NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 6th Apr 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, James Chapman, and Brian McBain.   Please also remember in your prayers the brother of Asha James who died recently in India and Father Tom Powers who also died recently in Ireland.

 

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

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER– Eastertide

During Easter we are asked to pray for these intentions: New Members of the Church; Vocations; The Right Use of the Media; the Church; Human Work.

VOCATIONS SUNDAY

Next Sunday is a world Day of Prayer for Vocations.  This year we expect Andrew Shaw to be ordained to the Priesthood at Ushaw on 6th June.  It is also expected that Tom McHale, who was on placement here during last summer will be ordained Deacon on 13th June.  There are also two others to be ordained Deacons in the near future,  The diocese has a further four students in formation and three applicants for seminary training this year..  Please remember to pray for them as well as all who are called to Religious Life.   There are Discernment Weekends at Ushaw for anyone who might be considering a vocation to the Priesthood.  If you are interested please contact Fr. Gordon for further details and also for details of the House of Hospitality at Penshaw.

JOURNEY IN FAITH

Our next Journey in Faith starts on Tuesday 22nd April and continues for the following three Tuesdays.  The course is for all preparing for a baptism or for a wedding.  All are welcome.

DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

There is  Diocesan Day of Reflection at Ushaw on 10th May led by Rev. Timothy Radcliffe OP.

If you are interested in attending please let us know or contact the Diocesan Education Service directly ( or email them at office@edurcdhn.org.uk

FAIR TRADE

Next weekend our Fair Trade is open again for business, so bring a little extra money with you now that Lent is over and treat yourself to some of the goodies we have to offer.  We got the date wrong last week!

LOURDES JUBILEE YEAR

By April of 1858 Bernadette was suffering extreme mental torture from the civil authorities who were interrogating her because they did not believe her amazing story.  This filled her with fear and upset.  During those dark days she would take comfort from the words the lady had spoken to her earlier “I cannot promise you happiness in this life but only in the next.”  On 16th April 1879 Bernadette died.  Shortly before she died she uttered these words “I am thirsty”.  Perhaps on the 16th of this month we can say the Rosary for all who hunger and thirst for the Lord.

CAFOD.....LIVESIMPLY.....PROGRESS OF PEOPLES

The Echo's ''Tomorrow's Sunday'' column, last Saturday, asked the question ''What does it mean to be human'' ?This is the answer of Pope Paul VI in his Encyclical Letter of 1967....''The Progress of Peoples''

''Love, friendship, prayer, and contemplation are necessary values. Without such gifts, people can make no progress from what is less to what is more human. What is less human ? The material destitution of those who lack the means of life; the moral destitution of those maimed by selfishness; the network of oppression fostered by the abuse of wealth and by the abuse of power; the exploitation of workers; crooked business deals. What is more human? The end of want; everyone having enough; the end of social ills of every kind; more knowledge, more culture; respect for the dignity of others; the spirit of poverty ( Mt. 5.3 ); cooperation for the common good; the will for peace.

''Fill the earth and conquer it'' ( Gen.1.28 ).The Bible makes it clear that human beings, by their work and by their wits, should give new meaning to all creation. All things were made for them. Every one of them has the right to find in the world all he or she needs for life and progress. God has made the earth and all that it contains for all to share. The earth's goods must be divided fairly, and the right of everyone to a just share comes first. Even the right to private property and the right to free enterprise must yield to justice. All other rights must help, not block, the basic right of every human being.''

Thy Kingdom come: Thy Will be done: on earth as in Heaven.

ANGELUS LUNCH CLUB

Our next lunch is Wednesday 7th April.  Please let us know if you are not able to come.

WALK N HOPE 2008

This year Walk n Hope weekend will take place on Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th of April at St Mary’s Hexham Northumberland.  The theme for this year is “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News”.  Amongst the speakers will be Father Stan Fortuna who belongs to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based in the Bronx New York.  Steve Murray a Christian mime artist and Beyond the Barricades a local youth dance group.  There is a possibility of a bus from St Josephs to Hexham for both days. A small fee will be charged for this.  For further details please contact Peter Hodgson (.

WORKING SACRISTY

Work is due to start very soon on updating the working sacristy and the old confessional.  It would help us enormously if those individuals and groups who use them. and have items stored  there, would sort out what has to be kept and what can be thrown out.  If there is no note of what you want keeping items will be disposed of.  We hope to have storage for all groups who use the sacristy, storage for candles etc, and an area where tea and coffee can be made.  It should be a big improvement.

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 of Easter

Wednesday:

11.45a.m. Angelus Lunch

6.30p.m.  Benediction and Novena

Friday:

7.00p.m. Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1.00p.m. El Shaddai

5.00p.m. Prayer Group

4th Sunday of Easter:

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Rotas week ending 12th/13th Apr 2008