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Dominican Friar; Parish Priest, St Cuthbert's Durham

Survey for Young People 11-19

Forward Together in Hope is taking place across the whole of the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. It is about everyone, young and old, getting involved in thinking about and discussing what our Church should be like so that we can bring the Good News of God’s love to others.

We are really keen to get views from young people aged 11-19, whether you are Catholic or not – and whether you go to church or not. We want to look at our Church through your eyes and want to learn from you.

The survey can be found at forwardtogether.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/young-peoples-survey and more information about the process can be found at www.hope.rcdhn.org.uk.

Advent Camel

Over the last few years, the parish has gradually populated a virtual village for CAFOD. In Advent last year the young people of the parish, raised enough money to buy a camel. This year we are hoping to add another camel to the village.

A camel costs £400. The gift of a camel provides a poor family with up to seven litres of milk a day, which can be sold to buy food and school books. The family can also rear and sell calves for a much needed income. Furthermore a camel can carry weights of up to 200kgs, meaning that a family has a source of transport, that can be used to help them earn a living. Thank you for help with this project.

Christmas Collections

Collections taken at the Christmas Masses are taken for Parish Funds, in the same way as at Sunday Masses throughout the year.If you would also like to make a Christmas gift to the Dominican Community of Friars which serves St Cuthbert’s, you may do so using one of the blue envelopes available on display in the narthex. Envelopes can be dropped into the collection basket or returned to the presbytery.

If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your gift by completing the Gift Aid declaration on the envelope. Cheques should be made payable to “The Dominican Council”.

Thank you for your generosity both to the Parish and to the Dominican Community now and throughout the year – the Friars wish you a very happy and holy Christmas.

Harry Clarke Greetings Cards

Greetings Cards with images from the recently-restored Canon Brown Memorial Window designed by Harry Clark are available at the back of church. These are ideal as Christmas cards, but also throughout the year. There is a selection of six designs, priced at 60p each or £3 for a set of six (envelopes included).

Obligation to celebrate

Veni, veni Emmanuel‘I believe in the Holy Spirit…who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified…’

This article of the creed declares our faith in the Holy Spirit and directs us to give praise to the Spirit as we do the Father and the Son. During Advent, we tend to focus (and rightly so) on the Word Incarnate; the creed reminds us that the Incarnation (like creation) is a work of the whole Trinity.

Not only does the Spirit claim our adoration as the One by whom Mary conceived the Christ child; the Spirit also makes the space in our hearts to celebrate his birth and to hope for his return. Yet Advent has become a time when we do not only prepare for the spiritual event of the Nativity. We prepare food and buy gifts, write cards and plan parties. And we do so amidst the usual circumstances of our lives, getting on with work and family obligations, and coping with the disappointment and loss that comes our way regardless of the season.

At Christmas the Lord calls us to set aside all that troubles us and give glory to the One who is ‘born the king of angels.’ We tend to think, perhaps, that the hard spiritual work we do is in Lent. But the joyous celebration of Christmas is no less an obligation than the penitence of Lent. When the day arrives and we announce the ‘Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,’ may the Holy Spirit help us to sing with glad hearts, ‘O come, let us adore Him.’

Part of a series on the Creed by Medi Ann Volpe. For the final run-up to Christmas, we recommend:
www.durhamcatholic.org/o-antiphons

Advent Carol Service

Advent Wreath and Christmas TreeSt Cuthbert’s Parish and the Durham University Catholic Society warmly invite you to our Advent Carol Service at 6:30pm on Wednesday 16 December. Come along for an evening of traditional readings from Scripture and carol singing, led by the choirs of the Parish and Chaplaincy, as we unfold the Christmas Story together.

Do also join us for some festive refreshments in the Parish Room (just behind the church) after the service. We hope to see you there – and we warmly encourage you to bring friends along.

Because of the Carol Service, Mass on 16 December will be celebrated at the earlier time of 12:15pm. There will be no “Holy Half Hour” of Vespers, exposition and confessions that evening.

