ST BEDE’S BEDLINGTON
Catholic Row, Bedlington, NE 22 6 HS Tel: 01670 823258
Email: bede57@googlemail.com
Parish Website: www.saintbede.org.uk
Diocesan Website: www.rcdhn.org.uk
Parish Priest: Fr Chris Hughes
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year
27th July 2014
Parish Mass Book - page 108
Mass Times and Intentions
6.30 pm People of Parish
Sunday 27 July 10.00 am NBF
Monday 10.00 am Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 9.30-10.30 am Church open for prayer
Wednesday 10.00 am Eucharistic Service
Thursday 10.00 Requiem Mass for Brian Gregory
Friday 10.00 am Eucharistic Service
6.30 pm People of Parish
Sunday 3 Aug 10.00 am For all who died in World War I
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 5.45 pm - 6.15 pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Friday 9.30– 10.00am
Please pray for:
· all who are sick,
· Bridget Mullen, Brian Gregory Alan Ehorne and all who have died recently,
· all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
Finance …
Parish Offertory: £287.70
Many thanks
Day for Life is celebrated yearly by the Catholic Church in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. As the recent debate on Assisted Dying has shown safeguarding the sanctity of life is a very pertinent issue. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
The proceeds of the Day for Life collection to be held in parishes in England and Wales this weekend will assist the work of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre and other life-related activities supported by the Church. Please use the white envelope from your box.
Diocesan Development Plan
On 16th July Bishop Seamus announced that a diocesan development plan (DDP) would be prepared and implemented in the diocese over the next three years. I would like to thank Rory and Val O’Callaghan who represented the parish at the unveiling of the announcement about the DDP. This will involve very significant restructuring of the diocese at all levels.
One of the Episcopal vicars, Fr Jim O’Keefe will be released from parish responsibilities to work on the DDP alongside a new post to be created called the Diocesan Development Officer who will be appointed in September. Every parish will have to take part in a viability study which will be based on nine criteria which I will give you at a future date. The schedule is that a draft of the DDP will be published sometime next year after discussions and amendments the full version of the DDP will be announced with its implementation starting between 2016 and 2017. I will make reference to the DDP in my sermon this weekend and begin to explore what this could mean for the parish though at this moment I would have very little certainty or clarity.
The positive dimensions of the DDP is that is ensures that all parishes in the diocese will be affected by this process that a substantial overhaul is more effective than the piecemeal changes that have been taking place. We will have a clear set of criteria by which decisions will be made and we now have some time scale as to when changes will take place.
Please keep the diocese, especially Fr Jim O’Keefe, in your prayers
Commemorations for World War I
To mark the centenary of the First World War and remember all those who lost their lives in the conflict, the bishops of England and Wales encourage the Catholic community to participate in local civic or ecumenical celebrations. The following six key dates have been identified as part of the anniversary celebrations.
· 4th August 2014 –the centenary of entry of the British Empire to the War
· 25th April 2015 – the Gallipoli campaign
· 31st May/1st June 2016 – the Battle of Jutland commemorating the war at sea
· 1st July 2016 – the Battle of the Somme
· 31st July 2017 – the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres
· Passchendaele)
· 11th November 2018 –Armistice Day
Catholic parishes are asked to mark these important anniversaries on the nearest Sunday by offering Mass for all those who died and to pray in the intercessions for those currently serving in the armed forces, and for peace.
To commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1, St Paul’s, Cramlington is to hold a Prayer and Praise Service on Sunday 27th July at 3.00 pm. The service will consist of suitable hymns, intercessions, prayers and poetry. You are cordially invited by St Paul’s to attend.
Youth Mission to St Benet’s
My thanks to those who came to finish off the banners on Tuesday. The next preparation event will be at St Aidan’s First School, Ashington, on Thursday 18th September.
Journey of Faith
We had the last session for this year’s journey of faith. My thanks to all those who have taken part. I sense it has been a very positive experience for all who have taken part, including myself. The Journey of Faith Programme will resume in October. Two families have already approached me to say they are interested.
