On Thursday evening 9th February at two meetings across the Diocese Bishop Seamus Cunningham outlined His Diocesan Board’s decision to divide the 150 parishes within the Diocese into 18 partnerships.

Bishop Seamus stated that “A partnership is a group of parishes agreeing to work together, to share resources, both human and material, to become stronger and better equipped for the furthering of the Kingdom of God”

He is convinced that the partnerships will enable programmes to be developed and delivered locally, that smaller communities can be supported; the gifts, talents and financial resources in a wider area can be put at the service of more people and that a thorough review of all property will need to carried out in the near future.

The document One Diocese 18 Partnerships Unlimited Potential outlining the new partnerships can be downloaded here

St Anne’s will be part of a 13 parish partnership joining with St Philip Neri – Dunston; St Patrick Felling; Corpus Christi, Holy Rosary, St Joseph, St Wilfred – Gateshead; St Augustine – Leam Lane; Immaculate Heart – Lobley Hill; St Peter – Low Fell; St Alban – Pelaw; St Mary – Whickham & St Oswald – Wrekenton.