Parish News

St George's Parishioners Feature in the January Issue of The Voice

We have 2 stories included in this month's issue of the Voice produced by The Diocese of Middlesbrough .

You can pick up a copy of the Voice at the back of Church or access online via this link:

https://middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk/the-voice/

Our Fairtrade Stall 2024 Report

As you will have noticed from our regular posts throughout 2024, our Fairtrade stall, kindly run by volunteers Dennis and Frances, continued to go from strength to strength in 2024.

Here is the single page summary of the year, highlighting an incredible 28% increase in sales compared with 2023, which itself was double that in 2022.

https://stgeorgeschurch-york.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fairtrade-Stall-Report-2024.pdf

This is a remarkable achievement. Tremendous thanks go to Dennis and Frances for all their hard work and dedication in 2024 and most of all a huge thank you to St George's parishioners who have once again demonstrated that special St George's kindness and generosity.

St George's Collection of Unwanted Mobile Phones and Laptops for York's IT Reuse Charity

You may have spotted in our bulletin recently that our annual collection of unwanted mobile phones and laptops is taking place at each Mass on Sunday 19th January (do not bring on any other day please)

All phones and laptops donated go to help the York IT Reuse Charity that was recently featured on Look North:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i462Ty6mx_o

So if you've treated yourself to new tech recently, please consider donating the tech you no longer require to a very worthwhile cause locally. (Smartphones from 2016 onwards and laptops from 2012 onwards)

Fairtrade Stall

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade stall on Sunday 5th Jan.

Goods to the value of £151 were sold (£88 after morning Mass and £63 after evening Mass).

This was excellent bearing in mind the difficulties people had in getting to Mass due to the weather conditions.

The next stalls will be held on Sunday 26 January i.e. in three weeks time.

Many thanks,
Frances & Dennis

Happy Feast of the Epiphany!

Here are some more photos and videos from the excellent Epiphany Party organised and hosted by our Laudato Si Group last Friday.

Thank you to St Lawrence Parish Church, York for the hospitality and hire of the Church Hall.

And finally a very Happy Feast of the Epiphany to all our parishioners , followers and friends.

Fairtrade Stall at Both Masses - Sunday 5th Jan

The Fairtrade Stall is back for 2025, following a record breaking 2024.

Thank you to parishioners for all your support in 2024 and Dennis and Frances look forward to serving you in 2025.

A huge thank you to everyone who braved the big freeze to come to our Epiphany party - we all had a great time with lovely food, singing, games, child Kings and of course the crowning event being the Pinata, beautifully made by Citlali (and beautifully destroyed by the children!)

You all made it such a warm and welcoming celebration reflecting our church family at St George's.

It was lovely to see a very large shooting star over the Hall - very fitting for the celebration!

We hope to organise something for either St George's Day or Easter so let us know if you have any ideas or would like to be involved.

Watch this space!

Happy Christmas

We wish all our parishioners, followers and friends a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

May the blessings of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, be with you and your families today and always.

God bless,

Fr Jo Michael and the team at St George's Church.

Thank You to All Saints Students

It was very kind of the students and staff at All Saints Catholic School, York to invite 5 members of St Georges Parish recently to a enjoy a free SVP Christmas lunch at the school.

4th Sunday of Advent - 22nd Dec

Today we lit the 4th candle on our Advent Crown to mark the 4th Sunday of Advent.

We now anticipate the arrival of our Saviour, Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

The First Mass of Christmas is at 7pm on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day Mass is at 9:30am on Christmas morning.

Fairtrade Stall Breaks All Records!

A fantastic way to celebrate the final Fairtrade Stall of 2024 is to share with you that yesterday's Fairtrade Stall at both Masses took £382!

This is a record for the St George’s Stall. £248 worth of goods were sold at morning Mass and £134 at evening Mass. Many thanks to parishioners for your outstanding generosity.

St George's Fairtrade Stall is very much part of our Parish initiative to #livesimply encouraged by our Parish #LaudatoSi Group.

The next Fairtrade Stall will be on Sunday 5 January i.e. in three weeks’ time. The plan is to hold a stall at three-weekly intervals until the end of March.

We will confirm the dates in advance.

We hope to share an ‘Annual Report’ for 2024 in early January.

Very many thanks for your support over the past year.

Frances and Dennis would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and all the very best for the New Year

St George's SVP - Annual Report to the Parish

A copy of the short report detailing the key activities of the SVP over the last year to Sept 24 is now available on the pin board at the back of Church.

You can also access it online using this link:

https://stgeorgeschurch-york.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SVP-Report-Sept-24.pdf

The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international charity which befriends those in need and provides them with practical assistance. It has been established in England & Wales since 1844, where there are currently 9,000 volunteer members involved in its work.

Details of our Parish Epiphany Party on Friday January 3rd - All Welcome.

Feast of St Francis Xavier

Last Saturday 7th Dec we celebrated Mass to commemorate the Feast Day of St Francis Xavier, a very special day for our thriving Goan community in St George’s Parish.

