12^th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

Thanks to the generosity of our volunteer stewards we are able to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

There are still places available for Mass this Sunday, 20th June, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 27th June, please telephone 07526 232124 on:

 Friday, 25th June between 5pm – 7pm

Please note the booking facility is no longer available on Wednesdays.

This number will be unavailable outside of the above times. Bookings cannot be made via the presbytery telephone number nor by email and can only be made for the approaching Sunday and not for any other dates. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

You will be encouraged to provide your name and telephone number to comply with the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

You may still be feeling a little hesitant about coming to Mass and that is perfectly understandable. The Sunday obligation is still suspended so you are under no obligation to attend Mass. You must not come to Church if you are experiencing any signs of Covid-19 or feeling unwell in any way.

The mandatory wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing and cleaning the church after each celebration remain in place within our church and the maximum capacity for a parish Mass remains at 70. So the church is as safe as we can possibly make it for you and our volunteer stewards will continue to look after you.

With the growing number of new Covid cases due to the Delta variant, I suspect none of us were surprised to learn of the extension of the restrictions until 19th July. Here in Gateshead there have been 164 new cases in the last seven days and 61,181 throughout the UK in the same period.

Despite our frustrations, I do hope we will continue to do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus in our families, amongst our friends and within the local community – irrespective of what others may choose to do. I also hope we will all respond positively to the vaccination programme now that all adults aged 18 and over may book a vaccination.

Whilst the vaccines have been shown to reduce the likelihood of severe illness in most people, like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so those of us who have received the vaccine should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Whilst emerging evidence suggests vaccines are having an impact on transmission, we do not know by how much the vaccine stops Covid-19 from spreading. Even if you have been vaccinated, you could still spread Covid-19 to others, even if you do not display symptoms.

Covid spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within 2 metres). The further away you can keep from other people, and the less time you spend in close contact with them, the less likely you are to catch Covid-19 and pass it on to others. Close contact, including hugging, increases the risk of spreading Covid-19. And please remember, you should always make space for other people to keep their distance if they want to – not everyone may want a hug!

May the Lord continue to bless and watch over us and those we love in these challenging times. 

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am and on weekdays at 12.05 pm. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10 am on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. These Masses may also be viewed later from the same website.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions:

• Monday – A special intention (AB & CD) 
• Tuesday:  10 am in St. Patrick’s Church – George and Mary Laurie
• Wednesday – Dorothy Foster
• Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
• Friday – Brian Quigley 
• Saturday:  Fr “P’s” intentions
• Sunday: 10.30 am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking required

 When you are unable to celebrate Mass with 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.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

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

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 time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 127,956 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

For those who are afraid

God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of Covid-19, fear for loved ones, fear of what the future holds.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace. Amen

The Gift of Faith

We continue the series of short videos by Fr. Stephen Wang.

This week Fr. Wang explores “the Gift of Faith.”

Day for Life

This Sunday, 20th June, we celebrate ‘Day for Life‘ providing an opportunity to pray for the gift of life from conception to natural death and to raise awareness of the precious gift of life.

The fragility of life and the reality of death has been brought into sharp focus during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the UK alone, almost 128,000 people have died from Covid-19. Yet in the face of such suffering and death, we have witnessed the extraordinary dedication of healthcare professionals and their loving care for the sick and dying. We too have each made sacrifices for the greater good during this pandemic. These acts of heroic love are a powerful testimony to the fundamental dignity of the human person and to the respect owed to each life, particularly through proper care and love in the last moments of life.

Against this backdrop of loving care, we are now faced with the very real threat of the legalisation of ‘assisted suicide’ in our country. It is not a question of ‘if’ this challenge will come, it is now a question of ‘when?’ There is now a Private Members Bill in the House of Lords on so-called ‘Assisted Dying’ and it is only a matter of time before the issue is back in the House of Commons.

This year’s theme for Day for Life focuses on assisted suicide and the respect owed to life. Online resources are available to inform Catholics about this threat to life and to share with people our response to such a threat: a true compassion as the just response to the immense value of the human person.

