Notices

IRISH NIGHT

St. Aelred's Community Centre, 16^th March 7pm to 10pm, £5 on the door; bring own drinks and nibbles, all in aid of HCPT. Any musicians, singers, dancers are welcome to join the band; 07950488685 for more info. 

If you pay tax, please help to boost this weekend's collection for our retired priests by completing a White Gift Aid Envelope and mark it "RPWF".  Envelopes are available at each entrance near the Holy Water stoups. You are welcome to take an envelope home to complete, and return in the next couple of weeks. The Gift Aid refund boosts your donation by 25%.

PARISH BIG LENT WALK 2024

What:              A walk around our Parish – Tang Hall and Heworth, approx. 5 kilometres (between 3 and 4 miles)

When:            Sunday 25^th February 2024 
Setting off at 2:00pm following a quick safety briefing and prayer.
Return time to St Aelred’s depends on how quickly we walk and how often we stop but we should be back by about 4.00pm.

Where:          Starting from St Aelred’s Church and taking in some of the hidden gems of our Parish.  I won’t tell you the exact route (unless you twist my arm) but I hope to include some places that you might not have visited before.

Who:              Everyone is most welcome to join us.  If you cannot walk the full distance then join us for part of the way.  As you are likely to know exactly where you are you can drop out at any stage  providing you let the leader know that you are dropping out. Under16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

How:              On foot, of course.  The only requirement is the ability to walk about 5 kilometres. The following should be considered:
Comfortable footwear – walking shoes, boots or trainers.  It could be muddy in places so don’t wear your best gear.
Hoping for reasonable weather, but it is February and you know what the British weather is like, so a waterproof jacket is definitely recommended.  Check out the weather forecast.
Also, if you like, you could bring a drink and a bite to eat for the short stop while at one of the park areas. 

Why:              To enjoy ourselves but also to raise some money in support of CAFOD’s “Big Lent Walk.”  According to CAFOD: “The money raised by taking part will enable us to continue fighting global poverty and working through expert local partners to bring real life change to communities overseas.”
 Gift Aid forms will be available for taxpayers who wish to sponsor or donate.

Safety Notes:   Under16 year olds to be accompanied by an adult.
Main-road crossings (eg Melrosegate) must only be made at pedestrian crossings or at safe areas.
Part of the route is on a cycle track so there is a need to be aware of cyclists who may approach quickly and quietly. 

More info:       Contact Tony Questa 07419 907003 or tquesta47@gmail.com

Dear friends at St. Aelred’s,

We welcome Bishop Terry this weekend who is available to speak with anyone who has a contribution to make for the future of St Aelred’s Parish and your thoughts on its present parish priest. Bishop Terry usually visits each parish in this way every five years but due to the pandemic everything has been delayed a little. I am sure you will all make him feel very welcome and be a part of the synodal view of the parish he needs to gather.

Congratulations to Pat Nobbs who has just taken up the role of Diocesan SVP President. Please keep her in your prayers in this very important role. See the article in the Voice.

As a parish we are joining a Pilgrimage to Fatima, 20th – 27th September 2024 organised by Patrick the Fatima Visitation Statue Guardian whom we met when he visited. There will be other parishes from the north included and it promises to be a wonderful event. The cost has not been finalised but there is a provisional itinerary available. I asked a ballpark figure for the cost and an approximate cost of £900 was suggested for the 7 night half board pilgrimage. More details to follow but if you are least interested with no obligation could you put your name on the sheet. We could start a savings club and anyone with particular problems paying there may be some help if you just have a quiet, confidential word with myself. Please see the poster and provisional itinerary at the back of church.

DIOCESE WIDE CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT - “Don’t just pray–do something for God’s sake!”–What can we do to leave a better world for future generations? Every parish in our diocese is invited to send a group to this event, Saturday 30th September, 9.30am to 3.00pm, English Martyrs Parish Hall, Dalton Terrace, York. Sr Margaret Atkins of the Canonesses of St Augustine will speak about Laudato Si and its link to Catholic Social Teaching. Glen Melvin, our diocesan environmental lead, will speak about his work across the diocese seeking to lower the carbon footprint of our churches and parish buildings. He will help us to understand how best he can support us in taking this work forward. For further information or to book a place please email: adultformation@rcdmidd.org.uk
or phone 01642 850505 ext 241

ARMED FORCES - We pray for all our servicemen and women serving abroad. May the Lord keep them safe! We pray also for their families during their absence serving our country.

God Bless
Fr Bill

EDUCATION SUNDAY
Today is Education Sunday so we take the opportunity to recognise the value and give thanks for our Catholic Schools. We pray for our children and all the staff, governors and academy management and support personnel who make our schools a beacon of God’s love in our local area.
The Bishop’s Vision is to make Christ known and loved, through the provision of excellent Catholic education and schools intent on finding Christ in their daily lives and sharing that encounter with others.

SCHOOL WEBSITE
We are pleased to announce that our new school website is now live, and that all of the old content has been transferred across. I am sure that the site will be easy to navigate and continue to act as a base for all of the key school information. The new website address is https://staelreds.npcat.org.uk/
Please do remember to ‘like’ or ‘follow’ the school Facebook and Twitter pages which are also useful sources of school news and key information.

