The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus celebrated in our churches this weekend, reveals his exalted identity as the “Son of God” and was the starting point for all that Jesus would undertake – his self-giving ministry, death and Resurrection.
As the Christmas season in the life of the Church draws to a close, we move into what is called “Ordinary Time”, the time when we are asked to put into practice what we have celebrated at Christmas.
On the day of our own baptism, God named us as his beloved sons and daughters. Like Jesus, all that we undertake must flow from who we are – God’s children.
This means that we, too, must humbly submit ourselves to God’s wise and loving plan for our lives and there is nothing “ordinary” about that.
So let us ask the Lord today to make us faithful to our own baptismal promises. Let us thank him for the privilege of being joined to his mission of preaching the “Good News” by our transparent Christian lives of love, mercy, service and forgiveness.
Are you feeling unwell – remember the old slogan “Coughs and sneezes spread diseases”
If you are feeling unwell or have any cold, flu or Covid symptoms, particularly a persistent cough, you should consider staying at home rather than coming to church for your own well-being and for that of others.
Mass Intentions
Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass for the following Intentions during the coming week. With the exception of Wednesday and Friday, all Masses and Services are open to everyone.
- Monday: No Mass
- Tuesday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church: Funeral Service for Mary Forster
- Wednesday: (Private Mass) Evelyn May and George Craig
- Thursday: 10am in St. Patrick’s parish centre: Annie Donald
- Friday: (Private Mass) Private Intention
- Saturday: 6pm in St. Alban’s Church: For the Intentions of all our parishioners
- Sunday: 10am in St. Patrick’s Church: Paul Hughes
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 especially Annie Donald and,
- Mary Forster who has died. May she rest in the peace of Christ.
A Prayer for those who are ill and for those who care for them
Merciful God, we entrust to your loving care those who are ill or in pain. Comfort and heal them, and restore them to full health and strength. Grant perseverance and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, empower them with your Spirit, so that through their care many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Pope Benedict XVI
A Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral on Monday, 9th January at 12.05pm. Bishop Séamus will preside at this Mass and all are welcome to attend. The Mass will be live-streamed to the Cathedral YouTube page.
Parish Boundaries
Following recommendations from the Diocesan Boundaries Commission and consultation with parishes, partnerships, schools and the Council of Priests, the boundaries of each parish within the diocese have been reviewed and where necessary revised. A map showing the boundaries of our parishes is displayed on the noticeboards and can be viewed on the Diocese website.
In addition to the various canonical and pastoral reasons for having clear boundaries for each parish, the maps will assist our Diocesan schools with the implementation of their admission policies.
Thanks
Fr. Patterson is grateful for a donation of £30.00 towards the cost of heating St. Patrick’s Church. He is aware that many of you are carefully monitoring your own heating costs at present. You may be interested to learn that the cost of heating St. Patrick’s Church, parish centre and presbytery for the month of December was £2,723.86.
The Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project
The following letter has been received from the organisers of the above project:-
“We would like to thank all our parish, group and individual donors for the amazing support you have shown the project during 2022. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to support over 1000 people over the year with basic food and toiletry bags. Each month over 400 people who are seeking asylum in our area benefit from the project. In addition to that, we are able to provide supermarket vouchers to those who receive no government support. Thank you for your continued support and for being willing to welcome the stranger in our midst.”
Should you wish to support this project, donations of sugar, biscuits, tinned fish in oil, tins of tomatoes, chick peas, toiletries and shampoo 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 of St. Alban’s Church and in our school.
St. Alban’s Church
Due to plumbing issues, there are no toilet facilities available in St. Alban’s Church for the foreseeable future.
Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons for Advent
Each week Bishop Barron offers a Sunday sermon.
