Vicariate for Faith & Mission Update (December 2024)

On Saturday afternoon, 26 October, the members of the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops approved the Final Document. Pope Francis approved its publication.

The final document is available in Italian with a working translation of the English version also available.

The final document of the XVI assembly can be read here: https://www.synod.va/en/news/final-document-of-the-xvi-assembly.html

The final document covers among other themes, listening and accompaniment, the lay faithful in governance and decision making, the mandate of parish councils, greater transparency, further support for those with disabilities and synodality becoming part of the constitution of the Church.

New Lectionary

A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, came into use in England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent 2024. It has changed as part of the continuing process of revising liturgical translations. The process began with the Roman Missal in 2011 and has continued with all the other liturgical texts. The new Lectionary will use the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition. Visit the CBCEW website to find out more. People’s Missals are available to purchase from book shops and online. The new translations are also included with Universalis.

Holy Hour

The Association of the Eucharist will be holding their monthly Holy Hour on Sunday 1 December from 2.30pm – 3.30pm at St Andrew’s, Worswick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. All are welcome to join to spend time with the Lord.

The Eucharist: A Gift to be Nurtured

As part of our aim to promote growth and knowledge of the Eucharist, the Association of the Eucharist offer The Eucharist: A Gift to be Nurtured, which gives us words from Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to guide time before the Blessed Sacrament. This resource can be used by both individuals and groups.

Holocaust Memorial Day

‘For a Better Future’ is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025. 2025 will mark the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30^th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide.

This annual event, open to all, will be held on Wednesday 22 January 2025, from 7.00pm in St Mary’s Catholic School, Benton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7PE.

The guest speakers are Mr David Gold and Mr Smajo Bešo OBE. Mr David Gold is from the United Hebrew Congregation in Newcastle and he will speak about the escape of his mother and her family from Nazi Germany after anti-Jewish laws were introduced and the family was accepted and able to prosper upon their arrival in Newcastle.

Mr Smajo Bešo OBE is a child survivor of the Bosnian genocide who has seen the worst and best of humanity. He was born in Bosnia in 1985, but as Bosnian Muslims became targets of genocide, his father and several male relatives were arrested and sent to concentration camps. After surviving the horrors of the genocide, he found refuge in the UK, where he now proudly embraces his Bosnian roots and newfound Geordie identity. Today, he regularly shares his experiences and has played a vital role in organising Holocaust Memorial Day and Bosnian Genocide commemorations across the country.

Booking is kindly requested to help plan the event. Please book your place by emailing interreligious.relations@diocesehn.org.uk or call 0191 243 3316.

Sunderland Interfaith Forum will be holding their annual Holocaust commemoration on Monday 27 January, from 7.00pm at Sunderland Minster, High Street West, Sunderland SR1 3ET.

Quick Link: Dialogue & Unity

CDSC Gathering Milton Keynes

Six members of the CDSC, John Wheeler, Kelechi Dibie, Joseph Philip, Christine Dixon, Andy Drozdziak and Deacon Frank O’Neill, experienced a wonderful opportunity to attend a gathering of CDSC teams from across England and Wales in Milton Keynes from 9 to 10 November 2024.

The gathering included powerful periods of praise and worship, inspiring talks from Maria Heath, past chair of the national team for Renewal, the CNSC, Bishop David Oakley, Abhy Thomas, the current chair of the CNSC and Michelle Moran from the Sion Community, who, as chair of the International team, was at the heart of the creation of CHARIS, the new structure for Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church. The gathering also provided opportunities for CDSC teams to reflect on their calling for their particular dioceses and for us to be with other teams from the North as members of the Liverpool Province. We now have a connection with these other CDSCs, through which we will meet to support and encourage each other, and in due time, we hope to plan for shared Renewal events in the North. While being prayed over, we were doubly blessed by Michelle Moran, who shared with us a word she had been given for our team in particular. The word given to Michelle included the importance of us building on long-standing foundations whilst being open to the new. Michelle had also been reminded of the chopping down of the Sycamore Gap tree and that even though that happened, new shoots were already appearing.

In her talk, Michelle Moran reminded us that Pope Francis is discerning a quickening of the Holy Spirit, which echoed an observation that Abhy had shared earlier in the weekend that we are living in a season of Grace. It is an exciting time to be in our Church and, for us as a team, an exciting time to be serving as we are called to do.

Life in the Spirit Seminars

Please pray for all who attended our delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars at St Mary’s, Newton Aycliffe, which concluded on 11 November 2024.

The next delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars will be from 7.00pm – 8.30pm on Thursday evenings at St Aidan’s, Benton. The seminars will start on 16 January 2025, with a talk from Andy Drozdziak on God’s Love and testimony from Joseph Philips. The rest of the seminar schedule is below:

• 23 January 2025: a talk on Salvation from Amy Cameron and a testimony from Kelechi Dibie.
• 30 January 2025: a talk from myself, John Wheeler, on the New Life and testimony from Cherryl Lucero.
• 6 February 2025: a talk on Receiving God’s Gifts from Pat Kennedy and testimony from Christine Dixon.
• 13 February 2025: a talk on Baptism in the Holy Spirit from Fr Shaun O’Neill and testimony from Alun Sunny.
• 20 February 2025: a talk from Deacon Frank O’Neill on Growth and testimony from Susan Picola.
• 27 February 2025: a talk from Bishop Stephen Wright on Transformation in Christ and testimony from Santhosh Joseph.

For more information contact our Secretary Deacon Alison Rebello on 07931 136243 or email me, John Wheeler, at charis@diocesehn.org.uk. Places can be booked through https://bit.ly/LifeInTheSpiritDHN or by ringing 0191 243 3316. 

