A six-week online Listening Skills course to learn basic skills from counselling theory and practice, to help and support people experiencing difficulties in their lives. Tuesdays, 6.30 – 8.30pm, 11 May to 22 June (excluding 1 June.) Cost of the course is £120 per person and applications must be endorsed by a priest/deacon. For further details, contact the Diocesan Faith and Mission Team on 0191 243 3316 or adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk  for further information or to apply.

 A series of virtual discussions, bringing together theologians, writers, spiritual directors and young scholars in conversation. Wednesdays 5, 12 and 19 May, 5-7pm. Hosted by Durham University Centre for Catholic Studies and the London Jesuit Centre. Everyone is welcome – suggested donation £15. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ccs-study-series-faith-and-thought-exploring-the-art-of-attention-tickets-133225512093?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray, from Ascension to Pentecost, for more people to come to know Jesus. 13-23 May – details at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/thy-kingdom-come/

The next collection is Sunday 2nd May. Donations can be brought at any time and left in the box provided. Any of the following items are welcome, toilet rolls, tinned (tomatoes, fish, chick peas), biscuits, sugar, rice. Many thanks for your generosity.

An ecumenical conversation led by Bishop Robert and Rt Rev Paul Butler, the Anglican Bishop of Durham. Wednesday 5 May, 6.30 – 8.30pm, online. See www.rcdhn.org.uk for details.

A member of our parish community is looking for a house to rent. If you might be able to help, please contact Fr. Andrew.

We might expect the disciples to be joyful when they encountered the risen Jesus. But each of the Gospels tells us that their first reaction was one of shock and fear. In today’s Gospel reading, Luke says that the disciples were ‘in a state of alarm and fright’ when Jesus appeared among them. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

Jesus calms his friends down, wishing them peace. He shows them his hands and feet, to let them see that he is not a ghost; he is the same person who was nailed to the Cross. He was really dead, and now he is truly risen. He even eats with them, as he has done so many times before. Then, Jesus teaches the disciples, opening their minds to understand how the Word of God in the Hebrew Scriptures has been fulfilled in him. And finally, he sends them out with a mission: to witness to all the nations about his life, death and resurrection; to preach the Good News of forgiveness of sins.

The mission that Jesus gives his disciples is our mission, too. Jesus has opened our minds, helping us to see the world in a different way. He has given us his peace, so that we can rest in his love, whatever difficulties we face in our lives. Jesus has promised us forgiveness for our sins, and he sends us out to share that Good News with all those we meet. We are his witnesses.

An online conversation offered by the Centre for Applied Theology. Monday 19^th April at 7.00pm. Email info@appliedtheology.org.uk to register.

Salvation in the Old Testament by Prof Walter Moberly, Durham University. Wednesday 29^th April, 5-6.30pm, online. For details and registration, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/catholic-theology-research-seminar-salvation-in-the-old-testament/

WeCraft Durham is a student-led initiative that aims to offer social events and craft activities for older residents in our city. Possible activities include group singing, quizzes, book clubs and creative writing. If you might be interested, please contact Fr Andrew.

It is still dark when Mary of Magdala goes to Jesus’ tomb, early in the morning. But she can see that something has happened. The stone blocking the entrance has been moved, and the tomb is empty. Mary’s first reaction is to  run to Simon Peter, and the disciple Jesus loves, and share the news with them. What’s going on? The disciples discover that the linen cloths, used to wrap a dead body, have been discarded. Jesus doesn’t need them any more. 

John tells us that, until this moment, the disciples had ‘failed to understand.’ Jesus had taught them that he would rise from the dead, but it was impossible for them to take in his teaching. But now, they see and they believe. They suffered the darkest day of their lives when they saw Jesus die on the Cross, but as the day dawns, the light is dawning for them. As they share the news, the light will dawn for the whole community of disciples – and then for the whole world.

Jesus’ disciples would spend the rest of their lives coming to understand what they had experienced – the mystery of his rising from the dead. We, too, are still coming to understand the full meaning of what God has done. The Resurrection of Christ is good news that changes the world.