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.
• Stations of the Cross will take place at St Andrew's every Friday during Lent at 11.45am.
• 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.

Coffee Morning
Coffee will be served in the Cloister Café following the 10.00am and 11.30am Masses this Sunday and the weekday coffee mornings continue this Wednesday 10th March, 10.00am – 12.00 noon. All are welcome.

Avison Ensemble - Stabat Mater
The Avison Ensemble will perform Our Lady of Sorrows, Pergolesi's setting of the medieval religious poem Stabat Mater, with Julia Gooding, soprano and Robin Blaze, countertenor, next Saturday 13th March at 7.30pm in King's Hall, Newcastle University. Tickets are £12 (Students and under 18s FREE) and are available from JG Windows Ltd, Central Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne (tel. 0191 232 1356 Email: info@jgwindows.com). For further information email: enquiries@avisonensemble.com or website: www.avisonensemble.com.

Extraordinary Form Mass
A High Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be celebrated for St Cuthbert's Day at 12 noon on Saturday 20th March at St Mary and St Thomas Aquinas Church, Stella, near Blaydon. Music for the ordinary of the Mass will be Palestrina's Aeterna Christi Munera sung by the choir of St George's Church, Cullercoats.

Lent Course 2010 - The Big Read
This year's Lent Course is a shared exploration of the Gospel according to Luke along the lines of The Big Read suggested by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Reverend Tom Wright. Meetings will be held on Thursdays in February & March, gathering at 7.00pm for refreshments followed by activities and discussion between 7.30pm – 9.00pm. This week's meeting is on Thursday 11th March at The Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. For further information on The Big Read 2010 visit the following website: www.thebigread.homecall.co.uk.

St Cuthbert's Care - Lenten Alms
As we enter the Lenten Season of reflection, St Cuthbert's Care has launched this year's charity fundraising appeal for those communities in the Diocese suffering the greatest hardship. All donations received during the Lent Appeal this year will be used to fund the St Cuthbert's Care mobile charity clothes distribution service, which directly helps the poor and disadvantaged in our region.

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 into the city centre during the day to reach out, to meet and to pray with 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 introductory meeting on Tuesday 9th March after 12.00pm Mass at St Joseph's Presbytery, High West Street, Gateshead (opposite the Gateshead Metro station).

First Confession & Holy Communion
If you regularly worship at the Cathedral and you are the parents of children in Year Three (7-8 years old) it is time for them to make their First Confession and Holy Communion. Please contact the Cathedral Office with your details.

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.