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

• 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 11th May 2008 - Pentecost Sunday

• Sunday 4th May 2008 - The Ascension Sunday of the Lord

• Sunday 27th April 2008 - 6th Sunday of Easter

• Sunday 20th April 2008 - 5th Sunday of Easter

• Sunday 13th April 2008 - 4th Sunday of Easter

• Archives

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.”

_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:

1. Imagine being a tooth fairy

2. Is this why TESCO’S needs about 45 different kinds of toothpaste on offer?

3. 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
   

_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
 

_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

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."

 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.