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: Robin Ventress, Peter Wallace, Philomena Binks
Anniversaries: Joanna Newitt, Fr Aidan Gilman OSB, Patrick Brent Grotrian, Sarah Hayman, Patricia Chaytor, Kitty Hurley, Andrew Daly, Richard MacMillan, Mary Gray
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 Benedict’s Church 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 £3092.17. 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.
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.
DONATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS FLOWERS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.
Saturday 13 December Ampleforth College Schola Cantorum invite you to Advent Carols by Candlelight. Tickets £10.00. Visit the College Website for more details.
Saturday Evening Refreshments On Saturday 20 December, all are invited to refreshments in St Benedict’s Church Hall after the Vigil Mass. Come meet your fellow parishioners!
EPIPHANY BRING AND SHARE SUPPER On Sunday 4 January, all are invited to a Bring and Share celebration at 12.00pm in St Benedict’s Church Hall. Includes Children’s Lucky Dip.
DEAR MFB SUPPORTERS, A VERY BIG THANK YOU to everyone who contributed so generously to the JOINT CHRISTMAS APPEAL! Tracey and her volunteers were delighted to see all the boxes and bags emerging from the two cars packed full of tins, packets etc and the all-important Christmas goodies, very grateful, as were we to Sue Allen and Jonathan Pomroy for donations from the Ampleforth Benefice, to Peter and Chris McAleenan from St John’s, Easingwold and, of course, to all who support the Ampleforth Hub!
Please see below an extract from Tracey’s e-mail of thanks, with all the stats!
“It was lovely to see you today, thanks so much for bringing the wonderful donations from Ampleforth. We really value and appreciate your support. Donations continue to dwindle as people struggle to live with the cost of living and other demands placed upon them. Your donations really do make a difference to us at the foodbank.
The totals are Cash £205 Cheques £ 169.15 Food 279.93kg This is amazing, thank you to every single person who has donated. We are very grateful. I pray you all have a peaceful Christmas and I look forward to working with you again in the New Year.
AND NOW FOR THE NEW YEAR! We hope you will be able to continue to support the MFB and will want to put this date in your diary! FIRST DELIVERY of 2026: TUES. 13th JANUARY DEADLINE for DONATIONS: MON. JAN. 12th at 12 NOON Food stocks are soon depleted over the Christmas holiday period, both in people’s homes, and at the MFB, so it would be great to give them a boost and as well as HOPE, in the NEW YEAR!
If you have any surplus food, toiletries etc and Christmas goodies, please bring them to the Epiphany Bring and Share Lunch at 12.00pm on Sunday 4 January at St Benedict’s Church Hall.
Otherwise donations should be left at the back of Our Lady and St Benedict’s Church as always. THANK YOU ALL!
Please remember, every donation counts and is gratefully received, as are all donations made online or by other means direct to the MFB. …so THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
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?
METHODIST ASYLUM PROJECT - MAP Although there’s not another general Collection until FEBRUARY Paul George and I are hoping to attend the Christmas Party on Saturday December 6th. The gifts of Teddy Bears, Toys, Jewellery and Toiletries will be seen again as the volunteers, who know their clients well will have wrapped up those as individual presents. 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
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 22 December – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 5 January – St Hilda Monday 19 January – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 2 February – Our Lady & St Benedict Monday 16 February – St Hilda Followed by refreshments and fellowship ALL WELCOME
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL If you happen to have a few free moments and are in Helmsley up to 13 December, please do visit the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church. There are two trees organised by Ampleforth Abbey, including one decorated by our children. There is also opportunity to volunteer as a host, if you are interested.
CHRISTMAS AT OUR LADY & ST BENEDICT Wednesday 24 December: 10.00am Crib Service & Christmas Tree Dressing 5.30pm Carol Singing 6.00pm Family Mass of Christmas Night 8.00pm Mass of Christmas Night Thursday 25 December: 10.00am Mass of Christmas Day Sunday 11 January: 3.00pm Epiphanytide Carol Service Saturday 7 February: 11.00am Peter Wallace Memorial Mass
BLUE CHRISTMAS A SPECIAL SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALONE OR WHO ARE GRIEVING AT CHRISTMAS TIME SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER 3.00 P.M. HOLY CROSS GILLING
THE MARK 10 MISSION On Tuesday 16 December, The Mark 10 Mission are broadcasting a child and family friendly Carol Service via their website at 2.00pm. If anyone is interested, I invite you to a “watch party” in St Benedict’s Church Hall. Those who would like to, could follow this by watching a recording of the Webinar “Overflow”
UPPER ROOM WITH MIDDLESBROUGH SVP Our children heard a presentation about this “drop-in” centre in Middlesbrough, open each Saturday morning for two hours, providing hot food and drink, care, advice and a friendly welcome to the homeless. They were invited to take up an ADVENT CARE BAG CHALLENGE. Provide simple toiletries, woolly hats, scarves, gloves etc to create gift bags to give a homeless person. ALL WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. Send suitable items to School.
WARM WINTER SPACES Begins again in Ampleforth Village Hall Wednesdays 12.00 - 2.00pm December 3rd, 10th & 17th. An opportunity to meet old friends and to 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 accepted.
Transport can be arranged - call Mary in advance on 07732 786643
COFFEE AND CRAFTING Continues each Thursday 10.15 - 12.30 in St Benedict's Church Hall Join us for creativity and community. We invite you to bring along any crafting or art projects and enjoy skill sharing with others during this social time., ALL AGES WELCOME. Children must be supervised at all times by parents or caregivers during the event.
THE WELL A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR CATECHISTS
Join us for a day of teaching, discussion, reflection and encouragement.
Saturday 31st January 2026 10.30 - 3pm Parish Hall of Our Lady's Catholic Church, York, YO24 3DX
Bring your own lunch/ Refreshments provided
'Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.' John 4:14