The Parish Novena in preparation for Pentecost ends with a Holy Hour and Benediction this Sunday at 3.00pm. The Novena was a great success. Short but powerful in the stream of witnesses to the Holy Spirit in the lives of our presenters. Can I thank each one of you for such powerful testimonies. We received the sad news of Phil Sanderson’s death this week. Phil was a regular reader at our 11.00am Mass on Sundays. He was always a kind and generous presence at so many parish activities over the years. Life for Phil was never the same since his wife Diana passed away. They are now united again in a peace that Phil richly deserves. A word of thanks to Margaret Wallace, who is stepping down from her role of steering us through a safe return to normality after Covid. Margaret has given more than required to ensuring our personal safety with proper stewardship at the entrance to our Masses. Margaret will continue her role with the Bereavement Group. Thanks, Margaret, for your enormous commitment to our wellbeing, and also to your work on the parish council.
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- May 19, 2023
The Novena in preparation for Pentecost has so far, been a revelation. To see the gifts of the Spirit manifested in the lives of participants is truly enriching. The simplicity of the evenings also add to their enjoyment. The real strength has been the stories, the life journeys on pilgrimages we all take. Those moments of change, conversion, call it what you like, when the Spirit touches our lives and we are redirected. “Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some people seem to think… It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving… Where there is grafting, there will always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.” John Bunyan. On Sunday, 11th June, we will host a return of our International Meals. What is particularly good about this is that the request is coming from you – that is our growing International Community that is The Durham Martyrs’ Parish. Thank you for choosing to make this parish your home, and for bringing such gifts to us – you.
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- May 5, 2023
The Pentecost Novena is important. It’s the culmination of our journey through Lent and Easter. Much has happened since we last had a “parish” event whereby we could renew our Faith commitment in this way. The Acts of the Apostles clearly show that this commitment was pivotal to the growth of this small group of Christians. It seems something similar is prompting our journey post-Covid. More and more I’m hearing how everything has changed since the pandemic. We have all changed. Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to give more stability to our own uncertain world.
“The answer is that God does send thunderbolts – human ones. He sends in the poor in Spirit, the meek, the mourners, the peacemakers, the hungry-for-justice people. They are the way God wants to act in this world. They are more effective than any lightning flashes or actual thunderbolts. They will use their initiative; they will see where the real needs are and go to meet them. They will weep at the tombs of their friends. At the tombs of their enemies. Some of them will get hurt. Some may be killed. That is the story of Acts, all through. There will be problems, punishments, setbacks, shipwrecks, but God’s purpose will come through. These people, prayerful, humble, faithful, will be the answer, not to the question “Why?” but to the question “What?” What needs to be done here? Who is most at risk? How can we help? Who shall we send? God works in all things with and through those who love him.” N.T. Wright, God and the Pandemic: A Christian reflection on the Coronavirus and its Aftermath
One of the challenges facing us as a Parish Community is the reluctance/fear of some to renew their commitment to volunteer. We have been and are blessed with a strong group of volunteers who are re-joining the different ministries they held pre-pandemic. Thank you to all who have volunteered to be welcomers especially. This task is not as onerous as it might seem. Its most important function is that smiling face of welcome, especially to the stranger. Can I remind Readers/Lectors especially, that there will be a workshop soon to support you. We have improved the sound system at St. Joseph’s recently. If there is a difficulty in hearing, especially via the loop system in either church, do please let me know. Thanks.
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