Masses Received:
Special Intention: Birthday, Wedding, 94th Birthday.
RIP: Colin Evans, Maria Taylor, Val Wormley, John Vesey.

COFFEE MORNING:
This morning will be provided by our Children’s Liturgy Group. Please join us and Bishop Terry for tea, coffee and cake.

Collection 03/09/23:

NOTICES
ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE FUNDRAISER - Paula Konefal as part of the school team is doing a midnight walk in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice. She has a Just Giving page.

PIG RACING - On September 15th at 7:30pm, there will be a pig racing event at Osbaldwick Sports Club to raise funds for HCPT 122. The event promises to be a fun-filled evening with BBQ food, a raffle, and exciting pig races. We hope to raise significant funds for our 2024 pilgrimage.

ARE YOU A VISITOR? – If so welcome, and thank you for joining us for Mass this weekend.
If you are contributing to the Offertory Collection, and are a taxpayer, please complete a White Gift Aid Envelope. They are available at both entrances near the Holy Water Stoups. Doing so will permit the parish to claim a tax refund amounting to 25% of your donation. Thank you for your co-operation.

THE COMMUNITY CENTRE - has refurbished the outside area behind the main hall for socialising. Astra turf has been laid, with picnic benches for all to enjoy. Please supervise children at all times.

ST AELRED’S SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY TEAM are looking for volunteers who would be interested in supporting our children with running lunchtime prayer groups, preparing for liturgical feasts, and helping to support the Catholic life of the school. If you are interested in helping, or would like more information, please contact Paula Konefal konefal.p@staelreds.npcat.org.uk

CATHOLIC VOICE - Our free Diocesan newspaper is available at the back of church. You may recognise one or two people mentioned in it.

PARISH DIRECTORY - After a couple of false starts we are now in the final stages of publishing our Parish Directory giving detail of the various committees, volunteer and prayer groups within the parish. We will issue a draft in case we have missed someone who wishes to be included before issuing it for general circulation.

ONLINE SEMINAR WITH SHERRY WEDDELL – The Diocese of Portsmouth, in collaboration with the Bishops’ Conference Department for Evangelisation, have organised an online seminar led by Sherry Weddell called Engaging the Disengaged: How to Accompany Non-Religious Persons in Daily Life. It takes place on Tuesday 21st November from 6 pm till 8pm and tickets cost £10, (The parish will support the cost for this). This seminar will be of special interest to all those in parishes and dioceses actively engaged in evangelisation and catechesis such as catechists, Catholic teachers, lay ministers, parish groups etc. For details, please search: “Eventbrite Engaging the Disengaged”

TUESDAY LUNCH CLUB - Starts again Tuesday 3rd October. The Lunch Club provides a 2-course meal for any member of our community, you don’t have to be Catholic to attend. This is a Parish wide activity co-ordinated by SVP, so you don’t have to be a member of the SVP to help, just a pair of willing hands. The cost of your ingredients will be reimbursed on the day. Cooks, table setters, servers and dishwashers still needed for some dates. If you’re free from 10:30 to 1:30 please consider signing up on the sheet on the notice board or to find out more contact SVP by mobile: 07340011619

INSPIRATIONAL STUDY DAY Coach will leave St. Aelred’s church 8.00. Registration 09.30. Depart approx 3.00.

LECTIO DIVINA GROUP continues Wednesday 7.00pm in the Community Centre. It would be especially helpful to our Ministers of the Word as they are called to read this very scripture in the midst of our community.

UCM NEWS - The UCM Diocesan Study day on the topic of Contemplative Prayer is at St. Aelred’s on Saturday, 30th September, following 10:00 a.m. Mass. We hope to draw a good attendance from across York and the Diocese and it promises to be a very enjoyable experience. PLEASE NOTE, CORRECTION TO EARLIER NOTICES The U.C.M. Diocesan Annual General Meeting is at Filey on Saturday, 14th October. Lifts to be arranged.

200 CLUB - August prize winners:- £100 No. 8 P. Wright; £50 No. 99 S. Klays; £25 No. 59 K. Thompson; £25 No.164 H. Carney. Subscriptions for 2022/23 are now overdue, cheques for £26 (full year) or £13 (half year) should be made out to “PCC of St. Aelred’s” and can be placed in the collection basket or posted through the presbytery letter box.

FOODBANK DONATIONS - If you would like to support the food-bank providing basic food parcels, please leave them in the box in the narthex/porch or if you would prefer post any cash donations in a clearly marked envelope through Fr Bill’s presbytery letter-box. The SVP will then co-ordinate delivery. Fr Bill will take in food donations at the presbytery door too.

TRUE LIFE IN GOD - Prayer Group meets on Thursdays 7.30 pm. Rosary, intercessions, Bible reading; for further details see (www.tlig.org) and please contact Jadviga Fidler 01904 867426 SVP - Thank you for your continued generosity and support. If you know anyone who would benefit from our help or you would like to join us, please contact us on the SVP mobile phone: 07340011619 or send an email to the St Aelred’s SVP President at the email address: presidentc130403@svp.org.uk

CHILDREN’S LITURGY - All children up to First Holy Communion age are most welcome. Pre-reception children  should be accompanied by an adult. Any questions please contact Paula Konefal paulakonefal@gmail.com