Fourth Sunday of the Year

29th January 2012

Parish Mass Book page  132

Mass Times and Intentions

                                     6.30 pm  Vigil Patrick Ruddy

SUNDAY 29th            11.00 am  People of Parish

                                                                            

Monday                       10.00 am  Eucharistic Service

Tuesday                      10.00 am  Gerald McDonnell

Wednesday                10.00 am  Harry Atherton

Thursday                    10.00 am  Bridget Milner

Friday                        10.00 am  James Craik

                                    6.30 pm  Vigil People of Parish

SUNDAY 5 Feb         11.00 am  David Robertson

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday 5.45 pm - 6.15 pm

and at any time upon request

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Friday 9.30 –10.00 am

First Sunday of the Month 4.00-5.00 pm

Please pray for

· all who are sick,

· all who have died recently

· Harry Atherton, Kathleen McKeown, Owen Ruddy and all whose anniversaries occur at this time. 

Finance ...

Parish Offertory:  £357.95

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Many thanks

Weeks of Guided Prayer Lent 2012  This will be starting on 16th February and finishing on 29th March.  This will be an opportunity to share, reflect and have guidance on  one’s prayer life on a one to one basis.  I know from my personal life this has been essential for my own faith journey and I would recommend this to others.

If you are interested in taking part in these weeks of guided prayer please sign the list in the Narthex by the end of January.  Please also indicate if you would like to meet your prayer guide in the afternoons or evenings. The list will close  on the Tuesday 31st of January

White Flower Appeal   The annual appeal for the White Flower will take place this weekend, There will be a retiring collection. We continue to pray that the sacredness and dignity of all human life is respected and celebrated in our Country.

Journey of Faith  Tuesday evening at 7.00 pm, exploring the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, eucharist)

Christ in the World Group  The next meeting will be Friday 3rd February at 7pm  It will be a business meeting to decide what the group will focus on this year.

Parish Council  The next meeting will be Monday 6th February., 6.30 for 7pm. If there is anything you wish to be discussed at that meeting please contact me.

St Bede’s Open House There will be a meeting of all volunteers after the session on Tuesday 31 January 31st at 8.00pm

Prison Chaplaincy  After a long wait for the necessary paperwork to  come through, I am pleased to inform you that Fr  Anthony Rattigan O.P.  will take up his appointment as full time Roman Catholic Chaplain to HMP Northumberland (formerly known as HMPs Acklington & Castington) on Monday  6 February.  I have enjoyed working with Fr Tony in this interim period and hope he is fulfilled and content in  this important ministry. I will supply for  him when he is on leave. The prison ministry has been very much a part of my time here in Bedlington and I will miss this. However, this unexpected gift of free time from not working in the prison will allow me to give  more  attention to the parish. I have  a strong sense that  focusing on the primary  and high school s is important but am reflecting as to how else the time I now have could be devoted to the parish. I will be asking the parish council for their ideas about this but I am also open to any other suggestions from yourselves.

Refugees and  Asylum Seekers  Collection of tins of food and meat (not pork) next weekend.  Please leave your donations in the Narthex.  Further collections on the first Sunday of every month.

Prayer, Worship and Spirituality Group  At the meeting that took place on 19th January the following was agreed:

· The Day of Recollection at Alnmouth in November went very well. The Franciscan Friary was a great venue. We will wait and see how the Weeks of Guided Prayer go before organising a future day of recollection

· We would carry on with monthly Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the First Sunday of the month despite low numbers attending

For Lent the following would take place:

· The Church would be  open on Friday mornings during  Lent as happened in Advent

· There would be an evening Mass on Wednesdays at 7.00n pm

· Stations of the Cross would take place on a Wednesday mornings at 10am

· There will be a Service of Penance on Sunday April 1^st at 4pm

Liturgy Rota  The new liturgy rota commenced last week-end.  If you are involved in the liturgy, please ensure you take your copy from the Narthex today.  Many thanks for your continued support.

CATHOLIC PARLIAMENTARY AND PUBLIC POLICY INTERNSHIPS

For the last nine years the Catholics Bishops Conference has organised Parliamentary and Public Policy Internships for recently graduated Catholics.  This year we are looking to offer eight  internships:  Five interns will be placed with Christian MPs at Westminster; two in Public Policy with CAFOD and CARITAS Social Action Network; and one in a media internship at Archbishop’s House Westminster.   All internships will run from September 2012 - July 2013 and include accommodation and subsistence allowances.  Full details and an application form can be found on our website: http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/interns  Further information:  poster on notice board in Narthex.

SVP  A Christmas card (late arrival) and letter. from our twin conference in India, are posted on the notice board in the Narthex.