The Feast of the Holy Family
Dear Parishioners
I do hope your celebration of Christmas brought you peace, joy and hope.
I would like to thank you for your cards and gifts but more especially for your understanding and support as we have journeyed together throughout this year with all the frustrations and uncertainties of the Coronavirus pandemic. I don’t think any of us are finding these current times easy!
A special word of thanks must go to those parishioners who volunteer to act as stewards and cleaners in St. Patrick’s Church. They are essential if a church is to open for the celebration of Mass to take place. Their commitment and dedication is no mean achievement.
As the restrictions will go on well into 2021, if there are any of you who would like to join our team of volunteers, please email me on felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk. It is preferable that you are not in a vulnerable category. Anyone who is extremely clinically vulnerable is unable to act as a steward. Training will be given.
I am particularly grateful to those of you who have access to the internet for printing off copies of our parish Newsletters and passing them on to those who can’t receive them by email. It is a most valued method of keeping one another informed. Should you wish to receive the Newsletter by email, send your request to the email address above. Please remember that the Newsletter is also published on our parish website and I wish to thank our “parish webmaster” for uploading it each week.
I am also grateful to those of you who ring from time to time to ensure that I am “still in one piece” and for your emails enquiring of my well-being. They mean a great deal to me and help to brighten up the occasional dark day.
The next few months will continue to challenge us and whilst we hope the vaccine will gradually help to relieve the situation, we must remain ever watchful and not drop our guard – even those of you who have already received your first “jab.”
May God continue to bless us all and keep us safe now and throughout the coming year.Happy New Year
Fr. Patterson
Mass to view on line over the Christmas period
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 and on weekdays at 12.05. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.
Alternatively, you may like to follow daily Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00. Mass may also be viewed any time later on the Holy Name website.
Mass Intentions
- Monday – Peter Sloan
- Tuesday: 10.00 am in Church – Gerry Toberty
- Wednesday – Tom and Kathleen McKenna
- Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- New Year’s Day: 10.00 am in Church – Allan Lavin
- Saturday: Fr. “P’s” Intentions
- Sunday: 10.30 am in Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking is necessary .
When you are unable to celebrate Mass with me in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
In case you were not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.
Please keep in your prayers this week
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- Fr. Kevin Daly and Fr. Jim Dunne, both of whom are active priests in parishes, but are currently quite poorly and,
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Allan Lavin and Gerry Toberty.
A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors
Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.
Fr. Patterson will offer Mass on Christmas morning for all those who are sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers and all who have died of Covid-19.
Should I come to church?
If you have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable the government is advising that you do not need to shield at the moment, but if you are in this category, you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low, as outlined in the Government Guidance.
Some people, including those aged 60 and over, are described as being clinically vulnerable, meaning that they are at a higher risk of severe illness from the coronavirus. Individuals who fall within this group are advised to minimise contact with others outside their household.
If you fall into either of these categories, or if you feel unsure about returning to Mass, you need to consider the wisdom of doing so. Please remember, you are not obliged to attend Mass. Sunday obligation is suspended.
You must not come to Church if you are feeling unwell or if you suspect that you have Covid-19, (high temperature, new persistent cough, lack of taste or smell) or if you are living with someone who has or is suspected of having Covid-19. You MUST self-isolate in accordance with HM Government guidance and arrange for testing.
Please note, that while we will attempt to take all appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities to ensure our Church is Covid-19 safe, parishioners should understand that they assume the risk of contracting Covid-19 any time they enter a public space, since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection.
Mass in St. Patrick’s Church during this coming week:
- Sunday, 27th December – booking is now closed
- Tuesday, 29th December at 10.00 – no booking is necessary
- Friday, 1st January at 10.00 – no booking is necessary
- Sunday, 3rd January 2021 at 10.30 – booking is necessary
To reserve a place please telephone:
07526 232124
on either Wednesday, 30th December between 10.00 am – 12.00 pm or on Friday, 1st January between 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm.
This number will be unavailable outside of these booking times.
Bookings cannot be made via the presbytery telephone number nor by email. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.
You will be asked to provide your name and telephone number to comply with the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. Under Tier 3 Restrictions you must only sit with members of your own household or bubble—the rule of six being the limit in any one bench.
For Masses where booking is not required please bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope with you and place them in the box in Church.
Parish finances and offerings
Fr. Patterson wishes to thank you for your Christmas Offerings.
He continues to be grateful to those parishioners who are able to regularly contribute to parish funds, either by bank transfer or by dropping their weekly offering envelopes through the presbytery letterbox. This helps to meet the day to day financial commitments of our churches. Thank you for your Christmas Offerings too.
For security reasons, please do not put any envelopes through St. Alban’s Presbytery door. Envelopes for St. Alban’s parish should be posted through St. Patrick’s Presbytery door only.
If you Gift Aid your offertory contributions and choose to make a bank transfer, the parish can still reclaim the tax on your offering. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
Alternatively, you might wish to put aside your envelopes each week and bring them along to church when you feel able to come.
The details for bank transfers and cheques are as follows:-
St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984
St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453
Diocesan Website
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
