St. Bede's Catholic Church

Newcastle upon Tyne

Select from list or scroll down:

Sunday 30th January 2005 - 4th Sunday of the Year
Sunday 23rd January 2005 - 3rd Sunday of the Year
Sunday 16th January 2005 - 2nd Sunday of the Year
Sunday 9th January 2005 - Baptism of the Lord
Sunday 2nd January 2005 - 2nd Sunday after Christmas
Archives

Sunday 30th January 2005 - 4th Sunday of the Year

Today there will be an opportunity to make an offering for the SPUC White Flower Appeal after Mass. There are leaflets giving further information at the back of the Church.

Saints and Feasts this week:

St John Bosco—a great saint. Born in 1815, and worked as a tailor, baker, shoemaker and carpenter while studying at college and in seminary. Became a teacher and totally dedicated to the well being and religious formation of young people. Founded the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1859, a religious order with great influence in Catholic Education throughout the world. They made me very welcome in Melbourne and Sydney last year—so they must be really good.
Presentation of the Lord: There was an amazing religious woman called Etheria who spent a good deal of time in the 4th century wandering around the Holy Land with her Pentax Camera and note book. She writes really well. She tells us that this feast was celebrated in Jerusalem in honour of the first appearance of Jesus in the Temple, 40 days after his birth.
St Brigid—abbess in Kildare, best known Irish saint after Patrick. Seems to have been a deeply compassionate, strong, charitable woman. A real influence on and support to religious women.
St Blaise: Now this is an interesting one. No one really knows when he lived—may have been a bishop in Armenia, though on the other hand...Yet his legendary fame spread throughout Europe and was associated with the cure of sick animals and people with sore throats.
St Agatha a martyr in the early church, mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer. To be honest, much of what is said about her is legend. She is the patron saint of bell-founders, I know the story, but its not one you’d want to read during Mass on a Sunday.

LOTS OF DATES:

Arrangements are now in place for Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion in both St Bede’s and St Joseph’s. All parents of the children being prepared will receive a letter in the near future giving these dates and other information. Please refer to First Confession and Holy Communion Preparation for further details.

St Bede’s:

Parents’ Meeting - Wednesday 9 February 6.30 pm Parish room

Enrolment Celebration - Sunday 13 February, 10.00 am St Bede’s

First Confession - Tuesday 8 March 7.00 pm St Bede’s

First Holy Communion - Saturday 25 June 10.00 am St Bede’s

St Joseph’s:

Parents’ Meeting - Tuesday 1 February 2.30 St Joseph’s School

First Confession - Tuesday 22 March St Joseph’s Ch 6.00 pm

First Holy Communion - Sunday 26th June 9.00 am St Joseph’s

It is really important that we pray for the young people and their families as we all prepare for their celebration of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Ash Wednesday is next week, on February 9th. Mr Bernard Robinson will lead us in four reflections on the Passion Stories in the four Gospels. We have invited all the local Catholic, Methodist and Church of England Communities to come along if they wish. All the sessions will take place on Wednesday Evenings from 7.30—8.30 pm. The dates are: February 16th and 23rd, and March 9th and 16th—NB there is no session on Wednesday 2 March

CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION: Bishop Kevin Dunn will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation here in St Bede’s at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 25 October. Once again the celebration will include young people from St Michael’s and St Joseph’s as well as St Bede’s.

Many thanks to the Rev Chris Knights and the community at St Margaret’s in Scotswood for their welcome, hospitality and invitation to pray last Tuesday at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was a very suitable reflective end to the of week of prayer, hopefully it isn’t the end of our praying…

Homelessness Sunday: The Churches’ Housing Justice Coalition ask us to pay particular attention today to the homeless in our communities. Please keep these families and their helpers in your prayers.

SPONSOR FORMS: One of our parishioners, Daniel Jopling, has been chosen to visit India from 13-28^th July this year to help rebuild the village school in Rumbak, a remote area of the Ladakj region of the north of India. It looks like a fascinating project, and I’m delighted that Daniel has agreed to go for it. Part of the challenge is to raise £1,750 by 31 May – four months time…I’m sure we can help him raise this sum. Daniel intends to go on a Sponsored Walk (and in a very weak moment I agreed to go with him) on Sunday 13 February. He intends to walk from Wylam back to Newcastle and he’s helpfully provided some Sponsor Forms for those who want to assist him. It occurs to me you might even like to do the walk? Then, persuade all your known relatives, friends, next-door neighbours, post-persons, wheelie bin collectors and all to sponsor you. Please feel free to pick up a form – and fill it in.

St Bede’s YOUTH GROUP: Will reconvene after the break from 7.00 – 9.00 pm on Friday 4^th February in the Parish Meeting Room. Anyone from Year 7 and above will be more than welcome. ( Refer to the Youth Group Page)

BINGO: Once again the mighty challenge will take place in the Hall at 8.00pm on the first Tuesday –i.e. this Tuesday the 1^st February. It is a total mystery to me how anyone can concentrate enough to pick out those figures over half a dozen bits of paper – to my mind, whoever wins, deserves to.

POVERTY ACTION SUNDAY: Next Sunday – 6^th February – there will be an afternoon dedicated to Community and Regeneration in St Vincent’s Church on Monkchester Road in Walker. The event is sponsored by Church Action on Poverty. It begins at 4.00 p.m. and I intend to go myself – might see you there. Poster at the back of the Church, for further information, please ring 0191 272 2962.

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: To be honest, I suspect you might know more about this than I do. The Pilgrimage takes place between Saturday 30 July – Friday 5^th August. You can go either by air from Newcastle or by Express Coach from the City Centre. The world acclaimed international expert on all of this is Fr Peter Stott.

I’m sure he’d be delighted to hear from you if you want to go: –

St Joseph’s Presbytery,

Wallsend Road,

North Shields,

NE29 7AA.

Phone: 0191 257 5801.

Email: stjosephchirton@msn.com.

There are leaflets about the diocesan pilgrimage as well as a poster and other brochures about different pilgrimage destinations at the back of the Church.

Incidentally – there is still money available from the Candle Collection in 2004 for a ‘young’ person to go to Lourdes, either as a sick person or as a helper. There were no takers last year, and the Finance Committee (which will meet on Thursday 24 February) will need to make some decisions about it. The suggestions include offering the parish a further opportunity – which I am doing now – offering all or it or some of it to Fr Peter for some other young people elsewhere in the diocese to benefit from it, or making some of it available to young people in our parish to help them with a worthwhile project in relation to themselves, the faith and the Church. Any comments - more than welcome.

Please Take it if you want it….: I receive a fair amount of mail from different Religious Orders, CAFOD, Churches Housing Coalition, the Jesuits, The Missionaries of Africa, and all sorts of other folk. I do make a point of reading it. I sometimes pinch articles out of them and file them – hopefully to use at some stage in the future. I am also inclined to put them at the back of the Church with a sticker on them saying: Please take it if you want it – and I mean it. I’ve read it, it might be helpful to someone else. Please do take it, if you want it. If you don’t it goes in the recycling bin – you may even like to pass it on to someone else.

Lemington Male Voice Choir: Advance Notice…The Choir is performing in a Charity Concern in aid of the Tsunami Appeal on Friday 11 February 2005 at 7.30 pm in the Church of St Thomas The Martyr in the Haymarket. A donation of £10.00 would be readily accepted. They are available from David Buckall on 0191 267 6815. There is further information on the poster at the back of the Church.

AREA PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING: For my sins – which I guess have been many and various – I find myself chair of the Area Pastoral Council Meeting. We met last Thursday at St Robert’s in Fenham. We scheduled an hour, and were through in about 40 minutes – that’s my kind of meeting! As it happens, it was really good. We discovered that St Robert’s parish is sponsoring an sort of Invitation to new members Course, starting next Tuesday 1^st February in the meeting room next to the Church. It looks excellent, and isn’t just for ‘new members’, any of us could benefit from it. St Robert’s is also beginning a three week Baptism Preparation Programme on 21 February, from 7.00 – 8.45. There are all kinds of resources available to us through St Roberts, just as other parishes can benefit from programmes that we, or other parishes, prepare. I suspect that we need to look more carefully at these programmes that benefit us more generally in the future. There’s nothing like the sharing of resources…The next meeting of this particular group is here at St Bede’s on 21^st April this year.

One of these days….When I’m really organised, I’d like to think there would be room on our Newsletter for the odd thought, reflection, poem, humorous or challenging reflection. I came across these words while preparing a Holocaust Memorial introduction to a recent meeting:

One day children will be taught things they do not understand

The children of Africa will ask ‘What does hungry mean?’

The children of Palestine will ask ‘What is a refugee?’

Children of Europe will ask ‘What is a Concentration Camp?’

Children from Northern Ireland will ask ‘What is religious intolerance?’

And all the world’s children will ask ‘What is terrorism – what is war?’

And you will answer them. You will tell them:

‘These are outdated words like Racism, Xenophobia, Nuclear weapons, Dictatorship.

Words that no longer mean anything….That’s why they’re not in the dictionary’

Is this dreaming the impossible dream? We must work and pray that it will become a reality

The French Poet Jean Debruyne for a Liturgy celebrated in Le Struthof Concentration Camp in Strasburg in May 2001

Jim O’Keefe 28.01.05

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Sunday 23rd January 2005 - 3rd Sunday of the Year

Many thanks for your generosity when we ‘re-raffled’ the Christmas Hamper. I was tempted to dive into it for bits of things—but didn’t. You are so generous.

Really sorry I didn’t mention this last week—the problem with writing 2 newsletters in advance...but there is a Special Collection this week for the Catholic Education Service. This is one of the unsung, consistent and vital important parts of the Church. The CES advises the Bishops nationally and individually about the whole of our Education System. It has good links with the Government’s DfES (Department for Education and Skills), and at local level, helps every Catholic School to get the best deal for parents, teachers and pupils. Putting it briefly, it has a right load of hassle to deal with, and it certainly deserves our support. Our diocese is currently looking at how its organized, and, to be honest, and not a lot of people know this, our diocese has a really good track record when it comes to how our CES works.

Sunday 30th January: Can I suggest that we have our annual SPUC White Flower Appeal. It seems that the organization has simply sent us the flowers and request for a collection rather than provide people to take it. It is vitally important to keep a high profile in regard to the argument about the right to life and the fullness of life for all God’s children. Please be as generous as you can.

Saints and Feasts this week: There are some right heavy weights this week.

Francis de Sales Born in 1567 (same year as William of Orange went into exile, just in case you wondered) in France. Had a brilliant saying: ‘Whoever preaches with love preaches effectively’. I give in. Helped to found the Order of the Visitation with St Jane de Chantal (some of these great men and women saints were really good friends with each other, thank the Lord). He was really big into how ‘ordinary life’ is really holy. A really good man.
Conversion of St Paul—this newsletter is a bit too brief for Paul. I like him, I know some women don’t—but lets get real, he lived in his age and took the massive risk to become a Christian having spent his life killing them. Some conversion—the last day of the week of prayer for Christian Unity—see below.
Timothy and Titus: Two of the people Paul wrote to. The very early Church is fascinating. How do you start a new religious movement? These two characters had the responsibility of trying to set up systems for a new movement in a fairly hostile set-up—another two good guys.
Thomas Aquinas –well now...I’m sure I’m supposed to know loads about him, and I don’t, really. A totally brilliant man, 1225-1274. A child of a big family, dead clever, became a Dominican, though educated by the Benedictines—there must be a good story there somewhere. Was locked up by his (blood) brothers because he wanted to wander around Italy preaching. Honestly, we owe so much to his intellect, prayerful reflection and writings. Wrote tons of books, and must have been grateful to lots of Arabic writers and philosophers. I like him a lot, he simply blows my mind with his willingness to think, pray, study and try to keep it simple—tho’ I’m not sure I understand everything he’s said….

World Youth Day—Cologne 2005: I guess there’s no one wants to join the young (post 18) young folk in the diocese in Germany. Many of our students from Ushaw have been to previous Youth Days and found them really stimulating. The last chance for anyone thinking of having a go—go for it...If you want to, see me as soon as you can. Don’t worry too much about the cost, you’ll be doing the parish a favour if you decide to go.

On Tuesday 25th January, the last day of Christian Unity Week, we are all welcome down at St Margaret’s Scotswood for a Prayer Service and lunch. It is the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. On Wednesday this week I was delighted to welcome our local Anglican, Church Army and Methodist ministers to St Bede’s. It really was a delight to meet with all of them. The Rev Chris Knights invites us to a service and lunch (cuppasoup and good bread—sounds good to me) on Tuesday at 12.00 noon. We’ll be invited to make a contribution to the cost of the meal, - and quite right too. You will be very welcome. We have finalised further dates for future ‘gatherings’.

February 23rd 7.30pm Denton Burn Methodist Church—our local Ecumenical Group, members please take note.

May 15th 6.30pm St Bede’s Denton Burn—Ecumenical Celebration of Pentecost

September 10th Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne—more details later.

December 4^th 2005 – St Margaret’s Advent Service

I have also had a first conversation with the Rev Catherine Pickford of the Venerable Bede Church on the West Road. I haven’t mentioned it to her yet, but I’ve met her dad a couple of times, he’s the Anglican Bishop of Rippon – (another good guy). We’re wondering if the two parishes of St Bede and the Venerable Bede could ‘do something together’ this year. I’d love to try it. What do you think?

27^th January: Holocaust Memorial Day.

I’ve been trying to keep in touch with the BBC2, 9.00pm series about the Concentration camps and the frightful decisions that led up to them. It is a good series. Not sure what to say, after that. It is totally horrendous that within the last 100 years (and to be honest, for centuries before that) our sisters and brothers have tried to wipe out an entire nation and belief system. I have my own thoughts about what is happening in Israel/Palestine at the present moment, but we must remember that every living person is a child of God, and loved by God.

Sacred Heart Catholic High School – are advertising for a Chaplain. I was once a Chaplain at Our Lady and St Bedes’s in Stockton – I loved it…Anyone interested, please look at the poster at the back of the Church

SVP HOLY ISLAND CAMP: - I really enjoyed helping with the Camp on Holy Island when I was a student at Ushaw. I also encouraged other ‘young’ students to take it up as a formal ‘placement’ when I taught there. There are a couple of posters at the back of the Church inviting folk to help with this project – it is a good one.

Jesus Christ Superstar: I’m old enough to remember the hassle about this in the early 70s. I even interviewed the now ‘Sir’ Andrew Lloyd Weber when he was a mere normal person about it when I worked with Radio Tees in 1975! Its on at the Theatre Royal from 25 –30 April – info at the back of the Chuch. – To be honest, he wasn’t that clued up about the Gospel, but it was a good interview….

Diocesan Day of Recollection: More info at the back of the Church. David is a brilliant communicator. I’ve worked with him on a few occasions. He’s married, has kids, and is dead normal. He’s doing a day at Ushaw 14^th May 11.00 – 4.30 - if you can go, let me know, cost shouldn’t be a problem.

Lenten Talks: I’m hoping to meet up with Bernard Robinson on Monday 31^st January. Bernard is a friend and former colleague of mine at Ushaw. He has offered to share some thoughts with us about the Passion stories in the four Gospels. I know I will look forward to it. No dates yet, but there will be soon.

It’s hard for most of us to appreciate that there are thousands of men and women around the world studying the Scriptures. I suspect that most of us think that the way we were taught in Primary School is the absolutely only way to understand our faith – believe me, it isn’t. Bernard is another of the good guys who think and pray and wonder what it is all about. I take him seriously, and believe me, if he gets a bit academic, I’ll say so – come along and listen.

Growing in the Christian Life: More talks in Lent! At St Peter’s, Kells Lane, Gateshead – see the poster at the back of the Church for details.

National Marriage Week: There is a poster at the back of the Church about the Teams of Our Lady. They are having a celebration with Bishop Kevin on Friday 11^th February at St Cuthbert’s Chester le Street – please go along if you are interested.

Daily Living – A Contemplative Approach – Jim Sheehy is a pal of mine. He’s offering a weekend at Ushaw on finding a bit of peace in a hectic world. There’s a leaflet at the back of the Church, if you’re interested, see me. Believe me, it sounds like a good idea. Jim will be supplying for me later this year – listen to him…..

URGENT REQUEST:

OK – I’ve not been here long – I’m doing my best with two parishes. It is now 9.00pm Thursday night. Tomorrow I have the first meeting with the Bishop as a Trustee and member of his Episcopal Council with five other priests from the Diocese. I suspect that I won’t be able to spend this amount of time, ever again, preparing our Newsletter. I believe that it is important for parishioners to know what is going on. But I do suspect that I do need some help with keeping in touch with all our parishioners in both parishes – St Bede’s and St Joseph’s.

As I prepare this Newsletter, I still don’t know what my responsibilities will be …Whatever they are, they will imply more involvement from more people. I’m not too good at asking folk to do things. I suspect that you’ve had priests serving you who are really good at doing things. Anyone willing to give a hand with the administration and communication links with our parishes?

Jim O’Keefe 21.01.05

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Sunday 16th January 2005 - 2nd Sunday of the Year

Bishop Kevin’s Pastoral Letter:

I mentioned last week that we may have to pay particular attention to what Bishop Kevin is saying about both the tragic events in Southern Asia and his organisation of the Diocese. As you will hear in the Pastoral, the Bishop has asked me to be an Episcopal Vicar for the two deaneries in Newcastle and North Tyneside. I gather this stretches from Throckley to Whitley Bay! I’m amazed he asked me! We talked about it about a month ago, when I suggested that I’d only been a parish priest for three months. However, it seems the Bishop and others wanted to make the most of some of the experience I have had in the past.

To be honest, I’m looking forward to working with a team of people once again. I’m also delighted that I’m not moving from St Bede’s and St Joseph’s. The learning curve has been pretty well vertical over the last 3 months, and no doubt it will continue to be so. I guess it will make a difference to my availability in our two parishes, though I’ve no idea how it will work out in practice. I’ll certainly need your prayers and support if I’m to make a decent contribution to the work of the bishop and the new team.

One immediate change, which I didn’t anticipate, is that the new Episcopal Council, as its called—the Bishop, the Vicar General and the 5 Episcopal Vicars, will meet every two weeks on a Friday at 9.30am. Hence Mass on Friday 21st is at 8.30 am. Can I suggest that we celebrate Mass at 8.30 every Friday? To be honest, that simply makes life a bit easier for me—I won’t have to change the time every other week. What do you think? Please let me know.

Other than that, I’ve no idea, yet, what my new responsibilities will be. It will mean celebrating Confirmation around Newcastle and North Tyneside, and representing Bishop Kevin at various meetings in the City. I guess, more evenings will be taken up with things away from here. I do want to keep up my contact with CAFOD, because that helps to keep me sane. It means that we all have a view of what the Church is doing beyond these islands.

I did tell the Bishop that I thought I was working quite hard in Denton Burn, Scotswood and Benwell. I’m not at all sure how all of this is going to work out. Bear with me, and say the odd one for me!

Saints and Feasts this week:

St Anthony of Egypt. This man was totally amazing. He was born in Egypt around 250 and died a mere 106 years later in 356. He pretty well invented serious monastic living. He supported loads of people who suffered as a result of Roman persecution, and still had time to argue with various heretics. I must say, I like him a lot.
St Agnes—another early martyr in the Church, died just before in (304) 313—the important date (more important than 1066 to be honest)- after which Christianity was no longer persecuted. She is one of the most famous Roman martyrs, and was probably only about 12 or 13 years of age when she died.

World Youth Day—Cologne 2005

It seems that places are going fast for this event in Cologne. If you’re over 18 (and below around 97) and would like to attend what looks to be an amazing Youth Event in Cologne, please let me know. The cost is around £500.00—but I’m sure there are ways and means of helping anyone interested to find this sum of money. It would be brilliant if someone could go from the parish—let me know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Put out into the Deep:

This is one of the favourite phrases of Pope John Paul 11—I think its brilliant! It is also the theme of a weekend at Ushaw from 4th-6th February this year. It is specifically for those who work with young people in our parishes. It is for folk who are, or who are willing to work with young people. I suspect it will be a good weekend, and believe me, the accommodation is ok—if you have any complaints, its probably my fault! If you’re interested, please let me know, or get in touch with the Youth Mission Team on 01207 592244. Let me know if you do get in touch with them, we may have to sort out the financial bits of it all.

Christian Unity Week: 18th—25th January.

On Tuesday 25th January, the last day of Christian Unity Week, we are all welcome down at St Margaret’s Scotswood for a Prayer Service and lunch. It is the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. One of the things I’m delighted about in this part of the City, is getting to know ministers and congregations of other Christian Churches, and hopefully, in the future, other faiths. I’m a bit sad that ‘Ecumenism’, seems to have slowed down a bit in recent years, maybe not too surprising, but let’s do what we can and come together to pray that Tuesday lunchtime.

Hopefully I am now back without crutches or serious injury as a result of various falls….

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Sunday 9th January 2005 - Baptism of the Lord

TSUMANI Appeal last Sunday. I know that so many people have been deeply affected by the disastrous results of the Earthquake and Tsunami floods in Southern Asia. Your response last Sunday for our impromptu Special Collection was absolutely amazing. We were able to send off just over £713.00 to CAFOD during the week. I also know that some people weren’t prepared for the Collection last Sunday, so if you want to make a contribution, please do so. I am aware that Bishop Kevin has written a special Pastoral Letter for next Sunday (15/16) about the events in Southern Asia, and he will be asking for a Special Collection for CAFOD in his letter. If you want to make a donation this weekend, I will make sure that it is included in the final amount forwarded to CAFOD in the future.

SPUC There is a request from SPUC for a special collection this month. I propose to leave this until a later date because of the calls on your generosity in relation to Southern Asia.

‘Red Boxes’: Thanks to all of you who have handed in your Missionary Appeal donations, it will all be processed in the near future.

Christmas Candle collection. Thanks again to those who organised our Prayer and Giving via the Christmas Candles this year. It is a lovely idea, to remember our loved ones and make a donation to the parish and other charities. I will make the result known once the figure has been sorted out. If you want to take your own candle/s please do. Those that are left will be cleaned and given to a Children’s charity in the City that makes goods available to schools for their use in art and handicrafts (or whatever its called these days).

Fr Peter Stott: There’s a really warm letter from Peter pinned up at the back of the Church. He’s written to us to thank St Bede’s for your generosity to him in December, but also for your friendship over the six and a half years he spent here at parish priest. Looks like he’s having a bit of a doddle of a time with only 6 Churches in his pastoral area….Please keep him in your prayers.

Saints and Feasts this week: One local saint hits the headlines this week—St Benet Biscop: Born around 628AD and died around 690 (3 years after Cuthbert). He was a pal of Wilfred (remember him? - A bit of a tough one). He became a monk and founded the two monasteries in Wearmouth and Jarrow—the one Bede went to. He was a great traveller (some monks are…) and was often in Rome, picking up relics, learning music, and generally fixing things. Hugely responsible for the spread of Christianity in this part of the world. Bede was one of his pupils.

Activity Group: will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the meeting room here at St Bede’s.

The Famous Hamper is being re-raffled this weekend. Make a donation for a ticket, it will be drawn at the end of mass on Sunday morning. Hopefully someone will benefit from it in the near future!

Fr Chris Hughes: Many thanks to Chris for filling in this weekend. He’s friend of mine and former colleague at Ushaw. Comes from Jarrow, so that’s ok. Please remember him and his current colleagues responsible for the formation of future priests as well as lay men and women and many Anglicans, Methodist and United Reformed Church prospective ministers.

Sunday 16th January: Peace Sunday— This is the day when we will hear a letter from the Bishop. I suspect we will have to take particular notice of what he has to say about the events in Southern Asia and his recent appointments in the Diocese.

Learning the Languages of Faith: This is a course running for 16 Monday nights from 17th January at St Vincents up the road. It is led by Mgr Kevin Nichols and Sharon O’Donell. If anyone wants to start (and finish!) the Course, we can cover the cost of it. It will be good. Kevin and Sharon are both good teachers. Kevin produced a book as a result of the course a few years ago (I’ve not only got it, I’ve even read it…) - Its free to anyone who wants to take advantage of this programme. If you’re interested, look at the poster at the back of the Church and see me as soon as you can. Thanks

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Sunday 2nd January 2005 - 2nd Sunday after Christmas

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all. Having said that….I am finding it very difficult to know what to think or say about the disaster following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami flooding in Southern Asia. I’m reckoned to be a decent swimmer, but the thought of 10 meter waves at 500 miles an hour doesn’t bare thinking about. We are all aware of the disastrous results of the destruction. I also feel pretty helpless about what to do. Can I suggest that we have a spontaneous collection today, and send our Christmas Collection to CAFOD to help them respond to the needs of the people? The death toll will continue to rise, the mourning and loss is pretty well incredible. We must keep the local people, the Aid Workers and Governments in our prayers. Thanks for whatever help you might be able to give.

MASS TIMES: We need to keep Mass Times under review. After 3 months I’m conscious of only saying Mass once a week in St Joseph’s. I’d like to make two changes to our normal routine, and there may well have to be more in the future.

From Saturday 22 January, Morning Mass will be at 9.30am. There will still be Exposition and The Sacrament of Reconciliation until 10.30 after Mass. Most of the people who come to Mass on Saturday would prefer this arrangement.
From Monday 17th January. There will be no Mass celebrated on Mondays. I am rediscovering the need to be away from the place where I live and work.

I guess there needs to be some conversation with Eucharistic ministers, and with the parish about what the community needs. There may be a need for some further discussion about the community and how we celebrate Eucharist when I am not present.

Mission Boxes: A reminder: - Please bring your RED BOX this weekend so that Anne can send off the results to the Association of the Propagation of the Faith. Many thanks.

Local Charity: Thanks to those who have contributed to a better Christmas for many in our local community.

Christmas Candle collection. Thanks also to those who have arranged, typed, and lit candles for us over this week. The Church has looked brilliant and needy people will benefit.

Saints and Feasts this week: Not too many really, at least not in the normal Calendar.

January 4th—in the US of A, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, born 1774 (not so long after the US was invented!), a devoted wife, charity volunteer, mother of 5, became a member of the Catholic Church, educator, catechist, spiritual leader and lover of God—a really good person.
January 5th—again in the US St John Nepomucene Newmann (1811-1860) founder of the first Italian community in the States.
January 7th Raymond of Penyafort— born 1238, became a Dominican, the Pope wanted him to become an Archbishop, he decided to remain a local priest—can you blame him—died 1275—another good guy.

Some dates for us to be aware of this year:

Sunday 16th January: Peace Sunday—’Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’. There can be no doubt that we need to both pray and work for peace in our world today.

Thursday 27th January: Holocaust Memorial Day– When he was a student in Cracow University, Pope John Paul 11 joined a drama group that performed for Jewish people who were under threat at that time. We must never forget the unspeakable violence against Jewish people, and others, early last century.

Ever So Slightly more mundane matters:

The Raffle: I have in the kitchen a magnificent hamper—I’ve taken nothing from it, despite human temptation. It was/is the first prize in our Christmas Draw. If you have the number 468, please let me know as soon as possible—i.e. by 7th January. If I hear from no one, then we’ll probably raffle it again! Same for the 6th prize— a box of chocolates, still untouched by human hands No 353 Ditto above!

Just for fun: Look this up in your Bible...A priest out visiting came to a house and saw an upstairs curtain move when he rang (don’t we all..) the door bell, but got no answer. So he wrote Rev 3:20 on his visiting card and put it through the letter box. The next day he found a card on his door mat on which was written Genesis 3:10.

And thanks to Chloe and Sophie from St Bede’s and St Joseph’s for designing my visiting card. Have a good new year Jim O’K

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