These days formed the first ‘novena’ where the infant Church prayed for the coming of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus. In the porch you will find copies of a ‘Novena for our Partnership’ offering a simple form of short prayer for each day as we await the unfolding of the power of the Spirit in our part of the county of Durham. Please take one and spend just a few minutes each day between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost praying for the needs of our parish and of all the Catholic communities in our Partnership.

Is next Sunday, 2nd June. We are asked to pray for all those who work in the media. A retiring collection will be taken to support the work of the communications office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, which supports the bishops in their witness and engagement with current issues, and promotes the Gospel through digital, social, print and broadcast media.

Our parish collects biscuits and toilet rolls to help provide basic supplies to asylum seekers in the diocese. These are collected regularly, on the first Sunday of the month. If you would like to donate items please remember to bring them to Church next Sunday 2 June and place them under the bench in the narthex ready to be collected.

Judy McLean will be hosting an Open House Exhibition of her paintings, drawings and etchings over the weekend of Friday 14 June- Sunday 16 June and proceeds will go to charity. All are welcome; Please see the poster on the notice board for more details. Save the date!

A Day of Reflection for those involved in all ministries in our parishes. Led by Veronica Murphy from the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Saturday 15 June, 10:30am – 3:30pm, at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Gateshead. See noticeboard for details. Booking is essential.

Diocesan gathering for young people in school Years 5, 6 and 7. Live music; praise & worship; invited speakers; refreshments; social time. Wednesday 19 June, 6.00-7.30pm, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Mill Lane, Hebburn NE31 2ET.

Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. The message of love is not a new one: love of God and of neighbour were the two great commandments of the Old Testament. But Jesus calls on his disciples to love one another ‘as I have loved you:’ and he gives them this commandment at the Last Supper. He has just shown them an example of loving service by washing their feet, and the next day, he will give his life on the Cross. To love one another as Christ has loved us is to give ourselves without reserve; there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life. And, by his life and his teaching, Jesus shows us that love of neighbour includes not only those who are like us, but the whole human race. He sets no limits to his love, and he calls his disciples to do the same. It is by our love for one another that we will be known as disciples of Christ. What a challenge.

Apologetically Ecumenical by Ruth Gee, Connexional Ecumenical Officer for the Methodist Church. Wednesday 29th May at 7.30pm in Leech Hall, St John’s College.

Science Technician ,37 hours per week – Permanent, Term Time + 10 days. CES application form and further details are available from: St. Leonard’s Catholic School, North, End, Durham DH1 4NG (Telephone: 0191 3848575) Details are also available on the school website: www.st-leonards.durham.sch.uk

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 9am on Wednesday 5th June 2019.

The minutes of the PPC meeting in March are now available on the website, and on the noticeboard at the back of church.

The next meeting of the Parish Assembly is our AGM on 23rd May at 7 p.m. in the Parish Room. One of the Agenda items concerns changes to the Guidelines for the Parish Pastoral Council. This is an open meeting, so please do come along to hear updates about what is happening in the parish and the partnership.