SUNDAY MASSES
-Saturdays Vigil 5.00 p.m.
-Sundays 10 a.m.
WEEKDAY MASSES
-Mondays 9:30 a.m.
-Tuesdays 7.30 p.m.
-Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.
-Thursdays 9:30 a.m. (followed by recitation of the Rosary for vocations to the Priesthood)
-Fridays 9:30 a.m.
HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION that occur on a weekday.
Vigil Mass of the Feast 6.30 p.m.
10 a.m. Mass on the Feast day itself.
Exposition of Blessed Sacrament (for private prayer and reflection) for 30 minutes before each weekday Mass.
Rosary and Benediction on Sundays 5.00 p.m in the months of May and October.
Stations of the Cross on Sundays in Lent at 5 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
-Saturday evenings 4.00 p.m. to 4.45 p.m., and immediately after the Vigil Mass.
-After weekday Masses
-From 7pm before Tuesday Evening Mass
-in addition to these regular times, you may arrange a convenient time for your Confession by making an appointment with Fr. John.
Furthermore, on a Thursday evening at 7.30 p.m., usually the week before Christmas and Easter, a Service of Reconciliation is held in the church with a choice of four priests for hearing Confessions. A growing number of people find this a very prayerful and meaningful way to celebrate this healing sacrament of God’s forgiveness.
INFANT BAPTISM: The first step for new parents seeking baptism for their child is to introduce themselves to Father John, the parish priest, after attending Mass on Sunday morning.
So that the parents may better understand the meaning of the rite of Baptism and the commitment they will undertake to become the first teachers of their child in the ways of the Christian faith, the parish provides two preparations sessions of about 1 hour, prior to setting a date for the baptism, utilizing an interesting and informative DVD.
Mrs Jackie Christer is our preparation provider, and she can either come to your home for both sessions with the DVDs, or meet you at the Presbytery. To make an appointment, please phone Jackie on tel. 01661 834295.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC?
We offer the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) which is a sacramental process for both baptized and non-baptized adults who desire to join the Catholic Church. Call Fr John for details of the next series of talks on the Faith : tel. 01661 832298. The talks on the Catholic Faith begin in September and continue until Pentecost in May, with adult baptism or reception into full communion with the Catholic Church taking place during the Easter Vigil Mass. Candidates for adult baptism or reception into full communion should be attending regularly Sunday Mass as part of the catechesis and preparation, since it is always by praying with the Church that we gradually grow in the faith of the Church. Those interested in becoming Catholics, therefore, could as a first step simply start participating in Sunday Mass (obviously without receiving Communion).
FIRST CONFESSION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION: preparing children for these two sacraments is a partnership between home, parish and parish school, in which children are expected to attend Sunday Mass and Children’s Liturgy regularly.
The children clearly need the support and encouragement of their parents, in order to come to appreciate God’s forgiveness and God’s love as revealed in his Son Jesus Christ.
Children who are not attending a Catholic school are expected to be attending Sunday Mass and the Children Liturgy of the Word regularly for at least three months before a bespoke catechetical preparation program is set up for them in the parish. Whilst the parish catechists will give up their free time to provide some sessions on Wednesday evenings, the parents will be expected to give some of the preparation by reading with their children the relevant sections of the Preparation Work Book for First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation.
THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Engaged couples are usually expected to be members of the parish community and they should be attending Sunday Mass regularly as an integral part of their preparation for the life commitment they are planning.
Couples should give at least 6 months notice to the priest, so that all the requirements of the church can be carried out and sufficient time is allowed for the pastoral preparation of the couple for their Wedding Day. The couple will be offered the opportunity to attend a “Marriage Care” Preparation Course, usually held one Sunday in February or March with three or four other couples. This course is very helpful in promoting better understanding and communication between the spouses.
ANOINTING OF THE SERIOUSLY ILL : Call the parish office: tel. 01661 832298, if there is someone in your family who is dangerously ill, or about to go into hospital because of a serious medical condition. It is always advisable to be anointed BEFORE going into hospital. If a member of your family goes into hospital for treatment or surgery, please make sure that you inform the Catholic chaplain of this and request a visit. The hospital authorities doe not automatically inform the chaplains of the faith denomination of patients because of the right of privacy. The Hexham hospital RC chaplain may be contacted on tel. 01434 603 119. The Newcastle hospitals RC chaplain may be contacted on tel. 0191 232 1892.
THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (SVP): Richard Bott leads this in our parish, and members visit in pairs those who are in need within the parish boundaries of Prudhoe, West Wylam, Ovingham, Ovington and Stocksfield. With so many people today living on their own, such a visit can alleviate loneliness and provide a point of contact with the parish community. If you would like the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society to visit you, please contact Richard Bott on 01661 836684 or,
if you prefer, email him at richard.bott-1 @tiscali.co.uk;
ST MATTHEW’S SOCIAL CENTRE (the Catholic Club), situated on South Road
The Social Centre may be hired for private and family functions. To book your party or celebration, please telephone 01661 832926, after 8.00 p.m.