Ecumenical Hospital Service

An ecumenical service of celebration and affirmation for voluntary chaplaincy members in the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, was held in the hospital Chapel of the Good Samaritan on 1st June. The idea for the service was put forward and organised by the...

Riverside Joy!

A charity football match at the Riverside Stadium organised by Fr Paul Farrer and friends in aid of Teesside Hospice proved to be a real winner, providing a real spectacle for the fans and raising £15,000 in the process. A beaming Fr Paul was still delighted –...

Seven Last Words

Cardinal Basil Hume died ten years ago this June. When he was told he was terminally ill with cancer, his reaction was to go to the hospital chapel to pray before the crucifix. A new book of previously unpublished reflections by Cardinal Basil Hume ‘Seven Last...

Prayer at Pentecost

On Pentecost Sunday, approximately two thousand Christians from York churches assembled on the city walls to take part in the Global Day of Prayer, praying for the city and the world, and thanking God for His graces. This was followed by a lively service of praise and...

Global Day of Prayer

Christians in York of various denominations, including many Roman Catholics, took part in the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday (31st May) by praying on their city’s ancient walls. York’s walls were first constructed by the Romans and have been rebuilt over the...

Preparing for Pentecost

During the week of preparation for Pentecost and the Global Day of Prayer, churches of all kinds throughout York took part in a chain of prayer. English Martyrs’ turn was from Thursday evening through Friday, with creative prayer-stations around the church,...

St Vincent’s May Procession

St Vincent’s May Procession, one of the last in the South of the Diocese, was held on 17th May. Unfortunately, for the first time in years, the heavens opened and it had to be confined within the church. Hopefully, next year we will be out in the open again and...

Singin’ in the rain

Despite the mixed weather, this year’s first ‘Praise by the (Millennium) Bridge’ got the series off to a cheerful start. Organised by Churches Together in SW York, and SE York Churches, Praise by the Bridge is held at the west end of York’s...

Middle East Churches Event at York

Persecuted Christians in the Middle East are praying for the Western World. This surprising information was given by a Maronite Rite Catholic priest, Fr Samer Nassif, to an audience of over 50, following a Saturday Midday Mass at the Church of the English Martyrs in...

Alpha Special

For several years, York’s churches have co-operated in offering the Alpha course, introducing non-believers to Jesus Christ. This autumn, a group at St Bede’s Pastoral Centre will also take part, offering the Alpha course on Monday evenings. ‘The...

Feast of SS Peter and Paul

for XT3 180 seconds June 2009 You can’t give what you haven’t got. It is a simple truth that most of us live by. If we don’t have the faith we can’t pass it on. Jesus asks a simple straightforward question in the gospel, “Who do people say the Son of Man...

Blessing of the Cemetery

at Stanbrook Abbey, Crief Farm, Wass 25 June 2009 Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world We are called to be part of God’s priestly, prophetic and royal people. We know that; we take it for granted. It should...

The Feast of St Philip Neri

26th May 2009 Introduction Philip Neri was born into in 1515 in Florence. He lived his life in Rome and he is described as a truly Renaissance man. One of his many gifts was the art of conversation and encouragement. In all our human relationships the ability to meet...

Grotto Mass homily

Saint Bede the Venerable 25 May 2009 They say that you don’t decide to come to Lourdes of your own will; rather it is Our Lady who calls you to be here. In other words, you never come to Lourdes by accident, even if for some of us it might look like that. If you have...

Opening Mass of the Lourdes pilgrimage

St Bernadette Centre 23 May 2009 : The Way of Bernadette Introduction I was talking to someone earlier on about coming to Lourdes this year. It has been quite a sacrifice on the part of many people given the uncertain economic climate in which we live. So, the first...

Diaconate Ordination

of Marc Lyden-Smith, John Moriarty, and Séan O’Brien Ushaw College – 19 June 2009 For years now, you have been wondering if you had a vocation. Sometimes certain; other times, not so sure, you continued to listen, to pray, to discern, to test yourself and...

The Postgate Rally

Bishop Terry will be the main concelebrant and preacher at this year’s Postgate Rally which will take place on Sunday 5th July from 2.30pm at Egton Bridge. The Mass is in honour of the English and Welsh martyrs and Blessed Nicholas Postgate. There is free parking and...

Latin Mass Society Training Course for Priests

LMS Residential Training Conference for Priests Wishing to Learn the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, St Albans, Herts The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales (LMS), in association with the...

Prayers needed please!

Please pray for Louis Anderson, who is only two years old. He has a neuroblastoma and will have an operation on 22 June to remove the malignant tumour. He is being remembered in prayer at Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary and at the Friary at San Giovinna Rotondo, Italy...

The Feast of Corpus Christi

13/14 June 2009 Introduction Our celebration of this Eucharist is a sign of Christ’s sacrifice: the one, eternal sacrifice which brings us salvation. In this celebration we find unity and peace. With grateful hearts we come before the Lord. Lord, we are your...

Passover Meal for Christians

Holy Cross Church, Cottingham celebrated its first Passover Meal for Christians on the evening of Spy Wednesday. It was attended by 80 parishioners and friends. With readings, prayers and music, we recalled the night when the Angel of Death passed over the houses of...

Open Day at St George’s, York

Everyone’s welcome to come and visit St George’s, York on Saturday 20th June between 10am and 4pm for its Open Day. Opened in 1850 and designed by Charles and Joseph Hansom, famous for the Hansom cab, St George’s stands between Walmgate and...

Servant of God returns home

Fr Austin O’Neill, retired parish priest of St Aelred’s, York, died on Saturday 25 April after a long period of ill health. He was 73 and had been a priest for almost 48 years, 21 of which were at St Aelred’s. Education was close to his heart. He...

St Paul – In Our Time

With the Year of St Paul drawing to a close readers may like to listen to a recent episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘In Our Time’ entitled St Paul. In this episode the host Melvyn Bragg and his guests Helen Bond (Senior Lecturer in the New Testament at...

Blaise Kamba

Upon arrival in the Democratic Republic of Congo following his deportation from the UK, Blaise Kamba was arrested by plain clothes agents once he had left the airport. He was blindfolded and handcuffed, thrown into a jeep/van and taken to the prison he subsequently...

St Charles ‘Drop In’ Report

Thank you to all who help – as volunteers or donors. Especial thanks to the parishes and individuals who have been most generous, to St Charles Parish for paying the energy bills and the SVP for covering any deficit, to St Mary’s College for the huge...

Father Dan: the story of an imperfect priest

Anthea Dove’s new book – unusually, a novel – is a thought-provoking, moving story of a priest whose day-to-day life presents him with many situations which affect us in our lives. In the very first chapter, we meet the apprehensive curate, the...

‘Feed the Minds’ Book Sale

17th – 24th July, 10am to 5pm (3pm, Friday 24th) Every day except Sunday in the Guildhall, York Thousands of books in all categories ‘Feed the Minds’ is an ecumenical charity raising funds through the sale of second-hand books to promote literacy and...

Read-a-Book-a-Month

The launch event for reading the Acts of the Apostles was held at St Paul’s Church, Holgate Road. The vicar, John Lee, spoke of Paul and Barnabas’ time with the church in Antioch, and reminded us every Christian is called to evangelise. The...

Communion Congratulations!

Children from schools and parishes across our diocese have been making their first Holy Communion recently. Congratulations to all those children who have celebrated their first Holy Communion recently and to all the parents, families, catechists, teachers and...

New President for Wetherby’s Catenians

The April meeting of Wetherby Catenians marked the end of one Catenian year and the inception of their new year. To succeed the outgoing President, former printing executive David Barker, the members appointed the distinguished senior member Frank Rowett who has held...

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