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 Deceased: Sheila Pacitto
Anniversaries: Maureen Wright, Lucy Fawcett, Mary Chase, Therese Warden, Veronica Anne Tomlinson, Paul King
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. To date, we have received £987.67 in fabric donations. 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.
INVITATION FROM OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN As part of their celebration of the Jubilee Year some staff and parents have contributed recipes to a “RECIPES FOR HOPE” Cookbook. This will raise money for the current School charity “The Upper Room Project”. For more details or to purchase, please contact School.
METHODIST ASYLUM PROJECT 'Thank you to all, who left their contributions for the people who are welcomed, to the Methodist Asylum project in Middlesbrough. They were delivered on May 28th. A grateful acknowledgement to those who packed and labelled the bags and boxes containing the donations. While not necessary, a lovely surprise. More details of next delivery will be posted in the middle of June. Mary Sturges 01439788563. /[email protected]
ASSISTED BYING BILL With the debate continuing and the next vote due on 13 June, it is possible to watch a recording of the recent local forum using the following link: [email protected]
ABORTION LEGISLATION Labour MP, Tonia Antoniazzi, has tabled a new extreme abortion up to birth amendment ahead of Report Stage of the Crime and Policing Bill. This change would likely lead to a tragic rise in the number of babies’ lives being ended through late-term abortions carried out at home. Please help us stop this! Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/uptobirth to email your MP - it takes just 30 seconds!
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 4 July
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
COMMUNITY PRAYERS 10.00am Monday 9 June – St Hilda Monday 23 June – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 7 July – St Hilda Monday 21 July – Our Lady & St Benedict Followed by refreshments and fellowship
PENTECOST PRAISE All are invited to a special service to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Birthday of the Church. It will include participation from the young people of the Youth Church. 7.00pm Sunday 8 June Our Lady and St Benedict
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?
YOUTH 2000 MUSICAL EVENING We are planning an evening of musical entertainment to raise funds for our friends in Youth 2000. Watch out for more details. ALSO Youth 2000 are coming back to Ampleforth this year from Friday 22nd - Monday 25th August for our Summer Festival 2025! We are so excited and are hoping to welcome almost 600 young people this year! As such, we need as many priests and as many rooms available for young people as possible. To help us free up beds for more young people we are asking local families to consider if they are able and willing to host any priests or religious this year. All their meals will be provided for at the Summer Festival, our priests would just need a bed to sleep in at night. If you think this is something you and your family could offer, please get in touch with Youth 2000 at [email protected] or by texting Louisa at 07444 214089.
National Ecumenical Pilgrimage in York, 18th June 2025, 2 pm The late Holy Father, Pope Francis, gave this Jubilee Year the title “Pilgrims of Hope”, and, as sisters and brothers in Christ, we are coming together in the historic pilgrimage site of York Minster to renew our baptismal promises as fellow Christians on the pilgrimage of unity. On Wednesday, 18th June 2025, at 2 pm, we will gather at the south door of York Minster. There we will wait as the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Middlesbrough walk together from the shrine of St Margaret Clitheroe towards the Minster. When they arrive, we all enter together into York Minster for a service celebrating our common baptism and reaffirming our baptismal commitment to hope and unity. The service will end around 3.30 pm and we hope you will be able to join us for refreshments afterwards. If a group from your parish are able to come, could you please email Kinga Kosterska, at the directorate of mission at the Catholic Bishops Conference, with the number of people you are expecting. Her email is [email protected]
DIVINE RENOVATION WEBINARS UNLOCKING THE POWER OF INVITATION This Webinar took place on 8 May. There will be an opportunity to watch a recording of this at 7.00pm on Wednesday 11 June in St Benedict’s Hall.
HOPE ON THE HORIZON All welcome to watch LIVE at 7.00pm on Thursday 3 July in St Benedict’s Hall.
MIDDLESBROUGH FOODBANK We hope you will be able to continue to do your best to support the MFB and contribute to the SUMMER HOLIDAY APPEAL which will involve all of its usual loyal supporters, as well, as those in the villages of Cawton, Gilling, Oswaldkirk and Stonegrave, thanks to Peter and Sue Allen. PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN AND INCLUDE TREATS AND SUMMER SNACKS, eg CEREAL BARS, BISCUITS, CRISPS and SWEETS! NEXT DELIVERY: TUES. 15th JULY ‘25 DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS: 12 noon MON.14th JULY ‘25 PLEASE HELP ALL YOU CAN! Donations should be left at the back of Our Lady and St Benedict’s Church as always. PS. 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 or give them to us directly?
SOCIAL & FELLOWSHIP GROUP There will be a meeting on Thursday 12th June at 7.30 pm in St Benedict's Hall. Items to be discussed include organising the upcoming talk by Rob Thompson with refreshments. This meeting is open to all, without commitment, who might be able to help / who have ideas/ who want to come and listen. Contact Jennie Black on 07906 718829 if further information required.
SATURDAY EVENING REFRESHMENTS Come enjoy some refreshments after the Vigil Mass on Saturday 14 June. An opportunity to meet and share with your fellow parishioners. In St Benedict’s Hall.
THE LAST ENGLISHMAN Come along to a FREE entertaining talk on Colonel Wintle of the Royal Dragoons, a seemingly Colonel Blimp character who was in fact a man of intelligence, action and bravery who spoke truth to those in power - even if it meant disagreeing with his seniors or putting right politicians, crooked solicitors and other 'clots' in sometimes very decisive ways! Rob Thompson will be enlightening us in St Benedict's Hall on Thursday June 19th at 7 pm. Drinks and nibbles will be served. Donations to the Parish will be welcomed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE After the latest meeting of the Committee on Wednesday 28 May, they invite all Parishioners to a Forum after Mass on Sunday 29 June. Here the accounts from 2024 will be presented and the current financial position shared.