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 Frances McParlin (Morpeth) whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Robert of Newminster Church at 10am on Thursday 6th August; for Andrew Dane (Wheatsheaf Yard, Morpeth) who died recently and 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.
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.
Welcome
To all visitors, to those here for the first time, to those visiting us again and to all regular parishioners for coming back!
Live Simply Bitesize
Save water and use up leftovers for other things.
Diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project
Thank You to everyone who continues to support 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.
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.
St Bede’s Parish Anniversary Mass
Bishop Stephen will be with us on Friday 18th September at St Bede’s Church to celebrate 7pm Mass for the 150th Anniversary of the Opening of the Parish and the celebration of the First Mass in the Parish. Put the date in your diary so you can be present. If anyone would be willing to coordinate a Buffet for that evening, please contact Fr Peter.
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.
Morpeth Christian Aid Committee
Ian Jack, from St Robert’s Parish, is stepping down after 7 years as treasurer for Morpeth Christian Aid Committee. Thank you Ian for your work for Christian Aid over this time. The Committee need someone to replace Ian – working with representatives of the other churches in Morpeth. Is that something you could do? The committee are also looking for someone to act as ‘publicity officer’ to get the Christian Aid events featured in local publications such as Inside Morpeth. Do you have expertise / contacts to enable you to fulfill that role? If you could do either please contact Gerry Harber.
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.
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