Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord - Year B

Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Cardinal O’Brien, Archbishop Emeritus of this Archdiocese, who died on Monday. After discussions between the family of the Cardinal and the Holy See, the funeral arrangements for the late Cardinal are as follows: The Requiem Mass will take place at the Church of St Michael, Westmoreland Road, Newcastle on Thursday 5 April at 1.00pm. As requested by the Holy See, the main celebrant and homilist will be His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. The family have asked that donations be sent to the SCIAF Lenten Campaign in lieu of flowers. The interment of the body of the late Cardinal O’Brien will then take place at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Edinburgh on 6 April at 1.00pm The Cardinal’s body will be laid to rest in the grave of his mother and father. This was in accordance with wishes expressed by Cardinal O’Brien himself. The Archbishop will offer a Month’s Mind Mass here at the Cathedral at 12.45pm on 19 April.

Holy Week and the Easter Triduum

Today we begin the most sacred week of the Church’s year as we commemorate the events which lead to Christ’s death before celebrating with great joy his Resurrection. I would encourage you to come to as many of the services as possible this week, especially the Chrism Mass, where the priests of the Archdiocese will join the Archbishop to renew their priestly promises, and also the beautiful liturgies of the Triduum which will be accompanied by our wonderful choir and organ. The highlight of the Church’s year is, of course, the Easter Vigil. Please do consider coming along to this beautiful and ancient celebration of the Resurrection.

RCIA

At the Easter Vigil we will receive six people into the Church: Ross, Morag, Jennifer, Lesley, Jaimie and Tracey. This is the end of a long journey of faith for them and I ask you to keep them all in your prayers this week as they prepare to make this important step in their lives

Young Adults’ Group – This Wednesday

The series concludes this Wednesday at 7pm in the hall with a talk by Sr Anna Christi of the Nashville Dominican Sisters. Sister will speak on the vocation to religious life, and its contribution to the Church. The sisters are young, dynamic and enthusiastic nuns and passionate about their way of life, so it promises to be a great end to a great series. All under-35s welcome.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, RIP

Funeral Arrangements for Archbishop Emeritus Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien RIP

The Requiem Mass of Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien RIP will take place at the Church of St Michael, Westmoreland Road, Newcastle on Thursday 5 April at 1.00pm. As requested by the Holy See, the main celebrant and homilist will be His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. Donations to SCIAF’s Lenten campaign in lieu of flowers please.

The internment of the body of the late Cardinal O’Brien will then take place at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Edinburgh on 6 April at 1.00pm The Cardinal’s body will be laid to rest in the grave of his mother and father. This was in accordance with wishes expressed by Cardinal O’Brien himself.
 

Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year B

Young Adults’ Group – This Wednesday

The series continues this Wednesday with Fr Michael Dolman speaking on the scriptures in the life of the Church. It promises to be a great talk, so, if you’re under 35, come along to the hall at 7pm on Wednesday. A short time of prayer and a trip to the pub follows afterwards.

Love Lent – Evenings for Young Adults with Archbishop Leo – Friday at 7pm

The final talk in the Archbishop’s Lenten series takes place this Friday at 7pm in the hall. The Archbishop invites all young people (16-35) from across the Archdiocese to explore the Passion according to St Mark. Night prayer and pizza afterwards.

Rosary on the Coast

Catholics of the British Isles are organizing a massive prayer circle which they hope will stretch the length of the British coast. The Rosary on the Coast initiative will pray for Our Lady to arouse a renewal of the Christian faith in Britain, for an end of the scourge of abortion, and to bring peace to all nations. Bishop John Keenan, Diocese of Paisley, Scotland, has called for all British Catholics to take part in this faith-filled national effort. Some members of the Parish Council would like to be involved with this and more information will be provided next week. For now, more information can be found at www.rosaryonthecoast.co.uk/copy-of-resources-1

God bless you all this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Organist Vacancy

We are seeking an experienced organist to support the Director of Music to enrich the musical worship of the Cathedral.

