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: Fr Stephen Wright OSB, Barry Roberts
Anniversaries: Andrew Cornforth, Esther Mary Ward, Mary Searson
HOME COMMUNIONS If you require Holy Communion at home, please contact John Ridge: [email protected], 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. All contributions to these costs will be gratefully received.
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.
MISSION TO MALAWI Maria Toone is now in Malawi working with the Jacaranda Foundation. If you would like to support her efforts you can donate using the following website, https://www.jacarandafoundation.org/donate or by using our digital collection plate.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS As part of the experiment in providing more time for Fr Kentigern to develop his Leadership of the Parish, Fr Bernard will be taking on some of the visiting of the housebound in Gilling. The next opportunity is 25 April. (Afternoon)
YORK DEANERY APPEAL Eucharistic Ministers-are there any Ministers of the Eucharist who could visit York Hospital on a weekly basis to help support the two who are presently bringing Communion to Catholic patients? Training and support will be available and a DBS check will be necessary of course. Please contact Sue Ellis on 07748108253.
METHODIST ASYLUM PROJECT - MIDDLESBROUGH MAP Thank you to all who contributed to the March delivery. NO delivery in APRIL but Donations of Summer clothes can be left in cottage after May 19th for delivery on the last Wednesday May 28th.
COXWOLD ARTS FESTIVAL OF PALESTINIAN FILMS 2025 We are showing the best of films coming out of Palestine. These are very troubling times, and these films show a glimpse into the life loves and challenges of Palestinians and indeed their neighbours. 7 for 7.30 Coxwold Village Hall – with a bar.
COMING SOON – Wajib and The Teacher
WAJIB: 2017. For some light relief I highly recommend this delightful film. After years abroad in Italy, Shadi returns to his native Nazareth. But this is no spectacular homecoming. He's back somewhat begrudgingly to honour his "wajib" (or duty) to hand out invitations to his sister's wedding with his father. The simmering tension between the two — who are often stuck in a car, more often than not in traffic — builds, exposing the sometimes-comic chasms that exist between men who live in different worlds but share an unshakable bond.
THE TEACHER The film takes its cue from a real prisoners’ swap that took place in 2011, when Israel freed more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one soldier who had been kidnapped by Palestinian militants. In “The Teacher,” a Palestinian school teacher played by Saleh Bakri struggles to reconcile his commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students. There is also a subplot involving his romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker, played by Imogen Poots (“The Father”). The film, which is produced by Sawswan Asfari and Farah Nabusi, has been well-received on the festival circuit after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in 2023.
Donations only to support ABCD Bethlehem’s work with disabled kids in Gaza and the West Bank – RSVP Anthony 07711 423649
The EASTER APPEAL! NEXT DELIVERY -TUES. APRIL 15th, with the DEADLINE for donations ……12 NOON -MON. 14th. The Trussell Trust list does not include Easter eggs and chocolate treats, which give pleasure to so many children, but the MFB do appeal for them on Facebook.! We will be uniting our efforts with those of Peter and Sue Allen again for their Easter Appeal, from the villages of Cawton, Stonegrave and Gilling and hope, with your generous support, to make it a BUMPER DELIVERY of BASIC ITEMS , MUCH -NEEDED IN THE EASTER HOLIDAYS… AS WELL AS ….. EASTER EGGS and TREATS! PLEASE REMEMBER, EVERY SINGLE DONATION COUNTS! Donations should be left at the back of Our Lady and St Benedict’s Church as always. 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?
AMPLEFORTH LOURDES PILGRIMAGE There's spaces available for assisted pilgrims on the Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage from 11th to 18th July. We're specifically looking for pilgrims who are able to walk a little (or a lot) unaided, however all applications from assisted pilgrims will be considered. Many assisted pilgrims live completely independently, but are only able to join our joyous week in Lourdes because of the additional support we can provide through our clinical team and volunteers, young and old. The pilgrimage fundraises throughout the year to ensure that anyone can apply to join our pilgrimage as an assisted pilgrimage regardless of personal circumstances. If you are interested in joining us, or know someone else who may be, please speak to Emma Craig or Gavin Williams after mass on Sunday, email Gavin at [email protected] or visit www.ampleforthlourdes.org.uk
PARISH PICNIC AND MARIAN SERVICE On Sunday 11 May all are invited to join a Parish Picnic and Fun afternoon at Ampleforth Abbey. The afternoon will end with a short service of praise in the Marian Garden culminating in the traditional crowning of Our Lady as Queen of May.
SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATIONS Please pray for God’s Blessing on: Hamish & Hattie Roberts – making their First Communion at Easter Pip Saggers and Slade Broadwith – being baptised on Easter Saturday Megan and Ilana Broadwith – being Received into Full Communion on Easter Saturday Tommy Glaister, Ryan Kambli and Oscar Evans – being Confirmed at Ampleforth Abbey on 4 May
THE ALPHA EXPERIENCE In October 2025 we will be offering the opportunity to join the Alpha Experience. At present we ask you prayers as we discern the right people to lead this. We also ask that you pray about and discern who might be invited to take part in this experience. Who do you know with questions about faith or who is seeking meaning for their lives?
MISSION APPEAL 2025 On the weekend of 7/8 June we will be receiving an IHM Sister delivering a Mission Appeal at each Mass. Watch out for more details. Might anyone be willing to offer overnight accommodation etc for that weekend?
MUSICAL EVENING We are planning an evening of musical entertainment to raise funds for our friends in Youth 2000. Watch out for more details.
CELEBRATION OF DIVINE MERCY There will be a Divine Mercy service on the Feast of the Divine Mercy (Sunday 27th April) including Adoration, Recitation of the Chaplet and opportunity for Confession. 2.45 pm start at Our Lady and St Benedict's. Please direct any enquiries to Jennie Black on [email protected].
Assisted suicide Bill even worse than before - postcards available Committee Stage of the assisted suicide Bill has ended. It is now weaker and less safe than it was before. 300+ amendments that sought to strengthen safeguards in the Bill and protect vulnerable groups were rejected by Bill supporters, including protection for people with disabilities and domestic abuse victims. Please take action now - collect a red and white postcard, fill out your details and post it to your MP today! We have learned today that day one of Report Stage (the debate) will be on Friday 16 May. However, due to Parliamentary recess, there are very few dates left that MPs will be in Parliament to collect their post, so it is important that postcards are sent to MPs as soon as possible.