The official list for the Celebrating Young People Awards 2019 was announced in London’s West End on the 3 July. Nominations were gathered from schools, parishes and organisations across England and Wales. The awards – now in their fourth year – are powered by the Million Minutes Organisation and honour the achievements of those young […]
Yorkshire
05 Jul- Leeds Citizens Assembly
By John Battle Five years under the guidance of Tom Chigbo and Becky Howcroft, our paid organisers, Leeds Citizens is growing in strength and depth as a way forward developing a new, deeper and more hopeful politics of real change in our turbulent times. The recent city-wide assembly held at the Roscoe Church in Chapeltown […]
18 Jun – Goodbye to Madeline -CAFOD Step into the Gap volunteer
Madeline started as a CAFOD ‘Step into the Gap’ volunteer at Leeds Trinity University last September. This programme is for people aged 18-30 who want to take a year out in the service of others. CAFOD works with various placement organisers such as universities, retreat centres and diocesan youth teams. Madeline first heard about the […]
14 Jun – Jean Vanier remembered
By Marjorie Parker Jean Vanier died peacefully on 7th May. At his requiem Mass, Marie-Helene, his long time friend and co-founder of Faith and Light reminded us that “to die is not a lamp going out but a new light lighting up, Jean has given us a new light” What is the light that Jean […]
12 Jun – New Pax Christi Director visits Leeds Diocese
Theresa Alessandro, the new Director of Pax Christi UK, visited the Leeds Diocese on 10 June. Pax Christi UK is the UK part of an international Catholic peace movement.Theresa had agreed to time her visit so that it coincided with the quarterly meeting of the full J&P Commission. John Battle, Chair of the Commission had […]
09 Jun – Live Simply at St Joseph’s Primary School in Wetherby
Last month we featured a brief update about St Joseph’s Primary School in Wetherby gaining the Live Simply Award from CAFOD. Below is a more detailed story from the Head Teacher, Louise Milivojevic. Not only is St Joseph’s the first school in the Diocese to gain the Live Simply Award it is one of only […]
22 May – SPARK Social Justice, our new project
For a while now we have been only too aware of the lack of younger people (with some exceptions) coming along to events organised by the Justice & Peace Commission.With financial support from the Porticus Trust we have just started up a project that will run to the end of 2020. It is specifically designed […]
15 May – Two Live Simply Awards in 1 month
A second parish in the Diocese has obtained the CAFOD Live Simply award. On top of this one of our schools has also achieved the award. Here are the details: Our Lady of Kirkstall parish, Leeds The Leeds parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall, encompassing the church communities at St Mary’s Horsforth, Holy Name in […]
05 Apr – ‘Looking Back’ Lent Lunch
On Friday 5th April the Commission jointly organised with the Leeds CAFOD Volunteer Centre a ‘Looking Back’ Lent lunch.Both Bronagh in the CAFOD office and Joe & John for the J&P Commission have been doing some serious ‘sorting out’ at the respective offices. There was much stuff that had to be thrown away – yellowing […]
12 Feb – Helping Asylum Seekers & Refugees in 2019
On Tuesday 12 February the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes & St William’s (Parish of St. Blaise), Ingleby Road, Bradford, hosted another very successful meeting for the Diocesan Refugee Support Group. The spacious parish hall was packed with nearly 100 people and at least 15 organisations that support refugees and asylum seekers in and […]
Faith in Political Action Today
Project Bonhoeffer was set up in 2012 by a small group of friends who, remembering the impact of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life and ideas on their own thinking as young Christians fifty years ago, felt it was important to convey something of that experience to young Christians today. Since 2013, Project Bonhoeffer has held a series […]
07 Jan – Syrian Refugee Resettlement update from Settle
It is now two years since the inaugural meeting of the Diocesan refugee Support Group. Last year’s meeting was attended by over 100 people. One of the speakers was Sean Ryan, He is the National Coordinator for the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) of the Community Sponsorship Scheme run by the Home Office for resettling […]
12 Dec – Faith Day at St Mary’s Menston
Saint Mary’s Menston can be justly proud of its active involvement in working for justice and peace for many years. Since its formation three years ago, the new ‘Global Warriors’ group has been extending this commitment and growing its influence throughout the school. The aim of the group is to raise awareness about issues of […]
10 Oct – Grace Hosting
By Moira Flynn When I heard about Grace Hosting I assumed it was called that because there was no money involved and it was a celebration of hospitality and the benefits that brings to both guest and host, but actually it got its name from its first guest who was called Grace! We heard about […]
09 Oct – Caritas Leeds Looks to the Year Ahead
Caritas Leeds, which calls together all those in the Diocese in our organisations , groups and parishioners involved in charitable activities and social action, held an annual Diocesan reflection day on the first Saturday in October. Opened by Bishop Marcus, it was launched with an introductory reflection on Pope Francis’s latest Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete […]
18 Jul – Live Simply in the Leeds Diocese – Updates
Our Lady of Kirkstall Parish, Leeds This parish is now well into carrying out the plan developed and presented to the Parish Council in the middle of last year. Michael Emly writes: Since January, steady progress has been maintained in implementing our Action Plan. Our planning group continues to meet at approximately 2 monthly intervals […]