Looking ahead

To be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid restrictions have been removed, Fr. Patterson needs your help and support as outlined in our shared parish Roadmap which was circulated at the beginning of May. If you haven’t received a copy, please contact Fr. Patterson on felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277.

Fr. Patterson also asks you to contact him as soon as possible

1. If you have helped in either church before the pandemic and no longer feel able to continue in your previous role.
2. If you would like to help in any of the ways outlined in our shared parish Roadmap.
3. If you wish to continue helping as you have done in the past

Please remember that you are not being asked to take up the role of volunteering until all the Covid Restrictions have been removed for churches (whenever that may be). However it is important for us to have a bank of volunteers in place to enable us to determine whether we can reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre when the time comes.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Covid restrictions and limited human resources to enable us to comply with these restrictions, prevent us being able to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

We are still unable to reopen the parish centre which prevents us offering the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child to the Church for Baptism.

As such, we are still unable to offer the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Patrick’s Church.

Thank you

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a donation of £40.00 recently received for St. Patrick’s parish funds.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

Fr. Patterson continues to be grateful for your offerings during these difficult times and is especially grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by standing order helping us meet the regular financial  commitments of our churches.

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

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

Christians and Muslims pray for peace

This annual service for women and children, which takes place each year in the historic Lady Chapel in Jesmond Dene, will, for 2021, be an online event only and will be available for viewing online from next Saturday 26 June by following this link: Interreligious Relations – contacts, events and news (rcdhn.org.uk) 

The Bookshop at St Mary’s Cathedral

The Bookshop has reopened on Tuesday 11 am – 3 pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am – 3pm, on Saturdays from 9.45 am – 3 pm and on a Sunday from 8.30 am – 1 pm. Check the Cathedral  website to confirm opening times.

Thanks to our Stewards and Telephone Bookings operator

With the easing of the lockdown delayed, Fr. Patterson wishes to renew his thanks to our volunteer stewards and telephone bookings operator for their ongoing commitment and service to us during the course of the pandemic. Without their help we could not open St. Patrick’s Church.

The stewards welcome you, invite you to sanitise your hands, ensure you follow the current Covid restrictions by wearing a face covering and socially distancing before showing you to your seat. They invite you forward to receive Holy Communion, and once you have left the Church, they sanitise each bench as well as the many “touch points.” Our telephone booking operator gives of her time to ensure you have a place for Sunday Mass. Thanks to you all.

Roadmap Step 3  (from 17 May)

These are the changes  that came into effect on 17th May.

This information accompanies the changes. Whilst social distancing with close family and friends is now a matter of personal judgement, we are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging. Remember too that you should always make space for other people to keep their distance if they want to.

In some settings, there will be specific guidance that we will need to follow even when we are with friends and family. This is important to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 to other people such as staff and other members of the public. You should always follow guidance associated with the setting you are in (for example in a place of worship).

Covid-secure rules, including social distancing requirements, continue to apply in the workplace, and in businesses and public venues including places of worship. This guidance does not affect a site owner’s responsibility to calculate the number of people that can be accommodated with social distancing in place.

Where do we go from here?

Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE COVID Study and Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, offers his comments on the Prime Minister’s decision to delay the easing of the lockdown for another four weeks.

In this week’s video Professor Spector provides his weekly update of the situation in the UK covering issues such as the rising number of cases, how the vaccines are working on the Delta variant, where will we be in a few weeks time and how the classic Covid symptoms now include headache, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, persistent cough and the value of taking regular Lateral flow tests.” 

11^th Sunday of the Year

Dear Parishioners

I am grateful to our volunteer stewards who have once again offered to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30am when booking is advised to guarantee a place.

There are places remaining for this Sunday, 13^th June, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 20th June, please telephone 07526 232124 on:

 on Friday, 18th June between 5 pm – 7pm

Please note the booking facility will no longer be available on Wednesdays.

This number will be unavailable outside of the above times. Bookings cannot be made via the presbytery telephone number nor by email and can only be made for the approaching Sunday and not for any other dates. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

You will be encouraged to provide your name and telephone number to comply with the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

You may still be feeling a little hesitant about coming to Mass and that is perfectly understandable. The Sunday obligation is still suspended so you are under no obligation to attend Mass. You must not come to Church if you are experiencing any signs of Covid-19 or feeling unwell in any way.

