We try to update this page each weekend with information from the church bulletin but it's always best to call ahead for additional details if you are unsure.
14th April 2024
3rd Sunday of Easter
First Reading
Acts 3:13-15,17-19
Peter said to the people: ‘You are Israelites, and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate after Pilate had decided to release him. It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses. ‘Now I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were really doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.’
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 4:2,4,7,9
Second Reading
1 John 2:1-5
I am writing this, my children, to stop you sinning; but if anyone should sin,we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is just; he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours,but the whole world’s.We can be sure that we know God only by keeping his commandments. Anyone who says, ‘I know him’, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, refusing to admit the truth. But when anyone does obey what he has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him.
Gospel
Luke 24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread. They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes. Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’
Prayer is a time to reflect on one's own life, but also to think of others.
Please pray for:
all those who are sick or housebound in our Parishes and also for all those who have recently died and for their families.
Our Parish Prayer
Father, pour out Your Spirit on the people of this Parish and grant us a new vision of your Glory, a new experience of your Power, a new faithfulness to your Word and a new consecration to your Service, that your Love may grow among us and your Kingdom come, through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer to St. Michael
Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in our conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust down to hell, Satan and all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen
Act of Spiritual Communion
(To be said when one cannot receive communion in person)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen
The Rosary
Please spare a moment to Pray the Rosary every day
This week’s sanctuary candles will burn in memory of: The McCourt Family in St Mary Magdalen’s, David Steven Wilson in St Cuthbert’s and The Cowell Family in St Michael’s.
Ave Maria Coffee Club
It won’t be on the newsletter very often, but it is happening. Every Monday afternoon, the parish centre in St Mary Magdalen’s is open for tea/coffee and refreshments from 1.00pm until 3.00pm.
St Mary Magdalen Hymn Books
We’ve had a few more requests to dedicate hymn books to loved ones who have died. We will be sticking dedications into the front of each hymn book soon. If you would like to dedicate a hymn book, print the name of your loved one onto an envelope, enclosing a donation of £5, and hand into Fr Marc or put it in the collection.
Missal Change
From Advent this year you will hear some changes to the readings at Mass. The Vatican has decreed that all English-speaking nations in the world will use the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition. We currently use the New Jerusalem Bible at Mass in the UK and Ireland. New missals will be on sale on the Piety Stall soon in preparation for the change.
Northern Cross Newspaper
If you would like to get an online copy of the diocesan newspaper on your phone, or an actual hard copy delivered to your door, you can order online here: https://www.northerncross.org.uk/subscriptions/
Hymn Books
If you have taken a hymn book home from church, please return it when you next come to Mass. With more people choosing to take part in Mass, we need all our hymn books back!
Proud Catholics
Do you identify as LGBTQ+ or are you questioning your sexual or gender identity? Would you like to attend a support group run by and for LGBTQ+ Catholics in the North East? Meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Worswick Street, Newcastle.
For more information, telephone Isabel on 07858 934457, email: proud.catholics@yahoo.com
HOLY ISLAND SVP VINNIES CAMP –
There are places still available for boys and girls in school years 5-7 (inclusive) at Holy Island Children’s camp. A week’s traditional holiday with meals and transport costs just £150! If you would like your child to have a week’s holiday on Holy Island this Summer please visit our site https://svp.org.uk/microsite/holy-island. If you know of any child who would benefit from this opportunity but may need assistance in paying, please contact Fr Marc.
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
APPEAL –NEXT WEEK, there will be a collection for St Joseph’s Home as you leave Mass (Good Shepherd Sunday 20/21 April). If you wish to make a private contribution, you can do so by sending cheques made payable to ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ to St Joseph’s Home, Westmorland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7QA. Alternatively, secure online donations can be made by visiting our website at http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/donate-here/. The Little Sisters of the Poor are deeply grateful for your continued support and prayers.
Your generosity plays a significant role in enabling them to fulfil their mission of providing safe, affordable, and quality care to vulnerable older people in need. Please know that your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference in the lives of the residents.
Funerals:
The Requiem Mass of Teresa Stevens will take place on Tuesday 16th April at 12noon in St Michael’s.
The Requiem Mass of Doreen Belshaw will take place on Thursday 18th April at 10.30am in St Michael’s. Please keep them, and their families, in your prayers.
Please also pray for Mary Terrance from St Mary Magdalen’s who died recently. Mary’s Requiem Mass will be in St Mary Magdalen’s on Thursday 25th April at 2pm.
Fr Phil Carroll - RIP
Please keep Monsignor Philip Carroll in your prayers who has sadly died. Fr. Philip had worked for the Bishop’s Conference and in Rome. He had also been a curate and a much loved parish priest in Washington.
Parish Concert
Delighted that we will be having a parish concert on Friday 17th May in St Michael’s Church. The fantastic ‘Newcastle Male Chorus Choir’ will be preforming for us. And there will be refreshments in the Parish Hall during the interval.
Tickets cost £6 and can be bought at the door, with money going to the parish, and a donation to the choir.
The choir is a registered charity, performing and promoting choral singing. Their musical director and accompanist were awarded medals from the late Queen for services to music. Promises to be a great night, all are welcome.
