NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 18th March 2007
Please pray for all the sick in the hospital and in our parish including:
Barbara Wall, Kitty Stubbs, Bertha Appleton, Flo Mullen, Jimmy Carson, Emily Kearney, Christine McDonald, Dennis Lynch, Joe Donkin, Olive Atkinson, George & Nora Gallagher, Ethel Fagan, Denise Calvert, Ken Hutchinson and Andrea Saward. Also please pray for Sr. Declan who died during the week.
Please remember in your prayers the following priests of the diocese whose anniversaries occur during the week:
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Sunday 25 March: |
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Monday 26 March: |
Rev Adam Johnson (1962), Rev Clement Haverty (2002) |
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Tuesday 27 March: |
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Wednesday 28 March: |
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Thursday 29 March: |
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Friday 30 March: |
Rev Philip Smyth (1980) |
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Saturday 31 March: |
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St. Joseph’s 100 Years ago
We promised you at the start of our centenary year that we would let you know what was happening in the parish 100 years. As we are celebrating St. Joseph’s Feast tomorrow these are a few extracts from the Parish Notice books for March 1907.
On 10th March there was a meeting at St. Mary’s School (which is now part of the university at the bottom of Chester Road) at 3.30pm “regarding the Guardian Elections. Our Catholic Guardians for Bridge Ward are likely to be opposed and as 1/3 of this ward is in our parish we ask St. Joseph’s people to go and give all possible help to win the election.” The Guardians were responsible for the running of the workhouse and the provision of assistance to the destitute.
17th March was Passion Sunday (now the 5th Sunday of Lent), even then it was also St. Patrick’s Day. The Feast of St. Joseph was described thus: “Tuesday, 19th March, St. Joseph, Patron of the universal Church and of this Mission.”
On Sunday there was Catechism at 2pm followed by instruction and benediction at 2.30pm. Stations of the Cross were celebrated 6.30pm with sermon and Benediction.
To celebrate the feast of St. Joseph there was Benediction at 7.30 pm instead of on the Wednesday. There was no other special celebration announced for the feast day. However there was a tea and concert to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the Monday.
St. Joseph’s 50 Years ago
Not only do we have the Notice Books for 100 years ago we also have them for 50 years ago when Fr. Roger Morrissey was Parish Priest.
17th March 1957 was the 2nd Sunday in Lent, (Vatican II was still a few years away). There were 3 Masses each day as well as Mass at the Lady altar. Parishioners were told every week “Never miss Mass on a Sundays through your own fault.”
There were Lenten Devotions every night at 7.30pm with special nights on Tuesdays for men and boys and Thursdays for women and girls. Confessions were heard every morning and night during Lent. Parishioners were “urged not to work every Sunday—give time to God.” School children were encouraged to “come to Mass every morning before school.” Many parishioners will remember going to Mass on a weekday morning and having breakfast in school – so school breakfasts are not a new idea! There was a ceilidhe to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day who was described as “our brother in heaven.”
On 3rd March Fr Morrissey said to the parishioners “I have something to put before. St Joseph’s Church celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year (the parish is 85 years old). To honour this occasion I have decided to have St Joseph’s washed and painted etc, etc,. In spite of all the we have on hand for the parish, I am asking you to subscribe to the painting of the church by giving in a special way in the 2nd collection at Masses on Sundays. I ask those who are disposed to put 10/- notes or £1 notes on the plate. The work begins after Easter. When the painting is finished (2 weeks contract) I will tell you the position.”
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CYCLE OF PRAYER - LENT
In the time leading up to Lent, we are asked to pray for these intentions: Candidates for the Sacraments; Women; the Needy and the Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers
LENTEN DEVOTIONS
Lent is a time of prayer fasting and almsgiving and to help us we have a number of aids to help us all. There are a number of prayer groups in the parish to which all are welcome. The church will be open on Tuesday between 1.30 and 3.30pm Stations of the Cross are celebrated on Tuesday at 2pm, Friday afternoons at 3pm and on Sundays at 4pm.
There are lists at the back of church for volunteers to have their feet washed on Holy Thursday and for watching on Holy Thursday night after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
PREPARING FOR HOLY WEEK
Next Sunday after the vigil Mass we need to practise the hymns for the vigil Mass for Palm Sunday. Please stay behind so that we all know and can learn the hymns.
PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR CENTENARY
St Joseph’s Feast Day Celebrations
Next weekend is one of our major Centenary Celebrations — for the Feast of St Joseph. There are still a few tickets left so don’t miss out buy one now for an evening of lively entertainment with the Beacon Band (some members formerly The Frasers), on Saturday 24th March. Nibbles will be provided, but bring along your own food if you wish. Children are allowed until 9pm. Any raffle prizes will be greatly appreciated. All proceeds from the night will go to St Clare’s Hospice.
The following day Sunday 25th March is our Parish Lunch in the Hall—a shared table– bring your own contribution after Mass or when you arrive at noon. Our last parish lunch was a great success, please help make these events as successful.
Sun 6th May—1pm Panto and Party for children in hall
Sat 19th May—11am Mass for sick and elderly; lunch in hall
Sat 7th July—Pilgrimage to Holy Island
Fri 28th Sept– Concert in Church with the Cobweb Orchestra and Music Makers.
Thurs 11th –14th October—Flower Festival
Sun 14th Oct– 3pm Centenary Mass
Were you married at St Joseph’s?
If you haven’t already done so, let us have a wedding photo for our picture board.
Ring Ann on (
Centenary Window collection to date is £708.32 Thank you!
FAIR TRADE STALL
We’ve taken £381.46 since February. Our next sale is the weekend after Easter—14th/15th April. We still have plenty of stock if you require anything before then.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS
This weekend the children are asking for prayer sponsors—parishioners who will pray for individual children while they are preparing for First Holy Communion. Their programme continues on Wednesday evening at 6pm in the Social Centre Lounge.
Next weekend some of the children will lead us in our sorry prayers during Mass
They will celebrate First Forgiveness when they lead our Parish Reconciliation on Saturday 31st March at 10.30am. Remember the children and their parents in your prayers..
ANGELUS LUNCH CLUB
Our next Lunch is on Wednesday March 21st. Please let us know if you are NOT able to come. (No birthday celebrations this month but a big one in April !!! ).
WOMEN AGLOW
This group meet again at 7.15pm on Wednesday 21st March in The Chesters. The guest speaker is Ruth Muita, an African lady with an amazing testimony. Contact Bernadette on 551 9284 for more details.
ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE
It’s the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act– to mark this there will be a regional Service in Durham Cathedral on Saturday 24th March at 11am. Please see notice board for more details
SAINT AIDAN’S CAR BOOT SALE
St Aidan’s PTA have organised a Car Boot Sale on Saturday 24th March 10am - 1pm. Sunderland are not playing that day so there is plenty of opportunity to give your support.
PASSOVER MEAL
Apologies for errors in last week’s notice. The correct details are as follows: Passover Meal in St Joseph’s Parish Centre Monday 26th March at 7.30pm Adults £5 Children (8-14 yrs) £3. ALL TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD THANK YOU
MASS OFFERINGS
We have many outstanding Mass offerings so in order to be fair to everyone Mass offerings received from this weekend will be celebrated in the order we have received them. If we can accommodate a date you would like we will but please be patient and bear with us. If there is a good pastoral reason for celebrating a Mass, again we will do so. Some Masses have been passed to Fr Jude. We will let you know when the back log has been cleared.
AFRICAN MASS
An African Mass, Led by Fr. Jude, will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church , High West Street, Gateshead on Sunday 25th March at 2pm. Refreshments afterwards in their Parish Centre. Please see notice board for more information.
CHURCH CLEANING FOR EASTER
Volunteers are required to help with cleaning the church for Easter. We would like to clean the church on Wednesday 4r4h April after 9.10am Mass. Refreshments will be provided to all who come and help.
MISSING HYMN BOOK
One of the Music Books which is kept in the choir loft beside the organ has disappeared! If you have borrowed it please return it urgently. It is used for services in church during the week and for weekends. It is not to be removed from the choir loft.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Today: 4th Sunday of Lent
4pm Sunday Stations of the Cross
Tuesday:
Church open 1.30-3.30pm, 2pm Stations of the Cross
7pm Prayer Meeting
Wednesday:
6pm -7pm 1st Communion Children
Friday:
5pm Indian Prayer Group
Saturday:
2pm El Shaddai
5pm Prayer Group
7.30pm Beacon Band
Next Saturday & Sunday: 5th Sunday of Lent
12 noon Shared Lunch
4pm Sunday Stations of the Cross
Rotas week ending 24th/25th Mar 2007
Eucharistic Ministers
6.30pm J G Watson, S Watson, P Young, J Fagan,