Cathedral Renovation
The renovation work on the Cathedral commenced on Monday 23rd November and is scheduled to take around 38 weeks.

From this date and until further notice please note the following arrangements:

• The Cathedral will be closed during the week but will re-open each Sunday for Masses at the usual times.
• Monday - Friday Mass will be at 8.00am in the Cloister, with the exceptions of 28th December and 1st January when Mass will be said in the Cathedral at 10.00am.
• There will be no weekday 12.05pm Mass and no 10.00am Mass on Saturday mornings in the Cathedral.
• Monday - Saturday there will be Mass at 12.15pm at St Andrew's, Worswick Street.
• Mass Intentions requested for particular 12.05pm weekday & Saturday 10.00am Masses will be offered by one of the Cathedral priests at the 12.15pm Mass in St Andrew's.
• Confessions will be at St Andrew's, Worswick Street on Saturdays, 11.00am – 12 noon, and 5.15 – 5.45pm.
• There are also Confessions at St Dominic's, New Bridge Street on Saturdays, 10.30am – 11.00am & 5.00pm – 5.30pm.
• The Cathedral Office and Pauline Books & Media will operate as usual during the work period.

Praying with those who are homeless
It is proposed to form a group which will pray with and for those who are homeless and in difficulty. The idea is to have members of the group who will go out into the City Centre and reach out to those who are in this situation. At the same time other members of the group will stay in St Joseph’s, Gateshead in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed during those hours. If you would like to know more about this initiative, please come to an initial meeting on Tuesday 9th February at 7.00pm in St. Joseph’s Presbytery, High West Street, Gateshead.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
A Mass for the Feast of Lady of Lourdes will take place on Thursday 11th February at 7.00pm in Our Lady's Church, Village Lane, Washington, Tyne & Wear. The Principal Celebrant will be Bishop Seamus Cunningham. All are welcome.

Shrove Tuesday Lunch
The Newcastle City Centre Chaplaincy has extended an invitation to a Shrove Tuesday Lunch on Tuesday 16 February in The Assembly Rooms, Fenkle Street, Newcastle. The event will commence at 12.00 Noon with tea/coffee followed by guest speaker His Honour Judge David Hodson at 12.30pm and concluding with pancakes at 1.00pm. Tickets priced at £5 are available by Tel: 0191 232 7935 or email: banana@nccc.me.uk.

Mrs Anne Maxwell
Mrs Anne Maxwell has been the Cathedral representative on the City Centre Churches Committee for many years, attending meetings and acting as an invaluable link, ensuring that information and events were brought to the attention of the Cathedral community and vice versa. Over the past eight years, Anne has shown great dedication and given generously of her time but she has now decided the time is right to retire from this role. We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for all her hard work on behalf of the Cathedral. Anne has been succeeded as our representative by Tom Millen to whom we are very grateful for taking up the mantle and we wish him well in this important ecumenical role.

The Cloister Café - An Opportunity
We are at the first stage of formally looking for new tenants to operate The Cloister Café. If you feel that you have the necessary skills, experience and motivation to operate this unique and invaluable asset to the life of the Cathedral, or you know of an individual or organisation who would be interested, please contact the Cathedral Office , Tel: 0191 232 6953 ext. 201 or E-mail: office@stmaryscathedral.org.uk.

Safeguarding News
In preparation for the 5 year phasing-in period for Vetting & Barring Registration, which is linked to the date of your most recent Disclosure, the next Diocesan CRB checks have commenced, beginning with those people originally cleared in 2006 and then continuing over the next 12 months to include those cleared in 2007 and subsequent years. This is an essential part of the invaluable contribution made by our volunteers. Anyone aged 18 or over wishing to undertake a voluntary role in the Cathedral must complete CRB clearance and your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated.

Universities - Catholic Chaplaincy
The University Catholic Chaplaincy serves students and staff of Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. The Chaplaincy offers prayers and worship, talks, discussions, social events and weekends away. It’s a great place to find friendship and support while you're at University. Further details are available from:
Fr Andrew Downie Tel. 07790 014204 E-mail andrew.downie@ncl.ac.uk and Mia Fox Tel. 07713 259173 or E-mail mia.fox@ncl.ac.uk.

Altar Servers
We are looking to increase our group of Altar servers. This very important ministry is open to all individuals who have made their First Holy Communion and are over the age of 10. Anyone who is over the age of 18 will require full Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance prior to taking up the role. If you are interested or would like further information, please speak to one of the clergy.

Going into Hospital?
Due to a new admissions system at the RVI, Newcastle General, the Freeman and Walkergate Hospitals Fr Corbett (Hospital Chaplain) is not currently receiving any information on Catholic patients. It would be very helpful to him if you could let him know of Catholic patients in any of these hospitals by contacting him -
Tel. 0191 232 1892 or email: me.corbett1@tiscali.co.uk. A phone call before 8.15am would be helpful, providing Fr Corbett with the name of the patient, the ward and the hospital.