Parish newsletter

Posted on 27 November 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 28 November 2021 Download

Dear Parishioners

Catholics are very good at looking back to the past, even living in the past, and in doing so miss many opportunities that the present moment has to offer.

Take Advent as an example. It is the time to prepare for the greatest moment ever when our God chose to come among us, to share our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures, our pain and suffering, even our death, for only one reason; to show us how much he loves us. It is mind blowing, too good to be true…… and yet…….it is true!

The question to ask ourselves is – over all the years of celebrating Advent, how has it changed my understanding of Christmas? If you still look into the crib with the understanding of a child, then perhaps you have missed out on many opportunities to grow as an adult Christian.

Is Christmas morning a little bit ‘new’ every year or do you find yourself reminiscing over a “wonderful story” of what happened over two thousand years ago?

The wonder of our God is that it is never too late to start again. That is what Advent is after all. So why not look into the crib this Christmas and see that tiny child lying in the manger in a ‘new’ way, understanding just a little more clearly how incredible, how overwhelming, the love of God really is.

Why not begin by taking to heart Jesus’ teaching in this week’s Gospel: “Watch yourself, stay awake,” so that the “cares of this life” (of this Christmas, the preparations we must make – presents, food, planning, etc.) don’t enclose you “like a trap,” preventing you from entering into the wonderful “liberation” that is God’s love for us.

Remember,

“Christmas isn’t Christmas until it happens in your heart.
It is somewhere deep inside you where Christmas really starts.”

Bishop Robert reviewed the Covid protection measures for the churches in our Diocese last week and has asked us to keep them in place due to the high rate of transmission of the coronavirus in our region. He will review the situation in February. It is important to realise that he has not taken this decision lightly, but out of consideration for all the people who attend our churches and for the clergy, many of whom are still deemed to be clinically vulnerable despite the vaccination programme.

Following a meeting of our volunteer stewards last night (Friday), we will continue to do all we can to ensure St. Patrick’s Church is both welcoming and as Covid safe as we can make it for you. Sanitising your hands, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and cleaning the church after each celebration are still in place.

I renew my thanks to our volunteer stewards who are prepared to continue in their roles enabling us to celebrate Mass on Tuesdays at 10am and on Sundays at 10.30am. There is no longer a need for you to book a place in advance. We are, however, encouraged by the Government to restore collecting track and trace details – your name and a contact telephone number – so please bring them along in an envelope and place it in the box at the front of the church or use the QR code if you have a smartphone.

As we must continue to clean the church after each celebration, the rear of the church will remain closed to reduce the demands on our stewards who sanitise the benches after you leave. Limited toilet facilities are available in case of necessity. The steward at the rear of the church will assist you.

Please do all you can to be cautious in your everyday life choices which not only affect you, but impact on others too, including the NHS on which we all rely at times and pray for one another. May God bless you and your families.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10am on Sunday and most weekdays and Saturday at 4pm. These Masses may also be viewed later.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions. Bishop Robert asks that Face coverings should still be worn in our churches.

Monday – Norah Lagan
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Brian McDonough
Wednesday – Special Intention (KC)
Thursday -The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Brenda Donald
Saturday – Fr. Patterson’s intentions
Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

In case you are 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 and Fr. Kevin Daly who is very poorly and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Norah Lagan

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 together in prayer for the 144,593 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.

A prayer for those who are afraid

God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of Covid-19, fear for loved ones, fear of what the future holds.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace. Amen

A prayer for Refugees

Father, your Son had no place to call his own;
protect those who today are fleeing from danger.
Bless those who work to bring them relief;
inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of the world towards that day
when we will all rejoice in your Kingdom. Amen.

Resources to help you make the most of Advent

Bishop Robert Barron invites Catholics everywhere to join in 25 days of prayer this December to prepare, with Mary as our guide, for Christ’s birth.

Each day there is a custom, 5-10 minute guided meditation or peaceful music selection to reflect on the Advent themes of faith, hope, and joy through the eyes of Mary. Each meditation will be led by Jonathan Roumie from ‘The Chosen’, or your choice of three other guides.

If you are interested you will need to download the “Hallow app,” which is completely free to download offering a great deal of permanently free content, but just for Advent, they are giving all those who join a completely free 3-month trial to unlock all the site has to offer. You would need to cancel your free trial at the end of 3 months so that you do not incur an on going membership fee. To learn more, please visit the Hallow website.

Diocesan Resources – The Vicariate for Faith and Mission has produced a set of Seasonal reflections, one for each week of Advent.

For those who do not have internet access you may find the following reflection of value:

That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap (Luke 21:25-28,34-36)

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.”

Pause for thought:-

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.

How do I experience God’s presence and majesty in the natural world? How can I become more aware of God’s gift of creation?

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When have I been most aware of God’s power acting in my life? How do my actions give glory to God?

Stand erect and raise your heads because your liberation is near at hand. How can I grow in my longing for salvation? In this Advent, how can I prepare my heart for Christ’s coming?

Honouring Sundays

In July of this year, the Bishops of England and Wales issued a statement in which they hoped it would be possible to restore Sunday Obligation by the First Sunday of Advent, 28th November, 2021.

In a Statement issued on Friday, 19th November, 2021 they wrote the following:- “The Sunday Eucharist is a gift; as God’s holy people we are called to praise and thank God in the most sublime way possible. When the Church speaks of the Sunday obligation, it reminds us that attending Mass is a personal response to the selfless offering of Christ’s love.

At this time, we recognise that for some people there may be certain factors which hinder attendance at Sunday Mass. The pandemic is clearly not over. The risk of infection is still present. For some, there is legitimate fear in gathering together. As your bishops, we recognise that these prevailing circumstances suggest that not everyone is yet in the position to fulfil the absolute duty to freely attend Sunday Mass.

We now encourage all Catholics to look again at the patterns which they have formed in recent months with regard to going to Mass on Sundays. This would include consideration and reflection about what we might already be doing on Sundays, such as sports or shopping, or other leisure and social activities. This review of our lives and the decisions which arise from it, fall to every Catholic and we trust this will be done with honesty, motivated by a real love for the Lord whom we encounter in the Mass.

So, whilst Sunday obligation is not being restored for the time being, if you are engaging in café culture, visiting restaurants, pubs and clubs, going to “the match,” or flying off to foreign lands and have not returned to Mass, is it time for a rethink as the Bishops are encouraging us to do? On the other hand, if you are still anxious about coming to Church, or you are unwell, then you are under no obligation to do so.

An Ongoing Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

Father Patterson continues to be most grateful to the generous response we are receiving to this appeal. The project supports on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher.

If you are able to bring donations of rice, sugar, biscuits and toiletries as well as tinned fish in oil and tins of tomatoes and chick peas to St. Patrick’s Church before Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays, they may be left on the table to your right as you enter the Church. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If we are going to be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid protection measurers have been removed, Fr. Patterson needs your help to fulfil the roles outlined in our shared parish Roadmap which was circulated at the beginning of May. If you do not have a copy, please email felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277 and one will be sent to you.

Currently we do not have sufficient offers of help and support to be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and will be struggling to fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre when the Covid restrictions are lifted.

St. Patrick’s Boundary Wall.

The work of rebuilding the southern boundary wall of St. Patrick’s Church with Caxton House using the original stone, at a cost of £25,000, should be completed on Monday. Some “rubbing down” still needs to be done. Fr. Patterson is extremely grateful for donations received towards the cost of this project.

