We are asked to pray for
A Deeper Understanding between Christians and Jews; Those who suffer Persecution, Oppression and Denial of Human Rights; Europe; Human Life; Seafarers. Please pray for those we know who are unwell, as well as the many who have no one to pray for them; for those in hospital and for all undergoing treatment for serious illnesses and for all who are facing challenging situations. We pray for those who have died recently including Andrew Dane (Morpeth) whose Funeral Service will be held at St Robert of Newminster Church on Wednesday 12th August at 12noon; for Jacob Cole (age 28 years, East Hartford) whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Bede’s Church on Wednesday 19th August at 11am; and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
Tea and Coffee
Don’t forget that we have tea and coffee available on a Saturday evening after Mass in the Church Hall at St Bede’s and also in St Robert’s Church Hall after 9am Mass. All welcome.
CAFOD Venezuela Appeal
CAFOD recently launched its Emergency Appeal for Venezuela, following the recent earthquakes there. Please go check out their website for information on how CAFOD and its partners are helping people in Venezuela: www.cafod.org.uk
CAFOD immediately sent £100,000 to Caritas in Venezuela and CAFOD Emergency envelopes are now available at the back of Church. If you wish to use one, please take away and return to us as soon as possible so that we can forward all donations to CAFOD.
First Holy Communions 2027 Applications Online
St Robert’s First School and St Bede’s Primary School both sent out notices before the end of term about registering children for First Confession and First Holy Communion and included this link: (https://form.jotform.com/Fr_Peter/first-confession-and-holy-communion). There may be other children not in our schools who may now be at the correct age to receive these two sacraments. Please let their parents know about this link. This QR Code is also a link to the Online Registration. Open until Monday 31st August.
Baptism Preparation
We run a regular Baptism Preparation Course and all parents seeking Baptism for their children are asked to attend this meeting. Anyone with a child to be baptised needs to speak to Deacon Stephen or Fr Peter to book onto this course as soon as possible please. There is no meeting in August. The next meeting will be Thursday 10th September at 7pm in St. Robert’s Church Hall, Morpeth. Please note that it is very unfair on our catechists when parents do not turn up for these meetings.
Journey in Faith 2026/7
The Journey in Faith is the series of meetings through which we instruct our potential converts to Catholicism. This normally runs from the end of September through to Easter. If there is anyone considering converting their faith, or anyone you know who may be interested in this, let them know that they should contact Fr Peter to have a chat about their situation, and their story so far. Fr Peter needs to know if there’s a need; if there’s no-one, we won’t do the Journey in Faith but if there is someone, then we will meet. So please contact and speak to Fr Peter asap.
St Robert’s Sewing Bee
The Sewing Bee ladies are commencing their next recycling project in August. Please donate any unwanted denim Jeans or Jackets to be recycled and refashioned into bags, children’s toys and soft furnishings. There will be a box in the church porch or hand in to any “Sewing Bee” member.
New Parish Safeguarding Representative
Mrs Flora Webley is the new Parish Safeguarding Representative for St Robert of Newminster Parish, Morpeth. We thank John Carr for leading us through the last two years, together with Mary Beaton, who will continue to work alongside Flora, as she has done with John. Thank You.
St Robert’s SVP
- We are desperately in need of household goods (pots, pans, kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery and bedding) to help Refugees in our area who have very little, please leave in the back of church or contact Gerry Harber.
- SVP summer raffle tickets will be on sale outside of church after 9am and 11 am masses.
- With your weekly voluntary contributions we were recently able to support a young family in need – thank you so much for your continued support.
Live Simply Bitesize
Save water and use up leftovers for other things.
Bedlington and Morpeth Foodbank Donations
Donations of non-perishable food can be left in the boxes at our Churches for the Bedlington and Wansbeck Valley Foodbanks. Please note that “out of date” food cannot be accepted.
Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project
Thank You to those who support the Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project with donations of food and other items for the Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project. The five regular items needed most are Toilet rolls, Tinned tomatoes, Tinned fish, Individual packet of biscuits and Chickpeas. Other Standard items are Rice (standard size packet), Sugar (standard size packet), Cooking oil, spices/dried herbs, Table Salt, Sweetcorn, Flour, Corned Beef, Cooking Sauces, Condiments, Cereals, Coffee, Long-life Milk, Cordials and Juices. Hygiene and cleaning products needed include, Deodorant, Toothbrushes and toothpaste, Shampoo, Washing up liquid / surface & toilet cleaners and Detergents.
Assisted Dying Bill
Promoters of the Assisted Suicide Bill will be working hard to promote their Bill for a vote in September. Even though the Bill was defeated earlier this year, they are presenting the same Bill, without change on September 11th. Please do all you can to oppose and encourage others to oppose this Bill. Speak about it with friends and family up and down the country. Our two local MP’s are both against it, but we still need to contact them and others to vote against it.
Christian Aid Street Collection
The Christian Aid Street Collection will be held on Saturday 5th September from 9am till 2pm. Five volunteers are needed to represent St Robert’s Church, collecting for 1 hour each. If you are able to do this please put your name and phone number on the list at the back of church, or ring Gerry Harber. Thank you.
Marys Meals
It costs just £19.15 to feed a child in some of the world’s poorest countries with Mary’s Meals every day for a school year. Give now on their website www.marysmeals.org.uk.
Morpeth Town Service for Creation
Many churches mark Creation Sunday in September with prayers of thanksgiving for the natural world, readings that highlight God as Creator, and a renewed commitment to live gently and responsibly. Creation Sunday marks the beginning of the Season of Creation. It is fairly new to us as Catholics as a celebration, even though we have acknowledged God as creator since time began. It offers a timely opportunity to give thanks, to pay attention, and to rediscover our shared responsibility for the world God has made. To this end we are planning an ecumenical creation themed service on Sunday 6th September, a short simple service at 6pm. Please keep the date in your diary. Sunday 6th September, at 6pm at Carlisle Park (behind the Paddling Pool and beside the bowling Green). In the event of inclement weather, this will be held in St Robert of Newminster Church.
Diocesan Pastoral Strategy
The documents put together for St Robert’s Parish and the St Benet Biscop Partnership for South East Northumberland are now on St Robert’s Website. Hopefully we can upload St Bede’s Documents in the near future. Stage 3 of this strategy begins soon, and Bishop Stephen has prepared a video now available on the diocesan website.
Aid to the Church in Need
https://acnuk.org/ is the website for Aid to the Church in Need … check it out for important information about the Catholic Church throughout the world, how it suffers and how people help!
Welcome
To all visitors, to those here for the first time, to those visiting us again and to all regular parishioners for coming back!
Read or download the full Newsletter below: