Macmillan Coffee Morning – Wednesday 23rd September 10.45am
Coffee mornings are normally held at St Joseph’s Church each Wednesday after morning Mass, donations are totally optional and any funds raised are allocated local charities. All parishioners and the wider local community are always welcome to come along and enjoy a good chat and refreshments.
Wednesday 23rd September will be dedicated to Macmillan Cancer Support Please come along and join us to support this if you can.
St Joseph’s - Hospitality After 10.30 Sunday Mass - Help Needed!!
We would be grateful for some additional volunteers to provide tea and coffee after 10.30 Mass on Sundays. Currently there are only a couple of regular volunteers and with holiday commitments in the near future we will need the following Sundays covered, 20, 27th September, 4th and 11th October.
All provisions of tea, coffee, milk and biscuits are available in kitchen at the back of church and all that is needed is to switch on the hot water boiler and you are ready to go.
If you can help either speak to Graham after 10.30 Mass or put your name down on the rota on the noticeboard at the back of church.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Last Saturday was a clear September morning. An autumnal deep blue sky with a smattering of white cloud. Northumberland looked magnificent, as the parish pilgrimage departed from Gilesgate to Holy Island the day after the Feast of St. Cuthbert. For some it was their first time. We had a packed coach with a one or two seats free.
After a pleasant journey of prayer, laughter and a very relevant quiz presented by Barbara and Maria, we arrived soon after the tide had departed. Ahead of the brave lay the slippery trek across the causeway, followed by the ritual, almost religious, feet drying. This prepared us for a short coffee break, or picnic for the hungry. We were all ages from a baby a few months old carried by Brazilian mother, Larissa, to the evergreen Dorothy Wilson…all bare-footing through the surprisingly warm Lindesfarne water.
The sky was stunningly clear. In the background we heard the familiar welcome sound of the seal colony. That haunting sound echoing the plaintiff chants of the ancient monks and their lonely but distinct calls Gods glory in this sacred space-an estimated 6000 seals make their home here.
Our pilgrims Mass in St. Aiden’s Chapel was prepared for us by Sister Tessa, who has served many celebrations. Our Eucharistic celebration was followed an hour later by the parish of St Cuthbert, North Shields, led by Fr. Chris Hughes. Always a pleasure to catch up with Chris.
Angela Boyle, former head of St Joseph’s, was one of Fr Chris’s pilgrims and always speaks glowingly of her connection with our parish and school.
It is hard to fathom how Durham City sprang from the removal of the earthly remains of St. Cuthbert from this small insular location. It took over 100 years to do journeying from this small island to settle on the peninsula that is now Durham Cathedral.
We left Holy Island with sadness but well fortified physically, and spiritually, and anticipating our traditional Fish’n Chips at Seahouses.
Sadly, our chief organiser, Barbara Reilly-O’Donnell fell victim of the slippery slopes of the wet Causeway and now nurses a very bruised ankle. Thanks again Barbara for your organising a great day-despite your mishap. And thank you all for journeying by coach and by car. These are very important events of coming together at both parish, and partnership levels.
