The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
Dear Parishioner
As many of you will be aware, from Monday, 15th June, some Places of Worship in England will be allowed to open for private and individual prayer only so long as the building has been certified as Covid-19 secure.
The celebration of Mass along with the celebration of all other Sacraments is still suspended in all of our churches throughout the country.
Bishop Robert has announced that five of our churches, one from each Vicariate, will open for private prayer only as soon as is practical and once all the necessary guidelines, risk assessments and health and safety requirements have been satisfied. St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s, Sunderland are due to open for limited periods from Monday. St. Aidan’s, Ashington; St. Patrick’s, Consett and St. Joseph’s, Hartlepool will open later if protocols can be met. After a trial period, some other churches, of the Bishop’s choosing, may gradually reopen.
Bishop Robert’s utmost priority in allowing a church to reopen is the health and safety of the priests, deacons and parishioners.
A church will only be able to open if it can provide sufficient volunteers to comply with the protocols laid down especially relating to sanitising and stewarding.
Over the years appeals for volunteers in most parishes, including our own, have met with a poor response. This will obviously impact at this present time when having sufficient volunteers is a prerequisite for the reopening of churches.
If you would be prepared to volunteer as a steward or to help sanitise the church after services when the time is right, please send me an email to that effect. Volunteers should not be in any of the Government’s vulnerable or at risk categories.
Please be aware things will not be the same.
Social distancing will considerably reduce the seating capacity in our churches and , when the time comes when we are able to open for public worship, those priests who are in the “shielded” category, or are self-isolating, would not be available to celebrate Mass. As a result, it may not be possible to open all churches at the same time.
We must be patient, continue with our prayers at home and not allow ourselves to be misled by “Fake news!”
Please take care of yourselves too. Pray for each other 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 12.00. 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
I continue to celebrate Mass privately every day. The following Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – Janice Connolly
- Tuesday – Grace Spence
- Wednesday – John Flynn
- Thursday – The sick, NHS & Care Workers
- Friday – Brian Quigley
- Saturday – Fr “P’s” Intentions
- Sunday – For the intentions of all our parishioners
As 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
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
- Grace Spence who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May she be taken up into glory with your Son in whose great mystery of love we are all united. Amen.”
Masses for the Sick and their Families, NHS Front-Line workers and those working in Social Care
Every Thursday one of our Bishops will be celebrating a special evening Mass for the sick, their families, NHS staff, and those working in Social Care.
Mass this coming Thursday, 18th June, will be celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley from St. Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham at 19.00.
BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship
Sunday worship will broadcast Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols from Westminster Cathedral, on Sunday 14th June at 8.10am.
Please share news of this broadcast with any parishioners who do not have access to the internet, as they will be able to listen to this Mass on their radio.
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 Diocesan Day of Scripture
This “Virtual Day” will be held on Friday 19th June. All aspects of the day can be accessed via the Diocesan website nearer the time.
Ministers of the Eucharist
The Feast of Corpus Christi is the day on which our Eucharistic Ministers would renew their commitment to serving our parish families. As this is not possible at present, Fr. Adrian Dixon has prepared a short reflective video for Ministers.
Alone [Together]
If you are finding life difficult at the moment, living alone or shielded, you might find the thoughts of Fr Christopher Jamison helpful through the website Alone [Together].
This website is frequently updated, so if you have visited it before, it may be worth returning for another look.
School News
Please keep our school community in your prayers.
Since the beginning of lock-down, our school has continued to provide childcare for key worker children. “We have had some lovely weather and they have enjoyed spending lots of time outside, even going for walks.”
Last week we welcomed back some of our younger children in early years who were very excited to see their friends. This Monday, 15th June, the majority of our Year 6 children will return and be taught in three separate classes to ensure social distancing measures are followed.
Your generous Offerings are appreciated and some of your questions are answered here
In what are difficult times financially for us all, Fr. Patterson wishes to express his gratitude to those parishioners who are contributing their weekly offering by bank transfer directly into the parish accounts. This helps us meet our day to day financial commitments.
If you Gift Aid your offertory contributions, the parish can still reclaim the tax on your offering should you wish to make a bank transfer at this present time. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
Alternatively, you may wish to send a cheque made 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
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
Several parishioners have been in contact to ask if they can put their weekly offering envelopes, which they have been saving week by week, through the presbytery letter box. Those parishioners who wish to do so would be more than welcome so long as you follow Government guidelines about leaving your home.
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.
Diocesan Website
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
