Castleford

Team Parish

December 2012 & January 2013

Parish

Magazine

50p 

2 

 

CLERGY

Rector: Fr. Michael Wood, 01977 518127 The Rectory, 15 Barnes Road, Castleford WF10 5AA frmw@hotmail.co.uk

Team Vicar: Fr. Mark Watkins, 01977 511659 The Vicarage, St Michaels Close, Castleford WF10 4EY wattycm@me.com

Asst. Curate: Fr Paul Atkinson, 01977 512404 The Vicarage, Churchfield Lane, Glasshoughton WF10 4BP fr.paul.atkinson@live.co.uk

Polish Priest: Fr. Greg Ruszczynski, 07842 883648

Parish Reader:

Phillip Godfrey 01924 267698

Lay Pastoral Minister: Mrs Lynda Maw 01977 518078

Magazine Editor: Pew Sheets & Diary Dates Andrew Goyns, magazine.ctp@btinternet.com 01924 898593

Parish Office: (Enquiries for Baptisms) Saturdays at 10.00-10.30am at All Saint’s Church, Castleford.

3 

 

The Rector’s Letter Dear Friends, “Advent tells us Christ is near, Christmas tells us Christ is here, in Epiphany we trace All the glories of His grace.”

They don’t write them like that nowadays, but those four lines perfectly sum up everything which the next two months is about; preparation, cele-bration and revelation. At our harvest services we gave thanks for the fruits of earth in their season, though the season hardly exists now because we can get anything anytime and so it is with Christmas, we have lost the prep-aration, we just have to be ready and we have also lost the revelation as well – Christ being revealed to the world. All people want to do now is cel-ebrate, however without the other two bits the celebration falls flat and be-comes strained.

As I write this I am just about to go off on holiday for a couple of weeks (last Sunday was Remembrance day) and it is not just that the Christmas lights are up in town but I have now seen two houses with Christmas deco-rations up in the windows. WHY on earth…..??!!

One of the phrases used these days is that the Church has to be ‘counter-cultural’, we live in a culture but we are upholding something which is differ-ent, we shouldn’t let ourselves be sucked in and become part of it.

Over the past few years we have issued a joint December and January maga-zine because the January one needs to be sorted out right in the middle of Christmas but there is something complete in putting them together. There are many services through Advent, Christmas and into Epiphany so do please try to support as many as possible. If we are to truly celebrate the birth of Jesus then the church really does need to be counter-cultural other-wise we will be seen to be no different from those around with our trees up in the middle of November.

(Continued on page 4)

4 

 

(Continued from Page 3)

With my very best wishes for the seasons ahead,

With my love and prayers.

WORDS OF WELCOME

Some time ago the PCC took the decision to appoint a Family and Chil-dren’s Worker to be in the parish for twenty hours a week with a view to developing our work with families and young children. I am delighted to say that in the New Year we are to be joined by Mrs Laura Fear, who at present lives in Taunton. Laura has a degree in Children and Youth Studies with experience of working with parents and carers for the development of children. I am very much looking forward to Laura being with us.

A Second Welcome is to Kevin Greaves who will be joining us as curate, (to use the jargon “Serving his Title”) from the end of June next year.

Soon to be Father Kevin says:

My name is Kevin Greaves and I’m a child of the 1960’s. I was born in Armley, Leeds and lived there for most of my early life. Since then I have lived in different parts of Leeds and also Doncas-ter, home at the moment is South Elmsall and I attend St Mary the Virgin which is Anglo-Catholic in tradition. I’m currently studying at the Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield, which is within the

grounds of the Community of the Resurrection. I’m in my last year of study, attending part time on Wednesdays and some weekends whilst still working full time at Leeds City Council. At the council I have a number of different roles from the health & safety officer, to child protection to cur-rently advising the council and external businesses across Leeds on Ap-prentices and how to help people to get back into work. (Continued on page 5)

5 

 

BUSY TIMES AT ST MICHAEL’S (Some Photos from Fr Mark)

(Continued from page 4)

I’m single and currently share my life with 3 Jack Russell’s Harry, Sasha and Poppy also known as the not so Holy Trinity. I can often be seen attempting to take them for a walk, though in fact I think they take me! I like the simple things in life and love to have a laugh along the way. I believe that every day is a gift from God.

In November some High Level works were carried out at St Michael’s allowing a few unusual photographs to be taken. Hopefully now all is ready for the winter weather and, with the bro-ken windows all mended too, it should be a bit less cold too!

On Monday 19th November the St Michael’s Brownies held a Bingo and Bring and Buy evening in the church hall. A good time was had by all. The hall was full and the Brownies served Tea and Cakes to many a hungry visi-tor as Cath Hopton called the numbers for the Bingo.

6 

 

7 

 

ADVENT PURPLE 'BELONGS TO CADBURY' The Meaningful Chocolate Company has been forced to redesign its faith based range after it was advised that ‘Advent purple belongs to Cadbury’. Last year the Manchester-based Meaningful Chocolate Company de-signed chocolate tree decorations to help parents and grandparents share the Christmas story with children. The box they came in was ad-vent purple with a picture of Mary and Jesus on the front. In the box was a copy of the Christmas story and a Nativity character sticker set, used to decorate five blank chocolate discs. Purple is the colour worn by clergy during Advent (in preparation for Christmas) and Lent (in preparation for Easter). Many bishops wear pur-ple shirts. However, the company has been advised by its legal team that Cadbury has secured the rights to the colour purple in the UK. And so this year the Meaningful Chocolate Company has changed their packaging of religious Christmas Tree Decorations to a warm red. David Marshall said that in any case, there would have been “little chance of confusion. Our box of Meaningful Christmas Tree Decorations are very different from Cadbury’s own decorations in a number of ways. Our chocolate is Fairtrade, Cadbury’s is not. A charitable donation is made from every sale, Cadbury’s do not do this. We have Jesus, Mary and characters on the front of our box and a copy of the Christmas sto-ry inside, Cadbury have a mostly white box with a snowman on the front and secular tree decorations in a plastic cover. The reason we use purple is that it has been used for centuries by the church during advent…. but apparently no longer…it appears that the association is now with Cad-bury.”

 

BIBLE IN JAMAICAN WILL HELP CHRISTIANS IN THE UK The Jamaican New Testament in Patois has been launched at the Jamai-can High Commission in London. Up to 5 million people speak Patois or Creole, half of them in the UK. The Rev Courtney Stewart, General Sec-retary of the Bible Society in the West Indies said, "Having the Bible in Patois is a moment of tremendous triumph because God is speaking to us in our own language".

8 

 

HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR DECEMBER

1 Charles de Foucauld, hermit, 1916

3 Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle to the Indies, 1552

4 John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749

Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon,

Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1937

6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326

7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397

8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

13 Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304

Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784

14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591

17 O Sapientia

Eglantine Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of Save the Children, 1928

24 Christmas Eve

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr

27 John, Apostle and Evangelist

28 The Holy Innocents

29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170

31 John Wycliffe, Theologian, Reformer, 1384

9 

 

O SAPIENTIA (DECEMBER 17th) – WHAT IS IT? This day marks the start of what are called the “Great O Antiphons”. These Antiphons are sung in the seven days through to the end of Advent. Tradi-tionally the “O Antiphons” are sung or recited at Vespers from December 17th to 23rd inclusive.

The importance of these Antiphons is twofold. First, each one is a title for the Messiah. Secondly, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the com-ing of the Messiah. Interestingly the hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.

O Sapientia O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. O Adonai O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. O Radix Jesse O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer. O Clavis David O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. O Oriens O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. O Rex Gentium O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. O Emmanuel O Emmanuel, our king and a lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

10 

 

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY IN PITURES (Photos from Fr Gregory)

Cadets on Parade Fr Michael at the War Memorial

Colours in the Sanctuary Colours are returned

The Sanctuary at Castleford Remembrance Garden

11 

 

CROSSWORD

1 ‘The blind receive sight, the — walk’ (Luke 7:22) (4) 3 Got (Philippians 3:12) (8) 8 Leave out (Jeremiah 26:2) (4) 9 Castigated for using dishonest scales (Hosea 12:7) (8) 11 Weighty (1 John 5:3) (10) 14 ‘Now the serpent was more — than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made’ (Genesis 3:1) (6) 15 ‘Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot — God’ (Romans 8:8) (6)

17 Because Israel lacked one of these, tools had to be sharpened by the Phil-istines (1 Samuel 13:19) (10) 20 In his vision of the two eagles and the vine, this is how Ezekiel described the latter (Ezekiel 17:8) (8) 21 Rite (anag.) (4) 22 Nine gigs (anag.) (8) 23 ‘The eye cannot say to the - , “I don’t need you”’ (1 Cor. 12:21) (4) Down 1 ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t — — , and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!’ (Genesis 19:17) (4,4) 2 Principal thoroughfare (Numbers 20:19) (4,4) 4 ‘The tax collector... beat his — and said, “God have mercy on me, a sin-ner”’ (Luke 18:13) (6) 5 ‘The zeal of the Lord Almighty will — this’ (2 Kings 19:31) (10) 6 ‘The day of the Lord is — for all nations’ (Obadiah 15) (4) 7 Specified day (Acts 21:26) (4) 10 Deadly epidemic (Deuteronomy 32:24) (10) 12 Roman Catholic church which has special ceremonial rights (8) 13 Tied up (2 Kings 7:10) (8) 16 In his speech to the Sanhedrin, Stephen described Moses as ‘powerful in speech and — ’ (Acts 7:22) (6) 18 ‘Although he did not remove the high places, — heart was fully commit-ted to the Lord all his life’ (1 Kings 15:14) (4) 19 Tribe (Deuteronomy 29:18) (4)

12 

 

PUZZLE PAGE

WORDSEARCH

Ashes Beauty Bestow

Broken Comfort Crown

Darkness Father Favour

Freedom God Heart

Jesus Longing Messiah

Mourn Prisoners Seen

Son Thousand Whoever

As usual the remaining unused letters spell out a bible phrase.

EASY SUDOKU (Left)

INTERMEDIATE SUDOKU

(Right)

13 

 

DECEMBER CALENDAR

Saturday 1st December Coffee Morning at Hightown Church Hall 10.00am-12.00 noon

Sunday 2nd December - Advent Sunday St Michael’s Christmas Fayre 2.00-4.00pm Advent Carol Service at Hightown 6.30pm Readings and music for Advent Sunday followed by Sherry

Saturday 8th December Castleford Choral Society Christmas Concert 7.30pm at Castleford

Monday 10th December PCC Meeting at St Paul’s Mass at 7.00pm followed by meeting Thursday 13th December Churches Together School Christmas Carol Service 6.00-7.30pm at the Civic Centre Healdfield Road

Sunday 16th December Christingle Service and Nativity at St Paul’s 6.30pm

Wednesday 19th December Henry Moore School Christingle Service at St Michael’s

Sunday 23rd December Carol Service at Castleford 6.30pm

Sunday 30th December - The First Sunday of Christmas Parish Mass at St Paul’s 10.00am 

14 

 

ROSE ROOFING LIMITED 

_____________________________ 

MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS OF BITUMINOUS ROOFING MATERIALS AND ANCILLARY PRODUCTS. 

 

SHED FELTS 

GREEN MINERAL FELTS 

GLASS FIBRE FELTS 

TORCH ON MEMBRANES 

POLYESTER MEMBRANES 

BITUMEN PAINT 

BITUMEN COMPOUNDS 

BITUMEN ADHESIVES 

DAMP PROOF COURSE 

 

CASH SALE OUTLET OPEN TO TRADE AND PUBLIC 

8 AM—5 PM MON—FRI. 

 

 

1 Flass Lane, Cutsyke, Castleford, West Yorkshire WF10 5JW  Tel: 01977 516044  Fax: 01977 514149 

15 

 

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Monday 24th December - Christmas Eve 3.00pm Torchlight Service & First Mass of Christmas at Hightown 8.00pm First Mass of Christmas at Castleford 8.00pm First Mass of Christmas at St Michael’s 11.30pm Midnight Mass at St Paul’s, Glasshoughton

Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day 8.00am Mass of the Dawn at Castleford 9.30am Mass for Christmas Day at Castleford 10.00am Parish Mass for Christmas at St Michael’s

Wednesday 26th December - Stephen, Deacon & First Martyr

10.00am Mass at St Paul’s (no evening service)

Thursday 27th December - John, Apostle & Evangelist

Friday 28th December - The Holy Innocents

Sunday 30th December 8.00am Mass at Castleford 10.00am Parish Mass at St Paul’s

COPY FOR FEBRUARY ISSUE

Contributions for the magazine are always welcome and articles/photos intended for the February issue of the Parish Magazine should be handed in by:-

MONDAY 21ST JANUARY 2013 Please send ‘Dates for the Diary’ by the same date, or as soon as they are arranged, to:- Andrew Goyns: e-mail: magazine.ctp@btinternet.com Tel: 01924 898593

16 

 

READINGS FOR DECEMBER

2nd December - 1st Sunday of Advent (P) Jeremiah: 33: 14-16 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-end ; Luke: 21: 25-36

9th December - 2nd Sunday of Advent (P) Baruch: 5: 1-9; Philippians 1: 3-11; Luke: 3: 1-6

16th December - 3rd Sunday of Advent (P) Zephaniah: 3: 14-end; Philippians: 4: 4-7; Luke: 3: 7-18

23rd December - 4th Sunday of Advent (P) Micah: 5: 2-5a; Hebrews: 10: 5-10; Luke: 1: 39-45 (46-55)

24th December - Christmas Eve (P) 2 Samuel: 7: 1-5, 8-11, 16; Acts: 13: 16-26; Luke: 1: 67-79

25th December - Christmas Day (W)

Isaiah: 52: 7-10 Hebrews: 1: 1-4 (5-12) John: 1: 1-14

30th December— 1st Sunday of Christmas (W) 1 Samuel: 2: 18-20, 25; Colossians: 3: 12-17 Luke: 2: 41-end  

17 

 

READINGS FOR JANUARY

1st January 2013 - The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus (W) Numbers: 6: 22-end; Galatians: 4: 4-7; Luke: 2: 15-21

6th January - The Epiphany (W)

Isaiah: 60: 1-6; Ephesians: 3: 1-12; Matthew: 2: 1-12

13th January - The Baptism of Christ (W)

Isaiah: 43: 1-7; Acts: 8: 14-17; Luke: 3: 15-17, 21-22

20th January - The Second Sunday of Epiphany (W) Isaiah: 62: 1-5; 1 Corinthians: 12: 1-11; John: 2: 1-11

27th January - The Third Sunday of Epiphany (W)

Nehemiah: 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians: 12: 12-31a; Luke: 4: 14-21  

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION AT HOME?

IF YOU ARE HOUSEBOUND OR UNABLE TO COME TO CHURCH, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE CLERGY AND THEY WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOU TO TAKE COMMUNION AT HOME. OUR MINISTRY TEAM RECOGNISES THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF MINISTRY AND IS KEEN TO HELP.

18 

 

JANUARY 2013 CALENDAR

Tuesday 1st January - The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus

Mass at Castleford 7.00pm

Sunday 6th January - The Epiphany

Epiphany Service at St Michael’s 6.30pm

Wednesday 16th January

Mass at Hightown followed by PCC 7.00pm This will be the meeting where we welcome members of St Michael’s to the full PCC

Friday 18th January - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins

Monday 21st January

Churches Together AGM 7.00pm for 7.30pm at Smawthorne Community Church

Friday 25th January—Conversion of St Paul

Sung Mass at St Paul’s 7.30pm Preacher: Reverend Henry Dubois, Minister of Castleford Methodist Church Followed by a Parish Party (watch Pew Sheets for details)

Sunday 27th January - The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Parish Mass at Castleford 10.00am

ADVANCE NOTICES FOR FEBRUARY

Saturday 2nd February - The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Mass at Castleford 9.30am

Coffee Morning at Hightown Church Hall 10.00am-12.00 noon

Wednesday 13th February - Ash Wednesday (details in February magazine)

19 

 

A PRAYER BEFORE MASS

Almighty, everlasting God, I draw near to the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I who am sick approach the physician of life, I who am unclean come to the fountain of mercy; blind, to the light of eternal brightness; poor and needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, I implore you, enjoy boundless mercy, to heal my sickness, cleanse my defilement, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. Then shall I dare to receive the bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with reverence and humility, contrition and love, purity and faith, with the purpose and intention necessary for the good of my soul. Grant, I beseech you, that I may receive not only the Body and the Blood of the Lord but also the grace and power of the sacrament. Most merciful God, enable me so to receive the Body of your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took from the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated into his mystical Body, and counted among his members Most loving Father, grant that I may one day see face-to-face your beloved Son, whom I now intend to receive under the veil of the sacrament, and who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Saint Thomas Aquinas

20 

 

21 

 

 

  MONDAY – 5.30pm & 7.00pm –    The Glasshoughton Centre, Leeds   Road,   Glasshoughton, Castleford.   Your Consultant’s name is Jean –      Tel: 0113 286 4255  

  TUESDAY – 6.30pm –    St Joseph’s Catholic Church Hall,    Pontefract Road, Castleford   Your Consultant’s name is Vanessa –      Tel: 01977 557843  

  THURSDAY – 9.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm –    Trinity Methodist Church Hall,    Powell Street, Castleford   Your Consultant’s name is Caroline –      Tel: 01977 793096 

 

 

 

   

 

22 

 THE SILENCE OF THE WORD / THE SILENCE OF THE LAMB

We live in a world that, as never before, is full of noise. Quite apart from the intrusiveness of background traffic and aircraft noise (the awesome si-lence in the air during the volcanic dust cloud no-fly incident), and the noise in places of work, the rest of the world seems to go to great pains to en-sure that no place, no matter how insignificant, is left in silence. It is almost as if someone somewhere is afraid of what would happen if we were left ins silence - as if we might start thinking for ourselves, and that could lead to all sorts of problems!

So in those great places of modern worship - the shopping centres, we are gently cajoled by background ‘mood music’ / ‘musack’, which is then varied according to the individual emporium into which we go. All of it aimed at getting us to spend, spend, spend. Even in restaurants and, dare I say it, in many of our churches, the moment you entered the doors there is that background of, at this time of year probably, Christmas Carols!

And all that is without mention of the Radio and TV. It is almost as if we are afraid of silence - of quietness and space to think. So much so is this that we find ourselves missing the continuum of sound where it is absent, so that when we go where it is not we take our iPods a or Mp3/4 players and plug ourselves into our own, private soundscape.

I wonder what God makes of it all! This is the God who, when the prophet of the Old Testament asked to meet with Him, was not to be found in the noise of earthquakes, wind or fire storms, but rather in the sledgehammer blow of a still, small silence! And how does such a God seek to bring His message into this world?

I was lent a CD recently, and on it I found these verses / thoughts that sort of sum up the way He did it:-

Image of the invisible.

“This early Word, the first Word - mysterious voice talking behind the back of the universe.

Back before its beginning.‘ The “I am who I am” word / The “with-God word” / the “was God Word”’ / a voice that calls us into being across the reaches of infinity / The “without whom nothing... Word” / an unheard Word behind words / world making Word / speaking the language behind language. (Continued on Page 23)

23 

 (Continued from page 22) And the Word became.../ Wordless Flesh / a baby without words / and the voice of the Maker became a hungry voice / A cry for food / a cry for milk / the voice that made gravity cries out for fear of falling / the voice that made wom-an cries for a woman’s breast and screams with disappointment when it is de-nied.../

There are no words yet / Only the cry of flesh / No way of telling / Only the depth of need / If only this is God / This Word made flesh that looks and feels and acts like flesh / then now God is this small thing / Is a baby that can be dropped or hurt or left unfed, unchanged, wet and smelly / abused?