During the course of the work, the Diocese carried out an inspection of the entire boundary wall with the stonemasons and further work has been identified as needing attention, particularly on St. John’s Place. Stone walls built in 1895 do not last for ever!! Estimates are in the process of being obtained!

Church Grounds

The grounds of both of our churches are looking somewhat worse for wear at present. The last visit by the contractor who maintained the grounds was on 9th September. Fr. Patterson has only just been able to make contact with them to discover that they have ceased trading! Fr. Patterson is now looking for a replacement contractor who would be interested in the work at an acceptable cost. Should any parishioner be able to recommend a suitable contractor please contact Fr. Patterson.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

Fr. Patterson continues to be grateful for your offerings during these difficult times and is especially grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by standing order helping us meet the regular financial commitments of our churches.

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. 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/standing orders 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

ZOE Covid weekly update – What we might do to ensure a “low risk Christmas.”

Professor Tim Spector in this week’s update looks at the abrupt rise in UK COVID cases after weeks of falling. He discusses the reasons behind the increase and what he thinks is the only option left for a low-risk Christmas. He also discusses the COVID situation in Europe, which is seeing sharp increase, but why we shouldn’t be cocky with our comparatively lower rates.

In a separate blog, Tim shares some information on why it is important to get your booster jab.

He continues to remind us, in this blog, “Do I have Covid or a cold?” that as well as the “classic symptoms” of Covid, (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell), there are more symptoms emerging, namely a headache accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a cough. It may just be a summer cold, but check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. These kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use.

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.

Parish newsletter 28 November 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 13 November 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 14 November 2021 Download

33rd Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

This Sunday, 14th November, is Remembrance Sunday. It is the day we remember the members of the Armed Forces and their families from Britain and the Commonwealth, the vital role played by the emergency services and those that have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.

The National Service of Remembrance takes place at the Cenotaph in London and is being televised on BBC 1 from 10.15.

The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a positive future and peaceful world. Poppies are a show of support for the Armed Forces community, those currently serving, ex-serving personnel and their families; and a symbol of Remembrance for all those who have fallen in conflict.

The Gateshead Field of Remembrance in Saltwell Park is open from 9am to 4pm each day and will close on Sunday, 21st November. Please be aware that regional and/or national Covid-19 restrictions may affect the Saltwell Park Field of Remembrance.

So on this day, let us remember before God, and commend to his care those who have died for their country in conflict; those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure, and all who have lived and died in the service of humanity.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;
at the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
we will remember them.

Let us pray:-

Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life; hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of thy love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

We continue to do all we can to ensure St. Patrick’s Church is as Covid safe as we can make it in keeping with Bishop Robert’s instruction. Sanitising your hands, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for funerals and Mass are still in place.

Thanks to our volunteer stewards we are able to celebrate Mass on Tuesdays at 10.00 and on Sundays at 10.30. We do not at present breach our capacity for the celebration of Sunday Mass, so there is no longer a need for you to book a place in advance, nor does the Government require you to provide Test and Trace details.

As we must continue to clean the church after each celebration, the rear of the church will remain closed to reduce the demands on our stewards who sanitise the benches after you leave. Could you help as a steward on a rota basis, either during the week or over a weekend? Please get in touch if you can.

As the number of new cases in Gateshead begins to decrease, it is still high with 783 new cases in the last seven days. Please do all you can to be cautious in your everyday life choices which not only affect ourselves, but impact on others too, including the NHS on which we all rely at times.

Please pray for our fellow parishioners and all those in our community who have recently tested positive for Covid-19, and please continue to look after one another.

May God bless you and your loved ones and may he protect us from all harm.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10am on Sunday and most weekdays and Saturday at 4pm. These Masses may also be viewed later.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions. Bishop Robert asks that Face coverings should still be worn in our churches.

Monday: Susan Harland
Tuesday 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Brian Grace Snr and Brian Grace Jnr
Wednesday – Brian Quigley
Thursday -The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Olwin Durham Saturday – Fr. Patterson’s intentions
Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Susan Harland

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 142,678 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

May those who are fleeing, find sanctuary,
may those who are staying, find safety,
may those who are fighting, find peace,
may those whose hearts are breaking, find comfort,
may those who see no future, find hope.

Remembering those who died since the Pandemic began

Since the Pandemic began, the ways in which we have been able to say goodbye to our loved ones and to celebrate their funerals, whether they died with the Coronavirus or of other causes, have been severely restricted.

Bishop Robert has asked us to dedicate the month of November to remembering them all.

We remembered them in name during Mass on the Feast of All Souls and continue to remember them in prayer each day.

Their names will be taken to St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle where they will be remembered during a Requiem Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert on Saturday 27th November at 11.00. Their names will also be entered into our parish Book of Remembrance. Due to the current Covid restrictions, entry to this Mass is by invitation only.

World Day of the Poor

This Sunday, 14th November, is the fifth World Day of the Poor, initiated by Pope Francis in 2017 with the theme of “let us love, not with words but with deeds.” The Christian is called to follow the example of Jesus in loving God and neighbour, especially the most vulnerable. Pope Francis reminds us, “If we truly wish to encounter Christ, we have to touch his body in the suffering bodies of the poor.” Developing a culture of encounter is a key theme for Pope Francis and an essential counter witness to what he describes as a culture of waste and indifference, a culture that casts aside human beings who are not considered to be productive or useful.

Poverty comes in many guises. In England and Wales, we do not always see the desperate material poverty which is evident in other countries, but it is there. In 2019, according to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2.4 million people in the UK, including 0.5 million children, experienced destitution at some point in the year, in other words they did not have enough to live on. The same report says that before the Coronavirus pandemic, 14.5 million people in the UK were caught up in poverty, equating to 1 in 5 people.

In our society, we also have people who experience the poverty of isolation and loneliness, homelessness, modern day slavery, trafficking, relational poverty, the experience of being abused or the victim of violence. These circumstances are often drivers of material poverty, or the result of material poverty. The Gospel calls us to a conversion of heart and this conversion, as Pope Francis says in this year’s message for the World Day of the Poor, “consists primarily in opening our hearts to recognizing the many different forms of poverty and manifesting the Kingdom of God through a lifestyle consistent with the faith we profess.”

An Ongoing Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

Respect for one another – Be aware of personal space and personal choice.

We have lived through a lot since the pandemic started so let us be kind and respect one another. Be aware of personal space and personal choice. Some people might not be ready to hug, kiss, shake hands or reduce social distance. Don’t assume what people are comfortable with. Instead, ask them and respect their personal choices.

Statistics show that the uptake of the Covid vaccine in our region has slowed considerably, so it is important for us all to do what we can to encourage people we know to consider being vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. Pope Francis urges us to do so . Please accept your invitation for a “Booster jab” when you receive it and do consider having a flu jab too.

Community Counselling Service

Bheith Ann is a new Community Counselling Service available to all residents of Felling and the wider Gateshead area and is taking referrals for those individuals with issues such as Bereavement and Grief, Loneliness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Problems, Post-Trauma Experiences and Bullying.

This is a free confidential services delivered by a team of dedicated, trained counsellors strictly in line with national professional Codes of Ethical Practice. To make a referral, please ring the Bheith Ann Referral Helpline on 07425 768 957. If you simply want more information about the Service please ring Neil Campbell on 07903 239 983.

St. Patrick’s Boundary Wall.

The work of rebuilding the southern boundary wall of St. Patrick’s Church with Caxton House using the original stone, at a cost of £25,000, will be completed this week.

Fr. Patterson is extremely grateful for a most generous donation of £100.00 received during the week towards the cost. Should you wish to make a donation it may be placed in the box at the front of the church or put through the presbytery letterbox. Alternatively you may choose to make a donation by Bank transfer for which you will require the following details: Account name: DHN Felling St Patrick; Sort code: 40-34-18; Account No: 52010453. Donations. Thank you.

Church Grounds

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

The details for bank transfers/standing orders 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

COP26

How will the decisions made at COP26 change our day-to-day lives? What can we do to help move these policies forward?

The decisions made at COP26 are part of the wider ambition to decarbonise our economies – and that will certainly have an impact on daily life.

The cars we drive and the way we heat our homes are going to change. Buying an electric vehicle, or getting a heat pump installed at home, is going to become more and more common. The hope – and for many the expectation – is that as these technologies become more established, the costs will come down.

There are also personal choices to be made about what we eat. The Climate Change Committee which advises the government recommends a 20% reduction per person by 2050 in the amount of beef, lamb and dairy we consume and how often we fly. Then there are practical issues like recycling and cutting down on waste as much as possible.

Although the summit closes this weekend, the outcome of their discussions will become more evident in time.

ZOE Covid weekly update – A drop in new cases but more infections after vaccination

Professor Tim Spector looks at the continued drop in cases in the UK this week, where we’ve seen the biggest drop yet since the winter wave! While this is promising news, the hospital admissions data tells a different story, as we’re yet to see the same decline reflected here. Tim also shares some important new data on breakthrough infections and how common they are after vaccinations and boosters, as well as revealing the risk of your sniffle being more likely to be a cold or COVID. Check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. Kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use.

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 14 November 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 16 October 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 17 October 2021 Download

Dear Parishioners

This Sunday, Bishop Robert launches the Year of the Eucharist in our Diocese with the celebration of Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral at 6.30pm, which will be live streamed.

It is a time to remember Jesus’ consoling words taken from St. Mark’s Gospel: “Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest.” This promise is fulfilled in a special way when we celebrate Mass together and receive Holy Communion.

So maybe this is an incentive, as more and more people now feel able to visit the shops, enjoy a coffee in a café, a meal in a restaurant or a drink in a pub or club, to be thinking about coming to Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on a Tuesday or a Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist together with members of our shared parish family.

Sanitising your hands, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for funerals and Mass within St. Patrick’ Church are still in place, so the church is as Covid safe as we can make it, although there is always an element of risk of contracting Covid-19 when entering any public space.

I am aware that there are some of you who are still hesitant in going very far at all and that is perfectly understandable. We must all do what we think is best for our own well-being and the well-being of others.

The Sunday obligation is still suspended so you are under no obligation to attend Mass. Although if you only come to Mass because of the obligation, does that not raise a much deeper issue within your minds and hearts?

In his instruction to keep all Covid restrictions in place in all our churches, Bishop Robert’s concern is for the well-being of everyone who attends our churches and for the clergy, given the age demographic of the Diocese and the local situation.

I take this opportunity to renew my thanks to our volunteer stewards whose commitment and generosity enables Mass to continue to be celebrated in St. Patrick’ Church on Tuesdays at 10am and on Sundays at 10.30am.

We must continue to clean the church after each celebration, so the rear of the church will remain closed to reduce the demands on our stewards who sanitise the benches after you leave. Could you help as a steward on a rota basis, either during the week or over a weekend? Please get in touch if you can.

As we do not at present breach our capacity for the celebration of Mass on Sundays, there is no longer a need for you to book a place in advance, nor does the Government require you to provide Test and Trace details.

Please continue to pray for our parishioners, school staff and school children who have recently tested positive for Covid-19. Some have had mild symptoms, whilst others have been very poorly and some have been admitted to hospital.

This is a timely reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which not only affect ourselves, but impact on others too, including the NHS on which we all rely at times.

Statistics show that the uptake of the Covid vaccine in our region has slowed considerably, so it is important for us all to do what we can to encourage people we know to consider being vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. Pope Francis urges us to do so in this video message. Please accept your invitation for a “Booster jab” when you receive it and do consider having a flu jab too.

Please continue to look after one another and pray that the Lord will watch over us and keep us safe.

May God bless you and your loved ones and may he protect us from all harm.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10 am on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4pm. These Masses may also be viewed later.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Brian Quigley
Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Margaret and Brian Pankhurst
Wednesday – Norman Foster and LDM Foster and Freeman Families
Thursday -The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Fr. Stephen Johnson
Saturday – Fr. Patterson’s intentions
Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 138,379 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure)

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

This Sunday, 17th October, Bishop Robert will launch our Diocesan Year of the Eucharist during Mass at 6,30pm in St. Mary’s Cathedral which will be live streamed. He speaks about his hopes in a video.

The Year of the Eucharist celebrates the Eucharist at the heart of the life and mission of the Church. The Bishop hopes it will help us to grow as a Diocese in our love of the Eucharist and to deepen our appreciation of it through the liturgy. He prays that we will revitalise and renew our faith through a deepening of prayer and devotion of the Eucharist, and be strengthened and nourished to go out and serve the world.

These challenging times for the Church and her mission demand that our love of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is deep and abiding. He is the source of our life and meaning. His outpouring for us on Calvary, celebrated in the Holy Eucharist draws us on in our pilgrimage. Jesus feeds us on our life’s pilgrimage as we discern together the way ahead.

Bishop Robert Barron addresses the issue of returning to Mass.

He writes:- “I want you to go back to Mass, which is the source and summit of the Christian life. It is the privileged moment of encounter with Jesus Christ, where we hear his Word, where we feast on his Body and Blood, where we come together as the mystical body of Christ joining ourselves to him, our head, to offer praise to the Father. There is nothing more important which is why the Church has made the Mass so central. If you stay away from the source and summit of the Christian life, from this privileged encounter with Jesus Christ, from the moment when you come together with your brothers and sisters to offer praise to the Father, you are missing out on the very source of the spiritual life.

The Mystery of the Mass

Bishop Barron’s talks about “The Mystery of the Mass” at the Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool in 2018. Although it is almost one hour in length, it is certainly worth an hour of your time.

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

Father Patterson wishes to extend his thanks to the most generous response we are receiving to this appeal. The project supports on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher.

Community Counselling Service

Bheith Ann is a brand-new Community Counselling Service available to all residents of Felling and the wider Gateshead area and is taking referrals for those individuals with issues such as Bereavement and Grief, Loneliness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Problems, Post-Trauma Experiences and Bullying.

St. Patrick’s Boundary Wall.

The work to take down and rebuild with foundations the southern boundary wall of St. Patrick’s Church with Caxton House at a cost of £25,000 is progressing well. Foundations have been laid and the rebuilding of the wall, using the original stone will begin this coming week.

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a donation of £40.00 received during the week towards the cost. Should you wish to make a donation it may be placed in the box at the front of the church or put through the presbytery letterbox. Alternatively you can make a donation by Bank transfer for which you will require the following details: Account name: DHN Felling St Patrick; Sort code: 40-34-18; Account No: 52010453. Donations. Thank you.

Electrical Inspection

Every five years a full electrical inspection of our property must be carried out. The inspections have been completed at the following costs to our parishes:- St. Alban’s Church and Presbytery cost £504.00. St. Patrick’s Church, parish centre and presbytery cost £1,393.00. All our property passed the inspection and there is no remedial work to be done.

The Sacrament of Baptism

As Bishop Robert has extend the Covid restrictions until further notice, we are still unable to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

We are awaiting a visit from PIB Risk Assessment to have the parish centre Covid risk assessed so that we will be able to offer the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child for Baptism which the Church requires to ensure that parents have a full understanding of the nature of the Sacrament of Baptism and also a living awareness of the commitment having their child baptised entails, namely promising to bring their child up in the practice of the Catholic faith. Until we are able to reopen our parish centre and to ensure the safety of everyone including our catechists we are currently unable to offer the preparation.

Fr. Patterson regrets that it will still not be possible to offer the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Patrick’s Church until the situation improves. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter for further information.

For a child to be baptised in the Catholic Church, one parent must be a baptised Catholic who shows some sign of genuine commitment to the practice of their own faith by taking part regularly in Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s.

A child should be baptised in the parish in which their family lives and in the church they regularly attend. Parents who live outside our shared parish of St Patrick’s and St Alban’s and who wish to have their child baptised here, must regularly attend St Patrick’s Church.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If we are going to be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid restrictions have been removed, Fr. Patterson needs your help and support to fulfil the roles outlined in our shared parish Roadmap which was circulated at the beginning of May. If you do not have a copy, please email felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277 and one will be sent to you.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

The details for bank transfers/standing orders 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

Respect for one another – Be aware of personal space and personal choice.

Zoe Covid weekly update

Professor Tim Spector’s weekly update addresses the continued high rates of COVID infection in the UK, and how the government’s response has been called one of the UK’s worst public health failings in terms of their reliance on herd immunity. He also addresses public opinion on vaccine passports.

He continues to remind us that as well as the “classic symptoms” of Covid, (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell), there are more symptoms emerging, namely a headache accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a cough. It may just be a summer cold, but check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. These kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use. Check out the Zoe blog Do I have Covid or a cold?

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 17 October 2021 Download

29th Sunday of the Year

Parish newsletter

Posted on 9 October 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 10 October 2021 Download

28th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

As more and more people now feel able to visit the shops, enjoy a coffee in a café, a meal in a restaurant or a drink in a pub or club,

is the time right for you to be thinking about coming to Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on a Tuesday or a Sunday?

Sanitising your hands, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for funerals and Mass within St. Patrick’s Church are still in place, so the church is as Covid safe as we can make it, although there is always an element of risk of contracting Covid-19 when entering any public space.

I know that some of you who can, are taking part in live stream Masses, but they are not the same as coming to Mass and being nourished and fed by God’s Word and Sacrament alongside other members of our shared parish family.

I am also aware that there are still some of you who are hesitant in going very far at all and that is perfectly understandable. We must all do what we think is best for our own well-being and the well-being of others.

In his instruction to keep all Covid restrictions in place in all the churches of the Diocese, Bishop Robert’s principal concern is for the well-being of everyone who attends our churches and for the clergy, given the age demographic of the Diocese and the local situation.

I wish to renew my thanks to our volunteer stewards whose commitment and generosity enables Mass to continue to be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church on Tuesdays at 10am and on Sundays at 10.30am.

As we must continue to clean the church after each celebration, the rear of the church will remain closed to reduce the demands on our stewards who sanitise the benches when you leave.

Could you help as a steward on a rota basis, either during the week or over a weekend? Please get in touch if you can.

Statistics show that the uptake of the Covid vaccine in our region has slowed considerably, so it is important for us all to do what we can to encourage people we know to consider being vaccinated if they haven’t as yet done so. Pope Francis urges us to do so in his video message. Please accept your invitation for a “Booster jab” when you receive it and do consider having a flu jab too.

I very much appreciate the supportive emails and telephone calls I receive during the course of any one week along with your understanding of the small steps we continue to make in rebuilding our shared parish family safely.

Please continue to look after one another and pray that the Lord will watch over us and keep us safe.

May God bless you and your loved ones and may he keep us from all harm.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions. Bishop Robert asks that Face coverings should still be worn in our churches.

Monday – Mona O’Connor
Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Pat Donald and LDM Family
Wednesday – In Thanksgiving (NF)
Thursday -The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Fr. Michael Sharratt
Saturday – Fr. Patterson’s intentions
Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 137,541 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure)

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

St. Patrick’s Boundary Wall – could you help?

The work to take down and rebuild with new foundations the southern boundary wall of St. Patrick’s Church with Caxton House began last Monday at a cost of £25,000.00. Heritage Consolidation, who renewed the steps at the front of the church, were appointed to carry out the work. Caxton House have offered to shoulder 50% of the cost of the work, for which we are most grateful.

As St. Patrick’s regular income has decreased during the course of the pandemic by 67%, despite the generosity of those parishioners who are regularly contributing by standing order, bringing their envelopes to Mass or dropping them through the presbytery letterbox, Fr. Patterson would be grateful if any of you felt able to make a donation towards the cost of this work in the next week or two. Should you choose to make a donation by Bank transfer you will require the following details: Account name: DHN Felling St Patrick; Sort code: 40-34-18; Account No: 52010453. Donations may also be placed in the box at the front of the church or put through the presbytery letterbox. Thank you.

The Catholic Universe

This newspaper, which went into administration this Summer after 160 years, has been replaced by an online subscription digital publication under a new name, “The Universe Catholic Weekly.” It will be topical, controversial, stimulating and packed with news, opinion and features. You can receive a weekly edition on line for £20.00 a quarter paid simply and directly to the publisher. The first edition is published this week. See ‘The Universe Catholic Weekly‘ website for more information.

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

Next Sunday, 17th October, Bishop Robert will launch our Diocesan Year of the Eucharist during Mass at 18.30 in St. Mary’s Cathedral which will be live streamed.

Assisted Dying Bill

Bishop John Sherrington, the Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has written an open letter inviting Catholics to pray for the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill to be debated in the House of Lords on 22nd October. If successful it will allow a terminally ill adult with less than 6 months to live, assistance to commit suicide. The Catholic Church teaches that this represents a crime against human life, for we cannot directly choose to take the life of another, even if they request it. Bishop Sherrington encourages Catholic people to write to peers at the House of Lords stating the reasons why they oppose this legislation and particularly explain from personal experience the rea-sons why this change in the law should be opposed.

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

This project supports on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher.

Financial donations can be made by bank transfer to HSBC Sort Code 40-34-18. Account number 52854058 Account name DHN Destitute Asylum.

Father Patterson wishes to extend his thanks to the most generous response we are receiving to this appeal.

The Sacrament of Baptism

However, we are now in the process of arranging to have the parish centre Covid risk assessed so that we will be able to offer the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child for Baptism which the Church requires to ensure that parents have a full understanding of the nature of the Sacrament of Baptism and also a living awareness of the commitment having their child baptised entails, namely promising to bring their child up in the practice of the Catholic faith. Until we are able to reopen our parish centre and to ensure the safety of everyone including our catechists we are currently unable to offer the preparation.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

The details for bank transfers/standing orders 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

Annual Insurance Premiums

We are all going to face increased charges for gas, electricity and council tax in the months ahead. The Annual Insurance premiums arrived for payment this week. St. Alban’s premium for the Church and presbytery amounts to £2,182.00. The premium for St. Patrick’s Church, parish centre and presbytery totalled £4,969.00.

Respect for one another – Be aware of personal space and personal choice.

Zoe Covid weekly update

Professor Tim Spector in this week’s update reveals some new research for those of you who may have had COVID and how he thinks this affects your risk of infection after vaccination. He also looks at the who and the where behind rising COVID cases and how the government’s refusal to update the recognised symptoms of Covid might be driving this.

He reminds us that as well as the “classic symptoms” of Covid, (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell), there are more symptoms emerging, namely a headache accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a loss of smell. It may just be a summer cold, but check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. These kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use. Check out the Zoe blog Do I have Covid or a cold?

