Lay Training Fund

There will be a retiring collection after Mass today for the Diocesan Lay Training Fund. This is the fund which supports adult education and formation, equipping lay people to live out their vocation and mission, witness to the faith and take a full part in the life of the Church. Please support the collection as generously as you can.

Adoremus

Is the National Eucharistic Congress being held in Liverpool on 7-9 September. We have free places available for parishioners or students who wish to take part in the main event on Saturday 8th September – but you need to speak to Fr Andrew TODAY to secure your place.

The work of the spirit

We can’t see the Holy Spirit. In today’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Luke uses images to express what can’t be described literally: the reality of the coming of the Spirit. The Spirit’s coming ‘sounds like’ a powerful wind, and ‘seems like’ tongues of flame descending on the heads of the apostles. The Holy Spirit is not seen directly, but the Spirit’s actions are plain to see. The apostles are given power to witness to the Good News in all the languages of the world. The division of the human race into different languages and nations is overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit, as people from all parts of the world can hear and understand the apostles’ preaching. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. Paul, in the Second Reading, describes what the Spirit brings to the Christian community: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will bear these fruits in our own communities, and we will be credible witnesses to Christ.

Apostles’ Creed

During the season of Eastertide, we are encouraged to say the Apostles’ Creed at Mass. The text is below.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
(At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary, all bow.)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

Peter Hampshire writes

From his Volunteer Placement in Vinh Long Province, Vietnam, Peter says: “Since my last update, I have a much better idea about what goes on in Đông Thuận.  Simple things like remembering everybody’s name and the community timetable have made a real difference. I’m more aware of what activities are taking place and where I can contribute. My placement still has its ups and downs and is often challenging. But I feel lucky to live in this kind community and be frequently exposed to new experiences that are diverse and stimulating.”
Read Peter’s stories of his placement by clicking the links below.

FIR fin  SIR fin 

Consecrate them in the truth

Today is World Communications Day. In his message for today, Pope Francis speaks of the danger of ‘fake news,’ which appeals to prejudice and promotes anger, resentment and division. This is the Pope’s prayer for World Communications Day:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion.

Help us to remove the venom from our judgements.

Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.

You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world:

Where there is shouting, let us practise listening;

Where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony;

Where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity;

Where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity;

Where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety;

Where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions;

Where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust;

Where there is hostility, let us bring respect;

Where there is falsehood, let us bring truth.

Amen.

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

Will be celebrated on Thursday 10 May (restored to its original date) and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be celebrated at St Cuthbert’s on Wednesday 9th May at 7.00pm (Vigil Mass) and on Thursday 10th May at 12.15pm. Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s, Langley Moor at 9.30am, at St Godric’s at 10.00am and at St Joseph’s at 7.00pm.

Lenten Alms

A big thank you for all the donations during Lent. There was a record number of toilet rolls for the Diocesan Refugee Project for which they are extremely grateful. Nepacs say the women at Low Newton Prison are very appreciative of the toiletries they are provided with when they leave.

World Communications Day

Is next Sunday, 13 May. On this day, we take up the command of Jesus to preach the Good News of Christ to the whole world. We are asked to pray for all those who work in the field of communications and the media. A retiring collection will be taken for the work of the communications office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, which supports our bishops in their witness and engagement with current issues, and promotes the Gospel through digital, social, print and broadcast media. In his message for World Communications Day, Pope Francis calls for a ‘journalism of peace,’ which will oppose the spread of ‘fake news’ by a commitment to truth, dialogue and understanding. See www.vatican.va

Adoremus

The Bishops of England and Wales will hold a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress in Liverpool from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 September 2018. Eucharistic Congresses are gatherings of clergy, religious and laity which promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church. The Eucharistic Congress has been given the title Adoremus (Let us adore). Every diocese in England and Wales will take part.

Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle participation: Bishop Seamus is keen for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to take a full and active part in the congress. As such the following has been agreed:

Saturday Attendance of Partnership delegates
Each partnership has been allocated 17 tickets for the Saturday event at the Liverpool Echo Arena. The costs of travel and participation in the event for these delegates will be met by the partnership. If you would like to attend the Saturday of the Congress, please contact your parish priest.

Friday and Sunday Attendance
If you wish to take part in the events on the Friday or the Sunday of the Congress, please speak to your parish priest. Places for these days are limited.

Further information about the programme for the Congress is available at http://www.rcdhn.org.uk/liturgical_formation/liturgical_events.php

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