26th October 2025 - Thought from Fr. Colm

The Parish Council met on Wednesday. It was a very productive meeting with shared ideas on the Parish moving forward building on our strengths. The many groups, the changing face(s) of those attending our Masses. The new challenges of church usage. The outreach to the wider community. Loneliness and isolation experienced by those living alone.

The schools links with parish via welcoming, music and Youth activities. Building on the university’s expansion and increasing numbers of university students attending our Masses. Much lively discussion to reflect…and act upon.   

St. Leonard’s Mass of welcome at St. Joseph’s was a lovely celebration tinged with sadness, as next years will no longer be in the parish but in the newly built, state of the art school.

Congratulations to Beth Otty on receiving the award from Durham Constabulary as the most outstanding investigator of the year. Beth, along with husband and fellow PC  are past pupils of St. Leonard’s. Beth and twin sister Alex, who recently received her doctorate in Educational Psychology, were both Mass servers at St. Joseph’s while attending St Joseph’s School, and both served my very first Mass in the Parish all those years ago. Well done girls. Your late Mum, Andrea would be very proud .

Despite unfair parking restrictions recently imposed in Durham City Centre on Sunday mornings, our attendances continue to improve at our 9.00am Mass. Young families continue to attend and what a witness that is. It’s no joke getting a brood of very young energetic children out so early on a Sunday morning for 9, or indeed 10.30am. Well done.

19th October News from our Parish Schools

Parish School pages on our website

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

https://stjosephsgilesgate.bwcet.com/

On Wednesday 22^nd October the children will be attending church at 10am for a Whole School Mass. All friends and families are welcome to attend.

On Friday 24th October we will be ending our Autumn half term with a ' Be the light' disco in school. It will start at 3.30pm- 5.30pm. The children can bring clothes to change into, and tickets will be available to buy from the office. 

Food and refreshments will be available to buy at the event.

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St Godric's Catholic Primary School

https://stgodricsdurham.bwcet.com/

We have our Y4 Mini Vinnie Commissioning  prayer service at 2.30pm on Monday 20^th  October. Any parishioners who would like to join us,  would be very welcome.

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St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

https://stthomasmorebelmont.bwcet.com/

St. Thomas More School are still seeking some volunteers, amongst our catechists or parishioners, to help run some sessions to Year 4, ahead of their First Holy Communion Preparation.  These sessions would be run every few weeks, after school, from 3:30pm until 4:30pm.

The idea behind them is to extend the children's learning and knowledge (from what they learn in the school curriculum) about the blessed Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Please contact St. Thomas More school office, for more information, or if you think you could assist.

We look forward to seeing our previous students, at the Year 7 St. Leonard's Welcome Mass. This will take place on Thursday 23^rd October at 6pm in St. Joseph's Church. We hope our children and families can join us at this, always lovely, celebration. 

Finally, the friends of St. Thomas More are hosting a candy floss and toffee apple making session and a Halloween Disco on Tuesday 21^st and Thursday 23^rd October. We're so lucky to have the wonderful support of these families, on the PTA, who can help organise and run these exciting activities. We always need the additional support and implore anyone, who can give up a little bit of time to support our school, to get in contact with our PTA chair or the school office. 

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St Leonard's Catholic Secondary School

https://stleonardsdurham.bwcet.com/

Year 7 Mass of Welcome: We will be celebrating all our Year 7 pupils at our annual Mass of Welcome, on Thursday 23^rd October. Mass will take place at 6pm at St. Joseph’s Church, Gilesgate. More information will be shared on our social media and via Arbor to our Year 7 families.

The Wednesday Club

Do you enjoy cheerful company, good conversation, a chance to catch-up with old friends and make new ones? The Wednesday Club is the group for you!  We meet in St. Joseph’s each week from 12 noon till 1.00 p.m.

Thanks to our generous parishioners, we can usually provide transport if this would be a problem and then you will be generously fed - food and gossip in a lovely, warm atmosphere while our hidden workers slave over the washing up, serving up and clearing up!  Not sure if this is for you? Come and try it- a warm welcome awaits! 

Contact Pat( Conway) - 07943016225/ 0191 3868216

or Kathleen ( Murray) 07759130837/ 0191 3867733