritance was not eternal light but eternal darkness. But that was not the end of the story, as Mary and Joseph loved Jesus as his earthly parents, so God loved and loves us as our Father. At all points in the story of humanity God wants to heal, to redeem and to save. The Father wishes to embrace us, his children, to wipe tears from eyes, to bind up the wounds we bare, and to heal the broken hearted. To heal your brokenness. To make this a reality the true light, a light that can never be extinguished, comes into the world. The Word becomes flesh. The baby matures, his ministry shines in the world and cannot be overcome, even by death. Jesus holds out his light towards us, through which he gives you the right of becoming nothing less than a child of God, just as much as Jesus is as God’s only begotten son. Throughout the whole of your life, whether you know it or not, you are called to a greatness and destiny beyond human imagination as the son or daughter of God. How we respond to that call is a lifetimes work. The chance is there for you. How will you respond? Please accept my best wishes and prayers for a fruitful and blessed 2026. 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.