21st November News from our Parish Schools

Parish School pages on our website

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

https://stjosephsgilesgate.bwcet.com/

On Monday 24^th November, the Year 4 pupils from our Small Schools Cluster will attend a residential retreat at the Emmaus Youth Village. This is joyful, reflective and community building experience for children. It is a 3-day retreat with lots of exciting activities such as creative workshops, woodland walks and a fantastic Escape Room Challenge.  

The children will return on Wednesday 26^th November.

On Friday 28^th November  it will be a Non-uniform day and we will be grateful for any donations of cuddly toys for our upcoming Christmas Fayre

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St Godric's Catholic Primary School

https://stgodricsdurham.bwcet.com/

Sunday 30 November - We welcome our First Holy Communion children for Mass at St Godric's Church at 9am.

Monday 1 December - The First Holy Communion Catechist session We seek forgiveness will be in school on Monday 1 December at 3.15pm.

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St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

https://stthomasmorebelmont.bwcet.com/

At St. Thomas More, our year 4 children are looking forward to a 2-night stay residential at Emmaus Village next week.  Hosted by The Youth Ministry team, they will provide a warm, uplifting, and memorable experience for our year 4 pupils - helping them to explore and deepen their spirituality within a joyful Catholic environment. Through creative activities, reflective prayer, and engaging group sessions, the children will have the opportunity to nurture a sense of belonging and recognise God’s presence in their everyday lives. We have no doubt, that this exciting opportunity will help our children grow in confidence, compassion, and faith. 

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St Leonard's Catholic Secondary School

https://stleonardsdurham.bwcet.com/

A celebration of joy, jingles and harmony

This year our music ensembles will be performing on Tuesday 16th December at St. Joseph's Church in Gilesgate. 

Tickets will be free but are limited. If you would like to book tickets, please click on the link below. Performers will not require a ticket.

Https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-leonards-presents-sounds-of-christmas-tickets-1967528033312?aff=oddtdtcreator

Safety and Security of Church buildings

Buildings across the Durham Martyrs Parish are accessed by a number of parishioners on a daily basis, it is recognised that they will be key holders and as such have a responsibility in ensuring the buildings are secure upon exiting.

There have been occasions recently where doors have been left unlocked and this can create a security risk particularly the personal safety of Fr Colm. A review of entry and exit points will be undertaken to identify problem areas.

Parish Buildings committee.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 23rd November 2025

We celebrate our annual Memorial Sunday Mass of Remembrance this Sunday afternoon at 3.00pm in St. Joseph’s.

Families who have been bereaved during the past year will be lighting candles for their loved ones.  It is an opportunity to be amongst other parishioners who also suffered bereavement during the year.

Fr. Colm will light three larger candles – one for St. Joseph’s, one for St. Godric’s and one for St. Bede’s Chapel – which will be lit at every Mass until Christmas.  These represent deceased members of the wider parish and our families and friends,

All are welcome, and please do join us in the Jubilee Room afterwards for seasonal refreshments.

Next Saturday morning (29^th), we have our Parish Community Christmas Fayre from 10.30am-12.30pm.  Once again we have been overwhelmed at the generosity of parishioners who very kindly responded to our requests for items over the past few weeks.

Please do join us and see the amazing stalls manned by various external and parish groups, not forgetting Santa’s Grotto!