Parish Meetings
All of the comments offered at the parish meetings have been gathered together these can be seen here.  Having considered the input, 5 main themes have been decided upon as ongoing focus and these are: Prayer & Liturgy, Faith Formation & Catechesis, Social Justice & Environment, Families & Young People, Communication & Social.

Everyone is invited to attend the first of the new Parish Council meetings on Tuesday 30th January at 7.00pm, where it is to be hoped together we can develop an action plan for parish growth and improvement.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY DATES: Great News
There will be children’s liturgies on 3rd, 10th and 17th December.
Please write down on a piece of paper your name and contact details if you would like to take part in the children’s tableau on the CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY MASS at 4.30pm and give these to Mary or Sue.

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.

GIANNA
Catholic Care Gianna baby bank plus would be very grateful to receive any item to help mothers with their newborn babies especially at Christmas time.  Nappies, not the creams, bathing products, tiny toys/rattles and clothes up to one year are all welcome.
Thank you for all the hand knitted products including pram blankets that we have already received
The cradle will be there until the 17th of December please only give if you can. Many, many thanks you are wonderful.

A Service of Light
On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception there will be a short, reflective service of music and readings (around 30-40 minutes) on Friday 8th December at 7.30pm in Sacred Heart Church, Ilkley. During the now usually busy season of Advent, take this opportunity to sit and reflect and perhaps light a candle. Please do invite friends to enjoy the peace and stillness of the church.

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 

MARY’S MEALS
The Mary’s Meals Craft Fayre raised £755 and the stall sold £255 worth of merchandise. Thank you for your generous support.  Mary’s Meals currently feed 2.4 million of the world’s poorest children on a daily basis in a place of education.

Sunday 19th November – LiveSimply Project
We began our updating of the fantastic work that has already been done in gaining our LiveSimply award. Thank you for more ideas and volunteers to build on this, to try and live simply, live sustainably with creation and live in solidarity with the poor.  We will be in touch with the details.

Burley-Téréli Friendship Trust 2024 Calendar
Once again our annual fund-raising Calendar is on sale. It has information and updates about recent projects together with photographs taken in Burley and Téréli. Calendars cost £6.00 – available from Chris Inglehearn and John Wood (01943) 864404

The Ministry of Reader at Mass
All those who read at Mass are invited to a morning with Fr Tim and Fr Mark. This is an opportunity to clarify what we do, ask questions and practice so that we feel confident and comfortable. For those reading at the Masses over Christmas there will also be the opportunity to practice the Christmas readings. Saturday 9 December 10:30-12:30 at St. John Fisher & Thomas More Parish Hall, Bradford Road, Burley in Wharfedale LS29 7PX. To book, please email Fr Mark: mark.jarmuz@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Friends and Family afternoon concert
You are invited to a Friends and Family afternoon concert on Monday 18th December.  This will be in the Parish Hall Burley, with refreshments.  More details to follow but please pop the date into your diary.

Catholic Care
Catholic Care is hosting its Christmas Pantries again this year. Last year over 800 families were supported with food and toys. This year we need your help. Over the weekends of the 5th and 12th November we will be collecting the following items: dried and tinned food, e.g. pasta, rice, beans, tins of fruit, veg, meat, and fish, tea, coffee, sugar and cereals. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shower gel and toilet rolls. Toys (unwrapped) for all ages.

CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY INTERNSHIPS
Castlerigg Manor (The Lancaster Diocese Retreat Centre) is looking for young Catholics aged 18-25 to join their Youth Ministry Internship Programme. The scheme gives participants wide ranging experience, skills, training, and qualifications as well as the opportunity to work with a fantastic team based in the English Lake District. For more information contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk

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 14^th September, 7:00pm at Sacred Heart, Ilkley.  All are welcome.

Holy Communion for those unable to attend Mass
If you know of anyone who is unable to attend Mass and would like to receive Holy Communion – or simply a visit – please do let Fr Tim know. Those currently taking Holy Communion to the housebound or in residential care, and everyone interested in doing so, are invited to meet on Saturday 30 September from 10:30am to 12:30pm (Coffee will be served from 10am) in SS John Fisher and Thomas More Parish Hall, when Fr Mark will talk about this important Ministry and there will be time to discuss what we do. Please do your best to attend.  You can book your place by emailing Fr Tim.

PARISH EVENTS
Please save these dates:
Monday 18th December you are invited to a Friends and Family Afternoon Concert in the Parish Hall with refreshments.
More details to follow but please pop them into your diary.

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.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION ENROLMENT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2023-24
ALL PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN YEARS 3, 4, AND 6 and right up to 16/18years are invited to either complete an Application Form. [or up-date the one they submitted in a previous year when their child prepared for First Reconciliation].
Each year our groups are enriched by secondary school children. Adults should come along too as their preparation will take place separately.  This will take place on the first weekend of September at 4.45pm- 5.15pm Sat. 2ND September and 10.15am-10.45am Sun. 3rd September.  This will enable Parents to find out the planned meetings over the coming months. Please ensure you DO attend to complete the forms. If your child was baptised in another Parish to SS John Fisher and Thomas More, please bring with you the Baptismal Certificate [Original and a photocopy] (If you do not have a photocopy, we can help you with this matter.)
Any general questions can be answered.
Thank you. The Catechists (Burley)

Sacramental Preparation. Confirmation Programme at Sacred Heart, (Ilkley)2023
Confirmation sessions for children who will be in Year 6 or above in September 2023 will commence in September. There will be a meeting for parents of the candidates at Sacred Heart Church at 7.00 p.m. on Thurs., 21st Sep.  Confirmation Sessions for the candidates will take place as follows:
Sat. 23rd Sep. 4.00p.m. Thurs. 5th October 6.30 p.m. Thurs. 19th Oct. 6.30 p.m. Thurs. 2nd Nov. 6.30p.m. Thurs. 16th Nov. 6.30 p.m. Thurs. 7th Dec. (Rehearsal), 6.30 p.m.
The provisional date for the Celebration of Confirmation at the Cathedral is Thurs. 14th Dec. in the evening.
The confirmation programme will follow the booklet “Empowered by the Spirit”. The candidates will prepare for the Sacrament at home and come together to reflect in small group sessions in the parish.
Please contact Marcia Nattress if your child would like to be confirmed and join the sessions in Autumn. Email catechist.sacredheart.ilkley@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Ilkley half marathon
Tom Lally and Tom and Chris Inglehearn completed their running the Ilkley half marathon on July 16th and are fundraising for the Burley-Tereli Friendship Trust (https://btft.org.uk/).  It’s a good cause, as many of you know, and one that our Parish community has supported generously over the last 20 years. With your help, BTFT have achieved so much to help improve the living conditions of our friends in Téréli, digging wells, building schools, providing famine relief and helping in many other ways. If you feel able to support us once again we’d really appreciate it. We have a Just Giving page (https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-inglehearn-1687016461252), but if you prefer, feel free to catch one of us at mass.  We may also stand at the back with a sponsor form after some masses. Thank you.
Chris, Tom and Tom

Children’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.

 

Our new Parish Priest

Fr Michael has announced that he will be retiring this Summer.  Bishop Marcus has given details of all the new appointments throughout the diocese and the new Parish Priest for both our parish and Sacred Heart, Ilkley will be Fr Tim Swinglehurst.
Let us all keep Fr Michael in our prayers as he prepares for retirement; we are so sad Fr Michael will no longer be part of our close Parish Family, but glad Fr Michael will have the health and energy to enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling retirement.
Fr Michael will be remembered for helping us build a very happy “Parish Family,” for all his fun and laughter, his caring sensitive ways and helping us to grow a life of Parish Family prayer and Sacramental celebrations.

Fr Tim’s “Welcome”
I have sent a ‘Welcome’ to Fr Tim and he is looking forward to meeting us all in September. He has asked to meet with some groups in preparation for coming to be our Parish Priest. I have some little messages and requests which I will pass on over the next few days. Fr Tim continues to be very busy in his present role but if I can answer any questions please do ask.  Sue

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.

CAN YOU HELP??
The Otley 198 group of HCPT are looking for helpers to accompany them on a pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter 2024. We could especially benefit from a nurse or someone medically trained but would welcome any suitable adults. We are a friendly group who are very excited to be travelling again following the break during Covid. If anyone knows any young people who may benefit from travelling as a sponsored child with the group, please feel free to nominate them too. More details about the pilgrimage can be found here https://www.hcpt.org.uk/easter. Please contact the group leader, Jake at group198@hcpt.org.uk if you wish to travel with us or would like to nominate a child to be sponsored. Many thanks,
Beckie Voller

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.

Help to save the yellow primary school buses P98 & P99 Menston – Burley – Ben Rhydding – Ilkley – Addingham
Thank you for your support by signing the petition to ensure primary age children can safely travel to and from school in an environmentally friendly way.  We await the decision.

Planned Giving – 2023/2024 Tax Year
Dear ‘Planned Giving’ Envelope Users, Please take the envelope box marked with your name from the church foyer. Most donors have moved to standing orders or use the Dona electronic payment system in the foyer. This is a far more cost- effective method of giving.  Please consider changing if you have not already done so.
Please email: greg.jessop@btopenworld.com if you want a schedule of second collections or have any other queries. Thank you for your generosity.

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 28^th.  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 12^th 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.

“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”.