Month: August 2023

Moving house/job is full of bright promise, excitement, refreshment.  It’s also a downright pain in the backside!  My week has been full of cardboard, bubble wrap and trips to the tip. It was ingloriously crowned with someone alerting me at a busy roundabout in Leeds that “Your back wheel is about to drop off, mate.”  Just what I needed in the week that I needed the car the most.

Anyway, “Everything works for the good for them that trust in God” says St Paul.  And indeed, it appears to have been the case.  Peppered throughout the priest’s normal working life is the celebration of the Divine Office.  (Honestly, I thank God Holy Mother Church bound me to the recitation of The Office at my ordination, otherwise I sometimes wonder whether I’d ever have time for God during my busy days!) During one of the midweek Offices, I was reminded that an ancient Jewish practice – one which Our Lord would have been familiar with – was to praise God in EVERY situation; even a tricky or disturbing situation was an opportunity to praise Him for his justice.  It’s not easy to do this in challenging times, but reflecting on it does remind one that ‘many things, whilst important, are NOT the centre of the universe’; only God holds that distinction.  Prayer is the way of adding this most essential balance to our hectic lives which is why the Church makes it a duty on all of us, priest and people, no matter our age or ability. A prayerful priest is a boon to a parish, sure; but a prayerful parish is cosmic energy to a priest.  So, let’s get busy!  Please pray for me and be assured of my daily prayers. 

God bless you and all whom you love.      

Fr Simon

This is a column that I took up writing when I was Pastor of St Joseph, Pontefract and Holy Redeemer, Huddersfield.  Basically it gives me an opportunity to rant on certain subjects and it gives you an opportunity to see a little of my mind at work! 

You’ll notice that I use the word “Pastor” rather than “Parish Priest”.  Personally, I prefer it as it seems to reflect better my understanding of my ministry amongst you.  There’s nothing wrong with being called  a “Parish Priest”, and I won’t chin you if you call be that, but I use the word to remind myself that my primary task is not to keep the lights on or the buildings in spectacular shape.   My primary task is to herd you (and all the so-called “resting” Catholics) and everyone else within the boundaries of our community through the gates of heaven and I intend to have a good crack at it!

Care of buildings, lights, finance etc – these are all noble pursuits of the modern priest but there is no more noble task than saving the soul of your husband/wife/children/entire parish.  By the way, tell the “resting” Catholics that their days of “resting” are numbered! #justsaying

Fr Nicholas has been in touch this week and, like yours truly, he is doing his best to settle down and unpack.  He asked me to let you know he is deeply grateful for your generosity as he took his leave of you last week and has been touched by the very kind cards and comments he received.  He asks your prayers for his dad and for himself as they settle into their new home and he assures you of his prayers.  He will be offering a Mass for your intentions.

Finally, please be patient with me.  I am so excited to be your Pastor and am keen to get going but I need to cut my cloth accordingly.  It’s a mid-life thing!

God bless you all

Fr Simon

Over the weekend of 12th & 13th August Fr Nicholas celebrated his final Sunday masses with us as our Parish Priest before he took up his new position in Otley.  Whilst we as a Parish are very sad to loose Fr Nicholas as our Parish Priest after many years of faithful service in both Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton, we welcome our new Parish Priest, although he prefers the term Pastor, Fr Simon Lodge. 

Fr Simon is from the local area, having been raised in Batley and attended St John Fisher Catholic High School.  Fr Simon spent some of his formative years in his journey to Priesthood at our neighboring Parish of St Joseph’s, Batley Carr, where he celebrated his First Mass after his ordination at Leeds Cathedral back in 2000.

Fr Simon has held other positions within the deanery and further afield, having recently spent time in Sacramento, California.

I am sure we will make Fr Simon feel welcome in the Parish, and keep both him, and Fr Nicholas in our Prayers as they settle into their new ministries.

Nicola (webadmin)