Latest Update 27th February 2010

Lenten Programme

There is a large number of ways at St. Robert's that you can grow towards the Lord this Lent. Click below to see our Lenten programme.

IJust as the mother of pearl fish lives in the sea without taking in a single frop of salt water, just as near the Chelodonian islands springs of fresh water may be found in the depths of the sea, and just as the firefly passes through flames without burning its wings, so also a strong, resolute soul can live in the world without being infected by any of its moods, find sweet springs of piety amid its salty waves, and fly through the flames of earthly lusts wihout burning the wings of its holy desires for a devout life. [...]
The world vilifies holy devotion as much as it can. It pictures devout persons as having discontented, gloomy, sullen faces and claims that devotion brings on depression and unbearable moods. But just as Joshua and Caleb held both that the Promised Land was good and beautiful and that its possession would be sweet and agreeable, so too the Holy Spirit by the mouths of all the saints and Our Lord by His own mouth assure us that a devout life is a life that is sweet, happy, and lovable.

- St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) "Introduction to the Devout Life"

Pancake Night 2010

On the last evening before Lent begins, Christians have a final moment of indulgence.  At St. Robert’s, the pancakes were coming thick and fast, the sweets and ice cream were in abundance and the fun and games were hectic.  No-one left feeling hungry!

After we had gorged a pile of pancakes we flung ourselves into a snowball fight (with newspaper!), apple-bobbing (towels at the ready!) and hands-free doughnuts (very messy!).

The evening was finished off with a beautiful time of reflection on Jesus’s temptation in the desert.  We reflected on how we could observe Lent, either by what we give up or something extra special that we do.

A big thank-you to everyone who came and helped out.  Happy Lent!

Click on the Picture below to see more of the night.

I"I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me” (Jn 10:14). Rejoice that the Lord has made you members of his flock and knows each of you by name! Follow him with joy and let him guide you in all your ways. Jesus knows what challenges you face, what trials you endure, and the good that you do in his name. Trust in him, in his enduring love for all the members of his flock, and persevere in your witness to the triumph of his love. May Saint John the Baptist, the patron of Jordan, and Mary, Virgin and Mother, sustain you by their example and prayers, and lead you to the fullness of joy in the eternal pastures where we will experience for ever the presence of the Good Shepherd and know for ever the depths of his love. Amen.”
(Pope Benedict XVI, Pilgrimage to the Holy Land)

Bishop takes Mass

On Sunday 8th February Bishop Arthur visited St. Robert’s on official visitation.

Click here to read about the Bishops visit and to see some pictures.

World Youth Day 2008

Two young people from St. Robert's and Fr. Chris joined a large group from the Diocese to go on pilgrimage to Australia to join Pope Benedict and hundreds of thousands of young Catholics in a celebration of faith. Held every three years, World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world. This year's theme was taken from Jesus's words at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses". Gabriel Hopkins shares his experience of the event:

On 7th July 2008, the pilgrimage from the Diocese of Leeds set-out on what was to become, what I can only describe as one of the most amazing experiences of their lives, to attend World Youth Day 2008 in Australia. Some knew everybody; some knew hardly anybody (including myself), yet 130 young pilgrims signed-up for an immense journey that was to span nearly two years – two years of fund-raising and preparation, that would end with Mass with the Holy Father on 20th July 2008, World Youth Day itself.

Although the end-goal was Sydney, our pilgrimage started its journey in the ‘Days in the Dioceses’ in a town called Geelong, around 45 minutes south of Melbourne. We stayed nearly a week, with host families in this town, with a population similar to that of Harrogate. The size of the population is what amazed me most. I’m not sure if it was just that my host (Geoff) knew everyone, but Geelong felt like a community. Of course, this was evident at parish events, but it was also visible on a wider scale. It seemed as though Geoff knew everybody, from the star players of the mighty ‘Cats’ (Australian Rules Football team), to the manager of the local supermarket. It was a strange experience, especially when Geoff’s wife insisted the opposite. However, the strangest experience was when we celebrated Mass with the locals one Sunday. I’m sure many of us have prayed for sunshine throughout our dark winters, yet the Australians were praying for rain, in the middle of winter! The most notable aspect of our stay in Geelong, however, was the most wonderful hospitality we were afforded. No matter how many times Geoff reminded me how this would be a wonderful Summer day in England (even though it was 5˚C on some days!), or how awful the English Cricket Team is, I will be forever indebted to the warmth of his and his wife’s welcome. I hope that our group, along with the Diocese of Lancaster, and a group from Poland were able to reignite the faith of the other young people of Geelong, as per the aim of ‘Days in the Dioceses.’

Yet, onto Sydney we went, and to warmer weather too! Although we had had a wonderful time in Geelong, it was evident that excitement was brewing about our final destination, which was to be Randwick Racecourse, and seeing Pope Benedict. Throughout the mornings of our stay in Sydney, we attended Catecheses, given by Bishops from around the world, under the theme "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses." All three of the Catecheses we heard were extremely stimulating, both intellectually and spiritually.

For me, however, World Youth Day was about something more. Coming from a society in which secularism, politics, war, and misery dominate, it was a great joy to feel at peace with thousands of other young Catholics, and escape daily life. Therefore, I felt the major events – such as the Commissioning Mass in the Telstra Dome, Melbourne, where for example 600 priests took part in the Mexican Wave; or simply just walking through Sydney with Catholics from all over the world, shouting “Benedetto!” and “Viva Il Papa!” – they made World Youth Day for me. It is difficult to describe these moments: you felt invincible, untouchable, as if nothing could worry or harm you. The Lord was truly with us.

The Pope principally gave two homilies: one at the Vigil Service on the Saturday evening and one at the Mass for World Youth Day on Sunday morning. To read the homilies click here: Saturday Vigil homily, Sunday Mass homily.

2nd Sunday in Lent (C)
Genesis 15:5-12,17-18
Psalm 26
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 9:28-36

Click here for a reflection on Sunday's readings.

NEXT WEEK
3rd Sunday in Lent (C)
Exodus 3:1-8,13-15
Psalm 102
1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12
Luke 13:1-9