The Sick: The Diocese, on advice and under Data Protection Regulations (May 2018), asks us not to name individuals, but to pray for them as a group within the Parish Body as those in particular need.
Recently Dead: Jean Thompson, Diana Smyth, Laura McAleenan, John Marshall, Robin Ventress, Peter Wallace
Anniversaries: Margaret Mary Butler, Fr Alban Crossley OSB, John Butler, Leonard Barker, Allan Firth
HOME COMMUNIONS If you require Holy Communion at home, please contact Fr Kentigern or Fr Bernard either by e-mail or leave a telephone message by 8.00pm on Friday evening stating whether you require a weekly visit or a one-off call. Someone will then be in contact to arrange a suitable day and time to visit.
EASY FUNDRAISER Do you regularly shop online? Did you know you could support your church at the same time? For more information speak to Tracey in the Parish Office and see information leaflets in the Hall.
WORLD COMMUNITY OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION Meets each week: Mondays at 2pm - 3pm in St Ben’s Hall: contact Mary Sturges Thursdays at 8pm - 8 45pm on Zoom: contact David and Sue Walsh Should you wish to join either group contact Mary Sturges 01439788563.
CHRISTIAN MEN OF THE VALLEY Meet each Monday at 8.00pm to share faith, friendship and interests.
FABRIC PROJECTS Works have cost £35000. Thanks to some recent generous donations we have raised £3232.17. All donations gratefully received.
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY Mr Wilding has rejoined the team of lay chaplains at York Hospital. He has produced an information sheet about this ministry, including details of how to contact a chaplain and arrange a visit to a loved one in hospital. You will find these notes at the back of church.
CAFOD Donate to CAFOD’s Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/ipc or call 0303 303 3030. or to the Sudan Crisis Appeal: cafod.org.uk/SudanAppeal or call: 0808 58 588 85.
A REQUEST Are there any skilled SEAMSTERS or SEAMSTRESSES who would be interested in occasional work providing sewing repairs for the monks? Abbot Robert would love to hear from you. Please speak to Fr Kentigern for details.
METHODIST ASYLUM PROJECT - MIDDLESBROUGH - MAP The next general collection will be delivered in FEBRUARY. They really are ‘Doing the little they can for the person in front of them and doing it well’. Thank you for your support. Mary Sturges [email protected] 01439788563
Please support Sue Walsh as she does a cold-water swim every day in January to raise money for the Christian charity Rachel's Vineyard. Sue has worked as a volunteer for RV for 15 yrs. Donations can be made by following the link below.
PARKING Could I encourage as many as possible on Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning to use the parking available off St Hilda’s Walk – below the allotments or in the Doctor’s Surgery. This will help to prevent the congestion building up on West End during the weekend.
THE CHURCH OF ST HILDA AND THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AND ST BENEDICT
Rev James & Fr Kentigern invite you to join them for
COMMUNITY PRAYERS 10.00am
Monday 2 February – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 16 February – St Hilda Monday 2 March – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 16 March – St Hilda Monday 30 March - Our Lady & St Benedict Followed by refreshments and fellowship ALL WELCOME
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Saturday 7 February: 11.00am Peter Wallace Memorial Mass
If you would like to learn more about the work of the SVP or how to become a member then please join us for a Zoom information session on one of the following dates: Monday 2nd February 11a.m. – 12 noon, Tuesday 3rd February 7p.m. – 8p.m., Thursday 5th February 4p.m.-5p.m. To receive a link please email Teresa O’Hagan [email protected] with the date and time you prefer. Patricia Nobbs Middlesbrough SVP Central Council President
MIDDLESBROUGH FOODBANK - MFB NEXT DELIVERY: TUES. FEB.10th ‘26 DEADLINE for DONATIONS: MON. FEB.9th at 12 NOON
Please give what you can as always! Donations should be left at the back of Our Lady and St Benedict’s Church as always. THANK YOU ALL!
PPS MFB GIFT AID forms are now available at the back of church for individual donations of cash and cheques. If you are able to, please could you hand them into the office along with your donation?
DIVINE RENOVATION LEADERSHIP TEAM (Fr Kentigern, Robert & Amanda Toone, David Walsh & Dawn Thyne with input from Philippa Armstrong)
WE PRAY THAT WE MAY BE A WELCOMING FAMILY…
A result of the initial coaching received by the Leadership Team was the identification of a key priority: TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OUR FAMILIES.
With a focus on welcome this has resulted in closer ties with our Primary School and a gradual development of the Family Ministry we offer around the journey towards the Sacraments and beyond.
One of the biggest successes has been the change to our end of summer celebration. Moving the venue to the school grounds has meant that the event takes place in an environment which is familiar and comfortable for our families and provided greater safe space to play and move around. While the hire of a professional Hog Roast was expensive, it was a worthwhile investment to make the whole occasion feel extra special. The numbers attending and the new friendships made are testimony to its success.
We also received some specialist coaching around THE SUNDAY EXPERIENCE in which we were twinned with a vast parish in Ohio, USA. At first we wondered what we could have in common, but as the five weeks went by we found more and more we could share and learn from each other. A key focus was HOSPITALITY. This did not just mean making sure there was someone to hand our Service Sheets or hymn books, but being able to offer the broadest and warmest welcome we can.
The creation of a simple guide to the Mass for adults was a start, but it needs to be better publicised. The use of occasional “Name Badge Sundays” is another way in which we try to break down barriers and help people get to know each other. We have a long and brilliant tradition of after Mass refreshments on Sundays, and now also once a month on Saturday evenings. All too often the Hall is crammed with adults and children comfortable in each others’ company and sharing their lives.
One result of these efforts has been to see people coming and finding a spiritual home with us, sometimes from far afield (eg. Our regular parishioner from Leeds!) We have even had some visitors act as “secret shoppers” and give feedback on their experience.
Hospitality and welcome also involves our environment. Thus the work done on the driveway and the effort to ensure the Church and Hall are warm are at the heart of providing this. We still have challenges, but we are working to overcome these.
At the back of the church, in the Parish Office and via the Parish Website you will find new Data Consent Forms. We ask that EVERYONE take a few moments to fill in this information and return it to us BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2026. https://www.stbenedictchurch-ampleforth.org.uk/
It is important to celebrate this good news. Thank you for your patience in assisting with the census.
COFFEE AND CRAFTING Will begin again on Thursday 8 January 10.15am - 12.30pm St Benedict's Church Hall Join us for creativity and community
WINTER WARM SPACES In Ampleforth Village Hall - Wednesdays, 12.00 - 2.00pm 7 & 21 January; 4 & 25 February An opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones in a warm and welcoming environment. Enjoy a light lunch, tea and cake. Dietary requirements catered for. EVERYONE WELCOME. No pre-booking required. No charge, a voluntary donation will be gratefully received. Transport can be arranged, call Mary in advance on 07732 786643
ALPHA was great... What's next? JOIN US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE LORD'S PRAYER Prayer Course exploring: Why pray? Adoration Petition Intercession Unanswered Prayer Contemplation Listening Spritual Welfare STARTS 21 January TIME 7.00pm VENUE St Benedict's Church Hall Fortnightly (16 Sessions) ALL WELCOME - WHETHER YOU ARE NEW TO PRAYER OR LOKING TO GO DEEPER For more information, or to join the Whatsapp, contact Dawn: 07731 828930
THE WELL A Day of Reflection for Catechists Diocese of Middlesbrough Adult Faith Formastion Join us for a day of teaching, discussion, reflection and encouragement. Saturday 31 January 10.30am - 3.00pm Parish Hall of Our Lady's Catholic Church, York YO24 3DX
Bring your own lunch, refreshments provided.
CATECHISM CLASSES FOR ADULTS For current or recent converts to supplement individual instruction- and all others interested!
Tuesdays at 6.30pm in the Oratory House- just ring the doorbell!
Tuesday 20th January Tuesday 27th January Tuesday 3rd February Tuesday 10th February Tuesday 3rd March Tuesday 17th March Tuesday 24th March
A Passion Play NIGHT FALLS by Paul Birch Presented by The Riding Lights Theatre Company St Mary's Cathedral, Middlesbrough Thursday 26 February 7.30pm Tickets £15 or £10 01642 597750 www.ticketsource.co.uk/middlesbroughcathedral