News from the Emmanuel community

The Emmanuel community are hosting Fr Chris Thomas again on Saturday 22 March 2025 speaking on the theme of Living out my Baptism. Having shared many conversations at a recent gathering of CDSC teams, I know Fr Chris will have much to draw on from his experience of how the Ireneaus Project is engaging with those in need in Liverpool. For more information, please contact Pat Kennedy at pat.kennedy42@icloud.com or call: 07546 302832.

Walker’s Bridge of Hope

Planning continues for an ecumenical event in Walker Park, Newcastle in late Spring 2025, hopefully on 3 May 2025. We are discerning the following vision for the event.

A calling to share in the building of community in Walker, through the local churches coming together in an event in Walker Park to share and show the joy of knowing Jesus.

The event will be both an opportunity for people to experience Christian hope in action, and an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of the Walker people and community, especially through music, song, dance and other arts provided by local community groups, youth groups and schools.

Please pray for our work as an ecumenical planning group, that we expand our connections to other churches in the east of Newcastle and discern together what our Lord wishes to offer for the people of Walker.

Mass for Pentecost

We will be hosting a Mass for Pentecost at St Mary’s Cathedral again at 1.00pm on Saturday 31 May 2025. Pope Francis emphasises that a primary role of the new structure he launched in 2019, CHARIS, is to point all communities of the Charismatic Renewal 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. The Mass in 2025 will be our contribution to the Year of Jubilee, focusing, in particular, on our calling as Pilgrims of Hope.

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

Email: charis@diocesehn.org.uk

Quick Link: CHARIS

Music makes the world of difference to our lives, especially in our worship. Vatican II recognised ‘the importance of singing‘ in the celebration of the Mass and that it should be ‘integral to worship‘ with ‘due consideration for the culture of the people and abilities of each liturgical assembly‘.

The Diocesan Church Music Association (DCMA) is a body of volunteer musicians within Hexham and Newcastle who aim to help parishes in their use of music for the Mass. We offer practical help and guidance to parish musicians, considering that each parish will have its own musical ‘house-style’. This may be a traditional choir-and-organ setup, an instrumental group, a praise & worship band, or perhaps unaccompanied singing. Previously we have put on singing days and workshops to highlight new Mass settings, simple Communion songs, music for the Triduum, as well as a ‘keyboard-free’ workshop for those parishes who do not have a pianist or organist.

We welcome new members to join the Diocesan Church Music Association team. Our current team members are all from the Durham area, but our aim is always to have representatives from all areas of the Diocese to help inform and plan our work.

For anyone interested in finding out more information about joining the DCMA, please email dcma@diocesehn.org.uk

Quick Link: DCMA

Marriage & Family Life Mass 2025

8 February 2025, St Mary’s Cathedral at 12.00pm

I am very pleased to announce that Bishop Stephen has agreed to preside at a Mass to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage and the graces received in Family Life. This is taking place during National Marriage Week, 7 – 14 February 2025. All married couples will be invited with particular focus on those celebrating a significant anniversary from one year to eighty years! Also invited are bereaved spouses, separated individuals and families experiencing or have experienced domestic difficulties. Further details will be released shortly, including details on how to register for a significant anniversary certificate.

I look forward to us coming together once again in celebration of marital, spiritual, Eucharistic and physical community?

Thank you.

Deacon Rob Wareing

Marriage Preparation Days

2025:

Saturday 1 February: The Sacred Heart, North Gosforth NE3 5EB.
Saturday 22 February: St Robert of Newminster, Morpeth NE61 1QF.
Saturday 8 March: St Joseph, Blaydon NE21 5AE.
Saturday 22 March, St Mary, Bishop Auckland DL14 6PQ.
Saturday 26 April, St Hilda, Sunderland SR5 2JD.
Saturday 14 June: St Thomas Aquinas, Darlington DL1 2PU.
Saturday 21 June: The Sacred Heart, North Gosforth NE3 5EB.

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

Engaged couples can find more information here.

To find and book on a course, please visit our website 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.

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

Catholic Pastoral Leadership Course

Are you involved in any ministry in the Church? Are you interested in doing more for the Church? Do you want to expand your skills in pastoral leadership? A new online course in Catholic Pastoral Leadership might be what you are looking for.

Liverpool Hope University has partnered with several Catholic dioceses across England and Wales to help people like you to gain fresh perspectives on Scripture and Church teaching. You will look at real-world issues in the light of our tradition and consider the best ways of exploring Christian faith and life with others. The 2-year course is split into 4 modules and you can complete most of the work at a time that suits you.

To find out more information about the course, please visit our website.

NEW for 2024-25: In addition to the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma, and the MA, students can now enrol for a single module. Students with a BA or BSc who have not studied Theology or a related discipline before, are now free to apply to enrol for the core module, ‘Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour’ and proceed to the MA following its successful completion. The single module is also a standalone option for Continual Professional Development and general interest.

Further details are found in this leaflet, and are available at Distance Learning – Durham University.

If you have any questions about the Distance Learning programmes, please do not hesitate to email: theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk.

Constitutions of Vatican II

In this section, you can find resources to help explore the four Constitutions of Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Concilium – the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Lumen Gentium – Light of the Nations, Dei Verbum – Word of God, Gaudium et spes – the Church in the Modern World.

Groups may wish to organise talks/prayers/reflections on these four constitutions, and we hope you find the resources useful and helpful.

https://www.cbcew.org.uk/constitutions-of-vatican-ii/.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/dei-verbum-word-of-god/.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/gaudium-et-spes-joy-and-hope/.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/lumen-gentium-light-of-nations/.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/sacrosanctum-concilium-the-sacred-council/.

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.