News from the Church

Leeds Diocesan Mission Mass

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:04:02 GMT

Saturday 18th April at 12 Noon - St Wilfrid's Church, Ripon

The Red Box supporters in the parish, are cordially invited to the Leeds Diocesan Mission Mass

Parish Photo Directory 2026

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:50:07 GMT

Available now

The parish photo directory for 2026 has just been published and copies are available in the Narthex with a suggested £3 donation towards printing costs (payable on the Dona machine or in the collection bags at Mass). Thank you to all those who took part - getting to know each other helps us to build up the community of our parish.

Enquirer's Evening - 7pm on Tuesday 28th April

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:09:22 GMT

Exploring the Faith at St Robert's

At the Easter Vigil, six people became Catholics at St Robert's after journeying in faith together over the past few months. Owain, Jaime, Arvin, Tom, Cassidy and Pippa are pictured below with their sponsors. Below that is a picture of eight candidates received into the Church at Easter last year.

Their journey bears out reports that there is a stirring of interest in the Christian story in countries across the world. A number of those received at St Robert's are now in the 16-30 young person's group and Jake, a new Catholic from 2025 is a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. Others have become readers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and choir members.

On Tuesday 28th April at 7pm in St Robert's Parish Centre there will be an opportunity for enquirers to join with Fr Simon and a number of members of our parish community to hear more about the Journey in Faith, ask questions about the mechanics of joining the Catholic faith, to meet other enquirers and so further discover God's will for them. All are welcome but to help with the organisation, please email Fr Simon beforehand to let us know you intend to come (simon.bradbury@dioceseofleeds.org.uk). If you are hesitant and do not want to commit to coming, turn up anyway!

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful … and pray … that God may open a door. Colossians 4:2-3

St Robert's 16-30 Group

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:25:19 GMT

Malham Cove

A number of members of the newly formed St Robert's 16-30 group are pictured on a day's excursion to Malham Cove. If you would like to join the group for meetings, socials or outings, drop a line to the parish office.

Baptisms at St Robert's

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:13:17 GMT

New Date: Sunday 10th May at the 11am Mass

The next baptism Mass is planned for 11am on Sunday 10th May. If you would like to have your child baptised on that date, please call or email the office to make an appointment to meet with Fr Simon to discuss the sacrament.

Leeds, Middlesbrough & Hallam Consultation 2026

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:44:40 GMT

Dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough and Hallam

Below is a letter from Bishop Marcus giving background to a consultation process regarding the Dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough and Hallam along with links to the relevant documents for those who wish to take part in the consultation process.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you will be aware, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed me Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and of the Diocese of Hallam, in addition to my ministry as the Bishop of Leeds.

In entrusting me with this responsibility, the Holy Father has also invited the faithful of the dioceses of Middlesbrough, Hallam and Leeds to undertake an important task: to explore the possibility of how our three dioceses can work together in close collaboration with a view to a possible future union as one diocesan family, so that we may be better placed to carry forward the mission of the Church in our region.

As well as the consultation meetings taking place across our dioceses, there is also an opportunity for all of the clergy, religious and lay faithful in all three dioceses to contribute to this consultation, either individually or as a parish group, by completing the online questionnaire.

I encourage the faithful within our dioceses to devote time and prayerful reflection upon these questions before offering a response, so that the Holy Spirit may guide us through this important process of consultation and discernment.

To assist in this, prayer resources and a presentation have been made available below to help ensure that this period of reflection is fruitful.

I kindly ask that responses be submitted through the online questionnaire no later than Friday, 22nd May 2026.

Thank you for the time and prayer you can offer to this important task, which has been entrusted to us by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

With every blessing and the assurance of my prayers, I remain,

Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Marcus Stock

Bishop of Leeds
Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough
Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hallam

Apologia

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:23:12 GMT

A continuing exploration, as a parish, of Church teaching and understanding.

The initiative "Apologia" continued last Sunday with a look at the Church's understanding of suffering. In a wide ranging presentation which fuelled vibrant discussion, parishioner Greg Weatherhead explored the question 'why does God allow suffering?'. During the course of the evening we considered the teaching on original sin and the story of the Fall, the experience of Job, the passion of Christ, particularly His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, the wisdom found in the Crucifixion and the example of the disciples, most of whom faced martyrdom in the early days of the Church. Greg also looked at the relationship between suffering, humility and sin.

Thanks to all who have taken part and to those who have presented so far on 'The Last Things', 'Faith and Reason' and 'The Mass'. Apologia will return - watch this space!

St Robert's Building Fund

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:44:21 GMT

Latest Update

St Robert's Building Fund was launched at Masses on Low Sunday weekend. The scaffolding has been taken down from the front of the church and the works are still being finished.

The first phase of work began on 8th December 2025 which includes:

The replacement of bricks to the liturgical north and west elevations.
Cutting out and replacement of a number of the stone columns installed to the window reveals to the church front elevation, which are badly cracked.
The external stone Gable Cross above the main entrance is in the process of being installed back to its former glory. (The replacement of the cross has now been put back to the second phase or before)
Cast iron gutters high on the liturgical north side of the nave have failed, leading to water ingress through the roof and ceiling adjacent to the Lady Chapel. This is being addressed in order to eliminate any further external and internal damage.
Water ingress into the Organ Loft has occurred through roofing slates on the liturgical west elevation and works here have also begun.

An overview of the proposed works needed with pictures of some of the affected areas is available at the link below and in the narthex of the Church.

Thank you for your ongoing support. With these grants included, the total raised now stands at £202,714. (The total cost is reckoned to be in the region of £300,000).

Donations can be made via standing order:

Account name: DOL HARR OLI&STR (Diocese Leeds Our Lady Immaculate St Robert H’gate)

Sort Code: 40-27-15

Account No: 81017489

or, via the Dona machines in the Narthex, via the button below, by cash or cheque in the regular collecting basket or directly to the parish office.

A reminder that the advantage of the Fund is that it can be gift aided and the Diocese will not take any portion of it as part of their assessment. Thank you for all your generosity so far.

Mary's Angels - Parents and Baby Toddler Group

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:03:44 GMT

Mary’s Angels parent and baby/toddler group - 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons 1.30-3pm

Mum’s and children are valued members of our church family and we would like to invite them to come and join us at St. Roberts Parish Centre, Robert Street, for friendship fun and refreshments. All free! All children from 0-4 years welcome. Dads and grandparents welcome too!

Sessions are on 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons of every month during term time from 1.30-3pm. Next sessions are 9th February, 2nd & 16th March, 13th & 27th April, 18th May, 1st & 22nd June, 6th July, 7th & 21st September. Any enquiries or desire to help even in a small way please call Katherine 01423 734828 .

Easyfundraising

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:30:20 GMT

To support St Robert's Church, Harrogate Building Fund without spending any extra money

An easy way you can support St Robert's Church, Harrogate Building Fund without spending any extra money.

Here’s how it works: Every time you shop online whether it’s for groceries, gifts, clothes, or even booking a holiday 8,000+ retailers like Tesco, M&S, John Lewis, eBay, Argos, ASOS, Booking.com and many more, will donate to us for FREE through easyfundraising!

It’s simple: just sign up, shop as usual, and the donations will be collected automatically at no cost to you. It only takes two minutes to sign up and make a difference. Register today! It’s quick, easy and completely free to join.

Please sign up https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/st-roberts-church-harrogate/

Feel free to share this with your friends and family. Thank you so much for your support.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:28:16 GMT

Friday 3rd to Thursday 9th July 2026

Bookings can be made by telephoning Tangney Tours, the telephone number is 01732 886666.

Please have your passport details and GHIC card expiry date ready when you call.

The deposit is £250, with the remaining balance due in April.

Children's Holiday Bible Camp

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:17:11 GMT

“Marvellous Mystery – the Mass comes alive”

Thank you to Marie and her team and all the young people who took part in the Children's Holiday Bible Camp this year. The focus on the Mass produced a great deal of fruit. The children learned about the virtues of patience, faith, generosity. They experienced Adoration and contributed to the final Mass of the week in church. Above you will find a few memories of the week. We can't wait to do it all again in 2026! The thanks of the parish go especially to all those who gave their time and talents to help the young people of our parish learn more about their faith.

If you missed this year's camp, look out for the same event in July 2026!

First Sacraments Programme

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:23 GMT

First Sacraments

We are delighted that you have decided to continue the journey of faith for your child following baptism, underlining your fidelity to regular Sunday Mass.

Your child will prepare for and celebrate the sacraments in the following years:

School Year 3 - Sacrament of First Reconciliation

School Year 4 - Sacrament of First Holy Communion

School Year 6 - Sacrament of Confirmation

Please find, on the link below, a letter from Fr Simon and Miss Collins, headteacher of St Robert's School, outlining information for parents who are considering signing their children up for First Sacraments in St Robert's parish.

Details of dates for the First Sacraments for 2026:-

Sacrament of Confirmation 16th March enrolment by 21st December 2025

Sacrament of Reconciliation 28th March enrolment by 1st February 2026

Sacrament of Holy Communion 14th June enrolment by 22nd March 2026

St Robert's Church Birds Eye view

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:28:01 GMT

The church as you've rarely seen it before

Click on the link below to see a longer version of the introductory video showing a Birds Eye view of the church. With thanks to Rob Fakes of Skycam in York for his work on this project.

Parish Centre Hire

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 17:39:53 GMT

Parish Centre Rooms

The parish centre is hired out to bring income for the parish. Details are on a specially designed webpage which can be accessed by clicking on the photograph or by looking for 'Parish Centre' under News and Info. Please let any interested people or organisations know about this parish resource which is so well located in the town of Harrogate.

Children's Liturgy

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 11:03:24 GMT

The Children's Liturgy at St Robert's takes place during the 9am Mass

During term tim e, the children's liturgists provide a liturgy for the children in the parish centre . The group take a break during the summer holidays but will begin again in September.

Briery online zoom meditations

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 11:30:02 GMT

Briery Online Zoom Meditations on Thursday from 7.30pm to 8.15pm. We open at 7.15pm for a chat and start promptly at 7.30pm. It is a simple format of praying with the Sunday Mass Readings and sharing in small groups. To register, please email the Briery: briery@btconnect.com

Young Adults Group

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:06:06 GMT

he St Robert's Young Adults' Group for twenty or thirty somethings in the Harrogate area parishes meets on alternate Thursday nights in the parish centre. Full details of their programme can be found at the link below.

View More Here

Forthcoming Events

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 23:59:04 GMT

28th April 7pm - Journey of Faith Enquirer's evening

10th May 11am - Sacrament of Baptism

13th May 7pm - Vigil Mass - The Ascension of the Lord

14th May 12 noon - Mass

Lives in Stained Glass

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:09:00 GMT

In celebration of the church’s sesquicentenary

Marking the 150th anniversary of our church this year, our sacristan Paul Parker with help from photographer Ray Thomson, has compiled a history of the stained glass windows of our church. This fascinating and beautiful book is available from the narthex.

Parish Photo Directory - now available

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:01:16 GMT

Copies of the St Robert's Parish Photo Directory are now available in the Narthex - suggested donation £3. Please put the donation into the collection at the weekend.

Digital Collection Plate

Mon, 01 May 2023 22:58:14 GMT

Parishioners are now able to make donations though the digital collection machine at the back of the church

Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:57:23 GMT

Link to their news website

Please click on the picture above for news from the Bishops' website

The Joy of Love

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:28:04 GMT

New reflection document on marriage and family life

Six years ago, during the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis published a document after a two-year synod process in which bishops from around the world examined ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World’.The Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia “On Love in the Family” was the fruit of this synod process.In the year leading up to the Tenth World Meeting of Families, June 2022, the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Marriage and Family Life, part of the Department for Social Justice, reflected on Amoris Laetitia and how family life plays a central role in the life of the Church.

"Amoris Laetitia should be read in a contemplative way. It’s a text you receive in your heart – an opportunity to contemplate the mystery of love within marriage and family life and to grow a sense of discipleship. Marriage and family life is a very important vocation in the Church". Bishop David Oakley

These themes, running like a thread through the Apostolic Exhortation, are: Joy, Love, Mercy, Realities and Discernment, and Mission. The aim of this new resource is not to provide an exhaustive analysis of Amoris Laetitia but to reflect on these themes in an engaging and constructive way. You can access the Bishops' document by clicking on the button below.

Source:CBCEW

Daily Mass

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 17:44:38 GMT

Why not join us for daily Mass?

Most weekdays, Mass is celebrated each day in St Robert's - noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 9am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's a different tempo to the Sunday Mass, an opportunity to quietly reflect on life, listen to the passages of scripture and receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. Always check the bulletin.

World Meeting of Families: The importance of vocational pastoral work

simon.bradbury@dioceseofleeds.org.uk (Simon Bradbury) — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 20:00:27 GMT

There is great expectation for the opening of the World Meeting of Families, beginning on Wednesday 23 June and ending on Saturday, 25 June. ‘Family love: vocation and the way to holiness’ is the theme of this edition, which kicks off with the Festival of Families. Around two thousand delegates from 120 countries have been invited, chosen by the local Bishops’ Conferences, Synods of the Oriental Churches, and international ecclesial realities.This meeting is being held at a difficult time for humanity, harshly tried by the pandemic and war. Gabriella Gambino, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life spoke to Vatican News’ Debora Donnini about these difficulties, as well as her hopes for the event.Hopes“After a whole year dedicated to family pastoral care with all the great work that has been done, I believe it is really time to ‘make Church’ together with families and pastors,” says Gabriella Gambino.She describes the hope as being one of hearing words of encouragement from the Holy Father,

“so that when this Year of the Family is over, we will be able to continue on a journey together.”Work of families in evangelisationMs. Gambino goes on to describe the importance of involving children in the pastoral work of evangelisation, explaining that “the whole family is called to Christian proclamation”.“I believe that, today, one of the greatest challenges for us parents is precisely that of transmitting to our children the awareness, and also the courage to proclaim Christ present in our families.”She adds that it is also important to teach our children to do so, no matter the complexity of the times in which we are living.Themes and their linksFormation, accompaniment, and transmission of the faith to the new generations are some of the themes of the event.The “fundamental” one is the proclamation of the vocation of each family, of each person within the family, says Ms. Gambino. She explains that “the family is a path to holiness and sanctification that each of us has at our disposal.“The family is a gift that the Lord gives us.”She says it is important to train people who know how to meet the reality of today’s families. Families need to be accompanied, especially young engaged couples and spouses, in the reality they live, so that from there they can discover their vocation and encounter Christ, she says.“

It is also important that we learn to transmit the faith to young people starting from the reality in which they are inserted, therefore also having the courage to address issues that are very difficult for us today, on which we are sometimes poorly prepared,” she adds.Document: catechumenal itineraries for married lifeThe final point discussed by Ms. Gambino is a recently published document entitled “Catechumenal Itineraries for Married Life”, published as part of the Pastoral Guidelines for Particular Churches, prepared by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, and with a preface by Pope Francis.Ms. Gambino explains that this text was explicitly desired by the Holy Father, precisely because we live in an era in which marriage needs to be announced with greater strength, with greater clarity, but above all, it needs to be announced ‘in time’.For this reason, she explains, “I believe that one of the most interesting aspects of this document is the fact that it proposes a very ‘remote’ preparation for married life.”This involves talking to children about the Sacrament of Marriage in Christian initiation courses to help them understand that marriage is a vocation and a calling from God.Finally, the Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life talks about the importance of accompaniment even after the celebration of the Marriage Rite, that is, of a strong pastoral care of the bond, “because couples, especially in the first years of marriage, need to be accompanied.”Nobody must be left alone in these moments, but rather they must “feel part of a Church community, which helps them get through moments of crisis, because a crisis is a normal phase in the life of two people who live together for a lifetime.“We must ‘accompany’ couples, so that they know how to live crises as opportunities for growth and not as moments that mark insuperable wounds.”

Synod National Synthesis released

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 19:56:16 GMT

The National Synthesis – reflects on Synod reports received by the national synthesis team, discerning the main themes that have emerged from the listening conversations, and collating them together to give a picture of the synodal process in England and Wales.The Catholic Church in England and Wales has been following the Synodal Process called by Pope Francis, reflecting on the theme “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation, mission” and has now reached an important moment. Since October 2021, the dioceses, national organisations and religious communities have been engaged in listening conversations on the central themes, exploring the way the Church embraces more fully her missionary mandate in the world of today.

The diocesan and national organisational reports were submitted to the Bishops’ Conference just before Holy Week this year, and since then, the National Synthesis Team has been working on producing the “National Synthesis” – reflecting on the reports received, discerning the main themes that have emerged from the listening conversations, and collating them together to give a picture of the synodal process in England and Wales.

The Bishops have been kept abreast of this work with a report given to their Spring Plenary Assembly in Cardiff and on 1st June, a National Synod Day was held in Southwark Cathedral.This moment, falling between Ascension and Pentecost, was an important gathering of Bishops with representatives from the dioceses and national organisations. Sr Bernadette Reis fsp, who facilitated the day, recalled the Upper Room where the apostles gathered with Mary after the ascension and awaited the Holy Spirit, gathered in prayer (Acts 1:12-14). This day reflected on the first draft of the synthesis and comments, corrections and refinements on it were collected and used to produce the final synthesis which is presented here.

This week, the Bishops of England and Wales will gather to discern their response to this National Synthesis. Their work, together with the synthesis document will be sent to the Synod Office in Rome as the formal submission to the Synod from England and Wales. Along with reports from all the other conferences in the world, the Synod office will be reviewed to create the first Instrumentum Laboris, which the Synod Office is calling the “Document for the Continental Stage.”We thank all who have participated so far in the Synodal Process and ask for continued prayers as we journey together towards being a Synodal Church in today’s world, expressing her nature as the People of God journeying together and gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel that brings life and human flourishing to all who hear and respond to it.

Social Justice Matters Podcast

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:26:05 GMT

Podcast from the Bishops' Conference on matters of social justice

Follow this link for a podcast covering a wide range of topics related to Catholic Social Teaching.