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On Friday the Universal Church celebrated the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  During the coming week Holy Mother Church celebrates the Most Holy Name of Mary.  Both of these feasts have overtones of feasts ascribed to Our Blessed Lord: His Nativity and The Most Holy Name of Jesus.  This is in no way meant to put Our Lady on a par with her Son, but rather is meant to accentuate her supremely important role in the great Theo-drama of salvation.  It is also a salutary reminder to the People of God that devotion to the Blessed Mother is not an optional extra in the life of a faithful Catholic.  It is integral, and without it our spiritual lives are somewhat… oh, what’s the word?…hopeless!!

To avoid a life that is without hope, there are a multitude of ways in which a faithful Catholic can engage with Our Lady; the rosary is but one of them.  The Church doesn’t proscribe any particular way for us, nor does She insist that all Catholics must ‘believe’ in Lourdes or Fatima or Knock etc.  We are told, after due investigation, that there is nothing attached to these apparition sites or devotions which is injurious to the soul of the faithful.  It is up to us to find our ‘level’ (we may do this – wisely – with the help of A.N.Other), and I would say it is crucially important to do so.  Jesus saw fit to give His Blessed Mother to us (and us to her) as He hung upon the Cross.  It takes some brass-neck on our part to suggest to the Crucified Saviour, “No thanks.  I’ll manage without her.”  Our Lord could have managed without her but He chose not to.  Let us take Him as our example and embrace (in whatever manner we choose) the one who is both Mother of God and our Mother too.  It is a great blessing for us that part of the dedication of our parish belongs to Our Lady of Unfailing Help.  Be honest, is there ever a time when we are not in need of the help of heaven?  Fr Simon

LAST LAUGH: I spent three weeks pushing a pan scrubber in the baby’s face. I want him to get used to kissing his grandmother.  Les Dawson

Our schools re-open this coming week and a whole round of learning and opportunities begin again for our children.  For some little ones, it is their first full day at school; for others it means a fresh start and the anxiety of beginning somewhere new.  For teachers and staff, the new year marks the return to the vital and onerous responsibility of forming impressionable minds in the ways of Faith and right judgement.

Schools have changed beyond the imaginations of those of us who grew up in the 2^nd half of the 20^th century.  Some of these changes have been for the better, others clearly not so.  One thing that hasn’t changed though is the Lord’s call to all of us to “go and teach all nations”.  Our Catholic schools are one of the ways in which we fulfil His command and for this reason they deserve our support, morally and spiritually. I believe passionately in Catholic education and will be doing all I can to support all God’s children (young and old) in their personal journey of Faith, be they in one of our schools or not.  You can do your bit too by supporting the staff with your prayers.  It’s no use chunttering about the state of schools if you haven’t brought them, their difficulties and their needs before the feet of Our Lord.

The new Chaplaincy Coordinator at St John Fisher’s, Mrs E Fiddler, will be working with staff and students and hopes to be able to share her work through the SJF Chaplaincy X page (formerly known as Twitter). Search for @SJFChaplaincy on X/Twitter and give them a ‘like’ and a follow. You are also invited to send prayer requests that will be used in form time with the students.  Fr Simon

LAST LAUGH: I always take my wife morning tea in my pyjamas, but is she grateful?  No!  She says she’d rather have it in a cup!  Morecombe & Wise

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) 

Dear Parishioners,

We can all wish one another a ‘Happy Birthday’ this weekend as we celebrate the beginning of the Church at Pentecost. It is a beautiful and energetic Feast, reminding us that each is gifted by the Holy Spirit and called upon to share their talents generously and indulgently with those who occupy the pathway of life with them, whether they live under the same roof or are just part of a fleeting encounter.

Enjoy the bank Holiday; and I hope that it will bring families and friends together in a harmony that contains something of that peace of which Christ says the world cannot give. 

With an assurance of continued prayerful remembrance, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Come, Lord, and take over my life
you are true love, love divine.

