24th Sunday of the Year
Dear Parishioners
With cases of coronavirus spreading throughout our country, our Prime Minister launched a new series of measures last Wednesday which come into effect on Monday in an attempt to curb the transmission of the virus.
In his press announcement the Prime Minister said, “if we are to beat the virus then everyone, at all times, should limit social contact as much as possible and minimise interactions with other households.”
This is still, he said, one of the principal ways in which we can help to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus along with social distancing, washing our hands and wearing a face covering if we are in an enclosed space and in close contact with people we don’t normally meet.
With that in mind and in the light of Gateshead being put on the Government’s Watch List due to the substantial rate of increase in confirmed cases of the virus, I have sought advice from the Diocese and others and I do not think it prudent to introduce an additional Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Sundays as we had tentatively planned, until the local situation improves.
I do not wish to instigate anything that would increase your interactions with others and possibly put you, our volunteers who must be in attendance at Mass, our community at large or myself at risk. I shall review the situation on a weekly basis.
Remember that the obligation to attend Mass on a Sunday remains suspended.
Mass will continue to be celebrated on Tuesday at 10.00 and on Thursday at 18.30 in St. Patrick’s Church unless local measures prevent this happening.
The Prime Minister went on to say that the package of measures which he announced, “is not a second national lockdown – the whole point of them is to avoid a second national lockdown. So let’s work together and follow the rules: meet in groups of no more than six. Wash your hands, cover your face, and make space.”
In Gateshead in the week 2nd – 8th September there were 119 recorded cases, an increase of 62 compared with the previous week, which equates to 59 cases per 100,000 people. The average area in England had 18 cases over the same period.
Please look after each other by observing social distancing and follow “The Rule of 6”
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.
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 – Fr. Tony Duffy
- Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Peter Cooper and Stan McStea
- Wednesday – Anna McErlane
- Thursday: 18.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – Lawrie Hindes
- 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 Peter Cooper, Nancy McErlane and Stan McStea
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 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 – Delayed
It had been hoped that we might have been able to offer a Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on a Sunday from 20th September. However, as I mentioned above, in the light of the fact that Gateshead has been placed on the Government Watch List due to the substantial rate of increase in confirmed cases of the coronavirus in our locality, I do not think it prudent to introduce an additional (Sunday) Mass in St. Patrick’s until the local situation improves.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead said: “This is an extremely worrying situation for the borough and, if the infection continues to spread, we are likely to see some form of local restrictions.
We are now seeing cases in every part of Gateshead which shows that the virus is circulating in the wider community. Although, at the moment, we are seeing a rise in cases from younger people, none of us can be complacent. Once the virus is out in the community it can spread quickly, and we need to do all we can to keep our more vulnerable residents safe. We ask residents to think about their role in spreading the virus.”
News from our School
It is time to start thinking about admission into Reception class next September if your child was born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017. Applications for our school should be made online.
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.