Parish trip to Rome

It’s not too late to join our parish trip to Rome, which will be taking place just after Easter.

There will be some tours and visits to the key sights, but also plenty of time to relax, and the opportunity to get to know each other.  We will be travelling on Monday 2nd April (Easter Monday) and staying in Rome for a week.  The cost is £956.00 per person (based on 2 sharing), on a half board basis, including 2 half day tours around Rome.  We are also planning a day trip to Assisi.

Please contact Margaret on 0191 3783660 or margaretdoyle1066@sky.com, for more information or a booking form.

A Light Shining in the Darkness

The shepherds lived in the fields with their sheep, in the countryside outside the town of Bethlehem. Every night, they would be there, keeping watch over their flocks in the pitch darkness. The nights would be long and cold, no doubt boring, sometimes fearful, if thieves or wolves threatened the sheep. So imagine the shepherds’ terror on this night, when without warning, the angel messenger of God appears to them, and the glory of the Lord shines around them.

But the angel is bringing joyful news – news of salvation and peace. The shepherds set out through the dark night, and they find the baby Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem – a light of hope, shining out in the darkness. On Christmas morning, John’s Gospel tells us that Christ is the true light that enlightens all people, a light that darkness cannot overpower.

At the darkest and coldest time of the year, we celebrate the coming of the Son of God into our world, bringing the promise of salvation. In the darkness of our world – the darkness of injustice and conflict, suffering and sin – the newborn Christ shines a light of hope. God sends his Son to bring light to the people who are walking in darkness, and God’s gift challenges us to be a light to others.

Church Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment

October 2018. Want your voice heard? The Vatican is conducting a worldwide online poll to seek the views of young people aged 16-29, before next year’s Synod of Bishops. The goal of this questionnaire is to provide you with the opportunity to communicate, express and recount who you are and what you want to say about yourself. The page opens in Italian, but you can change it to English. The poll closes on 31 December, so don’t delay! You can find the survey online at: http://www.synod2018.va/content/synod2018/en.html or search for ‘survey synod 2018.’

The Finchale Partnership at Christmas

Masses for the 4th Sunday of Advent

23rd Dec (Vigil Mass)
5.00pm St. Patrick’s, Langley Moor
6.00pm Parish of Durham Martyrs, St. Godric’s
6.00pm St Joseph’s, Ushaw Moor
6.00pm Ss Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Coxhoe
24th Dec
09.15am St. William’s, Trimdon
10.00am St. Cuthbert’s, Durham
10.45am St. John Fisher, Sedgefield
11.00am Parish of Durham Martyrs, St. Joseph’s

 

Christmas Mass Times

24th Dec (First Mass of Christmas)
5.00pm St. Michael’s, Esh Laude (carols from 4.30pm)
5.00pm St. Patrick’s, Langley Moor (carols from 4.30pm)
6.00pm Ss Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Coxhoe (carols from 5.40pm)
7.30pm Parish of Durham Martyrs, St. Leonard’s Sports Hall (carols from 7.00om)
7.30pm St Joseph’s Ushaw Moor (Carols from 19:00)
8.00pm St. William’s, Trimdon
10.30pm St. Cuthbert’s, Durham (carols 10.00 -10.20pm)
Christmas Day
10.00am Parish of Durham Martyrs, St. Leonard’s Sports Hall
10.00am St. Patrick’s, Langley Moor
10.00am St. Cuthbert’s, Durham
10.00am Our Lady Queen of Martyrs New House Esh Winning
10.45am St. John Fisher, Sedgefield

A witness to speak for the light

In today’s Gospel, the focus is again on John the Baptist. And yet, John does not seek glory for himself. Asked who he is by the messengers from Jerusalem, John’s first response is, “I am not the Christ.” John knows that he has been sent by God to prepare the way for the Christ who is to come. When the Messiah comes, he will bring good news to the poor, heal broken hearts and set prisoners free. Jesus will be the Light, shining into the darkness of our world. The evangelist tells us twice that John the Baptist is “a witness to speak for the light” – sent to make a straight way for the Messiah.

We can use the season of Advent to make a straight way for the Lord by prayer and reflection, preparing our hearts to receive him. And our joy at Christ’s coming should lead us to reach out to those in our own communities who may be poor and marginalised. If we want to be witnesses to the light, we must make sure that there is good news for the poor this Christmas.

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