Message from Ian; Thank you to everyone who supported me, in various ways, on the Leeds to Walsingham Way Pilgrimage. This was a successful Pilgrimage. There were around 50 Pilgrims who walked various sections of the route and three of us walked the full 250 miles. We delivered the written intentions to the Slipper Chapel in Walsingham. Your kind generosity has helped raise approximately £2,500, including Gift Aid, towards the St Mary's Building Fund. A daily account of the Pilgrimage can be found on the Diocese of Leeds website under the News section https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/leeds-walsingham-wayday-14/ . Days 1 to 13 are also available on the Diocese of Leeds website.
Annual Mass for our deceased relatives and friends - Will take place on 10th at St Mary’s. 7pm
Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation - Session 1 Sunday 18th October 11.30am to 2pm with a half an hour break for packed lunched session 2 Sunday 8th November same timings. Both sessions to be held in the classroom at St Mary’s. It is essential to attend both sessions before receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Please email Fr Gerard before Wednesday 14th October to apply for Confirmation this year. The Sacrament will be celebrated at St Aelred’s on Saturday 21st November at 5.30pm
St Aelred’s Fish Lunch - Monday 26th October 2026 St Aelred’s Hall, All are welcome to come and enjoy fish and chips, mushy peas, tea/coffee, bread & butter and sweets for afters. Come and have some good company and chat. Hall opens 12noon, luncheon served 12.30pm. £8.00 monies to be paid to Tony or Margaret. Please put your names on the list at the back of St Aelred’s church or phone Tony on 07912790773.
11th -16th October 2026. If any parishioners would like to join in the evening workshops then they are most welcome. These will be taking place In St Aelred’s Hall, between 7-8.30pm: Tues 13th October - Praying together as a family, Wed 14th October - Ways of Praying, Thurs 15th October – Discernment. Please remember to pray for all our retreatants and our prayer guides.
The winning numbers for the September draw are:- £40 - 116, £25 - 160, £20 - 149, £15 - 159. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The winning cheques can be collected from the notice board.
November Dead List Envelopes – Are available at the back of church. Please return them to church as soon as possible. Thank you.
Please note that when you hand in a Mass intention all dates are allocated 2 weeks in advance. Please be aware that due to the high volume of Mass requests we have received this year, the timeframe from the request to the Mass being celebrated is approximately 10 weeks. If you want a specific date you will need to hand in well in advance to avoid disappointment, if the date you request has already been taken you will be given the next available date nearest to your request. Please ensure that you put your donation inside the envelope (minimum donation £10), and the details on the outside ( in block capitals) , who the mass is for, and the date and church you would like. Thank you.
Want to know more about the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes? Then come along to Lourdes Quiz/information sharing night plus Pie & Peas supper from 7pm at St Josephs Church, Wetherby (in the Hall) on Friday 23rd October. More info & tickets available from Phil Marshall (07766 148375)
St Mary’s SVP, Small Electrical Items - Many thanks for your generous response to St Mary’s SVP request for small electrical items. Further donations are still welcome and can be left in the SVP box in ST Mary’s Narthex.
St Mary’s Children’s Liturgy Group are looking to refresh our children’s book box with some preloved religious books for children to borrow and enjoy during Mass. If you have any religious books for children that your family has finished with and would be happy to pass on, we would be very grateful for your donations. A basket will be left in the foyer for anyone who would like to contribute. Thank you.
If you have a child who is due to start school in September 2027, we would love to meet you and help you get to know our school community. We are holding two open sessions for prospective families: • Wednesday 18th November | 1.30pm to 3.00pm Please ring the school office to arrange a visit during one of these sessions on 01423 864631. If these dates are not convenient, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a tour at a time that suits you.
Held every Wednesday morning from 9.30am to 11.00am, in the school hall. Everyone is welcome!
Orders are being taken at the Piety shops in both churches. If you would like to buy your cards from church, please pop in to place your order.
