Parish newsletter

Posted on 25 June 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 26 June 2022

The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Dear Parishioners

“Follow me,” Jesus says.

Do you? If not, what is your excuse?

In the Gospel, read this weekend in our churches (Luke 9: 51-52), we hear of two excuses:-

The first man said, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead.’

The second follower said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ To him Jesus said, “Once the hand is laid on the plough no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”

It’s all about decisions. How decisive are you in following Jesus? That is what lies at the heart of today’s gospel and it is the question we should ask ourselves not only today but on each and every day of our lives. We have, of course, the freedom to make our own decisions; but remember, decisions bring with them consequences. Are you prepared to accept the consequences of the decisions you make?

Cases of Covid-19 rising

As news reports tell us this week of an increase in cases of Covid-19 around the UK and a number of our parishioners have also been poorly in recent weeks with the virus, if you still wish to wear face coverings in church this is perfectly acceptable, both to keep yourselves and everyone else in church safe, by restricting the spread of aerosol particles.

We do still ask everyone coming into Church to use the hand gel at the door and to be sensitive to sitting too close to someone who is already in the bench you enter who may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up to them.”

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. In recent times, it has been a joy to welcome those people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then consume immediately before returning to your place.

If you are not a Catholic or are indisposed to receive Holy Communion, you are invited to come forward at the appropriate time and receive a blessing, indicating your desire by folding an arm across your chest.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Harry Ryan
Wednesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church: Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Mass for George Owens
Friday: (Private Mass) – In Thanksgiving (NF)
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Patsy Rafferty

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

When you are unable to celebrate Mass 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:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
George Owens, Connie Hullock, Kevin O’Sullivan and Ronnie Brown who have died. May they rest in peace.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

Gracious God, as we remember before you all those people 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.

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 Prayer for Ukraine

Father, hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart. Protect them from violence, political gamesmanship and from being used and abused. Give the nations of the world the courage and wisdom to stand up for justice and the courage to care generously. Take from us those traits that see us pursuing our own needs and wants before those of others. Teach us to live in love, dignity and respect, following your ways. We ask this in your name and for your sake. Amen

An Invitation

Bishop Robert Byrne cordially invites you to a Mass to mark the 80th birthday of Bishop Seamus Cunningham which will be celebrated on Thursday, 30th June at 12.05 pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. All are most welcome to attend.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

Are you on a rota? – please read on……..

If you have joined one of our rotas in either St. Alban’s or St. Patrick’s churches and find you are unable to fulfil your role on a particular occasion, would you please arrange a substitute. Telephone numbers of other volunteers are printed on each rota.

This is particularly important to ensure that our liturgy and parish activities flow smoothly. With reduced numbers attending our churches, it cannot be presumed that someone can just be “plucked out of the congregation” to take your place. Many thanks.

The Past Two Years – Moving On

Fr. Patterson is more than grateful to those who prepared and supported our “Moving On” evening of prayer, reflection and sharing our experiences of how our lives have changed in the past two years as a result of the pandemic last Thursday.

Mass sheets

Thanks to those of you who have expressed your appreciation at the provision of Mass sheets in both of our churches which provide the text of the prayers and readings for Mass. We will continue to make them available for the foreseeable future. Please collect one when you enter church, if you do not happen to be offered one by our welcomers. Please feel free to take them home with you. You may value the opportunity of re-reading and reflecting on the readings during the course of the week.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will next be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass on Sunday, 3rd July.

Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee?

St Joseph’s Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Newcastle

The Little Sisters are looking for volunteers to help throughout the Home with residents’ activities, administration duties, fundraising and other various duties. If you are interested and would like to know more, please contact Sister Evelyn or Mother Deirdre at St Joseph’s Home on 0191 273 1279 for further details.

Are you able to support the Diocesan Refugee Project?

The organisers of this project express their renewed thanks for your ongoing support of their work. The project supports over 400 asylum seekers and tries to provide them all with a bag of food. Those who are destitute also receive a supermarket voucher. Donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes and chick peas may be left on the table to your right as you enter the front of St. Patrick’s Church or on any table if you enter by the rear door. A basket is also available in the porch at St. Alban’s. They are particularly in need of toiletries and shampoo. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

Peter’s Pence

The annual collection for Peter’s Pence takes place this Sunday, 26th June, 2022. Offerings are designated for the Pope’s apostolic and charitable ministry. Should you wish to support this you may put your donation in an envelope marked “Peter’s Pence” and place it in the offering boxes in both churches. Those of you with boxes of envelopes should find an envelope in your box.

Taking the collection during Mass

Although no collection is taken during Mass, by way of passing baskets along the benches, we do hope you will support our church financially by placing your offering in the boxes at the entrances to the church. Alternatively you may consider contributing by standing order the details for which are found below.

Your Offertory contributions

To reduce the demands on parish administration, we invite those of you who feel able, to consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order. The bank details you require for this are printed below.

