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 and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
Card Reader
Please Note: we have a card reader at St Robert of Newminster Church for card or mobile donations. Thank you for supporting us with your donations.
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 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.
Sea Sunday 12th July
Today is Sea Sunday, a Special Day of Prayer for Stella Maris and all who rely upon the seas for their livelihood. There will be a Retiring Collection next weekend. Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. It is when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. Your support will make a big difference to seafarers and fishers in need. You can donate in church, by visiting https://stellamaris.org.uk/donate, or by texting ‘SEA’ to 70460 to donate £5. This collection is vital to enable Stella Maris to continue its important work, so please give generously. Thank you.
School Masses – Last Week of Term
This week marks the last week of the School year and the beginning of six weeks holiday at the end of the week. There will be a Whole school Mass at St Bede’s Church at 10am on Wednesday morning and a whole School Mass at St Robert of Newminster Church at 10am on Thursday morning. All Welcome.
Climate and Nature Crisis – ‘Peoples Emergency Briefing’
We will be showing the 50 minute “People’s Emergency Briefing” film presented by Chris Packham in the Church Hall at St Robert’s at 7pm on Friday 17th July. This hugely important film about the effects of climate change on our planet has been endorsed by faith institutions including CAFOD and the Catholic Church. Following the film we will have an opportunity for a facilitated and friendly discussion about the implications and opportunities the information we have seen presents for us locally about how to respond to the crisis. See trailer of the film at https://youtu.be/5x2XhvEbz24. Note the film is recommended for ages 16 plus.
First Holy Communions 2027 Applications Online
St Robert’s First School and St Bede’s Primary School both sent out a notice this week from Fr Peter about registering children for First Confession and First Holy Communion and included this link to the online registration (https://form.jotform.com/Fr_Peter/first-confession-and-holy-communion) There may be other children not in our schools who may be eligible to receive these two sacraments. Please let their parents know about this link. This QR Code is also a link to the Online Registration. Thanks to those who have already signed up, we have two from St Bede’s School and five from St Robert’s School
“The President’s Biggest Coffee Morning”
One of the Funeral Directors from William Purves Funerals, based in Ashington, is the President of The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors Association (SAIF) and as president he chooses a charity to support during his term in office. The local Morpeth office of ‘William Purves Funeral Directors’ are holding a Coffee Morning in St Robert’s Church Hall on Thursday 23rd July from 10am – 12noon, to support Parkinson’s UK, to help raise awareness, encourage support and contribute to the work they do. Please come along and support them and this good cause.
Diocesan Health and Safety Update
A recent reminder from the Diocese about the Annual Health and Safety Return brought with it several other health and safety notices and updated notes about food hygiene for Parish events. Providing any form of food for a parish event is considered extremely high risk and we are informed that … “Where food (any form) will be provided to the general public, at least 1 Volunteer with an appropriate level of food hygiene qualification must be on hand with food hygiene procedures in place.” We are also informed that “Where food is being provided to members of the public on a regular basis, the offering should be brought to the attention of the local authority, so their environmental team are made aware. To help further improve the hygiene standards for home prepared food, I’ve attached some guidance from our insurers and a home kitchen checklist. These papers can be made available by our Health and Safety reps. How safely is food prepared, cooked, stored and transported before being served?
Live Simply Bitesize
Buy local grown produce where possible and use fresh herbs
St Robert’s Offertory Procession
We would welcome offers of help to carry the gifts of bread and wine at our Sunday Masses. We have advertised this for several weeks and still no one, no family, has come forward yet.
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.
Confessions
Don’t forget that we have regular Confessions, at St Robert’s Church, on a Saturday morning after Mass from 10.30am until 11am and on a Saturday evening at St Bede’s Church, from 5pm until just before Mass.
The Wednesday Word
The Wednesday Word: Connecting Home, School and Parish through the Word of God. The Wednesday Word is a website with reflections on the forthcoming readings for the Sunday Mass and it is available each Wednesday beforehand. https://www.wednesdayword.org/ It has three Sections—one for parents, so they can use it with children, and within their families; one section for schools; and one section for Parishes to use. It is free to use. A great resource.
SPUC Parish Rep for St Robert’s
SPUC are looking for Parish Representatives in every parish. If you think this is something you can do, with particular reference to their White Flower Appeal each January, this is possibly a little parish role for you. We just need someone to take on this role at St Robert’s Church, please.
Assisted Dying Bill
Promoters of the Assisted Suicide Bill will be doing all they can to round up support for this Bill for a vote in September… Please do all you can to encourage others to oppose this Bill. Speak about this with your family and friends. Contact your MP and encourage your family and friends in other parts of the country to write to their MP as well. We must do all we can to encourage our MPs to oppose this Bill and safeguard the right to life for those who are vulnerable, and those who need proper end of life care.
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.
CAFOD Children’s Liturgy Resources
The CAFOD website has a full resource for Children’s Liturgy groups every week. https://cafod.org.uk/education/children-s-liturgy This should be a good resource for all leaders.
Parish Children’s Liturgy Groups
Both Children’s Liturgy Groups at St Robert’s Church and at St Bede’s Church will be taking a break for the Summer holidays. We thank our Leaders and Companions for their support as they catechise our children each week with words from scripture. There will be a Meeting at Bedlington, for St Bede’s Children Liturgy Leaders and Companions in coming weeks. Watch here for details.
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.
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.
Read or download the full Newsletter below: