St. Bede's Catholic Church

Newcastle upon Tyne

The page is usually updated on Friday or Saturday although additional updates can be made during the following week. Please check 'Last updated' under latest news.

• Document Downloads

• Events

• Watch CAFOD Holy Island Pilgrimage June 2009

• Rome and Assisi June 2008

• Journey In Faith 2006/2007

• "The Desert Will Bloom": Justice and Peace Conference at Swanick (21st to 23rd July 2006)

• Message from Pope Benedict XVI for Lent 2006

• Parish Visitation 12th February 2006

• Agenda Parish Visitation Meeting - 3/11/2005

• Daniel Jopling in India

• Live 8 St Mary's Cathedral -  (Reflection prepared by Fr Jim O'Keefe)

• Pope Benedict XVI

• Pope John Paul II

• Election of Popes

• Lent 2005

• The Passion Story

• Events

• The Vatican

• Adult Christian Education

• Latest News

• Sunday 5th January 2012 - 5th Sunday of the Year

• Sunday 29th January 2012 - 4th Sunday of the Year

• Sunday 22nd January 2012 - 3rd Sunday of the Year

• Sunday 15th January 2012 - 2nd Sunday of the Year

• Sunday 8th January 2012 - Epiphany of the Lord

• Archives

Latest News:

Special Collection this weekend for the Catholic Education Council (CES)… I know I have mentioned in the past that the CES does a pretty good job defending our Catholic School Network in relation to whatever political party happens to form our Government. I hope you don’t mind me saying that they’ve done a brilliant job over the last couple of years ensuring that Catholic Education is safe within our current political system – Academies and all. There is still much debate, but if it hadn’t been for the CES it would have been much more difficult…and they’re not finished yet…so thanks for your contribution.

World Day of Prayer for the Sick… on Saturday 11 February, Bishop Seamus will celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral at 11.00am. This is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and there will be the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Everyone is welcome, particularly those who are sick, doctors, nurses and those who work in healthcare, Lourdes pilgrims and any other parishioners in the diocese who would like to be part of this celebration.

Bible Alive – for February available at the back of the Church. This edition includes some reflections on the Acts of the Apostles by a fascinating monk – Dom Henry Wansbrough… and the usual thoughts on each day of the month. Usual price, £1.95

Journey in Faith Now how can you miss this one? It’s on ‘Catholics and Sin’ sadly I’m around for that one…not to make a personal revelation of any sort, - but to explore how the Church, through the ages, has dealt in different ways with those who decided to ‘move away’ from what it was all about….you might just hear a few different ideas about ‘reconciliation and penance’…the room is big enough, if necessary we’ll move into the Church…

We did mention Pilgrimage a couple of weeks ago, and I did mention it during our celebration of Mass…not heard anything from anyone…does that mean that we’re not up for it? Not sure how Fr Lawrence Jones does it! He must be an international Pilgrimage expert. I’d love to ask him, but I’m pretty sure he’s not in the country at the moment…

OK – this is a little bit naughty… I’m preparing this Newsletter two weeks in advance, before geriatric skiing with Fr Ged Lavender. Looking at the Sunday Readings for Saturday/Sunday 4/5 February, I see the story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Now apart from the fact that the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel is one of my favourites – there is so much going on (and it isn’t fair at all to say that the first pope’s mother in law was ill, because Peter didn’t even know that he had that particular job…) but Mark does tell us that his mam was a ‘diakonia’ - someone who ‘served at table - a word from which we take the word ‘Deacon’ …I’m not yet out of the country as I say this…but what a good idea…women who are Deacons? Just a thought to get the juices flowing…

Lent is approaching… we have a plan…to engage some of our younger people in an overnight ‘over’ gathering in the school hall…watch this space…could be really good

Welcome to Amy who was baptised last Sunday. I actually think she quite enjoyed it. Amy and her family will always be welcome here at St Bede’s
Very many thanks to Fr Leo Edgar, one of our Dominican colleagues. I hope he too feels welcome at St Bede’s.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes…booking forms for those people wishing to go to Lourdes who would need assistance and/or nursing care, are now available from Fr Peter Stott at St Joseph’s, North Shields. There are two options for travel, by air from Newcastle, or by Jumbulance. The cost is £743.00 + insurance. For further information, ring Peter on 0191 257 5801.

Youth Section - there is a very lively Youth Section – those aged from 16 – 25. If you’re interested, or know anyone who is, please contact Fr Michael McCoy of St Anne’s, Sunderland on 0191 534 2346. The cost for the Youth Section is £490.00.

Appeal for Nurses…The dates for the Pilgrimage are 27 July – 3 August. Any nurses who would like to help, please contact Fr Peter on handnlourdespilgrimage@btconnect.com …any other queries please ring Fr Peter on 0191 257 5801 – as above. Many thanks.

Holy Island Camp…anyone up for volunteering this year? If you’d like to help by working in the kitchens, caretaking or working with children you’re invited to a selection event on Saturday 4th February at St Vincent’s Primary School, Monkchester Road Walker from 9.00am – 12.00noon. If you’d like to have a chat about it before deciding, please contact Barbara Taws on 0191 388 2992. The dates are available on the poster at the back of the Church – basically, weekly groups arrive between Saturday 2nd June through to Saturday 1st September.

Journey in Faith, 2nd February, ‘Catholic and Jesus Christ’ so, if you’re curious, please come along on Thursday at 7.00pm – the parish meeting room.
Pauline and Roisin are both delighted with response to their request for tokens from the Evening Chronicle. The see-through envelope is still there if you would like to hand on any more you have at home.

Christmas Candles… please take the candles from the table between the church and the sacristry. We’ll remove those left after the first weekend in February.

Next Sunday is Catholic Education Sunday – 4/5 February, and we will have a Special Collection for the Catholic Education Service. Believe me…the Catholic Education Service has certainly earned its crust this year! This is the Catholic Service negotiating/arguing in a pretty forthright and robust manner over the last year ensuring that the Government doesn’t pull a fast one on Academies… I have been to many meetings over the last year about Academy Status – and have really valued our Catholic Education Service Advice…really worth supporting if you can. If you want further information, do have a look at the CESEW Website – the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales…they really do a great job. Many thanks for whatever contribution you can make next week…
 

Pilgrimage: At our joint Parish in Council meeting last week, there was a suggestion that we look towards having a joint parish pilgrimage sometime in 2013 – perhaps around May/June. Various places were mentioned – from Durham to the Holy Land, with other venues such as Iona, Rome and Lourdes also mentioned. This note is to encourage parishioners to think and talk about it, so that we can eventually discover whether there is reasonable support to begin taking things further forward.

Deanery Games Event: St John Vianney’s, West Denton, Thursday 26 January from 6.00 – 8.30 pm. Would you believe that all ages are welcome to this event…so you are both welcomed and warned. It is for anyone over 13 years of age, and a special welcome goes to those over 13 years of age. I have tickets available, (£2.00) – pay when you get there. Have a brilliant evening…

Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January. A day to remind ourselves that we are all created in God’s likeness and celebrate the wonderful diversity of race and cultures in our world. We need to recognise God’s presence in those different from us and speak up for those who suffer in any way. We pray this coming weekend and honour the memory of all those whose lives were so tragically lost in the Holocaust and in more recent genocides.

NB www.jcrelations.net

Foodbank meeting at the Venerable Bede, 24th January – 7.00pm. Just a reminder of the exploratory meeting about this project for the increasing number of people in our area who are in deeper financial difficulties.

Sunday 22 at 4.00pm, our ‘mid-week’ opportunity to pray for unity within the Christian family.

Thursday 7.00pm at the Venerable Bede – the final gathering for our week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I suspect that Fr Tim might well be exploring how we can be inspired by the fact that it’s Olympic Year… - you don’t have to come in a track suit.

Director of Vincentians in Partnership… There is a job opportunity for this post for someone willing to work in either Whitley Bay or London! I kid you not. All inquiries to vip@depauluk.org This organisation seeks to foster networking and collaboration among those organisations in Great Britain which are influenced by the spirit of St Vincent de Paul. In my view it is an excellent organisation. It is a full time post at around £35,000pa.

Very many thanks to Fr Leo for supplying this weekend. I do hope to be back with all limbs attached next weekend – let’s just wait and see…
 

Bible Alive ….The January edition is now available for regular readers – usual price at £1.95.

St Joseph’s Home, Westmorland Road, Friday 20 January… Once again, the Sisters are having a riotous ‘Broth and Bun’ night… The first ‘race’ is 7.30 (can’t really imagine Sisters racing, but there you are…) tickets are £3.00; there is a Licensed Bar – sounds like a pretty riotous night. It all takes place at St Joseph’s Home, and the money raised will go to paying for a new boiler and heating system upgrade. The ‘Broth and Bun’ bit begins at 7.00pm.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Our Week of Prayer begins on Wednesday 18 January here at St Bede’s at 7.00pm. As noted last week, straight after our Service there will be a presentation, about the new huge development in Benwell and Scotswood here in St Bede’s Church. This development is obviously going to change the shape of our landscape and provide housing for hundreds of people over the next 15 years. So, you are very welcome to come and see what is on offer.

Christmas Candles… you’ve heard me say how lovely this tradition is here at St Bede’s – if you want to pick up your family candle please do so from the table outside the Sacristy.

Very many thanks to those who were able to make it to the Joint Parish Council Meeting last Wednesday. If you’ve never been to one, they can be quite lively… We are slowly and gradually looking to ‘merge’ ‘amalgamate’ the two parishes of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s - and now Bishop Seamus is wondering about how we might, in time, become more closely linked with St Michael’s in Elswick. Just a thought - we are baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ, not into a particular building - just a thought...enjoyed the discussion ….

Journey in Faith this coming week, Thursday 19th, is about ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward’ – how does our Tradition and History help us make sense of what is happening now and what might happen in the future.

Newcastle University lectures and events… Leaflets are available at the back of Church.

 

Thank you once again to everyone who helped to make our celebration of Christmas and New Year so memorable. Lots of parishioners have commented on how our celebrations have been important to them…long may this continue.

Parish in Council Meeting, at St Bede’s, 7.00pm Wednesday 11th Jan. I’m not sure we realise how important this meeting is! We only get together 4 times a year. In a couple of years, St Bede’s and St Joseph’s will be one parish – we have talked about this for a long time now, and we need to move towards a more formal arrangement in the next couple of years. I’ve also talked to Fr Bill Bellamy about the possibility of a further ‘negotiation’ with St Michael’s. Bishop Seamus is totally aware of this development, indeed, is very much in favour of further developments. So, much to talk about – Living Simply, future dates for Easter and next Christmas…and so on. Let’s hope we all play nicely and explore things rather carefully and respectfully.

Journey in Faith – Thursday 12th January: ‘Catholic's and Prayer’. Everyone is welcome as we continue to explore our ‘Journey in Faith’.

Regeneration in Benwell and Scotswood… On Wednesday 18th January, there will be a brief Ecumenical Service here at St Bede’s. This is to mark the beginning of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Straight after the service, again in St Bede’s Church, there will be a presentation introduced by Amanda Senior of the Development Partnership. Two of the architects will be with her and they will explain the whole 15 year proposed development of the project. It could be a fascinating evening, exploring the reshaping of our neighbourhood over the coming decades. This meeting will replace the usual ‘Churches Together’ meeting for our area – but on this occasion, everyone is welcome to join us.

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany… The end of the Christmas Season. I suspect that next year we will be back to celebrating the Feast on 6th January rather than the nearest Sunday. Whenever we celebrate it, we remind ourselves that a genuine gift makes the invisible visible. The ‘Gentile’ wise men offer their gifts to the Lord and make visible their searching and longing, and immense respect. Their gifts and their presence is unquestionably accepted by Jesus.

Next weekend we remember ‘Peace Sunday’. The emphasis this year is our responsibility to introduce young people to issues of Justice and Peace. Jesus asked his first followers in St John’s Gospel: ‘What are you looking for?’, or ‘What do you want?’ They wonder in turn ‘Where do you live?’ It may be that this weekend will prompt us to wonder whether us older folk are willing to let younger folk into our real hopes and fears and understandings of things? If we don’t, it’s hard to know how they’re going to learn. It’s a tough one, but really important.