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

If you are a tax payer and are not a member of the parish gift aid scheme please consider joining the scheme, it costs you nothing and the parish benefits by being able to reclaim the tax you have already paid on your offering. The parish receives 25p of every £1.00 you give from HMRC. All that is required, is for you to complete a simple form which does not involve you disclosing any personal financial information and is held securely by the Diocesan Finance Office. To obtain a form, or for more information, please email St. Patrick’s Gift Aid organiser at stpatrick.giftaid@outlook.com

For the time being, enquiries concerning the Gift Aid scheme for St. Albans Church should be directed to Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

The Parish Newsletter by email

Could you help to offset the cost of printing paper copies of the Newsletter by having it sent to you by email? Many of you have been receiving it electronically throughout the pandemic and continue to do so. If you do not already receive it in this way and would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please send your request to felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and you will be added to our contact list.

A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches, on the days they are open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.

Returning your call

If you telephone the presbytery and there is no-one available to take your call, you may choose to leave a message. We will do all we can to return your call. However we are only able to do so if you leave your telephone number!! For safeguarding reasons, we are unable to return anonymous calls, so please leave both your name and number for your call to be returned. For security reasons, the presbytery number is sometimes withheld for outgoing calls, so please bear this in mind if you are expecting us to return your call.

Might God be calling you to be a priest?

If you would like more information, please contact the Diocesan Vocations Team: Fr. John Bagnall 01207 502 196 vocationspriests@diocesehn.org.uk or Fr Shaun Purdy 01670 812 200 vocationspromoter@diocesehn.org.uk.

Thanksgiving Mass

A Mass of Thanksgiving for NHS Staff, chaplains and Carers will be celebrated by Bishop Robert on Thursday, 14th July, 2022 at 7pm in St. Mary’s Cathedral. This Celebration will be the opportunity to express the gratitude of the Diocese to medical, nursing and healthcare staff and chaplains as we continue to emerge from the COVID Pandemic.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

ZOE Covid fortnightly update – We are in a new COVID wave

This week, Tim is talking about the new COVID wave we’re currently in driven by the Omicron BA.5 variant. He’ll take you through the data including the number of new daily Long COVID cases. Tim also discusses the symptoms trend we’re seeing in the ZOE Health Study app.

In a separate blog, the updated symptoms of Omicron are discussed.

Data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you with 1 in 40 people having Covid in England.

Download newsletter 26 June 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 18 June 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 19 June 2022

The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Dear Parishioners

Meals are important, but so many of us have lost sight of that in today’s fast food society when it is rare for people to sit down to a meal together. It’s often much easier to put a ready meal in the microwave or to order a delivery online and then to eat it in front of the TV.

For Jesus meals were very significant, as the second reading heard at Mass this weekend reminds us. (1 Cor 11:23-26). That moment when Jesus gave us the central act of Catholic worship, a sacred meal, by which his followers would be nourished by his own Body and Blood foreshadowing the banquet of heaven.

To receive the Body that was given for us and the Blood that was shed for us is not an excuse for a party or getting dressed up. It is to be called to follow the example of Jesus’ act of total self-giving; to be strengthened to live holy lives, devoted to God and the needs of our brothers and sisters.

That is why the Mass matters and should be at the centre of our lives as Catholic people for it calls us to live in tune with the sacred meal that is set before us.

May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to those who receive it.

Fr Patterson

Eucharistic Festival at Ushaw – Fully Booked

This event which is being held on Sunday is now fully booked. You are asked not to attend unless you have registered and have received an acknowledgement of your booking.

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 19th June.

Could you join the rota to help make tea and coffee?

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s church. In recent times, it is has been a joy to welcome those people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then immediately consume before returning to your place.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. You may wish to wear a face covering when attending Church.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Patsy and Rose Wright and Patricia Jameson
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Peter Smith
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – LDM Makepeace and Shanks Family
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Richard Harriott
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday:10am in St. Patrick’s Church – John Donald

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us 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:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
George Owens who has died. May he rest in peace.

A Prayer for those who have died from Covid

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A Prayer for the Ukraine

Lord God, hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart. Protect them from violence, from political gamesmanship, from being used and abused. Give the nations of the world the courage and the wisdom to stand up for justice and the courage to care generously. Take from us those traits that see us pursuing our own needs and wants before those of others. Teach us how to live in love and dignity and respect, following your ways. We ask this in your name and for your sake. Amen

A Prayer for Corpus Christi

Gracious and merciful God, in a wonderful Sacrament you have given us a memorial of the passion of your Son. Grant that we who receive this great Sacrament, may grow to be like him in all things until we come to your eternal joy; through our Saviour Jesus Christ who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit, God now and for ever. Amen.

Day for Life – A Prayer for the Elderly

I thank you, Lord, for the comfort of your presence. Even in times of loneliness you are my hope and my confidence, my rock and my fortress since my youth!

I thank you for having given me a family and for having blessed me with a long life. I thank you for moments of joy and difficulty, for the dreams that have already come true in my life and for those that are still ahead of me. I thank you for this time of renewed fruitfulness to which you call me.

Increase, O Lord, my faith, make me a channel of your peace, teach me to embrace those who suffer more than me, to never stop dreaming and to tell of your wonders to new generations. Sustain me in weakness and help me to live life to the full in each moment that you give me, in the certainty that you are with me every day until the end of time.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

It was recently announced that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Barron as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota).

The Past Two Years – Moving On – 23rd June, 2002 at 18.30 – St. Patrick’s Parish Centre

We have all been affected one way or another by the Covid pandemic and life will never be quite the same.

If you would value an opportunity to pause, reflect on your experiences, thoughts, feelings and memories of the past two years we invite you to join together in St Patrick’s parish centre on Thursday, 23rd June at 6.30pm.

In a gentle and non threatening way, we will try to link our feelings to the “Road to Emmaus” where the two disciples walked and talked with Jesus sharing their joys, their challenges, their fears and their grief. Then there was Thomas who, from a place of fear and vulnerability, discovered Jesus inviting him to touch his wounds.

Maybe we need to be more accepting of our own vulnerability and, like Thomas, share our woundedness with Jesus.

We offer this opportunity where you can feel safe, can be heard and also be a listener for others in sharing our stories from the past two years. Maybe now is the time to lay our fears aside so that like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we might recognise that Jesus was and is walking alongside us

You may like to bring a friend, relative or neighbour.

Mass sheets

For a trial period, we shall offer you a Mass sheet when you enter church which provides the text of the prayers and readings for Mass. This sheet will replace the Parish Mass Books which we have used in the past.

St. Patrick’s Church Cleaning

Thanks to those parishioners who came along to clean the church last Friday evening. Your time and effort were greatly appreciated.

Are you able to support the Diocesan Refugee Project?

Your ongoing support of this project would be welcomed. It supports over 400 asylum seekers. The project tries to provide them all with a bag of food and those who are destitute also receive a supermarket voucher. Donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes and chick peas may be left on the table to your right as you enter the front of St. Patrick’s Church or on any table if you enter by the rear door. A basket is also available in the porch at St. Alban’s. They are particularly in need of toiletries and shampoo. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

Vigil Mass on Saturdays in St. Alban’s Church.

St. Alban’s Church is now reopen for a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm.

Following Bishop Robert’s advice with the current level of help we have available to us, we are only able to open the church on a Saturday evening. For the time being, it will remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr. Patterson to review the situation after the summer to assess the level of need and support.

If you are attending Mass in St. Alban’s Church, please note the following:

Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only. The side door should only be used as an emergency exit.
You are invited to sanitise your hands as you enter the church
You may wear a face covering during Mass
Due to the low ceilings over the congregation, we must ensure adequate ventilation to help dilute and disperse viral particles. Both inner doors at the rear of the church will remain open throughout Mass (the outer doors will normally be closed) and the side windows will be open. Please dress accordingly as there may be a draught in some areas of the church.
No collection will be taken during Mass, by way of passing baskets along the benches, but we do hope you will support our parish financially by placing your offering in the offering box as you enter the church. Alternatively you may consider contributing by standing order, the details for which are:
Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

St. Patrick’s Church needs more support from you

Fr. Patterson wishes to thank those parishioners who have already offered their support in various aspects of parish life, but it is insufficient to be able to rebuild our future.

We need more volunteers for the following:-

preparing light refreshments in the parish centre after Sunday Mass
joining the music ministry, whether as an instrumentalist or singer
assisting with the children’s liturgy when we are in a position to restart it
offering to help with the opening of the church for Mass and tidying up afterwards on weekdays
reading at Mass on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays

The more support you give will make it less demanding on any individual or group/team. It is important that we should all play our part in helping to rebuild our shared parish family.

Please indicate your offer of support by emailing the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

Current Diocesan COVID Controls

In keeping with the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales the following arrangements for St. Patrick’s Church are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass.
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will, for the time being, continue to invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only. At the end of Mass, you may leave at your leisure.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Welcomers will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

Are you on a rota? – please read on……..

An Invitation

Bishop Robert Byrne cordially invites you to a Mass to mark the 80th birthday of Bishop Seamus Cunningham which will be held on Thursday, 30th June at 12.05pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. All are most welcome to attend.

Peter’s Pence

The annual collection for Peter’s Pence takes place next Sunday, 26th June, 2022. Offerings are designated for the Pope’s apostolic and charitable ministry. Should you wish to support this you may put your donation in an envelope marked “Peter’s Pence” and place it in the offering boxes in both churches. Those of you with boxes of envelopes should find an envelope in your box.

Day for Life Message from Pope Francis

Pope Francis sends cordial greetings and good wishes to those participating in the 2022 Day for Life which is celebrated in Scotland, England and Wales, and Ireland under the theme “Caring for the Older Person”. His Holiness prays that the efforts in the defence of the God-given value and dignity of every human life, in all its stages, will be fruitful in drawing attention to the particular worth of our elderly brothers and sisters, for they “are not outcasts to be shunned but living signs of the goodness of God who bestows life in abundance.”He likewise trusts that a greater awareness of the essential contribution the elderly make to the spiritual and material wellbeing of every society will help to counter the “throwaway culture” and foster the bonds of charity and fraternity between the generations. With these sentiments and the assurance of his closeness in prayer, the Holy Father sends his blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.

Day for Life collection

Should you wish to support the work of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre (www.bioethics.org.uk) and other life-related activities supported by the Church you may put your donation in an envelope marked “Day for Life” and place it in the offering boxes in both churches. Those of you with boxes of envelopes should find an envelope in your box.

Rwanda Statement from our Bishops

Bishop Paul McAleenan, who has special responsibility for migrants and is Chair of the Office for Migration Policy at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference made this statement on June 14th 2022:

“The UK’s plans to forcibly deport to Rwanda some of those seeking refuge in our country is shamefully illustrative of what Pope Francis has called the ‘loss of that sense of responsibility for our brothers and sisters on which every civil society is based.

The plan is presented as a humanitarian response to combat people trafficking and smuggling yet the result will compound the suffering of those who are already victims. Crime is defeated by confronting the perpetrators not by punishing victims. This scheme will increase the difficulties of those hoping for a new beginning, and it does nothing to address the problems which cause people to flee their homes.

Migration is a complex issue, but it is not resolved by delegating our roles and responsibilities to other countries. Our starting point should be the innate dignity of every person, created in the image and likeness of God. Our Christian faith demands that we respond generously to asylum seekers whose dignity must be protected and upheld.

Whether or not the flight to Rwanda takes off today we are now in a new situation. With greater force we insist that asylum seekers are not commodities for profit, nor are they problems to be rejected and deported by government. Instead we should be guided by the four verbs provided by Pope Francis in our approach to migrants and refugees, ‘Welcome, protect, promote and integrate’.

The Parish Newsletter by email

A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches, on the days they are open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.

Thanksgiving Mass

Taking the collection during Mass

Your Offertory contributions

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

For the time being, enquiries concerning the Gift Aid scheme for St. Albans Church should be directed to Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

Covid cases on the rise after Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

The Office of National Statistics has published figures to show that in the most recent week (ending 11 June for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; week ending 10 June for Scotland), there was an increase in the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland likely caused by infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. In England, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 1,131,000 equating to around 1 in 50 people.

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

ZOE Covid fortnightly update.

This week Professor Tim Spector shares some research on Long COVID by his colleagues at Kings College London using ZOE Health Study data, as well as the initial results of the menopause and food survey. He also shares the latest COVID updates, as well as news on monkeypox.

In a separate blog, the updated symptoms of Omicron are discussed.

Download newsletter – 19 June 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 11 June 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 12 June 2022

Trinity Sunday

Dear Parishioners

We read in the Book of Genesis that we were created in God’s image and likeness. In each human person lies an imprint, a shadow, of the God who created us. This means that we share in the unique relationship we celebrate this weekend on the Feast of the Blessed Trinity.

We grow up being told that the Trinity is a mystery and we cannot understand it. The temptation is therefore to dismiss it and not reflect upon it.

The truth is that every time we enter into a relationship with another, every time we love another or experience the love of another, every time we share a meal or a chat or a drink with a friend, we are experiencing what God’s life is like – God’s Trinitarian life of perfect love, infinite harmonious relationship and never ending, respectful friendship.

So even though the Trinity may be a mystery for some, it can be a living realty for others.

Let our lives give glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Fr Patterson

Mass sheets

Refreshments after Mass

Thanks to everyone who helped to create a wonderful party spirit over refreshments served in St Patrick’s parish centre last Sunday after Mass. Refreshments will next be served on Sunday 19th June.

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St Patrick’s church. In recent times, it is has been a joy to welcome those people of other faiths or none who have come to join us in worship.

Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then immediately consume before returning to your place.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. You may wish to wear a face covering when attending Church.

Monday – No Mass
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Rachel and Craig Berry
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Bill O’Gorman
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – In Thanksgiving (BH)
Friday: (Private Mass) – Fr. Wilfrid Elkin
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Carol Belton

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us 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:

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 Carol Belton and John Donald and,
Fr Michael Keoghan who has died. May he rest in peace.

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 155,977 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Figures of 10th June)

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.

A Prayer for the Ukraine

A Prayer for Trinity Sunday

One God, three Persons, be near to the people of the world you formed in your image, close to the world which your love brings to life. Let your will for the world be accomplished through the decisions we make, give us a vision of peace and reconciliation and let us be to others as we would wish them to be to us.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

It was recently announced that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Barron as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota).

St. Patrick’s Church needs more support from you

Fr Patterson wishes to thank those parishioners who have offered their support in various aspects of parish life, but it is insufficient to be able to rebuild our future.

A limited amount of help now enables us to offer two public weekday Masses on a Tuesday and Thursday, but we need more volunteers for the following:-

preparing light refreshments in the parish centre after Sunday Mass
joining the music ministry, whether as an instrumentalist or singer
assisting with the children’s liturgy when we are in a position to restart it
offering to help with the opening of the church for Mass and tidying up afterwards on weekdays
reading at Mass on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays

The more support you give will make it less demanding on any individual or group/team. It is important that we should all play our part in helping to rebuild our shared parish family.

Please indicate your offer of support by emailing the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

Vigil Mass on Saturdays in St. Alban’s Church.

In his meeting with Fr Patterson, Bishop Robert expressed his concern that the current level of support offered by parishioners is not what was hoped for, but agreed with Fr. Patterson, that we could proceed with the reopening of the church, initially for a Saturday Vigil Mass only, to assess the level of need and support. The church will remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr. Patterson to review the situation after the summer.

We are now in a position to reopen St. Alban’s Church for a Vigil Mass at 6pm from Saturday, 11th June.

Please note the following:-

Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only.
The side door should only be used as an emergency exit.
You are invited to sanitise your hands as you enter the church
You may wear a face covering during Mass
Due to the low ceilings over the congregation, Bishop Robert advises that the church is adequately ventilated to help dilute and disperse viral particles. As such, both inner doors at the rear of the church will remain open throughout Mass (the outer doors will be closed) and the side windows will be open. Please dress accordingly as there may be a draught in some areas of the church.
No collection will be taken during Mass, by way of passing baskets along the benches, but we do hope you will support our parish financially by placing your offering in the basket as you enter the church. Alternatively you may consider contributing by standing order, the details for which are:

Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

Current Diocesan COVID Controls

In keeping with the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales the following arrangements for St. Patrick’s Church are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will, for the time being, continue to invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only. At the end of Mass, you may leave at your leisure.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Welcomers will be on hand to greet you and care for you.

The Past Two Years – Moving On – 23rd June, 2002 at 18.30

We have all been affected one way or another by the Covid pandemic and life will never be quite the same.

If you would value an opportunity to pause, reflect on your experiences, thoughts, feelings and memories of the past two years we invite you to join together in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Thursday, 23rd June at 6.30pm.

In a gentle and non threatening way, we will try to link our feelings to the “Road to Emmaus” where the two disciples walked and talked with Jesus sharing their joys, their challenges, their fears and then their grief. Then there was Thomas who, from a place of fear and vulnerability, discovered Jesus inviting him to touch his wounds.

Maybe we need to be more accepting of our own vulnerability and, like Thomas, to share our woundedness with Jesus.

We offer this opportunity where you can feel safe, can be heard and also be a listener for others in sharing our stories from the past two years.

Like the disciples hiding in the upper room at Pentecost maybe now is the time to lay our fears aside so that like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we might recognise that Jesus was and is walking alongside us

You may like to bring a friend, relative or neighbour.

St. Patrick’s Church Cleaning

Volunteers are needed to clean the church on Friday evening, 17th June from 18.00. Entry by the Church Street door.

Congratulations

Our prayerful good wishes go to Alesandra and Denise and to their families on the occasion of their celebration of the Holy Eucharist for the first time last Sunday and for sharing some delicious food with us afterwards in St. Patrick’s parish centre.

A Day of Prayer for Human Life

This is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. Day for Life will be celebrated next Sunday, 19th June, 2022. For further information, please visit the Day for Life website www.dayforlife.org

An Invitation

Bishop Robert Byrne cordially invites you to a Mass to mark the 80th birthday of Bishop Seamus Cunningham which will be held on Thursday, 30th June at 12.05 pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. All are most welcome to attend.

Eucharistic Festival at Ushaw.

This event will take place at Ushaw next Sunday, 19th June from 15.00 – 16.30. Free entry into Ushaw from 2.30pm.

As there are limited places available, booking is required. It appears that this event may be fully booked as it is no longer possible to register on line.

It has been organised by the Vicariate for Faith and Mission. If you haven’t registered but would still like to attend you could try telephoning the Vicariate on 0191 243 3316 or 07375 934713 for further information.

Photographs will be taken at this event for use in Diocesan promotional materials.

Anyone showing Covid symptoms within 10 days of the festival is advised not to attend the event.

Fr. Mark Carroll

Fr. Carroll, who came to celebrate Mass for us before the pandemic to enable Fr. Patterson to take a holiday, celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood on 3rd June, 2022. Fr. Patterson assured him of the prayers and good wishes of us all.

Fr Paddy Kennedy

Fr Kennedy, who served as an assistant priest at St. Patrick’s from August, 1962 to May, 1966, will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood this year and the parishioners of St. Gregory’s, South Shields, where he is living in retirement, invite you to join him for a Mass of Thanksgiving on Thursday, 16th June at 10am in St Gregory’s Church, South Shields followed by refreshments in the Church Hall after Mass.

Are you able to support the Diocesan Refugee Project?

Certificate in Pastoral Ministry

Are you currently involved in Church ministry but wish you knew more about your faith? Do you sometimes lack confidence and feel you could benefit from further training and formation? Do you want to grow in your faith and ministry and perhaps find new ways to share your gifts with others? We have a course designed just for you. The Certificate in Pastoral Ministry is an online, two-year learning experience created with the busy person in mind. It will take you on a journey of discovery about key aspects of the Catholic faith while helping you to reflect upon your own ministry and the ministry of others. To find out more, join us online for one of our information evenings: Tuesday 14th June, 2022 or Wednesday 22nd June, 2022 from 19.30 – 21.00. To register your interest for one of the information evenings, or for further information please email adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

The Parish Newsletter on the Parish Website

Some of you were unable to find the Newsletter on the parish website last weekend as the “button” you have been used to clicking had changed back to how it was pre-pandemic time. As our parishes are slowly getting back to normal, this change was necessary and that button now takes you to all Mass times. You can, as always, access the Newsletter from the menu at the top of every page or by the ‘quick link’ to News towards the bottom of the page.

The Parish Newsletter by email

A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches, on the days they are open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.

Taking the collection during Mass

Your Offertory contributions

To reduce the demands on parish administration, we invite those of you who feel able, to consider making your weekly offering by Standing Order. The bank details are:

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

For the time being, enquiries concerning the Gift Aid scheme for St. Albans Church should be directed to Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

The Universal Synod

The Diocesan Submission to the Universal Synod has been completed and published.

Thanksgiving Mass

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

ZOE Covid fortnightly update.

In a separate blog, the updated symptoms of Omicron are discussed.

Data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you with 1 in 70 people having Covid in England.

Download Newsletter – 12 June 2022

Parish newsletter

Posted on 4 June 2022 by admin

Download newsletter – 5 June 2022

Pentecost Sunday

Dear Parishioners

The first Pentecost was, for the Apostles and those in that locked upper room, an intensely spiritual experience. It was a ‘moment of God’ which was sudden, unexpected and tore away the curtain of fear, doubt and despair they had been living with, allowing them to experience, something they knew was from God and was completely life changing. They realised that their own mission was to take Jesus’ message of love, peace and forgiveness to the whole world.

That very same living, active Holy Spirit lives within us. It is not the memory of a person who is gone, or a message tarnished by time, or a way of living which is too old or tired to survive in today’s world. Pentecost makes what the Apostles experienced on that wonderful day just as new, and vibrant, and urgent, and immediate, and burning for each one of us as it was for each one of them.

Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit so that the Gospel, the ‘Good News’ that God lives among us and within us, would always be ‘Good’ and new, and vibrant, and urgent, and immediate, and burning. If we can allow ourselves to embrace this gift, then we will experience the joy, energy, hope and deep peace that God wishes for each of us.

May the Spirit of the Risen Lord enlighten your lives.

Fr Patterson

Refreshments after Mass

Refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s parish centre after Mass this Sunday, 5th June. As well as tea and coffee there will be the option of a “glass of fizz” to mark a special occasion!

Mass sheets

All are welcome

Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then immediately consume before returning to your place.

Mass Intentions

Fr. Patterson will celebrate the following Intentions during the coming week. You may wish to wear a face covering when attending Church.

Monday: (Private Mass) – James and Imelda Dempsey
Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Brian Quigley
Wednesday: (Private Mass) – Fr Ronnie Richmond
Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church – In Thanksgiving (AM)
Friday: 10.15am in St. Patrick’s Church – Funeral Service for Margaret Graham
Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church: For the intentions of all our parishioners
Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church: Paul Hughes (NC)

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday. Visit the Cathedral website.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with us 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:

all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital and Fr. Michael Keoghan who is currently unwell
all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
Margaret Graham who has died. May she rest in peace.

A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors

A time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 177,977 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Figures of 20^th May)

A Prayer for the Ukraine

A Prayer for Pentecost

Come, Holy Spirit and fill us with your love. Open our eyes to see the presence of God around us; in the stillness of a moment, in the busyness and noise of our streets, in the joys and celebrations of our lives, in the tragedies and struggles that break our hearts. Inspire our warring world to seek peace and to cast aside all weapons. Ignite within us a passion for justice until no one is marginalized or oppressed and the world is transformed and renewed. Transform our hearts and minds and fill us with love that overflows so that we may discover your kingdom emerging around us, drawing us into the new things you are doing in the world. Amen.

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons

Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.

It was announced last Thursday, 2nd June, that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Barron as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota).

