ST. JOHN’S ST. MARY’S ST. OSWALD’S HAYDON BRIDGE H E X H A M BELLINGHAM SUNDAY NEWSLETTER TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY 5 TH SEPTEMBER 2021 | SUNDAY CYCLE: B | WEEKDAYS: I LITURGY OF THE HOURS: WEEK 3 CLERGY PARISH OFFICE CONTACT Fr Jeffrey Dodds 01434 603119 stmaryshexham.org.uk Fr James Dunne Fr Luke Wilkinson Mon-Thurs. 9:00 - 13:00 [email protected] Rev. Deacon Martin Bell MASSES THIS WEEK Saturday (Vigil) 4th Sep 17:30 Public * Dominic Broadley Sunday 5th Sep Public * Haydon Bridge 09:00 The Intentions of the Batey Family

Sunday 5th Sep 10:30 Public * Live-Streamed Hexham The Intentions of the Cairns Family Sunday 5th Sep 11:00 Public * Bellingham Mick Lynch Monday 6th Sep 09:30 Public Live-Streamed Hexham Pat Peace Tuesday Public * Swinburne 7th Sep 09:30 No Mass Today Tuesday 7th Sep 10:00 Live-Streamed Hexham Requiem Mass for Jim Armstrong Wednesday 8th Sep 09:30 Public * Bellingham Charles Keen Wednesday 8th Sep Public Live-Streamed 09:30 Margaret Armstrong Hexham Thursday Public * Haltwhistle 9th Sep 09:30 Tom & Winnie Shaw Friday 10th Sep Public * Hexham 09:30 Gladys Coates Friday 10th Sep Public * Otterburn Noon Fr. Wilfred Coates

Saturday (Vigil) 11th Sep 17:30 Public * Hexham Malcolm Woodhall Sunday Public * Haydon Bridge 12th Sep 09:00 Mick Dowling Sunday 12th Sep 10:30 Public * Live-Streamed Hexham Monica Lenehan Snr Sunday Public * Bellingham 12th Sep 11:00 Lucas Adrian Stokes * Places at these Masses should be booked in advance Mass bookings open at 11:00 am each Tuesday. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. To book a place at one of these Masses, please visit www.heavenfieldpartnership.org.uk or www.stmaryshexham.org.uk Then click on the “Book a Mass” button which is in the centre of the homepage and follow the simple links to the relevant church. Alternatively, you can book a place at Mass by telephoning the Parish Office on 01434 603119. PLEASE KEEP CHECKING THE WEBSITE (www.stmaryshexham.org.uk) FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND ADDITIONS TO THIS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK’S SANCTUARY LAMP INTENTION is MASS AT MINSTERACRES for Fr Jeffrey Dodds Sunday Mass is celebrated at Minsteracres at 08:30 and at 10:30, whilst Daily Mass is celebrated at 08:30. REFLECTION Please book in advance. We might not witness such dramatic deeds as the deaf hearing, or the mute speaking, but we can witness God’s activity in the world on a daily basis. We can participate in MASS TODAY the activity of Jesus by bringing in the excluded, reaching out First Reading: Isaiah 35: 4-7 to those on the margins, and empathising with those who Responsorial Psalm: 145 (146): 7-10 have less. Each time we go outside of ourselves top deal with Response is: the needs of another person, we are acting as an ‘other My soul, give praise to the Lord. Christ’ or an alter Christus. By virtue of our Baptism that is Second Reading: James 2: 1-5 our vocation, to be another Christ on earth, ministering to Gospel Acclamation: those in need wherever and whenever we find them. Alleluia, alleluia! Figuratively, and even literally, we can help to give voice to Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: the voiceless, and assist those who cannot hear to hear. The you have the message of eternal life. voiceless might not be a mute, but instead the marginalised Alleluia! without access to the microphone of public debate. Those Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37 who cannot hear might not be the deaf, but those who are figuratively deaf to the injustice in our world. As another Christ, it is our duty as baptised Christians to enact God’s kingdom on earth. Today we are given a model for doing LIVE STREAMED MASSES that. Hen we do so, our behaviour might be thought of as There is a continuing cost to providing odd, but it is nevertheless our calling and our vocation. our live streamed Masses. If you would like to make a contribution to making possible this service for everyone, please let the Parish Office know ([email protected]).

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED

• AGNES CHANDLER, of Seaton Delaval (latterly of Hexham, who died on 16th August. Agnes’ Requiem Mass took place on 1st September. • RHODA SNOWBALL, of Hexham, who died on 21st August. Rhoda’s Funeral Service will take place at Saint Mary’s on Wednesday 8th September at 1:30pm. • JAMES ARMSTRONG (JIM), of Hexham, who died on 22nd August. Jim’s Requiem Mass will take place at Saint Mary’s on Tuesday 7th September at 10:00am. Please pray for the Repose of the Souls of Elaine, Audrey, Rhoda and Jim, as well as their immediate families and close friends.

Requiesce in Pace Please note - current regulations mean that there is a limit to the number of people allowed to attend each Requiem Mass or Funeral Service. These people will be invited by the respective families, which means that these Services are not currently open to the public. If you would like to attend a Requiem Mass or Funeral Service, please contact the relevant Funeral Director, or the family of the deceased. TO OUR NEW PARISH PRIEST

FR. JEFFREY DODDS

Fr Jeff writes… I was born in North Shields in October 1965 and grew up in the and Howdon areas. I have a sister called Tracy, who is four years younger than myself. I was blessed with a happy childhood, and after Sixth Form ‘A’ Levels had my life planned out, or at least that’s what I thought! I was keen to study biology at university and then teach, but God had other ideas and was asking me to consider becoming a priest. At aged eighteen to keep my parents happy, I filled out an application form to begin an apprenticeship as a Design Ships Draughtsman at Swan Hunter’s Shipyard in Wallsend. This was not what I had planned! Surprisingly, I got the job! Four years at Swan’s with wonderful colleagues allowed me to grow and develop as a person. Work was like being with my family each day with lots of support and challenges from men many years my senior.

Robson Green, the local actor from this part of the world, worked in the same drawing office just opposite my desk. Little did we know that we would follow similar but different paths later in life! In 1987, I began six years of training and formation at Ushaw College, Durham. My desire to become a priest deepened with study and placements in local parishes within Sunderland. I was ordained a priest on the 26th June 1993 in St Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Ambrose Griffiths. I returned to serve the people as an Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Church, Sunderland. The next three years saw me involved in various chaplaincy work at Sunderland University, the Oaklea Sisters of Mercy Convent and in the primary and secondary schools. The daily city centre 12.05pm Mass was often well attended and helped me to grown in confidence as I am naturally a shy person. Other appointments have been in parishes at Peterlee, Newcastle University Chaplaincy, Consett, Gateshead, and Stockton for the past five years. Twenty-eight years have passed as a priest and Bishop Robert has now appointed me to serve the people here in . I will do this as Parish Priest and as an Episcopal Vicar. I look forward to getting to know the area and understand the unique ministry that rural work brings. Over the months ahead with joy, we will share our time, our gifts and talents as we build the Kingdom of God. I am sure you will see me around with my little dog Jamie who is a miniature poodle. You will find we are most definitely a double act and always ready to say hello! Northumberland has been a land of many Saints over the centuries, and we constantly seek their friendship and heavenly prayers. May we become Saints together in this beautiful, but needy world we live in. May God continue to bring to fulfilment the good work he has begun in us. You are assured of my daily prayers as we begin a new chapter in the life of our parishes. MASS TIMES WITHIN OUR PARISHES A very big welcome to our new Parish Priest, Fr. Jeffrey Dodds and to our additional Assistant Priest, Fr. Luke Wilkinson who, together with Assistant Priest Fr. Jim Dunne and Permanent Deacon Rev. Martin Bell, make up the clergy team who will work collaboratively with everyone within our parishes. We are blessed to have such a fantastic team of clergy, all of whom will minister to our needs and help us along our journey in faith. Over the next 2-3 months, Fr. Jeff will review Mass provision in all of our churches, so keep up to date with any changes which may be made by continuing to read our Parishes Newsletter and/ or referring to our website (www.stmaryshexham.org.uk).

NEWS FROM SAINT WILFRID’S … Haltwhistle Churches Together are resuming the Asylum Seekers Collection. Please leave any items at the back of church on Thursdays so that Veronica Yarwood can collect them and then take them to the centre.

HOW YOU CAN HELP … You can make donations of food, such as tinned goods (meat, fish, tomatoes, baked beans, sweetcorn, chick peas, kidney beans, fruit), plain rice, sugar, tea bags, biscuits cooking oil, jam, cereals, small jars of coffee. All of these items make up the food bag which is given to each client once a week. You can also donate toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, hand wash, sanitary pads (no tampons), which can be swapped for items in the food bag. All products must be 'in date' and, ideally, have a long shelf life. Those with no recourse to public funds receive a monthly supermarket voucher of £30.

THE JOURNEY TO ROME Next Wednesday, 8th September we will begin a whole new course, weekly via zoom. The course will be called ‘The Journey to Rome’ and will be based on The Acts of The Apostles. It is rare that The Acts of the Apostles is studied - despite being fascinating in many different ways. This time of learning and sharing together is open to all parishioners from our churches, with each SAINTS DAYS AND FEAST DAYS THIS session being led by Chris Keating. WEEK If you are interested in joining this group, please • Wednesday 8th September - The Birthday contact the Parish Office (01434 603119 or of the Blessed Virgin Mary [email protected]) as soon as • Thursday 9th September - Saint Peter possible. Claver THIS WEEK’S HOMILY FROM FATHER JIM

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary time: Curing deafness – especially to others’ feelings. 1st Reading: Isaiah 35: 4-7: God’s great future for all – sick included; 2nd Reading: James 2: 1-5: Snobbery means unfair judgement! Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37: Jesus’ crude healing of the deaf-mute.

As a young boy (1950’s) attending St Aidan’s, Willington Quay (between Wallsend & North Shields), I remember “door-pence” – basically, cash to get into church (and after Mass, to get out of it!). In some places, better seats were railed-off, and to get in these, you had to pay twice as much as to enter the ‘poorer’ seats. (I’ve a feeling that St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle did this in the 19th century.) Why? Many parishes were burdened with huge debts – usually, historic ones for schools, the church itself, etc - often pre-dating World War I. Later, as a student. I often travelled in the late 1960’s from Durham to Newcastle, and British Rail one day got a social conscience! They renamed “2nd Class” as “Standard Class”. (Mind, the seats were still the same....) Behind this nostalgia lies an important question: are ALL distinctions between people “unchristian”, and therefore sinful? The issue is raised in St James’ Letter – this Sunday’s 2nd reading. He discusses the practice in some synagogues - which Christians still attended - where the poor were put on the floor, while the rich were shown the “best seats”. The St James reference is in the author’s usual knockabout style, which is hardly subtle. Clearly, treating the less well-dressed as crudely as he mentions is morally wrong, and that scarcely needs saying. But when it comes to organizing education, prioritizing health services, and so on, then (I suggest) things are less clear. I was involved in the ding-dong battles over the comprehensive reorganization of Newcastle RC schools in the 1970’s. It was a long time (45 years) ago, but the fears, disputes and acrimony still feel fresh to me! Once the diocese had decided that we had to change over, the first question was: two-tier (like Newcastle) or three-tier (like Northumberland)? The diocese opted for the latter, and the secondary modern schools were happy with this, as they would become the middle (9-13) schools. But a group of parents objected, and persuaded the diocese to opt for two- tier instead. The arguments were: (a) the lower baptismal numbers would make the 4-9 schools too small and (b) many parents would not support the middle schools with their proposed staffing. Once the 11-18 high schools were set up, it was huge challenge to maintain the systems for those already at secondary level & to establish a fresh educational style for the 11 year-olds just starting. It was obvious (to us) that we had to distinguish between children of different abilities and treat them separately (to the annoyance of some Newcastle politicians!) – because their needs were different. We felt then (and much of the education world later accepted) that it was wrong to have a “one size fits all” system, where no-one could develop at their own speed, and those who wanted to disrupt lessons could do so. What about health issues? While our NHS is based on the idea of equal availability for all, what should happen if someone refuses to co-operate with their doctors? Should very heavy people who refuse to lose weight have orthopaedic surgery? Should alcoholics who can’t (or won’t) give up drink have the chance of a second liver transplant? I don’t have the answer to these questions, but they do have a moral side to them. I think that this moral aspect is linked with our attitude and intention. The basic fact is that we can’t do everything for everybody. However, if we see people as individuals with needs, just as Jesus suggested in Matthew 25 (“Whatsoever you do for the least of my brethren, that you do unto me...”) then the decisions we need to make will be morally acceptable. By treating different types of people differently, but respectfully – based on their needs and our resources, not on our prejudices - then we should be morally in the clear. However, if we show contempt, and treat people with scorn (as in the 2nd reading), then we break the law of love. But we need patience & self-control not to over-react, when faced with hypochondriacs or ‘anti-vaxxers’ in the Covid pandemic; or when dealing with parents utterly uninterested in their children’s education, when those same children are spoiling others’ progress in class.. Where does this leave us? I often think of Jesus’ words “Judge not, and you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1). The problem is that often we can’t help ‘judging’! We warn young people about whom to trust or not to trust, for their own safety. (The diocese does this with us on safeguarding grounds, and ‘names names’.) A lot depends on motivation. If it’s just gossip, or passing nasty comments for their own sake, then it’s not acceptable. But sometimes, for others’ safety, or the general good, we must pass on information & opinions about people. When we are deciding on educational systems, health care, or people’s suitability for jobs, hard choices must sometimes be made. This is not un-charity or snobbery, but common-sense; our consciences must accept that. Fr Jim Dunne. MASS INTENTIONS Would you like to have Holy Mass celebrated for a particular person or Intention? If your answer is yes, then please forward the details to Saint Mary’s Parish Office ([email protected] or 01434 603119). If you would like this Mass to be celebrated on a particular date, then you should give us as much notice as possible. Dates are allocated on a first-come, first- served basis. Unless a particular date has been requested, Masses are celebrated in the order in which they are requested, so yours may not be celebrated immediately. It is traditional to make a monetary Offering when you request a Mass. The amount given is up to you, but should be according to your means. Details of how to make your Offering can be obtained from the Parish Office. Many thanks.

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK It is the Feast of Saint Peter Claver on Thursday 9th September Peter Claver (pictured left) was born in Catalonia in 1581. After entering the Jesuit Order at the age of 20, he began his ministry in Majorca. His long-held desire to work in the Americas was fulfilled in 1610 when he was sent to what is now known as Colombia. He was soon Ordained a Priest, and devoted the rest of his life to caring for the many slaves who were shipped there, looking after their spiritual and physical needs. He died in 1654. He was canonised in 1888 and soon afterwards was declared a patron of Catholic missions.

SUNDAY EVENING MASS AT SAINT MARY’S, HEXHAM As you know, this Mass has been suspended since the beginning of SANCTUARY LAMP the pandemic. Fr. Jeff Dodds has decided that this Mass will INTENTIONS resume at 18:00 on Sunday 3rd October. The Sanctuary lamps at Saint Mary’s burn constantly. Each week, the lamp is lit for a different Intention. If you would CONFESSIONS like your intentions to be remembered in this way, a monetary Offering should The times for Private Confession at Saint Mary’s, with one of accompany each Intention. The amount our priests, are advertised in the Parishes’ Newsletter each given is up to you, but should be week. whatever you can afford. Currently, Confessions are being heard in the Parish Centre. For more information about this novel Please wait in the Narthex area until the priest is free way to remember your loved ones and Times for Confession this week: - other Intentions, please contact the • Saturday - between 16:30 and 17:10 Parish Office Please Remember: - ([email protected] or • Social distancing should be observed at all times. 01434 603119). CLIMATE CHANGE PRAYER WALK At their July meeting, Hexham Abbey adopted the Church of England Environment Programme wording and signed the Abbey up to the “Time Is Now” petition which will be given to the Prime Minister at the beginning of COP26, to be held at Glasgow during November. They aim to support, encourage, and enable the Hexham Abbey congregation to pray, speak and act prophetically on environmental issues, which threaten the flourishing of the whole creation. As part of this they are organising their first Prayer Walk TODAY, Sunday 5th September at 2.30pm (meet at the Abbey Cloister), and invite all like-minded members of our churches to join them. You are also invited to sign the Time is Now petition: - https://thetimeisnow.uk/declaration If you would like to attend this Day of Reflection, please forward your contact details to the Parish Office as soon as possible (01434 603119 or [email protected])