Vicariate for Faith & Mission Update (December 2023)

Called, Transformed and Sent

Around 4,000 people came together from 2 to 4 November 2023 in Rome for an international gathering of CHARIS. We hope to share more from Maria Heath, Co-ordinator for the National CHARIS team, from her experience of being there.

Watch a short video here, for a glimpse of the gathering, including Cardinal Cantalamessa and the arrival of Pope Francis for his closing address.

You can see a longer version, including what Cardinal Cantalamessa and Pope Francis had to say to all those gathered and Rome and now, us here.

You can read and watch an account of Pope Francis’s address here.

Life in the Spirit Seminars

As a team, we have been greatly encouraged by these particular words from Pope Francis, in his recent address on 4 November, about Life in the Spirit seminars:

“…today I would ask you: are the Life in the Spirit Seminars being offered in a variety of ecclesial contexts, in small and remote places and among the poor and on the peripheries? One obstacle to this might be the idea that these Seminars can only be held in large venues and with well-known leaders, whereas in reality even small parish groups and local leaders can organize them and present them to people in their area.”

Plans are now in place, drawing on local leaders, as Pope Francis has encouraged, to deliver Life in the Spirit Seminars from 21 February 2024, 7.00pm to 8.30pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, Sunderland. The themes and speakers for the first five sessions are as follows:

• 21 February: Andy Drozdziak on the theme of God’s love.
• 28 February: Amy Cameron on the theme of Salvation.
• 6 March: John Wheeler on the theme of The New Life.
• 13 March: Pat Kennedy on the theme of Receiving God’s Gifts.
• 20 March: Fr Shaun O’Neill on the theme of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The remaining two seminars, on the themes of Growth and Transformation in Christ, will be held after Easter as preparation for Pentecost. Details of dates and speakers will be confirmed shortly.

Mass for Pentecost

We will be hosting a Mass for Pentecost at St Mary’s Cathedral Church at 1.00pm on Saturday 11 May 2024.

Pope Francis, in his recent address, also emphasised that CHARIS’ role is to point all communities of the Charismatic Renewal, which he called a “current of grace” to “communion, on the path ahead.” The annual Mass for Pentecost is proving to be a blessed opportunity for sisters and brothers in Renewal to come together in communion on the path ahead for us in the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle.

News from the Emmanuel Community

The Emmanuel Community’s recent hosting of Chris Thomas was a great source of inspiration, reminding us all how vitally important it is for us to be inspired by God’s vision for us, the world, and all the ways we are called to contribute to the building of God’s kingdom in the world. A more detailed account of the day will be shared by Pat Kennedy in the next edition of the Northern Cross.

The next opportunity for inspiration will be from 10.00am on Saturday 20 January 2024 at St Mary’s School, Newcastle when the Emmanuel Community will be hosting David Wells. David will present on the theme of ‘Pilgrims for Hope’, in preparation for the 2025 Year of Jubilee.

On 8 June from 10.00am at St Mary’s School, Newcastle the Emmanuel Community will be meeting to reflect on the input of speakers on the previous few days. All are welcome.

We hear that Michelle Moran spoke with great power to the 4,000 people who attended the recent international gathering of CHARIS in Rome. We were greatly blessed by the Emmanuel Community’s last hosting of Michelle. The Emmanuel community will be hosting Michelle again from 10.00am at St Mary’s School, Newcastle on Saturday 12 October 2024.

Mailing List

We continue to add to our mailing list. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us: charis@diocesehn.org.uk.

Please continue to pray for the work of our team.

John Wheeler, Co-ordinator Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Service of Communion.

Email: charis@diocesehn.org.uk

Quick Link: CHARIS

Marriage Preparation Days

2024:

Saturday 9 March: St Joseph, Blaydon NE21 5AE.
Saturday 16 March: St Mary’s, Bishop Auckland DL14 6PQ.
Saturday 13 April: St Hilda’s, Sunderland SR5 2JD.
Saturday 18 May: St Robert of Newminster, Morpeth NE61 1QF.
Saturday 21 September: St Robert of Newminster, Morpeth NE61 1QF.
Saturday 9 November: St Mary’s, Bishop Auckland DL14 6PQ.

(Other dates and venues will be notified to each Parish Priest and Deacon as arranged.)

Engaged couples can find more information at https://www.marriagecare.org.uk/marriage-preparation-2/.

To find and book on a course, please visit: https://www.marriagecare.org.uk/find-pt-course/ or call the booking service: 0800 389 3801 (NB. In person and online courses are available).

Fees payable to MarriageCare are given on the website and will cover the costs of the resources and materials that will be provided on the day for each couple; they also include an element of cost towards the counselling arm of MarriageCare, an important facility very well called upon in present society. At the end of the day of attendance, couples will be provided with details to go online to MarriageCare to print their certificates, one of which should be handed to the Parish Priest and the other retained.

Priests, Deacons and lay people may email: marriage@diocesehn.org.uk for further information or Deacon Rob Wareing directly, if required.

Marriage and Family Life Mass 2024

Bishop Stephen will celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday 17 February 2024 at 12.00pm to give thanks for the Sacrament of Marriage and Family Life. This is taking place during National Marriage Week. All married couples will be invited with particular focus on those celebrating a significant anniversary together with bereaved spouses, separated individuals and families experiencing or having experienced domestic difficulties. In these unprecedented times we remember couples in crisis and individual adults and children experiencing difficulties and abuse in their family relationships. We wish all to know that none is forgotten and that the Sacramental life is very much alive and prayed for.

Anyone celebrating a significant anniversary has the opportunity to receive a certificate of celebration on the day. Anyone celebrating a special anniversary can request a certificate by completing this form or by calling the Faith and Mission admin team on 0191 243 3316.

This day promises to be a wonderful Diocesan celebration and will provide a positive affirmation of the graces of Marriage to the entire North-East community. A poster for this event is available to download here.

If you require any further information, please contact:

Deacon Rob Wareing, Diocesan Lead for Marriage and Family Life

Email: rob.wareing@diocesehn.org.uk
Mobile: 07841 530991

Quick Links: Family & Sacraments Marriage Care

Exploring Spiritual Accompaniment

Spiritual Accompaniment has been part of the Christian tradition and a ministry in the Church since the days of the early Church. It is often called Spiritual Direction, although we prefer the term ‘accompaniment’ because it suggests walking alongside someone in their spiritual/faith journey, rather than telling them what to do!

Spiritual Accompaniment is not about solving problems so much as exploring our relationship with God, through prayer and reflection on our experience of faith and life.

A Spiritual Director is not there to give advice or tell you what to believe in, but rather to listen attentively and act as a ‘sounding board’ for whatever you bring to the session.

Spiritual Accompaniment sessions usually take place every couple of months or so, depending on the circumstances of the individuals involved.

Maybe you feel called to this ministry or know someone who might be interested. St Antony’s Priory in Durham offers training. Sr Sheila McNamara RSCJ, the Diocesan Lead on Spiritual Accompaniment, is part of the training team for the two-year course.

Training in Spiritual Accompaniment

‘Exploring Spiritual Accompaniment’ is a two-year programme of formation that provides both an opportunity for personal spiritual development, as well as offering practical and experiential training in the skills applicable to accompanying others on their faith journey.

Our approach to Spiritual Accompaniment is ecumenical, drawing on a broad range of Christian wisdom and spirituality, as well as being informed by the Guidelines for Spiritual Directors, published by the Retreat Association.

A key principle undergirding the course is that it should be congruous with the process of spiritual accompaniment itself. Rather than simply being a programme of training in skills or knowledge, it should also be seen as a process of discernment and formation in the charism of this distinctive ministry.

The course will comprise eight modules taught over two academic years. Each module will include a significant element of self-directed learning. This will provide an opportunity to reflect on matters considered between sessions, as well as enabling a focus on the development of listening skills and the practice of accompaniment.

“The course has vastly exceeded my expectations on every level. The depth and spread of topics covered, the reading and the materials (physical and online) and individual and group experiential aspects have all been extremely rich and stretching.”

Please see St Antony’s website – Spiritual Direction section – for more information or email Sr Sheila: sheila.mcnamara@diocesehn.org.uk.

Quick Link: Spiritual Accompaniment

Fr Sean Hall continues to offer his weekly reflections on the Sunday Readings and Pat Kennedy her monthly reflections, both available to read online or download in the Prayer Resources section.

Contact the Vicariate of Faith & Mission by email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk or by telephone 0191 243 3316 / 07375 934713 during office hours.

Visit our Vicariate for Faith & Mission News page here.