5th Sunday of Easter
Dear Parishioners
We continue to be grateful to the generosity of our volunteers which enables us to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30am when booking will be required. Parishioners are welcome to attend both Masses.
To reserve a place for Mass on Sunday, 9th May, please telephone 07526 232124 on:
Wednesday, 5th May between 10am – 11am
Friday, 7th May between 5.30pm – 7 pm
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 encouraged 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.
For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in Church.
The Sunday obligation is still suspended so you are under no obligation to come to Mass. You should not come to Church if you are experiencing any signs of Covid-19 or feeling unwell in any way.
Despite the reduction in the number of new cases of Covid-19 in the region, there is still a need to look after one another in the weeks and months ahead especially by complying with the restrictions remembering not everyone has been vaccinated. Please continue to pray that the Lord will 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 Sunday or anytime later. There are no weekday Masses at the Holy Name this week.
Mass Intentions for the coming week
With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, I will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions:
- Monday – Eileen Buck
- Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Teresa Smith
- Wednesday – Brian Quigley
- Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Friday – Joan Barrett
- 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 especially Teresa Smith
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 127,517 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.
Pray for an end to the pandemic
Pope Francis encourages Catholics across the globe to dedicate the month of May to praying for an end to the pandemic. The initiative will involve all the Marian Shrines of the world in a special way, so that they might encourage the faithful, families, and communities to recite the Rosary to pray for an end to the pandemic.
The National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham has been selected to start the month of prayer on Saturday, 1st May. The event will start with an address given by Pope Francis from Rome at 5pm UK time. The rosary from Walsingham will be streamed around 6pm.
The recitation of the rosary will be live streamed from Walsingham to the Vatican Television Centre so that Pope Francis can join in live. The broadcast will be supported by EWTN and is best watched through the Shrine’s Facebook Page or YouTube Walsingham Catholic TV.
Are you thinking about coming along to Mass?
You may still be feeling a little hesitant or uncertain. This email, which I recently received from a parishioner and am publishing with their agreement, might help to allay your fears:-
“Dear Fr. Patterson, I have just returned from my first Mass for over a year. I know there has been no obligation to attend Mass during this time and I have been lucky enough to access Mass online 2 or 3 times a week since the beginning of the pandemic.
As I have had my second jab I felt now was the time for me to return to St Patrick’s. Absolutely nothing prepared me for the emotional effect this had on me which was mainly because I was able to receive Holy Communion for the first time in such a long time. I was very anxious on arrival about doing the right things but I needn’t have worried as the stewards were wonderful and I am very grateful to them and you, Father, for making that possible. The environment felt very safe.”
A Day of Prayer for victims of abuse
Pope Francis has asked that every Bishops’ Conference throughout the world should choose an appropriate day in their nation for a Day of Prayer for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse. The Bishops of England and Wales have chosen Tuesday, 4th May. You may find the following prayers of value.
Lord Jesus, you heal the sick.
May those harmed by sexual abuse be healed by the Lord of gentleness. May those who have not been heard be healed by the Lord of the broken-hearted. May those whose memories bring grief and pain be healed by the Lord of peace.
Christ Jesus, you forgive sinners.
May we may be forgiven our silence. May we may be forgiven our ignorance. May we may be forgiven our failure to act.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
May those who have sinned by not listening, hear the cry of those who suffer. May those who have sinned by turning away, find the right path. May those who have sinned by inaction, be moved to defend the weak.
Let us pray
Lord God, teach us to listen as you do to the needs of all people, especially those who suffer. Give us grace to respond in truth and sincerity, through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever. Amen.
Further resources may be found on the Bishops’ Conference website.
News from our School
Due to a number of families relocating, there are now some places available in selected year groups within our school. If you know of any families with school aged children who are looking for a school place, please ask them to get in touch with Mrs Bridon, the Head Teacher on 0191 469 3251.
The Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Joseph’s Home in Newcastle are finding the current economic climate increasingly more demanding. The emergency lockdown measures they implemented to aid efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and keep their residents safe have had a massive impact on their fundraising activities and the charitable donations they rely on to meet the daily running costs of the Home. They are appealing for donations to help them continue with their work of caring for the elderly and to enable them to carry out essential fire prevention upgrades to the Home. In these uncertain times, small acts of kindness can make a huge difference. If you feel able to make a donation, cheques made payable to ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ can be sent to: St. Joseph’s Home, Westmorland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7QA. Alternatively, secure, online donations can be made via the Little Sisters of the Poor website.
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.
The efforts of the British People are helping to reduce the spread of the coronavirus
Speaking at a Downing Street press briefing on Wednesday, 28th April, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 were “in very low levels that are comparable to where we were in September last year. We are running, as a typical seven-day average, at just over 2,000 people testing positive each day.”
Presenting data during the briefing, Professor Van-Tam added: “Most of the steady decline we have seen has been down to the efforts of the British people in following lockdown.” “The vaccine has undoubtedly helped in the later stages and there is good evidence that the death rate in the elderly has dropped faster than it has in the younger age groups and it has dropped faster than it did in the second wave, and that is undoubtedly a vaccine effect.
“What is important about these vaccines and the vaccine rollout is it really is the way out of getting into trouble of the same size and magnitude ever again, and that’s why it’s important that this job must get finished.
Matt Hancock, at the same briefing, emphasised the importance of “protecting the progress that we have made.” He said: “We have a clear route out of this crisis but this is no time for complacency, it’s a time for caution – so we can keep the virus under control while we take steps back to normal life.
Officials are preparing a booster vaccine programme based on clinical need to ensure people have the strongest possible protection against the virus, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
India surpasses 200,000 Covid deaths
India’s death toll due to Covid-19 has now surpassed 200,000 and it has seen more cases in the past seven days than any other country in the world. People have died waiting for beds, oxygen supplies are running low and hospitals are under immense strain from new patients. Crematoriums in the capital Delhi have been forced to build makeshift funeral pyres, as the city runs out of space to cremate its dead. Parks and other empty spaces are also being used for cremations. Only 1.6% of the population is fully vaccinated so far but from today all adults over the age of 18 can sign up for Covid-19 vaccines.
The ferocious second wave comes as cases had dropped to below 20,000 a day in January and fell further in February, even dipping below 10,000 at one point. But they began to climb again in March as people started going out more, wearing masks less and stopped following Covid protocols altogether.
Scenes of people in India begging for oxygen have shocked and moved the world.
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 and further. changes for residents are proposed for Tuesday, 4th May.
- Driving lessons can resume, with driving tests restarting on 22 April
New Offertory Envelopes – to collect or be delivered
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 Sunday or after Mass on a Tuesday if you could let us know you will be attending. It may be possible to deliver some boxes. If you would like your box delivered please contact Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.
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 continues to be grateful for your offerings during these difficult times and is especially grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by standing order helping us meet the regular financial commitments of our churches.
You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them 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