If this is God with no words / And if this wordless God is God, then God has flesh like our flesh / bones like our bones / (Needs to be taught to speak!).”

Yet when Jesus did speak - what wonder and Wisdom! What hope and healing!

‘We never heard anyone speak like this Man - He speaks with authority, not as the scribes and the prophets’

‘Just say the word and my servant shall be healed’

‘Lazarus, Come Forth!’ ‘As a lamb before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not His mouth’

‘I tell you this day, you will be with me in Paradise’

Does our voice, (His Voice for today?), - speak on behalf of those with no voice? - speak to those whose existence no-one else will acknowledge? - echo His call of Love to the loveless? - bring healing where there is hurt? - bring words of life where there is no hope?

Do we hear His voice in the cries, or in the silence, of those around us?

The Child may have been wordless, but on this morning Heaven itself breaks the silence of eternity in praise and thanksgiving for the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem, who though Himself is the wordless gift from God Himself, is given Names - ‘Emmanuel’ - God with us - the gift is not just from God, but is the gift to us of Himself, as One of Us, One With Us and One for Us; and ‘Jesus’ - for He shall save His people from their sins - from that which separates us from God - God with us that we might be with Him. (Continued on Page 24)

24 

 

(Continued from Page 23) 

 

 In the light of this message then, and of this wonderful Gift, let us open our hearts to receive Him and open our mouths in grateful thanks, pray-er and praise on this Christ’s Mass for the coming of our Lord and Sav-iour. What words will we hear from Him when we see Him? ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ ‘The silence of Eternity interpreted by love’ So I wish you a Holy Christ’s Mass and a Happy and Blessed New Year. Father Mark

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

 

Do you suffer from: 

Corns? Calluses? Hard Skin? Nail problems? 

Difficulty caring for your own feet? 

Or just want to feel like you’re walking on air? 

For professional service in warm, friendly surroundings, contact:

JANICE KESIK,

S.A.C.DIP FHPT FHPP MPSPRACT MVR

25 

 

C E Ashton

& Son  

A Personal and Caring  

Funeral Service Family owned and managed 

Chapels of Rest at 

 

 

 

 

Pontefract and Castleford 

Approved Pre‐Payment Scheme Available 

 600074   552265 14 Wakefield Road 

Pontefract 

Glass Houghton 

Castleford 

26 

 

HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR JANUARY

1 The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus

2 Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389

Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spritual Guide, 1833

Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945

10 William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645

11 Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915

12 Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167

Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689

17 Antony of Egypt, Hermit, Abbot, 356

Charles Gore, Bishop, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932

18 Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Amy Carmichael, Founder of Dohnavur Fellowship, spiritual writer, 1951

19 Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095

21 Agnes, Child-Martyr at Rome, 304

22 Vincent of Saragosa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304

24 Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622

25 The Conversion of Paul

26 Timothy and Titus, Companions of St Paul

28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274

30 Charles, King and Martyr, 1649

31 John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888

27 

 

A SAINT FOR JANUARY - ST THOMAS AQUINAS

Thomas was born in Roccasecca around 28th January 1225. He began his ed-ucation at Monte Cassino but after the military conflict that broke out be-tween the Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX spilled into the Abbey in early 1239, his parents had Thomas enrolled in the studium generale that had been recently established by Frederick in Naples. It is thought that it was during his time here that Thomas probably met Aristotle, Averroes and Mai-monides, all of whom would influence his theological philosophy. By the age of 19 Thomas had made up his mind to join the Dominican Order. This did not please his family who had expected him to become a Benedic-tine monk and perhaps eventually become the Abbot of the powerful Mon-tecassino Abbey. Thomas was held prisoner for two years in the family cas-tles at Monte San Giovanni and Roccasecca as an attempt to stop him joining the Dominican Order. In 1245 Thomas went to study at the University of Paris’s Faculty of Arts where he will have come in contact with the Dominican scholar Albertus Magnus, who was the Chair of Theology at the College of St James in Paris. In 1248 through following Albertus to the new studium generale at Cologne he declined Pope Innocent IV’s offer to appoint him abbot of Monte Cassino as a Dominican. Between 1259 and 1268 Thomas served in Naples, Orvieto and Rome. In 1268 the Dominican Order assigned Thomas to be regent master at the University of Paris for a second time, a position he held until early spring of 1272. Thomas died on 7 March 1274 while giving commentary on the Song of’ Songs. Thomas’s theology had begun its rise to prestige. In 1567 Pope Pius V pro-claimed St Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church. Thomas’s main works include Summa Theologiae, his encyclopaedia length work on theology, and the Summa Contra Gentiles, often portrayed as an early missionary’s hand-book or manual. In Castleford we often see one of his prayers as a prepara-tion for the Mass. That prayer has been reproduced o Page 19. 50 years after the death of Thomas on 18 July 13 23, Pope John XXII, seated in Avignon, announced Thomas a saint.

