NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 9th Mar 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.  Also remember in your prayers Bishop Kevin,  who died last Saturday and his family.



 

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

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER– Lent

During Lent we are asked to pray for these intentions:

Candidates for the Sacraments; Women; The Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers.

BISHOP KEVIN

As you know Bishop Kevin died last Saturday evening.  His body will be received into St. Mary’s Cathedral at 7 pm on Monday, followed by Mass and his funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 12 noon.  The Cathedral will be closed on Monday afternoon and will not open until 6 pm. And it will remain open for a vigil of quiet prayer ending with Compline at 10 pm.

Admittance to the Cathedral on Tuesday is by ticket only, although there may be standing place within the Cathedral Precincts and courtyard and loudspeakers will broadcast the Mass outside.  On Sunday evening Father Resti will celebrate Mass for Bishop Kevin for the Asian and African community at 6.30pm

RETIRING COLLECTION FOR THE HOLY PLACES

Next weekend there is a Retiring Collection for the Holy Places.  This collection is to help the Catholic Community in the Holy Land.  The Christian Community there suffers greatly for their faith.  They are in effect second class citizens.  They are not entitled to free education for their children and their livelihoods have been seriously effected by the Israeli occupation, so please give generously.

LENT

On Tuesday afternoons during Lent St Cuthbert’s Chapel will be open  from 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. for private reflection and Stations of the Cross which start at 2pm.  Stations will also be celebrated at 3.00 p.m. every Friday afternoon.  On Sundays there will be a Lenten devotion at 4.00 p.m.  Today there is the Stations of the Cross.

Our Lenten Reconciliation Service is on Saturday 15th March at 10.30 a.m.  This is for everyone in the parish and our First Holy Communion Children will celebrate First Reconciliation.

On Monday 17th March we will be hosting West End Churches Together Taizé Prayer Hour for Holy Week.  Mass that day will be at 9.10 a.m.

On the notice board at the back of church there is a list for volunteers for the Washing of Feet during the Mass of Our Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.  There is also a list of all Holy Week services on the outside notice board at the back of church. 

Next Sunday is Passion Sunday and weather permitting both Masses will start in the car park with the Blessing of Palms.  Mass ends in silence so please leave the church in silence.

LENTEN RETREAT

Travelling to Easter with Mary at St Mary’s Cathedral  on Thursday 13^th March led by Fr Christopher Jackson.  The retreat begins at 10 am (with the opportunity for Confession from 9.30a.m.) and concludes with Mass at 12.05pm. Tickets are priced at £4.00 and are available via the Cathedral Bookshop.

LENTEN ALMS

There are envelopes at the back of church for anyone who missed the Lenten Alms Collection last weekend for St. Cuthbert’s Care

FAIR TRADE STALL

This weekend our Fair Trade Stall is open for business. 

EASTER FLOWERS

All donations for Easter flowers must be handed in today.

FILIPINO COMMUNITY MEETING

There is a meeting for all the members of the Filipino Community next Sunday after 9.30am Mass.

LITURGY GROUP MEETING

There is a meeting for the Liturgy/Mass Preparation Group on Monday, 10th March after evening Mass looking at Holy Week and Easter liturgies.  All are welcome.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS

Our First Communion programme continues on Wednesday 12th March at 6.30pm  in the Social Centre for the children.  At the same time the parents will meet with Father Gordon in church.  This weekend the children will be giving us their sorry prayers during Mass.  Please remember to pray for the children and their families. 

YOUTH MISSION

There is a meeting for all our young people from Yr6+ in St. Cuthbert’s Chapel on Thursday, 13th March at 6.30pm.  All are welcome.

REPOSITORY

We have a wide selection of gifts, Cards, etc for all occasions, and goods that have just arrived are Easter Cards and also First Holy Communion Cards and Gifts.  Why not come and see what we are selling after Mass?   Father Resti has arranged for a supply of the Concise Catechism of the Catholic Church to be available from the Repository Price £6.95.

WELCOME ROTA

The new Welcome Rota is available from the back of church. The new rota includes everyone who volunteered to help.  Please take one and if you can’t take your turn organise a swap.

LOURDES MEMORIAL BOOK OF DECEASED PILGRIMS:

We are compiling a book of Remembrance which will be taken to Lourdes each year and placed on the altar when we celebrate Mass for the faithful departed.  If you know of anyone who has travelled to Lourdes with the Diocesan Pilgrimage, HCPT or a parish pilgrimage and has since died we will be happy to include them in the book. Please send their full names, parish and date of death to Father Michael Humble, Immaculate Heart of Mary,  Malvern Gardens, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. NE11 9LL or e-mail michaelhumble@live.co.uk

ANGELUS LUNCH CLUB

Our next lunch is on Wednesday 12th March.  Please let us know if you are not able to come.  Deposits will be taken for our summer outing on Wednesday 16th July.

CHURCH CLEANING FOR EASTER

Volunteers are needed to help clean the church for our Holy Week and Easter Services on Tuesday 18th March after morning Mass.  We will even serve refreshments to all who turn up.

EL SHADDAI

El Shaddai in Sunderland are celebrating their third anniversary on Saturday 29th March from 2 pm.  Other El Shaddai groups from around the country will be joining them and everyone is welcome to join the celebration afterwards in the Social Centre.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP

The Bereavement Group are holding a coffee evening on Monday 31^st March at 7.00pm in St. Joseph’s social centre. The evening will begin with a short liturgy led by Jimmy Youll. If you are feeling bereaved in any way you will be most welcome. Please ring Ian Thompson ( or Kathleen Dale ( if you require transport.

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: 5th Sunday of Lent:

4.00 p.m. Lenten Service

Monday:

7.30pm Liturgy Meeting

Tuesday:

1.30—3.30pm Stations of the Cross in Chapel

Wednesday:

6.30pm  Benediction & Stations  & Novena

                  6.30pm First Holy Communion Children & Parents

Friday:

3.00p.m. Stations of the Cross 

      7.00 p.m. Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1.00pm El Shaddai

5.00pm. Prayer Meeting

Passion Sunday:

Blessing of palms at both Masses

4.00 p.m. Lenten Service

Rotas week ending 15th/16th Mar 2008