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26th January 2025
The Third Sunday of the Year
First Reading
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
In those days: Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it, all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Ezra and the Levites read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the meaning, so that the people understood the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, ‘Go on your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19(18):8. 9. 10. 15. ℟ John 6:63c
Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.
The law of the Lord is perfect; it revives the soul. The decrees of the Lord are steadfast; they give wisdom to the simple.
Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.
The precepts of the Lord are right;they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear; it gives light to the eyes.
Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.
The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding for ever. The judgements of the Lord are true; they are, all of them, just.
Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.
May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favour in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer!
Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Brothers and Sisters: Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church first Apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
Gospel
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
Weekly prayer intentions
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
Please try to pray the Angelus at noon and 6pm every day
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary...
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary...
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you (Lk 1: 28)
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb' (Lk 1: 42).
This weeks further news and notices
Please let us know if you would like anything adding to the notices for the coming week.
This week’s sanctuary candles will burn in memory of The Smail Family in St Michael’s, Rob & Steven Davison in St Cuthbert’s & Sandra & Jim Hutchinson in St Mary Magdalen’s.
Confidential Parish Listening Service:
Please be aware that we have a free confidential listening service in the parish, for anyone who would like to speak, anonymously, to a trained Counsellor by telephone. Just text 07759582979 any day, and the Counsellor will get back to you as soon as possible if you would like to talk to her. You may have suffered a bereavement, be experiencing family problems or some other difficulty in your life…. it’s always good to talk.
Blessed Carlo Acutis visit
Bishop Stephen will celebrate a special Mass with the relic of Blessed Carlo in attendance, on Wednesday 26th March at 7.00pm in St Cuthbert’s Church. Following Mass, there will be veneration of the relic.
24 Hour Vigil
We will have 24 hours of prayers in St Michael’s from 9am on Friday 28th March till 9am on Saturday 29th March. We need volunteers to sign up to be in church, so that someone is present every hour. Adoration and Blessed Carlo’s relic will be present. Please email the parish office if you’d like sign up for an hour, so a parishioner is always present through the 24 hour of prayer. We particularly need parishioners from our three parishes to sign up for slots through the night.
Funerals:
Please keep Michael Robinson, Daniel Holyoak and James Hope, who have died, in your prayers.
Michael used to take the collection at the 6.00pm Mass and his Requiem will take place on Monday 3rd February at 12 noon in St Michael’s Church.
Daniel (Danny) Holyoak’s Requiem will be on Friday 14th at 1.30pm in St Michael’s and
James Hope’s Requiem will be on Friday 21st February at 10.00am in St Michael’s.
Please also keep all their families and friends in your prayers too.
Welcome back:
This weekend we welcome Fr Stephen Botto who will celebrate our 9.30am and 11.00am Mass. Fr Stephen is a Mill Hill Missionary Priest who lives in Houghton-le-Spring.
LOUDfence
St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle is hosting a LOUDfence workshop on Saturday 1st February at 10am. LOUDfence is a Catholic movement which shares practical ways to acknowledge harm caused by abuse in any setting, through arts and crafts. All objects made in the LOUDfence workshop will form part of the liturgy in the Diocesan LOUDfence on 1st May in Alnwick.
Participants are asked to bring a packed lunch with them. Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring paper, light fabric, ribbon and small objects which remind you of comforting memories, particularly in childhood.
New Bishop’s House:
The Bishop has asked people to be reminded that he has moved house into an empty presbytery. Post to the Bishop can be sent only to: Bishop’s House, St Aidan’s, Coach Lane, Benton, Newcastle, NE12 8AD.