Latest news, Our Parish Family

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
There will be a children’s liturgy at the 11.00am Mass on the following Sundays: THIS SUNDAY March 1st (Second Sunday of Lent), March 8th (Third Sunday of Lent), March 15th (Fourth Sunday of Lent and Mother’s Day), March 22nd (Fifth Sunday of Lent), March 29th (Palm Sunday), April 5th (Easter Sunday). ALL WELCOME.

FAIRTRADE STALL
The Fairtrade Stall will return this weekend (28th February/1st March). The stall will be set up in the Church Hall well before the Vigil Mass. There will be a notepad for requests, an honesty box and the facility to pay on the DONA machine in the Church foyer.

PAFRAS
The next collection will be this weekend (28th February/1st March) for food items and toiletries for the Refugees and Asylum seekers.

FIRST FRIDAY FRIENDS
EVERYONE, young and young at heart, is welcome to come for a catch-up, a chat, a cuppa and cake in a friendly environment between 2 and 4pm on Friday 6th March in the Parish Hall. Hope to see you there!  For more details, or if you need a lift, please contact Margaret on 01943 874352.

FIRST RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) PREPARATION
Meetings will be at 4.15pm on the following dates:
• Saturday 28th February.
• Saturday 7th March.
• Saturday 14th March celebration of the Sacrament (time to be confirmed).
 
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
For those of you with children in Year 4 and above, who have made their First Reconciliation, please find below dates for your diary. If you still need to register your child for this sacrament, please let Nicola know as soon as possible (email:nicolaprowse@yahoo.co.uk).

• Parents Meeting and Session 1: Sunday 1st March 9.30am – Faith: My Life’s Journey.
• Session 2: Sunday 8th March 10.00am – Hope: Entering God’s House.
• Session 3: Sunday 22nd March 10.00am – Love: Holy Mass Begins.
• Session 4: Sunday 26th April 10.00am – Stillness: God Speaks His Word.
• Session 5: Sunday 10th May 10.00am – Generosity & Gratitude: Jesus Offers Himself for Us.
• Session 6: Sunday 17th May 10.00am – Courage: Food for the Journey.
• Session 7: Sunday 14th June 10.00am – Reflection: My Journey Continues.
• Rehearsal: Saturday 20th June 10.00am
• First Communion Mass: Saturday 27th June 2.00pm

BIG BREW 2026
Saturday 7th March 2.00pm until 3.45pm in the Parish Hall.  All Parishes and Burley Churches Together are welcome for an afternoon of tea, cakes, chat plus a quiz and more!  All in aid of Transform.

WALK IN FATHER BROWN’S FOOTSTEPS!
Saturday 28th March. Third Annual Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage for Priestly Vocations. From St Anne’s, Keighley to Sacred Heart, Ilkley and Stations of the Cross at Myddelton Calvary. Follows the Ilkley Moor route walked by GK Chesterton and Fr John O’Connor, the Diocese of Leeds priest who inspired ‘Father Brown’. Sign up: pilgrimage-walks@dioceseofleeds.org.uk More details: https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/event/walking-pilgrimage-for-vocations-in-father-browns-footsteps/.

THE CATECHISM COURSE, PART 2: HOW WE WORSHIP
We will be reading together Part 2 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, focusing on the liturgy (the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours) and the sacraments. Come and explore with us the rich spiritual treasure of the Church’s celebrations of Christian life. All materials will be supplied free of charge; if you want to sign up to the mailing list, please email José A. Pérez Díez: japerezdiez@gmail.com. The sessions will take place on the following Wednesdays: 11th and 25th March at 7.00pm in our Parish Hall, followed by Compline in Church at 8:45pm. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

CANTORES OLICANAE CONCERT – AVE MARIA
Saturday 21st March at 7.30pm at St John’s Church, Ben Rhydding. Ave Maria is a programme of music written in homage to the Virgin Mary from 16th – 21st centuries. Across the ages, composers have found Mary the mother of Jesus to be a source of deep inspiration. We are invited to come and enjoy these beautifully moving pieces which celebrate Mary as a guiding star in this troubled world.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The 2026 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place Friday 3rd to Thursday 9th July 2026. It is hoped that there will be two flights from Leeds. The booking process is now open. Bookings can be made online on https://www.tangney-tours.com/toursand-pilgrimages/diocese-leeds/ or by phone direct with Tangney (01732 886666).

READING BOOKS
Reading books for primary and secondary schoolchildren in Africa will be collected throughout Lent.

DIARY DATES
Saturday 21st March at 3.00pm: Mass and blessing of the sick. Details to follow.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS AT ALL MASSES
Please take a card and join with the Priest in reciting the prayer as requested by Bishop Marcus at the end of Masses. Please LEAVE the cards in Church.

SVP
Our SVP group collect good quality household items, small items of furniture, laundered good quality clothes and bedding (not duvets or pillows) in Sacred Heart Church garage. The garage is open for donations on the first Saturday of every month between 11.30-12noon – i.e. next Saturday. Recent visits to the St Vincent centres in Leeds and Bradford have made us very aware of the desperate need for appropriate donations!
Thank you.

PASTORAL LETTER FOR THE SEASON OF CREATION, September 2024
Bishop Marcus’ pastoral letter can be read here.  Our bishop reminds us that, “Care for creation is a subject which has long and rich tradition in the Catholic Church, from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament through to the teachings of successive Popes.”  He says:

  • our care for the earth should be “motivated not by catastrophic visions but by hope in the future” and a deep love for the God in whom we live and move and have our being.
  • in this period of prayer in preparation for the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope, let us be inspired to take hopeful, but urgent, positive action as stewards of creation.
  • these works we cannot just leave to others. We may lack the power to change the whole world, but we do have the ability to make our views known to those who govern our country, and to make changes in our own lives, homes and communities.

LiveSimply social/fundraising event for our new garden project

A big thank you to all for helping to make Sunday 23 June’s LiveSimply social/fundraising event such a success and what a celebration!  To everyone who donated bottles/games/cakes/jams & plants and to those who looked after the tombola, cakes (weren’t they beautiful and delicious!) and plant stalls.  There are a few plants left, they are in the kitchen at the back of the hall, please take one and give it a home.  This was our first Fund Raiser for the new garden project and we received over £500 in donations which was brilliant.  We are planning similar celebration events later in July and an autumn harvest Sunday when we will have fruits and veg to bring in and share.

Do join our LiveSimply team, you can leave your details on the form in the church entrance.  We are finalising the new garden details; you can help with this, for example choosing new plants or building the paved area. Also if you were away you can support the project by donating LiveSimply via the DONA machine.

Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day activity at Children’s Liturgy – showing appreciation for mothers everywhere.

 

 
Confirmation
The Deanery celebration of Confirmation of 80 candidates at Leeds Trinity University. Such a happy occasion!
 

Tree of Life
At our parish meeting in October Fr Tim asked us to include Caring for Creation as one of our main priorities. This would mean building on what we did to gain our CAFOD LiveSimply award with new ideas from all our parish families. At our Mass on Sunday 18th October you wrote your suggestions on card leaves, these will be added to the Tree of Life in the foyer. We will be repeating this at a Saturday Mass early in the New Year to give everyone in our parish the opportunity to contribute to this work. In the meantime, you can add your ideas on card leaves in the basket in the church foyer. Please include your name and email/telephone so that we can contact you.

‘The Wednesday Word’ Web Site
This site contains information which you may find helps in preparation for the Mass readings for each Sunday, see http://www.wednesdayword.org

SVP, do you want to join?
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) is very active in Leeds Diocese. Ss John Fisher and Thomas More had a conference in the past. Sacred Heart Ilkley SVP Conference remains active and would like to extend an invitation to any Burley parishioners who might be interested in finding out more about the society and perhaps joining us in our work. The central purpose of the society is to assist those in need whatever form that need takes. Amongst other things members visit people in their own homes or in residential homes. For more information please contact Frank McCrickard, thatcanyon@gmail.com or Krzysia Condliffe krzysiacondliffe@gmail.com 

CHAIR of the PPC ( Burley)
So many good things have happened in the first month since we welcomed Fr Tim as our Parish Priest and last Thursday was the most special when we joined together for Father Tim’s Induction ceremony led by Fr Chris Angel. The atmosphere, singing and refreshments were splendid, and our thanks go to Sacred Heart Parish for their hospitality and happy conversations.
Last Sunday we had a record attendance as we had a Children’s Liturgy and a special Diamond Wedding blessing but there is always room for more congregation. There is always lots to do in the Parish Family and since the appeal for new helpers nearly a year ago I would love others to say if they would like to join and help with anything at all. Joe is solo at the forthcoming Churches Together meeting in Burley and would much appreciate a companion. On Thursday, I attended the launch of Catholic Care Caritas Leeds and after 160 years, Catholic Care continues to evolve and grow as it new title suggests. There are great supporters of Catholic Care within our Parish Family, and I would like you and other wonderful members to join the Friends of Catholic Care group. The charity like many other charities is hoping to raise a little extra funds through this. You can join as an individual £15, family £20 or parish £50. Before you decide you may which to view the website www.catholic-care.org.uk
I have a few forms and I can easily acquire more. I have Christmas card order forms for you too !Finally this week’s special Thank You goes to all who are such regular givers to the weekly Parish Collections and the second collections too ! Please don’t forget you can use the DONA machine for everything, and the Welcomers will always help! [cash is a rarer commodity] Greg has once again up=dated the DONA machine so it can accept donations for the Columban fathers who we here from this weekend. As always please do ask if you need any further information other than what the Bulletin [thank you Hugh] and website [thank you Keith] contain. Sue 07939063120

A Wonderful Weekend
What a wonderful weekend our Parish Family enjoyed. So many people came to celebrate Mass together. On Saturday evening we gathered after Mass for the blessing prayers for the newly installed defibrator. On Sunday a Mass we welcomed Josephine and Colin with their family to give thanks to the Lord for their ruby Wedding Anniversary. After Mass we had a most amazing Retirement Party. It was an exiting and enjoyable occasion and I am most grateful to so many of you who worked so hard to arrange this event.
Thank you everyone. I have loved being part of such a wonderful Parish Family and it has been a privilege to serve as your priest. Your love, care and prayers and generosity have brought me great happiness and encouragement. The speeches last Sunday made me feel very humble and your most generous gift from the parish family amazed me. So let us continue to pray for each other. I will still pray each day especially for those who are sick, and their carers. May God bless Fr Tim, Fr Mark and the wonderful Parish Family at St John Fisher & St Thomas More.
Fr Michael

Fr Michael cuts the cake at his Retirement Party. The garden party on the church grounds was attended by his family, some very close friends and nearly two hundred members of the Parish Family. Happy Retirement Father and Thank you for everything!

One of the Youth members of our Parish Family reading at Fr Michael’s Retirement Mass

 

 

 

 

 

Special gifts from the leaders of many Parish Family groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fr Tim
We welcome our new parish priest, Fr Tim Swinglehurst.  Fr Tim’s induction as Parish Priest of the 3 parishes by the Dean (Fr Christopher Angel) will be on Thursday 14th September, 7:00pm at Sacred Heart, Ilkley.  All are welcome.

 

Good News: The Defibrillator is installed!
Fr Michael blessed our Parish Defibrillator at the conclusion of the Vigil Mass on Saturday 19 August.
THANK YOU to Stephen and Martin for ensuring the very neat installation without spoiling our lovely hall entrance.
THANK YOU so much from all the Parish family to the very caring and the generous family who have funded the purchase of the Defibrillator.

 
IChildren’s Liturgy
On Father’s Day we had a children’s liturgy where we spoke about discipleship and what we could do beyond listening to the work of God at church. We talked again about Pope Francis’ message about caring for the world and how we were trying to live that out in our lives  through our Live Simply message. We visited the herb garden created in the church gardens and talked about the herbs, their smells and what they could be used for . The herb garden has been created for parishioners to use as and when they want with many herbs provided by parishioners. We then created herb posies for the children to give to their dads and also one for Fr Michael.
Frances, Cath & Mary

A VERY BIG THANK YOU, St Mary’s Lourdes Group Cake Sale
St Mary’s Lourdes group are so very grateful to you all for making us so welcome and for your overwhelming generosity.
Your donations amounted to £607.48. Please pray for us as we will pray for you all whilst we are in Lourdes.
Please place your prayer intentions in the box at the back of church.
If you wish your prayer to be posted privately, then please place it in an envelope marked as a private intention. The final date for intentions to be handed in will be Sunday 02 July. They will then be collected and taken out with us to Lourdes on 06 July.
Once again, thank you all so very much.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CHILDREN
Congratulations to all our very special young members of the Parish Family namely, Allie, Ani, Hannah, Henry, Jack E, Jack S, Krissy, Marianne, Nell, Nyla, Rosa, Rosie, and Seamus who have received their First Communion.
Many, many thanks to Nicola our Parish Catechist for guiding the children and parents throughout their preparation for the sacrament.
 

 

Men in Sheds
Please see details below if you would like to join Burley’s Men in Sheds community spaces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE NEWS FROM THE PASTORAL PARISH COUNCIL
Thank you to the Defibrillator sub-committee who have arranged the selection and forthcoming purchase of a defibrillator to be installed outside our church in the coming weeks. The Parish Family are very grateful to 2 wonderful members of our Parish Family who have offered to fund the cost of the defibrillator…in memory of their very beautiful daughter.
The ongoing costs of the machine would be funded by ourselves and any donations for this can be left with the Welcomers.
There will be an opportunity for many members of the Parish Family to have questions answered/ be trained in how to use the machine. Thank you to the individual members of the Parish Family who have volunteered to be guardians of the machine over the coming years.

LIVE SIMPLY
It is nearly one year since we heard we have been recognised as a Parish Family who try to follow the ‘Live simply’ ideals in our daily lives. We continue to strive to change and do even more in caring for our beautiful creation and our brothers and sisters. We have a new edition of our Parish Prayer cards to include on the reverse side a ‘Live Simply’ prayer which will be said at some weekday masses and as part of our prayers of Intercession on some Sundays. The Welcomers will make the cards available and are grateful for the return at the end of each Mass.
Support from anyone else who can help take the recycled blister packs to Leeds or Keighley Superdrug stores would be exceptionally welcome. Thank you.

RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION UNDER BOTH KINDS
Bishop Marcus writes: “I am pleased to give permission for the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds to resume from Maundy Thursday onwards. Please note that this is permission but not obligatory.
The Church teaches that Holy Communion ‘has a fuller sign when it takes places under both kinds, for in this form the sign of the Eucharist banquet is more clearly evident and clearer expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord.’ However, it is important to remind the faithful too, of the Church’s teaching that ‘Christ, whole and entire, and the true Sacrament, is received even under one species, and hence that as regards the resulting fruits, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any grace that is necessary for salvation.’ There is therefore no obligation for a member of the faithful to receive Holy Communion from the Chalice.

PAFRAS – collections
We have received a big “thank you” from PAFRAS for our recent collections.
We collect for PAFRAS who are very happy to take any gifts of non-perishable food and soaps / shampoo and other hygiene gifts you may have for the centre in Leeds.  THERE IS A BASKET IN OUR CHURCH ENTRANCE.
The Burley Methodist Church collect all non-perishable food and toiletries on the first Thursday of the month outside their church from 10:00am until 11:30am.  This collection all goes to PAFRAS on behalf of all the Churches in Burley. If that isn’t a convenient time, there is always a collection basket inside our church entrance where items can be left, or you can email me to arrange a drop off at my house.
Catherine (at Burley Methodist Church).
Thank you.

MAKE TIME FOR YOU
Wharfe Valley Family Links is launching its Nurturing Programme in the local community, covering Addingham, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley & Menston.  This is a 10 week course beginning on Thursday 20th April, 6:30 – 8:30pm at St Mary’s parish centre, Burley.  Please email WharfeValleyFamilyLinks@outlook.com if you would like to attend.

RED BOX 2023 – THANK YOU!
A massive ‘thank you’ to all our Red Box holders for the generous donations received in support of Missio. Our parish raised £178.26. The next collection will be in October 2023.  If any parishioners would like a Red Box, please let me know (07969842081).
Brenda

In 2022 our parish raised £337 through our Red Boxes and donations to Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries. Thank you! Our missionary community here at Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More is part of a worldwide network of people supporting missionaries through prayer and financial assistance. Your support of projects such as the Fundong Mission station in Cameroon has enablef Fr Leon, a Mill Hill Missionary, to help children learn in a safe environment and instil values that empower them to turn away from conflict and towards faith in God. Visit missio.org.uk to find out more about how your support changes lives for the better.

BAMBISANANI FUNDRAISING QUIZ NIGHT – THANK YOU (from Rebecca)
I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who attended my fundraising quiz in the Parish Hall on Friday night in support of the Bambisanani Partnership. With your help I have been able to reach my fundraising target of £2,000. In the summer I will be volunteering my skills to work with orphaned children in a deprived rural community in KwaZulu Natal province. The partnership uses sport to teach leadership, literacy, numeracy and art as well as training PE teachers and sports coaches and teaching athletics.
Thank you all so much for your support again.
Rebecca Shaw, Yr. 13 student, St Mary’s School.

 

Tree of Life, Fruit Trees

Our parish children helped to plant the two fruit trees (an apple and a Victoria plum).  It was a great event, we look forward to picking the fruit in the next few years.
The Live Simply and the Gardening Team

 
Methodist Church events
The Methodist Church in Burley is a warm space, with the following events.
  • Tuesday Coffee Mornings are from 10-12 each week
  • Wednesday Soup Lunch and warm space serves soup from 1pm and is open until 4pm for tea/coffee and company. We aim to serve gluten free & vegan soups in our selection. This will be running every week until 29th March.
All are welcome.
Refreshments are on a donations/‘pay as you can afford’ basis.
Board games, magazines are available as well as company.
Please text 07713485947 for further information.  If anyone wishes to join us to help please get in touch

CAFOD Family Fast Day Thank You
Thank you for your prayers and for holding a collection in your parish (SS John Fisher & Thomas More) this Family Fast Day. Please pass on our thanks to all your parishioners for your parish’s donation of £632 which we received recently to our World Food Crisis Appeal. Your parish total is £632.
Your parish’s gift will mean we can get food and clean water to more families like Talaso’s. As well as giving practical help, your prayers, fasting and collection are a gift of friendship, of love and of hope. When we met Talaso and her young sons, she was able to find a smile. She told us: “We have hope. We always have hope.”
Thank you for your support, solidarity and prayers. For being alongside families as they work to protect their children from the long-term causes of hunger, such as climate change and an unjust global food system. Please keep all those affected by the food crisis – including those here at home – in your prayers.

A new Musicians’ Group at 11:00am Mass
A new music group is being formed to play at some of the 11am Sunday Masses. We would welcome musicians and singers of all abilities and ages – including players returning to instruments after a break. We will be playing modern arrangements of easy to access, liturgically appropriate music and can find something for you to play regardless of your instrument or musical background. First playing Sunday 27 November (first Sunday of Advent). We are aiming to be a relaxed and friendly group; you will not have to be able to make every Mass we play at to get involved. If you would like any more information please contact Richard or Nicky Webster at rpwebsterdesign@gmail.com or nicolajohnson@mac.com or via phone /text on 07528281981 or 07752282804.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY DATES
For the children of the Parish Family, it would be good to double the number of gatherings BUT we need Leaders to work together to achieve this.
We always work in twos and if we could manage just 4 teams of two it would mean once every 4 weeks.
You could almost choose your dates and themes.
Please if you are over 16 and would consider leading a session with another just let Fr Michael or Mary Preston [preston.mary@googlemail.com ] or even me know. PLEASE consider it. Sue

Burley in Wharfedale Wellbeing Hub
The Wellbeing Hub which meets at the Scout and Guide Hut on Wednesday mornings (10-12) celebrated its first birthday on September 28th.  The hub supports the community in whatever concerns they might have, whether loneliness, anxiety, depression, bereavement or as a carer.  They are also actively looking at wellbeing provision for children and young people.  You can find out more about the hub here.

Deepen your faith
Hi everyone, I want to let you know about a fantastic opportunity to dig deeper into your faith!
I’ve just completed The Bishop’s Certificate, a 6 month online (in your own time) course which really opens your mind to many aspects of our faith. You can find the link here: https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/award-ceremony-for-first-ever-graduates-of-bishops-certificate/ . If you want an informal chat, feel free to speak to me.
Greg Jessop

SUNDAY 17th JULY: CELEBRATION SUNDAY
Sunday 17th July was a great Parish Family event in the church gardens. We celebrated our children receiving sacraments, Fr Michael’s golden jubilee, welcoming all our new parishioners and winning a CAFOD LiveSimply award. The biggest gathering to date, well over a 100 people came together AND lots of cakes!

The Justice & Peace September 2022 newsletter can be found here, it includes the full story! about how our parish gained its LiveSimply award.

A HUGE Thank You to EVERYONE for helping to make this happen and to ALL those who came along to make it such a success.
This was our first social event in a long time. Shall we do it again? And what else shall we do to continue our Friendships and Faith in Action.
PLEASE let us know. The Welcomers, the Parish Pastoral Council or Fr Michael would really appreciate your suggestions. Sue.

More details can be found here.

A DATE for your Diary:SUNDAY 21st August
Burley Praise in the Park with Churches Together 10am – 11:15am.
Venue: Grange Park, Grange Park Road.
You are invited to come along to our joint Outdoor Praise Service. Do bring a chair or rug to sit on as we worship together in
our community.

Ilkley Half Marathon
A big thank you from me and from everyone at Burley-Tereli Friendship Trust for your support, encouragement and sponsorship as I ran the Ilkley half marathon last month. I managed to finish without stopping, though the last three miles were a real struggle in the heat. Knowing that Fr Michael was saying the 11am mass for the Inglehearn family even as I was running was the extra boost I needed to get to the finish line! We don’t yet know the full total, but with gift-aid it will be over £2500, which will probably be used to buy millet to feed the people of Tereli and the surrounding villages until the next harvest is in. Once again many many thanks for your wonderful generosity, support and prayers!
 
Ladies Please Choir sings for Tereli, Thursday 25th August at 7.30pm in Burley Methodist Church, Main Street.
We are delighted the Ladies Please Choir, based in Menston, are returning for a seventh Burley Summer Festival performance, singing a wide-ranging selection of songs guaranteed to please all tastes. All proceeds will go to the Burley-Tereli Friendship Trust.
Tickets cost £5 and are available from John Wood or Chris Inglehearn beforehand, or on the door.
Thanks and best wishes
Chris

MASS TO REMEMBER FR DAVID SMITH:
Leeds Trinity University is holding a Mass in remembrance of former Chaplain, Fr David Smith on Saturday 10 September. Initially planned for 2020, as it marked 25 years since his death, it sadly had to be postponed due to lockdown. Mass will start at 12noon, with refreshments following and networking in the Studio Bar. For refreshment purposes, please book your free place here: https://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/events/ mass-to-remember-fr-david-smith-1.php

Rev Fr David Williams CP  R.I.P.
It is with great sadness that I let you know of the death of Fr David Williams.
During his years in retirement in Otley, Fr David became a great friend to our Parish Family, praying Mass and being a member of the Scripture Group.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen

‘FIRST FRIDAY FRIENDS’ is back in our Church Hall after more than 2 years!
Everyone, young and young at heart, is welcome to come for a catch-up, a chat, tea, coffee and cake in a dementia friendly environment between 2pm and 4 pm on Friday 5th August.  Hope to see you there!
For more details or if you need a lift please contact Margaret on 01943874352.

CONGRATULATIONS to Majella Adie and Christopher Manley who will celebrate their wedding this weekend. We wish them great joy and happiness.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
CONGRATULATIONS to Alexia, Amity, Bo Belles, Iris, Jonah, Lottie, Lucy, Max, Orry and Will with their Catechist Nicola who received their First Communion on 12th June.  The Mass was very special we all joined in the singing and responses and raised the roof with the Alleluia.  Clare read the Reading and led us in the Psalm. Every First Communicant had an important part to play!  6 children read Bidding Prayers, the best Readers ever! The Offertory Procession was perfectly conducted by the other 4 First Communicants.
Thank you to Fr Michael, Nicola and all the parents for taking a full part in the Parental Catechesis style preparation.
Registration for next year’s Sacramental Preparation Programmes will be in late September
Sue Rix

CONGRATULATIONS to Year 3 and Year 4 children in our Parish Family, Ailie, Ani, Bo Belles, Eddie, Hannah, Henry, Jack, Marianne, Nell, Nyla, Rosa, Rosie and Seamus who received the SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION for the first time recently. It was a very special occasion for their Families and all of the Parish family.

CONGRATULATIONS to 2 Parish Family Members for their work in Burley-in-Wharfedale which links with the Tree of Life activities.
Alexander Hughes for winning the award for litter pickier of the year 2021!
Loraine Hughes for receiving a certificate at the LS29 Environmental Awards.

Live Simply
Sunday 22 May Trish & Paul, two of CAFOD’s LiveSimply assessors, visited our parish to discuss what we have already done and what new projects we will be doing. We also had a Children’s Liturgy centred on our Tree of Life project.  Great news: we have gained a LiveSimply award, please see the message below from Sue, chair of our Parish Pastoral Council.

A message from Sue
Many thanks and sincere congratulations to one and all and, all those I have missed off the list through lack of contact details. We left church at 1.40pm following very positive and complimentary feedback. We were pleased to receive a little useful advice too and look forward to the written feedback.
I think I am at liberty to say that the next visit from Paul and Trish will be to present the plaque as we have been successful in gaining the award. We want everyone to be there to share in the celebration.
Special thanks of the Parish Family go to Fr Michael for his enthusiasm, encouragement and presence, to Frances, Keith, Mary and Loraine (and their long-suffering husbands and wives – your rewards will be great) who have given so much time, energy, creativity and tenacity to this journey.
To the 3 groups/ strands and thus 3 teams of people who have worked throughout the 3 years and everyone who has taken an active part -adults, youth and children.
I leave you with a thought…and we would welcome ALL ideas…… How do we continue and increase our efforts in response to “The cry of the Poor” and “The cry of the Earth” in meaningful and impactful ways?
Today is a Parish Family celebration but now we need to relax, regroup and proceed with vitality and creativity looking to increase our activities associated with our Spirituality and Petitioning as with seek to “Love one another” more throughout the world.
Sincerely
Sue R

In October 2019 you will remember we launched our Tree of Life project as our parish family response to Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si. This has given us an opportunity to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”.
Our parish family has made an application to CAFOD’s LiveSimply award programme. The award is given to parishes and schools to recognise programmes they have put in place to show how they have been living:
• simply
• in solidarity with people in poverty, and
• sustainably with creation
Over the last 2 years we have progressed your suggestions in our parish family and in our homes, and by supporting charities in our diocese and overseas. You will see displays in the foyer and the hall with details of our projects, you can also find information about these on our Tree of Life page.  This will include an opportunity for you to add new ideas to our Tree of Life, one of these will be an indoor area for recycling items such as blister packs.
Frances, Mary, Sue, Keith

 

Tree of Life – Easter Gardens

Mary co-ordinated a fantastic group of 3 children’s liturgy sessions in Lent which culminated in celebrating the Easter story on Easter Sunday.
We (and the children) made some Easter gardens and you will be able to see these if you haven’t already – in the structure we had previously used as a stable at Christmas-time.
Here are the children and the gardens they made depicting 3 crosses on a grassy hill and an empty tomb with the covering stone rolled away and the used shroud on top…..

SUNDAY 6TH MARCH – FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

 

 

 

 

 

17 children came to a special Children’s Liturgy at 11am mass where they started to make Easter Gardens. They used seed trays, peat-free compost, grass seeds, cress seed, moss and pebbles. It was a wonderful occasion. 

Children came on Sunday 3rd April to help finish off the Easter Gardens. They brought twigs to make crucifixes to decorate the gardens.
 

Good Friday – Walk of Witness with the churches of Burley-in -Wharfedale.

On Good Friday morning more than 70 people aged 5 upwards from the 4 church Communities of Burley in Wharfedale walked from SS John Fisher and Thomas More parish church via St Mary’s parish church onwards to The Methodist church and then the United Reform Church and finally St Mary’s parish centre.

Alistair opened the Walk of Witness with a wonderful welcome to all including, family visitors from Hungary!

We then listened to readings from St John’s Gospel and a prayer read by Loraine, Rosalia and Mark; members of our Parish Family who live in Burley. Finally, we were invited to be silent for one minute to reflect on the story of the Passion we were sharing through the Readings. To help us we had a piece of rope, pieces of purple and white cloth, and a nail

With a hot cross bun for sustenance, although some were fasting, we were on our way, ably led by Nathan [Cross bearer] Christopher and Daniel.

The spring weather was perfect as was the company of friends old and new. The dogs, a little one with a scooter, parishioners with walking sticks and walking trolleys, adults from far flung Guiseley and Menston, youth members, clergy, parents and grandparents reminded us how wonderfully diverse God’s Family is and how all over the world Christians were celebrating the sadness of Good Friday.

At St Mary’s church, the Methodist church and the United Reform Church we stopped for further readings, prayers, reflection and time together as we undertook very meaningful activities with the help of items from our individual brown paper bags! Thumb prints to make up the Cross of Jesus, ‘scratch art’ crosses, and twig crosses bound together with Ukraine flag-coloured yarns.

Thank you to Margaret and all who helped to bring us together to listen, pray, reflect and share. May our Friendship continue in many ways.

Parish Donations
Dear Parishioner thank you for your generous donations over the past year, and a special thank you to those who have set up standing orders as this reduces administration and cost. I urge anyone that can, to set-up a standing order. As we start the new financial year this may be a good time, if you are able, to consider increasing your offering too. I am pleased to announce that we now have a digital collection system in the foyer. This will allow you to make contactless donations to the parish and to second collections using debit/credit cards or mobile phones. Where appropriate donations can be gift aided.

DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 1-7 July 2022
Please book online: www.tagneytours.com/pilgrimages/lourdes/leeds-lourdes or call 01732 886666. New volunteer carers and registered nurses welcome. Full training given. Please email Anita for more information about volunteering –anita.bodurka@dioceseofleeds.org.uk. Please book as soon as possible.

READERS ROTA
We feel we are ready for the Readers Rota to be recommenced .
Please could we hear from NEW READERS willing to read at a Mass of their choice, about every 6 weeks or so . Please would youth members of the Parish family who are confirmed volunteer to read at the Mass time they like best ….you can be partnered with an older person and just do one reading at first whichever is the easier. Some of you are already able to do both; or 2 Young people could do it together. Please just say if you have a partner you would like to read with. Altar Servers are able to volunteer for this ministry as well as Altar Serving.
We would love to hear from people who have joined the Parish in recent years.

Please ring Theresa on 01943 864703 or email jerrett202@gmail.com to put your name on the list.
Please do not be shy!
Theresa will contact all the current readers [with her fingers crossed ] and hope that you are all willing to continue your ministry. Many many thanks.

From Parish to Mission

On 10th October 2021, Pope Francis formally opened a two-year process called ‘a synod on synodality,’ officially known as ‘Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church.’ In brief, the process entails bishops around the world consulting with all the baptised before coming together for a gathering of bishops in October 2023. This process also marks the beginning of our own diocesan process of consultation, From Parish to Mission.  

Thank you for coming to the special parish meeting “From Parish to Mission”.
Thank you, also to those who could not come, but filled in the on-line or hard copy versions of the Diocesan Survey. We will keep you informed as the Diocese further explores its way to: Mission in the 21st Century
(You can still contribute below)
https://www.synod.cc/synod-paper-survey.asp?SurveyTypeID=1&SurveyID=1

There are 10 themes to consider:

  • Our journeying companions
    As we journey together let us look around. Who are our companions in the Church and what persons or groups are marginalised?
  • Listening
    How might our local Church better listen to lay people (especially young people and women, minorities and those who are not respected?
  • Speaking out
    How can everybody be encouraged to communicate properly what is important to them?
  • Celebrating
    How do the Mass, other liturgies and music help us in our Christian lives and how might we participate in them at a deeper level?
  • Taking responsibility together
    How can each Baptised person become a “missionary disciple” and reveal Christ to others through their words and deeds?
  • Dialogue in Church and society
    How might we improve our conversations within our diocesan family and also outside of it, (for example with people of different faiths, those who have no faith and those who have particular roles and duties.
  • With the other Christian denominations
    Are our relations with our brothers and sisters in other Christian denominations good and how might they be improved?
  • Authority and participation
    How might we develop teamwork and a sense of co-responsibility in our local Church?
  • Discerning and deciding
    How might we improve the process of decision-making in our local Church, so that we truly listen and recognise that the Holy Spirit can speak through each one of us?
  • Staying together on the same path
    What training, habits and awareness are necessary within the local Church if we are to become better at listening to one another and sharing our insights with one another?

More information and details for our Parish to follow.

Praise in the Park
Wonderful to see many of our Parish family gathered together last month. Some of us had not seen each other for 18 months!  We weathered the 2 downpours, sang and prayed together and listened to many stories of life in the very caring village of Burley in Wharfedale.
CONGRATULATIONS to Charlotte for reading her prayer, a brilliant reader, in front of a large and unfamiliar crowd, of babies through to nearly 100years of age!  Thank you to Danielle too!

Better Together
My prayer is that we will all realise that although different each and everyone of us belongs to God’s family and though our churches have different names God is with us All when we come together to pray.

I pray we will be united and stand strong as a community like the different parts of the body, we work better together.

I pray for peaceful world in which we are all accepted and loved and where we look after God’s beautiful creation through our thoughtful actions.

Lord Hear Our Prayer

AMEN

 

SPARE HOUSEHOLD GOODS etc
Donations of household goods, small items of furniture, clothing, bedding etc. for St Vincent’s may be dropped off at Sacred Heart Ilkley church garage between 11.30 – 12.00 on the first Saturday of every month.  To donate larger items of furniture please contact St Vincent’s directly on 01274 726790 or StuartPM@svp.org.uk.
Any queries to Krzysia on 07906 445886.

Confirmation 2021

A small Parish Church building but a large group of youth members of our Parish Family chose to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the end of May.  The photos show Fr Michael having Bishop Marcus’s special permission to bestow the sacrament of Confirmation on Year 6 students of the Parish Family and lifelong friends now confirmed as friends forever!  What a splendid choice of Confirmation names …… Anne, Anthony of Padua. Bridget, Cecelia, Christopher, Edward, Frances, Francis, Irene, Mark, Oscar de Romero,  Patrick, Peter, Philomena, Sebastian and Therese;  so many great saints!

Team BTFT have run the Ilkley Half Marathon
In July Tom Lally, Keith Pitcher, Chris and Tom Inglehearn and Richard & Lynne Woods all completed the Ilkley half marathon to fundraise for the Burley-Tereli Friendship Trust (https://www.btft.org.uk/). As you may know, last April Tereli was attacked by bandits, the animals were stolen, 12 people killed and grain stores burnt, so it was a tough year for them, but we were able to buy millet to tide them over. It was also a tough year for BTFT because there were few opportunities to fundraise, so any help, large or small, would be much really appreciated. You can donate online to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TeamBTFT or in an envelope in the church offertory marked Ilkley Half Marathon.  Thank you!

The J&P October 2021 newsletter can be found here, it includes:

  • exploring and praying about the links between conflict & climate change
  • concerns for our planet, want to do more – but how to start?
  • charity, justice & philanthropy, talk by Paul Vallely
  • in work poverty and the SVP by John Battle
  • LEEDS Palestinian Film Festival 2021

Please keep our children and their parents in your prayers by joining in the Our Father which is the first prayer they are saying together.

Sunflower Seedlings have all been Collected

THANK YOU!!

We would like you to nurture a seeding plant, water it, love it and name it! (can be any name- your own, someone else’s, just a name you like, or any made up name). Then, in a few weeks’ time, we will invite you to bring it back (it could be planted into another larger pot if needed…) and place it next to, or near the raised bed at the front of the church steps. This will hopefully be in time for the sunflowers to grow and start developing their Beautiful Bright Yellow Sunny Flowers!
We hope that this will coincide with the building and habitation of the new Insect Hotel (Bug House) which we hope to build together with anyone who is interested. We aim to create and develop lots of Insect friendly plants, and a house/home for the insects, encouraging and nurturing nature in our community and helping it grow.
This will be of ongoing interest alongside any activity in the Bird and Bat Boxes made by some of our children – which have been put up on trees in the Church Grounds. We intend to have a little competition for the Best Sunflower Plant Name, the Tallest Plant, and the Plant most visited by Insects!

I hope as many people as possible will join in the fun and enjoy Nature in the world around us.

P.S. Still WANTED: Small pallets, old tiles, bits of bricks, wood off-cuts, bamboo sticks, dry branches/sticks, pine cones – for the Bug House.
Can leave anything like this just behind the raised bed, under the bushes there, or contact me on frances.atkins@nhs.net if further questions

Appeal to younger children on behalf of the little ones who listen to Catholic Care Story-times, especially during lock down.
Have you any story books which you could donate to Catholic Care to help them with their story time sessions? Unusual titles [not the well-known Fairy Tales] which you enjoyed but have outgrown.  If Mum or Dad could drop me a text 07939063120 [Sue] we could arrange legal pick up or drop off in the next couple of weeks.

When you cannot come to Mass here are some activities on our Youth, family and children’s webpage which will help you follow the Church’s Year and Feast Days.

  • ICHTHUS weekly sheet – to help us think about this week’s Mass readings & prayers
  • LOOK –children’s weekly activity sheet

“Not everything is Locked down”
If you have one spare minute you might like to view a video in the News section. In just 1minute and 17 seconds it reassures us “Not everything is Locked down”.

This weekend completes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021, 18 – 25th January. Sadly, our usual celebrations and events cannot take place but do pray especially for our Churches Together in Burley and Menston.
Give thanks to God for the spirit of love and cooperation we have as we try together to witness to God’s love.

CATHOLIC CARE EVENTS

  • Zoom Coffee Morning. Friday mornings at 11am starting on 22nd January. A place to have a chat, become part of a community and have some fun! Meeting ID: 882 6618 1071; Passcode: Hello21
  • Relax and Revive. Join Janet Kent every Monday afternoon at 4pm for a friendly online relaxation group. Meeting ID: 820 5307 5411; Passcode: 655300

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2020

Throughout October we celebrated First Holy Communion, Covid style. Our children who had been waiting for several months had happy celebrations in a very safe way with a few of their First Holy Communion group friends. They were all wonderful occasions despite the limitations of only bubbles of parents and siblings, and no group photos with families on the Sanctuary steps. The children prompted teary eyes among their parents and Catechists as they received their First Holy Communion in the most reverent way. It was so very special to each family as these snapshots portray. Congratulations to the children and their parents who with Nicola’s guidance prepared their children under the new programme of Parental Catechesis. Thank you to Gabby for her help and to Fr Michael for his extra special guidance.

 

Burley churches are praying together….
Praying in Burley is a Facebook page, located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/544556493141955/ for anyone to post something they would like prayers to be said for.  Each day at 4pm a person from one of the village churches will pray live using those prayers.  Everyone is encouraged to join in prayer at that time for each other’s needs.

How do we discover the church in a time of social distancing?
John Sullivan has shared his thoughts about this, you can read John’s article here.

 Our page for children
A page for the YOUNGER MEMBERS of the Parish Family, a wonderful way to help everyone feel our Parish Family is alive and still growing together. 

Mary  and the Children’s Liturgy Leaders have designed a new Children’s Liturgy page which brings the Gospel story and activities to celebrate Sunday Mass themes. It will bring smiles between parents and children, and a with one extra click as directed a range of activities which children can choose from according to the age and interests , from colouring to a  wordsearch. 

CAFOD continues to offer a CHILDREN’S LITURGY at 10am EVERY SUNDAY MORNING. It is quite short, see cafod.org/Education/Children-s-liturgy.

Our Parish Prayer
God our loving Father, You made us your children in baptism. Pour out on us the gifts of your Holy Spirit. Help us as a parish to know the paths we must follow so as to build up your kingdom. Teach us to grow in faith, to encourage one another with words of hope, and to care for your family with love. Let us bear witness to the Good News, and be faithful followers of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen

Mass times & information

Weekend Masses are Saturday 5:30pm (vigil), Sunday 11am.
Weekday Masses are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, all at 10am. The Mass on Monday 2nd March will be at 9:15am, Sacred Heart School.
The sacrament of reconciliation is Saturdays, 5 - 5:15pm.
Stations of the Cross are every Friday in Lent at 7pm.
ILKLEY MASS
Sunday Masses at Ilkley are at 9:15am, on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 10:30am.

News

Pope Francis’ on Thought for the Day for climate change

Dear BBC listeners, Good Morning. “Climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed our deep vulnerability and raised numerous doubts and concerns about our economic systems and the way we organise our societies. “We have lost our sense of security and are experiencing a sense of powerlessness and loss of control over our lives. “We […]