Joint IMEMS/CCS Ushaw Lecture

On Tuesday 15 December, Prof John Morrill (Cambridge University) ‘Celebrating Advent and Christmas in the Penal Times.’The evening will begin at 5:30pm for drinks and the lecture will start at 6:00pm in the Exhibition Hall, Ushaw College. Followed by the Ushaw Carol Service, 7.30pm in St Cuthbert’s Chapel.

To attend the drinks reception and lecture (free of charge), please contact ccs.admin@durham.ac.uk or 0191 334 1656. To obtain a ticket for the carol service, please email tickets@ushaw.org.

Opening of Year of Mercy

Merciful like the Father (Year of Mercy)The Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis opens this coming Tuesday, 8 December, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

From 8am to 8pm that day at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions available; Bishop Séamus will celebrate Mass at 7:15am and 12:05pm, and give a talk at 10:30am.

Then, on Sunday 13 December at 3:00pm, Bishop Séamus will open the Holy Door at the Cathedral. All are welcome at any of these celebrations.

Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee

Merciful like the Father (Year of Mercy)Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Events Group

One of the happy consequences of recent fundraising efforts has been the organisation of various social events which have helped bind St Cuthbert’s Parish together as a Christian community. Having achieved our immediate and urgent fundraising goals, we are instituting an Events Group which can take over from the Fundraising Committee and continue to build up the community in the Parish through social events (many of which will still raise money for the parish or other good causes).

The inaugural meeting of the Events Group will take place after the 10:00 Mass on Sunday 29 November: if you have ideas for social events or can give a little of your time to bringing our community together, please come along.

Parish Registration and Skills Audit

The Diocesan Forward Together in Hope process has identified a need at St Cuthbert’s to have an up-to-date register of worshippers here, and also an up-to-date audit of the skills you have to offer and the needs you may have. It has been twelve years since there was last a parish census and audit of this kind.We’re therefore distributing a simple registration form asking for details and needs of the members of your household on the front, and the skills and talents they can offer on the back.

We would ask all parishioners and regular worshippers to take one (or if necessary more) of these forms and return it to the parish office (or to the box provided at the back of church). This will help us make sure we’re all doing what we can to help our parish community in its mission of serving God and our neighbour.

If you know of parishioners who aren’t able to get to Mass, please do take a form for them too: they are part of our community, who have much to offer and whom we’re keen to help.

NB We already have a student registration system in place via www.durhamcatholic.org and the yellow slips available at the back of the church. So students do not need to use the parish registration form (but are welcome to do so if they wish).

Catholic Theology Research Seminar: Sacramentality of Mercy

SacramentalityOfMercyDr Ben Kautzer will speak on “The Sacramentality of Mercy: Practising the Compassion of God” at the Catholic Theology Research Seminar on Tuesday 1 December.

5.15pm for drinks; seminar 5.30pm-7.00pm
Venue: Seminar Room C, Abbey House, Palace Green

A group will share a meal afterwards at a local restaurant.

All are welcome to attend. Please email ccs.admin@durham.ac.uk or call 0191 334 1656 if you wish to attend, noting whether or not you wish to dine afterwards.

Teams of Our Lady

Teams of Our Lady is a worldwide organisation which helps married couples to develop and live out their married spirituality. Tom and Maureen Hoban will give a presentation about Teams after the 10:00am Mass on Sunday 22 November. We hope to start a group here at St Cuthbert’s and would encourage interested couples to attend this presentation. If you are unable to attend the presentation and would like to know more about Teams please contact fr. David.

Youth Ministry Trust Collection

On Sunday 22 November – Youth Sunday and the Feast of Christ the King – there is the annual collection for the work of the Diocese’s Youth Ministry Trust. Envelopes are available at the back of the church and can be dropped into the usual collection baskets. More information about the work of the Youth Ministry Trust can be found at www.ymt.org.

College Mass – St John’s

St Johns ChapelThe first college Mass of term takes place at 7:00pm on Wednesday 18 November in the Chapel of St John’s College (i.e. the Church of St Mary the Less on South Bailey).

All parishioners and University members are welcome and warmly invited to the Mass.

Because of the college Mass there will be no “holy half hour” of Vespers, exposition and confessions at St Cuthbert’s that Wednesday evening.