St. Bede's Catholic Church

Newcastle upon Tyne

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• 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)

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• Pope John Paul II

• Election of Popes

• Lent 2005

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• Sunday 28th May 2006 - 7th Sunday of Easter

• Sunday 21st May 2006 - 6th Sunday of Easter

• Sunday 14th May 2006 - 5th Sunday of Easter

• Sunday 7th May 2006 - 4th Sunday of Easter

• Archives

Confirmation at the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 4th June at the 11.30am Mass.

World Communications Sunday - 28th May

Today is World Communications Sunday and there will be a second collection. This Collection contributes to the education and formation of people who help the Church cope with the media….they’ve been kept very busy, recently, with loads of questions about the famous Da Vinci Code. It is an important contribution to the Church’s work of Evangelization. There is a handful of leaflets available at the back of the Church saying something about the Day.

Tribute to Fr Michael Campion

There was a wonderful Mass on the 19th May at the Cathedral which paid tribute to Fr Michael Campion for all the work he has done for the Cathedral and the Catholic Church in Newcastle. Both Bishop Ambrose and Bishop Hugh joined Bishop Kevin in this celebration. Fr Michael is having a well-deserved sabbatical. He’s been a great asset to our deanery and we’ll miss him
 

Schools Together Extravaganza!

The Schools Together Extravaganza! On Thursday 6th July at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, will see 12 schools performing a new take on an old fairytale, with particular emphasis on dance, drama and music.

This gala evening is a culmination of the work that St Cuthbert’s Care’s Community Development Team has been carrying out in the schools across the Diocese since September 2005. Each of the schools represented at the event have participated in school workshops which have been designed to develop pupils’ drama, music, arts and crafts and computer based skills, as well as helping the pupils improve their citizenship, friendship and team building skills.

The event is open to all parishes and schools, and it would be fantastic to see representatives from other parishes supporting the children. Tickets are on sale now from St Cuthberts Care’s head office in Newcastle at £5:00. You can order your tickets by calling 0191 228 0111 or by sending a cheque, made payable to “St Cuthberts Care”, to St Cuthbert's House, West Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7PY

Very many thanks to Rachel Jopling for her reflections on Fair Trade Products this weekend. We have an increasing number of opportunities to help poor farmers and manufacturers throughout the world by buying good with the Fair Trademark on them...Next time you want to buy a football, make sure it has the Trademark on it—honestly, they are available.

MEGA-GRANDE GARDEN FETE AT ST JOSEPH’S HOME ON 3rd JUNE. How can you possibly miss it? Begins at 1.00pm admission 20p, and children are free when accompanied by an adult. No getting kitted out like a young ’un just to avoid the entrance fee. Usual stalls, Tombola, Games and Irish Coffee— (probably best to do things in that order).
 

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES….THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT….

If you are a Eucharistic Minister, a Reader, involved in Children’s Liturgy or a Sacristan, the odds are there is an envelope with your name on it at the back of the Church. There are 23 of them. Please take it and look carefully at the contents. There are forms to be completed and returned to Deirdre Grzbelski as soon as possible.—Return them here at Church.

Will Deborah, Sue and Dorothy please sign the extra form and return it to Deirdre as soon as possible.

Very many thanks for your help with all of this…..Jim

ME North East…..very many thanks for the donations that has arrived to date, in support of the Abseil for ME North East. You are so generous. As I said last week, if you want a bit of a thrill, have a go at it, its not as bad as it looks. Many thanks once again.

Age Concern Bereavement Service….Just to let you know that Age Concern , based in Mea House in Newcastle, offers a service to those who are struggling with loss through the death of a loved one. If you need any information about it, please look at the notice in the porch, or ring Audrey Carey on 0191 232 6488.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET YOUR FEET WET ON THE WAY TO HOLY ISLAND….The Annual CAFOD Pilgrimage, led, on this occasion, by the parish priest of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s in Denton Burn and Benwell. If you would like to go, please put your name on the sheet available. Many thanks . There is a big posh yellow poster giving the information…See you there

After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 prisoners he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the prison, telling the prison chief that the prisoners were very excitable and prone to exaggeration and bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn’t discovered for three days. (Just be careful about accepting free lifts from strangers driving big busses…)

Confirmation at the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 4th June at the 11.30am Mass

Fr Peter Leighton’s Induction Mass Friday 7th July

This will be held at the Cathedral on Friday 7th July at 7.30pm. Fr Peter would be delighted to welcome any parishioners from St Bede’s who would like to attend the Mass and Reception afterwards-please sign the list at the back of Church if you would like to go. It is really good to have Peter here in Newcastle, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the years to come.

