23rd Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
It has been an eventful week for many of us.
Most of our children and young people returned to school to discover they had to adjust to a different environment and follow protocols which have been put in place for the safety and well-being of every member of the school community. Parents have had to adjust to new guidelines for taking their children to school and collecting them at the end of the day.
We were also able to open St. Patrick’s Church for the celebration of two Masses. The first on Tuesday morning and the second on Thursday evening. Parishioners too had to adjust to a very different environment and had to follow protocols which are in place for the safety and well-being of us all guided by our stewards. Despite the restrictions, both Masses were peaceful and prayerful occasions and I would like to thank those of you who contacted me afterwards to express your appreciation.
I also wish to thank all of our stewards who have committed their time to ensure that protocols laid down by the Government and the Bishops of England and Wales are adhered to by everyone – even me! Without their dedication we would not be able to open the Church or celebrate Mass together.
There is still a need for more volunteers. If you would like to help please contact me at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk. Training will be given. The requirements for volunteering are that you should not be in a vulnerable category.
Thanks to the agreement of our volunteer stewards, St. Patrick’s Church will be open for the celebration of Mass on Tuesday, 8th September at 10.00 and on Thursday evening, 10th September at 18.30. The Church will open 20 minutes before each Mass. Please do not arrive any earlier. There will be no need to book a place. Please bring a face covering and your name and contact telephone number in an envelope for test and trace purposes. These will be disposed of after 21 days.
We hope to be open for Mass the following week on Tuesday, 15th September and Thursday evening, 17th September, if all proceeds as planned.
We are taking small steps to adjust to the new protocols to ensure St. Patrick’s Church is a place of safety, health and well-being for everyone.
Please continue to look after and pray for one another and please pray for me.
May God bless you all.
Fr. Patterson
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 and on weekdays at 12.05. These services may be viewed live or anytime later at
Alternatively, you may like to follow daily Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 or which may also be viewed any time later.
Mass Intentions
With the exception of Tuesday and Thursday, when there is a public Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, I will continue to celebrate Mass privately each day. These Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – Denis Lenehan (SNR) and Margaret Lenehan
- Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Maureen Johnson
- Wednesday – Brian Quigley
- Thursday: 18.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – Austin and Vera Hughes
- Friday – Fr. “P’s” Intentions
- Saturday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Sunday – For the intentions of all our parishioners
When you are unable to celebrate Mass with me, 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 this week
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and,
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Maureen Johnson, Denis Lenehan (Snr) 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.
Should I come to church?
If you have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable you would have been advised to take extra precautions during the peak of the pandemic which is known as ‘shielding’. The government is advising that you do not need to shield at the moment, but if you are in this category, you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low, as outlined in HM Government Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid-19.
Some people, including those aged 70 and over, are described as being clinically vulnerable, meaning that they are at a higher risk of severe illness from the coronavirus. Individuals who fall within this group are advised to stay at home as much as possible and if they do go out, to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside their household.
If you fall into either of these categories, or if you feel unsure about returning to Mass, you need to consider the wisdom of doing so. Please remember, you are not obliged to attend Mass. Sunday obligation is suspended.
If you are feeling unwell or if you suspect that you have Covid-19, (high temperature, new persistent cough, lack of taste or smell) or if you are living with someone who has or is suspected of having Covid-19, you MUST self-isolate in accordance with HM Government guidance and contact the online 111 service to arrange for testing. You must not come to Church. It is also important to note, that while we will attempt to take all appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities to ensure our Church is Covid-19 safe, parishioners should understand that they assume the risk of contracting Covid-19 any time they enter a public space, since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection
What to expect when returning to Church
The Archdiocese of Liverpool have put together a video which gives us an idea of what to expect when you can return to Church.
Sunday Mass in St. Patrick’s Church
If all goes according to plan, we hope to be able to offer Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Sunday, 20th September. Mass will be at 10.30 – please note the change of time.
To maintain social distancing we are allowed a maximum of 70 people in the Church at any one time for a parish Mass.
Please note that any other services which we may be able to accommodate in the future, subject to the availability of stewards, will be limited to the current Government restrictions of a maximum of 30 people.
To ensure our capacity is not exceeded and to avoid having to turn anyone away, we will be adopting the Government and Diocesan Policy of introducing a Telephone booking system for you to reserve a place for Sunday Mass. It will be a dedicated telephone number and will only be available at certain times.
More information will be available in the Newsletter next weekend.
News from our School
We are back to school and we continue to keep you in our prayers and hope that you remember us in yours. Stay safe and keep well and we’ll keep you up-to-date with our news each week.
Your generous Offerings are greatly appreciated
Fr. Patterson continues to be so grateful to those parishioners who, in these financially challenging times, are able to make their weekly offering by bank transfer directly into the parish accounts and to those who have sent cheques.
He is also appreciative of those parishioners who have dropped their weekly offering envelopes through the presbytery letterbox This all helps to meet our day to day financial commitments.
However, for security reasons, please do not put any envelopes through St. Alban’s Presbytery door. Envelopes for St. Alban’s parish should be posted through St. Patrick’s Presbytery door only.
If you Gift Aid your offertory contributions, the parish can reclaim the tax on your offering should you wish to make a bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
If you choose to send a cheque please make it payable to the appropriate Account name below or you might wish to continue to put aside your envelopes each week and bring them along to church once we can reopen our doors.
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
Diocesan Website
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
