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Dear Parishioners,

Celebrating the beautiful Feast of Christ the Universal King this weekend reminds us that the Liturgical Year is rapidly drawing to a close, and another will dawn shortly with Advent. The Feast reminds us that the Father has handed everything over to the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The journey of life on earth undertaken by Christ was rich and varied, diverse and tough, yet every occasion was taken to reveal something of the life of Heaven that Christ had already known. Even journeying to, and on the Hill of Calvary itself, kindness was shown, forgiveness granted, the promise of eternity made, and a home found for his Blessed Mother. In some way may our lives be channels through which the eternal comes to be known in the transient and passing,

A verse from the Remembrance hymn (“O Valiant Hearts”), sung last weekend, seem most appropriate when reflecting on this weekend’s Gospel text:

“Still stands His cross from that dread hour to this
Like some bright star above the dark abyss;
Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.”   

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

As ever, Fr. Nicholas   

Dear Parishioners,

A slightly earlier delivery than normal this weekend! Please find enclosed the Newsletter for the coming week together with the Readings for Holy Mass at the weekend. 

At our Sunday Masses a period of silence will be observed to acknowledge the sacrifice made by so many enabling us to enjoy the freedoms that we all too often take for granted. Having been involved with this morning’s Schools’ Event in Cleckheaton’s memorial Park, it was impressive to see so many children – numbering in the hundreds – standing quietly at 11 o’clock in unison with millions of others doing exactly the same across the country. 

The Newsletter highlights the times of Remembrance events taking place on Sunday in both Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton for those able to attend. 

With an assurance of prayerful support, kindest regard and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas 

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send you the Newsletter together with the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. 

Please be assured of remembrance in prayer on a daily basis for yourselves and those you hold dear, together with kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas 

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send you the weekly Newsletter together with the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. 

Please do be aware of some changes to Mass times this week necessitated by the Holy Day of Obligation and the subsequent Commemoration of the Faithful Departed on Wednesday.  May the vast array of Saints continue to intercede for us, and may those still journeying back to Almighty God – known or unknown to us – be aided by our prayerful remembrance of them.

May the week unfold kindly and gently before us all.

With prayerful remembrance, kindest thoughts and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas 

Dear Parishioners,

It is, once more, good to be able to send you the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. Our Gospel is once more a story with a meaning, better known as a parable. It focuses on two individuals at prayer, and reveals their conversations with Almighty God. It can cause a judgement to be made in the subconscious of the reader / hearer, but perhaps its main purpose is a call to seek a way of bettering our own life journey. 

Currently our country stands in great need of prayer, not least our politicians. In the midst of the confusion and turmoil, so obvious at the moment, there is a need to recognise that we are all citizens of this land and have a part to play in its life, however insignificant we may feel that contribution is at times.

United in prayer, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

At the end of another hastily passing week, it is good to be able to send out our weekly Newsletter and the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. 

The character of the persistent widow in the Gospel text reminds us all of the virtue of the daily conversations we have with Almighty God, better known as prayer. Personally, I am not really sure what has the most value: what is spoken and shared or the ability we have to both speak and listen. Perhaps it is answered in the final statement of the Gospel, when Jesus asks when He returns will He find any faith. Our gift of conversation with God clearly is the hope that indeed He will discover faith still present!   

May we all be united by prayer, bringing each other into the presence and heart of God through our remembrances and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass to you. The Gospel reading this weekend is a reminder that Thanksgiving is a gift from Almighty God to ourselves, and one that we can – if we think to do so – return to Them, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Mass is the highest act of thanksgiving we can offer. As it is celebrated this weekend, may all of us return thanks to God for so much of what we take for granted, whether that is the people who populate our lives, our surroundings, work or times of relaxation. As a people who often ask so much in prayer, we may surprise ourselves and the God Lord by what we have to be appreciative of and can say ‘Thank you’ for!

With prayerful remembrance, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas 

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send you the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. I often think how fortunate we are to have the gift of a Faith which unites us in all the circumstances of life’s journey, whether we are conscious of it or not. That knowledge often sustains those who feel alone and vulnerable; with a number of parishioners who are unwell at this time, I do ask you to hold one another in prayer. It is a great gift that we can offer to others, whether we can name them or not.

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

As ever, Fr. Nicholas  

Dear Parishioners,

After a time of so many words, images, comments, emotions, reflections, crowds, journeys, queues, splendour, dignity, and much more besides … a simple word of prayer, prayed by the Church night after night, as the day draws to its close. Attributed to one of deep faith, and of old age, as they held the dawn of a new way of life made manifest in the form of the infant Christ-child presented in the Temple. 

“At last, All-powerful Master, 
you give leave to your servant 
to go in peace, according to your promise.

For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.” (Luke 2:29 – 32) 

With prayerful remembrance, kindest regard and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas 

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend I feel as though we are a family mourning the loss of one of our own following the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II which broke on Thursday evening. Like all families at such times, it is important to pause, reflect and be thankful. The media are providing us with the family albums that are looked through by many families in the early days of loss highlighting the significant and momentous, as well as the more trivial and jovial. 

As a people of faith we are asked to hold those who grieve and mourn – those who referred to our late Monarch in the familiar terms of Mother, Grandmother, Mother-in-law, relative and friend – in prayer, as well as praying that the soul of a good and faithful (as well as faith-filled) servant to be granted a welcome into God’s Kingdom, life’s work over, and a vocational calling well fulfilled. Let us not forget to hold in prayer our new King – in waiting for so long – that he will be blessed with all the skills necessary to live out, what for him, will be a life-long commitment of service to others. 

Late yesterday evening the Bishop announced that a Solemn Requiem Mass for the late Queen will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds, this coming Monday 12^th September at 10.30 a.m. to which the Faithful are invited. The Mass will also be livestreamed via the Cathedral website www.leedscathedrallive.org.uk   

With prayerful remembrance, kind thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas