|
Mass Times and Devotions
Parish Newsletter
Events
Our Church
St Bede's RC Primary
School
Good Shepherd
Sisters
Youth Group
The Venerable Bede
Parish History
Deanery Mass Times
First Confession and Holy Communion
Preparation
Adult Christian
Education
Journey In Faith 2006/2007
Lent 2005
The Passion Story
Gift Aid Scheme
CAFOD
Fair Trade

The Catholic Church in England and Wales
What's New
| |
Parish News
Last Updated:
Sunday, 11 May 2008 11:04
|
This page contains the latest five Parish Newsletters. For
earlier newsletters please go to the
Archives.
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. |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Select from list or scroll down: |
|
|
|
Latest News:
Sunday 11th May 2008 -
Pentecost Sunday
|

Welcome to
Libby Battista who
was baptised last Sunday. Libby is just over three years old and had tons of
family and friends to welcome her into the Church. She was brilliant - she
even seemed to enjoy being the centre of attention…. |
|
First Holy Communion …
A huge welcome to all those young people who are making their First Holy
Communion this Saturday. I’ll bet that every Catholic in St Bede’s this
weekend, will remember their own First Holy Communion. Many thanks to Fr
Paul who has done so much work to help prepare the children and families for
this Celebration.

I also want to thank the Staff
of St Bede’s who spend so much time, alongside other huge commitments to the
National Curriculum and everything else, to encourage our young people to
take their faith very seriously. They can’t do it on their own … I’ve
discovered over the last three and a half years, that it really does come
down to the interest and commitment of each child’s family … so thank you
for your involvement - long may it continue.
|
|
Activity Group
…. Quiz and Social Night …
This will be held on Tuesday
13th May at 7.30pm in the Parish Meeting Room . Everyone is most welcome.
|
|
Pentecost
Sunday …
This is the Birthday of the
Church!
So - Happy Birthday … This is the end of the ‘Easter Season’. After today,
our Paschal Candle will only be lit at Baptisms, Receptions in the Church
and Requiem Masses. I find that fascinating, these are the moments when
we’re invited to think about our commitment to the Church and how different
it is to be a Christian in the world we live in. We really do take ‘entry’ -
baptism, ‘community’ - becoming members of the Church, and ‘the next life’ -
heaven … Really seriously.
If you didn’t manage to do
something special last Monday - Bank Holiday - then try to do something
special this weekend. I’m going to be involved in Confirmation at the
University Chaplaincy this Sunday night - and I’m really looking forward to
meeting the Candidates, one English, one Chinese …. What an amazing Church
we belong to. |
|
CAFOD
PILGRIMAGE ….. 14 JUNE 2008
A few folk have asked me if
there will be a mini-bus going up to Lindisfarne on 14th June for the CAFOD
Pilgrimage. I reckon this is a great idea. Is anyone prepared to organise
it? I’m really sorry that I can’t join the Pilgrimage this year - I have
been for the last few Years, and it is a good day - but I rather suspect (by
which I mean I think I know …) that Fr Tony Owens will be the Celebrant at
Mass that day. There is a notice at the back of Church for folk who want to
go.
But we need an organiser … any
volunteers? To be honest, I don’t see myself as a brilliant
bus/pilgrimage/trip organiser - but I do know that there a loads of folk in
the parishes of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s who are …. |
|
Fr Jim’s 60th Birthday….
It is Fr
Jim’s 60th Birthday on Monday 19th May. To help him celebrate this milestone
- and that he will be getting his senior bus pass - there will be
refreshments in the Meeting Room after 12.00 Mass on Tuesday 20 May.
Please
come along, everyone will be most welcome. |
|
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
14th May 2008 - 12.30pm
onwards. This is a vital opportunity to tell your MP how strongly you feel
about the introduction of;
- Animal/Human hybrid embryos
- ‘Saviour’ siblings
- The removal of Fatherhood
and the other issues in the
HFE Bill, including amendments to the abortion law.
Please arrange to meet your MP
in Parliament anytime from 12.30pm onwards. We will supply briefings to help
inform
your discussion. (NB Even if your MP can’t meet that day, it’s vital you
still come to London to leave cards/letters and to show your support).
Refreshments, literature and
an opportunity to meet pro-life MPs will all be at the Emmanuel Centre,
Marsham Street, (5 minutes walk from Parliament), from 12.30 until the
evening.
Please don’t miss this
opportunity to have your say on this vital issue. Now is the time to arrange
transport, book appointments with MPs and encourage friends and colleagues
to join you in travelling to London.
For further information
call 0203 176 0032, or email them:
info@passionforlife.org.uk
|
|

Diocesan Pilgrimage - Music
Anyone
wishing to be involved with the choir, sing, or playing an instrument on the
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in August is invited to attend the Music
practices that have been arranged for May 11th and 18th, June 8th, 22nd and
29th, July 6th and 13th. All practices will start at 7pm and will take place
at Immaculate Heart, Lobley Hill |
|
And Finally
A father was at the beach with his children when his four
year old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore,
where a seagull lay dead on the sand.
“Daddy
what happened to him?” the son asked.
“He died
and went to Heaven,” the father replied.
The boy
thought for a moment and then said, “Did God throw him back?”
********************************************
A wife
invited some people to dinner. At the table she turned to their six year old
daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?”
“I
wouldn’t know what to say”, the girl replied.
“Just say
what you hear mummy say” the wife answered.
The
daughter bowed her head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I ask all these
people to dinner.” |
[Back
to Top]
Sunday 4th May 2008 -
The Ascension of the Lord
|

Journey
in Faith
Journey in Faith … on
Thursday 8th May. The heading is ‘Any Questions?’ - now this could be very
interesting. The answers (well , in so far as there are any ….) will be
provided by the whole team that has been so involved in the Journey this
year. Feel free to come along and ask a few!
|
|
Communications
Sunday
Please remember the Special
Collection for the Communications Service in the Church in England and
Wales. It is becoming a pretty tough area of work! |
|


This
weekend we celebrate the Ascension, and next weekend is the Feast of
Pentecost …. So
this is the final week ‘after Easter’. The readings have encouraged us to
see the presence of the Risen Lord in our daily lives, through the
conversations and relationships we have with each other. After Pentecost, as
Jesus tells us, the Spirit is seen as the living force within us and among
us …. There is still much to celebrate. |
|
First
Holy Communion …
Next Saturday - 10th May - will be the Celebration of First Holy Communion
for the children of St Bede’s. It is a wonderful day for them, for their
families and for the parish. Mass will be celebrated at 10.00am and you are
welcome. Very many thanks to the staff at St Bede’s and the parents of the
children who have been involved in all the preparation. Many thanks also to
Fr Paul who has visited all the families and will be celebrating with
children that day. |
|
S.V.P.
Holy Island Camp …
There’s a notice in the porch about the Holy Island Camp. Sr Josepha is
wondering if there are people who are willing to spare part of a week, say
Monday – Thursday, to be part of the team at one of the SVP camps. These
camps are brilliant, offering loads of young people in our diocese the
opportunity for a great break during the summer. Many young folk from St
Bede’s and St Joseph’s have been lucky enough to be part of the scheme and
they’ve really enjoyed it. Josepha tells us that there’s good company, good
food, comfortable accommodation and in a beautiful setting – and, would you
believe, its all FREE….please form an orderly queue… The weeks are between
24th May and 23 August. If you’re interested, have a squint at the
Noticeboard. Many thanks. |
|

Adult
Formation …
Every
year there are a number of courses and events and study days organised by
the Diocesan Education Service. They cover all sorts of things:- Days of
Reflection for Readers, for Eucharistic Ministers, Days of Preparation for
Liturgical (Lay) Leaders of Services and so on. There is absolutely no doubt
in my mind that this is the way we need to go in the future – more
leadership from lay people in our local communities. Please have a look at
what is on offer, and if you’re interested in any of these programmes,
please let me know. As I’ve said before, if the parish benefits, then I’m
sure the parish will be able to provide the finance for those in formation. |
|
Catholic Worker …
I’ve left a couple of copies of the Catholic Worker publication at the back
of the Church. I do enjoy reading it, it is quite radical – but rooted in
Catholic Social Teaching and a very reflective/active approach to being a
Catholic in the world today. You might want to have a look at it. It can
help us to be a little uncomfortable – a bit like the Gospels, to be honest. |
|

Parish in
Council Meeting … Very many thanks to those from St
Bede’s and St Joseph’s who were able to join us for the Parish in Council
Meeting last Wednesday evening.
I’m wondering how to introduce some urgency into our discussions over the
next few years. How do we encourage our local communities to develop new lay
leadership? How do we explore how to engage with young people? How do we
ensure that the bereaved, new parents, the newly married are supported by
our community? These were some of the issues raised that evening. No simple
answers to any of them. My hope is that we will be able, in time, to address
some of them – but it will never happen unless we manage to enthuse more
people to offer their time and energy. Interesting!
|
|

Celebrate
Pentecost
There is a Service of Celebration for Pentecost at St Cuthbert’s Kenton at
7pm on Pentecost Sunday …. everyone is welcome!
|
|
Next Sunday is The Feast of Pentecost …. This
marks the end of the Easter Season and reminds us all that Spirit is with
us, enthusing, comforting and encouraging us in our daily lives. As it
happens there is also a Retiring Collection for the Lay Training Fund
that day. Bishop Kevin was very keen to encourage this Collection to
encourage lay people to embark on further training to ensure lay leadership
in the diocese in the future – the kind of thing we were talking about
during our Parish In Council Meeting last week. This particular fund is
open until 8th June. |
|
Teeth
… this is slightly bizarre …
I had a dental appointment
last Thursday – also interesting, it seems to cost more money for someone to
tell me that my teeth are ok and if you need a filling you need a mortgage,
and this is on the NHS…. Anyway, I noticed the following in the Waiting
Room.
Snails have up to 250,000 teeth! (Now I did check and it wasn’t April 1st).
The biggest tooth in the world belongs to a Sperm Whale. Its whole bottom
jaw in one tooth that measures up to 5 meters long.
Rabbits’ teeth never stop growing.
Minnows have teeth in their throat.
Lemon sharks get a whole new set of teeth every two weeks. They grow 24,000
new teeth a year!
I had three totally different thoughts after seeing this:
-
Imagine
being a tooth fairy
-
Is this
why TESCO’S needs about 45 different kinds of toothpaste on offer?
-
Isn’t God’s creation totally amazing?
|
|

Brownies … the children, not the biscuits …
Sophie
McShane is the current Brown Owl at Denton Burn Methodist Church Brownies.
They really are flourishing and they need new helpers for Brownie nights. If
you’d like to get involved with what is described as a ‘lovely bunch of 7-10
year old girls’ – then please get in touch with her. Sophie would like to
have enough helpers so that they only need to help out once every month – or
as often as they’d like…
If
you’d like to help, please let me know and I’ll give you her email
address.... |
|
And
finally … Just Remember This
-
God
won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but He’ll ask how many people you
helped get where they needed to go.
-
God
won't ask the square footage of your house, but He’ll ask how many people
you welcomed into your home.
-
God
won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He’ll ask how many
people you helped to clothe.
-
God
won’t ask how many friends you had, but He’ll ask how many people to whom
you were a friend.
-
God
won’t ask in what neighbourhood you lived, but He’ll ask how you treated
your neighbours.
-
God
won’t ask about the colour of your skin, but He’ll ask about the content
of your character.
-
God
won’t ask how many people you passed this on to, but He’ll ask why you
hesitated to pass it on to your friends
|
[Back
to Top]
Sunday 27th April 2008 -
6th Sunday of Easter
|

Journey
in Faith
All are welcome to the gathering in
the meeting room on Thursday 1st May at 7.00pm.
|
|
Next Sunday - 4th May, is World Communications Sunday.
There will be a Special Collection. It is also the Feast of the Ascension….
At this moment in the life of the early Church, Jesus instructed his
followers to ‘Go and preach to all nations’. This is what the Catholic
Communications Network does throughout the year in relation to the Nation’s
media. It is a very complex and vitally important work in the Church –
trying to cope with the media and, at the same time, express what the
Catholic Church really believes in. You may well have seen all sorts of
reports and comments about ‘Faith Schools’, ‘Stem Cell Research’, ‘Social
Inclusion’, ‘Asylum seekers’, the work of
CAFOD,
the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, and all sorts of other Church
organisations in the national and local press. This is, to some extent, the
work of the Catholic Communications Network – please try and be generous in
your support for their work, believe me, it is really difficult, once upon a
time I helped to do it!
There are Special Gift Aid Envelopes for those who would like to add the
extra 20 odd pence in the pound to your donation. These envelopes are at the
back of the Church – very many thanks. |
|
A huge word of thanks to those who work in our Parish Shop.
And thank you all of
you who make use of the service provided. This is not just about the
Catholic Papers, it is about all sorts of other magazines and religious
booklets, cards and other gifts. I’m delighted to thank those who manage the
shop – it all seems to run so smoothly! To be honest, I’m also delighted to
say Thank You to them and to all who make use of the service for a donation
for £400.00 to parish funds. Our newish roof, our development at the back of
the Church and the new flooring in the meeting room has meant that we’re
running pretty low! Once again, thanks to those who have contributed to this
donation… And incidentally – if you haven’t managed to look at what is
available in the shop, please do so…new customers are always welcome. |
|
Ms Henry
has done a brilliant job as Chaplain to the Sacred Heart High School…she is
now moving on from this post and there is a need for a new Chaplain. I must
say I really did enjoy my time as a school chaplain about 400 years ago in
Stockton (1972-1976), it was great for me, and I hope I didn’t do too much
damage to the young folk and the staff. There is a poster at the back of the
Church about this post at the Sacred Heart School. The School is looking –
quite rightly – for a thoughtful, sympathetic and dedicated practicing
Catholic who enjoys the company of young people, can work with a team and
will build on the strength of each person. If you’re interested, or know
anyone who might be interested, please contact the Headteacher’s PA by
letter, fax, e-mail or telephone or look at their website for further
details. To be honest, to my mind, this is a really important work in the
Church. It is full time, 37 hour per week post on Scale 6 £21,412 - £22,845.
I do hope and pray that a very good candidate becomes available. |
|
The Annual Justice and Peace Mass is taking place in
our Parishes this year. Saturday 3 May at 10.30 at St Joseph’s Benwell. You
are most welcome.
Bishop Kevin was a solid supporter of our Diocesan J&P network. He visited
the parishes that provided food for Destitute Asylum seekers. He supported
(even financially….) the project at St Joseph’s in the former presbytery,
for failed asylum seekers. He joined the folk on the bus to Edinburgh for
the MakePovertyHistory Rally. He was keen about our
FairTrade shops and Diocesan commitment to Fair Trade goods.
He suggested that there should be an annual celebration of mass to support
all that is done in the Diocese in relation to Justice and Peace. If you can
make it, you will be very welcome – let’s be honest, its on 1.1 miles away! |
|
And while we’re on …
The Journey in Faith Gathering on Thursday 1 May is on ‘Changing the World’.
It will be lead by Audrey Marshall, who just happens to be one of the prime
Justice and Peace workers in our Diocese. |
|
Parish
In Council meeting….Wednesday 30th April at St Bede’s at 7.00pm.
Just a reminder to anyone in either St Bede’s or St Joseph’s who wants to
join us for this meeting. I hope you can join us…as I say from time to time,
if you’re not there, then you can’t influence the ways things develop in the
future. |
|
The
Feast of the Ascension…
I know it’s a bit new, and it
might have been difficult to pick up from an earlier comment in the
Newsletter – but this Sunday – 4th May, is now the Feast of the Ascension.
This means that the following Thursday is no longer a Holiday of Obligation.
We will be celebrating Mass together down at St Joseph’s at 10.00 am, as
usual, if you want to join us…you’re always welcome. |
|
Bible
Alive is available
this weekend, £1.95. It is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the
Apparitions at Lourdes. It is a very good edition, and it also offers
reflections on the readings for weekday Mass. Definitely worth a quick
squint. |
|
A
sincere word of Thanks from Paul Henderson and the whole family
to both communities of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s for their prayers, support
and encouragement over the last few weeks. Maria died very peacefully last
Thursday afternoon and her Requiem will be 12.00 noon next Wednesday (30th).
Please continue to pray for Maria and her family. |
|
I’ve
learned ….
That the
Lord didn’t do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?
I’ve learned …. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts
I’ve learned …. That love, not time, heals all wounds
I’ve learned …. That everyone you meet deserves a smile
I’ve learned …. That life is tough, but I am tougher
I’ve learned …. That I can’t choose how I feel but I can choose what I do
about it
I’ve learned …. That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the
ones you miss
I’ve learned …. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks
I’ve learned …. That the less time I have to work with, the more things I
get done
|
[Back
to Top]
Sunday 20th April 2008 -
5th Sunday of Easter
|

Journey
in Faith
Fr Paul will explore the Call to
Mission of the Church and all of us who profess to be members of the Church.
All are welcome to the gathering in the meeting room on Thursday 17th
7.00pm.
|
|
Advance
notice of events going on at Ushaw
|
Thursday 1 may |
What
is the Church saying today about Bioethics?
Dr
Mary McHugh |
|
Thursday 5 June |
What
is the Church saying today about the Role of Women in the Church?
Sr
Mary B Potter |
|
Thursday 3 July |
What
is the Church saying today about Religious Education in Today's Catholic
Schools?
Sr
Sheila McNamara RSCJ & Theresa Laverick |
|
Saturday 10 May |
Belief in a Sceptical Age
led
by Timothy Radcliffe OP. 10:00am - 3:00pm |
|
Posters are
at the back of the Church giving more details. |
|
|
CAFOD
Pilgrimage to Holy Island on Saturday 14th June
Pilgrimage Walk on the Island
starts at 11:30am. Mass at 3:00pm
11:00am is
the safe crossing time Before the Pilgrimage Walk
Please
see the notice at the back of Church
|
|
And
Finally...
Six year old Angie and her
four year old brother Joel were sitting together in Church. Joel giggled,
sang and talked out loud. Finally his big sister had had enough. "You're not
supposed to talk out loud in Church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel
asked. Angie pointed to the back of the Church and said, "See those two men
standing by the door? They're hushers." |
[Back
to Top]
Sunday 13th April 2008 -
4th Sunday of Easter
|
Parish
News |
|

Journey
in Faith
This week those continuing their
journey are exploring Prayer, an the call to all of us is to deepen our
response to the call to prayer by the Holy Spirit within us. Thursday 17th
at 7.00pm in the meeting room here at St Bede’s, and once again, all are
welcome.
|
|
Good Shepherd Lay Associates
There will be an information
Day in 4 Brignall Gardens on Saturday 26th April for anyone wanting to know
more about becoming an Associate of the Good Shepherd. Please contact Sr
Lucina on 0191 274 5519 if you are interested. Many thanks. |
|
Diocesan
News |
|
Vocations Sunday
This Sunday (4th after Easter)
is a World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is also Good Shepherd Sunday
named after the Gospel for today. Pope John Paul II published a letter in
1994 entitled 'I will give you Shepherds' which was all about the formation
of priests and their continuing formation once they were ordained. Very
gradually the Church is fully appreciating that it isn't just 'priests and
nuns' that 'have' vocations. All of us who are baptised have a special
calling from God - which is our vocation. Today we pray particularly for
those whose particular calling leads them into priesthood or consecrated
life. |
|
Northern Brethren Fund…This
is the final week the collection for the Sick and Retired Priests of the
Diocese... so please feel free to make a final donation if you would like
to. Very many thanks. |
|
The Council of Christians and Jews...
The North-East Branch.
Thursday 15th May at the Civic Centre, Newcastle 7:30 pm. "Ten Days at Yad
Vashem" our speakers will be ministers of the URC and Roman Catholic
Churches who are local members of the Branch ... they took part in a CCJ
initiative in Jerusalem at the Holocaust Memorial Centre and will describe
this to us. There is no charge for this meeting, but donations are welcomed;
all are welcome, and there is a chance to talk informally over coffee at the
end of the meeting. Fr Leonard Skinner.
|
|

Pauline Books & Media
Just
to let you know that this particular bookshop, next to St Mary's
Cathedral in Clayton Street, is now open on Mondays from 11am until 4pm
(except July, August and January) Tel: 0191 231 6040. It is also open
Tuesday to Saturday 10am until 4.30pm. |
|
Ushaw
College Bicentenary Celebrations ...
Two hundred years ago come 19th July, Ushaw College opened it's doors to
seminarians for the first time. There are all sorts of events to commemorate
this particular date:
|
Saturday 26th April - Sunday 13th July |
Exhibition illustrating the history of the College |
|
Saturday 26th April |
Grand Opening Gala Concert |
|
Saturday 3rd May |
Durham Singers |
|
Thursday 15th May |
Music to Dine for ... |
|
Saturday 17th May |
Palatine Voices |
|
Friday 30th May |
Emma Gibbins - organ recital in St Cuthbert's Chapel |
|
Wednesday 4th June |
Cappella Novocastrensis |
|
Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th June |
Flower Festival |
|
Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th June |
Medieval Festival |
|
Saturday 14th June |
Medieval Banquet
|
If you
are required any further information about any of the above, can I suggest
that you contact Kathryn Alderson on 0191 373 8579, or e-mail
bcentenary@ushaw.ac.uk The
College's website is
www.ushaw.ac.uk and you can follow
links!
There is
also an interesting article on Ushaw and other places of Catholic interest
in the latest edition of CatholicLife - on sale at the back of the Church. |
[Back
to Top]
|