Parish newsletter

Posted on 8 October 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 9 October 2022

28th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

True disciples of Jesus Christ live in an attitude of gratitude, not entitlement. They do not think of the blessings they have received as things they deserve or have earned. There are others with less blessings who are just as good and just as beloved as we are. When we live in gratitude, we understand that God has given us gifts to share with others.

Jesus heals all ten lepers in the gospel read in our churches this weekend, telling them that their faith was essential to this healing. They believe his word and are made clean. But nine of them don’t seem to realize that this healing is a gift from God. Only the Samaritan, who worships differently than the Jews, returns to give thanks.

In a similar way, it can be easy for us to forget that we receive gifts from God every day. We can take our faith for granted. We go to Mass without really thinking about what we are doing. We think that we are deserving of salvation because of the good things we do. But salvation is a free gift from God, it is not earned. So let us, like the leper who returned to give thanks, thank God for all he does for us every day.

May God bless us all.

Fr Patterson

An Information Evening focused on Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System

has been arranged by our Third World Group for this Thursday, 13th October at 6.30pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre when Mark Maughan, Cafod’s Community Participation Co-ordinator in the Diocese, will speak about Cafod’s current campaign to “Fix the Food system,” and share his experience of time he has recently spent in the Sudan.

All around the world, including here at home, families are finding it harder to put food on the table. In northern Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, four years of drought has resulted in twenty million people fighting for survival. Schools are closed and people are forced to keep moving to find places where food is available. Pope Francis reminds us that as Catholics we are called to care for the world’s most vulnerable people; it is our commitment to them that is a mark of our faith.

Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraising event!

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Gerard McCabe
Wednesday – (Private Mass) Private Intention
Thursday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Service for John Rutter
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Dermott Donnelly
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – Service of the Word with Holy Communion
Sunday: 10am0 in St. Patrick’s Church: Paul Hughes

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
John Rutter 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. Amen

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

Gracious God, as we remember before you all those people 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 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 Prayer for Ukraine

Father, hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart. Protect them from violence, political gamesmanship and from being used and abused. Give the nations of the world the courage and wisdom to stand up for justice and the courage to care generously. Take from us those traits that see us pursuing our own needs and wants before those of others. Teach us to live in love, dignity and respect, following your ways. We ask this in your name and for your sake. Amen

A Prayer for Prisoners’ Sunday

Father in Heaven, you sent your Son to bring light into the darkness of our hearts and minds. May his light shine upon the sinner, the prisoner, the suffering, and the outcast. We commend to your protection all who need that light today, especially those who are in prison, separated from their families and loved ones. We pray that, following your Son’s command, those who minister to prisoners, will be enlivened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Bring the light of Christ once more into all their lives, so that they may experience your love for them always.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass will be available every week from 2nd October

Thanks to a few more offers of help and the generosity of our existing volunteers, we will be able to offer refreshments in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass every Sunday commencing this Sunday, 2nd October, 2022.

There is always scope for more help, so if you would like to join the rota to make tea and coffee, please contact Maureen Hodgson.

What Catholics believe and why.

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which are taking place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings from 7pm. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023.

News from our School

Next Wednesday, 12th October, from 3.15pm – 5pm (weather permitting) we are holding a session for volunteers to carry out a few improvements to our school grounds and are calling on everyone in our School family to give of their time and talents to help. If you feel you don’t have a particular talent, your muscles, ideas or networking skills would be very much appreciated.

If anyone has links with local businesses who may be prepared to donate materials or expertise we’d be happy to hear from you. We are always very grateful for the generous response of our families and hope that you feel able to come and join in the ‘fun’. The more, the merrier!

If you can help, please telephone the school office on 0191 469 3251 to sign up or for further information.

Might God be calling you to be a priest?

The Vocations Team extends an invitation to men aged 18+, who might be thinking about a vocation the the Priesthood, to an enquirers evening. The evenings will take place at the Cloister Cafe, St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle, on: Tuesday, 25th October, 2022 and Tuesday, 6th December, 2022. The evenings start at 6pm with a period of prayer, talk/discussion, followed by a meal together, finishing around 8pm. If you would like to attend, or for more information, please contact the Vocations Promoter – Fr Shaun Purdy vocationspromoter@diocesehn.org.uk or by telephoning 01670 812 200.

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. In recent times, it has been a joy to welcome people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then consume immediately before returning to your place.

If you are not a Catholic or are indisposed to receive Holy Communion, you are invited to come forward at the appropriate time and receive a blessing, indicating your desire by folding an arm across your chest.

Paper £20.00 and £50.00 notes

As of last Friday, 30th September, the paper £20.00 and £50.00 notes cease to be legal tender. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not use them for your offerings.

Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

To relieve the pressure on our “Counting Teams” in both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s, it would be greatly appreciated if parishioners would consider making their offering to either St. Alban’s or St. Patrick’s by Standing Order. The details you require to set up a standing order can be found below. If you would like to help by join a counting team, please contact Terry or Christine Harbron for St. Alban’s or Maureen Hodgson for St. Patrick’s.

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

If you are a tax payer and are not a member of the parish gift aid scheme, please consider joining the scheme, it costs you nothing and the parish benefits by being able to reclaim the tax you have already paid on your offering. The parish receives 25p of every £1.00 you give from HMRC. All that is required, is for you to complete a simple form which does not involve you disclosing any personal financial information and is held securely by the Diocesan Finance Office. To obtain a form, or for more information, please email John, our Gift Aid organiser for both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s at stpatrick.giftaid@outlook.com.

St. Alban’s Church.

St. Alban’s Church is open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

Following Bishop Robert’s advice, with the current level of help we have available to us, and now with the rising cost of gas and electricity, the churchwill remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr. Patterson to continue to review the situation and meet with him later in the year.

At the same time, Fr. Patterson is exploring with our school the possibility of celebrating Mass on a Wednesday morning in St. Alban’s Room in the school which will enable parishioners and some of our children to come together for prayer. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter for more information.

Parking in our church car parks

Please remember that the Trustees of the Diocese cannot accept responsibility for injury, loss or damage to third party property, vehicles and their contents whilst left in the church car parks.

ZOE fortnightly update – Is it a cold, the flu or Covid?

In his video this week, Professor Tim Spector shares the latest on COVID rates namely that they’re rising again according to their Health Study data. He encourages everyone who is eligible to book a Covid Autumn Booster vaccination.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National Statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus has risen in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 1,105,400 , equating to 2.03% of the population, or around 1 in 50 people.

Please get vaccinated – Covid Autumn Booster and Flu Vaccinations are now being offered

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings. Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

A seasonal Covid-19 booster (autumn booster) for people aged 65 years old and over, frontline health and social care workers, those at higher risk or who are pregnant, and people who have or live with someone who has a weakened immune system can now be booked online at book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk) or by telephoning 119.

Download newsletter – 9 October 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 1 October 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 2 October 2022

27th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

The readings in church this weekend, are all about faith, particularly the importance of being bold and never being ashamed of “witnessing to the Lord”.

Faith is a persistent reaching out to Jesus and trusting in God’s power and authority. Faith is responding with love to forgiveness received, not letting fear get the upper hand, and being willing to take risks. Faith is giving praise to God, having confidence in God’s desire for justice and being willing to ask Jesus for what we need.

Throughout St. Luke’s Gospel, the closest followers of Jesus reveal their own mixed levels of faith. They have left homes and jobs and families in order to follow Jesus. It was not easy as they encountered hostility from many who opposed him. But they stayed with him , even for his final journey towards Jerusalem.

In the turmoil and fear of todays world, we can perhaps identify with the disciples when our faith wavers. It is easy to lose sight of God’s Spirit at work in the world. Yet when we nurture faith we become aware of being part of something vast and well intentioned that gives purpose to life, that leads us to seek beyond the horizons of our smallness to the hope that tomorrow will be better. Faith in God is the only ground we have for faith in ourselves, in humanity, in life.

May God bless us all.

Fr Patterson

Celebrate safely and with consideration for others in our churches.

Bishop Robert has written to all the parishes in the Diocese advising us that he has now lifted all the mandatory Diocesan Covid restrictions with the exception of receiving Holy Communion from the chalice which is still not permitted.

As a result, the wearing of face coverings and the use of hand sanitiser is entirely optional, although we would encourage the sanitising of hands on entering the church.

However if you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19, or any cold or flu like symptoms, you should stay at home.

The Government Document “Living with Covid-19” stresses the need to ventilate our buildings, which has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles

Whatever choices you make, please continue to be aware of others and remember we do not know who are deemed clinically vulnerable and who are not, so please respect those who may choose to continue to wear a face covering. Our “welcomers” will always be on hand to greet you and care for you.

What Catholics believe and why.

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which are taking place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings from 7pm. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023.

Mass Intentions

Fr Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – George Owens
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Private Intention
Thursday – No Mass
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Joe Park
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Brian Quigley

Please note there will be no Mass on Thursday. As one of the Diocesan Consultors, Fr Patterson will be attending a meeting of the Consultors with Bishop Robert.

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Brian Quigley

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

Family Fast Day Prayer

God of abundance, you entrust to our care your gift of creation, our common home. Open our ears to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. God of justice, you show us how to live in gratitude and solidarity. Open our mouths to speak out, challenging greed and inequality, and standing up for all among us in desperate need of food. God of hope, you share with us your vision of a world renewed. Open our hearts to compassion. As we hold before you the people of East Africa, may we reach out in love. Amen

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass will be available every week from 2nd October

Thanks to a few more offers of help and the generosity of our existing volunteers, we will be able to offer refreshments in St Patrick’s parish centre after Mass every Sunday commencing this Sunday, 2nd October, 2022.

There is always scope for more help, so if you would like to join the rota to make tea and coffee, please contact Maureen Hodgson.

Family Fast day

Friday of this coming week, 4th October is Family Fast Day.

Fr. Patterson is very much aware of the demands made on your generosity during the past few months with recent appeals which raised :- for Afghanistan £200.00, for Ukraine £315.00 and Pakistan £45.00 from St Alban’s and St Patrick’s.

Should you wish to support the Family Fast Day Appeal you may place your donation in one of the collecting boxes at the entrance to our churches in an envelope marked Family Fast. Alternatively you may choose to give you time and come along to:

An Information Evening focused on Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System which has been arranged by our Third World Group on Thursday, 13th October at 18.30 in St. Patrick’s parish centre when Mark Maughan, Cafod’s Community Participation Co-ordinator in the Diocese, will speak about Cafod’s current campaign to “Fix the Food system,” and share his experience of time he has recently spent in the Sudan.

Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraising event!

Hello and Goodbye!

We welcome to our Partnership Fr Paul Spellman who has arrived at St Peter’s, Low Fell replacing Fr. Keith Walker who has moved to St Gregory’s, South Shields. We wish them both God’s blessing in their new ministries.

Paper £20.00 and £50.00 notes

As of last Friday, 30th September, the paper £20.00 and £50.00 notes cease to be legal tender. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not use them for your offerings.

Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St Alban’s and St Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may, should you choose to do so, wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass. The choice is yours to make.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

News from our School

Hello again to all families, friends and parishioners at our parish churches of St Alban’s and St Patrick’s – it has certainly been a while since we published our news in the Parish Newsletter so it feels good to reach out and say hello.

School has settled into familiar rhythms this autumn term and we have welcomed new families into our Nursery and Reception classes as well as into our toddler group, “Little Saints.” We are keen to keep in touch throughout the year and get together whenever we can to pray and celebrate, so we’ll be in touch and hopefully see you soon.

St. Alban’s Church.

St Alban’s Church is open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

Following Bishop Robert’s advice, with the current level of help we have available to us, and now with the rising cost of gas and electricity, the churchwill remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr Patterson to continue to review the situation and meet with him later in the year.

At the same time, Fr Patterson is exploring with our school the possibility of celebrating Mass on a Wednesday morning in St Alban’s Room in the school which will enable parishioners and some of our children to come together for prayer. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter for more information.

Parking in our church car parks

Please remember that the Trustees of the Diocese cannot accept responsibility for injury, loss or damage to third party property, vehicles and their contents whilst left in the church car parks.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

The Zoe update occurs once every two weeks.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National Statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues continues to rise in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 857,400 , equating to 1.57% of the population, or around 1 in 65 people.

Please get vaccinated – Covid Autumn Booster and Flu Vaccinations are now being offered

Download newsletter – 2 October 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 24 September 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 25 September 2022

26th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

This weekend in our churches we will hear the parable of the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus. Its message is timeless and was reflected in the homily of Archbishop Welby during the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth.

The Archbishop said:- “The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory.

Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed. In 1953 the Queen began her Coronation with silent prayer… Here at the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her. Her service to so many people had its foundation in her following Christ.

People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten.”

So let us return to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in which we heard how when the poor man died he was carried away by the angels; when the rich man died – he was buried.

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St Patrick’s and St Alban’s churches. In recent times, it has been a joy to welcome those people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

What Catholics believe and why

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which are taking place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings from 7pm. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023.

Mass Intentions

Fr Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St Patrick’s Church – Dorothy Diamond
Wednesday – (Private Mass) Elizabeth Curry
Thursday: 10am in St Patrick’s Church – Norah, Albert and Brendan Lagan
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Richard Harriott
Saturday: 6pm in St Alban’s Church – Kathleen Harland
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Dorothy Diamond.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer for the Season of Creation

Father, Lord of all creation, we praise you with all your creatures and the whole universe that comes forth from the work of Your hands. We acknowledge the privilege and responsibility that You give us as stewards of Your creation. In our ignorance we have done damage to our common home and our brothers and sisters are suffering.

Through faithfully following your Son guide and direct us to prepare for a better future. Teach us to contemplate You in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of You. Give us the grace to recognise, respect and protect all You have created, using wisely all that you have entrusted to us.

Holy Spirit, who first hovered over the dawn of creation and drew order out of the chaos, help us to build your kingdom of justice, love, peace and beauty where the poor of the earth are crying out. You, who live and reign, world without end, Amen.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass will be available every week from 2nd October

There is always scope for more help, so if you would like to join the rota to make tea and coffee, please contact contact Maureen Hodgson.

The Relics of St Bernadette

The Relics of St Bernadette, which are journeying on pilgrimage through England, Scotland, and Wales offering opportunities for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal for people to experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes, will be brought to St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle from 11.00 next Saturday 1st October until 11.00 on Sunday 2nd October. Registration must be made to gain access to the Cathedral. For further information, please visit Registration – St Bernadette

To incorporate the services during the visit of the Relic of St Bernadette to St Mary’s Cathedral, it has been necessary to rearrange some of the prebooked time slots. This will avoid lengthier queues and ensure a more prayerful and dignified experience. If you have booked, please take note of the changes which are published on the Cathedral website Cathedral Church of St Mary (stmaryscathedral.org.uk)

Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System – An Information Evening

Our Third World Group invite you to an information evening, presented by Mark Maughan, Cafod’s Community Participation Co-ordinator in the Diocese, who will speak about Cafod’s current campaign to “Fix the Food system,” and share his experience of time he has recently spent in the Sudan.

Mark will be coming to St. Patrick’ parish centre on Thursday, 13th October at 6.30pm. We do hope you may feel able to join him and fellow parishioners in a Covid safe environment. Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraising event!

The Apostleship of the Sea….

…..invite you to join a webinar on Tuesday, 27th September, from 7.30pm to 9pm in which they talk about the issue of seafarer abandonment, and how the donations you give on Sea Sunday are supporting those in crisis. If you would like to join the webinar, please register in advance at www.stellamaris.org.uk/abandonment

Paper £20.00 notes

The paper £20.00 note will cease to be legal tender after 30th September, 2022. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not use them for your offerings after that date.

Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St Alban’s and St Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may, should you choose to do so, wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass. The choice is yours to make.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

St. Alban’s Church.

St. Alban’s Church is now open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

Following Bishop Robert’s advice with the current level of help we have available to us, we are only able to open the church on a Saturday evening. For the time being, it will remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr. Patterson to review the situation after the summer to assess the level of need and support.

ZOE fortnightly update – Covid cases starting to rise again

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National Statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus has risen in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 766,500 , equating to 1.41% of the population, or around 1 in 70 people.

Please get vaccinated – Covid Autumn Booster and Flu Vaccinations are now being offered

Download newsletter – 25 September 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 17 September 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 18 September 2022

25th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

In 2013, the first year of his pontificate, Pope Francis published an Apostolic Exhortation on the joy of the Gospel entitled ‘Evangelii Gaudium’. In it, he encouraged Christian people to “embark on a new chapter of evangelisation” marked by this joy, whilst striving to find new paths to proclaim the Gospel in today’s world.

He wrote: “We cannot forget that evangelisation is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. Many of these people are quietly seeking God. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone.

So, Pope Francis calls on the Church to embark on a fundamental change of direction when it comes to evangelisation, no longer relying on past structures and actions but to read the signs of the times and act passionately in proclaiming the unique message of the Gospel that brings joy to all people who receive it with an open heart.

He says: “I dream of a ‘missionary option’, that is, capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.”

The Bishops invite us to pray for the work of the Church that the faith we give witness to in our churches and in our lives, may grow ever stronger in our local communities leading others to discover a loving and compassionate Lord in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

May God bless us all

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. In recent times, it has been a joy to welcome those people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

What Catholics believe and why.

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which are taking place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings from 7pm. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023.

Felling Male Voice Choir and the Tyneside A Cappella Choir Concert

These two choirs will be coming to St. Patrick’s Church for a Concert on Saturday, 24th September from 6:30pm – 9pm. Tickets priced at £8.00. are now available to purchase after Mass in both churches.

Mass Intentions

Fr Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Sonia Donald
Wednesday – (Private Mass) Fr. Michael McCoy
Thursday: 10am St. Patrick’s Church – Special Intention (LJ)
Friday: (Private Mass) – Private Intention
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Joan Makepeace

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

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

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer for the Season of Creation

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Home Mission Sunday

This weekend the Bishops of England and Wales invite those of you who wish to do so to contribute towards the work of those who support the Bishops’ Conference in their work for the Church’s mission here at home. If you wish, you may place an offering in an envelope marked Home “Mission Sunday” and deposit it in one of the collection boxes at the entrances to our churches. Those of you with boxes of envelopes will have an envelope in your box. More information can be found at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/what-is-evangelii-gaudium-sunday/

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 18th September.

Currently, we can only offer refreshments on the first and third Sunday of the month due to a shortage of volunteers.

Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee on a more regular basis? If so, contact Maureen Hodgson.

The Relics of St Bernadette

In September and October this year, the Relics of St Bernadette will journey on pilgrimage through England, Scotland, and Wales offering opportunities for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal for people to experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes. “By inviting us to venerate the mortal remains of the saints, the Church does not forget that, in the end, these are indeed just human remains, but they are remains that belonged to individuals touched by the transcendent power of God. The relics of the saints are traces of that invisible but real presence which sheds light upon the shadows of the world and reveals the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst.” (Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI)

The relics will be brought to St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle from 11am on Saturday 1st October until 11am on Sunday 2nd October. Registration must be made to gain access to the Cathedral. For further information, please visit Registration – St Bernadette

Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System – An Information Evening

Mark will be coming to St. Patrick’ parish centre on Thursday, 13th October at 6.30pm. We do hope you may feel able to join him and fellow parishioners in a Covid safe environment. Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraising event!

Pakistan Floods Appeal

Record monsoon rains and flash flooding across Pakistan has killed at least 1,100 people so far, with millions more displaced from their homes. Roads, crops, homes and bridges have all been washed away, in a situation described by Pakistan’s climate change minister Shery Rehman as ‘a climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions.’ Cafod have launched an appeal to assist the people of Pakistan in their time of need. Should you wish to support their appeal you may make a donation on line. Alternatively you may place a donation in an envelope marked “Pakistan Appeal” and leave it in one of the boxes at the entrance to our churches.

Paper £20.00 notes

The paper £20.00 note will cease to be legal tender after 30th September, 2022. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not use them for your offerings after that date.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Bishop Robert has issued the following statement following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen has been a role model for many, in her constancy to service and her commitment to Christian faith and values, living those values throughout her life. Notably at the young age of twenty one, Queen Elizabeth made her solemn vow to serve the Nation and Commonwealth throughout her life – an inspirational act of vocation and commitment.

Queen Elizabeth has represented stability throughout her reign and was this country’s longest serving monarch. Although this is a time of very great sorrow, it is also time for gratitude, for a life well lived in duty and in service. We pray for the repose of her soul. May she rest in peace.

Our prayers and thoughts are also with our new Monarch, His Majesty King Charles III. We pray that King Charles will be guided by the message of Jesus Christ to have the strength to carry on the vital role of the monarch to ensure stable government and national unity.

A prayer for the repose of Her Majesty the Queen

Almighty God, you are the author and sustainer of all human life;
grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen, whom you granted a long and happy reign
as monarch of these lands may be forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life
promised to all those born again in the water of baptism and power of your Spirit.
Eternal rest, grant to her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

A prayer for the Royal Family

Almighty God, source of all consolation, we pray for the members of the Royal Family who mourn the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Uphold them in your love and pour out on them the consolation of your healing Spirit. Let them find in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, comfort in their sadness, certainty in their doubt and courage to live through this hour. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for the King

O God, to whom every human power is subject,
grant to your servant His Majesty the King, wisdom in the exercise of his high office,
so that always revering to you and striving to please you,
he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care
the freedom that comes from unity and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 8pm on Sunday, 18th September and be marked by a one-minute silence. The silence can be marked privately at home, with friends and family, out on doorsteps or the street with neighbours, or at locally arranged community events and vigils. Community groups, clubs and other organisations across the country are encouraged to take part and people overseas are also encouraged to observe the one-minute silence at 8pm local time. National Moment of Reflection – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may, should you choose to do so, wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass. The choice is yours to make.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

St. Alban’s Church.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

The Zoe update occurs once every two weeks.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to decrease in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 705,800 , equating to 1.29% of the population, or around 1 in 75 people.

Please get vaccinated – Covid Autumn Booster and Flu Vaccinations are now being offered

Download newsletter – 18 September 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 10 September 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 11 September 2022

24th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

This weekend the Church in England and Wales celebrates Education Sunday, offering an opportunity for us to pray for all involved in Catholic education, to celebrate the achievements of the past and to ask the Lord to bless the work of the year ahead.

Jesus teaches us: “If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31,32).

The enterprise of Catholic education, whether in the home, school, college or university, is built on the belief that it is God our Father who enlightens the eyes of our minds. Through his gift of grace, he enables us to discover him and come into a relationship with him in Christ, the one source of all truth and freedom. For truth enlightens our intelligence and shapes our freedom, leading us to know and love God.

Pray for our school community as it launches out into a new year under the guidance of Mrs Lisa Stokoe, our new executive head teacher, supported by our dedicated staff.

Heavenly Father, you know our every need and will not let us wander far from your love.
On this Education Sunday, we pray especially for all those involved in education in any way,
especially those who are feeling a little lost or uncertain for whatever reason.
Bless the children, young people and adults who are starting out on their next phase of learning and inspire all those who help them on their journey. Amen

May God bless us all

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

What do Catholics believe and why – an Introduction evening this week

Why not come along to an information evening this Tuesday, 13th September at 7pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday: No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Damian Lagan
Wednesday: (Private Mass) Fr Ronnie Richmond
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Gerard McCabe
Friday: (Private Mass) – Private Intention
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – William and Elizabeth Pearson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially William Pearson.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer for the Season of Creation

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Education Sunday

This Sunday, 11th September, is a day on which Catholics are encouraged to reflect on the Church’s enormous contribution in this country to Catholic Education and to pray for all those involved in it. The Catholic Education Service (CES) is the agency of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales charged with safeguarding and promoting our remarkable network of successful Catholic schools. The CES represents Catholic Education to the Government, Ofsted and other national bodies to ensure Catholic schools are empowered to flourish.

Should you wish to support the work of the Catholic Education Service in England and Wales, please place your offering in an envelope marked “Catholic Education” and deposit it in one of the boxes at the entrances to our churches next weekend. Parishioners who have a boxed set of envelopes should have an envelope in your box.

The Society for the Protection of the Unborn

This society have formed a Gateshead branch and invite interested parties to their first meeting in St Joseph’s Presbytery, High West Street, Gateshead on Wednesday, 14 September from 7pm – 8.30pm. You would be welcome to attend.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will next be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass next Sunday, 18th September.

Currently, we can only offer refreshments on the first and third Sunday of the month due to a shortage of volunteers. Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee on a more regular basis? If so, contact Maureen Hodgson.

Felling Male Voice Choir and the Tyneside A Cappella Choir Concert

These two choirs will be coming to St. Patrick’s Church for a Concert on Saturday, 24th September from 6.30pm – 9pm. It will be an all ticket event. Tickets cost £8.00.

We have been allocated twenty tickets for our parishioners which are now available to purchase after Mass in both churches.

The Relics of St Bernadette

Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System – An Information Evening

Mark will be coming to St. Patrick’ parish centre on Thursday, 13th October at 6.30pm. We do hope you may feel able to join him and fellow parishioners in a Covid safe environment. Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraising event!

Connected Voice – cost of living

Connected voice offer information and support from a range of organisations for anyone who needs help with cost of living issue.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

The Bishops of England and Wales offer the following prayers following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

For the repose of Her Majesty the Queen

Almighty God, you are the author and sustainer of all human life;
grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen,
whom you granted a long and happy reign as monarch of these lands
may be forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life promised to all
those born again in the water of baptism and power of your Spirit.
Eternal rest, grant to her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

Prayer for the Royal Family

Prayer for the King

O God, to whom every human power is subject, grant to your servant His Majesty the King, wisdom in the exercise of his high office, so that always revering to you and striving to please you, he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care the freedom that comes from unity and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has issued the following statement :

On 21 April 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’ Now, seventy-five years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration. Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence, because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity. In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’

This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith. Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation. Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace.

We pray for His Majesty the King, as he assumes his new office even as he mourns his mother. God save the King.

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you

St. Alban’s Church.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

The Zoe update occurs once every two weeks.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics has not been published in this time of National Mourning following the death of Her Late Majesty the Queen. The Zoe Study suggests 1 in 44 people currently have Covid with an estimated 112,816 new daily cases in the UK.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download newsletter – 11 September 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 3 September 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 4 September 2022

23rd Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

From 1st September to 4th October, 2022 we celebrate a special time of prayer and reflection to grow in our awareness of the beauty of God’s Creation.

Pope Francis calls on us, during this Season of Creation, to ‘Listen to the voice of creation,’ the sweet song in praise of our Creator, alongside the plea lamenting our mistreatment of our common home

It is a special time for all Christians to pray and work together to care for one another and for our planet.

Exposed to the climate crisis, the poor feel even more gravely the impact of the drought, flooding, hurricanes and heat waves that are becoming ever more intense and frequent. Our brothers and sisters of the native peoples are crying out. as a result of predatory economic interests which are invading their ancestral lands. Finally, there is the plea of our children. Feeling menaced by shortsighted and selfish actions, today’s young people are crying out, anxiously asking all adults to do everything possible to prevent, or at least limit, the collapse of our planet’s ecosystems.

Listening to these anguished cries, we must repent and modify our lifestyles and destructive systems.

May God bless us all

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

Felling Male Voice Choir and the Tyneside A Cappella Choir Concert

These two choirs will be coming to St. Patrick’s Church for a Concert on Saturday, 24th September from 6.30pm – 9pm.

It will be an all ticket event. Tickets cost £8.00. We have been allocated twenty tickets for our parishioners which are now available to purchase after Mass in both churches.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Fr. Tom Burke
Wednesday – (Private Mass) Elizabeth Curry
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church: Denis Lenehan and Margaret Lenehan
Friday: (Private Mass)- Fr Bill O’Gorman
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – Brian Grace Snr and Brian Grace Jnr
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital.
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Maureen Johnson and Denis Lenehan.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer for the Season of Creation

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 4th September.

What do Catholics believe and why?

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which will take place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings. Why not come along to an information evening on 13th September at 19.00 in St. Patrick’s parish centre for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have. If you need more information please contact Alan on 07976402023 or, if you know a priest, you may wish to have a quick word with him too.

A stay in Hospital

If you or any members of your family are going into hospital and would like to see the Catholic Chaplain, please ask a member of the ward staff to contact the Catholic Chaplain. Alternatively you can contact the Chaplaincy Department Office directly. For the Queen Elizabeth Hospital telephone 0191 445 2072 (Catholic Chaplain: Rev Paul Nichol). For the RVI and Freeman Hospitals in Newcastle telephone 0191 233 6161 (Catholic Chaplain: Fr Mariadass 0191 273 3903).

In an emergency, please ask the ward sister to contact the on call Catholic chaplain. Please do not contact your own parish priest who will be unable to respond due to current hospital protocols.

An evening to reflect on how we love our neighbour!

All around the world, including here at home, families are finding it harder to put food on the table.

In northern Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, four years of drought has resulted in twenty million people fighting for survival. Schools are closed and people are forced to keep moving to find places where food is available. Pope Francis reminds us that as Catholics we are called to care for the world’s most vulnerable people; it is our commitment to them that is a mark of our faith.

Our Third World Group have invited Mark Maughan, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator in the Diocese, to come and talk to us about Cafod’s campaign to “Fix the Food System” and share his experience of time spent in the Sudan to help us grow in our awareness of the plight of our brothers and sisters throughout the world and what we might do to help them.

Mark will be coming to St Patrick’s parish centre on Thursday, 13th October at 6.30pm. We hope you may feel able to join him and fellow parishioners. Please note this is an awareness evening and not a fundraiser!

The Society for the Protection of the Unborn

This society have formed a Gateshead branch and invite interested parties to their first meeting in St. Joseph’s Presbytery, High West Street, Gateshead on Wednesday, 14 September from 19.00– 20.30. You would be welcome to attend.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Are you able to support the Diocesan Refugee Project?

The organisers of this project express their renewed thanks for your ongoing support of their work. The project supports over 400 asylum seekers and tries to provide them all with a bag of food. Those who are destitute also receive a supermarket voucher. Donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes and chick peas may be left on the table to your right as you enter the front of St. Patrick’s Church or on any table if you enter by the rear door. A basket is also available in the porch at St. Alban’s. They are particularly in need of toiletries and shampoo. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

The Diocesan Emmaus Bereavement Support Service

Whilst family and friends can be immensely supportive in coping with a bereavement, sometimes a bereaved person may wish to talk to someone outside of their immediate circle. The Emmaus Bereavement Support Team, trained in the Ministry of Consolation, is available to support those who wish to talk about their loss. As the post-Covid restrictions have eased, support can now be offered face to face. The Emmaus Bereavement Support Service number is 07732 980740 – please leave your name and number and a member of the team will get in touch with you.

Education Sunday

Next Sunday, 11th September, is a day on which Catholics are encouraged to reflect on the Church’s enormous contribution in this country to Catholic Education and to pray for all those involved in it. The Catholic Education Service (CES) is the agency of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales charged with safeguarding and promoting our remarkable network of successful Catholic schools. The CES represents Catholic Education to the Government, Ofsted and other national bodies to ensure Catholic schools are empowered to flourish.

The Relics of St Bernadette

Might God be calling you to be a priest?

Connected Voice – cost of living

Connected voice offer information and support from a range of organisations for anyone who needs help with cost of living issue.

The Parish Newsletter by email

Could you help to offset the cost of printing paper copies of the Newsletter by having it sent to you by email? Many of you have been receiving it electronically throughout the pandemic and continue to do so. If you do not already receive it in this way and would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please send your request to felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and you will be added to our contact list. The Newsletter may also be found on our parish website.

A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches, on the days they are open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you

St. Alban’s Church.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

The Zoe update occurs once every two weeks.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to decrease in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 893,300 , equating to 1.64% of the population, or around 1 in 60 people.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download newsletter – 4 September 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 27 August 2022 by admin

Download Newsletter – 28 August 2022

22nd Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

So often we live fragmented and compartmentalised lives.

We have a work life, school life, family and home life, internet life, recreational life, political and civic life, church life.

This fragmentation allows us to place each of those different aspects of our life as the priority depending on where we are, who we are with, and what we are doing.

Jesus teaching changes all that. He tells us there can be only one priority and it is to inform and shape the whole of who we are and what we do on him.

It means we are to be the same person with the same values, principles, and beliefs regardless of where we are, who we are with, or what we are doing.

It means everything we say, do, choose and are arises from and reveals our life in and love of Christ

May God bless you all

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

Felling Male Voice Choir and the Tyneside A Cappella Choir Concert

These two choirs will be coming to St. Patrick’s Church for a Concert on Saturday, 24th September from 6.30 pm – 9 pm.

It will be an all ticket event. Tickets cost £8.00.

We have been allocated twenty tickets for our parishioners which are now available to purchase after Mass in both churches. Tickets will initially be restricted to two per household on a first come, first served basis. Further tickets may become available nearer to the Concert. Tickets are also available from both Choirs.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Brian Quigley
Wednesday – (Private Mass) John Donald
Thursday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – In Thanksgiving (AC)
Friday: (Private Mass )- Father Richard Harriott
Saturday: 18.00 in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Maureen Johnson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

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

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

The Relics of St Bernadette

The relics will be brought to St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle from 11.00 on Saturday 1st October until 11.00 on Sunday 2nd October. Registration must be made to gain access to the Cathedral. For further information, please visit Registration – St Bernadette

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Holy Island Pilgrimage

Cafod are organising a Pilgrimage to Holy Island on Saturday, 3rd September inviting pilgrims to reflect on global food systems. Pilgrims are invited to meet at the Island’s Causeway at 11.00. Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church at 15.00 departing the Island at 16.00. For more information email Mark Maughan at mmaughan@cafod.org.uk.

A stay in Hospital

In an emergency, please ask the ward sister to contact the on call Catholic chaplain. Please do not contact your own parish priest who will be unable to respond due to current hospital protocols.

What do Catholics believe and why?

Please note change of date for the introductory meeting

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which will take place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm for around one hour 15 minutes. Topics covered look at the history of the Church, the Bible, the Sacraments of the Church and prayer. You will have the opportunity to suggest any areas that you would like to know more about.

Please feel free to come along to an information evening on 13th September at 7 pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have. If you need any more information please contact Alan on 07976402023 or, if you know a priest, you may wish to have a quick word with him too.

The Diocesan Emmaus Bereavement Support Service

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will next be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass on Sunday, 4th September.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you

St. Alban’s Church.

St. Alban’s Church is now open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6 pm. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

ZOE fortnightly update – Covid cases continue to decline

In his video this week, Professor Tim Spector discusses the polio detection in London sewers and how worried we should be about it, the ZOE Blood Pressure Study and the initial results, the latest COVID data on rates as well as which symptoms have reduced the most over the last month now that Omicron BA.5 is dominant. He also discusses the COVID drug Evusheld and the UK goverment’s decision to retract its use.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to decrease in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 1,211,100 , equating to 2.22% of the population, or around 1 in 45 people.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download newsletter – 28 August 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 20 August 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 21 August 2022

21^st Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

The easiest way to get lost is to join a great crowd of people who seem to know where they are going. The crowd can make us feel safe, but crowds can get lost too. More worryingly, they might be going to the wrong place for us. Yet we won’t feel lost, because we are surrounded by so many people, and we don’t have to make any decisions for ourselves.

Jesus speaks to the crowds in the Gospels, but they don’t listen. It is the few individuals whom he encounters who seem prepared to change their lives.

This is why personal prayer is important for us, for we are called to take personal responsibility for the choices we make in life. We need to be one of the people who stand before Christ and look for our salvation from him. After that we may have companions on the way.

What must I do now? What choices must I make now? What is my next step? These questions may not always have an answer. In which case, we simply need to wait in prayer. It will soon become clear enough for us to be able to answer those questions and to take another step forward.

May God bless you all

Fr Patterson

All are welcome

Felling Male Voice Choir and the Tyneside A Cappella Choir Concert

These two choirs will be coming to St. Patrick’s Church for a Concert on Saturday, 24th September from 6.30 pm – 9 pm. It will be an all ticket event. Tickets are priced at £8.00. St. Patrick’s have been allocated a small number of tickets which should be available to purchase from the Church in the near future. Watch the Newsletter for more news.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10 am in St Patrick’s Church – Joan Neil
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Private Intention
Thursday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Maurice Brown
Friday: (Private Mass) – Father Peter Smith
Saturday: 6 pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Jessica D’Silva

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

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

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

The Relics of St Bernadette

The relics will be brought to St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle from 11 am on Saturday 1st October until 11 am on Sunday 2nd October. Registration must be made to gain access to the Cathedral. For further information, please visit Registration – St Bernadette.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 21st August.

Holy Island Pilgrimage

Cafod are organising a Pilgrimage to Holy Island on Saturday, 3rd September inviting pilgrims to reflect on global food systems. Pilgrims are invited to meet at the Island’s Causeway at 11 am. Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church at 3 pm departing the Island at 4 pm. For more information email Mark Maughan at mmaughan@cafod.org.uk.

Get the Universe Catholic Weekly FREE

This is an introductory offer for four weeks and can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet.

If you enjoy the online paper, after four weeks you would be invited to take out a quarterly subscription (13 wks) for £20.00. Order your FREE introductory offer now by telephoning Michelle on 0743 661 7650 or email sales@universecatholicweekly.co.uk or visit https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/subscribe

A stay in Hospital

In an emergency, please ask the ward sister to contact the on call Catholic chaplain. Please do not contact your own parish priest who will be unable to respond due to current hospital protocols.

What do Catholics believe and why?

If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which will take place in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm for around one hour 15 minutes. Topics covered look at the history of the Church, the Bible, the Sacraments of the Church and prayer. You will have the opportunity to suggest any areas that you would like to know more about.

Please feel free to come along to an information evening on 6th September at 19.00 in St. Patrick’s parish centre for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have. If you need any more information please contact Alan on 07976402023 or, if you know a priest, you may wish to have a quick word with him too.

Connected Voice – cost of living

Connected voice offer information and support from a range of organisations for anyone who needs help with cost of living issue.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you

St. Alban’s Church.

St. Alban’s Church is now open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6 pm. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

The Zoe update occurs once every two weeks.

Updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to decrease in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 1,432,900 , equating to 2.63% of the population, or around 1 in 40 people.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download newsletter – 21 August 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 13 August 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 14 August 2022

The Feast of the Assumption

Dear Parishioners

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption.

We know almost nothing about Mary’s life apart from a few small appearances she makes in the gospels. What we do know, is that from the moment of Mary’s conception to the moment she returned to God, her life was sacred. She had a unique relationship with God.

Through the centuries the Church has given her countless titles. In popular piety her statue is carried in procession in every culture and time. Millions of people make pilgrimages to places of prayer where Mary has been reported to have appeared. Yet none of these titles, processions or pilgrimages even begin to capture her life. We cannot understand the relationship she had with God; we cannot ever know the loneliness, fears, doubts, joys and sorrows she carried in her heart.

It is enough that we do what Elizabeth did; simply and humbly honour her as “the mother of our Lord.”

May God bless you all

Fr Patterson

Cases of Covid-19 continue to decrease, but they are still high

Covid cases in our country continue to decline but are still high with an estimated 1 in 26 people in England with Covid. The number of people being admitted to hospital also continues to decrease.

There are still a small number of our parishioners, known to Fr Patterson, who are poorly with Covid-19, so wearing a face covering in church at the moment would be greatly appreciated out of consideration for our more vulnerable parishioners – but the choice is yours to make. We do still encourage everyone to use the hand gel on entering the church and to be sensitive to sitting too close to someone who is already in the bench you enter. We have plenty of space.

All are welcome

Mass Intentions

Fr Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Isabella Taylor
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Father Dermott Donnelly
Thursday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Knock, Hughes and Kelly Families
Friday: (Private Mass) – Father Michael Sharratt
Saturday: 6 pm in St. Alban’s Church – Peter Coyne
Sunday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and,
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Lavinia Henderson.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer of consecration to Mary on the Feast of the Assumption

O Mother of Jesus, and my Mother, let me dwell with you, cling to you and love you with ever-increasing love. I promise the honour, love and trust of a child. Give me a mother’s protection, for I need your watchful care. You know better than any other the thoughts and desires of your Son. Keep constantly before my mind the same thoughts, the same desires, that my heart may be filled with zeal for the interests of your divine Son. Instill in me a love of all that is noble, that I may no longer be easily turned to selfishness. Help me, dearest Mother, to acquire the virtues that God wants of me: to forget myself always, to work solely for him, without fear of sacrifice. I shall always rely on your help to be what Jesus wants me to be. I am his; I am yours, my good Mother! Give me each day your holy and maternal blessing until my last evening on earth when, I pray you will present me to Jesus in heaven, there to love and bless you and your divine Son for all eternity.

(St. John Henry Newman)

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St Patrick’s parish centre after Mass next Sunday, 21st August.

Holy Island Pilgrimage

Caford are organising a Pilgrimage to Holy Island on Saturday, 3rd September inviting pilgrims to reflect on global food systems. Pilgrims are invited to meet at the Island’s Causeway at 11.00. Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church at 15.00 departing the Island at 16.00. For more information email Mark Maughan at mmaughan@cafod.org.uk.

Are you able to support the Diocesan Refugee Project?

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

A stay in Hospital

In an emergency, please ask the ward sister to contact the on call Catholic chaplain. Please do not contact your own parish priest who will be unable to respond due to current hospital protocols.

What do Catholics believe and why?

The programme would involve meeting on Tuesday evenings in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre, Felling at 7 pm for around one hour 15 minutes. These gatherings are held in school term times avoiding the holiday periods and are friendly and informal. Topics look at the history of the Church, the Bible, the Sacraments of the Church and prayer. You will have the opportunity to suggest any areas that you would like to know more about.

If, during the programme, participants decide that they would like to be received into the Catholic Church, time will be taken to look more closely at the Sacraments of Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.

Please feel free to come along to an information evening on 6th September at 7 pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have. If you need any more information please contact Alan on 07976402023 or, if you know a priest, you may wish to have a quick word with him too.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you

St Alban’s Church

St. Alban’s Church is now open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 18.00. Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. Following advice from the Diocesan Health and Safety Officer, the side door should only be used as an emergency exit.

ZOE fortnightly update – Covid cases continue to decline but are still high

Professor Tim Spector’s latest video, recorded while on holiday in France, explores the latest news and rates on monkeypox, as well as the plummeting daily COVID cases, the most recently recorded COVID symptoms, and data on hypertension .

The updated symptoms of Omicron may be found on the BBC website.

The Data collection method from the Office of National statistics is being revised and a new report will not be available until next week. However it is estimated that 1 in 26 people currently have Covid in England.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download newsletter – 14 August 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 6 August 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 7 August 2022

19^th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

The Antiques Roadshow is a popular television series where people bring their family treasures to be valued by experts in antiques. The expert encourages them to tell the story behind the object, for what they are bringing is often not just an artistic treasure but part of the story of their family history.

At the end of the interview, the expert comments on the object in terms of its antique or artistic value and then estimates its monetary value. Sometimes there is shock and amazement that an old object that has gathered dust for years is worth huge sums of money. Sometimes there is disappointment that what was thought to be worth a fortune is, in fact, virtually worthless.

But often the owner says that whatever the object’s worth, they would not sell it because its value is beyond price. It holds precious memories of childhood, or of a beloved relative now long gone. Few people are prepared to sell what is precious to them in such terms. We cannot think of cherished memories of loving relationships or of our family sense of identity in terms of money, which tells us something important about who we are made to be as human beings.

May God bless you all

Fr Patterson

Cases of Covid-19 continue to decrease, but they are still high

Covid cases in our country are in decline but still high with an estimated 1 in 25 people in England with Covid. The number of people being admitted to hospital has also started to decrease.

We still have a number of our parishioners who are poorly with Covid-19 and are self isolating. As a result, wearing a face covering in church at the moment would be greatly appreciated out of consideration for our more vulnerable parishioners. We do still encourage everyone to use the hand gel on entering the church and to be sensitive to sitting too close to someone who is already in the bench you enter. They may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up to them.”

All are welcome

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday all Masses and Services are open to everyone to attend.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Mass for Peter Coyne
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Joan Earl
Thursday: 10.30 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Mass for Joan Neil
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr Wilf Elkin
Saturday: 6 pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Lavinia and Alexander Henderson and Janet Bowman

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

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

Please keep in your prayers:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Lavinia Henderson and Wilfrid Knock and,
Joan Neil and Peter Coyne who have died. May they rest in peace.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for Ukraine

A Prayer for Grand Parents and the Elderly

I give thanks to you, Lord, For the blessing of a long life. For, to those who take refuge in You, grant always to bear fruit. Forgive, O Lord, resignation and disillusionment, but forsake me not when my strength declines. Teach me to look with hope to the future you give me, to the mission you entrust to me and to sing your praises without end. Guard with love my grandchildren and all the little ones who seek shelter in you. Protect, O Lord, Pope Francis and grant thy Church to deliver the world from loneliness. Direct our steps in the way of peace. Amen.

A Prayer for People facing uncertainty

God of the present moment who, in Jesus, stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart, bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty. Bring them hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead. Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 7th August.

Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee?

The Relics of St Bernadette

Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844 in Lourdes. She was one of eight children born into a very poor family. Her life would inspire generations of people to journey in faith on pilgrimage to Lourdes, for between 11th February and 16th July 1858, Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary eighteen times in a series of Apparitions that took place in cave now known as the Grotto of Massabielle. The Apparitions were authenticated in 1866 by the Bishop of Tarbes. In that same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to live out her religious vocation within the community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers where she died in 1879. She was proclaimed blessed in 1925, and a became a saint in 1933.

What do Catholics believe and why?

The programme would involve meeting on Tuesday evenings in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre, Felling at 19.00 for around one hour 15 minutes. These gatherings are held in school term times avoiding the holiday periods and are very informal. Topics look at the history of the Church, the Bible, the Sacraments of the Church and prayer. You will have the opportunity to suggest any areas that you would like to know more about.

If, during the course of the programme, participants decide that they would like to be received into the Catholic Church, time will be taken to look more closely at the Sacraments of Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.

Paper £20.00 notes

The paper £20.00 note will cease to be legal tender after 30th September, 2022. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not use them for your offerings after that date.

Do you want to help? Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order

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

Celebrate safely in our churches.

Both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s churches continue to follow the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Our “welcomers” will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

St. Alban’s Church.

Following Bishop Robert’s advice with the current level of help we have available to us, we are only able to open the church on a Saturday evening. For the time being, it will remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr Patterson to review the situation after the summer to assess the level of need and support.

ZOE Covid update and this weeks data from the Office of National Statistics

Latest Zoe update.

The updated symptoms of Omicron.

This weeks data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you, showing the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to decrease in England where the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 2,106,000 , equating to 3.86% of the population, or around 1 in 25 people.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

Download parish newsletter – 7 August 2022