2nd Sunday of the Year
The following celebrations will take place during the days ahead.
- Saturday: (13th) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Sunday: (14th) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: In Thanksgiving (Linda)
- Tuesday: (16th) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Norman Foster
- Wednesday: (17th) 10am Funeral Mass for Vona Wood in St. Alban’s Church
- Thursday: (18th) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Bishop Hugh Lindsay
- Saturday: (20th) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: Peter Sloan
- Sunday: (21st) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Tuesday: (23rd) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s parish centre: George Owens
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 Annie Donald, Bishop Hugh Lindsay, Patsy Rafferty and Peter Sloan and’
- George Burrell and Vona Wood who have died. May they rest in peace. The Funeral Mass for George Burrell will take place in St. Augustine’s Church, Leam Lane on Friday, 19th January, 2024 at 10am.
Weekly Offering Envelopes for 2024/25 – Gift Aid Contributors
We will soon be ordering boxes of envelopes for the new year, beginning 1st April, 2023. These envelopes are becoming very expensive, so we would urge you, if you do not already do so, to consider making your offering by Standing Order. This not only reduces the cost on the parish and our carbon footprint, but also eases the burden on our limited teams of counters who count the collections.
The details you require to set up a Standing Order are set out 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
If you prefer an envelope please take note:
If you would prefer to continue to receive a box of envelopes for your Gift Aided contributions please place a note to that effect with your name and address in the collecting boxes at the front and back of our churches by next weekend, or email the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk as soon as possible. Thank you.
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.
Think Tank Meeting
Sorry, but Lent is just round the corner. Ash Wednesday is 14th February, 2024!
Fr. Patterson would like to invite all parishioners from St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s to a Think Tank meeting on Friday of this week, 19th January to discuss how we might celebrate Lent this year and “other things.” Everyone has something to offer, so please try to come to St. Patrick’s parish centre at 615pm.
We might also consider the item below on Pope Francis decision to make 2024 a “Year of Prayer.”
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.
Soup and Sandwich Lunch
During the cold weather a soup and sandwich lunch will replace the “Afternoon Tea.”
Why not join us in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Saturday, 27th January from the slightly earlier time of 1pm. This event is open to everyone from St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s, along with friends and neighbours.
Can you play a musical instrument?
If you would like to join St. Patrick’s musicians and help with the music at Sunday Mass, please speak to Jessica or Dylan whom you will find at the front of the church after Mass.
More parishioners would be welcome to join the very small singing group to help sustain the singing. If you are interested simply sit at the front of the church behind our musicians and “sing your heart out!”
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.
School News from Mrs Robinson
Happy New Year to you all in our parish churches of St Alban’s and St Patrick’s. The children have returned to school with enthusiasm and energy, full of exciting tales of their Christmas holidays. We look forward to meeting up with you during this spring term and continue to appreciate the prayers being offered for our school community.
Thank you
Father Patterson wishes to thank those families who attended the Advent Liturgies in St Alban’s Church and very generously donated £137.68. towards the running costs of our church.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
We had hoped to reintroduce the Children’s Liturgy this year but unfortunately there has been insufficient interest shown to do so at present.
However there are several children’s prayer books available for use during Mass in our churches. They may be found at the back of both churches. Parents and carers are invited to make use of these and help their children follow the Mass.
