PARISH NEWS ARTICLES

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).

We'll be having a chocolate raffle on Sunday 6th April , please can you donate any chocolate prizes (eggs and bars are all greatly appreciated!). Please leave donations at the back of Church for St Aelred's and in the Church shop for St Mary's. Tickets will be available soon to purchase (at both Churches). All money raised will be going towards CAFOD's lent appeal.

Thank you for your donations to CAFOD’S Family Fast Day Appeal, you are helping people like Lokho in Kenya have a more secure future. If you haven’t returned your envelope please put it in with the offertory collection or donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope .

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.

Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent, at 3pm at St Mary’s - 7pm at St Aelred’s - every Sunday,

Wednesday, 16 April – Mass of Chrism 11.00 Leeds Cathedral – all welcome. Holy Thursday, 17 April – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7pm with watching at the Altar of Repose to 9.15.pm at St Mary’s. Good Friday, 18 April – Celebration of The Lord’s Passion 3pm in both churches with Stations of the Cross at St Aelred’s. Holy Saturday, 19 April – Easter Vigil 8pm at St Aelred’s.  Easter Sunday masses as usual.

St Mary’s SVP meet on 1st April 2025 at 7pm in the parish centre. St Aelred’s 2nd April 5.30pm in the hall.

St Mary’s - spring clean the office and reception room. Lots of help needed - preparing papers for professional shredding and a general tidy up on Saturday 29th March at 11.30am.

Saturday 12th April from 11.30 am to 3.45 pm in St. Aelred’s church hall, Woodlands Drive Harrogate HG27BE Speaker is Mary Callan. Title of talk is Resurrection Women - Men too.

The winning numbers for the February draw:- £40 - 24, £25 - 139, £20 - 138, £15 - 148. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The winning cheques can be collected from the notice board.

Below are the photos from St Mary’s - the children celebrated first reconciliation yesterday with huge thanks to Helen Tomlinson and Katie Bleasdale their catechists!!

Supporting CAFOD during Lent: If you can support CAFOD with your almsgiving during Lent, please take one of the boxes from the back of Church and return it during Holy Week. Would you like a walking challenge during Lent? You can join CAFOD’s Big Lent Walk and journey together with Catholics in England, Wales and Scotland as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year – set your own distance. Sign up here: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/

Learn more about living simply and sustainably. Trish Sandbach will be giving. A presentation and taking questions on Thursday 20th March at 6.30pm in St Aelred’s Hall. This is an opportunity for both our parishes to pray, learn and reflect together.

Lent Day at St Robert's Primary School. Monday 31st March. This year, in consultation with Head Teacher Miss Jill Collins, we will be focussing the children's prayer on the Live Simply programme. Volunteers are needed to accompany the children around the various prayer stations. New and experienced helpers are very welcome. Volunteers needed for morning and/or afternoon sessions. Please speak to Krista Rafferty-Gray for further details.

Fishy Luncheon Monday 10th March All welcome to come and enjoy fish & chips, mushy peas, coffee/tea, bread & butter and sweets for afters, as well as some good chat. Hall opens 12Noon, luncheon served 12.30pm £6. monies to be paid to Tony or Margaret. Please put your names on the list at the back of St Aelred’s Church or phone Tony on 07912790773

Joint Social for St Aelred’s and St Mary’s: a shared lunch will be hosted by St Aelred’s Parish on Sunday 23rd March 2025 from 12 Noon in the parish hall at St Aelred’s. Please bring a plate of food to share that reflects your family culture.

St Vincent’s Shop (SVP) in Knaresborough is in need of volunteers for various tasks: in the shop, sorting, on the till. Please call into the shop at 52 High Street Knaresborough or email annetteh@svp.org.uk. If you are able to offer an hour or two that would be much appreciated. The shop also needs donations of clothes, shoes, handbags and bric-a-brac.

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.

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 need 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 be welcomed. We look forward to your visit in this Jubilee Year.www.ourladyofthecrag.org/