We are delighted to announce the start of a new Baby & Toddler Group, to be held on alternate Tuesday mornings at St. Mary’s Church Hall. We are looking for clean, safe baby and toddler toys that your family has outgrown and would like to donate. These will help provide opportunities for children to enjoy play and exploration together. We would also love to hear from anyone who would like to support the group, even if you are unable to attend every session. Whether you can help with welcoming families, serving refreshments, or simply getting to know families from our parish and wider community, your support would be very much appreciated. If you would like to get involved, or have toys you would like to donate, please speak to Laura/ Fr. Gerard.
Saturday 10th October, 11.30 am to 3.45 pm in St. Aelred’s church hall. Speaker is Lyn Bradbury, Lay Franciscan Formation Minister. Celebrating the Year of St. Francis of Assisi. “The Franciscan Cord.”
Volunteering within both parishes offers not only the chance to support our parish community but also a rewarding opportunity to gain essential work experience. These roles are open to all ages and ideal for anyone completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award , seeking work experience or wishing to build skills that enhance their CV . • Counting Team : Help manage and count donations, developing valuable skills in accuracy, attention to detail, financial record keeping and teamwork. • Cleaning Team : Maintain the church premises, gaining experience in organisation and time management and responsibility for communal spaces. • Children’s Liturgy : Assisting or leading, gain skills in Teamwork and collaboration, creative lesson planning and managing group dynamics. • Event Helpers : Assist in setting up, supporting, and clearing up during parish events, ensuring smooth operations and community engagement. If you are interested in gaining practical experience while contributing to our community, please contact the church office or speak to a member of the clergy. Please note, we follow a Safe Recruitment policy, roles are subject to references and in some cases DBS checks.
Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection. Put your faith into action and share the Lord’s love by supporting our global neighbours experiencing shortages of food and safe water. Your gift can support children like Tayla in Zimbabwe to stay in school by helping communities and schools provide nourishing meals, improve access to water and grow food in school gardens. Use the CAFOD envelope in church or donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope
Dates for your diary: Pilgrimage to Walsingham: Saturday 26th September. St Aelred’s Church Cleaners meeting - At St Aelred’s on Saturday 26th September at 10am (for half an hour) CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day: Will be on Friday 2nd October. Collection Sunday 4th October 2026 Week of Guided Prayer – 11th -16th October 2026: If you would like to take part, then please return your completed form to Fr Gerard by Sunday 15th September. November Mass for the deceased: 7pm - Tuesday 10th November STA Confirmation Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation - session 1 Sunday 18th October 11.30am to 2pm with a half an hour break for packed lunched session 2 Sunday 8th November same timings. Both sessions to be held in the classroom at St Mary’s. It is essential to attend both sessions before receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Please email Fr Gerard before Wednesday 14th October to apply for Confirmation this year. The Sacrament will be celebrated at St Aelred’s on Saturday 21st November at 5.30pm First Reconciliation: will be held on Saturday 14th March 2027 at 4.30pm at St Aelred’s. Wednesday 17th March 2027 at 6pm at St Mary’s. A meeting for parents from St Mary’s on Sunday 29th November 2026 following the School Family Mass. A meeting for parents from St Aelred’s on Saturday 28th November 2026 at 4.30pm in church. First Communions: will be held at St Mary’s on 22nd May 2027 at 11am and St Aelred’s on Sunday 23rd May 2027 at 9am. A meeting for parents from St Mary’s on Sunday 29th November 2026 following the School Family Mass. A meeting for parents from St Aelred’s on Saturday 28th November 2026 at 4.30pm in church. Christmas Fair St Aelred’s: 29th November 2026. Christmas Lunch for both parishes will be held at St Aelred’s on 9th December 2026. Advent Reconciliation Service. Thursday 10th December 7pm STA.
As part of the auction on Sunday 13th at St Mary's, we have a lot which could be purchased individually or by the parishioners in a group to keep for the Church. Pictures of the Não by Lladro nativity scene are attached to this email. At the auction there will be a reserve of £400 as each porcelain figurine purchased as new can cost between £150 and £350. Similar 8 piece sets are retailling for around £1160. Many of you have seen the Nativity scene on display at Mass today. Should you wish to pledge towards buying the Nativity scene for the Parish. Please can you email Fr Gerard the amount you wish to pledge by Saturday 12th September. This allows us to know any starting bid. All money raised for the Nativity Scene will go directly to the building fund.