Category Archive

This Sunday and for the next four weeks the Clergy Training Fund is appealing for your donations.

A letter from Fr John Bagnell, the Diocesan Director of Priestly Vocations, can be downloaded by following the link here

Below is a Statement from Cardinal Nichols the President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales and some Prayers which you may wish to use –

On 21 April 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’

Now, seventy-five years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration.

Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence, because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.

In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’

This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith.

Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation.

Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace.

We pray for His Majesty the King, as he assumes his new office even as he mourns his mother.

God save the King.

Prayers for the Repose of the Soul of Her Majesty the Queen can be found by following the link HM The Queen – Prayers

On Friday 6th May the Bishops of England and Wales issued a statement on Returning to Mass after the pandemic.

The full text can be read by following the link here

Bishop Robert’s pastoral letter for Lent was read at mass last Sunday.

The full text of the letter can be downloaded here Pastoral Letter

Following the relaxation of the Covid 19 restrictions the Bishops of England and Wales have issued a Guidance notice for Churches over Lent, Easter and beyond.

The full document can be downloaded by clicking here. but the main points are summarised below.

• Hand sanitiser should be available for all to use at places of entry and exit to our churches.
• The necessity for social distancing is removed so churches should operate up to their normal
capacity figures.
• Those who wish to wear a face covering may do so during the celebration of Mass.
• The use of hymn books and other worship aids are permitted as part of the liturgy. Servers
and their various ministries (acolyte, book-bearer, incense) are to be encouraged to return.
• The vessels containing the altar breads for consecration at Mass should remain covered until
the moment of distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful.
• Holy Communion is to be distributed to the faithful under one kind only (i.e. the Sacred
Host). At concelebrations involving a number of priests, communion for them should be by
intinction of the Sacred Host in the Precious Blood.
• Those who distribute Holy Communion should wear a face covering and sanitise their hands
before doing so.
• Singing can occur and there is a general encouragement to wear face coverings while singing.
However, it is recognised that not everyone will feel able to do this.
• Contact tracing ended on 24th February and so there is no need for track and trace QR codes
or other means (e.g. Mass booking systems) in our churches from now on.

This year’s Christmas Pastoral Letter from Bishop Robert is available to download. Click here to view.

Father Paul has advised of the mass times over the Christmas period.

Christmas Eve – St Augustine’s 5pm St Oswald’s 7pm

Christmas Day – St Anne’s 10.30am

Sunday 26th Dec – Feast of the Holy Family – St Augustine’s 9.15am St Oswald’s 11.15am (no mass at St Anne’s)

As life returns to “normal” following the pandemic and parish life returns to its pre-pandemic patterns. The  Bishops of England & Wales held a Plenary Assembly at Leeds on 18th November and have issued a Statement about the importance of honouring Sunday.

The statement can be downloaded by following the link here

Father Paul will be taking a few days off this week so there will be NO midweek masses at St Anne’s or St Augustine’s.

Next Weekend’s Masses at St Anne’s and St Augustine’s WILL be at the usual times.

In September Fr Cummings the Parish Priest at St Oswald’s Wrekenton will be retiring with Fr Zielinski taking over the duties at the parish.

Mass times at St Augustine’s and St Oswald’s  will change to allow Fr Paul to cover masses at all three Churches.

Revised times will be as follows

Saturday 5.30 – St Anne’s Vigil Mass

Sunday 9.15 – St Augustine’s Mass

Sunday 11.00 – St Oswald’s Mass

To enable parishioners to get used to the new time at St Augustine’s the 9.15 mass will start from the beginning of July