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HomeNewsVicariate for Faith & Mission Update (March 2025)

Vicariate for Faith & Mission Update (March 2025)

March 1 2025

Update from the Vicariate

A Lenten Journey of Pilgrimage, Accompaniment, and Hope

Dear Friends,

As we begin our Lenten journey, we step into a sacred time of renewal—a pilgrimage of faith, reflection, and growth. Lent invites us to walk together, to accompany one another in prayer and conversation, and to seek a deeper encounter with Christ.

Pilgrimage has always been a powerful expression of faith, and this Lent, we are encouraged to visit our Diocesan Pilgrimage churches, places of grace where we can pause, pray, and open our hearts to God’s call. We also have a unique opportunity to be part of the visit of the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young witness to the power of the Eucharist, whose life inspires us to grow in faith and holiness.

This season is also a time to continue walking together in synodal conversation, listening, sharing, and discerning how the Holy Spirit is guiding us as a people of God. Accompaniment is at the heart of our mission—supporting one another as we journey towards Easter’s promise of new life.

This year, our Lenten reflections take a different approach. Our writers have been invited to focus on hope in holy week. There are resources for the whole of the event promoted below.

Amy Cameron, Director of Formation and Mission Development.

Year of Jubilee 2025

Dear Pilgrims of Hope!

How is your community participating in this Jubilee Year? Please get in touch at: jubilee2025@diocesehn.org.uk with your stories and messages.

In order to celebrate and commemorate the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, CAFOD commissioned an icon from artist Mulugeta Araya in Ethiopia, for the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The icon is travelling around the dioceses and will be visiting our Diocesan Pilgrimage Churches on the 19 and 20 March with Mass being celebrated on the Feast Days of St Joseph and St Cuthbert.

  • Wednesday 19 March at St Joseph’s church, Hartlepool (followed by a talk about icons)
  • Thursday 20 March at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle

Our Diocese is privileged to be welcoming the Visitation of the Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis – the first millennial beatified by Pope Francis – on 26 – 30 March. This will be the final visit before Carlo’s canonisation in April. Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager born in 1991, is celebrated for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his innovative use of technology to share his faith. Known for creating a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, Carlo’s life was a testament to his belief in the “highway to heaven.” Despite his battle with leukaemia, which claimed his life at the age of 15 in 2006, his legacy continues to inspire many. We hope the visitation will offer a unique opportunity for the faithful to deepen their connection to Carlo’s inspiring life and devotion. The relics will be stopping off at Cardinal Hume School in Low Fell, Gateshead, on Saturday 29 March where everyone is invited to visit. More details can be found here.

As we journey through this year of Jubilee, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. As Catholics our hope is in the Lord who is always at work in our lives. One of the keys to our faith journey is being able to recognise God’s daily call and to discern God’s will when we are making decisions. Our new formation programme Adventurous Accompaniment is designed to help us become better at walking with others, supporting them to see God at work. Over a series of sessions, you will explore how to accompany others whether it is informally while out talking with your neighbour or over a sustained relationship with family and friends. The ‘Adventure’ of this formation is that God is the one leading the way. Find out more and book on Adventurous Accompaniment here.

Various groups, teams and demographics across our Ddiocese will be celebrating their designated Jubilee Day with others both nationally and internationally. Some are offering their Messages of Hope for this Jubilee year, which can be found on the DHN Jubilee website. Throughout the year, we are inviting volunteers to share about what they do and share their Messages of Hope. You may consider inviting us to your parish or community to assist you with this. What would be your Message of Hope in this Year of Jubilee?

We’re all invited into an encounter with Jesus Christ, as his disciples of mercy, forgiveness, and social action, and to celebrate our communities. It’s a chance to envision a better future, a future of hope and faith where mercy guides our actions. It’s a time for forgiveness and reconciliation within our communities. We can take action to address injustices, support the vulnerable, and work towards a more equitable society.

Communities are starting to organise their Year of Jubilee celebrations, assisted by our Getting Started Guide, Jubilee Calendar and What’s On Events. To learn more about Jubilees, the Jubilee Companion booklet is available. We have produced a set of information leaflets about Pilgrimages, Social Action and Formation to help people navigate some of the Jubilee themes. For anyone wanting to visit one of the Jubilee Churches, as a group or on their own, there’s an information leaflet for that too. Come and be a Pilgrim, receive a Jubilee indulgence, walk the prayer pilgrimage around the church, or simply have a coffee and conversation with friends.