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 10 October 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 11 September 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 12 September 2021 Download

24th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

Bishop Robert met with his Council last Friday, 10th September, to discuss the Covid restrictions in our churches and parish halls/centres. He has written to the clergy informing us that a document is being prepared which will be sent to us next week with the outcome of their deliberations. Until then, he asks that we proceed with the current restrictions which involves the wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for any celebration within St. Patrick’s Church.

The Bishop’s principal concern continues to be for the well-being of everyone who attends our churches and for the clergy, given the age demographic of the Diocese.

Thanks to the generosity of our volunteer stewards, St. Patrick’s Church will be open for Mass on Tuesday at 10am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 19th September, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 17th September between 4.30pm – 5.30 pm.

Please note the change of time

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

If you have not pre-booked please bring your contact details in an envelope and place them in the box at the front of the church or give your envelope to the outside stewards to avoid the need for our stewards to record your details when you arrive. Alternatively you can use the QR Code displayed at the entrance to the Church using the NHS Covid App

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 12th September, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

Please continue to pray for our parishioners who have recently contracted Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Some have had mild symptoms, whilst others have been very poorly. To the best of my knowledge, those who were admitted to hospital have now returned home. It is a reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and that we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which don’t only affect ourselves, but impact on others too.

As the rate of those coming forward to be vaccinated has slowed down, Pope Francis urges us to get vaccinated. In a video message, Pope Francis says:- “Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable. I pray to God that each one of us can make his or her small gesture of love. No matter how small, love is always grand. Small gestures for a better future. God bless you. Thank you.”

And remember, we are not people of fear: we are people of courage. We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity. We are your people Lord, giving and loving, wherever we are, wherever you call us, whatever it costs, for as long as it takes.

Please look after each other and pray for one another and may God bless you and keep you safe.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Bushell, Harland and Sloan Families
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Denis Lenehan and Margaret Lenehan
Wednesday – Brother Bede Alban and LDM Marist Brothers
Thursday – Funeral Mass for Mona O’Connor – by invitation only – Covid restrictions still apply in the church.
Friday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Saturday – Fr. Patterson’s intentions
Sunday: 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking advised

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time Denis Lenehan and Margaret Lenehan

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 133,988 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

The troubled World in which we live – a message from Cafod

A number of countries are facing significant crises at the moment. At this grave time for our sisters and brothers in these countries, we would like to reassure you that Cafod is responding to these multiple crises. You can read more about how we can all express solidarity with our sisters and brothers affected by these emergencies on the Cafod website. Your compassion, generosity and prayers will help us to stand together and enable us to continue to support communities in these difficult times. Thank you.

A cheque for £800.00 has been sent to Cafod’s Appeal from St. Alban’s Charity Box.

Parking your car

If you come to St. Patrick’s Church by car please park carefully, thoughtfully and safely.

A black Nissan Micra, which was parked in the small Kwik Save car par opposite the church during Mass last Tuesday morning, blocked access to one of the properties that back on to that car park. A frustrated message was left on the presbytery answerphone during Mass by a resident who was blocked in.

Fr. Patterson also requests that you do not park in front of the presbytery garage during any Mass or service as access to the garage by others if often required.

Do remember that the main church car park is still open for use and, for the sake of our neighbours, should ideally be your first port of call.

Explore Sycamore

Sycamore is an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. It gives you space to meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs, and think about questions that really matter. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion. Some of you will already be familiar with this programme having followed the video links Fr. Patterson provided in the Newsletter over several weeks earlier in the year.

If you would like to experience Sycamore, the Diocesan Faith & Mission Team invite you to a Sycamore Taster Session on Sunday, 19^th September at 4pm via Zoom. You can register online .

Assisted Dying Bill

Bishop John Sherrington, the Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has written an open letter inviting Catholics to pray for the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill to be debated in the House of Lords in October. If successful it will allow a terminally ill adult with less than 6 months to live, assistance to commit suicide. The Catholic Church teaches that this represents a crime against human life, for we cannot directly choose to take the life of another, even if they request it. Bishop Sherrington encourages Catholic people to write to peers at the House of Lords stating the reasons why they oppose this legislation and particularly explain from personal experience the reasons why this change in the law should be opposed.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Following Bishop Robert’s decision to extend the Covid restrictions until further notice, we are still unable to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

His decision also prevents us from reopening the parish centre. As a result, we are not in a position to be able to offer the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child for Baptism which the Church requires.

The Church asks that every effort is made to ensure that parents have a full understanding of the nature of the Sacrament of Baptism and also a living awareness of the commitment having their child baptised entails, namely promising to bring their child up in the practice of the Catholic faith.

To support parents in this regard, we offer a series of preparation sessions, led by volunteer catechists, in the parish centre after which parents will decide, along with the priest, whether they should proceed with having their child baptised. Until we have permission to reopen our parish centre and to ensure the safety of everyone including our catechists we are currently unable to offer the preparation.

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If we are going to be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid restrictions have been removed, I need your help and support to fulfil the roles outlined in our shared parish Roadmap which was circulated at the beginning of May. If you do not have a copy, please email felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277 and one will be sent to you.

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible

If you have helped in either church before the pandemic and no longer feel able to continue in your previous role; if you wish to continue helping as you have done in the past or if you would like to help in any of the ways outlined in our shared parish Roadmap for the first time, please get in touch as soon as possible.

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

At present this project is supporting on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher. The project organisers have been notified that new sites in the local area will introduce 400/500 new asylum seekers to the area as well as some Afghan refugees so the demand on the project resources and services will increase.

If you are able to bring donations of rice, sugar, biscuits and toiletries as well as tinned fish in oil and tins of tomatoes and chick peas to St. Patrick’s Church before Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays, they may be left on the table to your right as you enter the Church. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required. Thanks to those who have already generously responded to this request so quickly.

Financial donations can be made by bank transfer to HSBC Sort Code 40-34-18. Account number 52854058 Account name DHN Destitute Asylum.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Zoe Covid weekly update

This week Professor Tim Spector in his weekly update, tells us that although cases numbers are still high they are showing modest signs of a decrease. He also takes a further look into waning vaccine effectiveness and what this means for protection versus severe symptoms if you catch Covid many months after your vaccination.

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 12 September 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 4 September 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 5 September 2021 Download

23rd Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

As many of you will be aware, Bishop Robert has asked thatCovid-19 restrictions in churches and parish halls remain in force in the Diocese until he has received further advice from the Diocesan health and safety officer in the near future when it will be decided whether the current restrictions may be eased.

As such, the wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for any celebration remain in place within St. Patrick’s Church.

Please be understanding and accepting of the protocols you are asked to follow. It is important for us all to remember, Covid has not gone away! The Bishop’s principal concern is for the well-being of everyone who attends our churches as well as for the clergy, given the age demographic of the Diocese.

We must continue to be grateful to the generosity of our volunteer stewards which enables St. Patrick’s Church to be open for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 12th September, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 10th September between 5pm and 7pm

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

You will be encouraged to provide your name and telephone number for the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list. If you have not pre-booked please bring your contact details in an envelope and place them in the box at the front of the church or give your details to the outside stewards. Alternatively you can use the QR Code displayed at the entrance to the Church using the NHS Covid App.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 5th September, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

Please keep in your prayers our parishioners who have recently contracted Covid-19 despite having had two doses of vaccine. Most have had mild symptoms, but some have been very poorly and a few have had to be admitted to hospital; thankfully, those I am aware of, have now returned home. It is a reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and that we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which don’t only affect ourselves, but impact on others too.

