The Government will soon be making a critical decision on whether to overturn the admissions cap which prevents Catholic schools from admitting all Catholic pupils who apply. They have acknowledged that this policy discriminates against Catholics, and promised to abandon it. Now the Bishops are urging us to remind the Government not to go back on this promise. Visit http://catholicnews.org.uk or search for ‘Catholic education,’ to find a page where you can write to the Government urging them to drop their policy, which makes it impossible to open new Catholic schools.
Centre for Catholic Studies
Monday 4 December: Catholic Theology Research Seminar: Laudato si’: Background and Contributions, by Msgr. Kevin Irwin (Catholic University of America). 5.30pm drinks for 5.45pm seminar in Abbey House, Palace Green.
Wednesday 13th December: Christmas Lecture at Ushaw: Nativity Scenes: A Live Performance, by Prof Stefano Cracolici. 5pm drinks reception; 5.30pm lecture. Minibus transport to Ushaw is available.
Registration deadlines: 9am on 4th December for transport; 9am on 12th December for the lecture. All are welcome. Please register for each via www.centreforcatholicstudies.eventbrite.com or by calling 0191 334 1656.
The Source
Diocesan event for young people in school Year 9 and up. Live music; praise and worship; faith sharing; prayer; social time and chance to meet people. Wednesday 6th December, 7.00-8.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle. To find out more, see www.ymt.org
Parish Trip to Rome
Our parish trip to Rome will be taking place just after Easter 2018. 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 (£160.00 single supplement), on a half board basis, including 2 half day tours around Rome. We are also planning a day trip to Assisi.
Please contact Margaret Doyle on 0191 3783660 or margaretdoyle1066@sky.com, for more information or a booking form.
Reading Group
The Reading Group will meet at Orchard House, New Elvet, Durham DH1 3DB on Tuesday 28 November at Orchard House, at 8pm to discuss Philip Roth, American Pastoral.
We will also choose our next two books then. When you arrive at the front entrance to the house read the instructions and dial 48 to be let in. All are welcome. For more information please contact Margaret Harvey phone [0191] 3840080; email margaretharvey@uwclub.net
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ELVET AND SHINCLIFFE EXPLORE “RESTORATIVE JUSTICE”
Torchlight Procession
Ushaw Lecture
Glyn Davies (Victoria & Albert Museum): ‘The Survival, Alteration and Appreciation of English Medieval Embroideries.’ Tuesday 21 November: Drinks reception in the Refectory at 5.30pm, lecture in the Exhibition Hall at 6.00. Everyone is welcome – please register via www.centreforcatholicstudies.eventbrite.com or 0191 334 1656.
Fair Trade at Christmas
Following the great response to the Real Easter Eggs this year, you can now buy (or order) The Real Advent Calendar (£3.99) and Meaningful Christmas Crackers (£9.99) from our Fair Trade Stall. You can also buy Traidcraft Christmas cards (please see the poster) at the Gateway World Shop at St Nicholas Church in Durham or online at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk Alternatively you might like to buy an unusual Christmas present by buying a gift that gives twice at www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts or http://www.oxfam.org.uk/unwrapped
Fear or Trust
Why is it so terrible for the servant to hide his master’s money in a hole in the ground? Isn’t he simply being cautious? But perhaps Jesus calls us to something more than caution. The servant acts as he does out of fear of his master: “I had heard you were a hard man…” The master has put his trust in his servants, placing his wealth in their hands. If the servants respond by trusting their master, they can be creative, take risks, and make the wealth grow. If they are paralysed by fear, they will achieve nothing.
God has given us many gifts and talents. They are given to us to be used for the benefit of others, and to bear fruit, not to be hidden away. Pope Francis says: “Any environment, even the most distant and impractical, can become a place where talents can bear fruit. There are no situations or places that are closed to the Christian presence and witness.” This parable calls us to open our hearts, put our trust in God, and dare to be creative with the wealth that God gives us.
Toy collection for the prison visiting centre
The Parish Seeks to offer support to prisoners and their families in a number of ways. On Sunday 26 November we will be having our annual collection of toys, puzzles, coloured pencils etc. for children to play with whilst visiting family members in prison. Please leave your items under the bench in the narthex. Thank you.
Remembering our loved ones
Morning Mass this Saturday 25 will be at 10am and will be offered for all the deceased family and friends of our parishioners. During the Mass, we will be invited to light a candle and to name those whom we have lost. All are invited and those who have been bereaved in the last 12 months are especially welcome.
Confessions will be available before Mass (9:00-9:30am) and light refreshments will be served in the Parish Room following.
World Day of the Poor
Pope Francis has asked the worldwide Catholic community to observe the World Day of the Poor for the first time on, Sunday 19 November. The World Day of the Poor will be observed each year on the 33rd Sunday of the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Loving God, Open our ears to hear you in the cry of those living in poverty.
Open our eyes to see you in the lives of the oppressed.
Open our hearts to meet you in others and to respond with mercy and compassion.
Pour out on us your grace, so that we may grow as your faithful people,
always seeking your kingdom of Truth, Justice and Peace.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen
Children’s liturgy
Parish trip to Rome
There will be a short meeting after 10.00am Mass, this Sunday, 19 November, for anyone who wants to find out more about our plans for the trip to Rome.
We will be travelling on Monday 2nd April (Easter Monday) and staying in Rome for a week. At the meeting, we’ll talk about plans for the week, hotels, practical arrangements and any questons you may have.
If you can’t come along to the meeting, please contact Margaret Doyle on 0191 3783660 or margaretdoyle1066@sky.com, for more information or a booking form.
News from Vietnam
Peter Hampshire has written to us from the South of Vietnam, where he is living in a Salesian community, and working with young people. Peter admits, “The first few weeks have been interesting, but I’m still not sure what’s going on half the time because communication is often difficult.” But he says that the Salesian community does a great job of supporting young people in difficult circumstances, and he thanks you for your generous support of his project.
Parish Assembly
The next meeting of the Parish Assembly is on Thursday 23 November at 7.30pm. The Assembly meetings are open to every member of the parish, and the meeting will include updates from the Parish Pastoral Council and the Partnership Development Group.
If you have any items for the agenda, please contact the secretary, Cliona Kear.
Lumiere 2017
As on previous occasions, we shall be opening the Church during the forthcoming Lumiere festival in Durham (16th to 19th November). In common with many of the churches in the centre of the city, we hope to provide a place for quieter reflection where people can light a candle, say a prayer and also find some “light” refreshments. We hope to be open from about 5pm to 10pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday and after the evening Mass on the Sunday.
To offer this opportunity, we will need willing hands to staff the church, to make soups, to sell tea and coffee etc. If you can help, in any way, please sign up as soon as you can on the lists on the noticeboard or see Andy Doyle. Thank you.
There will also be an installation lighting the boundary wall of St. Godric’s (Durham Martyrs parish) and the church will be open each evening, so you can also call in there for refreshments and to light a candle.
Parish Trip to Rome
The details of the parish trip to Rome have now been agreed.
We will be travelling on Monday 2nd April (Easter Monday) and staying in Rome for a week. The cost is £956.00 per person (£160.00 single supplement), on a half board basis, including 2 half day tours around Rome. We are also planning a day trip to Assisi.
Please contact Margaret Doyle on 0191 3783660 or margaretdoyle1066@sky.com, for more information or a booking form.
Serving at the altar
We are looking to increase the number of servers available for both of our Sunday Masses and also for Weekday Masses where there will be some sacristan duties involved. We welcome anybody of any age who has made their First Holy Communion and full training will be given. If you are interested, or you know of someone who may be, please let Andy Doyle, David Crookes or Fr Andrew know.