Dear Parishioners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

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

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

Mass Intentions for the coming week

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

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

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

Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

Please keep in your prayers this week:

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

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.

A time to pray

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

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are afraid

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

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

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

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

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

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

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

Bishop Robert  Barron addresses the issue of returning to Mass.

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

The Mystery of the Mass

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

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

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

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

Community Counselling Service

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

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

St. Patrick’s Boundary Wall.

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

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

Electrical Inspection

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

The Sacrament of Baptism

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are still in need of more volunteers

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

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

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

The details for bank transfers/standing orders and cheques are as follows:-

St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453

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

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

Zoe Covid weekly update

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

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

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.

29th Sunday of the Year

28th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view online

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

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

Mass Intentions for the coming week

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

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

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

Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

Please keep in your prayers this week:

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

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.

A time to pray

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

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are afraid

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

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

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

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

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

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

The Catholic Universe

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

Diocesan Year of the Eucharist

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

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

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

Assisted Dying Bill

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

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

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

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

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

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

The Sacrament of Baptism

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are still in need of more volunteers

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

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

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

The details for bank transfers/standing orders and cheques are as follows:-

St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453

Annual Insurance Premiums

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

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

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

Zoe Covid weekly update

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

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

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.

24th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

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

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

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

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

07526  232124

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

Please note the change of time

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

You will be encouraged to provide your name and telephone number for the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

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

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

Mass Intentions for the coming week

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

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

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

Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions .

Please keep in your prayers this week:

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

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.

A time to pray

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

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are afraid

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

A prayer for the people of Afghanistan

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

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

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

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

Parking your car

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

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

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

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

Explore Sycamore

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

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

Assisted Dying Bill

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

The Sacrament of Baptism

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

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

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

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

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

Things you need to know about having your child baptised.

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

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

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

We are still in need of more volunteers

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

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

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

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

An Appeal from our Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project

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

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

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

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

The details for bank transfers and cheques are as follows:

St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453

Zoe Covid weekly update

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

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

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.

21^st Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

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

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

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

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

07526  232124

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pope Francis urges us to get vaccinated.

In a video message, Pope Francis says:

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

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

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

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

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

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

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

Mass Intentions for the coming week

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

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

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

Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

Please keep in your prayers this week:

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

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.

A time to pray

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

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are afraid

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

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

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

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

FIRST STEPS – Exploring the Catholic Faith Online

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

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

The Sacrament of Baptism

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

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

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

Things you need to know about having your child baptised

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

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

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

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

We are still in need of more volunteers

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

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

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

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

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

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

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

The details for bank transfers and cheques are as follows:

St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ZOE Covid Study update

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

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

Respect for one another

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

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.