6th Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
Over the past few weeks, I have been delighted to hear from so many of you that you have “had your jab” which has given you some peace of mind and hope for the future. I know there are others who are eagerly awaiting their invitation.
However, we must all remember that being vaccinated does not provide a magic cure. No vaccine provides 100% protection, so there is still a possibility that despite being vaccinated, you can still contract the virus albeit in a mild form and possibly pass it on to others. That is why we must continue to follow all the lockdown rules until such time as the Government is able to ease them.
So washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering, keeping 2 metres socially distancing and not mixing with other households, are still so important.
Some of you I know are a little hesitant to accept the invitation to be vaccinated, but I would encourage you to follow the advice of Public Health England despite what you may hear or read in the media.
Dr Mary Ramsay, the Head of Immunisation for Public Health England explains why:
“Talk in recent days of mutations and new variants has caused alarm. But we shouldn’t let this new information dissuade us from getting the Oxford vaccine or any other.
The first and most important reason is that every approved vaccine is highly likely to give strong protection against the risk of severe disease and death. This is likely to be true regardless of the variant. These are the outcomes that matter most and are what will prevent people from ending up in hospital and possibly dying. This should be at the front of our minds.
The second key point is that the South African variant is not the dominant one in the UK. We currently have just 147 cases of this variant, each of which has been rapidly identified, tracked to a postcode and tackled head-on by our surge testing programme. We are taking every possible step to drive down that variant in the UK and make sure it does not get a chance to become established here.
The third thing to remember is our vital weapon in the fight against variants: Genomics. This is a scientific tool we use to track the changes and mutations in an infectious disease. UK scientists are world leaders in the field.
By tracking how the virus evolves, we are using genomics to detect and respond to its every move. We know that the smallest mutation could have big consequences for how the virus can spread. But we still expect the vaccines to work against serious disease. And as new variants emerge, scientists can develop newer generations of vaccines, similar to the work done every year on the flu.
None of this is cause for complacency. We must stay alert to the emerging evidence. There are still 30,000 people in UK hospitals battling the virus and the NHS is facing acute pressure. But be in no doubt, vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. By getting the vaccine, we will all be doing our bit.”
Please continue to look after one another and pray that the Lord will watch over us and keep us safe from harm.
May God bless you all
Fr. Patterson
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am and on weekdays at 12.05 pm. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.
Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 am on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Mass Intentions for the coming week
In keeping with the public health message that the movement and gathering of people should be minimised and that as many people as possible stay at home for the sake of health, life and the common good, St. Patrick’s Church will remain closed until the situation improves.
Fr. Patterson will continue to celebrate Mass privately each day. The following Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – Norman Foster & LDM Foster Family
- Tuesday -Dominic and Andrew Sloan
- Wednesday – Dorothy Foster (Private Funeral Service—by invitation only)
- Thursday -The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Friday -Elizabeth and William Pearson
- Saturday – Fr. “P’s” Intentions
- Sunday – For the intentions of all our parishioners
As you are unable to celebrate Mass with him 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.
Please keep in your prayers this week:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- Fr. Paul McCourt and Fr. Kevin Daly who are currently unwell
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Norman Foster and Elizabeth Pearson and,
- Dorothy Foster who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May she be taken up into glory with your Son in whose great mystery of love we are all united.
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.
A time to pray
Please join me in prayer for the 116,287 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure)
Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.
To support you during Lent.
The Season of Lent begins on Wednesday and as the Government’s Public Health Message to Stay at Home is still in place the Diocese offers some resources which you may find helpful in your Lenten journey at home. Daily reflections, which you may download, print and share may be found here
News from our School
We are now at the end of a half term at school so we would like to send a message of love and support to all of the parishioners. We hope you are all keeping safe and staying well and we look forward to the times when we can be together again.
Parish News by Email
If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.
Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed
Fr. Patterson wishes to thank you for your offerings during these difficult times. He is particularly grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by bank transfer which helps to meet the day to day financial commitments of our churches.
Whilst we are being urged to “Stay at Home,” it may not be wise to drop your envelopes through the presbytery letterbox, unless your daily exercise route happens to take you past the presbytery. Please be sensible. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.
The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
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
