The people of Cross Green were offered the ancient custom of “ashing” and the opportunity of a moment’s prayer, or reflection, when Father Darren Percival, priest-in-charge of S. Hilda’s, Cross Green took the mission of the Church onto the parish streets on Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.
“Ash Wednesday is one of the most important and holy days in the churches liturgical calendar. Having been a Self Supporting Priest until my appointment here in Leeds last September, I know making time to go to church is somewhat difficult for everyday folk,”, said Fr Darren. “So this year in the sleet, snow and biting cold, we decided to take the Church to the streets of Cross Green, where people were prayed for and ‘ashed’. Ashes also symbolise grief and everyone I met was told that the ‘the grief we think about are the sins that we have committed that have caused division from God. “We also met people from the Wednesday Community Lunch Group at S. Hilda’s who were “ashed” too, before they had lunch,” said Fr Darren who earlier had celebrated Mass with the traditional imposition of ashes in S. Hilda’s. “In communities such as Cross Green and Richmond Hill, it is vitally important that the Church which is the heartbeat of its community is seen in action upon the streets, communicating the gospel in action where it can be easily understood and taken to heart by people who are on the very edge of society. In the December-January issue of New Directions Fr Ian McCormack of the Wakefield Episcopal Area discusses Tractarian perspectives on our social duties - see page 6. Also Fr Rodney Marshall also of the Wakefield Episcopal Area reminds us how a ‘ministry of presence’ is central to Anglo-Catholicism - see page 8.
A message to Members of Forward in Faith in the Diocese of Leeds from Bishop Tony - updated9/2/2018
Thank you for being a member of Forward in Faith and supporting The Society in The Diocese of Leeds.
We have 31 parishes which have passed a resolution for pastoral and sacramentally care. I am writing to you to encourage you to join us in the three key events in 2018. I realise that many of you are in parishes which do not have resolutions so I hope you can come to these diocesan events and feel part of The Society in The Diocese of Leeds. We need to be working together and supporting each other. Please do get in touch with me if you require more information or need any other help. Saturday 17th February AGM for Forward in Faith in The Diocese of Leeds at 11.00am S. Chad’s Toller Lane Bradford BD8 9DE Refreshments in the hall – please bring a packed lunch Lenten Reconciliation Mass at 12.30pm with an opportunity for confession ... concluding with Benediction. Finish at 2.30pm Sunday 25th March – Palm Sunday Chrism Mass with Blessing of Olis 6.00pm S Hilda Cross Green Saturday 12th May Lecture by Fr Damian Feeney Wakefield Cathedral 2.00pm Opening Worship Lecture 4.30pm vespers and Benediction I hope to see you at some of these services. Please be assured of my prayers for you. Bishop Tony Robinson Bishop of Wakefield |
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