An annual fee of £8,000 is payable and covers attendance at the Saturday Vigil at 6pm, Sunday services at 9am and 12 pm, choir rehearsals and other key services during the year. Wedding and funeral fees would be paid in addition to this as undertaken.

Applications should be made by CV and covering letter outlining musical experience and previous organist roles held and sent to morag.buxel@staned.org.uk.

A full role description is available here (pdf).

The closing date for applications is Friday, 6 April 2018.

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year B

Laetare Sunday – Mother’s Day

In the Church’s liturgical calendar this Sunday is known as “Laetare Sunday” meaning “Rejoicing Sunday” because we are now over half way through Lent. This is the only day in the year when the liturgical colour is pink or rose. It fits nicely this year with the secular celebration of Mother’s Day. We give thanks to God for our own mothers and pray for them whether they are alive or dead.

Gift Aid

Again, this Sunday at the end of Mass various members of the Parish Council will be speaking to us about Gift Aid. The reason for this is that for years there has been no systematic attempt to keep up our Gift Aid programme here at the Cathedral and consequently many people who could give using Gift Aid are not – with the net result that the Cathedral has one of the worst percentages of people giving by Gift Aid in the Diocese! More importantly this means that we are losing out on a very important source of income. So – please if you are a UK taxpayer and you come regularly, and you have not signed up for Gift Aid – please speak to one of the team at the back of the Church and take the opportunity to sign up today. Remember – it costs you nothing and it means that the Cathedral gets 25% extra from the government.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour – This Sunday at 3pm.

Today at 3pm in the Cathedral we will have a Eucharistic Holy Hour guided by the Divine Mercy Group.  As well as the opportunity for confession, the group will offer meditations from the writings of St. Faustina.

Sponsor a Kneeler!

You will no doubt have noticed that some of our kneelers have recently been repaired. One of our Polish parishioners is doing the work and, as you will see, is making an excellent job of them. The cost of this repair is £120 per kneeler. We have renewed six, through the generosity of a parishioner, if anyone felt like sponsoring a kneeler or two please speak to me after Mass.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Second Sunday of Lent - Year B

From the Archbishop

My dear people,

As you know, I have spent much of the last two years looking into the question of our parish clusters, to see if there was a way to improve and renew the pastoral life of the diocese. Having listened to literally thousands of you at cluster meetings across the Diocese, having read the cluster reports that were sent to me, and having consulted our clergy in various forums, I now intend to draw this process of consultation to an end by proposing the merger of an important number of our parishes. My proposals will be made public shortly, after I have consulted the Council of Priests in early March.

I am well aware that this has not been an easy time for any of us. Guided, however, by a genuine desire to improve the Christian life and pastoral care of the Diocese with the human and priestly resources at our disposal, I hope to put before you a reasonable compromise of our needs and wishes in the near future.

In general terms, therefore, and to put some minds at ease, I write to you now to let you know that I am minded to merge a significant number of clusters, though by no means all, into single parishes, retaining however most of the church buildings already in use for as long as they are affordable, and indeed wished, by clergy and people alike. The time may well come in the future when not every church or chapel can expect Sunday Mass to be celebrated in it every week, but this is a separate question for us to answer in due course. 

Let me also thank all of you again for sharing your thoughts, opinions and aspirations with me over these last years. It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with and get to know so many of you during this process. Having glimpsed something of your faith and of your commitment to the Church, I am very encouraged as we move forward towards a new stage in the life of this diocese. Please continue to keep me in your prayers, as I remember you in mine.

Sincerely in Christ,

+Leo Cushley

First Confessions – This Thursday at 7pm

This Thursday our children from P3 will be making their First Confessions in the Cathedral. Please keep them very much in your prayers as they make this important step in their faith journey.

Stations of the Cross

This year we have Stations every Tuesday evening at 7pm and every Friday following the 12.45pm Mass.

Young Adults’ Group – Holy Hour

The Young Adults’ Group continues to meet this week for a guided hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This is a great way to get to know the Lord and grow in love for Him, so, if you are under 35, I’d encourage you to make it along this Wednesday at 7pm.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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First Sunday of Lent - Year B

Stations of the Cross

It is a good and pious tradition to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent. This year we will have Stations every Tuesday evening at 7pm and every Friday immediately following the 12.45pm Mass. The Stations are a beautiful devotion – please think about making the commitment to come every week and especially those of you with children why not think about introducing your children to this lovely form of prayer this Lent? 

SCIAF Wee Box Appeal

If you haven’t already done so, please pick up a SCIAF “Wee Box” from the back of the Church on your way out today to help with Lenten almsgiving. The UK Government has pledged to match all donations received through the Wee Box Appeal this year, so please do take one home and fill it up during Lent.

Young Adults’ Group – Quiz Night This Wednesday

There will be no talk at the Young Adults’ Group this week. Instead there will be a Quiz Night! Proceedings begin, as normal, at 7pm in the Cathedral Hall. All under 35 welcome!!

Love Lent – Evenings for Young Adults with Archbishop Leo

The Archbishop is inviting all young adults (aged between 16-35) to join him in the Cathedral Hall at 7pm on the Fridays of Lent. The first meeting is next Friday 23rd February here at the Cathedral. If you are a young adult please think about coming and bringing your friends.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Ash Wednesday

Just to remind you that this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent. It is a day of Fasting and Abstinence – which means that all Catholics are obliged to abstain from meat and those aged between 18 and 65 are obliged to fast. Ashes will be distributed at all the Masses and the Mass times are as above.

Stations of the Cross

It is a good and pious tradition to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent. This year we will have Stations every Tuesday evening at 7pm and every Friday immediately following the 12.45pm Mass. The Stations are a beautiful devotion – please think about making the commitment to come every week and especially those of you with children why not think about introducing your children to this lovely form of prayer this Lent? 

Young Adults’ Group – This Wednesday

The Young Adults’ Group got off to a great start this week with around 40 of our young people gathering to grow in their faith and their friendships. This Wednesday Fr Michael John Galbraith will talk on the “Priesthood in the Life of the Church”. Ash Wednesday mass is at 7pm, and the talk will follow in the hall immediately afterwards.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Catholic Education Sunday

Today at 9am Mass we welcome the children of St Mary’s Primary School who will be leading the music at Mass as well as reading and helping out in the hall afterwards. Today is a great opportunity to celebrate Catholic education, especially as we celebrate the centenary of Catholic schools becoming part of the state education system. There is also beautiful artwork in the porch depicting the theme of Catholic Education Week, ‘Serving the Common Good,’ so do stop by for a look.

Adult Confirmation Class

If you are an adult who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, the preparation course starts on 26 February and lasts 5 weeks. If you would like to sign up for the course, email Fr Nick at frnick@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Young Adults’ Group

The Young Adults’ Group makes its return this Wednesday at 7pm in the hall. Our very own Fr Patrick will give the first talk of the series entitled, ‘The Living Church of Jesus Christ.’ The talks are a great way of getting to understand the faith much better and are also a great way of making Catholic friends. All under-35s welcome.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Adult Confirmation Class

If you are an adult who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, the preparation course starts on 26 February and lasts 5 weeks. If you would like to sign up for the course, email Fr Nick at frnick@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Young Adults’ Group

The first talk of the Young Adults’ Group will take place on Wednesday 7th February at 7pm in the Hall. The winter/spring series will explore the nature of the Church and all the many different things which make the Church to be the living body of Christ. As a little warm-up to the series, there will be a cheese and wine social evening in the Hall this Monday 29th Jan from 7pm. All under-35s welcome.

Fabric Works in the Cathedral

As you know, we will be beginning work on the flat roofs of the Cathedral soon. This work will cost £20,000. In addition, it will be necessary in the near future to renew many of the gutters and downpipes on the Cathedral which are currently broken and which are causing damage to the building.

Rat Infestation at 63 York Place!

Unfortunately during the week we also discovered an infestation of rats in the cellar of 63 York Place. Obviously we have had to deal with this – also at considerable cost…

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick, Deacon Peter and Sr Mary Cora

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