Diocesan plan for Realistic Giving. The aim of today’s talk is to encourage us to think about what it costs to run the Church in our Diocese and move to a situation that leaves the Diocese in a better financial position.

The objectives: To increase the level of planned giving to the church so that the budgeted expenditure is matched by the anticipated income, To increase the weekly collection, To increase the use of envelopes and standing orders, To increase awareness of Gift Aid... for more see down the page

Lenten Exposition Friday at 9am‘What in me is dark illumine, what is low raise and support...’ you are invited to spend time in quiet prayer this Friday at 9am

Stations of the Cross, today Sunday 7 March and each Sunday during Lent 4pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Parish Retreat for all Eucharistic ministers will take place Saturday March 20 from 2- 4pm at Silsden

Marriage Preparation Talks For all couples getting married this year at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Next Meeting: 11 & 18 March at St Anne’s Social Centre at 7.30 pm

Easter Choir Tuesday 16, 23, & 30 March, Time: 7.45pm in Carmel House, For more information contact Angela on 633716.

Lenten Coffee Morning March 21 at St Joseph’s all proceeds to CAFOD. Cakes etc required.

CAFOD give it up! Lent 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first Family Fast day. Most people give up something for Lent like wine or biscuits. Please bring your Lenten offerings by Palm Sunday, so that they can be brought up at the offertory on Holy Thursday to demonstrate our commitment to the world's poor.

Confirmation 2010 Date: Wednesday 9 June 2010, Time: 7.00pm, Venue: St. Anne's Keighley

Churches Together in Silsden Lent 2010 starting at 12 mid-day, followed by a soup and roll lunch. The dates: Tuesday 9 March at St James' and Tuesday 23 March [Methodist session] at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, see the notice board. All welcome

Choosing the Common Good Catholic Bishops launch their pre-election document; key themes Catholic Social Teaching and its contribution to the values and vision that underpin our society.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18).

The Bishops argue that social issues cannot be left only to government to solve, but are the responsibility of all. Choosing the Common Good argues that the construction of a just and civil society can be achieved as the desire for love and truth is innate in all. While there has been a fracturing in trust in institutions and in each other, the Bishops argue that it is up to all in civil society to lead the re-building of this essential trust. Central to that task is the understanding that we are not self-contained individuals but inter-dependent, we flourishing in the quality of our relationships and the practice of virtue. Virtuous action springs from a sense of one’s dignity and that of others. “It is doing good even when no-one is looking.” Quoting Pope Benedict XVI in his most recent encyclical Caritas in Veritate: "The complexity and gravity of the present economic situation rightly causes us worry, but we must adopt a realistic attitude as we take up with confidence and hope the new responsibilities to which we are called by the prospect of a world in need of profound cultural renewal"

PLEA TALK In his recent Pastoral Letter relating to the plea for increased Offertory Giving, the Bishop emphasised our indebtedness to the generations of Catholics who have gone before us and he challenged us to be as generous in our day as they were in theirs.  Today I want to say something about how we might respond to his plea. Many of our parishes, like many of our households, are currently finding it difficult to make ends meet financially. The reasons for this will vary from parish to parish but a number of factors will be fairly common: lower church attendance, aging buildings, the cost of repairs, more expensive heating costs, an increase in the Diocesan assessment bill and expenses relating to health and safety legislation. In the current financial year the expenditure of the Diocese will exceed its income by about £780,000 and this will continue in the years ahead if we do not take preventative action. Not to take action would be highly irresponsible.

A number of steps have been taken to cut expenditure but there’s a limit to the amount of cut backs that can be made.  It will also be necessary to increase parish income significantly to enable the diocese to maintain the number of churches, halls and presbyteries that are required, more than 250 in all. The Diocese also has various expenses to meet in our 98 Catholic Schools. In addition we must provide for 137 priests in active service, over 20 lay employees who deliver various services to our parishes, not forgetting our 50 retired priests who have served us so generously over many decades.  That’s why this plea is being made to our generosity and good will. 

People often ask “how much should I give weekly to the Church?” In Old Testament times the people were encouraged to offer a tenth of their produce to the Lord.  We are however being asked, to consider giving our first hour’s pay each week to the church. If we were to do this, we would be following in the footsteps of our ancestors who in a different age gave so generously to the Lord. No one, however, is expected to give beyond their means. 

There are some parishes that have considerable funds on loan to the diocese. These parishes too are being asked to increase their giving. The Diocese uses the money it has on loan from its wealthier parishes to provide loans for the poorer ones just as in a caring family the better off members help out their poorer brothers and sisters.

It is important that our giving is planned and regular. For this reason, we are encouraged to use Offertory envelopes or even better still standing orders, rather than reaching for the money we happen to have in our pockets or handbags when the collection is taken at a Sunday Mass.  This helps us to plan our giving and it means that our parish will get its essential income on those Sundays when we are not at Mass in our own parish. 

This plea for increased giving provides an opportunity for everyone to reconsider their contribution to the parish. Finally, I want to say thank you for what you are already giving.

Parish Offertory Envelopes finish on 4 April 2010. The new financial year starts on Sunday 11 April. Your numbered box is now available. For those who do not currently use envelopes perhaps this is the year to sign up. If you attend the parish regularly, please consider supporting it by regular giving, either with envelopes or by Bankers’ Standing Order (forms are available after Mass from Fr Larkin). Thank you, for your continued support...

First Communion 2010 
14 March Gift of Forgiveness
21 March Gift of Forgiveness
27 March Sacrament of Reconciliation
Break for Easter
18 April Gift of Friendship
25 April Gift of Peace
2 May no meeting
9 May Gift of Joy
16 May Greatest Gift
23 May Greatest Gift
29 May  Practise for 1st Communion day
30 May 1st Communion

The Hospital no longer informs the Chaplain of patients in hospital. It is important that you inform the chaplaincy on 01535 294088 if you would like a visit.

Vandalism Be vigilant of the Parish property at Silsden and Cross Hills and report anything suspicious to the police on the Non-Emergencies West Yokshire [Silsden] Tel: 0845 606 0 606 and for St.Joseph's the Non-Emergencies North Yorkshire [Cross Hills]Tel: 0845 60 60 24 7 or by email safercraven@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk