PARISH NEWS ARTICLES

Friendship Groups: St Mary’s Friendship Group meet Monday afternoons from 1.30pm to 3pm with refreshments and good cake! All most welcome. St Aelred’s Friendship Group meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 1.30pm – 3.30pm all most welcome.

 Fr Gerard will be on his annual retreat from Monday to Friday this week. In an emergency only please contact St Robert’s on 01423 504988

American Style Ceilidh - Saturday 5th April 7 . 30pm in St Aelred’s hall. The next in our popular twice-yearly series. Come and dance to a top-class live band. Sociable and fun. No previous dance experience needed - our expert dance caller will explain everything. This event is open to the public - bring your friends from outside the parish. Tickets £10 / £6 on the door. Tea, coffee & cake in the interval. No licensed bar but you can bring your own drinks if you wish. For more information see Philip Rowe (Sunday organist St Aelred’s 9am).

St Mary’s SVP meet on4th March 2025 at 7pm in the parish centre.

The Chapel Of Our Lady of the Crag in Knaresborough . We are a small group of local people who hold the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag in Trust. We are in need of more trustees, gardeners, volunteers and fundraisers to help us in our mission to keep this unique site open to visitors. Donations of plants and money towards our long-term preservation projects would also welcomed. We look forward to your visit in this Jubilee Year.www.ourladyofthecrag.org/

 CTIK Easter Club : will only take place if we have enough willing adult helpers. Please have a think and pray about if this is something you could do. Dates: Wed 16/Thurs 17 April: 9:30am – 12:30pm If you’d like to help, please let Liz Rochester (07506 576196lizrochester@outlook.com) or June Graham (ctikeasterclub@gmail.com) know by Sunday 16th February.

 Church Cleaners : we are very grateful for all the hard work in keeping our churches so beautiful. Extra help is needed. Please see Fr Gerard or Bernadette at St Mary’s or Rhonda at St Aelred’s.

CAFOD: Meeting to plan for Lent 2025 – Thursday 13th February, 7pm St Aelred’s Church Hall. This is an opportunity for both parishes to work together for Lent and to explore the Live Simply award. All most welcome. Please join us for refreshments after Mass in the church hall – all most welcome.

 Parish lay representative required for Churches Together in Knaresborough. Meetings are held quarterly with an AGM in February. If you are interested, please get in touch with Fr Gerard.

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A large green bin has been placed in the car park for all Hall and church users. This will be emptied weekly and is for St Mary’s use only.

 SVP Leeds- Annual Family Sponsored Walk in Aid of the St. Vincent’s Support Centre will take place in the beautiful countryside around Wetherby on Sunday 18th May 2025. All walkers new and old welcome. Please also see poster in the church narthex. There will be 2 walks: one of 3 and one of 9 miles to suit all ages and abilities. Lots of additional attractions on the day. Further details through the St. Vincent’s website: St Vincent's Centre, Leeds | St Vincent de Paul Society (svp.org.uk); from Leigh Bradley: LeighB@svp.org.uk // 0113 248 4126 or from our Parish SVP Conference. Please support our unique Leeds based project helping the disadvantaged & those living in poverty throughout Leeds.

CAFOD: Meeting to plan for Lent 2025 – Thursday 13th February, 7pm St Aelred’s Church Hall. This is an opportunity for both parishes to work together for Lent and to explore the Live Simply award. All most welcome.

World Day of Prayer : Friday 7th March, 2pm, at Gracious Street Methodist Church. All welcome.

Deanery day of renewal. Saturday 8th February from 11.30am to 3.45pm in St. Aelred’s church hall, Woodlands Drive Harrogate HG27BE Speaker is David Bolton. Title of talk is “Candlemas and Prophecy." Exploring The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Luke 2. 22-39 and the prophecies of Simeon and Anna

Confirmat ion Candidates are warmly invited for their formation session at St Mary’s Hall on Sunday 26th January 2025, 12 Noon to 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Parents are invited to meet with Fr Gerard at 2.30pm for an update on the same day. Please note this is the only session we are running and it is essential to attend before the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Home work: please bring with a Saints/Biblical name for your Confirmation name

A New Year's Invitation to Evening Prayer: Since Covid a small group have been meeting on-line each evening to pray together "Evening Prayer of the Church”. This is an invitation to parishioners of both our parishes to come and join in with the prayer, even if only occasionally. Please email Deacon David for information, or just give it a try by dropping-in any evening at 6pm using the Zoom link: Meeting ID 748 9844 4879 Passcode: 4Z9YTB.

A very warm welcome to Fr Paul McCourt celebrating Mass with us this weekend.

Confirmation Candidates are warmly invited for their formation session at St Mary’s Hall on Sunday 26 th January 2025, 12 Noon to 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Parents are invited to meet with Fr Gerard at 2.30pm for an update on the same day. Please note this is the only session we are running and it is essential to attend before the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Home work: please bring with a Saints/Biblical name for your Confirmation name.