Developing Discipleship

In his most recent pastoral letter Bishop Seamus delivered a challenging message accompanied by a set of leaflets and postcards.

This was the launch of a new direction for our Diocese focusing on our role as disciples in a mission orientated Church. It points to a larger document entitled Developing Discipleship.

The key message as we begin is that everyone in our community is significant and we all have a role to play.

The terms ‘logs, hogs and cogs’ come from a cooperative learning strategy known as Kagan which will be familiar to many of our young people in our schools. It attempts to simplify a complex dynamic that may be taking place within our communities. The postcard is an invitation for people to work together as ‘cogs’ enabling the whole body of Christ to be recognised and honoured in its distinctive parts.

Advent Resources 2017 - Be Prepared

Over the next couple of months, many of us will be busy getting ready for Christmas. We all want to be prepared and ready for the Festival. As Christians, there is another dimension to our 'being prepared'. Alongside the presents and the turkey and the food, we also work on being spiritually prepared for this major feast which brings us back to a manger in a small town 2,000 years ago. It is a very beautiful feast, celebrating the birth of a baby whose life and death was to change the world.

Our Advent resources offer a variety of ways to help us to 'be prepared'. There are meeting ideas for those who want to get together to pray and reflect, there are daily reflections, prayer stations and more. They are available here to download or, if you prefer, on a CD, which you can order from the Department for Spirituality. If you would like further ideas on how to use the resources, please do not hesitate to contact the Department.

Wishing you a blessed Advent.

The Event

The Event is a monthly youth prayer night for students in years 6 - 8 at St. Joseph's Catholic Academy in Hebburn. It includes praise and worship, games and icebreakers, small group challenges, inspiring speakers and prayer and reflection. It runs from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in the hall and then moves to the refectory for some food until 7:30pm. There is no cost and everyone is welcome. All young people, whether in a group or alone, must be accompanied by an adult.

See poster for full list of dates and more information.

For more information please email younga@stjosephs.uk.net

Partnership Area Launched

The new Partnership Area is one of the ways in which partnerships will be supported during their on-going development. Please help to improve it by contributing information and providing feedback.