Category Archive

This year’s First Holy Communion candidates took the next step of their journey at mass on Sunday 15th January.

Liturgy 4 in the programme focused on “Listening to the Word of God”. The children with their parents were invited to come forward at the beginning of mass where Father Kelly blessed the children’s ears to symbolise ” Hearing the Word of God”. The parents then made the sign of the cross on their child’s lips symbolising “Speaking the Word of God”. The children themselves then placed their hands on the open Lectionary promising to “Live the Word of God”.

The next preparation session will take place on Wednesday 8th February in the Church at 6pm with the “Rite of Election” the following Sunday 12th February at the 10.30 Mass.

Please keep the children, their parents and families in your prayers.

Further to our post on 18th December an update on the current status of the Forward Together in Hope journey has been issued by the Diocese which can be downloaded here.

It gives a outline timeline covering – Partnership Proposals (which have been forwarded to the Diocese) ; Board Recommendations; Finalising Partnerships; Communicating Decisions and Nurturing Partnerships – from now until August/September 2017.

These proposals will have a major implications for St Anne’s and other parishes in the Gateshead area so please take time to look at the attachment.

Congratulation to this month’s winners of the 200 Club draw

Week 48 – Number 23 – Kath Tate & Number 137 – Pat Archer

Week 49 – Number 50 – Mary Harrison

Week 50 – Number 139 – Terry OBrien

Christmas Draw – Number 29 – Margaret Wright

Again many thanks to all who support the 200 Club. Numbers are available from John Limer at the back of church and cost £1 per week. You never know you could have a lucky start to 2017.

In the Parish section of the website we’ve outlined the Diocese’s Forward Together in Hope review of all parishes and how best the catholic community might flourish in the future. Things have moved on since this initial post so we publish this update.

The review which started in the Autumn of 2014 had three stages Preparing the Way; Exploring the Way and the current final stage Pointing the Way. Each stage included prayer, data collection and meetings to develop viable future worshipping partnerships within the Diocese.

In November each parish in the Gateshead/North Durham area were given three options of partnership groups. Votes were collated and the current proposal for St Anne’s is a partnership with St Peter’s Low Fell, Corpus Christi Bensham, St Oswald’s Wrekenton and Holy Rosary Teams.

A Partnership Proposal document was collated by John Briers from St. Peter’s and submitted for consideration to the Diocese on 27th November.

It is understood that the proposals will be considered by the Bishop and the Diocesan Board of Governors in Spring 2017 with the final partnership arrangements expected to be in place by Summer 2017.

Further posts will be issued when we receive feedback from the Diocese on the proposals.

Congratulations to this months winners of the 200 Club draw

Week 44 6th November – Number 76 Paula Downing & Number 23 Kath Taite

Week 45 13th November – Number 155 Mary Rooney

Week 46 20th November – Number 94 Tom Cooper

Week 47 27th November – Number 55 Maureen Barnwell

Many thanks to everyone who supports the 200 Club. Each number costs £1 per week and new members are always welcome. Please see John Limer at the back of church at any mass.

After mass on Sunday 27th November the parish held their annual Christmas Fayre in the Church Hall, which was well attended. Stalls included a Bottle Stall, Prize Every Time, Cake Stall, Pick a Straw, Name the Dog, Christmas Gits, Books and the Golden Bucket. There was also the legendary St Anne’s Raffle with numerous prizes.

Many thanks to all who donated prizes and stall holders Margaret Wright, Mary Cooper, Jim and Moira Rodgers , Christine Hodgkinson, Ann Baines and Kath Hagan William & Joanne Lowes and Liam Old. But special thanks to Karen Clark and Debbie Dunbar who organised the event.

We are pleased to announce that the Fayre raised £1349.18  – a great result. Thanks again to all worked so hard to make the event such a huge success.

The results of the raffle are –

Shopping Voucher – 616 White – M. Glass ; Spirit Hamper – 463 Yellow – A. Thomas ; Christmas Hamper – 511 Yellow – J. Limer ; Wine Hamper – 91 Blue – C. Birney ;              Christmas Cake – 860 Blue – D. Hargreaves ; Sweet Hamper – 205 Yellow – D. G. Patton ;       Tea for Two – 428 White – C. Butler ; Chocolates – 968 Yellow – Mary Hymas ;                          Biscuits – 579 Pink – R. Thornton ; Sherry – 593 White – J. Williamson ;                        Champagne – 317 White – B. Conder ; Toiletries -196 Yellow – K. Falcus ;                                       Cointreau & Chocolates – 876 Yellow – R. Eley ; Prosecco – 598 Pink – R. Thornton ;         Wine – 131 Green – P. Devlin ; Hamper – 610 White – M. Glass ;                                                     Fruit Hamper – 159 Yellow – J. Falcus

And Finally the Dog’s name was Benji and was won by Roger Eley, who I’m sure will give him a good home.

A special service was held on Sunday 20th November to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King which was also Youth Sunday. Children from St Anne’s school contributed to the mass with next years First Holy Communicants reading the bidding prayers and performing a Liturgical Dance at the end of mass.

The half year accounts for the period April – September 2016 were submitted to the Diocese at the end of October.

A summary of the accounts are available to download here

During mass on Sunday 6th November the children took their next steps towards their First Holy Communion next year.

At the beginning of mass Fr. Brendan assembled the children around the font where they then renewed their baptismal rites.

The next preparation session for the children will on Wednesday 16th November in the Church Hall followed by their next liturgical celebration being at mass on Sunday 20th November.

This years Christmas Fayre will be held after mass on Sunday 27th November.

First of all on the Piety Shop window there is a list of items needed for the raffle prizes and other stall items. If anyone is able to donate any these could they put their name against the items and get them to church no later than Sunday 20th November.

But to the Fayre itself there will be a selection of stalls selling Christmas items, cakes and treats, a Bottle Stall and a Prize Every Time Stall and much much more.

As usual there will be now famous St Anne’s Christmas Raffle with over ten prizes including a £100 Shopping Voucher, Hampers, Christmas Cake, Biscuits and Chocolates.

Please support this event if at all possible.