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Mr John Grady,
Hinsley Hall,
62 Headingley Lane,
LEEDS, LS6 2BX
Tel: 0113 261 8022
Fax: 0113 261 8035
Email:
john.grady@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
October 2nd, 2007 - TORCHES RE-LIT
Upwards of 1,500 people gathered outside the Town Hall in Batley on the night of Monday the 1st of October, to revive the custom of the Batley Torchlight Procession.
This was a tradition that was started in 1951 by Father Gallon, who’s niece and grand-nieces were in attendance. However, after a poor attendance in 2000 the procession was not continued. It was Bishop Roche, himself who last year made a special appeal to the people of the Diocese, to turn out in numbers to show their Faith. They came from all over the Diocese both young and old, some for the first time, others reliving their memories of how they had enjoyed this occasion when they were young.
On the steps of the Town Hall, Bishop Roche welcomed The Mayor of Kirklees, Cll Jean Calvert along with her consort, Mr Shane Eastwood as well as the Local Spen MP, Mike Woods. He also extended a warm welcome to everyone who had taken the time to come along, on what was a very mild night. After a Gospel reading Bishop Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster preached a homily which contrasted the shallowness of today’s throw away society with the steadfast Faith of Mary and pointed out how our world today needed Mary’s Faith.
The procession then wound its way up the hill to the Church, here there was the slight problem in that the Church could not hold everyone, but most people stood outside the Church until Benediction was over.
At the end of the service Bishop Roche thanked everyone and issued a challenge to all there – namely to come again next year and bring a friend.
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