The minutes of February’s meeting of the Partnership Development Group (PDG) are now available.
Category Archives: Finchale Partnership
Synod 2021-23
An Evening with St Joseph the Worker
Pope Francis has dedicated this year to St Joseph, to mark the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
On Tuesday 28th September at 7.30pm, St John Boste parish will be hosting an online event for the Finchale Partnership, exploring the central role of St Joseph in the church’s teaching about work over the past 150 years, alongside the history of St Joseph’s Ushaw Moor and the working people of the area during the same period. Details of the Zoom link to join the event will be available in the parish Facebook Group, or from christine.brennan61@gmail.com.
Celebration of Creation
St. John Boste parish’s Green Team are holding a ‘Celebration of Creation’ event on Saturday 25th September, 11am at St Michael’s Church, Esh Laude.
The Green Team say:
- We will be presenting outline plans for developing our church grounds (formulated with the help of Durham Wildlife Trust). We hope to increase biodiversity with regards to both flora and fauna, enhance current habitats, provide sanctuary for local wildlife and create spaces for contemplation and private prayer.
- There will be prayer, quiet time and an open invitation to share ideas, thoughts and hopes on nature and our future. If anyone feels willing and able we also hope to ‘get going’ on our plan by making brash piles.
- As well as yourselves, we are inviting parishioners, those in our DH7 Churches Together group and the diocesan ‘Laudato Si: God’s Garden’ group (Clare Myers will speak about the group; likewise her husband Chris regarding the Diocesan Environmental Group, and Lya Vollering her work and life at Minsteracres walled garden).
- Our postcode is DH7 9QN. There is a ‘St Michael and All Angels’ church in the village centre, but we are to the west of the village & a little more remote. Unfortunately (due to Covid) we will not have access to the church building, which in turn means we are unable to offer refreshments or a toilet. Nearest facilities are at The Cross Keys Inn, Esh (half a mile away and open from 12 noon). You may also wish to bring your own seating (though for those able we will be walking around the grounds too)…. and could you also fetch some decent weather, please?
On-line services this Easter
Due to the restrictions on numbers in all our churches across the Partnership, many of the Easter services are fully booked. If you are not able to attend services in person, here are the services in the Partnership which you will be able to join on-line.
St. Cuthbert’s
Here are the details of services which will be live-streamed on St. Cuthbert’s YouTube channel:
| Maundy Thursday | 7.00pm | Mass of the Lord’s Supper |
| 9.00pm | Night Prayer | |
| Good Friday | 10.00am | Morning Prayer and the Office of Readings |
| 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | |
| Holy Saturday | 10.00am | Morning Prayer and the Office of Readings |
| 8.00pm | Easter Vigil | |
| Easter Sunday | 10.00am | Mass |
The following events will be on Zoom. See St. Cuthbert’s Parish Community Facebook Group or contact margaretdoyle1066@sky.com for Zoom log in details.
| Good Friday | 6.30pm | The Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross |
| Easter Sunday | 11.00am | Gospel Reflection |
Durham Martyrs
Here are the details of services which will be live-streamed on Durham Martyrs’ YouTube channel:
| Maundy Thursday | 7.00pm | Mass of the Lord’s Supper |
| 8.30-9.30pm | Watching | |
| Good Friday | 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion |
| Holy Saturday | 8.00pm | Easter Vigil |
St. John Boste
Services are not live-streamed, but recordings of the following services will be available shortly afterwards on St. John Boste’s YouTube channel
| Maundy Thursday | 7.00pm | Mass of the Lord’s Supper |
| Good Friday | 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion |
| Holy Saturday | 7.30pm | Easter Vigil |
Celebrating the Year of St Joseph, 2021
The Finchale Partnership has 4 churches with a dedication to St. Joseph, and during this Year of St. Joseph we will be celebrating by providing a variety of different materials for you.
St. Joseph’s church in Gilesgate is part of Durham Martyrs parish, and they have produced a prayer pack and resources for the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. The pack includes a summary of Pope Francis’ note on the Year of St. Joseph, prayers based on the 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph, a history of St. Joseph’s church in Gilesgate and activities for children. You can find the pack on Durham Martyrs website at www.durhammartyrs.co.uk
Ignatian Spirituality
Join us on Thursday 28th January, at 7.00pm, on Zoom, for the fourth session in our series on Spirituality.
We live in uncertain times, to say the least! Something this world seems desperately in need of is spiritualities that are embedded in that reality, unafraid to engage with the complexity, in ways which foster Life. This evening, join us for a workshop exploring Ignatian spirituality – a down-to-earth mysticism for these modern times.
For the link to join this session, see the details of the event in the Parish Facebook Group or email margaretdoyle1066@sky.com
The Spirituality of the Benedictines
The Finchale Partnership and the University Chaplaincy have organised a series of events on the Spirituality of the religious orders. The events take place on Zoom.
The third event in our series is The Spirituality of the Benedictines.
Speaker: Scholastica Jacob was a nun of Stanbrook Abbey, and is now living as a Benedictine in Durham, conducting research at the Centre for Catholic Studies on the experiences of English Benedictine nuns in the early 19th century.
Date: Thursday 26th November at 7.00pm
Details of how to join the session are available in the parish Facebook group or by contacting margaretdoyle1066@sky.com
The picture is a statue of St. Benedict at Monte Cassino.
The Spirituality of the Dominicans
The Finchale Partnership and the University Chaplaincy have organised a series of events on the Spirituality of the religious orders. The events take place on Zoom.
The second event in our series is The Spirituality of the Dominicans.
Speaker: fr. Benjamin Earl OP. fr. Ben lived in Durham as Parish Priest at St. Cuthbert’s and University Chaplain, from 2012 to 2016.
Date: Thursday 29th October at 7.00pm
Details of how to join the session are available in the parish Facebook group or by contacting margaretdoyle1066@sky.com
Finchale Partnership newsletter
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.
Finchale Partnership Property & Community Review
In October 2019, we started a Property & Community Review, part of a Diocesan programme. Many people volunteered their time, efforts and ideas to carry out the Property Audit, a Community Audit and a 10-year financial forecast. The Diocese has now decided to pause the review and we are not preparing a report for the Diocese. However the Partnership Development Group agreed that we don’t want to lose the excellent work done so far, particularly on the Community Audit. It’s not too late to contribute ideas about the needs of the community and how we may be able to help. Parish Pastoral Councils will discuss the work done so far and the Partnership will consider anything we can work together on. Thank you to all those who volunteered – your work is very much appreciated.
Finchale Partnership Advent Reconciliation Service
Evening Prayer (Solemn Vespers)
To mark the First Sunday of Advent, Solemn Vespers will be celebrated at 4.30pm on Sunday 1st December in St. Cuthbert’s Chapel, Ushaw College.
The Finchale Partnership will be co-ordinating the celebration of this service, which also marks the launch of ‘The God Who Speaks’, a Year of the Word, proclaimed by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Vespers will be celebrated simultaneously at four other locations across the diocese.
Mince pies and mulled wine will be available afterwards and everyone is welcome.
Finchale Partnership open afternoon
People often say they would like to know more about the other parishes and churches in the partnership. The last of this year’s series of open afternoons is on Sunday, 6th October, from 2.00 – 4.00pm, at St. Joseph’s, Gilesgate, Durham, one of the churches in Durham Martyrs parish. The people of Durham Martyrs are looking forward to welcoming visitors from across the partnership to look around, chat over refreshments, and learn a little about the parish. Everyone is welcome to attend. You don’t have to sign up in advance, but if you need a lift to Durham, or if you are able to offer someone else a lift, please leave your details on the sheet on the noticeboard.
Finchale Partnership: Property & Community Review
This is the text of the announcement made at last weekend’s Masses across the Partnership:
The Diocese has asked all partnerships to carry out a Property and Community review.
Between 1985 and 2017 Mass attendance in the Diocese fell by more than 64%, but the number of Diocesan buildings has hardly changed. This means that we have too many churches and buildings, and the way they are currently used is unsustainable into the future. This situation places an increasing burden on priests and volunteers to manage property and we cannot afford to meet ongoing running, maintenance and repair costs.
Now is the time for Partnerships to look ahead and consider what our future property and community needs will be. The Diocese has asked that we undertake a full review of our buildings and land so that a flexible plan can be developed to maximise their use and sustainability, to meet the needs of our parishes and of the wider community.
Each parish is asked to carry out a Community Audit, including talking to the local community such as local councils and voluntary groups, to help us think about what our buildings could be used for. We will be looking for volunteers in all our parishes to make sure there is plenty of communication and consultation with parishioners, and to identify options for use of our buildings.
The Partnership is then asked to look ahead to 2030, taking account of the views of the parishes, financial forecasts, and property appraisals which look at building use and condition, to identify priorities. A Property Proposals Plan will then be developed and submitted to the Diocese, where it will be reviewed.
The Partnership Development Group is meeting with Jeremy Brock, the Diocesan Property Review Co-ordinator, on 1 October, to find out more about the process. We will, of course, be working with the Building Committees / volunteers in all of the parishes, and there will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to contribute their thoughts and ideas over the coming months.
If you think you could help with the Community Audit please contact Margaret Doyle on margaretdoyle1066@sky.com
Partnership Open Afternoon at St. Cuthbert’s
This afternoon (Sunday 15th September), we open our church and community to all our friends from across the Finchale Partnership. This is the fourth of a series of Partnership Open Afternoons where we have an opportunity to welcome each other, to share something of our life together and to have a chat and some simple refreshments. Please do come along anytime between 2pm and 4pm.
Finchale Partnership open afternoons
Finchale Partnership open afternoons
People often say they would like to know more about the other parishes and churches in the partnership. So, the parish of Bl. Edmund Duke will be hosting an open afternoon on Sunday, 5th May, from 3.00 – 5.00pm. They are looking forward to welcoming visitors from across the partnership at St Joseph, Coxhoe, DH6 4DA, to look around, chat over refreshments, learn a little about the parish and experience the spirituality of Church. Everyone is welcome to attend. You don’t have to sign up in advance, but if you need a lift to Coxhoe, or if you are able to offer someone else a lift, please leave your details on the sheet on the noticeboard.
Finchale Partnership Open Afternoons
People often say they would like to know more about the other parishes and churches in the partnership. So, 5 of our churches will host an open afternoon between May and October 2019. The first one will be at Ss Joseph, Patrick and Cuthbert, Coxhoe on the afternoon of 5th May. Please see the poster on the noticeboard for more details.