NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 20th Jan 2008

Please pray for all the sick in the hospital and in our parish including:

Kitty Stubbs, Bertha Appleton, Flo Mullen, Christopher Brown, Jimmy Carson, Christine McDonald, Dennis Lynch, Joe Donkin, Olive Atkinson, Nora Gallagher, Ethel Fagan, Denise Calvert, Ken Hutchinson, Andrea Saward, Paul Tulloch, Jan Buckley, Lucy Mole, Bishop Kevin and Metropolitan Mar Makarios.  Also remember Philip McCarthy who died on Wednesday.

Please remember in your prayers the following priests of the diocese whose anniversaries occur during the week:

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER– Ordinary Time—Winter

In the time leading up to Lent we are asked to pray for these intentions: Peace on Earth; Christian Unity; the Sick and Those who Care for them; Students and Teachers; the Unemployed.

EDUCATION SUNDAY

Today is a special day of prayer for all involved in Education — teachers, pupils, support staff, governors.  There is a retiring collection for the Catholic Education Service.

PEACE SUNDAY

Today is also a special Day of Prayer  for Peace.  Please remember to pray for peace in our troubled world.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

The Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity continues this week.. 

READERS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

All Eucharistic Ministers and Readers are reminded to collect a copy of the new rotas from St Cuthbert’s Chapel.  May we also remind you that if you cannot take your turn please arrange to swap with someone.  It is unfair, especially for readers, to expect another person to stand in for you at the last minute.  Readers and Ministers should have enough time to prepare  before Mass to carry out their Ministry.

SOUND SYSTEM

The sound system in the sacristy cupboard and the loop system must never be touched under pain of death!

JOURNEY IN FAITH

Our Journey in Faith continues at 7pm on Tuesday, 15th January

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING

The next Parish Pastoral Council Meeting is on Monday 21st January.  New officers and members of sub  -  committees will be elected.  All Parish Groups are reminded that they should send a member to the Parish Pastoral Council.

MILL HILL MISSIONS

Once again we start another year for the red boxes.  The total amount that was sent to Mill Hill from St. Joseph’s parish for 2007 was £4,980.66.  Another good year, thank you all very much.  The collectors will be calling during this month to empty the boxes. 

J. JOHN

Evangelist J. John is visiting the North East in the near Future and there is a taster session in the Chesters on 30th January from 7.30 pm—9.30 pm.  All are welcome.

YOUTH MISSION MEETING

There is a meeting of the Youth Mission Co-ordinating Team on Tuesday 22nd January at 7.15 p.m. at St. Benet’s.

CATECHIST CONFERENCE

The Diocesan Education Service have organised a Catechist Conference as part of the Diocesan review of Sacramental guidelines.  This is your chance to contribute to this review.  It is being held at Ushaw College on Saturday 26th April from 10.00 a.m. -  12.30 p.m.  We expect the demand for places to be high  - hence the early notice.  If you wish to attend please contact either Diane English or Father Gordon.

PLANNED GIVING

The new Planned Giving Envelopes are due to start at the beginning of April and we will have some spare boxes of envelopes.  If you want to be part of the Planned Giving Scheme please contact Louis Dale on 522 6505 as soon as possible.  The boxes will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

JOB VACANCY

Holy Rosary and Immaculate Heart  parishes are advertising for a Part-time Secretary/Housekeeper for 10 hours per week.  The closing date is Friday, 1st February.  For more information please contact the parish on 528 1992.

DISCERNMENT RETREAT

A lot of men who end up deciding to enter the seminary often say there is “something missing” in their lives, that they desired more.  I f you are looking for “something more” why not try the Discernment Retreat at Ushaw, 1-3 February.  For more details contact Scott Opperman at Ushaw on 373 8531 or scott.opperman@ushaw.ac.uk

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY

If you are kind people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

BE KIND ANYWAY

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies

SUCCEED ANYWAY

If you are honest and frank people may cheat on you;

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

BUILD ANYWAY

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

BE HAPPY ANYWAY

The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow;

DO GOOD ANYWAY

Giver the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE ANYWAY

You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God; 

IT IS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

Mother Teresa

POLISH MASS  

Mass in Polish will be celebrated at 4 pm on the 4th Sunday of every month in St. Benet’s Church Sunderland.  Confessions before at 3.30 pm.  Refreshments after Mass in the Parish Hall.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Today:  2nd Sunday Ordinary Time:

Peace Sunday; 

Education Sunday: Retiring Collection for Catholic Education Service

Monday:

7.30pm Parish Pastoral Council

Tuesday:

7.00pm Journey in Faith

Wednesday:

6.30pm Novena & Benediction

Friday:

7pm Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1pm El Shaddai

5.00pm. Prayer Meeting

Sunday: 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time

Rotas week ending 26th/27h Jan 2008