Flowing and glowing,
brightness in my darkness,
power in my weakness,
peace in my troubled life.

What beauty and purity,
sweet fragrance and harmony
what splendour and wonder,
such joy and glory, Lord.

You are so brilliant and illuminating
so caring and comforting,
so gentle and renewing
so patient and liberating,
so motherly and wise.

You are true love, divine Lord,
come and take possession of my soul.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.                                     

Amen.

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send out to you the Newsletter for the coming week together with the Reading for Holy Mass this weekend. 

On Sunday twenty-three of our Year 4 pupils in Holy Spirit School will celebrate their First Holy Communion, and next month children in non-Catholic education, currently being prepared by Parish Catechists at St. Paul’s, will also celebrate this momentous day on their spiritual journey. For many the special day of these children will evoke memories of their own First Holy Communion, and those of family members, whether long ago, in what often seems to be a different world (and at times Church !), or more recently. Either way what is given and received remains unchanging and the same. It is the very Body and Blood of Jesus. And our “Amen” on its reception, or for those who receive a Blessing, is the great statement of our continuing fidelity to this statement of Faith and belief. It is Jesus with us “always, yes, even to the end of time.” 

Please remember our young people in your prayers and thoughts this weekend, together with their families, especially their parents who are their “first teachers in the ways of Faith.” May they remain faithful to what they receive, imitating the fidelity of the Lord who comes to them in this great Sacrament.

Be assured of a continued daily remembrance in prayer, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send out once again the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this Coronation weekend. 

Hopefully many will have been able to view the events taking place in London today and in the midst of an occasion – that is often said only we in this country can do ! – notice what is at the heart of all the ceremonial pageant – the anointing with Holy Oil of an individual called to serve. It is sacramental, rooted and planted in biblical happenings, but also something that links each and every one who is Baptised. In our Baptism we too were anointed with sacred oils, and called upon to assume lives that bear witness to a priestly, prophetic and kingly ministry to those who share our life-journey. 

Away from opinions and views, such moments as today remind us of a fundamental, that no matter who we are we have a part to play in the lives of others. May our contribution to others be one of enrichment and enhancement, witnessing to that wonderful gift offered to us on the day of our Baptism; the ability to show our love of God in the compassionate responses we offer our neighbour.  

May the Bank Holiday bring families together, and provide relaxation and refreshment.

With an assurance of daily prayerful remembrance, kindest thought, and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send out to you the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. The Church invites us, across this particular weekend, to pray for vocations, especially to the Priesthood and Religious Life, but I cannot help but think that vocation is something held in common, and perhaps there is a need for us to rediscover, renew, re-appreciate and value the vocational calling that is our own, whatever our status on life’s journey.

Last weekend, in relation to the Gospel story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus I came across a reflection which I thought may be appreciated by some. It is at the end of this e-mail.

May the Bank Holiday weekend be kind to us all. With an assurance of daily prayerful remembrance, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

All through life’s day,
you walk with us Lord.
But often we don’t recognise you,
for we are blinded by work and worry,
doubt, confusion and fear,
and so you remain a stranger to us.  

 Before the day’s end we will ask many questions,
experience many sorrows and disappointments,
and then, suddenly,
whether we are young, middle-aged or old,
we will find that night is falling. 

 In that moment we pray,
that like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,
our eyes will be opened and that we will recognise you. 

And you will not vanish from our sight,
but stay with us,
to guide us to the Father’s house.  

Dear Parishioners,

Once more it is good to be able to send you the Newsletter and the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend, at the centre of which is the magnificent Gospel story of the appearance of the Risen Lord to the two disciples journeying to Emmaus. At the core of this Gospel is food for the journey and spirit, found in Sacred Scripture and the Eucharist. Each time we celebrate Mass an invitation is offered by the Lord to “Come Dine WIth Me” on the Word and Eucharist. As our doors open this weekend may be delight in the banquet provided. 

Be assured of daily prayerful remembrance, for both yourself and those you hold dear, together with kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas