If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest

As we come closer to the feast of Easter, today’s reading from John’s Gospel shows Jesus calmly preparing to face his death. He tells his disciples that ‘the hour has come.’ He will give his life on the Cross and his death and resurrection will open the way to eternal life for us.

Jesus says that in his death, he will be glorified and he will glorify his Father. It may seem a strange saying. How can such a brutal and shameful death be glorious? On the Cross, God’s love for us is fully revealed. God gives his only Son for us. Jesus does not try to escape the Cross, but gives his life freely, in obedience to his Father. As he says, ‘it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour.’ Both Father and Son are glorified in Jesus’ sacrifice of himself – the wheat grain that falls to the ground and dies, yielding a rich harvest.

Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that anyone who follows him must also be prepared to sacrifice themselves; ‘Wherever I am, my servant will be there too.’ Jesus gives himself, freely and completely, to save us. He challenges us to follow his example and give ourselves for him.

CAFOD Big Walk 2024



Cafod Big Walk 2024 – starting 2pm-meet outside church on Saturday 23rd March – In partnership with parishioners from other local churches a walk of about 5km to raise money for Charity. Participants are requested to make a donation. For anyone wishing to get sponsors for Cafod the form can be downloaded from the link below. Scroll down to ‘Resources’. https://cafod.org.uk/fundraise/sponsored-challenge-events/community-big-lent-walk.

The Source

The Source is back! Our diocesan event for young people in school Year 9 and upwards. Thursday 21st March at 7.00pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle. With music, speakers, prayer and food, including Catholic artists Adenike Adewale and Ela Kalicka. See ‘Youth Ministry Team’ on social media for details.

Church Reopening

Additional stewards would be welcome to help resume opening to the public on Fridays and Saturday mornings. The new rota will start after Easter. Stewards are DBS screened and serve with a partner; sharing conversation and coffee means the two hour shifts  (10.00-12.00 or 13.00 -15.00) every two or three weeks are not very onerous. If you could help, please contact Ciara (office@stcuthberts-durham.org.uk) or Susan Penswick (scpenswick@hotmail.co.uk)

God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son

In today’s Gospel Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a leader of the Jewish people, who comes to him at night to talk in secret. Jesus’ message is good news. He tells Nicodemus that God has sent his Son into the world to save the world and not to condemn it. Jesus is the Light of the World who promises us eternal life. But we have a choice to make; to accept or reject the Good News. Nicodemus, who came to Jesus in the darkness, has to decide whether he will come out into the light.
St Paul says, ‘We are God’s work of art.’ God created us and he takes delight in us. We are saved by the gift of God’s grace, given to us freely. But we have to choose to accept God’s gift.
Nicodemus did become a disciple; he helped to bury Jesus’ body after his death. He chose to come into the light of faith. As we reach the halfway point in the season of Lent, it’s time to reflect on whether we are choosing the light of Christ and living the truth. Are we ready to receive God’s gift?

Lent Day of Reflection at Ushaw

Lent is a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter.  The Lent Day of Reflection at Ushaw on Friday 15th March invites us to reflect on the phrase “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” from the Lord’s Prayer.  The day will also include Mass in St. Cuthbert’s Chapel, and Stations of the Cross. 

The day starts at 10.15am, with refreshments on arrival, and finishes by 3.30pm.  The Day of Reflection costs £10.  Bring your own lunch, or lunch can be bought in Ushaw’s café. 

Tickets available at https://ushaw.org/whats-on-at-ushaw/

Summary of Listening Exercises, Result of Questionnaire and Bishop Stephen’s Response

On our diocesan website https://diocesehn.org.uk/ you will find all the summaries from the various listening exercises that have been running since the summer of 2023, and the results of the Questionnaire for the Dicastery of Bishops Report from March 2023. These are together with Bishop Stephen’s response to what has been presented to him. He reflects on the past, present and our future together. The documentation is necessarily lengthy – too lengthy for a pastoral letter. If you wish to have hard copies of all or parts of the suite of documents, then please contact the parish office.

Come and See

Priestly Vocation Discernment Evenings 2024

Men aged 18+ who think God may be calling them to serve in our Diocese are invited to come and explore their vocation with the Diocesan Priestly Vocations Team.  Meetings started in January and continue each month until December.

For more information, please call the vocations Promoter on 012087 299012, or email vocations promoter@diocesehn.org.uk 

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