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HomeNewsVicariate for Faith & Mission Update (September 2024)

Vicariate for Faith & Mission Update (September 2024)

September 1 2024

Update from the Vicariate

Year of Jubilee 2024 – 2025

As we begin to draw a close to the Year of Prayer, it is hoped that parishes will use the opportunity of the weekend of the 14/15 September, the weekend of the Adoremus celebration, to attend Adoration locally. Many parishes already offer Adoration and we are all being encouraged nationally to take up the opportunity to experience the power of time spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, with the view to the nation being in adoration at the same time.

The Year of Prayer has been in preparation for the Year of Jubilee which will begin at the start of the Churches new Year. This special time in the Church is intended to build our hope and trust in God and we all invited to go on pilgrimage and to be Pilgrims of Hope. There will be many events planned within the diocese and lots of opportunities to take part in national and international events. To find out more keep an eye on the Diocesan website and this section of the monthly newsletter.

Amy Cameron, Director of Formation and Mission Development.

Year of Prayer 2024

“Prayer unites us; it makes us brothers and sisters. It is in prayer that our hearts find the strength not to be cold and insensitive in the face of injustice. In prayer, God keeps calling us, opening our hearts to charity.” Pope Francis.

In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, 2024 has been designated a Year of Prayer by Pope Francis.

Please visit our Diocesan Year of Prayer webpage for more information and regular updates.

Symphony of prayer and praise: A prayer for the Year of Prayer [CAFOD]

God of blessings,
in this year ahead,
give us a spirit of listening,
of openness to your word
and longing for your kingdom.

As we journey toward the Jubilee,
a time of new beginnings,
we pray for help and strength,
to heal our relationships with each other
and all creation.

Sing your song of love over us,
renewing our faith and courage,
so we may join our voices together,
discovering new harmonies of hope,
new melodies of reconciliation

Attentive to the Spirit,
and awake to the needs of the world,
may we seek your life-giving presence,
as we join as one global family,
in a great symphony of prayer and praise.

Amen.

Source: https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources/a-prayer-for-the-year-of-prayer

We Dare to Say: A resource for faith-sharing groups on the Lord’s Prayer

We Dare To Say is a resource for small group faith-sharing and for individual meditation, featuring five sessions each based on a line from the Lord’s Prayer. Each session includes scripture, prayers and a reflection with questions. The connection of the Our Father with the sacraments and the devotional life is explored, and wisdom from the saints is offered for the spiritual growth of group participants and individuals alike.

‘­This single short prayer of Christ has everything that needs to be said about God, his kingdom, his life, about all of us’ – Fr Alexander Schmemann.

You can access the ‘We Dare to Say‘ resource by clicking here.

Deliver Us From Evil

A set of useful prayers and supplications, humble requests for the Lord’s help, that can be used by Catholics in times of fear, distress and temptation.

The Catholic Truth Society (CTS) has published a new booklet by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales offering a treasury of prayers drawn from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition that can be used by Catholics to protect themselves from the powers of darkness.

Discover the new booklet here.

CAFOD Prayers, Liturgies and Reflections

CAFOD’s prayer as a global community is more important than ever. Let’s reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters around the world with our prayers, liturgies and reflections.

Browse CAFOD’s collection of prayers on poverty, bidding prayers, and short Catholic prayers on a wide range of themes and throughout the liturgical year.

Visit CAFOD’s website here.

Evangelisation

The Joy of the Gospel

“The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” [EG 1]

Evangelii Gaudium, the Joy of the Gospel, looks at the new evangelisation for the transmission of the faith and has chapters on the following subjects:

  • The Church’s Missionary Transformation
  • The Crisis of Communal Commitment
  • The Proclamation of the Gospel
  • The Social Dimension of Evangelization
  • Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

The full text of Evangelii Gaudium can be downloaded here.

Growing as Missionary Disciples

“We cannot forget that evangelisation is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. Many of these are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face… Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone.” Evangelii Gaudium, §14.

This year, Evangelii Gaudium Sunday will be celebrated in our parishes on 15 September 2024. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the great mandate we have been given by the Risen Lord to evangelise the whole world. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” the Lord commissions, as we hear in Matthew 28:19.

Inspired by our ongoing Synodal process, Scripture, and Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, we have chosen the theme ‘Growing as missionary disciples’. On the day itself, we can encourage the faithful to pray for our parish communities, that they would become intentionally missionary in their life and witness.

Quick Link: Sharing the Faith.

Faith Events

Adoremus at Oscott: A National Faith event ***LIMITED PLACES***

A National Eucharistic Congress is planned for Saturday 14 September 2024 at Oscott, Birmingham. Oscott is significant as it was the place where the first Eucharistic procession took place after the restoration of the Church in Britain.

This event has limited places remaining and they are available on a first come, first serve basis, so if you would like to attend please email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk.

Liturgy

New Lectionary

A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, will come into use in England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent 2024. Visit the CBCEW website to find out more.

Liturgy Courses and Events

The Diocesan Liturgical Formation Team will be offering the following courses this coming Autumn:

Courses

Liturgical Leaders of Celebrations of the Word and Holy Communion (Lay Leaders)

  • A place on this course must be booked via your parish priest. Commencing 30 September over 6 sessions at St Hilda’s Diocesan Resource Centre: view here.

New Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

  • A place on this course must be booked via your parish priest.
  • Commencing 9 September over 3 sessions at St Michael, Houghton-le-Spring: view here.
  • Commencing 30 September over 3 sessions at St Aloysius, Hebburn: view here.
  • Commencing 18 November over 3 sessions at St Augustine, Darlington: view here.

Liturgy Days for Readers and the New Lectionary:

  • Saturday 12 October: St Patrick’s, Consett
  • Saturday 26 October: St Bede’s, Bedlington
  • Saturday 9 November: St Augustine’s, Darlington
  • Saturday 23 November: St Aloysius, Hebburn

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

Holy Hour

The Association of the Eucharist will be taking a break over the summer and will be holding their next Holy Hour on Sunday 1 September from 2.30pm to 3.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Worswick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6UW. Refreshments will follow and everyone is welcome to join.

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.

Weekend Liturgy Resources

Suggested Prayers of the Faithful (bidding prayers) and Reflections will be updated each week.

Other resources include suggested music, Children’s Liturgy of the Word and Cycle of Prayer.

Resources and signposts to the coming weekend’s liturgy resources, kindly provided by people within our Diocese, will be available to view and access on the Diocesan website every Thursday for the following weekend’s liturgy.

Click here to enlarge image.

Visit our Weekend Liturgy section here.

Dialogue & Unity

‘Faith and Fellowship’ Evening

The Interreligious Relations Team are holding an evening devoted to ‘Faith and Fellowship‘ on Wednesday 25 September 2024 at 7.00pm at English Martyrs Parish Hall, Stamfordham Road, Newcastle NE5 3JR. This evening will provide opportunities to discover the importance of prayer and how it impacts on the lives of believers. We will be joined by local representatives of different faiths who will be sharing the value of prayer and how it affects our relationships with those around us. This event is being held in support of the Year of Prayer in preparation for the Jubilee Year of 2025.

For more information, please email: interreligious.relations@diocesehn.org.uk.

Quick Link: Dialogue & Unity

Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC)

Life in the Spirit Seminars

Plans are now coming together for the delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars on Monday evenings at 7.00pm at St Mary’s, Newton Aycliffe on 30 September, 7, 14, 21 & 28 October and 4 & 11 November 2024. Final details of speakers and how to book a place can be found here.

Walker’s Bridge of Hope

We are in the early stages of planning for an ecumenical event in Walker Park, Newcastle, in late Spring 2025. 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.

