The Feast of the Assumption
Dear Parishioners
God gave Moses ten commandments to enable his people to live life to the full as the people he made us to be. Of course we know it isn’t always easy to keep the commandments, which is one of the reasons Jesus introduced into the life of his Church the nature of a loving God who is all forgiving.
Governments and political leaders throughout the world have provided their people with guidelines to follow in order to protect us from the coronavirus. Like the ten commandments, it isn’t always easy to follow these guidelines, perhaps because sometimes they involve putting other peoples’ needs before our own.
There seems to be some confusion in England about what those guidelines are when it comes to socialising. Let us review the latest update from 14th August:-
“In order to keep you and your family and friends safe, it remains very important that you stay alert when meeting them. At all times, it’s important to maintain social distancing from people you do not live with to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. You should only have close contact with people outside of your household if you are in a support bubble with them.
Members of 2 different households can meet in any indoor space, including a private home. Even so, you should, wherever possible, socially distance from people you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble
When eating or drinking in pubs or restaurants with people you do not live with, you should only meet with one other household if you are seated indoors. If you are eating or drinking outdoors, including private gardens, you can do so with one other household or in a group of up to 6 people from different households. You should take care to limit your interactions with anyone outside the group you visit these places with.
In all cases, people from different households (unless in support bubbles) should ensure they socially distance as much as possible. Premises should also take reasonable steps to help you do so in line with COVID-19 secure principles
You should try to limit the number of people you see, especially over short periods of time, to keep you and them safe, and save lives. The more people with whom you interact, the more chances we give the virus to spread”
Please continue to look after and 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
I continue to celebrate Mass privately every day. The following Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – A Special Friend (RK)
- Tuesday – A successful operation (AGW)
- Wednesday – Joan Dolan
- Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Friday – Agnes and Billy McStea
- 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,
- Fr. Tony Duffy who has died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the soul of your servant whom you have called from this life. May he be taken up into glory with your Son in whose great mystery of love we are all united. 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.
The People of Beirut
Amidst their own country’s struggle with the coronavirus, Pope Francis asks us to join him in praying for Lebanon, “So that with all of its social components, political and religious, it can face this tragic and painful moment, and with the help of the international community, overcome the serious crises it is undergoing.”
£250.00 has been sent to Cafod’s Beirut Emergency Appeal from St. Alban’s Charity Box. A prayer for the people of Beirut may be found on the CAFOD website.
A Prayer for this Current Time
Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we pray to you through Christ the healer for those who suffer from the Coronavirus across the world. We pray for all who reach out to those who mourn the loss of each and every person who has died as a result of contracting the disease.
Give wisdom to our policymakers, skill to healthcare professionals and researchers, comfort to those in distress and calm to us all in these days of uncertainty and distress. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reopening our Churches – Latest News
As you will be aware from last week’s Newsletter, we have now been given leave by Bishop Robert to be risk assessed with a view to a phased reopening of St. Patrick’s Church. We are awaiting a date for that assessment.
As Fr. Patterson is in the clinically vulnerable category and on the advice of the bishops, St. Alban’s Church will remain closed for the time being.
Once St. Patrick’s has been risk assessed it will have to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to ensure it is a Covid safe environment.
The number of volunteers who are willing to act as stewards and to clean the church after every celebration will determine when we can reopen and the number and times of services we will be able to offer.
Things will be very different. The Archdiocese of Liverpool have put together a video which gives us an idea of what to expect when you can return to Church.
As you are aware the Government Guidelines for the reopening of churches are very demanding to ensure they are Covid-19 secure.
A minimum of two stewards must be in attendance at every celebration to ensure the guidelines are met and the church must be thoroughly sanitized after each service.
The more volunteers we have, the easier it will be to fulfil these requirements and the less burdensome it will be on those who have volunteered.
If you can volunteer as a steward and/or help with cleaning the church, please send Fr. Patterson an email stating your availability weekday/weekend and in what way you would be able to help. Volunteers should really not be in the vulnerable categories.
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