28 

 

29 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY

CLEANING SERVICE

Carpets Upholstery Home Office Commercial www.carpetrestorer.co.uk

Call for a Free No Obligation Quotation 

Steve Mason 

Home: 01977 550926 – Mob: 07759 636355 

COLOURS TWO UNISEX HAIRDRESSERS CUTS FROM £5.00P  COLOURS FROM £35.00P  PERMS FROM £35.00P  SPECIAL RATES FOR OVER 60S

2B BEANCROFT ROAD, CASTLEFORD—TEL: 01977 550607

NEW WIDE RANGE OF BEAUTY TREATMENTS AVAILABLE

30 

 

SOLUTIONS TO CROSSWORD & PUZZLES

ACROSS: 1, Lame. 3, Obtained. 8, Omit. 9, Merchant. 11, Burdensome. 14, Crafty. 15, Please. 17, Blacksmith. 20, Splendid. 21, Tier. 22, Singeing. 23, Hand. DOWN: 1, Look back. 2, Main road. 4, Breast. 5, Accomplish. 6, Near. 7, Date. 10, Pestilence. 12, Basilica. 13, Tethered. 16, Action. 18, Asa’s. 19, Clan.

Right:

Wordsearch Solution

Below Left:

Easy Sudoku Solution

Below Right:

Intermediate Sudoku Solution

31 

 

PARISH OFFICERS

PCC Secretary: Mrs Mavis Whitehead 01977 550529 PCC Treasurer: Mr Colin Maw 01977 518078

Stewardship & Gift Aid Secretary:

Mr Arnold Randall 01977 278611

CHURCHWARDENS

Mr David Field, Castleford: 01977 707120

Mrs Mavis Whitehead, Gl’houghton: 01977 550529

Mr Peter Harvey, Hightown: 01977 730185

Mrs Catherine Hopton, St Michaels 01977 555785

Miss Pauline Morris, St Michaels 01977 668790

DEPUTY CHURCHWARDENS

Mrs Hilary Wilkes, Castleford: 01977 733554

Mr Colin Maw, Glasshoughton: 01977 518078

Mr Ian Fletcher, Hightown: 01977 550139

Our Churches in the Castleford Team Parish

All Saints, Church Street, Castleford

All Saints, Lumley Street, Castleford (Hightown)

St Michael & All Angels, St Michaels Close, Castleford

St Paul the Apostle, Pontefract Road, Glasshoughton

32 

 

SERVICES All Saints’ Castleford

SUNDAY Holy Communion 8.00am Sung Mass (except last in month) 9.30am Tuesday Holy Communion 7.00pm Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9.30am

All Saints’ Hightown SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 10.45am Wednesday Holy Communion 7.00pm

Saint Michael and All Angels SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 10.45am Thursday Holy Communion 10.00am

Saint Paul the Apostle, Glasshoughton SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 9.30am Wednesday Holy Communion 10.00am

LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH: Combined Parish Mass at 10.00am—( see diary section for venue )

FOR MAJOR SAINTS’ DAYS IN ALL CHURCHES See diary section and weekly pew sheets

For all the latest News & Information from around the Parish go to:

www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk