The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

Leeds Parish Celebrating England’s Newest Saint

Leeds’s Parish of the Blessed John Henry Newman will be in for a change of name after 13 October, as Newman becomes England’s newest saint!

Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), who died 129 years ago today (11 August) is widely considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 19th century.

The former Anglican clergyman converted to Catholicism in 1845. When he is canonised by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in October, he will be the first English person who has lived since the 17th century to be officially recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church.

The cause for his sainthood was opened in 1958 and he was declared Venerable by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1991 after his life of ‘heroic virtue’ was recognised. Pope Benedict XVI declared him ‘Blessed’ in Cofton Park near Birmingham in September 2010, as part of his historic visit to Britain.

The canonisation was made possible by a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman. In May 2013, the medically inexplicable healing of a pregnant woman with life-threatening complications took place in Chicago, USA. After an initial investigation carried out by the Archdiocese of Chicago, it was submitted to the Holy See in 2018, and approved by Pope Francis on 13 February 2019.

The East Leeds parish is one of only three in the UK to be named after Newman and will host a Newman Festival in honour of their new Patron Saint.  Other talks and events across the Diocese will also be part of our Newman Festival celebrations.

 

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE – THURSDAY 22 to THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

Sun 22 September – Pilgrimage to Newman’s Shrine at the Birmingham Oratory

Mon 23 SeptemberNewman and the Sacraments: a guide to the place of Sacraments in our lives (Fr Dennis Cassidy, Diocese of Leeds) 19.00-20.00, St Theresa’s Church, Crossgates

Tues 24 SeptemberNewman & Vocation: A guide to discovering our calling in life (Fr Richard Duffield, York Oratory) 19.00-20.00, St Theresa’s Church, Crossgates

Wed 25 SeptemberNewman & Our Times: A guide to 21st Century Mission (Mgr Prof Rod Strange, St Mary’s University, London), 19.00-20.00, St Theresa’s Church, Crossgates

Thur 26 September – Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving & Veneration of Relic with Bishop Marcus, animated by school choirs, and followed by Faith Supper: 19.00, Corpus Christi Church, Halton Moor

 

Thu 17 October – John Henry Newman: a Saint for the 21st Century (Dr George Herring). 19.30 hrs.  St Robert’s Centre, Robert Street, Harrogate HG1 1HP.

 

An additional post-canonisation Come and Sing the Dream of Gerontius event will be held on Sunday afternoon, 20 October.  Led by the Diocese of Leeds Music Department, this will be a unique opportunity for singers of all abilities to participate in a ‘scratch choir’ workshop which will conclude in an informal performance of choruses from Newman’s epic poem set to music by Elgar.  It will be held in the magnificent Corpus Christi Church, Halton Moor.  Further details about this event will be circulated nearer the time.

More details about the Festival, including booking information can be found at www.newmanparish.org.uk and on Twitter @LeedsCatholic

Posters and a Flyer Timetable can be downloaded here: Parish_Newman Festival Flyer A6 High Quality Parish_Newman Festival Poster A3 High Quality

Stained glass window in St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bishop Thornton, depicting Cardinal John Henry Newman.

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