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Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to send you the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass once again this weekend. Hopefully both find you well and in good spirits. For those of you who come along to our weekday Masses please be aware of some changes to the regular times, and may I also highlight the opening of our churches for the national Heritage Open Day event. As we are the only Catholic churches in Kirklees taking part in this, I do hope that these days will be supported by our own parish communities and also – through word of mouth – those in our friendship circles too. Both churches have their own stories to tell!

In light of the unfolding natural disaster in Pakistan, and the horrendous conditions being faced by so many of the population there I have included details on the Newsletter of both CAFOD’s webpage address and that of the DEC’s. As helpless as we may feel in the face of such events, we are all able to pray, and I have copied the CAFOD prayer for Pakistan at the end of this note.

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

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

      ​

CAFOD’s Prayer for the Suffering of Pakistan.

O Lord,
in the goodness of your constant love,
be with the people of Pakistan
as they face devastating floods.

At this time of great loss –
loss of lives, homes and crops –
may we be filled with your compassion
and moved to reach out in love. 

As we stand alongside our sisters and brothers, we pray that
they may find consolation in their sorrow,
strength as they seek shelter and safety
and courage to carry on. 

Forgive us, O Lord,
for our part in the climate crisis,
and inspire us all to play our part
in protecting the earth, our common home.

So that together we may build a world
that reflects your glory,
where hope drives out despair
and all things are made new. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Dear Parishioners,

It is good to be able to greet you alongside sending the weekly Newsletter and the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend.

May I wish you all a very pleasant and relaxing Bank Holiday weekend, with the extra wish that those who are travelling – as large numbers are forecast to be on our roads – will do so in safety and with the necessary patience needed to drive these days !

With an assurance of 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 Mass this weekend. As I assure you of a daily remembrance in my prayers on a weekly basis, I am sure that the powerhouse of prayer that we can be collectively will benefit a number of parishioners who are going through some tough times at the moment. Please do remember all who stand in need of a little extra spiritual support; I know that it will be appreciated.

So be assured of my prayerful support, kindest thoughts, and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas     

Dear Parishioners,

Celebrating the beautiful Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption this weekend, I’m sure that like so many of you, I am grateful of her maternal companionship on the journey of life. It is also a reminder of her powerful intercession on our behalf to her Beloved Son. With so many in need of a remembrance in prayer let us be generous in our spiritual recollections and place into Our Lady’s ever-caring hands all those who stand in need of reassurance and encouragement on their particular pathway through life. Whilst we may be able to name some of these people, others will be far removed from us, and without a name familiar to ourselves, while some in especial need of prayerful support may stand, sit or kneel closer to you than you imagine as we gather for our Masses this weekend. Whether the needs of those we recall, or indeed those of ourselves, are heavy or light to bear, in the title of our church at Cleckheaton may all find hope and inspiration: Our Lady of Unfailing Help. And may Our Blessed Lady do for us, what she is outstanding at – pray for us !

With prayerful remembrance, kind thought and affection.

As always, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

Once more it is good to greet you and enclose the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. I remain grateful, as I know many of you do, to those who work hard behind the scenes to ensure that so many often unnoticed jobs get done. It was good today to see church cleaners as well as brass-polishers working at Holy Spirit, and to enter St. Paul’s recently to the scent of polish and detergent left by the cleaners the previous day ! Whilst it may not be in vogue to say “Thank you”: to those who simply get on and do, aiding the smooth running of our two churches, I say a sincere thank you, acknowledging not only the work done or ministry carried out, but for being the ‘worker bees’ crafting a stabilising normality that we’ve so missed in recent times. 

Be assured of prayerful remembrance, kindest thought, and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas     

Dear Parishioners,

Another week ahead, and another week gone ! Please find attached the Readings for Holy Mass this weekend together with the Newsletter for the coming week. 

With most schools now being on a summer break I hope that families will be able to spend more time with each other, relaxation will be enjoyed, and above all, through often the simplest of things, a rich seam of wonderful memories maybe cultured. 

Continue to look after yourselves and those closest to you, not least in the heat of the summer, but also in light of increased number of Covid-19 cases.

With prayerful remembrance, kindest thought and affection.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

As promised, a quick e-mail to let those who knew him, know what arrangements have been made for Fr. Bernard Funnell’s Funeral. Please keep him, and those who mourn him, in your prayers. 

With all very best wishes,

Fr. Nicholas

The details are as follows:-

Funeral Arrangements for Fr Bernard Funnell. 

  Fr Bernard’s body will be received into St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pontefract, WF7 1NL on Tuesday 2^nd August at 7pm and followed by Mass. 

  Requiem Mass for Fr Bernard will take place at St Joseph’s on Wednesday 3^rd August at 11.30am followed by interment at Pontefract Cemetery. 

  See https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/fr-bernard-funnell-rip/ for the obituary on the Diocesan website

Dear Parishioners,

Along with my good wishes comes the weekly Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass this weekend. 

With the prediction of very high temperatures over the coming days there is a very timely scenario offered to us all in the Gospel of the weekend. The story is familiar; the welcome given by Martha into her home of the family’s friend, Jesus, and the complaint that she makes about her sister, Mary. Whilst for many of us the frantic and busy nature of Martha’s preparations for her guest are a part of our daily lives, the Lord reminds her that it is Mary who has chosen the better part, by taking life at an easier pace, relaxing and both listening to and welcoming His words. Perhaps in the expected heat we could be all a little more like Mary … attending to the necessary jobs of Martha with a more relaxed and measured approach. Do please, be sensible in the heat, keep hydrated and have a care for yourselves and those you know. 

With an assurance of remembrance in prayer, and kindest thought.

As ever, Fr. Nicholas   

P.S. As of yet, no arrangements for the Funeral of Fr. Bernard Funnell have been announced. When I am aware of them, I shall send an e-mail, and they will, naturally, appear on the Newsletter too. 

Dear Parishioners,

As ever it is good to be able to greet you and send this weekend’s Readings for Holy Mass together with the Newsletter.

Long-standing Parishioners in Cleckheaton will be saddened to learn that Fr. Bernard Funnell, Parish Priest from 1988 to 1999, died peacefully yesterday (Friday) morning at Pinderfields Hospital. May he rest in peace and rise in glory ! Fr. Bernard was a man rich in faith and character, serving the Lord as a Priest of the Diocese of Leeds for almost sixty years, who always had a tale to tell and delighted in the contact that his former parishioners maintained with him, especially as his physical health began to fail earlier this year. To his fellow clergy, myself included (particularly in the field of research), he has been a great source of support and wise counsel. Please remember him in prayer together with his family and friends in Pontefract who will mourn him. 

Be assured of prayerful remembrance, kind thought and affection.

As always, Fr. Nicholas

Dear Parishioners,

With the arrival of another weekend, it is good to be able to greet you and send the Newsletter and Readings for Holy Mass. Tomorrow (Sunday) Holy Spirit is hosting a Summer Concert by “Chordiality” for which tickets remain available, so you can just turn up and pay on the door ! With a wide range of items on the programme I would like to think that there is something for all tastes. Please do think about coming along, as we continue to ‘open up’ into a new normality.

Be assured on continued prayerful remembrance, kindest thought and affection.

As ever,

Fr. Nicholas