Category Archives: Faith Formation

Are you looking to explore the Catholic faith?

Are you wondering about your relationship with God and not sure where to start? Join us on a journey this Autumn and see if the Catholic Church can help your relationship grow. This may be the right path for you.  It may even help you take the next steps towards coming into the Church. We gather weekly via Zoom and invite you to come along to find out more. The course starts on Wednesday 21 September at 7.00pm. If you are interested to find out more, you can enquire/register on the diocesan website.

At St Cuthbert’s, we also offer the Journey in Faith programme in person – details will be available shortly.

Diocesan Advent Sycamore Course

Sycamore is an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. It gives you space to meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs, and think about questions that really matter. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion.  Everyone is welcome. 

The first of these courses will take place on the four Sundays during Advent at 4 pm, starting on Sunday 28th November. The sessions will be:

First Sunday of Advent – The Search for Happiness

Second Sunday of Advent – A God who speaks

Third Sunday of Advent – The Bible

Fourth Sunday of Advent – The Power of Prayer To book please email: adminfaith.mission@dioceshn.org.uk

Bible Basics

A casual and informal overview of the Bible, looking at the major events and the different books of the Bible. This is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Bible. Beginners welcome! This will be facilitated by Dori Berahya, who has 20 years of experience in Adult Religious Education. Saturday 21 March at 10.30am at St. Cuthbert’s Durham, and repeated on Thursday 26th March at 7.00pm at St. Joseph’s, Langley Park.

If only you knew what I was offering you

If only you knew what I was offering you is a day of reflection for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. It is led by Pat Kennedy and takes place at St Thomas Aquinas Parish Hall, North Road, Darlington, DL1 2PU on Saturday 1 October 2016, 10.30am – 3.30pm (refreshments from 10:00am). Cost: £7.50.

This day fulfils the undertaking made by Extraordinary Ministers to attend an annual day of recollection. To book a place contact Ciara in the Parish Office on office@stcuthberts-durham.org.uk by Monday 19 September.

Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS)

Anyone keen on deepening their understanding of the Catholic faith and passing it on, and in particular aspiring teachers interested in teaching in a Catholic school in the future should consider the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS). The certificate is also very useful for those engaged or interested in youth work or catechesis.

The CCRS is awarded for successful study of eight modules offered by various dioceses and distance-learning centres part-time over two to five years; attending individual modules without proceeding to the certificate is possible and may be helpful.

Details of the modules offered by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle are available at www.edurcdhn.org.uk/courses/courses_ccrs.php and information about the CCRS nationally is available at www.brs-ccrs.org.uk.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the CCRS programme is welcome to attend the free CCRS Information event at St Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 7PY on Monday 12 September 2016, 5:00pm-6:30pm. Please contact Eamon Diffley (eamonn.diffley@diocesehn.org.uk) to book a place.

Women in Church

Karen Kilby, Bede Professor of Catholic Theology at the Centre for Catholic Studies, will give a talk entitled Women in the Church on Wednesday 25 May at 7.00pm in St Godric’s Church. It is hoped this will be the first of what will become an annual event. All welcome.

Ecumenism: what can we learn from other Christian communities?

During the university term the students gather at the Chaplaincy each Wednesday for ‘Cathsoc night’ and on Wednesday 20 April, we will be doing something similar for the Parish. There will be exposition from 6.30pm and the opportunity for confession. Mass is at 7.00pm, and we will gather after Mass (at about 7.30pm) for a shared meal and a discussion led by Dr. Marcus Pound, on the subject of Ecumenism and what we can learn from other Christian communities, concluding with prayer at about 9.00pm. You are welcome to come along for as little or as much of the evening as you like.

RCIA Open Session – Social Living

AnnaRowlandsThis year’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme for those exploring the Catholic faith is nearing its conclusion, and some of the last few sessions are being opened to a wider audience. All are welcome to join the group in the Parish Room on Thursday 10 March at 7:00pm when Dr Anna Rowlands of the University’s Centre for Catholic Studies will speak on A Catholic understanding of social living.

RCIA Open Session – Moral Living

47cc8b81-6373-43c5-9456-c86a5c27df77This year’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme for those exploring the Catholic faith is nearing its conclusion, and some of the last few sessions are being opened to a wider audience. All are welcome to join the group in the Parish Room on Thursday 25 February at 7:00pm when fr. David will speak on A Catholic understanding of moral living.

Time to Reflect: Lenten weekend for lecturers

BoarbankThe dreaming spires have long disappeared. Today’s university lecturers are fighting exhaustion and overwork, and rarely have space to ponder, to potter or to pray. Here is the chance to enjoy a bit of space from the pressure, with like-minded colleagues, and to reflect at a deeper level on why the job is worth doing, and on how we ought to be doing it.

The Augustinian Sisters of Boarbank Hall offer Time to Reflect over the weekend of 11-13 March 2016. The weekend will include talks and discussion, time to walk or sight-see, the opportunity for shared prayer, with time to relax and reflect in beautiful and peaceful surroundings.

The weekend is aimed in particular at university and college lecturers who are Christians of any persuasion. Anyone with teaching experience in higher education who is sympathetic to its general aims would also be welcome to come. For more details see www.boarbankhall.org.uk or contact Sr Margaret Atkins OSA on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk or 015395 32288

Parish Evening: Citizenship as Christians

The heavenly cityDuring the university term the students gather at the Chaplaincy each Wednesday for ‘Cathsoc night’ and on Wednesday 13th January, we will be doing something similar for the Parish. There will be exposition from 6.30pm and the opportunity for confession. Mass is at 7.00pm, and we will gather after Mass (at about 7.30pm) for a shared meal and a discussion, about our role as citizens in Durham today, concluding with prayer at about 9.00pm. You are welcome to come along for as little or as much of the evening as you like.

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.

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.

Policing in the 21st Century

Inspector Dave CoxonDixon of Dock Green? The Sweeney? Cuffs? Come and listen to Inspector Dave Coxon’s presentation on the subject of real modern policing. Hosted by St Cuthbert’s Catholic Church on Tuesday 17th November at 7pm, this talk is one of Churches Together in Elvet & Shincliffe’s occasional series looking at the many facets of the world in which we live.

Your Money or your Afterlife

SunsetA Public Forum at the Prior’s Hall, Durham Cathedral, Thursday 19 November 7:00pm-9:00pm on the subject of gift and offerings in Judaism, Islam and Christian denominations. How religious institutions are supported, how this is connected to conceptions of the afterlife, and what the place of money is (or is not) within religious and spiritual life will be explored.The following day, Friday 20 November10:00am-4:00pm, there will be a workshop in gifts in the Christian Middle Ages.

For more information contact: admin.imems@durham.ac.uk

The Tablet – Public Lectures

As part of The Tablet‘s 175th Anniversary Conference, there are two public lectures taking place shortly:

On Monday 2 November, Prof. Stanley Hauerwas of Duke University (named “America’s Best Theologian” by Time magazine in 2001) will deliver a lecture on The Spirit and the Church. Prof. Karen Kilby (Bede Professor of Catholic Theology) will chair, and Prof. Paul Murray (Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies) will respond.

On Tuesday 3 November, Cardinal Walter Kasper (former President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) will deliver the Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture on Church, Mercy and the Signs of the Times. fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP (Blackfriars, Oxford) will chair, and Prof. Janet Soskice (Cambridge) will respond.

Each lecture takes place at 8:00pm at the Arnold Wolfendale Lecture Theatre in the Calman Learning Centre. Tickets are normally £12, but concessions are available, including a limited number of free concessionary tickets for students: contact Theresa Phillips (theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk or 0191 334 1656).

Following Cardinal Kasper’s lecture on Tuesday 3 November there will be a celebration of Compline (Night Prayer) at St Cuthbert’s – about 10:00pm – all welcome.

Want to become a Catholic, get confirmed, or find out more?

Are you interested in being baptised or becoming a Catholic? Or perhaps you’ve missed out on Confirmation, or just want to find out more about the Catholic faith? If so – or if this applies to somebody you know – then you need to know that this year’s Journey in Faith (“Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” or RCIA) programme begins on Thursday 29 October at 7:00pm, with meetings each Thursday evening during Michaelmas and Epiphany terms in which we will explore the riches of the Catholic faith. To find out more, please contact fr. Ben or Andy Doyle (andydoyle1066@sky.com).