Pope Francis urges us to get vaccinated.

In a video message, Pope Francis says:- “Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable. I pray to God that each one of us can make his or her small gesture of love. No matter how small, love is always grand. Small gestures for a better future. God bless you. Thank you.”

Please look after each other and pray for one another and may God bless you and keep you safe.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10 am on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. These Masses may also be viewed later from the same website.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Joan and Ria Barrett
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Maureen Johnson
Wednesday – Austin and Vera Hughes
Thursday – Memorial Service for Muriel McGrady – by invitation only – Covid restrictions still apply in the church
Friday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Saturday – Wedding Service for Daniel and Victoria – by invitation only – Covid restrictions still apply in the church
Sunday: 10.30 am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking advised

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

The Great North Run

The Race takes place next Sunday, 12th September. Please keep the inevitable road closures in mind when you are coming to Mass.

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Austin Hughes and Maureen Johnson

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 133,041 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

The troubled World in which we live – a message from Cafod

A cheque for £800.00 has been sent to Cafod’s Appeal from St. Alban’s Charity Box.

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

The project organisers are grateful for the ongoing support but their stocks are running low and demand is increasing. At present the project is supporting on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher. The project organisers have been notified that new sites in Byker, Shieldfield and Grainger Town will introduce 400/500 new asylum seekers to the area as well as some Afghan refugees so the demand on the project resources and services will increase.

If you are able to bring donations of rice, sugar, biscuits and toiletries as well as tinned fish in oil and tins of tomatoes and chick peas to St. Patrick’s Church before Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays, they may be left on the table to your right as you enter the Church. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required. Thanks to those who have already generously responded to this request so quickly.

Financial donations can be made by bank transfer to HSBC Sort Code 40-34-18. Account number 52854058 Account name DHN Destitute Asylum. A donation of £200.00 has been sent to this Project from St. Alban’s Charity Box.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

Currently we do not have sufficient offers of help and support to be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church

and will be struggling to fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre when the Covid restrictions are lifted.

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible

Thank you

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a donation of £40.00 for St. Patrick’s parish funds and for a donation of £100.00 to the Parish Lourdes Fund recently received.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Covid update

This week Professor Tim Spector in his weekly update, speaks of the danger of becoming complacent especially if we have been fully vaccinated, believing ourselves to be more protected than we actually are. He also suggests that the Delta variant is more transmissible outdoors than previous variants.

Respect for one another

We have lived through a lot since this pandemic started so let’s be kind and respect one another. Be aware of personal space and personal choice. Some people might not be ready to hug, kiss, shake hands or reduce social distance. Don’t assume what people are comfortable with. Instead, ask them and respect their personal choices.

Caring for you and our clergy in our churches

Bishop Robert has written the following note to the clergy this week: “I would like to remind clergy that, given the high transmission rates in the north east, Covid-19 restrictions in churches and parish halls remain in force in the Diocese. The Bishop’s Council will meet on 10th September and will receive advice from the Diocesan health and safety officer before deciding whether the current restrictions may be eased. I will advise you of the decision as soon as possible after that meeting. Until then no changes should be made in parishes.”

Anxiety about lockdown lifting

Some of you have shared with Fr. Patterson your concerns and fears about the lack of restrictions in society since 19th July. If you are still struggling, the following link might be helpful: How to cope with anxiety about lockdown lifting – Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk) . Unfortunately it is a rather large document which cannot be added to the printed edition of the Newsletter.

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 5 September 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 28 August 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 29 August 2021 Download

22nd Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

Bishop Robert has written to us this week with an update on the Covid restrictions in place in our churches. He writes:- “given the high transmission rates in the North East, Covid-19 restrictions in churches and parish halls remain in force in the Diocese. The Bishop’s Council will meet on 10th September and will receive advice from the Diocesan health and safety officer before deciding whether the current restrictions may be eased. I will advise you of the decision as soon as possible after that meeting. Until then no changes should be made in parishes.”

Thanks to the continuing generosity of our volunteer stewards St. Patrick’s Church will be open for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 5th September, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 3rd September between 5pm and 7pm.

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 29th August, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

Please keep in your prayers our parishioners who have recently contracted Covid-19 despite having had two doses of vaccine. Most have had mild symptoms, but some have been very poorly and two have had to be admitted to hospital; thankfully both have now returned home. It is a reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and that we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which don’t only affect ourselves, but impact on others too.

Please look after each other and pray for one another and may God bless you and keep you safe.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am. There will be no weekday Masses streamed until 1st September.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10 am on Sunday, Thursday and Friday this week. These Masses may also be viewed later from the same website.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – In Thanksgiving for prayers answered
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Jim McErlane
Wednesday – Special Intention (BH)
Thursday – Funeral Service for Mac Rae – by invitation only – Covid restrictions still apply in the church
Friday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
Sunday: 10.30 am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking advised

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
Fr. Michael Sharratt who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May he 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

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 132,243 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

A prayer for those who are afraid

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

The troubled World in which we live – a message from Cafod

As you will have seen in the news, a number of countries are facing significant crises at the moment. The people of Haiti are coping with a catastrophic earthquake and tropical storm; the people of Afghanistan are dealing with the shock of the rapid Taliban take-over of most of the country; and millions of people in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nigeria are facing extreme hunger. At the conclusion of the Angelus on the Feast of the Assumption, Pope Francis prayed for dialogue and peace in Afghanistan and the victims in Haiti’s earthquake.

At this grave time for our sisters and brothers in these countries, we would like to reassure you that Cafod is responding to these multiple crises. You can read more about how we can all express solidarity with our sisters and brothers affected by these emergencies on the Cafod website. Your compassion, generosity and prayers will help us to stand together and enable us to continue to support communities in these difficult times. Thank you.

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

The project organisers are grateful for the ongoing support that they have received during the pandemic but their stocks are running low and demand is increasing. At present the project is supporting on average 300 clients each week, who all receive a bag of food. 102 of them are destitute and also receive a supermarket voucher. The project organisers have been notified that new sites in Byker, Shieldfield and Grainger Town will introduce 400/500 new asylum seekers to the area as well as some Afghan refugees so the demand on the project resources and services will increase.

If you are able to bring donations of rice, sugar, biscuits and toiletries as well as tinned fish in oil and tins of tomatoes and chick peas to St. Patrick’s Church before Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays, they may be left on the table to your right as you enter the Church. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

Financial donations can be made by bank transfer to HSBC Sort Code 40-34-18. Account number 52854058 Account name DHN Destitute Asylum.

FIRST STEPS – Exploring the Catholic Faith Online

Are you wondering about your relationship with God and not sure where to start? Join us on a journey this Autumn and see if the Catholic Church can help your relationship grow. This may be the right path for you. It may even help you take the next steps towards becoming a member of the Catholic Church. We gather weekly via Zoom and invite you to come along to find out more. Starts Wednesday 22nd September at 7pm.

If you are interested to find out more, you can enquire/register using the Online Enquiry Form or email adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

For a child to be baptised in the Catholic Church, one parent must be a baptised Catholic.

To ensure that parents have a living awareness of the commitment having their child baptised entails, namely promising to bring their child up in the practice of the Catholic faith, they will be invited to attend a series of preparation sessions, after which they will decide, along with the priest, whether they should proceed with having their child baptized.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Covid update

Much is being said about having to learn to live with Covid long into the future, but that does not mean we should “bury our heads in the sand” and pretend that Covid has gone away and that we can live life as we please. Professor Tim Spector comments this week:-

Unfortunately, we’re back in a position where cases, hospitalisations and deaths are all going up and the UK has the highest rates of COVID in Europe, despite our superior vaccination rates. The main difference between the UK and Europe is our lack of restrictions. In many parts of Europe, people are still wearing face coverings and observing some social distancing. In the UK, where we eagerly declared ‘freedom’ from COVID and did away with even the most basic social measures, COVID has found an opportunity to spread. As children head back to the classrooms, there’s a good chance cases will continue to rise from here.

