3rd Sunday of Easter
Dear Parishioners
As I mentioned last week, following the removal of the restriction to “Stay at Home” on 29th March, and thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, we are now able to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesdays at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, as well as on a Sunday at 10.30 am when booking will be required. Parishioners are welcome to attend both Masses.
Unfortunately a Private Funeral Service will prevent us from being able to celebrate Mass on Tuesday of this coming week, 20th April.
To reserve a place for Mass on Sunday, 25th April, please telephone
07526 232124
on Wednesday, 21st April between 10 – 11 am or 5 – 6 pm.
or Friday, 23rd April between 5.30 – 7 pm
Please note the change in the booking time on Wednesday
This number will be unavailable outside of the above times. Bookings cannot be made via the presbytery telephone number nor by email and can only be made for the approaching Sunday and not for any other dates. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.
You will be asked to provide your name and telephone number to comply with the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. Under the current restrictions you must only sit with members of your own household or bubble and not mix with people from other households. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list.
Please remember you are under no obligation to attend Mass. The Sunday obligation is still suspended. You should not come to Church if you are experiencing any signs of Covid-19 or feeling unwell in any way.
In the weeks and months ahead it is still important to look after one another, to comply with the restrictions and to pray that the Lord will continue to watch over us and keep us safe.
Lord God, keep us under the shadow of your protection
during this time of pandemic. Sustain and support the anxious
and fearful and lift up all who are brought low
so that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord.
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
With the exception of Sunday, I will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions:
- Monday – Kathleen and Bill Falconer
- Tuesday – Private Funeral Service
- Wednesday – Jack Durham
- Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Friday – Private Funeral Mass
- Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
- Sunday: 10.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking is necessary
When you are unable to celebrate Mass with me 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.
In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.
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 Paul Hughes and,
- Canon Michael McCoy and Jim Connolly who have died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the souls of your servants whom you have called from this life. May they be taken up into glory with your Son in whose great mystery of love we are all united. Amen.”
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.
A time to pray
Please join together in prayer for the 127,225 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure).
Gracious God, as we remember before you
the thousands who have died from the coronavirus,
surround us and all who mourn with your compassion.
Be gentle with us in our grief,
protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere
and face the future with hope. We make this prayer
in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.
What do you believe? An Evening with Fr. Stephen Wang
Fr. Stephen Wang is the author of Sycamore, a programme that has grown into a resource being used throughout the world.
The Diocesan Vicariate for Faith & Mission are pleased to welcome Fr. Stephen Wang to our Diocese on Wednesday, 21st April from 7 – 8 pm for a virtual conversation about how we can make genuine human connections, share our Catholic faith and reach out for a real sense of community with a spirit of friendship. Booking is essential; please register online.
The Bookshop at St Mary’s Cathedral
The Bookshop has reopened on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am – 3 pm, on Saturdays from 9.45 am – 3pm and on a Sunday from 8.30 am to 1pm. Check the Cathedral website to confirm opening times.
Roadmap Step 2 (from 12 April)
These are the changes that came into effect on 12th April
- More businesses will open, but indoor settings should be visited alone, or with household groups.
- Outside, six people or two households can meet. We are still not permitted to meet indoors before 17th May at the earliest.
- All shops are allowed to open.
- Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can open.
- Restaurants and pubs are allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors.
- Gyms and spas can reopen, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres.
- Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation.
- Weddings – up to 15 people; Funerals – up to 30 people, with 15 at wakes.
- Children may attend any indoor children’s activity.
- Care home visitors will increase to two per resident.
- Driving lessons can resume, with driving tests restarting on 22 April.
Vaccines alone will not stop Covid spreading
Many of us are hoping vaccines against coronavirus will be our route out of lockdown, enabling us to reclaim our old lives. But scientists say jabs alone will not currently be enough and other measures are still needed.
Vaccines are widely regarded as the most powerful weapon in our Covid-19 armoury. Some are more than 90% effective and prevent people getting sick and dying with the disease. But no vaccine is ever 100% and there is a chance we might catch the virus or pass it on even after our jab.
Widespread testing can find people carrying the virus who are unaware they have it, but rapid turnaround, or lateral flow tests are imperfect and can miss some cases.
Contact tracing systems track down people who have been in close contact with a positive case, to advise them to isolate. But such schemes need to be fast and reach between 80%-100% of contacts to work effectively. Most countries advise people who suspect or know they have Covid to stay at home and avoid others. Some also require travellers to quarantine. But some people do not follow this advice or are unable to do so.
Masks and face coverings can block virus droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. But even the highest-grade masks still let some virus through. Masks also need to be worn correctly and used by enough people to make a difference.
Keeping 2m (6ft) away from someone reduces the chance of the virus passing on. But we can still catch it even from further away. Fresh air cuts the risk of infection and the ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can destroy virus left on surfaces, but the risk outside is not reduced to zero. The chance of catching the virus increases in areas that are poorly ventilated. The greater the airflow, the lower the risk, but the danger is still there. Good hygiene can help stop the spread of the virus, but the risk from particles in the air remains.
As we can see, no single measure will guarantee 100% protection. It is only by using a combination of measures that we create the best chance of protecting ourselves and our friends and family.
Australian virologist Ian Mackay, and other scientists say, even in places with widespread vaccine coverage, we need to continue using multiple measures to stop letting the virus through; they liken it to The Swiss Cheese Model.
New Offertory Envelopes
The new boxed sets of Offertory envelopes, beginning Sunday, 4th April, 2021, are now available and may be collected from St. Patrick’s Church after Mass on Sundays.
During the course of the pandemic several parishioners have chosen to contribute by Bank Transfer or Standing Order and it is hoped they will continue to do so in the long term rather than use envelopes. This facilitates the financial administration of the parish. Please consider contributing by Standing Order. The details needed are provided below.
Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed
Fr. Patterson renews his thanks to you for your offerings during these difficult times especially to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by bank transfer helping to meet the regular financial commitments of our churches.
Should you wish, you may drop your envelopes through the presbytery letterbox. 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
