Community Organising in the North East: An ecumenical conversation.
Wednesday 5 May 2021 6.30 – 8.30pm.
Over the last five years Christians have been working alongside people of other faiths, and none, to challenge the injustices that shape our communities in the North East. During this online event we want to share some of the stories of how together we have empowered people to tackle low wages, mental health provisions, hate crime, free-school meal access and climate change. Along with the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, and the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Robert Byrne, we will be asking how community organising is part of our faith journeys.
Storytelling is at the heart of challenging injustice and we hope our stories will engage and inspire you.
Please sign up online here and login details will be sent out the week before the event.
Blessed John Ingram Petition
Blessed John Ingram (1565 – 1594) is a local reformation martyr who was executed on Gateshead High Street for ministering to the faithful of this region. During his ministry, he was assisted and sheltered by local aristocrats, but was eventually apprehended and convicted on a charge of high treason. We ask you to please pray for the canonisation of this dedicated and selfless martyr.
An on-line petition has been set up to gain support for his cause. For the petition and more information on Blessed John Ingram, please click here. You can also read more about him in our Northern Saints pages.
Anti–Racism Working Group established in Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
Bishop Robert Byrne CO has commissioned a working group to raise awareness of racism, from micro–racial aggression to the fatal consequences of major racism.
The group was established following the death of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter protest, when a parishioner approached the Diocese with a request that some action be taken. At the request of Bishop Robert, the parishioner was put into contact with Fr. Adrian Tuckwell, the Episcopal Vicar for Caritas, who contacted members of the Pastoral Forum and, with the blessing of the Diocese, created the Anti–Racism Working Group.
On 26 January the Diocese held a launch anti-racism webinar titled “Racism: A Challenge for our Diocese” which aimed to raise awareness of racism and its consequences. More than 60 people attended the event.
If you would like to read more about the background, the webinar and how you can get involved, please click here.
A community inspired by the vision of Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti during the pandemic
A blog by Fr. Chris Hughes has been published in The Tablet reflecting on Pope Francis vision, ‘Fratelli Tutti’ and the ongoing relationship between Tyne & Wear Citizens and the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle.
To read the article in full click here.
Bishop Robert Byrne CO has announced the phased reopening of churches for Mass and individual prayer
The following churches are open for Mass (M) and / or individual prayer (P). Please visit the links below to access more information.
Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Newcastle upon Tyne
(M & P) – Link
Alnwick, St. Paul's Church (M) – Link
Annitsford, St. John the Baptist (M) – 07963 515190
Ashington, St. Aidan (M & P) – Link
Barnard Castle, St. Mary (M) – Link
Berwick, St. Cuthbert (P) – 07979 735022 or email
Bishop Auckland, St. Mary (M & P) – Link
Bishop Auckland, St. Wilfrid (M) – Link
Blackhall, St. Joseph (M) – 07483 318764
Blackhill, Our Blessed Lady Immaculate (M & P) – Link
Blaydon, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Blyth, Our Lady and St. Wilfrid (M) – Link
Boldon, The Sacred Heart (M) – Link
Brooms, Our Lady & St. Joseph (M & P) – Link
Byermoor, The Sacred Heart (M) – Link
Cheeseburn Grange, St. Francis Xavier (M) – Link
Chester–le–Street, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Chopwell, Our Lady of Lourdes (M & P) – Link
Consett, St. Patrick (M & P) – Link
Consett, St. Pius X (M) – Link
Coundon, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Cowpen, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Coxhoe, Ss. Joseph, Patrick and Cuthbert (M) – Email
Crawcrook, St. Agnes (M & P) – Link
Crook, Our Lady Immaculate & St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Cullercoats, St. Mary (M) – Link
Darlington, St. Augustine (M) – Link
Darlington, St. Teresa (M) – 07734 274559
Darlington, St. Thomas Aquinas (M & P) – Link
Darlington, Ss. William and Frances de Sales (M) – Link
Darlington, The Holy Family (M) – Link
Dipton, St. Patrick (M) – Link
Durham, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric (M) – Link
Durham, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Durham, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Felling, St. Patrick (M) – Link
Ferryhill, All Saints (M) – Link
Gainford, St. Osmund (M) – Link
Gateshead, Immaculate Heart of Mary (M) – Link
Gateshead, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Gateshead, St. Wilfrid (M) – Link
Hartlepool, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Hebburn, St. Aloysius (M) – Link
Hebburn, St. James (M) – Link
Highfield, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Hutton Henry, Ss. Peter & Paul (M) – 07483 318764
Jarrow, St. Bede (M) – Link
Jarrow, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Jarrow, St. Mary (M) – Link
Jarrow, St. Matthew (M) – Link
Langley Moor, St. Patrick (M) – Link
Longhorsley, St. Thomas of Canterbury (M) – Link
Minsteracres, St. Elizabeth (M) – Link
Murton, St. Joseph (M) – Link
New Seaham, St. Cuthbert (M) – 0191 581 2221
Newcastle, English Martyrs (M & P) – Link
Newcastle, Our Lady & St. Vincent (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Andrew (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Charles’ Church (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Dominic's Church (M) – 0191 232 6953
Newcastle, St. John Vianney (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Lawrence (M) – Link
Newcastle, St. Mark (M) – 07803 504923
Newcastle, St. Robert (M & P) – Link
Newcastle, St. Teresa (M) – Link
Newcastle, The Holy Name (M) – Link
Newton Aycliffe, St. Mary (M) – Link
North Gosforth, Sacred Heart (M) – Link
North Shields, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
North Shields, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Peterlee, Our Lady of the Rosary (M) – 0191 586 2526
Ponteland, St. Matthew (M) – 07803 504923
Prudhoe, Our Lady & St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Ryhope, St. Patrick (M) – Link
Sacriston, St. Bede (M) – Link
Seahouses, St. Aidan (M & P) – Link
Sedgefield, St. John Fisher (M) – Email
Shildon, St. Thomas Apostle (M) – Link
Shotton, Our Lady of Lourdes (M) – Link
South Shields, St. Bede (M) – Link
South Shields, St. Gregory (M) – Link
South Shields, St. Oswald (M) – Link
South Shields, Ss. Peter and Paul (M) – Link
Stanley, St. Joseph (M & P) – Link
Stella, Ss. Mary and Thomas Aquinas (M) – Link
Stockton, English Martyrs, Ss. Peter & Paul (M) – Link
Stockton, St. Bede (M) – Link
Stockton, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Stockton, St. Joseph (M & P) – Link
Stockton, St. Mary (M) – Link
Stockton, St. Patrick (M) – Link
Sunderland, Ss. Cecilia and Patrick (M) - Link
Sunderland, St. Anne and Holy Family (M) – Link
Sunderland, St. Benet (M) – 0191 548 6839
Sunderland, St. Hilda (M) – 0191 548 6839
Sunderland, St. Joseph (M) – Link
Sunderland, St. Mary (M) – Link
Thornley, Sacred Heart & English Martyrs (M) – 07483 318764
Throckley, St. Cuthbert (M) – Link
Trimdon, St. William (M) – Email
Tynemouth, Our Lady and St. Oswin (M) – Link
Wallsend, Our Lady & St. Aidan (M) – Link
Wallsend, St. Bernadette (M) – Link
Whitley Bay, St. Edward (M) - Link
Whittingham, St. Mary Immaculate (M) – 01665 574240
Winlaton, St. Anne (M & P) – Link
Wooler, St. Ninian (M) – 01665 574240
Due to social distancing measures, there will be a limited capacity in each church. Should the maximum capacity of a church be met, a queueing system will be implemented outside of the Church.
Please note: live streaming may be in effect during Mass. If you do not wish to be at risk of being filmed, please inform your parish priest or designated person on visiting the church.
Important Notice:
Please click here to download our handbook for the reopening of churches.
Please click here to read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) guide.
Please click here for a Prayer Resources for those visiting our churches or those that remain at home.
New Vicariates
We continue to make adjustments to our website menus to incorporate the new Vicariates that have been established and to allow for new content to be added as they evolve. The Vicariate for Care of the Clergy and the Vicariate for Caritas are now complete.
Work is underway to migrate existing content to the new Vicariate for Faith & Mission area of the website. This Vicariate is an umbrella that brings together many different areas of Ministry. The following diagram has been put together as a quick guide to help you have oversight and navigate the key Vicariate areas within the website.
You can visit the new Vicariate for Faith & Mission by clicking here.
COVID–19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic – Church Response
‘Where the Hell is God?’
In these trying times, many people are led to ask the big questions of life. Where is God in the midst of Covid-19? Seeking God, questioning God are very natural responses to times of trial and grief and they are not new questions to the Catholic Church. In this Irish Jesuit's podcast, Fr. Richard Leonard shares his journey in asking ‘Where the Hell is God’ in the face of tragedy and he provides some solid advice on how to support others facing distress.
Watch this introduction by Fr. Sean Hall:
Do you need to speak to someone for support?
For those who are seeking a Priest with whom they can speak at this time, could you please contact the Parish Priest at your local Church. You can find your local Church telephone number by visiting our Church directory and selecting the link for your church. This link will display the Church contact details.
Dedicated counsellors and listeners are also available at the Cathedral Listening Service on 0191 232 6953 and on the Northumberland Listening Service on 07732 980740.
Vicariate for Caritas, Diocesan Pastoral Support and Outreach:
Fr. Adrian Tuckwell, Episcopal Vicar for Caritas provides a helpful summary of Pastoral Support available around the Diocese here (pdf – word).
Fr. Adrian Tuckwell (email: evcaritas@diocesehn.org.uk).
Vicariate for Faith & Mission:
Marriage & Family Life:
Pope Francis has announced that on 19 March 2021 the Church will celebrate five years of his Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia”, on the beauty and joy of love in the family. On the same day he will launch the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family” which will conclude on 26 June 2022, on the occasion of the X World Meeting of Families in Rome with the Holy Father (22 - 26 June 2022).
Pope Francis has decided to institute throughout the Church the celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be held beginning this year on the fourth Sunday in July (25 July 2021), near the liturgical memory of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus (26 July 2021).
A request from the Diocesan Church Music Association:
A call–out to all those who help in any way with liturgical music in their parish.
As the Coronavirus restrictions continue, particularly here in the North–East, the DCMA would love to know how parish musicians have been coping. Are you perhaps recording at home? Or maybe you are lucky enough to be back in church, and if so, what are you able to provide to enhance the Liturgy at this difficult time when there is still no congregational singing?
Please email us your comments.
We hope that this may lead to a potential Zoom meeting where we can share our ideas and support each other through this strangest of times.
Fr. Adrian Dixon's Reflection for Extraordinary Ministers:
Fr. Adrian Dixon has produced a short reflection for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion ahead of Corpus Christi; the usual time when ministers renew their commitment.
Fr. Sean Hall's Reflections on the Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter can be read here.
Pat Kennedy MPS has shared a Reflection (April, post Lent), which you can read here.
Healthy Couple Relationships and support when they are not
All relationships have their ups and downs and sometimes a positive solution is hard to find. In these extraordinary days in which we experience lives of enforced isolation such difficulties may become enhanced and overriding. MarriageCare, a charity with which this Diocese collaborates on preparing engaged couples for marriage, provides a counselling service for couples or individuals experiencing difficulties in their relationship which one or both find challenging and problematic. You can access support through the MarriageCare website in the ‘How we help’ section, ‘Relationship counselling’. Full contact details are provided for further enquiries and venues, and include FAQ’s.
Domestic Abuse, Family Support and Support for Children in Domestic Abuse
MarriageCare also provides many useful links under the ‘How we help’ section; Relationship support organisations; Debt and Finance; Family support organisations; Domestic abuse – here there are many links under the ‘domestic violence help resources’ including support for women, men and children.
Life After the Pandemic - Pope Francis
The Vatican Publishing House has released a free eBook, “Life After the Pandemic”, a collection of interventions by Pope Francis, with a preface by Cardinal Michael Czerny, to reflect on the vision of the world that is emerging after the pandemic and to which we are called to accompany. It is now available to read or download.
Strong in the Face of Tribulation, The Church in Communion: A Sure Support in Time of Trial
The Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See have produced a book intended to be a little help offered to all, so as to know how to discern and experience God’s closeness and tenderness in pain, in suffering, in solitude and in fear. Of course, faith does not eliminate pain; ecclesial communion does not eliminate anguish. Rather, it does illuminate reality and reveal that it is pervaded by the love and hope based not on our abilities, but on the One Who is faithful and never abandons us.
It is divided into three sections; prayers, rituals and supplications for difficult moments.
It is available now to read or download.
Diocesan Spiritual Support
These resources have been created to support you and your loved ones in this unprecedented time of the COVID–19 pandemic. We offer these prayers in solidarity and we want you know know that the Church community is praying with you and you are not alone.
'Resources for times of grieving and death' includes; Prayers for loved ones we cannot visit in hospital, Prayers for someone who has recently died and Prayers for a loved one whose funeral you cannot attend.
'Prayers for the sick and dying' contains a collection of Catholic prayers to comfort you and your loved ones during difficult times of sickness and death.
Mgr. Andrew Faley, Vicariate for Faith & Mission (email: evfaithandmission@diocesehn.org.uk).
Pope Francis – Prayer to Mary for Protection during the COVID–19 Pandemic.
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test –
and deliver us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Finance: Guidance for Completing your Annual Returns
The Finance Team have created new guidance for parishes about to complete their annual returns for 2021. This new guidance can be viewed or downloaded here.
Safeguarding: Delivering Change and Building Trust
For the latest news on the implementation of recommendations from the IICSA and Ian Elliott Review please click here.
The Vicariate for Caritas and The Road Centre
Caritas, in partnership with The Road Centre, is offering a number of resources to help adults, young people, and children cope with stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Resource for adults (pdf).
Resource for young people (pdf).
Resource for children (pdf).
Vicariate for Faith & Mission
The Vicariate for Faith & Mission are able to provide copies of our lockdown prayer resources to those without internet access. Please contact the Vicariate by ringing 07375 934713 or click on the poster for alternative contact details. Please pass this information onto those without internet access.
Mass by Phone Service
During these times when our churches are closed and masses are being streamed online, the Diocese of Middlesbrough have set up a system to allow people who do not have internet access to listen to Mass over the telephone.
If you would like to access, the telephone number to call is 01642 130120.
If you know anyone who may benefit from this service, you can download and print a poster with details.
Statements from Pope Francis, Bishop Robert Byrne and the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales condemn the death of George Floyd
In times of an international crisis such as this, the Bishop and the Diocese maintain communion with Pope Francis and the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to condemn the death of George Floyd. Read our statement in full (pdf – word).
Live Streaming of Masses
A number of parishes have set up a live stream of their Masses.
For more details of frequency and timings please click here.
Government Coronavirus Guidelines
Where do I get more information? Here are some helpful links:
Stay Home | Protect the NHS | Save Lives
Coronavirus (COVID–19) Guidelines
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales have issued some guidelines to enable Catholic churches and organisations to find the relevant information in one place. Visit their website for the latest guidance and advice.
The Liturgy Office of the Bishops' Conference has compiled a prayer resource for people affected by the Covid–19 virus. Read it here.
Coronavirus (COVID–19)
For further information and how we are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic please click here.
Click here to find out more about The God Who Speaks – The Year of the Word.
Diocesan Events:
See also full screen calendar
Diocesan Vision
Read the new Diocesan Vision.
Pastoral Letter
Pastoral Letter - 5th Sunday of Lent 2021.
Diocesan E-Newsletter
Read latest newsletter and subscribe
Noticeboard
Posters for events in the Diocese.
Posters for non-Diocesan events.
Northern Cross
The April edition of Northern Cross is out. Read Page 1.
Pilgrimages and Retreats
Last updated on 17/04/21