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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.