The Bishops of England and Wales have issued guidance to parishes about the Coronavirus outbreak. At present, the risk to the public in this country is low, and there is no need for special measures around the Sign of Peace or reception of Holy Communion from the chalice. We are advised to maintain good hygiene; ministers of the Eucharist should sanitise their hands before and after distributing Communion. We should all combat prejudice and discrimination against people of Chinese origin.

This Lent, CAFOD’s Family Fast Day is an opportunity to reach out to some of the poorest, most marginalised of our sisters and brothers. Your donations go to highly-trained, highly-skilled local experts who support the health of the world’s poorest families. On Friday 6 March, will you eat a simple meal in solidarity and give what you save to help CAFOD’s work? Through CAFOD’s global Church family – one of the largest aid networks in the world – your support can reach to the ends of the earth. Please collect your Family Fast Day envelope from church this week and give whatever you can.

At the heart of Christian faith is the doctrine of the Incarnation – our belief that, in Jesus, the Son of God became truly human. Jesus’ humanity is revealed in today’s Gospel reading. Having been baptised by John, he goes into the wilderness to pray and prepare himself for his public ministry. Alone and hungry, Jesus is vulnerable. The devil comes to tempt him: to use his divine powers for his own benefit; to work a spectacular miracle that would gain the attention of the crowds; or to worship the false god of worldly power. The temptations are real, but Jesus resists them, because he trusts absolutely in his Father, and is utterly committed to the mission that his Father has given him – in contrast to Adam and Eve, who were deceived by the devil and turned away from obedience to God. By Jesus’ obedience to the Father, our sin is overcome. As we begin the season of Lent, we are called to follow the Lord’s example. The Holy Spirit who, strengthened Jesus in the wilderness, will strengthen us in our own struggles with temptation.

The candidates and catechumens taking part in our Journey in Faith programme will be enrolled at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle, Sunday, 1st March. Please pray for those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation or Reception into full communion with the Church, and for their sponsors and families.

An opportunity for people to come together to explore this resource and learn how to lead groups who will be using it after Easter. This event is part of The God Who Speaks, the Year of the Word. On Saturday 21 March, at St. John Vianney Church, Newcastle. Please contact spirituality@diocesehn.org.uk to register your interest.

Pride and Providence: Reflecting With St Augustine on Our Political Malaise. Presented by Sr Margaret Atkins OSA, Augustinian Sisters, Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. Wednesday 10th March at 5.30pm, at Ushaw College. Entry is free, and transport will be provided from Durham city centre, but you need to register at https://centreforcatholicstudies.eventbrite.com/

The first day of the season of Lent, is this week. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Mass with imposition of ashes will be celebrated at St Cuthbert’s at 12.15pm and 7.00pm.

The ancient law of ‘An eye for an eye’ seems brutal to us. It was a harsh law for a harsh time; a law that put a limit on vengeance, so that violence did not escalate out of control. Jesus calls his disciples to a higher standard: to resist violence and injustice without resorting to violence themselves. Modern movements for civil rights and justice show us the power of non-violent resistance, but it can be a difficult and costly road to follow.

The Law required the people of Israel to love their neighbours, but was often interpreted as imposing no obligation to love sinners or enemies. Jesus, again, calls his disciples to do more; to love the enemy and pray for the persecutor, following the example of God our Father, who loves all those he has created. Such a radical vision may seem impossible, even foolish. This is not the wisdom of the world, but a wisdom that changes the world.