Would your community commit to making a social action pledge? They’re probably already involved in social action in some way or another but are there any other ways to help make a difference to your local community or in the world? Read about social action in Scripture and for suggestions about how to get involved. Register your pledge and receive a certificate signed by Bishop Stephen.

So, we invite and encourage you to be a Pilgrim of Hope in this Holy Year. Whether you participate in an organised event, or your community celebrates in its own way (and we hope they do!) we want to hear from you – please share your story with us and help inspire others.

Please visit the Diocesan Year of Jubilee page: https://bit.ly/DHNjubilee2025 for all the latest news, information and events or email the Diocesan Jubilee team at: jubilee2025@diocesehn.org.uk.

May the Year of Jubilee 2025 be a Beacon of Hope.

Season of Lent

We Dare to Hope: A resource for faith-sharing groups on the theme of Christian Hope

We Dare to Hope is a five-week resource on Christian Hope and includes a foreword by Bishop Stephen Wright. This resource follows on from last year’s We Dare to Say and it is ideal for small group faith-sharing and for individual meditation, featuring five sessions on the jubilee theme of Christian Hope.

We Dare to Hope will be available to download from the Diocesan website.

Holy Week Reflections

We will not be producing our series of Diocesan Lenten Reflections in its usual format this year, instead we will produce a shorter booklet which will offer a daily reflection on the readings from Palm Sunday and throughout Holy Week. This is because the Year of Jubilee is making space for a different reflection writing opportunity entitled ‘Scripture of Hope’ in celebration of the Jubilee Year. Our Diocesan Writing Team look forward to sharing these resources with you in the coming weeks. Further information about accessing the Holy Week Reflection Booklet and the ‘Scripture of Hope’ reflections will be available in next month’s newsletter.

CAFOD Prayers and Reflections

Our prayer as a global community is more important than ever. Let’s stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world as we pray together with them and for all people who are experiencing poverty.

Browse our collection of prayers, bidding prayers, reflections, liturgy and resources on a wide range of themes and throughout the liturgical year.

Please visit CAFOD’s website at https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources for prayer resources for Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost.

Evangelisation

Evangelisation for the Terrified

‘Evangelising for the Terrified’, written and produced within the Diocese, is a practical, light-hearted resource for anyone wondering how to get started in sharing their faith. It is deliberately written to be a simple, non-threatening collection of ideas that give intention and purpose to normal everyday opportunities that arise. Download a copy here.

Quick Link: Sharing the Faith.

Northern Saint Feast Days

St Cuthbert, Bishop, Diocesan Patron – c. 634 – 687

Cuthbert spent his early life in north Northumberland. As a teenager, he joined the monastery at Melrose under St Eata. After the Council of Whitby, he was made prior of Lindisfarne, where he persuaded the community to change from Celtic to Roman customs and practices. During his years as a priest, Cuthbert was an indefatigable worker, travelling long and arduous journeys to minister to people in the remotest parts of the Diocese. His love of solitude took him to St Cuthbert’s Isle, just off Lindisfarne, but he later sought permission to live as a hermit on the remote island of Inner Farne. In 684 Cuthbert was asked to become Bishop of Hexham, but he immediately exchanged his see with St Eata of Lindisfarne. Once again, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the care of his people. His time as a bishop was short and, sensing his life was drawing to a close, he returned to his beloved Inner Farne, where he died in 687. Eleven years later, during the transfer of his remains to a new shrine, his body was found to be incorrupt, and it immediately became an object of special veneration. When the Vikings destroyed Lindisfarne in 875, Cuthbert’s body was removed for safe keeping. It travelled all over the north – just as it had during his life, reaching Durham, its final resting place in 955, where a Saxon church was built to house the relics. Many miracles were attributed to Cuthbert’s intercession, and during the Middle Ages his shrine became one of the most popular places of pilgrimage. The present Romanesque cathedral is a fine tribute to this great northern saint.

Synodality

Northampton Diocese is running another of their Synodality 101 workshops. They cover the basic skills to run conversations in the Spirit rooted in a spirituality of openness and listening. The workshops may be helpful for members of your teams, clergy, pastoral council chairs or any other groups that you’re trying to introduce a more prayerful, discerning approach to decision-making and community life. Running on Thursday afternoons on 13, 20 and 27 March, 2.00 – 4.00pm. Find out more by clicking here.

Diocesan Lay Pastoral Council

On Saturday 8 February at the request of Bishop Stephen a meeting of the Diocesan Lay Pastoral Council was held at St Cuthbert’s Curial Office. The Council continues to meet periodically and acts in an advisory capacity to the bishop representing the voice of the laity through the Partnership Chairs and representatives from other groups. Bishop Stephen shared his rationale for the new deanery structure and invited the council to prayerfully consider mission, pastoral councils and to continue discernment with the initial Diocesan vision.

The Lay Pastoral Council has set up two working parties to look at the refreshing of working Partnerships and to re-imagine the purpose, roles and responsibilities of our Diocesan Lay Pastoral Council in light of the synod.

The Lay Pastoral Council can be contacted through email at: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

Liturgy

Day of Reflection for Lay Leaders

The Diocesan Liturgical Formation Team will be offering the following day:

Sacristans Course:

This two-day programme is open to new and existing Sacristans (NB. A place on this course must be booked via your parish priest).

Commencing Friday 7 March 2025 (2 sessions): view here.

Venue: St Joseph, Gateshead

Day of Reflection for Liturgical Leaders of Celebrations of the Word and Holy Communion:

Date: Saturday 15 March 2025: view here.
Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: St Hilda’s Resource Centre, Newcastle

New Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

NB. A place on this course must be booked via your parish priest.

Commencing Wednesday 19 March 2025 (3 sessions): view here.

Venue: St Patrick, Langley Moor, Durham

For further information and booking forms, please visit: Liturgy & Prayer webpage.

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.

Association of the Eucharist

Unfortunately, there will be no monthly Holy Hour this month.

RCIA

The RCIA Rite of Election is being held on Sunday 9 March at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle for Catechumens, their Sponsors and Catechists who are following the RCIA programme in their parishes. For more information, click here.

Sacramental Preparation

Re-imagining Baptism – National Conference

Baptism is transformative, it is the gateway to Christ. Come and join a national conversation about how baptism is understood in the life of the Church today, how to reawaken a baptismal mindset in our families and parishes and how might we spread the light of hope today.

This event is being hosted by the Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis from the Archdiocese of Southwark, and Baptism Collaborative. For further information and details on how to register, click here.

Dialogue & Unity

The Interreligious Relations team would like to thank all who attended our recent Holocaust Commemoration at St Mary’s, Benton. A report of the Commemoration is available to read here.

The annual prayers for peace in the tranquil setting of the Lady Chapel in Jesmond Dene will take place on Saturday 14 June at 2.00pm. Refreshments will be available in the Holy Name Church Hall afterward.

In a world increasingly characterised by division and conflict, the act of praying for peace stands as a beacon of hope and unity. When Christians and Muslims, two of the world’s largest religious communities, come together to pray for peace, the benefits extend far beyond the spiritual realm. This collective effort fosters mutual understanding, strengthens interfaith relations and promotes a global culture of harmony.

For both Christians, Muslims and all people of faith, prayer is a fundamental part of their lives. Engaging in prayer for peace deepens our own individual spirituality but strengthens our commitment to live by the principles of love, compassion and forgiveness.

Please do come along and join us. For more information, email: interreligious.relations@diocesehn.org.uk.

Quick Link: Dialogue & Unity

Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC)

Life in the Spirit Seminars

Our first delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars this year at St Aidan’s, Benton concluded on Thursday 27 February 2025 with a talk by Bishop Stephen, for which we are particularly grateful. Thanks also go to the parish of St Aidan’s for agreeing to host the seminars, and to Deacon Alison Rebello, our Secretary, for planning all the speakers, testimonies and music. Please pray for all those who took advantage of the opportunity to receive Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis, in setting up CHARIS as a new structure for Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church, set as the first priority the deepening and promotion of the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit and the exercise of charisms throughout the whole Church.

We look forward to announcing the next delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars shortly.

News from the Emmanuel community

The Emmanuel community are hosting Fr Chris Thomas again on Saturday 22 March 2025 from 10.30am to 4.00pm with coffee from 10:00 am. As many already know, Fr Chris Thomas is an inspired and inspiring speaker. We look forward to hearing what he will share this time on the theme of Living out my Baptism. To book a place, please contact Pat Kennedy at: pat.kennedy42@icloud.com or call: 07546 302832.

Walker’s Bridge of Hope

Plans for Walker’s Bridge of Hope in Walker Park on Saturday 3 May 2025 are moving at a pace. When Michelle Moran spoke at the national CHARIS gathering last November, we were much encouraged to hear her referring to our calling to host this event ecumenically and outdoors as a particular example of the new ways of promoting Charismatic Renewal that CHARIS was set up for. Please pray that many in Walker will take advantage of this opportunity to experience the hope that knowing our blessed Lord brings.

Join us too in the following prayer that sisters and brothers in Walker are now praying.

Walk with us Lord Jesus
As we build Walker’s bridge of hope
Let your love flow
Kindle in us your Holy Spirit
Enrich our community with your love and unity
Renew the hearts and minds of Walker

Mass for Pentecost

Plans are coming together for our Mass for Pentecost at St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle on Saturday 31 May from 1.00 pm. We look forward to seeing many in the Renewal family and many who are new to Renewal coming together again in communion, especially in this Jubilee year as pilgrims of hope. A poster promoting the Mass will be available shortly.

Mailing list

With the support of the Vicariate for Faith and Mission we have created a mailing list for people to hear more detailed information about Charismatic Renewal opportunities within the Diocese and beyond. If you would like to be added to this mailing list, please email your name to charis@diocesehn.org.uk.

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

Email: charis@diocesehn.org.uk

Quick Link: CHARIS

Diocesan Church Music Association

A Call for Volunteers with the Gift of Music

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

Marriage & Family Life Mass 2025

I thank personally you and your families who were able to attend this year’s Marriage Mass held on Saturday 8 February 2025 at the Cathedral. It proved to be a very well-attended spiritual and emotional Mass with 42 couples or widowed individuals renewing their marriage vows and receiving Certificates of Appreciation presented to them by Bishop Stephen for their years of married life. You can read the full article and view photos of the Mass here (NB. Images are reproduced with the kind permission of Mike March, Pilgrim Photography). The article will also appear in the Northern Cross’ March edition.

I am very pleased to let you know that our Mass in 2026 will be held on Saturday 14 February; I shall be grateful if you will make a note in your diaries.

Thank you.

Deacon Rob Wareing
Diocesan Coordinator for Marriage and Family Life

Marriage Preparation Days

2025:

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

Diocesan Celebration of Marriage and Family Life Mass

Read the full article here

Spiritual Accompaniment

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

Deepening Our Faith

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.

Sycamore

Sycamore is an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. It gives you space to meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs, and think about questions that really matter. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion. Everyone is welcome.

Hogarth Partnership are pleased to be holding a Lenten Sycamore course starting on the 12 March for five weeks. These will be held at St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Larchfield Street, Darlington, DL3 7TG.

The sessions will be:

  • 12 March: The Light of Christ
  • 19 March: The Community of the Church
  • 26 March: Forgiveness, Healing and Mission
  • 2 April: The Social Teaching of the Church
  • 9 April: How to Pray

The evenings start at 7.30pm and will finish at 9.00pm. Teas, coffees and refreshments will be provided.

View our event listing here.

Please email us at: hogarthalphaonline@gmail.com to let us know you’ll be attending, or if you have any questions.

Alpha

Alpha in a Catholic Context

Alpha is an 11-week course that creates a space, online or in person, where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about Jesus.

Alpha is a parish tool for evangelisation where everyone is welcome. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, sharing the good news of Jesus.  Alpha is a tool built for local churches based on hospitality, sharing and open conversation. It provides a common expression of proclamation, service and witness. Millions of people have experienced Alpha in over 175 countries and over 100 languages around the globe.

Each session has three key ingredients:

Connect

Whether in person over a meal or virtually with a cup of tea, all sessions start with a time to connect, relax and build friendships. Eating food together creates space for people to connect and share life on a deeper level.

Watch

The Alpha talks are designed to engage people from all walks of life and inspire conversation. They explore the big issues of life and faith and unpack the basics of Christian belief, addressing questions like “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “How does God guide us?”

Discuss

The discussion time is an opportunity for people to respond to the talk, hear from others and contribute their own perspective in an honest, friendly and open environment.

Alpha for Catholics Introductory Video

ALPHA Youth Series

A new way for young people to explore life, faith and purpose.

Made for this generation, the new Alpha Youth Series creatively unpacks the real questions young people have. The series, consisting of 10 episodes, run over 8 weeks, introduces and explores the core ideas of the Christian faith, in a relevant and engaging way.

To find out more about the Alpha Youth Series or how to run Alpha Youth in a Catholic context, please contact the Vicariate.

Alpha for Youth

Are you thinking about running an Alpha group?

Visit: https://alpha.org.uk/try or email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

Bereavement Support

People continue to request support following the death of a loved one. Most requests have come via the dedicated phone (07732 980740) and people are put in touch with a member of the Bereavement Support Team very quickly. Some people have been personally encouraged by a friend or relative to contact our service.

The Emmaus Bereavement Support Service number is 07732 980740 a member of the team will contact you promptly.

Quick Link: Accompaniment in Difficult Times.

Reflections

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 Us

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.