Fr John Bagnall is in residency at St Patrick's Presbytery in Consett and can be contacted on 01207 502196
Latest Covid Guidance from Bishop Robert
Following a consultation meeting on 10th September Bishop Robert has issued some new COVID safety guidelines for churches in
the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese. These new guidelines take effect beginning on the weekend of 18th /19th September 2021.
What will stay the same for now:
1. People should continue to sanitise their hands on entering and leaving church buildings.
2. Everyone who is not medically exempt is expected to wear a face covering while inside a church building.
3. When we are gathered inside social distancing will be at least 1 metre distance from anyone else. This means that we will still have a safe cap on the number of people inside our churches. For now the maximum capacity for St. Patrick's, Consett, St. Mary's, Blackhill and Brooms is 70 people and 40 for St. Pius, Moorside. This will be reviewed soon and is likely to increase.
4. Given there is still a numbers cap, funerals, weddings and baptisms will be private services open to those invited by the families involved.
What will CHANGE from 18th /19th September:
1. The Track and Trace system is no longer operative so there is no longer any need for people to pre-book for Mass EXCEPT for those Masses where the numbers of people attending is likely to exceed the safe capacity of the church building. Therefore it will still be necessary to pre-book places for Sunday Masses, Saturday evening Vigil Masses and Holy Days ONLY. The booking line (07907 369233) will be available from 12 noon to 2pm every day for next week (20th - 25th September 2021). However, from Monday 27th September 2021 the booking line will be open just THREE days a week from 12 noon to 2pm on MONDAYS, THURSDAYS and FRIDAYS only.
2. Bishop Robert has mandated that Holy Communion should now return to its normal place in the sequence of the Mass (that is before the blessing and dismissal). Communion will still be given under one kind - the consecrated host.
3. It is no longer compulsory to have a one way system operating in each church building. Although it may be maintained if it is deemed safer to do so given the design of a particular building.
4. Congregational singing is now permitted, on the condition that those singing are wearing masks while they do so. This will be phased in gradually in our churches. Hymn books and Mass Cards may now be used.
5. Readers and Altar Servers are welcome to resume their normal ministry.
6. Since the evidence suggests that, in the vast majority of cases, COVID is transmitted person to person through the air and not very often from surfaces the Diocese has decided to relax the daily cleaning protocol slightly. This will be explained to our volunteer cleaners.
Once again a huge thank you to all of you for following the guidelines and bearing with us patiently in our efforts to keep everyone safe during these many months.
Father John and Father Tom.
Our Lady & St Joseph’s Brooms Leadgate
St Mary’s Blackhill
St Patrick’s Consett
(also live streamed on Facebook and Youtube Pontop Partnership Pages)
St Pius, Moorside
Please check weekly Newsletter for times of week day masses
Special Prayer to St Joseph
Pope Francis has declared that this year is dedicated to St Joseph. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Saint's proclamation as patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX on 8th December 1870. The year began 8 December 2020 and concludes 8 December 2021.
Glorious Saint Joseph
pattern of all who are devoted to toil,
obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance.
In order thereby to atone for my many sins;
to toil conscientiously,
putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations;
to labour with thankfulness and joy,
deeming it an honour to employ and to develop,
by my labour, the gifts that I have received from Almighty God;
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience,
without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties;
to work above all with a pure intention and
with detachment from self,
having always before my eyes the hour of death
and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent,
of talents unemployed, of good undone,
and of my empty pride in success,
which is so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus, all through Mary,
all in imitation of thee, O Patriarch Joseph!
This shall be my motto in life and in death.
Amen
COVID–19, A Prayer of Pope Francis
Here is a translation of the prayer Pope Francis recited by video on March 11 asking Mary to protect Italy and the world during the COVID-19 pandemic
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.
Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Pontop Partnership
Parishes served:
Our Blessed Lady & St Joseph, Brooms
St Patrick, Consett
Our Blessed Lady Immaculate, Blackhill
St Pius X, Moorside
Our Lady of the Rosary, Shotley Bridge
All Saints, Lanchester
St Teresa, Annfield Plain
St Joseph, Stanley
Sacred Heart, Byermoor
St Patrick, Dipton
Weekday Mass Times
Please see church newsletter or parish website
Baptism Preparation Format
Please speak to Fr John (01207 502196) or Fr Tom (01207 502320) regarding Baptism.
For further information please see Parish Website/Facebook Page
Partnership Prayer
Risen Christ,
from your abundant grace,
pour out afresh your Holy Spirit upon our Diocese.
As we build on the deep foundations of faith
laid by the countless saints of these Northern lands,
by Aidan, Cuthbert, Hilda and Bede
may our Partnerships continue the mission
of building your Kingdom on the earth:
to give living witness to your love,
and to your compassion and hope for our world.
We pray in trustful confidence
that your power working in us
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Through the same Christ our Lord,
Amen