St. Francis Xavier is most honoured by the Catholic Church, for his missionary accomplishments particularly in Goa, India.

He is one of the greatest Roman Catholic missionaries of modern times and was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in Goa. He is now the patron Saint of Goa.

Members of the Goan community provided light refreshments for all parishioners after Mass, at the back of the church, to celebrate the feast.

Here are some photos from the day.

Thank you to Lars and Ines for sharing these.

A Warm St George's Welcome to Oakhill College, New South Wales

It was brilliant this morning to welcome staff and students from Oakhill College in New South Wales, Australia who joined us for 10am Mass.

St George's in honoured to have spent time with the staff and students who are part way through a rugby tour of England and Italy.

We wish them a safe and enjoyable tour.

And good luck in the rugby match this afternoon with St Peter's School, York

Christmas Mass Times at St George's Church

Here is a note of our Christmas Mass Times.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Christmas Carol Service

Our Christmas Carol Service this year on Thursday 19th Dec at 7pm will be a joint event at St George's Church with our neighbours St Denys Church in Walmgate.

Everyone is very welcome to attend.

St George's Fairtrade Stall

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade Stall on Sunday.

Goods to the value of £307 were sold (£212 morning Mass and £95 evening Mass).

The next stall will be held on the 15th December – Please note this is a change of date from 8th.

Very many thanks,

Frances & Dennis

Sustainable Christmas

With Christmas in mind, here are 2 suggestions from our Laudato Si group to make yours a more eco-friendly time of year:

CAFOD World Gifts

This is a range of virtual life changing gifts which can help transform the lives of people living in poverty. An excellent way of giving this Christmas:

See the link at:

worldgifts.cafod.org.uk

For suggestions for a sustainable Advent, with ways of worrying less and spending less, go to

https://www.yorkmethodist.org.uk/lib/sustainable-advent-guide-for-busy-people-2024-F893078.pdf

Parish Christmas/Epiphany Get Together

We are planning an event around Christmas/New year for the whole church. ... we don't quite know how it will take shape yet, but think cheeses, wine, a quiz and entertainment for the children will play a part!

We would like this to be a whole Church celebration.

If you would like to volunteer to help please let Maria Kato or Katy Iggulden know.

Restore - Providing Homes, Giving Hope

Father Joe Michael and Canon Jerry last night joined members of St George's Church, representing the SVP and Laudato Si, in supporting a charity dinner in aid of Restore York who provide homes for people who have suffered homelessness.

We learned that providing a roof is the tip of the iceberg for many homeless people.

The Restore team compassionately explores the root causes of each person's situation, enabling them to flourish - restoring lives and dignity.

The food was cooked and served by Yahala Mataam - a Social Enterprise Restaurant and Cookery School in York.

The mission of Yahala Mataam is to provide opportunity, build confidence and instill dignity in the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and those who are marginalised due to conflict through food projects.

St George's SVP is proud to have partnered with the Restore York Charity in 2024 and will continue to do so into 2025

Appeal for Your Help and Prayers Please

One of our parishioners, Jim Sunney, is desperately trying to help his family in Kent recover from a catastrophic fire at their home.

Please pray for comfort and a swift recovery for the family.

His sister has also set up a GoFundMe page to receive donations of financial help if you feel able:

https://gofund.me/b4236eca

Many thanks from Jim.

Benediction and Holy Hour at 5:30pm - Wednesday 13th November

Fr Jose Michael is holding a Holy Hour and Benediction 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Church to promote the intrinsic dignity of the human person and the culture of life in our country in the face of the assisted suicide legislation going before the UK Parliament.

Requiem Mass for Ann Richardson RIP

The Requiem Mass for Ann Richardson RIP will be held at St Aelred's RC Church on Tuesday 19th November at 12.00 noon.

May Ann's souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Fairtrade Stall

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade Stall on Sunday.

Goods to the value of £165 were sold - £120 morning Mass and £45 Evening Mass.

The next stall will be on Sunday 24th November.

This is a Christmas ‘Special’ for the sale of Christmas Cards, Advent Calendars, baubles, stocking fillers, Christmas chocolate, etc, etc.

There will also bring a small stock of the usual coffee, chocolate, jams, etc. which won’t be on display so please ask if you would like these.

Many thanks,
Frances & Dennis

Holy Souls in the Month of November

As we anticipate the month of November, we are reminded to pray for all those Holy Souls that mean so much to each of us.

Names from the November Holy Souls List will be read out at each Mass in November and you can add the names of those you wish to be remembered by completing returning the Holy Souls envelopes now available at the back of Church.

Winter Clothes for Carecent York

Thank you again for your generous donations at Mass yesterday.

And thank you to Jim and Annette for transporting this week to Carecent York

Welcome Back Fr Jo Michael!

This Sunday we welcomed back Fr Jo Michael from his holiday in India to resume his Ministry at St George's. We wish him a long and happy Ministry at St George's.

We also thank Canon Jerry for looking after us since his retirement at the beginning of August.

May Canon Jerry now enjoy a very long and happy retirement in York.

God bless both Canon Jerry and Fr Jo Michael.

Fairtrade Stall

Another fantastic result yesterday for our ever popular Fairtrade Stall.

Goods to the value of £297 were sold - £210 morning Mass and £87 evening Mass.

This compares very favourably with previous months in 2024 and is our second highest total this year.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our Fairtrade stall this year.

The next stalls will be held on

1. Sunday 3rd November for the sale of Christmas Cards and Advent calendars as well as the usual goods This is week earlier than usual to avoid Remembrance Sunday

2. Sunday 24th November This is a Christmas Special for the sale of Christmas cards, Advent calendars as well as other Christmas items

Very many thanks,
Frances & Dennis

It was great to accompany Canon Jerry on his visit the York Mosque & Islamic Centre last Thursday, where he shared news of his retirement with Imam Ammar.

A lovely and very busy community lunch allowed us to share a meal together and it was great to connect again with Helping other People in Need Group Street Kitchen who do some great work in York feeding those in need every single week of the year.

In the week in which the UK's last coal-fired power station was due to close, we are reminded that as a Church we have a part to play in influencing the Fossil Fuel agenda.

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/50683

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025:

Our parish First Holy Communion programme is open for all children Year 4 and above and preparation for the special day will start in November 2024.

Dates and times of meetings and the date for the First Holy Communion Mass will be confirmed when Fr Jo Michael returns in mid-October.

If you would like to register your child on the programme please email Liz Goldstein: goldstein.liz63@gmail.com, who will send out a registration form for you to complete.

In the meantime all the catechists look forward to welcoming you and your children at Sunday Mass.

SVP Parish Outing 2024 - Thursday 19th September

Thank you to Ines and Pat for some great photos from yesterday's trip to Hutton Le Hole.

The food was excellent and the museum was extensive, relaxed and very informative.

I'm told the ice cream was also delicious!

Hannah Pugh RIP

Today we fondly remember Hannah Pugh who passed away recently.

Hannah was a very popular parishioner at St George's and made many friends.

She will be very sadly missed.

Here is a link to the order of service from her Requiem Mass:

https://stgeorgeschurch-york.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/H-Pugh-service-sheet-booklet.pdf

May Hannah's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade stall on Sunday – goods to the value of £106 were sold - £49 after morning Mass and £57 after evening.

A good result during the holiday season.

Our next stall is on Sunday 8th Sept.

Many thanks,

Frances & Dennis

August Issue of The Voice

The August Issue of The Voice produced by the The Diocese of Middlesbrough is now available at the back of Church or you can read online at this link:

https://middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk/the-voice/

This month's issue contains a lovely photo and article from Canon Jerry's recent Jubilee Mass at St George's Church.

Olga Finnegan, RIP

We have just been made aware that the funeral service for Olga Finnegan, who passed away recently in Bridlington, will be held tomorrow, Thursday 18th July, at 3pm at York Crematorium.

Olga was a former parishioner of St George's and will be well known to many people in our Parish.

Another Successful Fairtrade Stall - Sunday 14th July

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade stall at Mass yesterday.

An excellent £187 worth of goods were sold - £110 at morning Mass and £77 at evening Mass.

The next stall is at both Masses on Sunday 11th August.

Michael Metcalfe RIP

Today we pray Michael Metcalfe who died recently at St Leonard's Hospice.

Canon Jerry led a very heartwarming tribute Mass at St George's today, to celebrate Michael's life with family and friends, organised by Michael's twin sister Jane.

Michael attended St George's Junior and Secondary School and served as an altar boy at St George’s Church. He worked for a time at York Carriage Works and was an engineer at heart who just loved to understand how things worked. He also had a fine collection of motor bikes.

May Michael’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Sometimes it does us all good to look at things from a different angle, or from a different perspective.

Here are a couple of photos of our Church, taken one Tuesday last week by a parishioner Citlali, that show St George's Church upon nature's beautiful canvas.

Faitrade Stall

Thank you to everyone who supported the Fairtrade stall on Sunday.

Goods the value of £183 were sold - £133 morning Mass and £50 at evening Mass.

Very many thanks,
Frances & Dennis

Canon Jerry Jubilee Mass - Sun 9th June - more photos

It really was a lovely celebration at morning Mass yesterday. Here are some photos courtesy of Ines and Lars.

Canon Jerry - 50th Anniversary of Ordination - 8th June 2024

Please join with us today to congratulate Canon Jerry on his Golden Jubilee as a priest!

First Holy Communion - Saturday 1st June

Our Lovely flower display in Church ready for the First Holy Communion Mass at 11a.m

Laudato Si Week 19th May to 26th May 2024

This week is Laudato Si week and marks the anniversary of Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on Care for Creation.

We can all play a part in caring for the environment and, at St George's, our Laudato Si Group has produced the attached newsletter for parishioners and followers.

You can download it from this link.

https://stgeorgeschurch-york.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LS-Newsletter-May-2024-Update.pdf

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