16th Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
The world today is one in which hospitality needs to be more greatly shared.
It we look at our own cities and towns, we can see the loneliness that is so often to be found there, in those who may not see another person from day to day, week to week; and in the homeless people whom we may pass by on the street.
For many people, feelings of loneliness were experienced or exacerbated by the enforced isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Looking further afield, we can see the refugees leaving everything behind, fleeing war, oppression and suffering and there are the many thousands of displaced people desperate to find a place of welcome and safety. Wherever we look, there is a call to share and befriend. And what is often needed above all is a listening ear, to hear their stories. This call is a challenge for us, as it was for Martha in the gospel read in our churches this weekend. (Luke 10:38-42).
True hospitality lies in meeting the person whom we welcome. We need to learn to sit stilll with those we are called to care for, to listen to them and to let them know they are heard. Too often our fretting over “so many things”, as Jesus says, may get in the way of truly caring. But if we can keep love of and care for others central, our moments of generosity and hospitality will also be moments of meeting God.
May God bless you in all you do in his name.
Fr Patterson
Cases of Covid-19 rising
Covid cases in our country continue to rise with an estimated 1 in 19 people in England with Covid.
We still have a number of our parishioners who are poorly and 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 ask 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
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.
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.
Mass Intentions
Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. You may wish to wear a face covering when attending Church.
- Monday – No Mass
- Tuesday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Mass for Ronnie Brown
- Wednesday – (Private Mass) Celia Wraith
- Thursday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – Celebration Mass for our shared Parish Family and School
- Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr Dermott Donnelly
- Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – LDM Harbron and Foster Families
- 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:-
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Please keep in your prayers:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital.
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
- Fr Dermott Donnelly, (parish priest of Stanley, Dipton and Byermoor), Fr. Tom Burke (one of our retired priests) and Ronnie Brown who have died. May they rest in peace.
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
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, 17th July.
Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee?
A word of thanks
Joan Owens wish to thank St. Patrick’s parish family for the Mass cards, sympathy cards and condolences she received in her recent sad bereavement.
An opportunity to celebrate what makes us one
As we gradually “Learn to live with Covid,” and can continue to ease restrictions, Fr Patterson, wishes to extend an open invitation to all the parishioners from St Alban’s and St Patrick’s to a Celebration Mass with our school community, marking not only the end of the school year but the beginning of what we hope will be a brighter future drawing our shared parishes and school closer together in what are going to be challenging times ahead.
In order to accommodate everyone safely, which is an important consideration at present with the continuing rapid rise in the transmission of Covid in our area, and to be able to offer an invitation to our entire shared parish family, the Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, which has the larger capacity of our two churches and is well ventilated, which is still an important requirement of our Diocesan Covid controls.
With 1 in 19 people currently with Covid in the UK, Father Patterson asks that adults attending the Mass might consider wearing a face covering for the well-being of everyone present, especially those who are vulnerable – but this is a decision for each individual to make.
This Celebration Mass provides an opportunity to show our unity and solidarity as a shared parish and school community, resolving to work ever more closely together in the months and years ahead.
So please do make a special effort to come and celebrate this Mass on Thursday, 21st July, 2022 at 10am. You do not need to have family members in the school to attend, as we are all part of a much larger family which our shared churches and school represent – the Family of God – the Catholic Church!
John Ingram Walk
The Annual Blessed John Ingram Walk will take place next Sunday 24th July, starting at 2pm from St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Newgate Street in Newcastle. The route drops down to the river, crossing the Swing Bridge, then up “Bottle Bank” to Gateshead High Street, to St Edmund’s Anglican church, where a prayer service will be held, followed by refreshments.
An important message for those parishioners who are in the Gift Aid Scheme
If you are a tax payer and are already in the parish gift aid scheme for either St. Alban’s or St. Patrick’s, please ensure that you are making your offering either by standing order, bank transfer or using your offertory envelopes which you would have collected in March this year.
Please do not simply place a loose cash offering in the boxes at the church doors. This prevents us being able to record your offering for the Gift Aid scheme with the result that we will be unable to reclaim the tax on your offering. If you did not collect your envelopes for the current year and do not contribute by standing order please contact John the parish Gift Aid Organiser for both St Alban’s and St Patrick’s by emailing him at stpatrick.giftaid@outlook.com
Please note this information only applies to those parishioners who are tax payers and already members of the parish gift aid schemes.
Please consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order or Bank Transfer
With fewer volunteers prepared to join a “Counting Team” which has had the knock on effect of us having fewer counting teams in both St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s, it would be greatly appreciated if parishioners who have bank accounts would consider making their offering to either St. Alban’s or St. Patrick’s by Standing Order or Bank Transfer. The details you require to set up a standing order or bank transfer for both parishes can be found below.
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 St. Patrick’s Gift Aid organiser at stpatrick.giftaid@outlook.com
For the time being, enquiries concerning the Gift Aid scheme for St. Albans Church should be directed to Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.
Vigil Mass on Saturdays in St. Alban’s Church.
St Alban’s Church is now open for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm.
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.
If you are attending Mass in St. Alban’s Church, please note the following:-
- 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.
- You are invited to sanitise your hands as you enter the church
- You may wear a face covering during Mass
- Due to the low ceilings over the congregation, we must ensure adequate ventilation to help dilute and disperse viral particles. Both inner doors at the rear of the church will remain open throughout Mass (the outer doors will normally be closed) and the side windows will be open. Please dress accordingly as there may be a draught in some areas of the church.
- No collection will be taken during Mass, by way of passing baskets along the benches, but we do hope you will support our parish financially by placing your offering in the offering box as you enter the church. Alternatively you may consider contributing by standing order, the details for which are: Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984
St. Patrick’s Church needs more support from you
Fr. Patterson wishes to thank those parishioners who have already offered their support in various aspects of parish life, but it is insufficient to be able to rebuild our future.
We need more volunteers for the following:-
- preparing light refreshments in the parish centre after Sunday Mass
- joining the music ministry, whether as an instrumentalist or singer
- assisting with the children’s liturgy when we are in a position to restart it
- offering to help with the opening of the church for Mass and tidying up afterwards on weekdays
- reading at Mass on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays
The more support you give will make it less demanding on any individual or group/team. It is important that we should all play our part in helping to rebuild our shared parish family.
Please indicate your offer of support by emailing the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.
Current Diocesan COVID Controls
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, for the time being, continue to 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. At the end of Mass, you may leave at your leisure.
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.
Visit of Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski
Bishop Kenneth is the Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Great Britain. He will be visiting the Diocese on the weekend of 23rd -24th July and will speak at all the Masses at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Everyone will be very welcome to attend as a sign of our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
What do Catholics believe?
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. An information evening will take place on Tuesday, 6th September at 7pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter for more information.
These gatherings are open to everyone living in our Partnership of Parishes which includes, Corpus Christi, Bensham, Immacuate Heart, Lobley Hill, St. Alban’s, Pelaw, St. Anne’s, Harlow Green, St. Augustine’s, Leam Lane, St. Joseph’s, Gateshead, St. Mary’s, Whickham, St. Oswald’s, Wrekenton, St. Patrick’s, Felling, St. Peter’s, Low Fell, St. Philip Neri’s, Dunston, St. Wilfrid’s, Gateshead, The Holy Rosary, Teams and beyond. Wherever you live you will be most welcome.
Farewell to Fr. Keith
We will soon be saying farewell to Fr Keith Walker who will be leaving St. Peter’s, Low Fell and our Partnership in September.
He will be taking up a new appointment as parish priest of St. Gregory’s and St. Oswald’s, South Shields along with the Sacred Heart, Boldon. We thank him for his contributions to the Partnership over the years and wish him God’s blessing in his new ministry.
He will be replaced at St. Peter’s by Fr. Paul Spellman, a native of Newton Aycliffe, who is currently a priest in the Diocese of East Anglia but wishes to return to the North East to be closer to his family.
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.
ZOE Covid fortnightly update – 350,000 new Cases per week
This week, Professor Tim Spector reveals that for the first time ever, new daily COVID cases have exceeded 350,000 this week. Tim looks at why this is and who’s at highest risk of infection.
Data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you with 1 in 40 people having Covid in England.
