18th Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is perhaps one of the best-loved Christmas stories ever written. Whilst it does not refer directly to the original Christmas story it takes as its central theme the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to all.
In the course of one night, the miser Scrooge is subjected to visitations from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. These experiences put Scrooge in touch with the bright young man he once was, the terrifyingly destructive person he has become and the devastation that lies ahead both for him and for others if he does not change his ways.
When he awakes he emerges as someone who is now full of joy and kindness. His ghostly guides have put him in touch with his deeper and inner self. The new Scrooge becomes a symbol of how we should live in generous concern both for our families and for our neighbours and colleagues. Where there was meanness there is now openness, penny-pinching is replaced by extravagance, and disdain is replaced by delight.
This message, echoed in the readings this weekend, is particularly relevant as we struggle to make ends meet.
May God bless you all
Fr Patterson
Cases of Covid-19 begin to decrease, but they are still high
Covid cases in our country are in decline but still high with an estimated 1 in 20 people in England with Covid. There is an increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital too.
We also 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
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. 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: Ellen Farrell
- Wednesday: (Private Mass) Brian Quigley
- Thursday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church: Funeral Service for Louise Synnott
- Friday: (Private Mass): Fr. Ronnie Richmond
- Saturday: 6 pm in St. Alban’s Church: For the intentions of all our parishioners
- Sunday: 10 am in St. Patrick’s Church: George Owens
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,
- Louise Synnott, Catherine Hall, Joan Neil and Peter Coyne 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
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.
St. Alban’s Church Cleaning
We would value your help to clean St. Alban’s Church this Friday, 5th August at 10.00. Simply come to the church where all cleaning materials will be provided for you.
Refreshments after Mass
Refreshments will next be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass next Sunday, 7th August.
Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee?
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.
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.
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. An information evening will be held on Tuesday, 6th September at 7 pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre.
We plan to meet most 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 allowing participants to discuss various topics and explore their thoughts and feelings in a open, non-judgemental way. 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.
Please feel free to come along to the information evening on 6th September 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
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
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.
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 fortnightly update – Covid cases in decline but still high
This week, Professor Tim Spector Talks about monkeypox and why the World Health Organisation has declared it the latest global health emergency. He’s also provides the latest updates on COVID rates and symptoms .
The updated symptoms of Omicron may be found on the BBC website.
Data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you with 1 in 20 people having 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.
