30th Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
During the course of the week, the minister for crime and policing, Kit Malthouse, said England’s three alert categories involve some “complexity” and recommended people go online to look up the measures.
He said everyone has an “individual duty towards collective public health.”
Mr Malthouse told BBC Breakfast that most people were complying with the rules.
“There’s plenty of information out there on the internet where people can go and inform themselves about what the regulations are in their area and that fundamentally is what we would recommend everybody has to do,” he said.
At the same time, we should be passing on the news to those who have no access to the internet.
“We all need to recognise we have an individual duty towards our collective health and that means informing ourselves about what the regulations are in our area and complying with the rules.”
Please continue to look after each other, keep washing your hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and do try to keep at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with and help reduce the spread of the virus.
Pray for one another and please pray for me.
May God bless you and keep you safe from harm
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 – Joan Makepeace
- Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Father White
- Wednesday – Sheila Robinson
- Thursday: 18.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – George and Mary Hodgson
- 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
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially George Hodgson and Fr. White and,
- Kathleen Dolan who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May she be taken up into glory with your Son in whose great mystery of love we are all united. Amen.”
Due to the current restrictions a private family Funeral Mass was celebrated for Kathleen in St. Patrick’s Church last Friday.
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 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 the Government Guidance.
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 arrange for testing. You must not come to Church.
Please 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.
Mass in St. Patrick’s Church amidst the local Restrictions
Given the number of coronavirus cases in our locality and the local restrictions imposed upon us, Father Patterson, after seeking advice from the Diocese and others, does not think it prudent to introduce an additional (Sunday) Mass in St. Patrick’s until the local situation improves. Sunday obligation is still suspended.
With the continuing support of our volunteer stewards, whom Fr. Patterson wishes to thank, we will continue to celebrate Mass on Tuesdays at 10.00 and Thursdays at 18.30, unless additional measures are imposed which may prevent us from doing so.
On leaving the Church
Local Restrictions emphasise that we should not socialise outside of the Church after Mass but disperse immediately. I urge those of you who come to Mass to follow this advice and in doing so set an example for others to follow.
Parish finances and offerings
Fr. Patterson renews his thanks to those parishioners who, in these financially challenging times, regularly contribute to parish funds, which helps to meet the day to day financial commitments of our churches.
He is appreciative of those parishioners who are bringing their weekly offering envelopes to Mass or choose to drop them through the presbytery letterbox. Parishioners are also able to make their offering by bank transfer directly into the parish accounts or by cheque; the details of the accounts are below.
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.
Alternatively, you might wish to put aside your envelopes each week and bring them along to church when you feel able to come.
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
News from our School
We are sending you all our best wishes as we break up for a half term holiday this week. The children and staff have worked really hard since the start of term, even during these unusual and socially distanced times. We hope you are all keeping safe and staying well and we’ll keep you updated with any school news during next half term. God bless
Weekly offering envelopes
Several parishioners did not collect their new weekly offering envelopes before the lockdown in March. These are available for you to collect from Church after Mass on Tuesday or Thursday evening this coming week.
Parish News by Email
If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.
Printed copies of the Parish Newsletter are available at 10.00 Mass on Tuesday mornings.
Mass Offerings
If you would like to have Mass offered for any particular intention, Fr. Patterson would be happy to celebrate it for you privately.
You may bring your intention along to Mass and leave it in the box at the front of the Church or drop your intention and offering through the letterbox of St. Patrick’s Presbytery. Alternatively, you may place it in the post with a cheque, or you may email your intention to Fr. Patterson and send your offering by bank transfer.
For security reasons, please do not put any intentions or offerings through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.
Rosary Rally
On Saturday, 31st October, 2020, the Diocese will be taking part in a National Rosary Rally, with different dioceses from across the country. Our Diocese will host the Rally from 16.00 – 17.00, when Bishop Robert will lead the rosary which will be live streamed from the Cathedral.
Are you interested in becoming a Catholic?
Because of the restrictions surrounding coronavirus, we are unable to offer our own “in house” information evenings for people who would like to know more about what Catholics believe, possibly with a view to becoming a member of the Catholic Church.
The Diocese is offering a series of hour long online sessions for enquirers. To register, or to find out more please email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk
The Great Adventure: Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible
Many people want to read the Bible because they know it is God’s Word, but they give up because it seems so complicated. Unlocking the “Mystery of the Bible” helps you to get the ‘big picture’ of the Bible by showing how fourteen narrative books of the Bible tell the complete story from Adam and Eve to Christ and the Church.
A new, free, online course is starting in the Autumn and will run across 8 sessions during November 2020 and February 2021. To register or for more information, please email adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.
Protect your loved ones. Download the NHS Covid-19 App
If you have downloaded the NHS App, it may be used to register your track and trace details when coming to Mass in St. Patrick’s Church. Simply scan the QR Code which is displayed in the Church and is specific to St. Patrick’s Church only. Please have your phone ready and the App open before entering the Church so that you do not create a “pinch point” by having to search for your phone in your pocket or bag.
Should you choose to “sign in” using the App, you should leave your phone switched on whilst you are in the Church, but please ensure it is in silent mode!
You may of course continue to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place it in the box at the front of the Church. The choice is yours to make.
Those who choose not to download the App or are unable to, should continue to bring their Test and Trace details in the usual way by means of an envelope.
Diocesan Website
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
