23rd Sunday of the Year
The following celebrations will take place during the coming week.
- Saturday: (9 Sep) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Sunday: (10 Sep) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: Sheila Robinson
- Tuesday: 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s Church: Lindsay Bradley
- Thursday: 10am Funeral Service in St. Alban’s Church: Terry Barker
- Saturday: (16 Sep) 6pm Mass in St. Alban’s Church: The Parishioners Intentions
- Sunday: (17 Sep) 10am Mass in St. Patrick’s: Denis Lenehan & Margaret Lenehan
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from the Holy Name, Jesmond. Visit the website for Mass times this week.
When you are unable to celebrate Mass 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
Please keep in your prayers:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- all those whose memories we cherish at this time, especially Maureen Johnson, Denis Lenehan, Margaret Lenehan and Sheila Robinson and,
- Terence Barker who has died. May he rest in peace.
All are welcome
Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration of Mass in St. Patrick’s and St. Alban’s churches. It is a joy to welcome people of other faiths or none who come to join us in worship. Currently, only baptised Catholic people are able to receive Holy Communion and we ask that when you approach the altar you extend your hands towards the minister who will place the sacred host in your hand which you should then consume immediately before returning to your place. If you are not a Catholic or are indisposed to receive Holy Communion, you are invited to come forward at the appropriate time and receive a blessing, indicating your desire by folding an arm across your chest.
Great North Run
Please remember that the Great North Run takes place this Sunday, 10th September. You may need to allow more time to get to Mass due to the road closures.
Catholic Education Sunday
This weekend is a time of prayer for all those involved in Catholic Education in our country.
There will be an opportunity for those of you who wish to contribute towards the work of the National Catholic Education Service. Simply place your donation in an envelope marked “Catholic Education” and place it in one of the boxes at the doors of our churches. Those of you with boxes of envelopes should have an envelope in your box.
A prayer for Education Sunday
Dear Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of Catholic schools and for all those who have given their talents to educating our young people. Through the challenges they encounter each day, lead them to an ever deeper appreciation of the sacred duty to which you have called them. We pray for all those who contribute to the efficient running of our schools: support staff, kitchen staff, maintenance staff, governors and chaplains and give thanks for their hard work and dedication. We pray for all those who lead our Catholic schools, may they be people of integrity so that they can be witnesses as well as teachers. We pray that the schools they lead will become places where our young people can experience your love in their lives. We pray for our pupils, may your love strengthen and nurture them through the influence and example of those who care for them. We pray that through their time at school they will flourish and grow to discover who you have called them to be. We make this prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, our teacher and our Lord, Amen.
News from the new headteacher of our School
Welcome back to another year of news from school. St Alban’s is once again buzzing with busy-ness as the children and staff return from their relaxing summer break. A special welcome to all our new children, their families and new members of staff. We are settling back into the routines of school life and pray that we will all be happy at school.
I look forward to meeting you at next weekend’s parish Mass in each church to introduce myself in my new role as headteacher.
Mrs M Robinson
The Sacrament of Confirmation – Sunday, 19th November, 2023
Bishop Stephen will come to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation during Mass on Sunday, 19th November at 10am in St. Patrick’s Church. Please put the date in your diary and come along to support our young parishioners who are currently preparing to receive this special Sacrament.
The final three sessions for our young people from St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s who have expressed an interest to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation take place on:
Monday 11th September; Monday 9th October and Monday 6th November
in St. Patrick’s parish centre at 6.30pm. Parents and sponsors are also welcome. In order to proceed to Confirmation, it is necessary for prospective candidates to attend all three of these sessions.
Parish Walk – Saturday 16th September, 2023
The next parish walk is an 8.25 mile easy walk, which can be shortened by catching the bus after lunch.
Meeting time 10.15am at Monkseaton Metro Station.
We will be walking along the waggonway to Holy Well Dene, through the dene to Seaton Sluice and then back along the coast to Monkseaton Metro Station. There are 4 Stiles and toilets at Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay. Lunch stop at Seaton Sluice where there are 3 pubs, a Fish and Chips Restaurant and plenty of seats if you prefer to bring your own picnic.
Your offerings are our sole source of income
Although we do not take a collection at Mass by passing round a basket, we do hope you will feel able to make an offering towards the upkeep and running costs of our churches in one of the boxes you will find at the entrances to our churches. Alternatively you may consider making your offering by Standing Order the details of which are below.
For St. Alban’s: Account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban: Sort code: 40-34-18 Account No: 92010984
For St. Patrick’s: Account name: DHN Felling St Patrick: Sort code: 40-34-18 Account No: 52010453
What do Catholics believe and why?
If you would like to know more about what Catholics believe, perhaps with a view to considering becoming a member of the Catholic Church, you may be interested in a series of talks which will take place over the coming months in St. Patrick’s parish centre on Tuesday evenings.
An information evening will take place on Tuesday, 19th September at 7pm in St. Patrick’s parish centre, Felling. Please feel free to come along on the night for a short introduction to the programme and a chance to ask any questions you may have.
RAAC
St. Alban’s Church and presbytery are to be surveyed by the Diocese in the very near future to establish whether or not they contain RAAC as they were built during the period this concrete was being widely used. Until such time as the survey has been completed, we have been advised by the Diocese to continue using the church.
Our Lady of Fatima
The visitation of the Pilgrim Virgin statue of our Lady of Fatima and the relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco will take place in St. Anne’s Church, Harlow Green on Saturday, 16th September, 2023. The details of the afternoon which begins at 1.30pm are posted on the church noticeboards.
Congratulations
Our prayerful good wishes go to James who, supported by his family, friends and parish family, celebrated the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time last weekend. We assure him and his family of our ongoing prayers.