All posts by Parish Secretary

The Source

Our regular diocesan event for young people in school Year 9 upwards. This month: an evening with Lily Jo, a Christian praise and worship singer who will be sharing about good mental health and looking after ourselves. We will be travelling from Durham on the train and will eat in Newcastle before the event. Wednesday 12th February – 4pm – 9:30pm. The cost of the trip is £10 – if you have a railcard please bring this with you. For more information, contact Katie Flood on youth.durhammartyrs@rcdhn.org.uk

Parish Pastoral Plan- Building our Community

If you weren’t able to complete the events leaflets issued last week and you would still like to have your say, there are some spare copies in the porch next to the box in which to place your completed form. Thankyou.

The first event of 2020 is a Parish Dinner, the date and time to put in your diary is the 5th of March at 7.30pm. Further details to follow soon.

Contact for this project is Gil Bolton 0191 384 7217, gilmar.bolton@btinternet.com.

Light for all the Nations

Today, forty days after Christmas Day, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas. We carry lighted candles into church to symbolise Jesus, the Light of the World, born among us at Christmas. When Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to God, he is recognised by Simeon and Anna. Simeon prophesies both the suffering that lies ahead for the child and the salvation that he will bring. Anna witnesses to others that Jesus will bring deliverance for the people. Simeon and Anna are faithful children of Israel. They have waited in trust and hope for the coming of the Christ, and God grants them the joy of recognising and proclaiming him when he comes. In Jesus, God fulfils his promises to the people of Israel and, as Simeon proclaims, brings salvation to all the nations of the world. Throughout his life, Jesus will be welcomed by the poor and the little ones, but rejected by the high priests and the leaders of the people. Today’s feast challenges us, like Simeon and Anna, to recognise, worship and proclaim Christ as Saviour.

Church Flowers

A very big “Thank You” to those who donated so generously to the Christmas Flowers. Without the generosity of parishioners such displays would not be possible.. Apart from Easter and Christmas the flower arrangers pay for the flowers themselves for the rest of the year. We already know that when we exit the EU the cost of flowers will rise by 13%. Please remember the donation box in the Narthex.

Do we have any members of the congregation who would like to join the Flower Rota? Our number is decreasing and new members would be most welcome indeed. If you have any thoughts or comments please contact Cliona Kear on either 386 3400 or c.m.kear@dunelm.org.uk

Repent

The first recorded word that Jesus speaks in public is ‘Repent.’ Repentance means a change of heart – a change in the direction of our lives. Jesus calls his disciples to centre their lives on him. For the fishermen, Simon and Andrew, James and John, Jesus’ call means a complete change of direction. They leave their nets to follow Jesus and fish for people – calling disciples to follow the Lord.

What might it mean for us to answer Jesus’ call? He calls us to repent, too. Repentance might mean giving up selfishness, letting go of jealousy, forgiving those who may have hurt us. Repentance is not easy, but it is possible with God’s grace. Like the first disciples, Jesus is calling us, not to try to be someone we are not, but to be fully ourselves – fully alive in the love of God. The coming of the kingdom of heaven is Good News – news of mercy and forgiveness.

Face 2 Face

An invitation from the Association of Religious. Come and share tea and conversation with religious brothers and sisters, get to know them and meet other young adults from our Diocese. Saturday 1st February at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle – drop in between 2pm and 4pm. Contact: Sr Barbara Sweeney RSCJ on bswe915436@aol.com

Diocesan Holocaust Memorial Evenings

Tuesday 28 January at 7.00pm at St. Mary’s School, Benton Park Road, Newcastle. Smajo Beso will tell of his parents’ experiences during the Bosnian Genocide in 1995, and Gerald Stern will recall his father’s experiences during the Holocaust.

Thursday 30 January at 7.00pm at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, Beamish Road, Billingham. Guest speaker; Marta Josephs, who will recall her father’s experiences during the Holocaust.

I have seen and I am the witness

In today’s Gospel, we see the mission of John the Baptist approaching its fulfilment. The Baptist made it clear from the start that he himself was not the Christ, but the prophet sent by God to prepare the way. Now, John the Baptist sees Jesus, recognises him as the Lamb of God and points him out to his disciples. Jesus is the one whose coming John was sent to proclaim; the Chosen One of God.

As disciples of Christ, we have been baptised with the Holy Spirit and set free from our sins. We too are called to see, recognise and bear witness, as the Baptist did. This is how the Church can be a light to the nations, as Isaiah foretold. This is how, as St Paul says, we will take our place among the saints – the vast assembly of believers who acknowledge Christ as Lord. Every baptised Christian is called to witness.