Day of Reflection for Liturgical (Lay) Leaders

This will be held on Saturday 10 June at Ushaw College 10.30am - 4.30pm this will be led by Fr Eamonn Mulchahy. If you are interested please add your name to the (blue) list at the back of Church. Tea and coffee will be provided, but you will have to bring your own packed lunch.

Day of Reflection for Eucharistic Ministers

This will be held on Saturday 24 June at Ushaw College 10.30am - 4.30pm this will be led by Fr John Farrell OP– the Prior of St Dominic’s here in Newcastle. If you are interested please add your name to the (cream) list at the back of Church. Once again, tea and coffee will be provided but you will have to bring your own packed lunch.

Lourdes Fund: We’re able to give Fr Peter Stott a cheque to help young people join the Pilgrimage. Many thanks to those who have contributed over the years. We’ll ask at the next Parish in Council meeting what label we should put on it next time round. 

If you’ve never abseiled, now’s the time to start….Honestly, it was good fun. Quite safe and just a bit different. You get a wonderful view of the girders on the underside of the Tyne Bridge! Very many thanks to those who sponsored me for ME North East, I’ll be around after Mass to relieve you of your promised donation. Fr Clement Lee from the Cathedral also did his bit. I believe there are pictures of the pair of us on the Diocesan Website—just in case you’re not sure we actually made it…Genuine Certificate on display at the back of the Church.

Many Congratulations to St Bede’s Football Team on winning the League. This follows the success of the Basketball Team which won the League earlier this term. I’ve suggested that when they’re all as good as Alan Shearer and making a mere £130,000 a week, would they like to remember St Bede’s roof…..Can you believe that for a wage? I heard during the week that Wilf Mannion (Middlesbrough in the 1950s) lost two years of his playing career because he asked for a 20% increase in his wage—from £10.00 to £12.00 per week...don’t get me going on the money in Football….

Many thanks to those who enjoy their Coffee after Wednesday morning Mass. Thanks for the donation to us from the Group—this is simply from the donation given each week for the coffee and biscuits. Thanks again, it all helps.

And what's more...thanks for the donations from the famous ‘Red Boxes’ - and to Anne for collecting and counting and banking. This money goes to help education projects in the Third World. Fr John Dale, the Director of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith (some title that…) is delighted with the generosity of our Diocese to this cause.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION….Can we remember all the youngsters who made their First Holy Communion this weekend. Can we also remember and thank God for the Staff of St Bede’s who help to prepare the children for this great day.
Thanks also to all those who helped prepare the youngsters for our May Procession on Friday. It was lovely to see so many of Year 6 going out from Mass to bring flowers to the homes of people nearby. I even received a bunch myself – didn’t think I’d quite reached that special age…And thank you to those who helped to sort out the Church once all the flowers had gone on their way.

And thanks in advance for all the work going into preparing for the Feast of the Ascension this Thursday—it also happens to be the Feast of St Bede. Interesting, St Bede on the night before the feast of the Ascension in 731—a mere 1,275 years ago. Mass will be celebrated at 9.30am and 7.00 pm on Thursday.

Bishop Kevin is leading a Pilgrimage to Holy Island on Saturday 1st July. It is to help us remember the work of the Apostleship of the Sea— which cares for those who work at Sea. If you’re interested in going, please put your name on the list at the back of the Church—we’ll see if there are enough people to think of hiring a bus. Thanks.

The Washington Post newspaper has published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words…..

Flabbergasted: appalled over how much weight you have gained.

Abdicate: to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach

Flatulence: emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash: a rapidly receding hairline.

Freebeetarianism: the belief that, when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

MAY DEVOTION TO MARY …FRIDAY 19th MAY

Friday, the 19th, is the day the children of St Bede’s will celebrate Mary during the 9.30 am Mass. Please feel free to come and join them acknowledge Mary with their music and procession.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Next Saturday, 20th May, is the day the youngsters celebrate their First Holy Communion. I am sure that pretty well all of us remember that special day. I’d like to thank the staff of St Bede’s School who take such care in preparing the children to celebrate the Sacraments. The preparation is so different today...and to be honest, it only really works if the families of the children are fully involved and committed—and that can be very difficult.

Please feel free to come and join the young people that day for their special celebration. We have been praying for them over recent weeks, and it is always good for us to use our imagination and wonder what it would be like for us as adults making our First Holy Communion today.

I am sure that you’ve noticed during Mass that the priest takes the large host and breaks it, at least into two, and sometimes into four separate pieces. This gesture is to remind us that the one piece of bread at the last supper was broken into enough pieces for the disciples to share. It also reminds us that the physical ‘body’ of Christ was broken on the Cross for each of us. When we share the broken bread of Holy Communion, we are invited to remember that we are to share the ‘brokenness’ - the famine, the suffering, the sadness, the struggles of others, of parishioners, of people throughout the world. We cannot really share in Holy Communion without being aware of the needs of our sisters and brothers locally and in other countries.

The Da Vinci Code….I can hardly believe I’ve written that! I know the movie is coming out next Friday, and yes, I have read the book. It’s a fast, pacy read, - and putting it fairly politely, is not really factual! To be honest, one of Dan Brown’s gifts is to totally confuse fact with fiction, and when he does come across a fact or two, to exaggerate beyond belief.

I cannot believe that there are so many magazine and newspaper articles and TV programmes made about it—except that it is certainly capturing the imagination of lots of people. I’m not sure what to say. The thing is, Dan Brown is brilliant at claiming things are ‘facts’ when they’re not...I could give loads of examples of that if you want. It also means that folk who choose to take it seriously are not too informed about Christian or Catholic history, tradition, customs or beliefs. That doesn’t surprise me, to be honest, because we’re not too good at continuing Adult Education. If anyone is at all bothered about the book or the movie (and I’ll probably go and see it with a couple of nieces at some stage, and have a good night over it), just let me know.

Friends of mine who teach in America tell me that they get about 10 people for weekly Catholic ‘adult education groups’ - but if you mention the ‘Code’ the number goes up to about 100….It all fascinates me, its so wrong about so much, but is taken so seriously….Let me know what you think.
 

Parish In Council

I’m taking the liberty to provide everyone with a copy of our DRAFT Parish In Council Meeting Minutes from Wednesday 19 April. They’re DRAFT because those who were there have not had the chance to say that they accurately reflect our discussion. I invite you to read them carefully. It is difficult to reflect the views of parishioners when so few feel able to attend our Parish in Council Meetings. I do know that there are many reasons for this—however, things do go on, and things have to change, so if people are not able to attend, then their views cannot be represented.

I want to thank everyone who comes to our Parish in Council meetings. Along with those who give their apologies they are concerned about St Bede’s and how we move into the future.

The Parish in Council decided that it would be a good idea to prepare a Questionnaire for everyone who comes to Mass over a few weeks. This might give us a clue as to what people want (and hopefully what people might be able to contribute to) in our parish.

I know I’ve only been here about 18 months, and I’ve looked forward to being a parish priest for about 40 years! I now discover that things are very different, and we need to look to visiting the sick, bereaved, housebound in a different way, because we cannot simply depend on the parish priest.

I’m looking forward to us preparing the Questionnaire—but then we need people to examine what is said, and how we take things forward.

Are you prepared to do that?

There will be more about our Questionnaire in future Newsletters….I’m looking forward to someone walking into Smiths and asking for 200 pencils to fill in our Questionnaire—could make a good story.

St Bede’s Gift Aid Scheme

I suspect that some of our parishioners might not appreciate the fact that their weekly contribution can make a huge difference to our income.

In the year 2000 the system for making donations to Charities changed from ‘The Covenant Scheme’ to ’Gift Aid’. It was also made much simpler. For every £1 collected via Gift Aid, the Parish can reclaim a further 28p from the Government. So for the Tax Year just ended in April, in addition to £11,562:21 collected via our Envelope Scheme, St Bede’s Parish received a further £2,918:72 in reclaimed tax at no extra cost to the Parish.

We have 60 parishioners in the Gift Aid Scheme, so that at no cost to them at all, they are donating almost £3,000 to our funds-and we are most grateful for this. We decided that this should go to paying off our debt for the new roof. If you do pay tax and you are already donating to the Parish on a regular basis, please consider joining the Gift Aid Scheme. As you can see, it makes a very significant difference to our income.
All you have to do is fill in a simple form which will cover all your future donations to the Church. You don’t have to worry if you miss the occasional regular giving. No one from the Inland Revenue will be checking up on you at all. However, if you do stop paying tax at any time, you will need to let me know. In brief, if you are a tax payer and are not in our Gift Aid Scheme, please take this opportunity to help St Bede’s income a little further.

Paul Henderson will be at the back of Church with forms for anyone wishing to join the scheme, and will be happy to respond to any questions you might have.
Thanks again

I rather suspect that this may be the last Newsletter covering all the pages available to us. It is simply taking too much time….

I do believe that it ís very important to keep in touch with the whole of our Parish, - St Bede’s and St Joseph’s, those who celebrate regularly with us and those who don’t. So if there is anyone who would like to explore how to give extra help with the preparation of our Newsletter, and some other Parish Administration, - please let me know….

A Few Random Thoughts:

Conscience –is a little thing that tells you someone is sure to find out.

It is a good thing to be steady, the problem is that some folk do not move at all.

If you are preparing for any science GCSE, you may be helped by the following answers from young people in previous examinations:

Q: Name the 4 seasons: A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: How is dew formed?   A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: What are steroids?    A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery…

Q: Give the meaning of the term Caesarean Section.   A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome….

….I hope that particular student became a travel guide rather than a doctor...JOK
 

Finance Statement There are still some copies of the Finance Statement available if you did not receive one with your Newsletter last week.

The Sick and Retired Priests’ Fund is open until 14th May.

I have included a list of ’Special Collections’ for the year April 2006-April 2007. You may find this helpful as a reminder of the Collections coming up during the year.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations... 7th May is Vocation Sunday and this year there is a special emphasis on diocesan priesthood. Fr Paul Embery, director of the National Office for Vocation, has an interesting thought …’I am always reminding myself, and others, that the best promoters of vocation are bishops, deacons, religious, consecrated and laity who live their lives joyfully and in fidelity to their calling-however imperfect or inadequate they may feel. Please be aware of your own role and responsibility as a promoter of vocation. Helping people, especially the young, to discern their vocation is one of the greatest services we can provide. Do not be afraid of asking suitable candidates to consider whether their call might be to priesthood or consecrated life.”

Another Date for your Diary Saturday 1st July 2006 is a Day of Prayer and Pilgrimage at The Holy Island of Lindisfarne led by Bishop Kevin Dunn to pray for seafarers and the work of Apostleship of the Sea (AOS). The day begins with Celtic Prayer at 12 noon on the beach and ends with Mass in Church at 3.00pm.. Please bring a packed lunch. For more information, please contact Tony McAvoy on 077 1392 4504 or John Green at AOS on 020 7588 8285.

La Sagesse School, North Jesmond which provides Independent Catholic Education for Boys 3-11 and Girls 3-18. Boys will be admitted up to Year 7 in September 2007. The School is having an Open Week Monday 8th to Friday 12 May 2006. A poster is at the back of Church giving more details.

There are three posts being advertised by the Diocese. You may be interested in the jobs yourself, or you may know someone who could fill the bill. There is more information at the back of the Church:
 

Personal Assistant (Bishop’s Office) - this post requires extensive and proven secretarial experience.. (so believe me, I’ll not be applying for it…)

Child Protection Officer

Diocesan Education Officer.

These are all full-time posts for 37.5 hours per week. Full details are available with the application packs which include detailed Job Descriptions and Person Specifications.

Evangelization Made Easy...Just a final reminder that this Day is happening at St Robert’s, Fenham from 10.30—4.00pm on Wednesday May 10th -this week. The first of 5 days in different parts of the Diocese was held last Saturday at St Joseph’s Hartlepool. Fr David Coxon said it went really well. About 70 people were involved in the Day. The Day in Fenham is the second in a serious of five.

There are a couple of copies of New City (£2) on sale if you would like one. The Word of Life leaflets are free.

Go to site: www.twmuseums.org.uk

YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT 18+ from 19—24 February 2007

Our Diocesan Youth Mission Team are arranging a 2nd Retreat for Young Adults at Palazzola, just outside of the city of Rome. It is a stunning place, an ancient Villa in the Alban Hills just opposite Castelgandolfo. Last year’s gathering was a great success, a great week led by Fr Chris Thomas of Liverpool Diocese. If you’re interested (minor things like cost, come to mind—£185.00 for full board—though anyone going needs to make their own travel arrangements— please let me know.

Just a word of encouragement for the Gardeners amongst us…

The kiss of the sun for pardon

The song of the bird for mirth

One is nearer God’s heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth.
 

Came across these amazing answers to game show questions…

In traffic, what ‘J’ is where two roads meet? Jool carriageway

Which Italian city is overlooked by Vesuvius? Bombay

The four Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark Luke and? Joe

In which European country is Mount Etna? Japan

So there is hope for all of us, JOK