News from the Emmanuel community

The Emmanuel community will be hosting Michelle Moran again from 10.00am at St Mary’s School, Newcastle on Saturday 12 October 2024. Michelle’s theme will be “Signs of Hope in a Changing World”. In marking the fifth anniversary of the founding of CHARIS, Michelle recently commented, “It was a privilege to be involved in the establishment of CHARIS. I pray for all those now tasked with the responsibility of serving in the current of grace. May CHARIS continue to bring unity, strength and maturity to the Charismatic Renewal worldwide.”

We look forward to hearing what Michelle is seeing of how the Holy Spirit has been at work over these five years. To book a place contact Pat Kennedy by email: pat.kennedy42@icloud.com or by tel: 0191 284 1690.

Plans are also now in place for the Emmanuel community to host Fr Chris Thomas again on Saturday 22 March 2025. For more information, please contact Pat Kennedy as above.

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

Email: charis@diocesehn.org.uk

Quick Link: CHARIS

Diocesan Church Music Association

Music makes the world of difference to our lives especially in our worship. In Mass our hearts and voices blend with the music of heaven. Vatican II recognised and re-emphasised this, encouraging us to realise that music is an integral part of the Mass.

Quick Link: DCMA

Marriage & Family Life

Marriage Preparation Days

2024:

Saturday 21 September: St Robert of Newminster, Morpeth NE61 1QF.
Saturday 9 November: St Mary’s, Bishop Auckland DL14 6PQ.

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

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.

Distance Learning Programmes in Catholic Theology

New single module option for October 2024

The Distance Learning programmes in Catholic Theology, led by Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS), are designed so that participants can work through material at their own pace, studying equally well in any time zone and in many different life situations, alongside work, ministry, family or caring obligations.

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.

One Hope Project Online Worship Academy

The One Hope Project Academy is a six-month online worship school for aspiring worship leaders, musicians and songwriters who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus and their practical gifting in order to serve in their context. The academy runs from 26 September 2024 to 20 March 2025, and it is designed to work alongside a job or study.

At the heart of the OHP Academy are the teaching sessions providing deeper formation on a range of topics in relation to worshipping God, and participants are given a wide range of support during their time in the academy.

The full cost is £895, and One Hope Project offer bursaries on a case-by-case basis as they would never want money to stop someone from being able to apply. Anyone wishing to apply from the Diocese would be able to apply to the Lay Training Fund for support with the costs.

For more information on the OHP Academy programme and applications, please visit: www.onehopeproject.co.uk/ohpacademy.

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/.

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 Course in Darlington

It is run in St Augustine’s Parish Centre as part of the Hogarth partnership from September – late November each year, on Wednesday evenings from 7.00 – 9.00pm.

Any questions about this, or if interested in being a part of the next course, please email: hogarthalphaonline@gmail.com for further information.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you.

Hogarth Alpha Team.

Are you thinking about running an Alpha group?

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

Maryvale @ Saint Mary’s

Following the transfer of three of the Theology and Philosophy programmes from Maryvale Institute, Archdiocese of Birmingham to St Mary’s University, Twickenham we are pleased to announce that applications for September 2024 are now open for the part time, distance learning BA (Hons.) Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition and MA Catholic Applied Theology.

BA Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition:
You will engage in an informed, systematic manner with the key areas of philosophical enquiry as these relate to the philosophical theological traditions of Christianity.

MA Catholic Applied Theology: Contribute to the field of theology
You will learn to apply theological principals, thinking and skills to practical situations in a range of contexts and have the research skills to contribute individually to the field of theology.

Read more about these courses and how to apply here.

Catechesis

The Catechism in a Year

Sign up for Ascension’s Catechism In A Year podcast with Fr Mike Schmitz, and you can:

  • Read the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days
  • Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter
  • See how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture
  • Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition
  • Encounter God’s plan of sheer goodness
  • Transform their relationship with the Church that Christ founded.

The Bible in a Year

Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins, guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes. Each 20 – 25 minute episode includes:

  • Two to three scripture readings
  • A reflection from Fr Mike Schmitz
  • A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word

Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholics follows a reading plan inspired by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline® learning system, a ground-breaking approach to understanding Salvation History developed by renowned Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins. Tune in and live your daily life through the lens of God’s word!

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.