PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue Number 7 Date: March 2019

Website: www.heavenfieldpartnership.org.uk Partnership Dean: Father Christopher Warren Partnership Chair: Mr. Joe Ronan Telephone: 01434 603119 Email: [email protected]

PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue number 7 Date: March 2019

CONTACT DETAILS: WELCOME TO OUR NEW BISHOP th ST. ELIZABETH’S, On Monday 4 February, The Holy See MINSTERACRES announced that Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jeroen Hoogland (Rector) Bishop Robert Byrne as Bishop of the Rev. David Collins Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Bishop Telephone: Byrne succeeds The Right Reverend 01434 673248 Seàmus Cunningham, who has been Bishop email: of the Diocese since 2009. Bishop Byrne [email protected] will be the fourteenth Bishop of Hexham Website: and Newcastle. www.minsteracres.org/st-elizabeth Bishop Byrne was born in Manchester on 22 September 1956. He was ordained priest in 1985 and Auxiliary Bishop of the ST. MARY’S, HEXHAM Archdiocese of Birmingham on 13 May, Fr. Christopher Warren 2014. Fr. Peter Stoddart (Assistant Priest) Speaking of his appointment, Bishop Rev. Martin Bell Byrne said: “I am deeply humbled by the Parish Secretary: trust Pope Francis has placed in me with Mrs. Judith Chaffey this appointment as Bishop of Hexham & Telephone: Newcastle. I would like to thank the people and priests of the Archdiocese of 01434 603119 Birmingham where I have served for the past five years and, in particular, email: Archbishop Bernard for his constant kindness and support. I look forward to [email protected] making my home in the North East, with its rich Christian heritage, and also Website: getting to know and serve the people, deacons, religious and priests of the www.stmaryshexham.org.uk Diocese. I ask all of you to keep me in your prayers as I pray for you.” ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY, Bishop Cunningham said: “I am delighted to welcome Bishop Byrne as my HAYDON BRIDGE & ST. successor at a time of great challenge and hope in this Diocese. The Lord Jesus is WILFRID’S, HALTWHISTLE leading us along a road of rich discernment for the future of the Church and its Telephone: mission. I know that the priests, deacons, religious and people of the Diocese will 01434 603119 warmly welcome him and assure him of our prayers. May the Lord bless his email: ministry among us. We commend him to Mary the Mother of God, St Cuthbert [email protected] and all the saints of our Diocese.” Websites: The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, said: “I am www.stjohnshaydonbridge.com delighted for the Church in Northumbria and Durham and for Bishop Robert that www.rcchurchhaltwhistle.co.uk he has been appointed Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle. Bishop Robert has spent ST. OSWALD’S, BELLINGHAM his entire priestly ministry in the Archdiocese as an Oratorian in Birmingham and Telephone: Oxford and we shall miss him very much. Bishop Robert will carry his love and 01434 603119 knowledge of Blessed John Henry Newman into his new ministry. Bishop Robert email: renews the bond of affection and faith between our two dioceses which the late [email protected] Bishop Kevin Dunne had done so much to encourage. May St Chad and St Website: Cuthbert inspire Bishop Robert as he prepares for his new ministry.” www.stoswaldsbellingham.org.uk Bishop Robert Byrne’s Episcopal Installation will be celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle, on Monday 25th March. Entry to the Cathedral for this Mass will be by invitation and ticket only . The Heavenfield Partnership is a united group of the Roman Catholic parishes in Bellingham, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Minsteracres and Otterburn, supporting each other in the creation of a vibrant and evangelising community. Page 1 of 4 NEWS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT GROUP: (Meeting held on 20th February 2019. A set of the minutes of this meeting is available from Saint Mary’s Parish Office. A summary of each forthcoming meeting will be provided in the Partnership Bulletin issued after each individual meeting.) At our February meeting the PDG heard from Fr. Christopher that our new Bishop, who is to be installed on 25th March, will be visiting the Heavenfield Partnership on 25th June 2019. For the last couple of years we have held a series of Partnership Masses during Lent. This year, we have decided to have the Partnership Masses in the season after Easter, and to use them as a period of reflection and, preparation for our new mission together, and a celebration of our partnership. This will culminate in the final Partnership Mass as one of welcome to Bishop Byrne. (The Mass will be on 25th June at 7pm at Saint Mary’s, Hexham). During Lent, there will be a full programme of events across all of the parishes, and details of these are published in the lilac-coloured leaflets which are available in our churches. Please do join in with these events – make a point of trying out something different this year. Each parish will be offering different things, so do feel encouraged to travel to our companion parishes for the different events. The focus of our meeting was a discussion on Outreach in the Partnership – how we currently reach out to those around us not currently involved in our churches, and how we might extend what we do. This might include lapsed Catholics, or those of no faith with whom we come into contact in our everyday lives. We need to feel able to engage in conversation with those around us, without being defensive on the one hand, or ‘pushy’ on the other. Relaxed conversation will open doors to opportunity for us to listen, and also to be heard. Often that conversation will be wordless – we may be demonstrating our faith by living it out in acts of charity or giving, and in that way attracting people to the Gospel. We will create opportunities for people to develop their faith, and confidence in their faith. We will also implement ways in which we increase our contact with those around us. This can be in small ways – welcoming those who visit us for weddings, baptisms, or funerals, or in larger projects. To make this happen, we need people to become involved in the areas of Formation (learning about our faith), Outreach (starting the conversations with people) and Prayer (which supports us all). We are setting up small groups now to look at each of these areas. Please do get involved, we need lots of different ideas and contributions of all sorts. Just let the office at St Mary’s, or your local parish PDG member know and we’ll include you in those conversations. Lent offers us all a time to reflect, reform, and to reinvigorate ourselves and our parishes for the coming year. Let us take that opportunity together in community as we approach Easter and the Resurrection. Joe Ronan Chair, Heavenfield Partnership Development Group

FORTHCOMING EVENTS WITHIN THE PARTNERSHIP: The Partnership is setting up three separate groups to develop our work in the areas of Formation, Outreach and Prayer & Spirituality. Anyone who would like to help with any of these groups is invited to forward their name and contact details to Saint Mary's Parish office by Wednesday 13th March. Saturday 23rd March – the Galilee Talks continue in Saint Mary’s Parish Centre. This talk, entitled “Religious Life in the 21st Century” will be given by Sam Burke. Refreshments will be served from 10:30am, with the talk itself starting at 11:00am. Do please try to come along to what promises to be a very thought provoking event. Saturday 30th March – Partnership Baptism Preparation. Would you like to have your child Baptised? The next Baptism Preparation session for the Heavenfield Partnership will be held at 11:00am on Saturday 30th March in the Parish Centre at Saint Mary’s. The event will last about 90 minutes and is intended to emphasise the importance of the Sacrament, as well as discussing what Baptism means and the responsibilities of parents and Godparents. Ideally, the parents of all children to be Baptised within the Heavenfield Partnership should attend one of these events before the Baptism takes place. If you would like further information, or would like to book a place for the session, please contact Saint Mary’s Parish Office (01434 603119 or [email protected] )

PRAYER CORNER … Prayer keeps us in touch with each other and with God. In our Bidding Prayers each week we pray for the needs of our world but there are often times when we wish to pray for particular people in our parish or partnership. PLEASE PRAY FOR … Bishop Robert Byrne as he embarks upon his ministry as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. Fr Cornelius Horan, a priest of our Diocese from 1953 until 1994. Fr. Cornelius died at home in Ireland on 24th February. His Requiem Mass was held at Brosna, Co Kerry on 27th February. A Mass will be celebrated for Fr Cornelius at St Mary’s Cathedral at 12.05 pm on Tuesday 12th March.

A HUGE THANK YOU … From Fr. Leo Pyle to everyone who supported his Mass in Thanksgiving and informal reception on 16th February. Fr. Pyle would particularly like to thank everyone who gave so generously to his retirement gift. The Heavenfield Partnership is a united group of the Roman Catholic parishes in Bellingham, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Minsteracres and Otterburn, supporting each other in the creation of a vibrant and evangelising community. Page 2 of 4

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES: 26th July to 2nd August – Could you spare one week of your holidays to come and work as a volunteer on our annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes? We take a team of doctors and nurses, who, together with our young and adult helpers make sure that our sick and assisted pilgrims have a memorable time away from home in Lourdes. If you are interested in helping us or would like more information, please contact: Elaine Scannell [email protected] or Fr Peter Stott (01670 513410 or email [email protected] ) Please make contact before 30th April to ensure Registration and DBS checks are complete in time for pilgrimage.

AROUND OUR PARISHES: Bellingham and Otterburn – various items of maintenance have been carried out recently, including the addition of handrails to Saint Peter's presbytery, the main entrance to Saint Oswald's and the boiler room at Saint Oswald's, and an upgrade to St. Oswald’s fire alarm and also to the septic tank. There is a full programme of events planned for Lent at both churches. On Palm Sunday a group of Pilgrims stay at the church hall before starting the St Oswald pilgrim walk. Saint Oswald’s History Society has planned a full programme of events for 2019, including, on 20th May: Veronica Whitty on "Sisters of Mercy", and on 17th June: Fr Hoogland on "Minsteracres". At the moment we do not have an organist available to play at our Masses. Also, there is a shortage of Lay Leaders, so any willing volunteers should, in the first instance, approach Fr Christopher or Fr Peter. Haltwhistle – on the Feast of the Holy Family, Fr Pyle celebrated his final Mass at Saint Wilfrid’s, after which members of St. John’s and St. Wilfrid’s Churches attended a farewell buffet lunch, during which Fr. Pyle made sure that he spoke to everyone. Thursday morning Mass each week is proving to be popular, with attendances having quadrupled. A dog-racing social event was held, and proved to be very popular and well attended. A new carpet has been fitted in church. Plans are well underway for several Churches Together events to be held during Lent. Haydon Bridge – Christmas Eve saw ‘No room in the Church’ at St John’s as we played host to the village crib service, narrated and performed by the children. As well as a wonderful celebration of the Christmas story the village came together to say thankyou to Fr. Pyle for his pastoral care and friendship over the years. Two weeks into the New Year we were met with our first challenge. A tree bordering our drive was deemed dangerous and access to St John’s was closed. Thankfully St Cuthbert’s Anglican church was made available to us so Mass on the Sunday went ahead as usual. In support of Fairtrade we held a ‘Chocolate Taste In’ coffee morning and we continue to support the food bank & Asylum seekers. The first draft of the Property and Community Review audit has been submitted. Currently, plans for the Presbytery and decoration of the church can best be described as “work in progress”. Hexham – all of the Christmas Masses and celebrations were very well attended. During January and concluding in February, Bishop Robert Barron’s ‘Eucharist’ course was facilitated by Deborah Winthrop and Clare Ronan. This was a fascinating, well received series of events and proved to be an excellent means of deepening our faith. Unfortunately, after only three weeks, the Youth Alpha Course had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. A Mass in Thanksgiving for the Priestly Ministry of Fr Leo Pyle, followed by an infoirmal reception was held at St. Mary’s on 16th February. Fr. Pyle was pleased to see each of the Partner Parishes represented at this event. Two very enjoyable Galilee Talks have been held. Sr. Margaret Atkins talked about ‘Peace’, whilst Fr. Bill Agley told us about ‘Life in the Vatican’, where he worked until 2017. A Book Group will be held on Tuesday evenings during Lent, and will study “Surrender to love” by David Benner. It is not too late to book a place for this. Minsteracres – the Christmas Vigil Mass was held on 24th Dec at 6.00pm and was very well attended. The Parish Council met on 9th Jan and 29th Jan. The Justice & Peace Group have planned a programme of coffee mornings, including a talk on Diocesan Refugee Project on Fri 15th Mar, and talk on experiences by US-based third world film-maker on 4th April. A series of Faith Development evenings based on “The Shack” by W. Paul Young will take place on Tuesday evenings during Lent. A Partnership Retreat has been pencilled in for Friday 16th and Saturday 17th November.

YOUTH NEWS … Sunday 17th March – there will be a Heavenfield Partnership Youth Ministry Information Evening in Saint Mary's Parish Centre from 6:45-8:15pm. This is for anyone interested in finding out more about what is going on and coming up in our Partnership's youth ministry work, and will include practical discussions planning for the future. In particular, the evening will be used as a chance to discuss ways of volunteering, what we need, and also to ask for at least one link person for our Partnership's youth ministry in each parish. Please do come! Refreshments will be provided. For more details or to ask any questions, please contact Thomas, our Partnership Youth Ministry Co-ordinator at [email protected] or on 07483 347646.

The Heavenfield Partnership is a united group of the Roman Catholic parishes in Bellingham, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Minsteracres and Otterburn, supporting each other in the creation of a vibrant and evangelising community. Page 3 of 4 COMMUNICATIONS: Each of the parishes in our Partnership has a representative on the Partnership Communications Group (PCG) which meets regularly and is responsible for the communications media within the Partnership including the Newsletter, website, and social media. If you have any issues/comments regarding communications within our partnership feel free to contact a PCG member. ST. ELIZABETH’S, MINSTERACRES: Mr. Frank Balloch ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY, HAYDON BRIDGE: Mrs. Pat McMullen ST. MARY’S, HEXHAM: Mr. Henry Winthrop ST. OSWALD’S, BELLINGHAM: Mr. Steve Hunneysett ST. PETER’S, OTTERBURN: Mr. Peter Softley ST. WILFRID’S, HALTWHISTLE Mrs. Veronica Yarwood

DID YOU KNOW THAT … The church at Minsteracres is dedicated to St Elizabeth of Hungary. When the Silvertop family originally built the big house at Minsteracres, the congregation would gather for worship in a small chapel upstairs in the house. From 1787 the present library served as the public chapel until a new chapel was built in 1834 (designed by John Dobson). In 1854 this building was replaced by the present church which was duly dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth was the daughter of the King of Hungary and wife of the Landgrave of Thuringia. She was committed to serving the poor, and upon her husband's death she became a Franciscan tertiary and founded a hospital in which she herself laboured. Narrative images often picture her serving the poor while dressed in a Franciscan habit. In portraits she often has a basket of bread or flowers. The flowers refer to a story that hagiographers of the later 13th century commandeered from the life of St. Casilda, whose Saracen father caught her taking a basket of food to Christian prisoners. When he looked into the basket, he found only roses. (This story is also ascribed to St Elizabeth of Portugal!) Being of royal birth, the saint is sometimes pictured with a crown, which is evident from the stained glass window on the east side of Minsteracres church. St Elizabeth is portrayed on the right hand image, revealing a bunch of flowers. Her feast day is November 17th.

SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS AND SERVICE S WITHIN THE HEAVENFIELD PARTNERSHIP

St. Elizabeth’s, Sunday 8:30am Holy Mass Minsteracres 10:30am Holy Mass Confessions By Appointment St. John’s, Sunday 9:15am Holy Mass Haydon Bridge Confessions Before Sunday Mass St. Mary’s, Sunday 6:00pm (Vigil) Holy Mass Hexham 10:00am Holy Mass 5:00pm Rosary & Benediction 6:00pm Holy Mass Confessions 5:15pm – 5:45pm Saturday St. Oswald’s, Sunday 11:00am Holy Mass Bellingham Confessions After Sunday Mass

N O T E – the timings above are correct as of 1st January 2019, but may be liable to change. Please consult individual Parish Newsletters and/or websites for the most up to date information about service times.

ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTERS SHOULD BE EMAILED TO ST. MARY’S PARISH OFFICE ([email protected])