According to data from the ZOE COVID Study, fully vaccinated people now make up nearly 30% of positive cases and so it’s critical to be aware of the symptoms of COVID after vaccination. Our data shows post-vaccination infections are much more like a cold than the flu, with the top symptoms being runny nose, headache, sneezing, sore throat and loss of smell. We’re again calling on the government to add these cold-like symptoms to their list to help educate the public and catch more cases.”

His full update can be viewed via the Zoe YouTube channel.

Respect for one another

Caring for you in our churches

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 29 August 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 21 August 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 22 August 2021 Download

21^st Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

In the light of Bishop Robert’s instruction issued on 16th July, 2021, the wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for any celebration remain in place within St. Patrick’s Church until at least the end of August when the Bishop will review our situation.

I hope you will be understanding and accepting of the protocols you are asked to follow. It is important for us all to remember, Covid has not gone away! The Bishop is concerned for the well-being of everyone who attends our churches.

Thanks to the generosity of our volunteer stewards St. Patrick’s Church will be open for Mass on Tuesday at 10.00, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 29th August, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 27th August between 5pm – 7pm

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 22nd August, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

Please keep in your prayers our parishioners who have recently contracted Covid-19 despite having had two doses of vaccine. Thankfully, most have had mild symptoms, but some have been very poorly and two have had to be admitted to hospital. It is a reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and that we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which don’t only affect ourselves, but impact on others too.

Pope Francis urges us to get vaccinated.

In a video message, Pope Francis says:

“Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from Covid-19. They bring hope to end the pandemic but only if they are available to all and if we collaborate with one another.

Getting the vaccines that are authorised by the respective authorities is an act of love. And helping the majority of people to do so is an act of love. Love for oneself, love for our families and friends and love for all peoples. Love is also social and political. There is social love and political love, it is universal always overflowing with small individual gestures capable of transforming and improving societies. Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable.

I pray to God that each one of us can make his or her small gesture of love. No matter how small, love is always grand. Small gestures for a better future. God bless you. Thank you.”

Please look after each other and pray for one another and may God bless you and keep you safe.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am. There will be no weekday Masses streamed until 1st September.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Kathleen Harland
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Maurice Brown
Wednesday – In Thanksgiving (AB)
Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Brian Quigley
Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking advised

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly and Fr. Michael Sharratt who are ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Kathleen Harland and,
Fr. Bill O’Gorman who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May he 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

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 131,487 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure).

A prayer for those who are afraid

The troubled World in which we live – a message from Cafod

FIRST STEPS – Exploring the Catholic Faith Online

If you are interested to find out more, you can enquire/register using the Online Enquiry Form or email adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Following Bishop Robert’s decision to extend the Covid restrictions to at least the end of August, we are still unable to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

Things you need to know about having your child baptised

For a child to be baptised in the Catholic Church, one parent must be a baptised Catholic.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Why we should still follow Government advice and exercise caution in our life choices

A study conducted by Oxford researchers in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and the Department of Health and Social Care has discovered that vaccinated adults can harbour virus levels as high as unvaccinated people if infected with the Delta variant, which supports the idea that hitting the threshold for herd immunity is unlikely.

There is abundant evidence that Covid vaccines in the UK continue to offer significant protection against hospitalisations and death, but this new analysis shows that although being fully vaccinated means the risk of getting infected is lower, once infected by Delta a person can carry similar virus levels as unvaccinated people.

However, whilst vaccinations reduce the chance of getting COVID-19, they do not eliminate it. More importantly, data shows the potential for vaccinated individuals to still pass COVID-19 onto others, and the importance of testing and self-isolation to reduce transmission risk.

The implications of this on transmission remain unclear, the researchers have cautioned. “We don’t yet know how much transmission can happen from people who get Covid-19 after being vaccinated – for example, they may have high levels of virus for shorter periods of time,” said Sarah Walker, a professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at the University of Oxford. “But the fact that they can have high levels of virus suggests that people who aren’t yet vaccinated may not be as protected from the Delta variant as we hoped.”

Positive tests, hospitalisations and deaths linked to Covid have been rising slowly in the UK recently. In the week to 18 August, 211,238 people had a confirmed positive test result, an increase of 7.6% compared with the previous seven days. Over the same period, there have been 655 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, a rise of 7.9% versus the previous seven days. Hospitalisations have also risen slightly, with 5,623 going into hospital with coronavirus between 8 August 2021 and 14 August 2021, a rise of 4.3% compared with the previous seven days. This means it is essential for as many people as possible to get vaccinated – both in the UK and worldwide.’

The researchers also found that compared with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does have about 15% greater initial effectiveness against new infections, but the protection declines faster compared with two doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca. About four to five months after being fully vaccinated by either vaccine, the protection offered is relatively the same, said Walker.

The full report is available on the University of Oxford website.

ZOE Covid Study update

Professor Tim Spector has returned from holiday and presents this week’s video update from the Zoe Covid Study. This week he discusses how vaccine effectiveness is tracking over time, with some interesting results.

He reminds us that as well as the “classic symptoms” of Covid, (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell), there are more symptoms emerging, namely a headache accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a persistent cough. It may just be a summer cold, but check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. These kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use.

Respect for one another

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 22 August 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 14 August 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 8 August 2021 Download

The Feast of the Assumption

Dear Parishioners

The ongoing generosity of our volunteer stewards makes it possible to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 22nd August, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 20th August between 5 – 7 pm.

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

You will be encouraged 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. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list. If you have not pre-booked please bring your contact details in an envelope and place them in the box at the front of the church or give your details to the outside stewards. Alternatively you can use the QR Code displayed at the entrance to the Church using the NHS Covid App

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 15th August, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

There are a number of our parishioners who have recently contracted Covid-19 despite having had two doses of vaccine. Thankfully, most have had mild symptoms, but some have been very poorly and two have had to be admitted to hospital. Please keep them and all who are suffering in your prayers.

It is a reminder that Covid-19 is still in our community and that we should do all we can to be cautious in our everyday life choices which don’t only affect ourselves, but impact on others too.

We are not people of fear: we are people of courage. We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity. We are your people Lord, giving and loving, wherever we are, wherever you call us, whatever it costs, for as long as it takes.

Look after each other and pray for one another and may God bless you and keep you safe

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am. There will be no weekday Masses streamed until 1st September.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Isabella Taylor
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Special Intention (RK)
Wednesday – Dominic and Andrew Sloan
Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Friday – Morton Stott
Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
Sunday: 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking advisable

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is seriously ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially and’
and Fr. Bill O’Gorman who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May he 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

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 130,801 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure)

A prayer for those who are afraid

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

Bishop Robert has announced that a Year of the Eucharist will be celebrated in the Diocese starting on Sunday, 17th October. It will be launched at St Mary’s Cathedral and simultaneously with the launch of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. He has defined the aims of the Year of the Eucharist as:

To celebrate the Eucharist at the heart of the life and mission of the Church and to gather people back.
To grow as a Diocese in our love and appreciation of the Eucharist.
To deepen our appreciation of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist through the rites.
To revitalise and renew our faith through a deepening prayer and devotion of the Eucharist.
To go out and serve the world through the nourishment of the Eucharist.

