28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (C)
Sunday 12th October 2025

To download a copy of the latest bulletin please click here

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BATLEY TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION “THANK YOU” – on behalf of Bishop Marcus and I, may I just say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all who supported the Batley Torchlight Procession last Monday. It really was a great success with a great number of people who attended from across the Diocese. A special thank you to all the parishioners who helped me to get ready for this important Diocesan event. I really could not do it without your help.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2026 – FOR ST MARY & ST PATRICK’S PARISH
I am delighted to announce that Bishop Marcus has kindly agreed to come to our Parish and celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our children. This year the celebration will take place as follows;
Tuesday 27th January – 7.00pm – St Patrick’s Church
For those children who attend either St Mary’s or St Patrick’s Primary Schools, the preparation will take place there and at home. If there are any children in Year 6 who do not attend a Catholic Primary School but would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please see Fr Eamonn after one of the weekend Masses to register your interest and arrange the preparation.
Please see Fr Eamonn no later than Sunday 19th October.

THE SACRAMENTS OF RECONCILIATION & FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2026 – ST MARY & ST PATRICK’S
In due course the children in our Schools will begin their preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Year 3) and First Holy Communion (Year 4). These Sacraments are celebrated after Easter. If there are any children who do not attend one of our Catholic Schools but would like to receive these Sacraments, please see Fr Eamonn after one of the weekend Masses to register your interest arrange the preparation.

NEW PARISH DATABASE FOR ST MARY & ST PATRICK’S – It is a few years now since we last updated our Parish Records. Some of our records are now out of date. Therefore, I propose to produce an up to date Parish Register. All records will be held securely and will not be passed on to anybody under any circumstances without the person’s permission. These records will be held purely for parishadministration. May I therefore ask, could you please take a ‘Parish Records Form’ which are available at the back of Church and return them to Fr Eamonn at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Fr Eamonn. Thank you for your help with this.

POP INTO ST PAT’S
Monday 13th October – talk by Helen Collin’s on Life In A&E.
Monday 3rd November – video about Holy Spirit Church presented by Peter Moreland a follow up session, following his talk earlier this year.
Monday 1st December – talk on the Turin Shroud.
Monday 8 December – Our very own Parish Historian Jane Roberts will give us a talk on the Lusitania.
Come along and join us – meet new people, make new friends.

NOVEMBER MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS – once again this year I will be compiling a Book of Remembrance for the parishes. In this book will be the names of our loved ones who have died and also the date of their passing. This will mean that each week, we will be able to continue praying for those whose anniversaries occur that particular week. Please find at the back of church, the forms for you to put the names and dates of your loved ones who have died and I will make sure their names are added if they are not already in the Book of Remembrance.

ANNUAL SERVICE OF PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE – As always each year, I will be having the Service of Prayerful Remembrance for our loved ones who have died. This Service is open to everybody, Catholic and non-Catholic. Please feel free to invite your friends and neighbours, especially if they have suffered a bereavement.

The dates of the Services of Prayerful Remembrance this year are as follows;
St Patrick’s Thursday 13th November 6.30pm
St Mary’s Thursday 20th November 6.30pm

Each personal attending the Service will be invited to come forward and place a candle on the Altar in memory of their loved ones who have died. Again, all are welcome.

ST PATRICK’S DISCUSSION GROUP – We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 10.00am in the St Patrick’s Church Tea/ Coffee room. All are welcome. For further details call Andy Hill on 01274 315271 or 07729 626966.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY MR & MRS ALEXANDRA & JOHN GLYNN – on behalf of the parish may I wish every happiness and blessing to Alexandra & John Nicholas Glynn who were married at St Mary’s on Saturday. May God bless them and keep them safe as they begin their married life.

BATLEY COMMUNITY CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Monday 15th December – 7.00pm – St Patrick’s Church
Following on from the success of last year, I am delighted to say that the wonderful Batley Community Choir will once again be coming to sing for us as we prepare for the wonderful season of Christmas.

NOVEMBER FAYRE – SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER AT ST MARY’S SOCIAL CLUB
We are asking for the following donations over the next few weeks to ensure that our Christmas Fayre is a great success. All donations are gratefully received. Please see the list below and the weeks on which they can be brought in and placed at the back of church.
Filled Jars – Weekend of the 11th October
Packaged toiletries – W/E 18th Oct Weekend of the 18th October
Books & Jigsaws – Weekend of the 25th October
Toys – Weekend of the 1st November
Home bakes and cakes on – Saturday 15th November
We also need volunteers to run the stall sand help on the day – please add your name and contact details to the list at the back of church is you would like to help. Thank you very much

WREATH MAKING CLASS – SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 11.00AM – 1.00PM – St MARY’S – All materials, good company and refreshments supplied for £5.00. To book a place please sign up at the back of church.

SVP APPEAL FOR RECRUITS – I am sure you have heard of the SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society) and the great work they do. We are HOPING to start an SVP Group here in our parish. To facilitate this there will be a short appeal at all the weekend Masses on the 15th / 16th November by Andrew Sullivan the SVP Membership Support Officer for the Diocese of Leeds. Let us pray that we will be able to get this off the ground and continue the great work of SVP here in our parish.

ST PATRICK’S LEGION OF MARY – The St Patrick’s legion of Mary meet on; Tuesday mornings at 10.00am in the St Patrick’s Parish Meeting Room.

PARISH BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP – ‘The Journey’ Grief Care Group for anyone walking through Loss. An opportunity to spend time with others who recognise your journey in bereavement. The meetings will take place in the St Mary’s Parish Room. Tea & Coffee is available. It is open to Catholics and non-Catholics. If you are struggling with bereavement, you are all very welcome. The meetings for November are the Services of Prayerful Remembrance. (Please see the bulletin above). (Elizabeth Prout Bereavement Care)

PARISH HISTORY –  This week in 1905, it was announced that the building in Low Lane, formerly occupied by the Birstall Conservative Association as club premises, had been converted into a residence for the Rev. Father Peter Russell, the Catholic priest for the newly founded parish of Birstall St. Patrick’s.

(Jane Roberts – Parish Historian) Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk

WELCOME SPACE – at St Peter’s Church, Birstall every Wednesday 11am-2pm. Free. Refreshments, hot drinks, 3 soups and sandwiches, board games and small little ones play area provided.

CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE (CCD) – Holy Spirit & St Paul will be starting a parish programme of faith formation for this academic term. There is an open invitation to parishioners of all our local parishes. Leaflets are available at the back of church detailing our parish programme of faith formation for this academic term . Please take one for yourself and one to pass on to other people.

DRU YOGA CLASS WITH TAMLIN – SUNDAYS 6.00PM – 7.10PM – HECKMONDWIKE
Feeling tired, depleted of energy? Need to let go of tension & stress? Need to relax more and time to just be still? Then why not try our Dru Yoga! Dru Yoga can help you feel better, ease aches and pains, sleep better and let go of tiredness, become more flexible and improve core strength. If you are interested please contact Tamlin here or find her on Facebook.

ST MARY’S SOCIAL CLUB & PAROCHIAL HALL – Are you thinking about where to celebrate a family party, baptism, wedding, birthday? (Not children’s parties) St Mary’s Social Club has great rooms available to hire at very good prices.
The Melton Lounge – ideal for parties up to 50 people with a well stocked bar.
The Ball room – can hold up to 160 people, with an adjoining kitchen and bar.
St Mary’s Social Club and Parochial Hall – Melton Street, Batley, WF17 8PT
Booking Enquiries – Michelle 07568 727379 or find us on Facebook
Website – http://stmaryssocialclubbatley.uk/

EVENTS IN ST MARY’S SOCIAL CLUB

Social Dancing	Sunday evenings from 7.30pm
Bingo in the Lounge	Tuesdays 8.00pm & Fridays at 8.00pm
Singing for Fun	Wednesdays from 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Quiz Night	Wednesdays from 8.30pm
Batley Rock and Roll Club	Wednesdays from 8.00pm
Fitness with Karen	Wednesdays 5.45pm – 6.45pm
Slimming World	Thursdays 9.00am – 11.00am & 5.00pm – 7.00pm Friday 9.00am
Central Pointe Dance (in the studio)	Monday to Thursday

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

For a full list of Diocesan notices please click here

ANYTHING FOR THE BULLETIN?
If you have any items for the parish bulletin, please may I have them no later than Thursday 12.00noon. These can be sent to Michelle Anderson here or post them through either presbytery letterbox and I will pick them up and add them to the coming week’s bulletin.
Many thanks.