Thank you all for making our community’s celebration of Christmas so beautiful and joyful, despite the continuing Covid restrictions. Thank you also for your Christmas greetings, cards and gifts, and for your kindness to me throughout the past year – Fr Andrew.

Our sessions re-commence this Tuesday at 7pm but, as the Bishop has asked us not to make use of parish halls and rooms for meetings because of the current wave of COVID, this week’s meeting will be on Zoom. Please contact Andy Doyle (andydoyle1066@sky.com or 0798 543 4185) for the joining details.

ISHWRA Seminar: a seminar offered by the International Scholars of the History of Women Religious Association. Women and the Jesuit norms in Europe: from the Matres Societatis Iesu to the Jésuitesses, 17th-19th centuries by Dr Sarah Barthélemy. Wednesday 12th January 2022, 2.00-3.00m, online.

Catholic Theology Research Seminar: ‘Normative’ and ‘Dissident’ Ecclesial Narratives in Dialogue by John O’Brien, Associate Professor (Research) at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham. Thu, 13 January 2022, 5.30-7.00pm in Seminar Room B, Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham. 

See the Centre for Catholic Studies website for details and registration for both seminars.

Over the Christmas period we’ll be taking a break from our regular on-line events.

There will be no Gospel Reflection and Coffee morning on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. We’ll be starting again on Saturday 8th January.

We’ll also be taking a break from Lauds on Zoom on weekday mornings. We won’t be meeting from Monday 20th December over the Christmas period. Lauds will start again on Monday 10th January.

Bishop Robert has written a Pastoral Letter for the Feast of the Holy Family. Read it here.

Friday 31st December at 5:30 pm, in Durham Cathedral. A service to reflect on the year past and welcome the new year to come. Everyone is welcome.

Our crib collection this year will go to support this charity, which helps the most deprived Christian families, especially those living around Bethlehem, in Gaza, in Israel and in Jordan. With no pilgrims or tourism since March 2020 and no government support to individuals or businesses, many families have lost their income and are increasingly calling on FHL for help. www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk 

Copies of the new Northern Catholic Calendar 2022, with details of all contacts in the Diocese, are now available at the back of church for a cost of £3.50 (ringbound) or £3.00 (ordinary binding) – please place money in the box for books and papers in the narthex.

In today’s Gospel, two women are placed at the centre of the story; Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Each woman has become pregnant unexpectedly, through God’s power. Each is looking forward to the birth of her child with hope and joy, but also, perhaps, with some uncertainty and even fear. They have come together to support and encourage one another.

John the Baptist, still in the womb, recognises Jesus and leaps with joy to greet him. As a man, John will recognise Jesus and prepare the way for his coming, not seeking glory for himself, but pointing the people towards the Saviour. For now, Elizabeth and Mary rejoice together, because God is bringing salvation to his people. 

But salvation comes at a price. Both John and Jesus gave their lives in obedience to God’s plan. Mary had to watch her Son suffer and die – as Simeon prophesied, a sword of sorrow would pierce her soul. Mary faced her ordeal with absolute faith and trust in God. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Jesus’ birth, let us remember and pray for all mothers, especially those caring for their families in difficult circumstances, and those who have to watch their children suffer.

We will be singing Christmas carols for the residents of Hallgarth Care Home on Sunday 19th December, starting at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome to join in – meet at St Cuthbert’s at 2.00. We will be singing outdoors in the car park, because of Covid precautions, so make sure to wrap up warm!

Our local group of Lay Dominicans meets on Zoom at 2.30pm on Sunday December 19th and will include an informal reflection on “The Nativity through Dominican Eyes”. If you would like to join our Zoom meeting or to learn more about the Lay Dominicans then contact Andy Doyle (andydoyle1066@sky.com or 0798 543 4185). 

Would you be willing to welcome and steward people at our Christmas Masses? If you are happy to do so without being committed to joining our usual rotas, please contact Andy Doyle on 0798 543 4185 or andydoyle1066@sky.com.

We will be decorating the church, opening the crib, dressing the tree etc between 11am and 1pm on Christmas Eve. As usual, many hands make light work so please come along and help if you can. Many Thanks.

From this month, our diocesan newspaper is back in print! Please support the Northern Cross, either by buying a copy at church, or by taking out a subscription through www.northerncross.org.uk