23rd January 2026 News from our Parish Schools

Parish School pages on our website

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

https://stjosephsgilesgate.bwcet.com/

On Wednesday 28^th January, the children in Year 5 and 6 will be attending Mass in church at 10am.  All families and friends are welcome to attend. 

We would like to thank all of the families, friends and people in our local parish community who attended The Mini Vinnie Brew Day event. The children were excited to share their plans with everyone and we truly appreciate your presence and support.

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St Godric's Catholic Primary School

https://stgodricsdurham.bwcet.com/

Year 4 enjoyed their visit to Segedunum.

Next Friday, year 5 are at New College Durham to take part in a basketball festival.

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St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

https://stthomasmorebelmont.bwcet.com/

This week, our children preparing for their First Holy Communion enjoyed their first after-school club, led by John Hayton. We would like to thank John for his dedication and willingness to support our children – they absolutely loved their first session.

Mr Hunt warmly invites parishioners to join us for our Family Friday Celebration of the Word on Friday 30^th January at 2:45pm.

Finally, our lunchtime clubs continue to be a huge success. Children are choosing to spend their free time enjoying activities such as chess and debate, and the enthusiasm has been wonderful to see.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 25th January 2026

There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening, that despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person.

This is no fulfilment of our obligation, and it is certain that here too our attitude toward our brother only reflects our relationship to God.

It is little wonder that we are no longer capable of the greatest service of listening that God has committed to us, that of hearing our brother's confession, if we refuse to give ear to our brother on lesser subjects. Secular education today is aware that often a person can be helped merely by having someone who will listen to him seriously, and upon this insight it has constructed its own soul therapy, which has attracted great numbers of people, including Christians. But Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share.

We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

UPDATE‼️Safety Alert - St. Godric’s Church – Upcoming Maintenance Work

Safety Alert - St. Godric’s Church – Upcoming Maintenance Work

St Godric's church upcoming maintenance work safety alert

Scaffolders finished much earlier than expected at midday today so there should be no obstructions by either contractors or their vehicles for those attending mass tomorrow. For those using the car park, access along the path underneath the scaffolding is permissable though extra care should be taken. The roof work itself isn't due to start until two weeks today, Wednesday 4th February.

·      The scaffolding will remain in place until scheduled dismantling on Monday 9^th and Tuesday 10^th February. On those two days the footpath will again be closed until the work is completed.

·    Before Monday 9^th February access along the path underneath scaffolding boards will be permitted even when investigative work is being carried out on the roof above, but please take extra care if using the path during that period for services.

·      Car park users on any of the four days when the path is closed can access the church either by the rear door if keyholders or via the cobbled Back Tenter Terrace and the main door, but bear in mind that contractor vehicles may also be in the car park on those days and throughout the whole period of works so space may be limited. 

·      Access to the church via the main access path and the main door will be available as normal throughout the whole period, though it may be necessary at times during the working week for a contractor vehicle to be parked on the approach path. 

·        It is anticipated that the majority of attendees, particularly on the three Sundays, should not be inconvenienced but all are advised to take extra care.