The mandatory wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing and cleaning the church after each celebration remain in place within our church and the maximum capacity for a parish Mass remains at 70. So the church is as safe as we can possibly make it for you and our volunteer stewards will continue to look after you.

Looking ahead

To be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid restrictions have been removed, Fr. Patterson needs your help and support as outlined in our shared parish Roadmap which was circulated at the beginning of May. If you haven’t received a copy, please contact Fr. Patterson on felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277.

Fr. Patterson also asks you to contact him as soon as possible.

1. If you have helped in either church before the pandemic and no longer feel able to continue in your previous role.
2. If you would like to help in any of the ways outlined in our shared parish Roadmap.
3. If you wish to continue helping as you have done in the past

Please remember that you are not being asked to take up the role of volunteering until all the Covid Restrictions have been removed for churches (whenever that may be). However it is important for us to have a bank of volunteers in place to enable us to determine whether we can reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre when the time comes.

In the meantime, please do all that you can to prevent the transmission of the virus by adhering to the current restrictions and accepting the invitation to be vaccinated if you have not already done so. 

May God bless you all.

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am and on weekdays at 12.05 pm. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 am on Sunday or anytime later. There are no weekday Masses at the Holy Name this week.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions:

• Monday – Fr. Owen Grant
• Tuesday:  10am in St. Patrick’s Church – Ellen Farrell
• Wednesday – Emma Hindes
• Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
• Friday – In thanksgiving for help during the pandemic
• Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
• Sunday: 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking required

 When you are unable to celebrate Mass with 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.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

  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 Carol Belton

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 time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 127,884 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure):

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are afraid

God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of Covid-19, fear for loved ones, fear of what the future holds.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace. Amen

The Bible

We continue the series of short videos by Fr. Stephen Wang.

This week Fr. Wang explores “the Bible.”

My Mask

Holy God, you see me and you hear me.
Through my mask, you see if I smile or if I scowl.
Through my mask, you hear me if I whisper a brief prayer or mutter a muffled curse.
My friends don’t see or hear or know; nor do my family; nor my colleagues. But you do.

This mask takes away power – the power of clear communication, but also the power to infect.
It also grants a freedom to be with others.
My smiles, my thoughts, my mumbles, these I know, but they are a greater mystery to others now.
But not to you, Lord. You see past my mask, you hear through it, you know.

But your mask, Lord, what about your mask? Who can see through your mask? Hear through it?
I cannot. I cannot see if you smile or if you scowl.
I cannot hear if you whisper an answer to my prayer or brush off my curse.
I cannot sense if you are pleased with me or if you are waiting for me to do much better.
Can we all take off our masks, Lord? Put them away?

When the disease that moves us to mask our faces for safety fades away, will our eyes and our ears be stronger, better able to see and to hear the smiles and the frowns, the cries and the whispers of those who fill our lives, who make our lives worth living?

Will we see, Lord, that what we think of as your mask is really also our own, our inability to find you in the rush of our lives, our failure to see you in all the wonders you show us, our incapacity to hear your gentle voice in the tumult that surrounds us.

Can we know, Lord, that we put on many masks so we can cope, avoid, pretend, be acceptable?
Help us, Lord, to move beyond our masks. You are here for us to see and to hear. Help us. Let us take off our masks.

Fr. Edward Schmidt S.J.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Covid restrictions and limited human resources to enable us to comply with these restrictions, prevent us being able to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

We are still unable to reopen the parish centre which prevents us offering the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child to the Church for Baptism.

As such, we are still unable to offer the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Patrick’s Church.

The Little Sisters of the Poor

The Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Joseph’s Home in Newcastle are finding the current economic climate increasingly more demanding. The lockdown measures have had a massive impact on their fundraising activities and the charitable donations they rely on to meet the daily running costs of the Home. They are appealing for donations to help them continue with their work of caring for the elderly and to enable them to carry out essential fire prevention upgrades to the Home. In these uncertain times, small acts of kindness can make a huge difference. If you feel able to make a donation, cheques made payable to ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ can be sent to: St. Joseph’s Home, Westmorland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7QA. Alternatively, secure, online donations can be made via the Little Sisters of the Poor website.

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.

Thank you

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a donation received in memory of Paul Hughes for St. Patrick’s parish funds.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

Fr. Patterson continues to be grateful for your offerings during these difficult times and is especially grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by standing order helping us meet the regular financial  commitments of our churches.

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

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

Roadmap Step 3  (from 17 May)

These are the changes  that came into effect on 17th May.

This information accompanies the changes. Whilst social distancing with close family and friends is now a matter of personal judgement, we are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging. Remember too that you should always make space for other people to keep their distance if they want to.

In some settings, there will be specific guidance that we will need to follow even when we are with friends and family. This is important to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 to other people such as staff and other members of the public. You should always follow guidance associated with the setting you are in (for example in a place of worship).

Covid-secure rules, including social distancing requirements, continue to apply in the workplace, and in businesses and public venues including places of worship. This guidance does not affect a site owner’s responsibility to calculate the number of people that can be accommodated with social distancing in place.

Where do we go from here?

Monday is the day when the Government will announce whether or not it can proceed with Step 4 of the Roadmap on 21st June. Commentators predict that the prospect of that happening is looking increasingly unlikely following the rapid rise in Covid cases due to the Delta variant.

It was always expected that infection rates would rise having allowed indoor mixing from 17th May which provides more opportunity for the virus to spread.

But what has become clear in the past few days is that the trajectory is steeper than many had hoped, because of the more infectious Delta variant, thought to be 40% to 80% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, first identified in Kent.

At the current rate of growth, it is predicted that the UK will hit 15,000 cases a day by 21st June without any further relaxation of restrictions, which could drive up cases even more.

Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE COVID Study and Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, comments on the latest data:

“The COVID-19 situation in the UK has rapidly changed from one of the best performing nations to a nation again struggling with rising cases. Official confirmed cases are now around 7,500, (10^th June) which is the highest daily figure since late February.

However, when you dig into the data, it’s clear that this is an epidemic among the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated populations in the UK and, due to the way vaccines have been rolled out, is largely affecting younger generations.

The good news is that fully vaccinated people have much greater protection. Vaccines are working and we want to encourage people to exercise caution, especially if they feel at all unwell, until they’ve been fully vaccinated. The race is on to fully vaccinate the whole population to save lives and return to normal life”

For more information visit the  Zoe Study data video or read Why we may have to wait .

The Feast of Corpus Christi

Dear Parishioners

We must continue to be grateful to our volunteer stewards who have offered to open St. Patrick’s Church for Mass on Tuesday at 10 am, when no booking will be needed, and on Sunday at 10.30 am when booking will be required.

There are a few places remaining for this Sunday, 6^th June, offered on a first come first served basis. Please bring Test and Trace details if you haven’t reserved a place. You will receive a warm and reassuring welcome.

To reserve a place for Mass next Sunday, 13th June, please telephone 07526 232124 on

Wednesday, 9th June between 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Friday, 11th June between 5.30pm – 7pm

This number will be unavailable outside of the above times. Bookings cannot be made via the presbytery telephone number nor by email and can only be made for the approaching Sunday and not for any other dates. Text messages cannot be accepted as a method of booking.

You will be encouraged to provide your name and telephone number to comply with the NHS Test and Trace system and also the number in your family if you are attending as a household. You should only sit with members of your own household or bubble. On arrival at the church you will be welcomed by a steward and your name will be checked against the booking list.

For Mass on Tuesday, where booking is not required, you are invited to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place them in the box in church.

You may still be feeling a little hesitant about coming to Mass and that is perfectly understandable. The Sunday obligation is still suspended so you are under no obligation to attend Mass. You must not come to Church if you are experiencing any signs of Covid-19 or feeling unwell in any way.

The easing of restrictions which came into force on 17th May do not effect our Church. The mandatory wearing of face coverings, sanitising your hands, 2 metre social distancing and cleaning the church after each celebration remain in place within our church and the maximum capacity for a parish Mass remains at 70. So the church is as safe as we can possibly make it for you.

There  is still a need for caution

We must still exercise caution in our daily lives as the overall number of cases in the UK hit their highest levels since 26th March last Thursday with 5,274 new infections. The Indian Delta variant is now believed to be the dominant variant in the UK as Public Health England believe the number of cases of the variant have risen by 5,472 since last week to 12,431.

Dr. Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said it was imperative that the British Public continued to be cautious as scientists learn more about the new variant.

She went on to say that the way to tackle variants is to use the same measures to reduce the risk of transmission of Covis-19 as we have used before – work from home where you can and practice hands, face, space and fresh air at all times. She also urged all those who are eligible, and have not already done so, to come forward to be vaccinated and to make sure you get your second jab. It will, she said, save lives.

So please do all that you can to prevent the transmission of the virus by adhering to the current restrictions and accepting the invitation to be vaccinated if you have not already done so.

Please keep each other in your prayers too, asking God to watch over us all and to keep us safe.

May God bless you and your family

Fr. Patterson

Mass to view on line

Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 am and on weekdays at 12.05 pm. These Masses may be viewed live or anytime later.

Alternatively, you may like to follow Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 am on Sunday or anytime later. There are no weekday Masses at the Holy Name this week.

Mass Intentions for the coming week

With the exception of Sunday and Tuesday, Fr. Patterson will celebrate Mass privately during the week remembering the following Intentions:

• Monday -Brian Quigley
• Tuesday:  10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Carol Belton
• Wednesday – Kevin Crinnion
• Thursday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
• Friday – Ethel Rogan
• Saturday – Fr “P’s” intentions
• Sunday: 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Church – For the intentions of all our parishioners – booking required

When you are unable to celebrate Mass with 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.

In case you are not aware, a parish priest is obliged to celebrate Mass for the “Intentions of the Parishioners” every Sunday or Holyday, which prevents him from fulfilling personal intentions on those occasions.

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 Carol Belton.

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 time to pray

Please join together in prayer for the 127,823 people who have died in our country from the coronavirus. (Friday’s figure).

Gracious God, as we remember before you the thousands who have died from the coronavirus, surround us and all who mourn with your compassion. Be gentle with us in our grief, protect us from despair and
give us grace to persevere and face the future with hope. We make this prayer in Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A prayer with an eye to the future

Lord God our creator and guide,
you fashioned us from clay and breathed life into us.
We are made and loved by you.
Your Spirit fills us with hope and lights the path to fullness of life.
As we pray to you in these uncertain times
grant us the strength to rebuild when all seems lost,
and the courage to reach out to those who struggle.  Amen.

The Holy Spirit and the Church

We continue the series of short videos by Fr. Stephen Wang.

This week Fr. Wang explores “the Holy spirit and the Church.”

Shared Parish Roadmap

A shared Parish Roadmap has been prepared and distributed via email and at Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Tuesdays and Sundays during the month of May. It is designed to explore how we might be able to reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre once all the Covid restrictions have been removed.

It would be unwise to presume that those parishioners who have been actively involved in our shared parishes in various capacities in the past will be able or prepared to resume their previous roles so please inform Fr. Patterson if you wish to step down and of course, if you would like to volunteer it is also important to contact him.

It is important for Fr. Patterson to know as soon as possible:-

1. If you have helped in either church before the pandemic and no longer feel able to continue in your previous role.
2. If you would like to help in any of the ways outlined in our shared parish Roadmap.
3. If you wish to continue helping as you have done in the past.

Please contact Fr. Patterson as soon as possible by emailing felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277.

Please remember that you are not being asked to take up the role of volunteering until all the Covid Restrictions have been removed for churches (whenever that may be). However it is important for us to have a bank of volunteers in place to enable us to determine whether we can reopen St. Alban’s Church and fully reopen St. Patrick’s Church and parish centre when the time comes. If you haven’t received a copy of the Roadmap, please contact Fr. Patterson on felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk or telephone 0191 495 2277.

Fr. Patterson would like to thank those parishioners who have already responded to our Parish Roadmap and looks forward to hearing from more of you by the end of this week.

St Vincent’s Centre – Blackfriars

St Vincent’s Centre is located next to St Dominic’s Church in Newcastle and provides help and support to anyone finding themselves in a time of need. The Centre supports people with food parcels, clothing, toiletries and essential children/baby items. It is open Monday –  Friday 9.00 – 16.00.  Donations of food, clothing, shoes and toiletries are always very welcome and can be dropped off at the centre.

If you or anyone you know are in need of support or you would simply like more information about the services offered or find out how you could help, please drop an email to Emma at emmab@svp.org.uk or contact 0191 261 6027.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Covid restrictions and limited human resources to enable us to comply with these restrictions, prevent us being able to open St. Patrick’s Church for anything other than Mass on a Sunday and Tuesday and for funerals at present.

We are still unable to reopen the parish centre which prevents us offering the necessary baptismal preparation for parents who are considering presenting their child to the Church for Baptism. As such, we are still unable to offer the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Patrick’s Church

Community Counselling Service

Bheith Ann is a brand-new Community Counselling Service available to all residents of Felling and the wider Gateshead area and is taking referrals for those individuals with issues such as Bereavement and Grief, Loneliness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Problems, Post-Trauma Experiences and Bullying.

This is a free confidential service. It is delivered by a team of dedicated, trained counsellors and strictly in line with national, professional Codes of Ethical Practice.

All referrals are treated with the utmost respect, confidentiality, compassion and care. To make a referral, please ring the Bheith Ann Referral Helpline on 07425 768 957. If you simply want more information about the Service and how it works, please ring Neil Campbell (Service Co-Ordinator) on 07903 239 983.

Parish News by Email

If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.

Thank you

Fr. Patterson is very grateful for donations recently received in memory of Jimmy Connolly in the sum of £150.00 and £10.00.

Your ongoing financial support is welcomed and needed

Fr. Patterson continues to be grateful for your offerings during these difficult times and is especially grateful to those parishioners who regularly contribute to parish funds by standing order helping us meet the regular financial  commitments of our churches.

You may bring your envelopes to Mass on Tuesdays or Sundays or drop them through the presbytery letterbox. For security reason, envelopes should not be put through the letterbox of St. Alban’s Presbytery.

The parish is still able to reclaim the tax from Gift Aided offertory contributions made by bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.

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

Roadmap Step 3  (from 17 May)

 These are the changes  that came into effect on 17th May. 

This information accompanies the changes. Whilst social distancing with close family and friends is now a matter of personal judgement, we are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging. Remember too that you should always make space for other people to keep their distance if they want to.

In some settings, there will be specific guidance that we will need to follow even when we are with friends and family. This is important to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 to other people such as staff and other members of the public. You should always follow guidance associated with the setting you are in (for example in a place of worship). Covid-secure rules, including social distancing requirements, continue to apply in the workplace, and in businesses and public venues including places of worship. This guidance does not affect a site owner’s responsibility to calculate the number of people that can be accommodated with social distancing in place.

CAFOD Covid-19 in India

India is facing a devastating second wave of coronavirus. The country has confirmed more than 20 million cases and more than 200,000 deaths, with some reports concerned that the number of deaths is just the tip of the iceberg, because of under reporting. The pandemic has put a strain on the medical infrastructure of the country, with hospitals unable to cope with the influx of patients. Our Catholic aid agencies will be distributing medical kits and setting up temporary treatment centres as well as providing PPE to frontline health workers. You can help by donating online at Covid-19 in India: How we are responding | CAFOD.

Catching Covid-19 after being vaccinated.

Can you catch COVID-19 after being vaccinated?
Who is most at risk of catching COVID-19 after being vaccinated?
Are the symptoms of COVID-19 different after you’ve been vaccinated?
How can I protect myself and others from COVID-19 after vaccination?

These questions have raised their heads during the course of the past week.

The ZOE Covid Symptom Study provides you with the answers.