The Year of the Eucharist will be celebrated in Episcopal Areas, Partnerships, Parishes and Schools and will provide a framework of prayer for the Diocese’s participation in the first stage of the Synod.

The Synod, to be held in Rome in 2023, will begin with a period of consultation and discernment from 17 October this year. The Synod, which is entitled ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission’, will involve consultation with all of the faithful across the world. For more information and the processes involved, please visit Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales (cbcew.org.uk)

The Sacrament of Baptism

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

For a child to be baptised in the Catholic Church, one parent must be a baptised Catholic.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

We are still in need of more volunteers

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible.

Donations received

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for two donations received this week. One of £200.00 and another of £100.00 for St. Patrick’s parish funds. Thank you.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Should I still wear a mask, social distance or get vaccinated?

Professor Tim Spector of the ZOE COVID Study comments:-

“If you are comfortable wearing your mask, we recommend doing so in crowded indoor settings, even if the people around you can’t be convinced to do the same. Even one mask in a group of people can reduce the risk of Covid spreading, protecting yourself and others.

Unfortunately, the Delta variant means that transmission is now easier than ever, and even a tiny droplet containing the virus can cause infection. As long as it’s properly worn, a mask helps to prevent you from breathing in airborne droplets from those around you, reducing the risk of catching the virus. It also helps protect others from whatever you’re breathing out, especially if you’re infected without knowing.

By cutting infections and transmission, we can protect unvaccinated and vulnerable people, as well as reducing the number of people developing long Covid. Covid-19 transmission is easiest in crowded, indoor areas, which is why we recommend wearing a mask in these situations, even if you have had both of your vaccines.”

The Office for National Statistics reports that a survey of around 5,000 households, conducted between 4th and 8th August revealed that 49% of adults say they always or often maintain social distancing – compared to 53% the previous week. The proportion of adults saying they wear face coverings outside of the home has fallen from 92% to 90%.

More people are meeting up indoors with others who aren’t in their household (up from 62% to 64%), but fewer people are meeting outdoors (down from 65% to 60%).

The ONS figures suggest that a high proportion of adults feel measures to slow the spread of the virus are important, and that 97% of people feel positively about the vaccine.

Fall in UK Covid cases stalls

According to ZOE COVID Study incidence figures, there are currently 45,911 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average, based on PCR and LFT test data from up to five days ago. This is only a slight fall from 46,905 new cases from last week, suggesting that the rate of decline has slowed down.

When divided by vaccination status it is estimated that among unvaccinated people in the UK there are currently 27,700 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID on average, this is a drop of 6.5% compared to last week (29,620). Comparatively there are currently 7,168 new daily symptomatic cases in partly vaccinated (1 dose) people and 11,043 new daily symptomatic cases in fully vaccinated people (2 doses).

Whilst the data indicates there are more cases in the fully vaccinated group, this is because there are now significantly more people in the population who are fully vaccinated compared to those who are not vaccinated or partially vaccinated.

ZOE Covid Study update

This week’s video update is presented by Jonathan Wolf, as Professor Tim Spector is taking some holiday. He explains that while we saw a steep drop in cases last week, this doesn’t seem to have continued and rates have been staying level over the last few days.

Remember too that there are more symptoms of Covid emerging, namely a headache accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a persistent cough. It may just be a summer cold, but check it out by taking a Lateral Flow Test. These kits are available from the local chemist, are free of charge and simple to use.

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 8 August 2021 Download

Parish newsletter

Posted on 7 August 2021 by admin

Parish newsletter 8 August 2021 Download

19^th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

Please remember that in the light of Bishop Robert’s instruction issued on 16th July, 2021, the wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing, cleaning the church after each celebration and the maximum capacity of 70 for any celebration remain in place within St. Patrick’s Church until at least the end of August when the Bishop will review our situation.

We thank our volunteer stewards for their generosity in making it possible to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 15th August, please telephone:

07526 232124

on Friday, 13th August between 5 pm – 7pm

This number will be unavailable outside of the above hours. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 8th August, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

If you can commit yourself to help in either church when all the Covid Restrictions have been removed, whenever that may be, please contact me as soon as possible.

In the meantime, keep safe and keep an ever watchful eye on each other. May God bless us all and continue to watch over us.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am. There will be no weekday Masses streamed until 1st September.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

Monday – Knock, Hughes and Kelly Families
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Lavinia and Alexander Henderson
Wednesday – Susan Harland
Thursday – Funeral Mass for Peter Crinnion – by invitation only – Covid restrictions apply in the Church
Friday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
Sunday: 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners —booking advisable

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us in Church, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:

Please keep in your prayers this week:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Kevin Daly who is seriously ill
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Wilfrid Knock and Lavinia Henderson and,
Peter Crinnion who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May he 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

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 130,178 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure).

A prayer for those who are afraid

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

To celebrate the Eucharist at the heart of the life and mission of the Church and to gather people back.
To grow as a Diocese in our love and appreciation of the Eucharist.
To deepen our appreciation of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist through the rites.
To revitalise and renew our faith through a deepening prayer and devotion of the Eucharist.
To go out and serve the world through the nourishment of the Eucharist.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

For a child to be baptised in the Catholic Church, one parent must be a baptised Catholic.

Please note that no date for baptism can be considered until the preparation is completed and the parents feel able to make the commitment the Church asks of them.

Community Counselling Service

This is a free confidential service. It is delivered by a team of dedicated, trained counsellors and strictly in line with national, professional Codes of Ethical Practice.

All referrals are treated with the utmost respect, confidentiality, compassion and care. To make a referral, please ring the Bheith Ann Referral Helpline on 07425 768 957. If you simply want more information about the Service and how it works, please ring Neil Campbell (Service Co-Ordinator) on 07903 239 983.

Donations received

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for two donations received this week of £40.00 and £10.00 for St. Patrick’s parish funds. Thank you.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

Should I still wear a mask?

Professor Tim Spector of the ZOE COVID Study comments:-

Many people have become used to wearing masks in public spaces, but others find them uncomfortable or difficult to wear, especially for long periods.

The government is encouraging people to exercise their common sense and personal responsibility, rather than enforcing mask-wearing by law. People have also asked whether there is any point in wearing a mask if everyone around you is unmasked.

If you are comfortable wearing your mask, we recommend doing so in crowded indoor settings, even if the people around you can’t be convinced to do the same. Even one mask in a group of people can reduce the risk of Covid spreading, protecting yourself and others.

Despite the lifting of restrictions and a return to relative normality, there are still tens of thousands of new cases every day, according to our data.

Thankfully, vaccines have successfully weakened the link between the number of cases and hospitalisations and deaths, with fewer people getting seriously ill with COVID-19. However, there’s still a risk of becoming infected, even if you’ve been double-jabbed. Although you’re unlikely to become seriously ill, you can still pass the virus on to others who are unvaccinated or less well protected by vaccination.

We’ve lived through a lot since this pandemic started so let’s be kind and respect one another. Be aware of personal space and personal choice. Some people might not be ready to hug, kiss, shake hands or reduce social distance. Don’t assume what people are comfortable with. Instead, ask them and respect their personal choices.

ZOE Covid Study update

From comments Fr. Patterson has received, many of you are appreciating the weekly update from the Zoe Covid Study. This week’s video is presented by Dr. Claire Steves, as Professor Tim Spector is taking some holiday. Her comments on “early symptoms” of Covid are worth a listen.

Parish News by Email

Parish newsletter 8 August 2021 Download