St. Patrick’s Church needs more support from you

Fr Patterson wishes to thank those parishioners who have offered their support in various aspects of parish life, but it is insufficient to be able to rebuild our future.

A limited amount of help now enables us to offer two public weekday Masses on a Tuesday and Thursday, but we need more volunteers for the following:-

preparing light refreshments in the parish centre after Sunday Mass
joining the music ministry, whether as an instrumentalist or singer
assisting with the children’s liturgy when we are in a position to restart it
offering to help with the opening of the church for Mass and tidying up afterwards on weekdays
reading at Mass on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays

The more support you give will make it less demanding on any individual or group/team. It is important that we should all play our part in helping to rebuild our shared parish family.

Please indicate your offer of support by emailing the parish office at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

Vigil Mass on Saturdays in St. Alban’s Church.

In his meeting with Fr Patterson, Bishop Robert expressed his concern that the current level of support offered by parishioners is not what was hoped for, but agreed with Fr Patterson, that we could proceed with the reopening of the church, initially for a Saturday Vigil Mass only, to assess the level of need and support. The church will remain closed during the week for all services. Bishop Robert has asked Fr Patterson to review the situation after the summer.

We are now in a position to reopen St. Alban’s Church for a Vigil Mass at 6pm on Saturday, 11th June.

Please note the following:

Parishioners are asked to enter and leave the church by the main doors only.
The side door should only be used as an emergency exit.
You are invited to sanitise your hands as you enter the church
You may wear a face covering during Mass
Due to the low ceilings over the congregation, Bishop Robert advises that the church is adequately ventilated to help dilute and disperse viral particles. As such, both inner doors at the rear of the church will remain open throughout Mass (the outer doors will be closed) and the side windows will be open. Please dress accordingly as there may be a draught in some areas of the church.
No collection will be taken during Mass, by way of passing baskets along the benches, but we do hope you will support our parish financially by placing your offering in the basket as you enter the church. Alternatively you may consider contributing by standing order, the details for which are:

Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984

Current Diocesan COVID Controls

In keeping with the National Guidelines for Churches issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales the following arrangements for St. Patrick’s Church are as follows:

If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 you should stay at home.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be offered as you enter and leave church.
You may wear a face covering during the celebration of Mass
Indoor congregational singing can take place with a general encouragement that face coverings are worn.
Although there is no formal social distancing by way of seating, we ask that when you take your seat, you are sensitive to the needs of other people who are already in a bench and may not be comfortable if you “snuggle up” to them. We have plenty of seating space.
We will, for the time being, continue to invite you to come forward for Holy Communion, row by row from the front. Holy Communion will continue to be distributed under one kind only. At the end of Mass, you may leave at your leisure.
It is still important to ventilate our buildings. This has the effect of diluting and dispersing viral particles.
Welcomers will be on hand to greet you and care for you .

The Past Two Years

There is little doubt that we have all been affected one way or another by the Covid pandemic and life will never be quite the same.

We are planning to invite anyone who would value an opportunity to pause, reflect on their experiences, thoughts, feelings and memories of the past two years to come together after Pentecost.

We will try to link our feelings to the “Road to Emmaus” where the two disciples walked and talked about their memories of the time they shared with Jesus. The joys, the challenges, their fears and then their grief, telling their story to the yet unrecognised Jesus. And then there was Thomas who, from a place of fear and vulnerability, discovered Jesus inviting him to touch his wounds.

As a community of faith we need to be open to our own vulnerability and to be able to feel safe enough, like Thomas, to share our woundedness with Jesus. We need to offer an opportunity where others can feel safe, can be heard and also be a listener for others as they share their stories from the past two years.

At the Feast of Pentecost, the disciples and early followers of Jesus hiding in the upper room, received the gifts of God’s Spirit enabling them to lay their fears aside and move out to live the new life of the Resurrection.

Maybe the Feast of Pentecost this year, calls us to move from a place of fear and uncertainty to a place of courage and confidence, so that like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we might recognise that Jesus was and is walking alongside us.

We hope to offer you this opportunity shortly after Pentecost Sunday, so please keep an eye of the Newsletter for more details.

St. Patrick’s Church Cleaning

Volunteers are needed to clean the church on Friday evening, 17th June from 6pm. Entry by the Church Street door.

Parish Safeguarding Representatives

Every parish must have a Safeguarding Representative to ensure that we provide the best possible care of all our parishioners within the Church and parish environment.

Fr. Patterson is grateful to Stephen Brown for offering to continue in his role as the Safeguarding Representative for St. Patrick’s and to James McDermott who has accepted the role for St. Alban’s Church, subsequent to completing his training with the Diocese.

Platinum Jubilee

Pope Francis sent the following telegram to Her Majesty the Queen:

“On the joyful occasions of your majesty’s birthday, and as you celebrate your Platinum Jubilee Year,
I send cordial greetings and good wishes together with the renewed assurance of
my prayers that Almighty God will bestow upon you the members of the Royal Family and
all the people of the nation blessings of unity, prosperity and peace.”

The Bishops of England and Wales ask that the following prayer be said at the end of Mass this weekend:

Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who,
by your providence has received the governance of this realm,
may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace,
she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may,
with the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ, who is the way,
the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen

Eucharistic Festival at Ushaw.

This event will take place at Ushaw on Sunday 19th June from 3pm – 6.30pm. Free entry into Ushaw from 2.30pm.

There is no charge for this event. As there are limited places available , booking is required and can be made via the online booking. A confirmation email will be sent when your booking is confirmed.

The Festival programme includes the blessing of the newly restored Pugin Altar by Bishop Robert, a Eucharistic procession around the grounds of Ushaw (weather permitting) and benediction.

Ushaw has limited parking available. Refreshments will be available in the refectory after the event. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic and use the grounds. Please expect a short delay while people are being served in the refectory.

Photographs will be taken at this event for use in Diocesan promotional materials.

Anyone showing Covid symptoms within 10 days of the festival is advised not to attend the event.

Fr. Paddy Kennedy

Fr. Kennedy, who served as an assistant priest at St. Patrick’s from August, 1962 to May, 1966, will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood this year and the parishioners of St. Gregory’s, South Shields, where he is living in retirement, invite you to join him for a Mass of Thanksgiving on Thursday, 16th June at 10am in St Gregory’s Church, South Shields followed by refreshments in the Church Hall after Mass.

The Diocesan Refugee Project

Your ongoing support of this project would be welcomed. It supports over 400 asylum seekers. The project tries to provide them all with a bag of food and those who are destitute also receive a supermarket voucher. Donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes and chick peas may be left on the table to your right as you enter the front of St. Patrick’s Church or on any table if you enter by the rear door. They are particularly in need of toiletries and shampoo. Please note: baked beans and tinned meat are not required.

Certificate in Pastoral Ministry

Are you currently involved in Church ministry but wish you knew more about your faith? Do you sometimes lack confidence and feel you could benefit from further training and formation? Do you want to grow in your faith and ministry and perhaps find new ways to share your gifts with others? We have a course designed just for you. The Certificate in Pastoral Ministry is an online, two-year learning experience created with the busy person in mind. It will take you on a journey of discovery about key aspects of the Catholic faith while helping you to reflect upon your own ministry and the ministry of others. To find out more, join us online for one of our information evenings: Tuesday 14th June, 2022 or Wednesday 22nd June, 2022 from 7.30pm – 9pm. To register your interest for one of the information evenings, or for further information please email adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

The Parish Newsletter

Fr. Patterson would like to share the following comment received in an email this week from someone

living elsewhere in the Diocese who reads our Newsletter online.

“May I say how inspiring and informative your parish Bulletin is. I wish many more could be like yours.”

Throughout the pandemic, the Newsletter and other news has been sent out to all parishioners who have provided the parish office with their email address and is also published on the parish website. This has been a valuable means of keeping in touch with our parishioners, but Fr. Patterson is very conscious that there are a considerable number of our parishioners who cannot access the internet. He is grateful to those parishioners who have been printing off copies and delivering them to fellow parishioners without wifi and to our school for sending the Newsletter to all our parents.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Newsletter has had a dedicated section on Covid which was introduced at the request of a local medical practitioner who asked if we could do all that we could to promote official public health information and reduce the spread of “fake news” concerning Covid. We have done our best to ensure that published material is from reliable sources and we will continue to publish this information for the time being, although it is becoming more difficult to access reliable and up to date statistics.

We will continue to send out the Newsletter by email and publish it on the parish website in an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint and the cost of printing hard copies. If you would like to receive the newsletter by email please forward your email address to the parish office felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and it will be included on our distribution list. A few printed copies will still be available from St. Patrick’s Church, on the days it is open for Mass, for those of you who do not have access to email.

Thank you

Fr Patterson wishes to express his gratitude to the family of the late Jimmy and Imelda Dempsey for a donation of £2,000.00 for St. Patrick’s parish funds in their memory. He is also grateful to the family of the late Kathleen Harkness for a donation of £100.00.

Taking the collection during Mass

Your Offertory contributions

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

For the time being, enquiries concerning the Gift Aid scheme for St. Albans Church should be directed to Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk.

The Universal Synod

The Diocesan Submission to the Universal Synod has been completed and published.

Thanksgiving Mass

Please get vaccinated

The Catholic Church continues to promote the participation of everyone in the Covid vaccination programme as part of its mitigation of virus transmission in church and ancillary buildings.

Pope Francis also urges us to do so.

ZOE Covid update.

The update now occurs once every two weeks.

In a separate blog, the updated symptoms of Omicron are discussed.

Data from the Office of National statistics may also be of interest to you with 1 in 70 people having Covid in England.

Download newsletter – 5 June 2022