Welcome to our parish website. We hope you find the contents here helpful whether you are a parishioner or a visitor. If you have an enquiry please either email the Parish Office stmarysphilip@aol.co.uk or call 0191 460 4274. The Parish Secretary, Julie Hindmarsh, can be contacted this week by email stmarysphilip@aol.co.uk or by telephone 07891 162205, Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 2pm.
PARISH NEWSLETTER The latest edition is available here.
CANON MICHAEL McCOY RIP Bishop Robert Byrne CO has released the following statement: “It is with a sense of deep shock and sadness that I have to inform you that Canon Michael McCoy died on Saturday 10 April 2021. This is a time of great grief for Canon Michael’s family, his friends, his parishioners and for our whole Diocese. I would ask you to pray for the repose of his soul, and also to keep his family in your prayers at this most painful time.”
+ Rt Rev Robert Byrne CO
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
Bishop Robert also prays for the repose of the soul of HRH Prince Philip and has released the following statement:
“Having heard the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, I am sure that Catholics throughout our Diocese will join me in praying for the repose of his soul. Throughout his long life he was not only a great support to Her Majesty the Queen but also someone who contributed a great deal to our national life through his support of many charities and initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. His life of generous service and devotion to duty is an example to us all.
I shall be offering mass for the repose of his soul in St. Mary’s Cathedral in the near future. Further details will be posted here in due course.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has also issued a statement which can be read here.
1/04/21 MASS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year B) is now available on our YouTube Channel.
SUNDAY MORNING 10.00am MASS AT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH In order to ensure that all those coming to church can have a seat and be safely accommodated, there is a dedicated telephone ‘booking in’ system – the telephone number is 07388 814715 and you can contact this number Monday – Wednesday, 11am – 6pm. Please note this number does not accept text messaging and there is no facility to leave a message.
For those who have booked-in and are attending Mass, the church will be opened half an hour before the published Mass time.
The wearing of a face covering is mandatory unless a person has an exemption from this. When travelling to and from church, and whilst in church, you must observe strict social distancing (2 metres) from anyone not in your household or support bubble and you must not mingle with anyone not in your household or support bubble before, during or after Mass. A one-way system is in place in the church, plus hand sanitisers at the entrance (Main Doors) and exit (Day Chapel). Once in church please be guided by the volunteer stewards.
You will also see a poster on display with Immaculate Heart’s QR code which can be scanned using the NHS COVID-19 app if you have downloaded it onto your mobile phone. Please feel free to scan this code but note contact details will also still be requested, manually noted and safely stored for 21 days.
N.B. Until further notice, the obligation for the faithful to attend Mass on a Sunday or Holyday of Obligation is suspended.
Masses broadcast from other locations can be viewed at www.churchservices.tv
BLESSED JOHN INGRAM As many of you will know, Blessed John Ingram (1565 – 1594), who is patron of our local Partnership, was a Reformation martyr who was executed on Gateshead High Street for ministering to the faithful of this region. During his ministry, he was assisted and sheltered by local aristocrats, but was eventually apprehended and convicted on a charge of high treason. We ask you to please pray for the canonisation of this dedicated and selfless martyr. An on-line petition has been set up to gain support for his cause. For the petition and more information on Blessed John Ingram, please click here. You can also read more about him on the Diocesan website’s Northern Saints pages.
SUPPORT FOR PARISHIONERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC