We have a new page on our website, with links to some other websites you may find interesting, including news from the Diocese and the Vatican and prayer resources.

You can find the page here, or on the main menu at the top of this website.

If you’d like to suggest any other links for us to consider adding to the page, please email margaretdoyle1066@sky.com

Today’s Gospel reading shows us two sides of Jesus’ mission. When he arrives at the house of Simon and Andrew, and hears that Simon’s mother in law is sick with fever, he goes straight to her and cures her. Thanks to the healing touch of Jesus, she can resume her role in the family. Later in the evening, all the sick and troubled people of the town are brought to Jesus, and he reaches out to them with compassion. No one is turned away. This is Jesus the healer.

But the dawn finds Jesus alone, away from the crowds. In order to carry out his mission, Jesus needs to spend time in prayer, alone with God his Father. By this time of prayer, he ‘recharges his batteries’ and gains strength for his ministry among the people.

When Jesus’ disciples come looking for him, he tells them that he has come to preach. This is the other side of his mission. Mark tells us that Jesus went all through Galilee, preaching the Good News and casting out the devils that tormented them.  Preaching and healing go together; one is incomplete without the other. As his disciples, Jesus calls us to follow in his footsteps: to reach out to our neighbours with compassion, and to bring them the Good News that they need to hear.

Acting Out Salvation: Christology and Human Agency. Prof. Mike Higton, Durham University. Thursday 11th February at 5.00pm, online. See Centre for Catholic Studies website for registration.

Local hospitals are in urgent need of toiletries for the many patients they are currently treating.  Please help the NHS by donating: Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shower Gel, Shampoo, Combs/Brushes, Shaving Cream, Razors and Flannels. Items can be left in the box in the porch at St Cuthbert’s – please do not go to the hospitals.

In Jesus’ time, there was a widespread belief in demons or unclean spirits. Many people were thought to be possessed by demons. Nowadays, we would probably explain their condition as a mental or physical illness.  However we understand it, there’s no doubt about the suffering of those who were ‘possessed.’ They were deprived of health and sanity; they might harm themselves or others. They were cut off from family, friends and community.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus meets a man who is said to be possessed by an unclean spirit. Ironically, although the people don’t yet know who Jesus is, the spirit recognises him immediately as the ‘Holy One of God.’ With a word of command, Jesus drives out the demon and the man is restored to health. The people acknowledge Jesus’ authority. They can see that God’s power is at work in him. 

Many people today are struggling with different kinds of ‘demons,’ including mental illness or addiction. They can feel lonely and isolated, trapped by their condition and cut off from family and friends. There are ‘demonic’ realities in the wider world, too; racism, hatred and injustice. We can only overcome them if we put our faith in Christ. Even the demons are afraid of him.

Culture Healing Communities, a local charity, is offering an art project for members of minority groups, to alleviate stress, isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. To find out more, email culturehealingcommunities@outlook.com   

Racial Justice Sunday is this Sunday, 31st January. The theme is ‘A Time to Act.’ There will be a retiring collection to support the Church’s work for racial justice. Resources at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/racial-justice-sunday-2021/  

St Cuthbert’s Parish Pastoral Council will meet online on Thursday 4th February. If there are any matters that you would like the PPC to discuss, please contact Fr Andrew.

The Long Aggiornamento: Female Religious Life in Britain, 1945-1990. Dr Carmen M. Mangion (Birkbeck, University of London.) Tuesday 2nd February at 6.00pm, online. See Centre for Catholic Studies website for registration.

When Jesus begins his preaching, Mark tells us that his message is: ‘Repent, and believe the Good News.’ The good news that Jesus brings is news of God’s mercy, and the promise of eternal life. There is a sense of urgency. The time has come. John the Baptist has been arrested, and Jesus knows that the same fate could await him. He goes to Galilee and calls the people to repent; to change their hearts and their lives – to turn back to God.

The first disciples whose lives are changed by Jesus are four fishermen; Simon and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John. When Jesus calls them, they leave everything behind to follow him; job, family and home. Jesus tells them that they will ‘fish’ for people instead – they will catch disciples for him.

We too have been called by Jesus to follow him. When we were baptised, we became his disciples. Like Simon and Andrew, James and John, Jesus wants us to be ‘fishers of people’ – to catch disciples for him, witnessing to our Christian faith in word and action. Like the first disciples, Jesus wants us to put him at the centre of our lives. It’s not easy to be a disciple of Christ. It can be costly – the Good News isn’t always welcome. But Jesus is calling us by name. Are we ready to follow him?

This week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year’s theme is ‘Abiding in Christ.’ Our preacher at both Masses today is Rev Gavin Wort, Coordinating Chaplain at Durham University. Please give him a warm welcome.

Read a message for the Week of Prayer, from Bishop Robert and other leaders of Christian churches in the North, at www.rcdhn.org.uk

‘Be  a light  in  the darkness’ is  the  theme for  2021’s annual Holocaust  memorial  day. Holocaust  memorial  events take  place  around January  27th,  the anniversary  of the  liberation  of  the  Auschwitz Camp in 1945. Due to Covid restrictions,  the  Department for  Interreligious  Relations  are  unable to  hold  the usual annual  events. However, an online commemoration will be available from 25^th January on the diocesan website, www.rcdhn.org.uk This  will  include  a testimony  given  by Anita  Lasker  Wallfisch, who  is  a survivor  of  the infamous  Auschwitz  orchestra. Contributions  have  also been  given  by members  of  The United  Hebrew  Congregation Synagogue  in  Newcastle, and  Anita’s  grandson Simon,  a  renowned cellist.