3rd Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
The rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine has been part of the headline news this week and a topic of conversation in our own community where I know some of you have “had your jab!”
The Bishops of England and Wales are encouraging Catholics to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus.
The development of a vaccine against Covid-19 presents an important breakthrough in protecting others as well as oneself from the virus; a virus which has not only caused a global pandemic and led to a huge loss of life but has also placed a great burden on healthcare workers and systems.
Speaking on behalf of the Bishops of England and Wales, Bishop Richard Moth, pointed out that each person has a duty to protect others from infection with its danger of serious illness, and for some, death. He noted that a vaccine is the most effective way to achieve this unless one decides to self-isolate and therefore Catholics may in good conscience receive any of the three vaccines for the good of others and themselves.
At the same time, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith recalls that “vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary.” The morality of vaccination, it notes, depends both on the duty to protect one’s own health and the pursuit of the common good. “In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed.” Those who for reasons of conscience reject vaccines must “do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behaviour, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent.”
In the light of the Bishops’ statement, I hope you will all feel able to accept the invitation to receive the vaccine when it is offered to you.
Please continue to look after each other and pray that the Lord will watch over us and keep us safe from harm.
May God bless you all
Fr. Patterson
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am and on weekdays at 12.05 pm. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.
Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 am on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Mass Intentions for the coming week
In keeping with the public health message that the movement and gathering of people should be minimised and that as many people as possible stay at home for the sake of health, life and the Common Good, St. Patrick’s Church will remain closed until the situation improves.
Fr. Patterson will continue to celebrate Mass privately each day. The following Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – Vin Blackwood
- Tuesday – Bishop Hugh Lindsay
- Wednesday – Peter Sloan
- Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Friday – Denis Patrick Lenehan
- Saturday – Fr. “P’s” Intentions
- Sunday – For the intentions of all our parishioners
As you are unable to celebrate Mass with him 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 this week:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- Fr. Paul McCourt and Fr. Kevin Daly who are currently unwell
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Bishop Hugh Lindsay, Vin Blackwood and Denis Patrick Lenehan and,
- Patricia Britton 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.
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.
Sunday of the Word of God
Pope Francis is encouraging us to devote this Sunday, 24th January to the Word of God, so that we can ‘experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world’ (from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis).
Fr Sean Hall has posted two talks on St Mark’s Gospel (about 12 minutes each) on the diocesan website. As we begin the Year of Mark, these resources may assist you to read the Sunday Gospel with greater insight. If you have the facility, you may view the talks on the YouTube channel here: Talk one and Talk two.
Holocaust Memorial Day
“Be the Light in the Darkness” is a film of remembrance, which will be available from 8.00 on Monday, 25th January to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme, ‘Be the light in the darkness,’ encourages everyone to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide.
This year, the Interreligious Department of the Diocese is releasing a film of remembrance as a resource for schools, and local parish communities. Bishop Robert offers further thought and reflection in remembering with sorrow the victims of the Holocaust, before lighting a candle as we remember the genocides and atrocities that have taking place in recent memory. We can all stand in solidarity. We can choose to be the light in the darkness in a variety of ways and places – at home, in public, and online. If you have the facility, you may wish to view this film of remembrance at Be the Light in the Darkness.
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.
Thank you
Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a Gift Aided donation of £40.00 recently received for St. Patrick’s parish funds.
Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed
Fr. Patterson wishes to thank you for your offerings during these difficult times. He is particularly grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by bank transfer which helps to meet the day to day financial commitments of our churches.
Whilst we are being urged to “Stay at Home,” it may not be wise to drop your envelopes through the presbytery letterbox, unless your daily exercise route happens to take you past the presbytery. Please be sensible. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.
The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
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
