Parish newsletter

Dear Parishioner

Newsletter for Easter Sunday

Here is our parish Newsletter for Easter Day and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families all the blessings and joys of Easter.

I do hope you are all keeping in good health and continue to follow our Government’s instructions to Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. Please encourage others to do the same.

Please also try to share the information in this Newsletter with parishioners who do not have access to the internet. Perhaps you could give them a ring.

I would like to thank you for your emails, telephone calls, offers of help and support and of course your prayers. They mean a great deal to me.

Please take care of yourselves and try to pray each day. Endeavour to read your bible, where you will find comfort and solace in God’s Word. Pray for  each other and please pray for me.

Keep an eye out for one another in keeping with Government advice, remembering that some parishioners are self isolating.

May God bless you all

Father Patterson


Mass to view on line

Pope Francis will celebrate the Easter Vigil from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome this Saturday evening at 20.00 UK time and Mass on Easter Sunday morning at 10.00 UK time. Both Masses will be live streamed but may also be viewed anytime later via the Vatican YouTube channel.

Mass is being lived streamed from our Cathedral where Bishop Robert will celebrate the Easter Vigil at 19.00 and Mass on Easter Sunday at 11.30. These services may be viewed live or anytime later via St Mary’s RC Cathedral YouTube channel.

Bishop Robert Barron or Fr. Steve Grunow from Word on Fire, continue to celebrate daily Mass from the bishop’s private chapel.

More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.

I continue to celebrate Mass privately for you all every day. As you are unable to celebrate Mass with me at present, 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


The Opening Prayer from the Mass of Easter Sunday

O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the Solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen 


Other Liturgical Restrictions.

Not only is the celebration of Mass in Church suspended at this time, but the celebration of all other Sacraments and sacramentals is suspended until such time as we are allowed to reopen our churches.

In the current situation the Bishops have announced the following instruction: All baptisms, confirmations, first Holy Communions and weddings are to be deferred until congregations are allowed to gather again.

Funeral Masses and Funeral Services are not permitted in our churches. A simple funeral service may be celebrated at the graveside or at the crematorium where numbers attending are limited to 10 people. These Local Authority restrictions are made in the light of the latest guidance from the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and central Government. The funeral director will guide you in this regard.


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 Molly Bell and Brian Grace Jnr.

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Protection during the Coronavirus  Pandemic

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the sick. At the foot of the cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love. to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.


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.


Alone [Together]

If you are finding it difficult living in isolation – on your own or ‘stuck’ with family – you might find the suggestions of Fr Christopher Jamison helpful. He is  the President of the English Benedictine Congregation and a monk of Douai Abbey in Berkshire. Drawing on almost 50 years experience as a monk, Fr Christopher has helped to create a website Alone [Together] which addresses loneliness and self-sufficiency raised by the current crisis.

For him, positivity is the key:

“Do not begin the day by rehearsing your grievances,” he says. “Begin by remembering you’re alive and there are good things still. You may have to do tough things later, but take it one step at a time. Begin with gratitude; then ask for the grace to face the day and its difficulties. Then go and address the difficulties.”


Your weekly offerings

If you feel able, bearing in mind the additional financial commitments you may be currently facing, might I suggest you retain your envelopes each week and bring them along once we can reopen our churches and celebrate Mass together.

I would be grateful if more of you might consider contributing by bank transfer directly into the parish account.  It will help us to meet our ongoing financial commitments. I am very grateful to those of you who have already chosen to do so. The details for bank transfers 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


Asylum Seekers

The Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, which you so generously support with your donations of tinned meat and fish, has had to temporarily close its doors. No food donations can be received.

However, they are searching for ways to be able to arrange financial support for the most destitute asylum seekers.

If you feel able to offer a donation you may make a bank transfer to their account:

HSBC DHN Destitute Asylum Fund Sort code: 40-34-18 Account No: 52854058


200 Club

The 200 Club draws have been suspended for the time being and will recommence at Week 11 when we are able to reopen our churches, come together to celebrate Mass and enjoy one another’s company again.

The 200 Club will then continue to run its course to complete 52 weeks. As a result it will no longer follow the calendar year.


And finally

You may enjoy this picture of our New Easter Candle which will be lit when we can return to our churches.

Easter candle
Easter candle in St Patrick’s Church

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