Bulletin

Bulletin Board

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Sunday 1^st March 2026

All Saints, Thropton,

No weekday Word & Communion or Mass until Further Notice

Live Streaming of Masses

A number of parishes have set up a live stream of their Masses.

For more details of frequency and timings please go to the Diocesan website www.rcdhn.org.uk

Children’s Liturgy at Sunday Mass.

Children are welcome in the Parish room to listen to a child friendly Gospel, with theme related activities.

Two adults will instruct the children both will have a current DBS

Mass Times and Intentions

Mass at St Paul’s, Alnwick

Sun 1st March 10 am Mass

Tues 3rd March 6 pm Mass

Wed 4th March 10 am Mass

Fri 6th March 10 am Mass

Sat.7th March 10 am Mass. First Saturday

Sun 8th March 10 am Mass

Mass Intentions

Sun 1st March Elsie and Frank Doherty

Sun 8th March Janet Carr

Mass at Sacred Heart & St Cuthbert

Tues 3rd March 10:30 am Service of Word & Communion

Thurs 5th March 10.30am Mass

Sat 7th March 5 pm Vigil Mass

Ministers of the Word for Sunday 8th March (Third Sunday Lent)

Harold Hinchliffe; Mark Bridgeman; Henry Gormally

Ministers of the Eucharist for Sunday 8th March

Mary Donaghey; Sandra Armstrong; John Knight

Counters

2nd March Team 6 Liz Harrison; Judith

9th March Team 1 Vincent and Roisin Cowley

Tea & Coffee Helpers : 8th March Anne; Edith; John

Flower Arranger : No flowers in Lent

Every Sunday we serve refreshments after Mass at the back of church

Everyone is welcome

Stations of the Cross Devotions

We are now in the Season of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Instead of giving something up for Lent this year, why not do

something else like coming to Stations of the Cross.
Services will take place each Friday evening in St Paul's Church

starting at 7.00pm and lasting around 30 minutes.

This Friday we will be following Mary's Way of the Cross in which we view

the Crucifixion through Mary's eyes and hear the story told in her words.

You will be most welcome.

Loud Fence Event—19th March

For your diary, time to be confirmed.

Some may remember our Loud Fence Liturgy last May.

Please come along to help another parish prepare

for their event, later in the year.

Lenten Lunches

This week's lunch will be hosted by St.Paul's to be held at St James' U R C., Pottergate

this Wednesday, 4th March, from 12 noon to 1:15pm.

This will be followed by:-

11th March St. Michael's

18th March St. James' Shilbottle

25th March Alnwick Baptist Church

All welcome to come and enjoy a bowl of soup with tea and a bread bun, together in fellowship.

Suggested donation £3.50, at your discretion.

If you can help with St.Paul's lunch please come along to St James' from 10:30.

If you would like more information, please see June Etterley or John Knight."

Easter Fundraiser

On Easter Sunday we are having a chocolate tombola to raise funds.

So even if you have given up chocolate for Lent,

please still buy it and donate it to our fundraiser.

Many thanks please give donated chocolate to Mary Frater or Jean O’Hanlon

Gift Aid envelopes

Please collect your gift aid envelopes for the new tax year after mass.

A reminder that if you've changed address since signing up, please let me

know as we can't claim gift aid on your contributions.

Anyone interested in setting up a standing order or wishing to make

regular gift aid donations please contact Chris Mcelhone 07821698937

CALLED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

You are warmly welcome to to come and help plan the future direction of this parish

at the Discernment Meetings to be held after Mass on the 8th and the 15th March.

Absolutely everyone is welcome. Please come.

Honouring Our Departed Loved Ones

Welcome to Our Catholic Parish Community

Thank you for your interest in Parish Memories.

We're honoured to help you remember and celebrate the lives of your departed

loved ones through our community of faith across Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.

How Parish Memories Works

List Your Loved Ones Create a lasting memory by listing your departed

family members and their anniversaries.

Ensure they are remembered throughout the year in daily Masses across our parish network.

Connect with Your Community Visit and reflect on the memories of friends and neighbours.

Our platform fosters community remembrance and meaningful connection across parishes in the UK and Ireland

Support Your Local Parish Every contribution directly supports your

local parish and diocese, strengthening the spiritual community and enabling continued remembrance services.

100 plus club

Unfortunately due to changes in the diocesan policy,

we are suspending the 100 Club for the foreseeable future.

Mary Donaghey & Pam Slater

Diocesan Vacancy

Role: Parish Finance Officer

Salary Scale: £43,000 to £45,000

Location: St Vincent’s Diocesan Offices, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 7PY

Applicant Pack: From Annie Leaver, Head of HR

annie.leaver@diocesehn.org.uk

Closing Date: Wednesday 4th March 2026 (we reserve the right to close the post early)

Shortlisting: Wednesday 11th March 2026

Interviews scheduled: Tuesday 17th March 2026

The full advert can be viewed at https://diocesehn.org.uk/job-vacancies/

Eucharistic Ministers

Those who are unable to attend Mass due to health or frailty rely upon Eucharistic Ministers

to call and visit them in their homes so that they can receive Holy Communion.

Given the geographic size of this rural parish housebound parishioners are spread over a wide distance.

This limits the number of visits the ministers can make each week.

We really need more volunteers to help, training is available from the diocese and

current ministers are happy to mentor newcomers.

A DBS check will be required.

Please speak to Fr Stephen if you are interested or need more information

Gift Aid

Anyone interested in setting up a standing order or wishing to make

regular gift aid donations to the Church please contact the parish office

or Chris Mcelhone 07821698937. Many thanks

Volunteers Needed

Why not think about volunteering for one of the various support roles in the Parish.

You could become a Reader or a Eucharistic Minister, a Welcomer or a Counter,

a Flower Arranger or a member of the Tea and Coffee Team or become

a member of the Choir or help out with the Children’s liturgy Group.

There is always a need for more helpers in all these roles and you will be made most welcome.

Please note to help with children's liturgy a DBS check is required, but help will given with this.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 31^st July – 7^th August 2026

Celebrating 100 years since the First Diocesan Pilgrimage

Bookings are now open for the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

We travel on Friday 31^st July and return on Friday 7^th August.

2026 is the 100^th anniversary since the first Diocesan Pilgrimage took place led by Bishop Joseph Thorman.

If you would like to book, or for further information, please contact Tangney Tours,

our Tour Operator by going to their website

https://www.tangney-tours.com/tours-and-pilgrimages/diocese-hexham-newcastle/

or by calling 01732 886 666.

Pro-life update

2025 has been one of the most challenging and busiest years ever for the

pro-life movement in the UK, with the biggest battles on abortion and assisted suicide in over 50 years.

Thanks to the support of our parish, there has been a strong,

coordinated response in Parliament, in the media and among the wider public.

The 2025 Right To Life UK Year in Review sets out some of the

key areas in which significant progress has been made this year.

Please visit http://righttolife.org.uk/2025 to read the Year in Review

to find out more about what we have achieved together for life this year

Church Heating

Unfortunately, the boiler system for the Church has completely failed.

After many meetings with the diocese and contractors, we have been told that we will

most likely not have any heating in the Church until next year.

Please remember to wrap up well for Mass and feel free to bring blankets.

Thank you for bearing with us through this.

Gift Aid Donations

Gift Aid Donations. If you give regularly to St Paul's and are a current taxpayer

we can claim 25p for every £1 from the Government.

All you need to do is fill in a gift aid declaration form .

Any questions please let me know via email to St Paul's parish office .

Chris Mcelhone. stpauls.alnwick@diocesehn,org,uk

Thropton and Rothbury

Following a meeting with St Paul’s parishioners on 16th Sept it was agreed that in the event of

All Saints, Thropton and St Agnes’ Rothbury not reopening an amalgamation of these parishes

with Alnwick would be the most appropriate way forward.

Lectio Devina.

Each Wednesday after the 10am mass we meet for .a prayerful

reading of the following Sunday’s Gospel. Lectio Devina.

Tap and Go Display

We now have a tap and go display at the back of the church.

The options to give are easy and straight forward with the ability to Gift Aid.

Gift Aid asks for your Name House number & Post Code and email address to send you confirmation.

It’s also possible to do the same from any web browser via https://donate.mydona.com/st-pauls-alnwick

So if you wish to fund raise please take this link to your event and spread the news that St Paul loves you!

Safeguarding.

The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and

Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency( CSSA)

and the Diocese’s policies and procedures at all times.

Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Pam Slater 07976851470

and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted on 0191 2433305

or at safeguarding@diocesehn.org.uk.

The diocesan policy can be found on the noticeboard in the porch or online at

https://diocesehn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Safeguarding-Policy-Dec-2023.pdf

Prayers of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)

We need more people to write the Bidding Prayers for Sunday Mass.

At present, only four members of the congregation write the prayers.

Do you attend Sunday Mass regularly?

Do you possess a Sunday Missal?

Do you have an email address, a computer and a printer?

Would you be willing to help out from time to time?

Please speak to or email David Williams at davidlwilliams75@gmail.com.

Instructions and a template for the prayers will be provided.

Alnwick District Food Bank

At the moment we are very short of the following items :-

Cereals, coffee, boxes of washing powder, washing up liquid,

tinned fruit, pasta sauce, biscuits and dried dog food.

If you would like to donate there is a box in the porch at the back of church

or any donation points in the supermarkets.

Many thanks.

Eucharistic Ministers Needed

We are desperately low on volunteers to be Eucharistic ministers.

This involves distributing Eucharist and The Precious Blood during mass.

Optional is taking Eucharist to the housebound and this is also desperately needed.

Please contact Fr Stephen if you are willing for one or both.

New Kitchen Area

The faculties for the kitchen are expected to begin in January 2025. Fundraising has started for this with the option of Gift Aid.

This is the link to the Kitchen application

https://www.catholic-historic-churches.org.uk/applications/hexham-newcastle-1029

The toilets faculties are undergoing the due process of regulations and comments.

https://www.catholic-historic-churches.org.uk/applications/hexham-newcastle-1030

This is the link to the Toilets application

St Paul’s Facebook Page

We now have a facebook page for our parish.

Contact Jo on 07525 495694 or at oldmissionhall@icloud.com with any content or queries.

Flower Festival Photographs

Photographs of the last flower festival are on the parish website.

Go to www.stpaulschurchalnwick.co.uk then select Photo Gallery.

Northern Cross

The Northern Cross is now on sale at the back of church

Changes to the online DBS update service

This only involves those who hold a current DBS.

The Update Service is a free online subscription service that

allows you to keep your enhanced DBS certificates up to date.

Your Update Service Subscription requires an annual renewal.

When this is due you will receive an email from DBS which will help you to do this.

If you do not renew your subscription it will lapse and subsequently,

when your DBS is due for checking, a full application will need

to be completed including identity verification.

Please see Pam Slater after mass who has more information about

this and a guide sheet with the details you follow when

your annual subscription is due renewal.

Many Thanks.

PLEASE NOTE

All items for inclusion in the Parish newsletter to be sent by 9pm on Wednesday.

Items to be sent to newsletter.stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk

Thank You

Used Postage Stamps

Please continue to save your used stamps and leave them at the back of church.

Thank You.

missio:

We need a new Missio (Red Boxes) representative to take over responsibility.

Please contact Louis 07765 432392.

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW PARISH E-MAIL ADDRESSES.

For the Parish Priest/Enquiries :- stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk

Parish Newsletter Team :-newsletter.stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk

The Lindisfarne Room.

Until future notice, weekday Mass,

Adoration, & meetings will take place in The Lindisfarne Room.

Please use the side sacristy door for access.

Being Admitted to Hospital

If you, a friend or relative are admitted to hospital, a visit/Holy Communion/the

Sacraments can be arranged by the chaplaincy team.

You can contact the chaplaincy via the hospital switchboard on 03448118111 and ask to be put

through to the chaplaincy department.

If the call is urgent, please ask the nurse to contact the Roman Catholic Priest on call.

Rainbows Bereavement Support Great Britain (GB)

is a well-respected National Charity which supports Children and Young People who have experienced a significant

loss through death, relationship break[1]down or any other Adverse Childhood Experience.

Volunteers are needed to join the North East Team.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Ruth Higginbottom,

Rainbows North East Secretary, on 01670 518546 or rainbows.northeast@btconnect.com

Safeguarding Changes

There are some changes to safeguarding, which as a Parish we need to implement.

Those working with children and vulnerable adults will continue to need a DBS, renewed every 3 years.

DBS paperwork has changed slightly.

Every leader of a group will need a DBS and if possible a deputy with a DBS should be appointed.

Parishioners may take Holy communion to their immediate family if they are unable to attend church.

But other than this a Eucharistic Minister will require a DBS to undertake this ministry.

Every volunteer for every position in the Parish will need to fill in a volunteer registration form and

will require 2 #references before they start volunteering.

This does not affect existing volunteers. But takes immediate effect for any new volunteers.

Many thanks Pam Slater

Knit and Natter Group

The next meeting, will be Thursday 12^th March 2pm to 4pm.

See June Etterley for further details.

Donations

Donations, to parishes or featured projects, can now be made by clicking the ‘Donate’ tab

at the top of the Diocesan website homepage www.diocesehn.org.uk. From this Donations page, donors can

choose to donate to one of the featured Projects, or can scroll down to find the parish they’d like to donate to.

They can also search for their parish using the ‘Search for a location’ field at the top of the list of parishes.

When they find their chosen parish, they just need to click on the ‘Donate’ button and then choose

one of the suggested amounts or enter the amount they would like to donate. They can choose to make a single donation,

but can also set up a weekly or monthly donation if they’d like to, and can Gift Aid their donations simply

by turning on the ‘I would like to Gift Aid this donation’ button.

If you need any further information, please contact Michelle Alsop at

michelle.alsop@diocesehn.org.uk who will be able to help.

DIOCESAN PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Heavenly Father,

in Baptism you called us by name and made us members of your family, the Church.

Help all your people to know their vocation in life, and to respond by living a life of holiness.

For your greater glory and for the service of your people, raise up dedicated and generous men

who will serve as priests for the Church of Hexham and Newcastle.

Send your Spirit to guide and strengthen our communities, our seminarians

and all who are discerning their vocation.

Amen.

Please remember

St Paul’s Church, Alnwick in your will.

Thank You.

Coping with Cancer North East.

We are a charity that offers support to those affected by cancer, this includes counselling, coaching and complementary therapies.

Our services are free to anyone who is or has been affected by a cancer diagnosis, including family, friends, and carers.

We offer our services across the whole of the North East.

Please find our website below for further information on the help that we provide:

https://copingwithcancer.org.uk/

Alnwick District Food Bank

SHORT OF FOOD ?? HOW ??

Email: alnwickdistrictfoodbank@gmail.com or

www: alnwickdistrictfoodbank.co.uk

or tel: 07498 488797 (Tue or Thur only; 9.00—11.00)

· Confidentially, tell them your circumstances

· They will then arrange a delivery for you, if you qualify

That's all there is to it !!

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Gift Aid Appeal

The Gift Aid Donation Scheme is a government sponsored device whereby registered charities can receive

a ‘cashback’ of 25% of all the donations made by UK taxpayers. The diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

is registered to take advantage of this scheme and we benefit greatly from it.

If you are a UK taxpayer and are not already a member of the Gift Aid Donation Scheme we would be most grateful

if you would consider joining it. If you are interested, please speak to Roisin at the back of church

or give her a ring on 01665 798945.

BAPTISM

Enfant Baptism is the door to the other Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.

Baptism at St Paul's Alnwick is open to all babies who have at least one parent who is Roman Catholic themselves.

Please telephone Father Stephen at the Parish House for further information.