Fourth Sunday of Easter, 2020
Dear Parishioner
Here is our parish Newsletter for the first week of May.
Please be reassured that I continue to pray for you all in the hope that you will continue to keep well and remain in good spirits.
As social distancing and lockdown continue, we will find it challenging at times, but we are assured it is having a positive effect on curbing the spread of the coronavirus, so I continue to encourage you to follow our Government’s instructions to Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. Please encourage others to do the same.
If you are struggling at the moment, why not visit the “Alone Together” website which is continually being updated and offers a variety of suggestions as to how to cope with what may sometimes seem to be long and lonely days.
Please remember our parishioners who do not have internet access, why not give them a ring and share the news with them.
Please take care of yourselves. Try to pray every day and strive to read your bible, God’s Word can be most comforting and uplifting. 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 the Risen Lord bless you all
Father Patterson
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on a Sunday at 11.30 and on weekdays at 12.00. These services may be viewed live or anytime later.
Bishop Robert Barron or Fr. Steve Grunow from Word on Fire, continue to celebrate daily Mass from the bishop’s private chapel which is available anytime after 13.15 UK time.
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
Mass Intentions
I continue to celebrate Mass privately every day and as I suspect it will be quite some time before we are able to reopen our churches I propose to fulfil during this coming week the following Mass Intentions which remained unsaid when we had to close our doors:
- Monday – Kathleen Mullen
- Tuesday – Paul Hughes
- Wednesday – Kathleen Slasor
- Thursday – The sick, NHS & Care Workers
- Friday – Stephen Coyne
- 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.
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, 7th May, will be celebrated by Bishop Marcus Stock from Leeds Cathedral at 19.00.
Diocesan Day of Prayer
Bishop Robert has made Thursday, 14th May a Diocesan Day of Prayer for the sick and their families, and all who support them. This day of prayer will begin at 10.00 with an online stream of Divine Office from St. Mary’s Cathedral, led by Fr. Michael McCoy.
Liturgical Restrictions.
The celebration of Mass in church along with the celebration of all other Sacraments and sacramentals is suspended until such time as we are allowed to reopen our churches.
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. 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
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time and,
- Paul Hughes, Doris Shields and Teresa Smith who have died. “Receive Lord into tranquillity and peace the souls of your servants whom you have called from this life. May they 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.
Stations of the Light
This is a spiritual journey with Christ that takes you through fourteen of the most inspiriting events of His post-Resurrection life on earth, up until Pentecost.
Vocations Sunday
This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, a special day of prayer for Vocations. You may like to add this prayer to your daily prayers.
Heavenly Father, in baptism you called us by name and made us members of your family, the Church. Help all your people to know their vocation in life, and to respond by living a life of holiness. For your greater glory and for the service of your people, raise up dedicated and generous men who will serve as priests for the Church of Hexham and Newcastle. Send your Spirit to guide and strengthen our communities, our seminarians and all who are discerning their vocation. Amen.
Could Jesus be calling you to be Catholic Priest?
An online course of reflection and discussion is an opportunity to ask that question. The course will take place using ZOOM at 19.15 on Mondays beginning Monday 11th May. To find out more, please contact Father Christopher Warren.
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.
Your weekly offering is greatly valued and is our sole source of income
As we face another period during which our churches will have to remain closed, I would ask those of you who may feel able, in what I am aware may be difficult times for us all financially, to consider contributing your weekly offering by bank transfer directly into the parish account. It will help us meet our ongoing financial commitments. I am very grateful to those of you who have already chosen to do so.
Alternatively, you might put aside your envelopes each week and bring them along to church once we can reopen and celebrate Mass and socialise together.
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
