The Feast of the Epiphany
The following celebrations will take place during the days ahead:
- Saturday: (6 Jan) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Sunday: (7 Jan) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s: Rosie Cullen
- Tuesday: 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Lavinia Webber
- Thursday: 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Sadie Nelson
- Saturday: (13 Jan) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Sunday: (14 Jan) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s: In Thanksgiving (Linda)
- Tuesday: (16 Jan) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Norman Foster
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed 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 whose memories we cherish at this time especially Rosie Cullen and,
- George Burrell and Vono Wood who have died. May they rest in peace
We saw the star as it rose and have come to do the Lord homage
On the Feast of the Epiphany, we hear the account in the gospel of wise men from the east who observed the light of a new star and tried to discover meaning in this extraordinary event.
Wise men and women are still searching the heavens for a greater understanding of the mysteries of life. How did it all happen? Where did it all begin? Where are we all going?
But the wise men of the gospel associated their experience with an even deeper mystery: the entry into human history of a God who would be a king and who would suffer and die.
The prayerful attention of the wise ones can help us to discover the unfolding mystery of God’s purpose for each one of us. It is a mystery of love that has created us inlove, for love, to love: to love God, to love our fellow human beings and to love the world in which we live. If we are wise, we will sit up and take notice.
A Prayer for the troubled world
Prince of peace, in a world of conflict and violence
we pray that the peace you came to bring
may become a reality in the world of our own time.
Amen.
A Year of Prayer and a Jubilee Year to come
Pope Francis has called a Jubilee Year for 2025, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope’.
In preparation for the Jubilee Year, he has designated 2024 as a Year of Prayer, with a particular focus on the Our Father. This, he hopes will be a great opportunity to go back to the basics of prayer. He encourages every Catholic to reflect on their life of prayer: what they pray, how they pray and why they pray.
He speaks of “Prayer that comes from the heart, not like parrots. Prayer which renews our desire to be in the presence of the Lord, to listen to him and to adore him. Prayer which thanks God for the many gifts of his love for us and praises his work in creation, which summons everyone to respect it and take concrete and responsible steps to protect it.
The Pope speaks of Prayer that makes it possible for every man and woman in this world to turn to the one God and to reveal to him what lies hidden in the depths of their heart; of Prayer as the road to holiness, enabling us to be contemplative even in the midst of activity.
Pope Francis hopes that 2024 may be an intense year of prayer in which hearts are opened to receive the outpouring of God’s grace and to make the “Our Father,” the prayer Jesus taught us, the life programme of each of his disciples.
We hope to offer some opportunities to make this Year of Prayer special for St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s. Your ideas would be welcomed.
Joe’s Place
Joe’s Place is a project supported by the parishes of the John Ingram Partnership. It supports some of the many vulnerable people in the local area. It was founded in 2014 and takes place every Wednesday in the Parish Hall of St Joseph’s Church, Gateshead. Guests are served freshly prepared hot or cold food at their tables. Food is prepared in the kitchen using donated tinned and dried foods, together with fresh and frozen food purchased using donations from local schools, businesses, parishes, and individuals. During the past five years the parishes in the Partnership have made financial contributions to the project, according to their means, to help cover the cost of renting St. Joseph’s Hall and the cost of utilities. This coming year the proceeds of the Charity Box in St. Alban’s Church will go to Joe’s Place and a box at the front of St. Patrick’s Church marked “Joe’s Place” will be available for donations.
The Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project…….
…….which supports people who are seeking asylum in our area, continue to appeal for donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes, chick peas, toiletries and shampoo. If you feel able to support this project, donations may be left on the tables at the entrance to our churches and at our school.
All are welcome
Everyone is welcome to join us for our celebrations in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. It is a joy to welcome people of other faiths or none who 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.
Your offerings are our sole source of income
Although we do not take a collection at Mass by passing round a basket, we do hope you will feel able to make an offering towards the upkeep and running costs of our churches in one of the boxes you will find at the entrances to our churches. Alternatively you may consider making your offering by Standing Order the details of which are below.
For St. Alban’s: Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban: Sort code: 40-34-18 Account No: 92010984
For St. Patrick’s: Account name: DHN Felling St Patrick: Sort code: 40-34-18 Account No: 52010453
