6th Sunday of Easter
In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asserted that he is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. In his dialogue with Pontius Pilate before he was condemned to be crucified, Jesus said that he came into the world “to bear witness to the truth”. Pilate questioned whether such a thing could even exist: “Truth? What is that?” In so doing, Pilate embodied the spirit of our own age, which is so bedevilled with claims and counterclaims as to what is truth, particularly on social media. Is there such a thing as truth? Do I recognise truth? Do I walk in the truth?
The answer to these questions is about the quality of my life: does my life reflect the truth of God?
- Am I a person who brings good news to others?
- Am I someone who gives new sight to those who live in darkness – the darkness of grief, loneliness, pain or sickness?
- Does my life set people free – from guilt, from fear, from oppression?
- Am I a person who not only helps to alleviate people’s poverty but empowers them to live with dignity?
- Am I a credible witness to the love of God?
- Does my life speak truth?
When we can answer those questions positively, then we know that the Spirit, our advocate and friend, is speaking the truth both to our lives and through our lives
All are welcome
Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. It is a joy to welcome people of other faiths or none who come to join us in worship. Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then consume immediately before returning to your place. If you are not a Catholic or are indisposed to receive Holy Communion, you are invited to come forward at the appropriate time and receive a blessing, indicating your desire by folding an arm across your chest.
A message from Fr. Patterson
Fr. Patterson is slowly recovering from post Covid symptoms and is still advised to rest as much as possible. This considerably reduces what he is able to do. He remains grateful to you for your prayers and understanding.
Celebrations during the coming week.
The following celebrations will take place during the coming week.
- Saturday: (13th May) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Intentions of all our parishioners
- Sunday: (14th May) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: Brian Quigley
- Monday: No Mass
- Tuesday: 10am Funeral Mass in St. Patrick’s Church for Susan Gilmore
- Wednesday: No Mass
- Thursday: 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: The Intentions of all our parishioners
- Friday: No Mass
- Saturday:(20th May) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: Peter, Dominic and Andrew Sloan
- Sunday: (21st May) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: The Intentions of all our parishioners
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.
Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.
When you are unable to celebrate Mass 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:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- all those whose memories we cherish at this time and,
- Susan Gilmore who has died. May they rest in the peace of the Risen Lord
Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons
Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.
Parish Walk – Saturday 20th May, 2023
Why not join us with your family and friends for an enjoyable easy walk from Monkseaton to South Shields.
The walk will begin either from Monkseaton or Cullercoats and end at South Shields crossing the river ferry. It is a distance of about 6 miles from Monkseaton or 3 miles from Cullercoats. The choice is yours.
We propose to have lunch at North Shields Fish Quay or you may choose to bring your own picnic.
Meeting times:
If you are doing the longer walk please meet at Monkseaton Metro Station for 10.30
For the shorter walk, please meet at Cullercoats Metro Station for 11.30am.
A Day-saver ticket and the Metro concessionary pass both include the ferry crossing.
Toilets are located at Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth and North Shields.
For more information please contact Terry Grey.
Afternoon Tea Party.
Join us on Saturday, 27th May for a “Forget Me Not” Afternoon Tea Party from 2 – 4pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre. This event is open to everyone from St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s, along with friends and neighbours.
A stay in Hospital
If you or any members of your family are going into hospital and would like to see the Catholic Chaplain, please ask a member of the ward staff to contact the Catholic Chaplain. Alternatively you can contact the Chaplaincy Department Office directly. For the Queen Elizabeth Hospital telephone 0191 445 2072 (Catholic Chaplain: Rev Paul Nichol). For the RVI and Freeman Hospitals in Newcastle telephone 0191 282 9322 (Catholic Chaplain: Rev Paddy Jackson). In an emergency, please ask the ward sister to contact the on call Catholic chaplain who carries a bleep. Please do not contact your own parish priest who may be unable to respond due to current hospital protocols
No collection taken
Although we do not take a collection at Mass by passing round a basket, we do hope you will feel able to make an offering towards the upkeep and running costs of our churches in one of the boxes you will find at the entrances to our churches. Your offerings are our sole source of income. Alternatively you may consider making your offering by Standing Order the details of which are above.
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
News from our School
Dear parishioners, thank you for your prayers for our children in school who are taking tests as it has really helped them keep calm and try their best. We really do appreciate you taking just a little bit of time to support us in prayer.
During May, the children are given the opportunity to pray the rosary together. If any parishioners are able to come into school to join in with these prayers, I would be delighted to hear from you. Please ring me, Mrs Robinson, on 0191 4693251 for dates and times.
Diocesan Environmental Group
The Diocesan Environmental Group invite you to a series of events marking Laudato Si’ week Sunday 21st – 28the May, 2023. The week will begin with a special Mass on Saturday 20th May at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle at 10.00. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate creation and to reflect on how to protect it. Throughout the week the group will be presenting special screenings of the film, ‘The Letter‘. For details please see the Diocesan website.
Little Sisters of the Poor Job Vacancy
The Little Sisters of the Poor run St. Joseph’s Home for the elderly in Newcastle. This is a friendly, relaxed, well-equipped Home with over 105 staff. Registered Nurses are required for a Day shift – 37.5 hours per week, Shifts are 8.00 – 16.00, 13.00 – 21.00; and Night shift 20 hours per week, 21.00 – 8.00. Two references and an enhanced DBS check are required. For more information please contact Lee-Marie on 0191 273 1279 or email lee.marie@lsplondon.co.uk
World Communications Sunday
Next Sunday, 21st May, is World Communications Day, when we are reminded to respond to the command of Jesus to preach the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world. Vital to this is good communication. The Bishops’ Conference works hard to forge positive relationships with media outlets to communicate news relating to every aspect of the life of the Catholic Church and her people. If you wish to support their work in this field you may place a donation in the boxes at the church doors. Please mark your envelope “World Communications.” If you have a set of envelopes, you should find an envelope in your box.
The Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project
Thanks to your support, each month over 400 people who are seeking asylum in our area benefit from this project. Should you wish to support the project, donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes, chick peas, toiletries and shampoo may be left on the table to your right as you enter the front of St. Patrick’s Church or on any table if you enter by the rear door. A basket is also available in the porch of St. Alban’s Church and in our school.
Mobile telephones in church
Please ensure your phone is turned off or in silent mode when in Church. In recent weeks, the sound of the arrival of messages during Mass has been very noticeable. If you are unsure how to turn “Notification sounds” off, then please turn your phone off completely. Thank you.
Returning your call
If you telephone the presbytery and there is no-one available to take your call, you may choose to leave a message. We will do all we can to return your call. However we are only able to do so if you leave your telephone number!!
For safeguarding reasons, we are unable to return anonymous calls, so please leave both your name and number for your call to be returned. For security reasons, the presbytery number is sometimes withheld for outgoing calls, so please bear this in mind if you are expecting us to return your call.
The Parish Newsletter by email
Could you help to offset the cost of printing paper copies of the Newsletter by having it sent to you by email? Many of you have been receiving it electronically throughout the pandemic and continue to do so. If you do not already receive it in this way and would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please send your request to the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and you will be added to our contact list.
A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches, on the days they are open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.
