Thought from Fr. Colm - 21/1/22
Sadly, Alan McNamee left us. His death was not a surprise as he had been struggling with his health for some time now. However, his...
Fr. Colm Hayden
Fr. Colm is from Dublin, Ireland. He was appointed our parish priest in 2005. In 2015 Bishop Seamus further appointed Fr. Colm as the Episcopal Vicar for the East Durham and Sunderland area.
Thoughts from Fr. Colm
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- Jan 14
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 14/01/22
The two main diocesan and church projects this year are The World Synod of the Laity and the Year of the Eucharist. These were planned...
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- Jan 7
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 7/01/22
We journey into the new year with some degree of optimism that Covid won’t destabilise as last year. Caution is still asked of us,...
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- Dec 17, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 17/12/21
This has been such a difficult year for many. Your support has been deeply appreciated. Even now our way forward is uncertain and the...
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- Dec 10, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 10/12/21
This Friday at St. Leonard’s saw the new entrance and a memorial to the late Austin Flynn. It was dedicated in thanksgiving to Austin’s...
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- Dec 3, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 3/12/21
New variants, new restrictions – our patience is being stretched. However, we might have to keep to the forefront of our minds the...
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- Nov 26, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 26/11/21
Welcome Brother Paul to the Parish. Capuchin Friar, Bro Paul arrived ahead of the rest of his Community on Thursday to take up residence...
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- Nov 12, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 12/11/21
A time to remember. I watched ‘Conversations’ with former soldiers of WW1 on BBC4 television. Extremely moving. The sense of guilt and...
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- Nov 5, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 5/11/21
The Climate Conference in Glasgow continues to present a sign of hope. Pope Francis in his Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 last...
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- Oct 29, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 29/10/21
Last Sunday’s Treasure Hunt at St. Godric’s was a great success. All age groups attended and it was particularly delightful to see young...
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- Oct 22, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 22/10/21
As you can gather, Covid cases continue to rise to a worrying degree nationwide. Whilst we long to get the parish back to normality, the...
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- Oct 15, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 15/10/21
The Year of the Eucharist is being launched this Sunday by Bishop Robert. Perhaps we might think of giving an extra effort to becoming...
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- Oct 8, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 8/10/21
This Sunday we will receive a Pastoral Letter from Bishop Robert on The Year of the Eucharist and the invitation from Pope Francis on the...
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- Oct 1, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 1/10/21
The parish retreat last weekend was a very worthwhile exercise for all who were present. Katie Flood led it with enthusiasm and a...
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- Sep 17, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 17/09/21
The regulations for church attendance change this weekend (please see inside this week's bulletin for details). A more relaxed approach...
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- Sep 10, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm 10/9/21
It’s nice to be back after a relaxing break at home. Covid dominates at home too, where restrictions are quite severe. Like here, a sense...
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- Aug 13, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 13/08/21
Sadly, we lost one of the pillars of the Diocese this week with the death of Fr Bill O’Gorman. Fr Bill, as he was affectionately known,...
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- Jul 23, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 23/07/21
Thanks for your co-operation in ensuring we maintain the safe space in our two church buildings. Again, thanks to our stewards. Our...
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- Jul 16, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 16/07/21
Well, we seem to be getting back to normal…but not quite yet! There are still concerns; the Durham area isn’t doing great in the Covid...
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- Jul 9, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 09/07/21
We welcomed Capuchin Brothers Paul and John to the parish this week. They stayed at the presbytery with me and visited both parish and...
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- Jul 2, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 02/07/21
The last of the First Communions is this weekend. Many thanks to our dedicated catechists for their tireless work preparing the children....
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- Jun 25, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 25/06/21
The governing body of the Federation of St. Thomas More and St. Joseph’s met for the last time on Thursday evening before the schools...
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- Jun 18, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 18/06/21
Returning to church has been a real blessing for all of us and slowly we take tentative steps towards getting back to some normality. For...
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- Jun 11, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm 13/06/21
G7 Summit, Euros 20, The signs are there that normality is on the horizon. And yet the news of rampant Variants causes us to pause. Are...
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- Jun 4, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm 04/06/21
Thank God we have been able to bask in the much deserved glorious sunshine this week. It has been a particular blessing to teachers and...
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- May 28, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 28/5/21
I joined the year 13’s on Thursday for the annual school leavers’ Mass at St. Leonard’s. It is very difficult to fully understand the...
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- May 21, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm -22/05/21
Perhaps one of the areas of greatest concern right now is the health of our young people. Sometimes overlooked in the broad scheme of...
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- Apr 30, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm -30/04/21
We pray for our First Communicants this weekend and next. Such extraordinary circumstances in which to be receiving the Eucharist for...
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- Apr 23, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm 23/04/21
I think I speak for many when I say we’re reaching the end of our tether regarding lockdown. Patience is being stretched. Erratic...
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- Apr 9, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 9/04/21
Now that Easter is over, it brings a sense of hope in so many areas of our lives, not least being the possibility of seeing beyond...
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- Mar 26, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 26th March 2021
This has been a year like no other. This will be a Holy Week like no other. If ever we were invited into an experience of the life, death...
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- Mar 12, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 12th March
Well done to our schools for welcoming back all students this week. This is a bigger challenge than many appreciate. Our prayers and...
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- Mar 5, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 5th March
Can I take this opportunity to remind you of the parish Lenten Talk by Professor Tom O’Loughlin on Tuesday, 16th March. None of us are...
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- Feb 26, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 26th February
Positive news since Monday’s announcement. Caution is properly expressed. Our numbers slowly return to church. Its too early for...
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- Feb 19, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 19th February
"What is done to be seen by others is poured into the wind …. what is human praise but the sound of the whistling winds.” An anonymous...
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- Feb 12, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 12th February
The return to daily Masses hasn’t been the easiest of decisions. However, with the continued rollout of vaccines, and the general...
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- Feb 7, 2021
- 1 min
7th February - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from...
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- Feb 5, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 5th February
With a spirit of optimism, we slowly edge towards opening our church doors again. Vaccines, and rates of infections give breathing space...
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- Jan 31, 2021
- 1 min
31st January - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from...
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- Jan 29, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 29th January
“To survive and flourish in such a world (of uncertainty), you will need a lot of mental flexibility and great reserves of emotional...
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- Jan 24, 2021
- 1 min
24th January - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from...
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- Jan 22, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 22nd January
Lockdown has been a great challenge for all of us. However, as I was out walking recently, I looked across at the imposing building that...
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- Jan 18, 2021
- 1 min
18th January - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for Monday of week 2 in Ordinary Time. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from...
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- Jan 15, 2021
- 2 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 15th January
I am not going to add to the constant bombardment of negative news you receive regularly, but the need to close our two churches is...
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- Jan 12, 2021
- 1 min
12th January - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the Feast of St Benedict. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from Fr....
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- Jan 9, 2021
- 1 min
Thought from Fr. Colm - 8th Jan 2021
Now that we are settling into a very unsettling new year, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your cards and gifts for...
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- Dec 25, 2020
- 1 min
Ellie
Sadly, Fr. Colm's dog Ellie died yesterday. She was a much-loved dog.
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- Nov 29, 2020
- 1 min
29th November - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from Fr....
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- Nov 25, 2020
- 1 min
25th November - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for Wednesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts...
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- Nov 22, 2020
- 1 min
22nd November - Reflection from Fr. Colm
Fr. Colm has recorded a reflection for the Feast of Christ the king. You can access it from the home page underneath "Thoughts from Fr....
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