NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 27th 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 Rosetta Amer and Kathleen Gibbons who died during the week.

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.

HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY BILL

This weekend we have a petition to be signed asking MPs to oppose the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

READERS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

May we remind Ministers and Readers 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!

ALTAR SERVERS

Would all altar servers please check the list in St. Cuthbert’s chapel to make sure when they are serving.

J. JOHN

J. John is a renowned Evangelist and has a special way of proclaiming the Ten Commandments for today’s world.  He is visiting the N.E. in March.  To get a flavour come to the Chesters on Wednesday 30th January at 7.30 pm

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS

There is a meeting for parents of children preparing for First Holy Communion this year, on Wednesday 6th February after 7pm Mass (Ash Wednesday).  Please remember the children and their families in your prayers.

HOLY FAMILY 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Holy Family Parish are celebrating their 40th Anniversary on Saturday 9th February with a party in their parish hall.  Admission is by ticket and we have ten.  If you want to go please see Father Gordon.  It is “first come first served”.

SIGNED WITH LOVE

We have received a letter from “Signed with Love” thanking us for our donation of £181.30 from their recent musical ‘Twelve Stories of Angels’ which has been donated to the Grace House Appeal.  They have raised £5,354.30 for Grace House.

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 ( as soon as possible.  The boxes will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

COFFEE MORNING ROTA

The Coffee Morning Rota has been handed out to all those parishioners who volunteered to take a turn.  As there are now only two people on each week, if you can’t take your turn please arrange a swap.  If you don’t arrange a swap, it means that the Coffee Morning for your week will have to be cancelled.

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.

LOURDES JUBILEE YEAR

On the 11th day of February in 1858 Bernadette Soubirous saw a beautiful lady in the Grotto at Massabielle in Lourdes.  The lady smiled at Bernadette and held her arms towards her.  Bernadette knelt down and began to say the Rosary.  The lady let her own rosary slip through her fingers as Bernadette prayed.  The only words the lady uttered were the words of the Gloria Pater.  The 11th February is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and it is also World Day of Prayer for the Sick.  Perhaps we could all say the Rosary on that day for all who are sick.

CAFOD—FOCUS AFRICA & LIVESIMPLY

This has been a great year for our parish supporting CAFOD and through CAFOD restoring some justice to the world’s destitute.  Apart from regular donations which are vital, you have kept CAFOD and the poor in mind on so many occasions as the account below shows.  Heart-felt thanks!

During the past year £%,857 has been sent to CAFOD on your behalf.  This amount is made up as follows:-

This does not include Special Appeals (Family Fast etc) which are sent separately to CAFOD.

Focus Africa will be our challenge for one more year, as we LIVESIMPLY.  As CAFOD’s director says “Together we’re making such a great difference.”

Anyone who would like a supply of CAFOD envelopes to make a monthly donation is asked to put their name and address, requesting a supply, into the offertory basket and we will deliver envelops to you.

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:  3rd Sunday Ordinary Time: 

Wednesday:

6.30pm Novena & Benediction

Friday:

7.00pm Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1.00pm El Shaddai

5.00pm Prayer Meeting

Sunday: 4th Sunday Ordinary Time

Rotas week ending 2nd/3rd Feb 2008