PARISH NEWSLETTER

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.

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.

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/

CAFOD Family Fast Day – Friday March 14th. By donating to this appeal you will be supporting communities suffering the impacts of war, poverty and climate change. Please use the CAFOD envelope in church or donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope

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/

Ash Wednesday is on the 5th March. Masses will be at 10am at St Mary’s (members of our school community will be joining us) and 7pm at St Aelred’s. Stations of the Cross each Friday at 7pm at St Aelred’s and every Sunday, during Lent, at 3pm at St Mary’s.

 CTIK AGM which will be held at Gracious Street Methodist Church on Wednesday, 26th February with refreshments at 6.45, a short AGM at 7pm and a talk by Marcielly Azevedo from the Brazilian Missionary Seed Church based in Knaresborough at 7.30pm.

 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 Aelred’s Choir: the parish can arrange for organ lessons for someone with existing piano skills (grade 5 and above) who would like to learn to play the organ with a view to playing for occasional Sunday Masses. If this interests you, please speak to Phil or Chris after the 10am Mass.