The Middlesbrough parishes of The Holy Name of Mary and St Thomas More

Taize Choir gatherings this summer and autumn:

• Wednesday 6th June – Sacred Heart, Linthorpe Road
• Wednesday 4th July – Cathedral, Coulby Newham
• Wednesday 8th August – St. Thomas More’s M’bro
• Wednesday 12th September – St. Joseph’s Marton Road Mbro
• Thursday 4th October – St Francis, Acklam, Mbro

Thanks to all who came along to the first gathering of the Middlesbrough Taize Choir at Holy Name, Linthorpe – we hope that you enjoyed the evening and will consider being a regular.

There were those people that came along to simply sing the beautiful Taize chants, a few words sung over and over again to reinforce the meditative quality of the prayer.

Some people came to take ‘time out’ - to light a candle and to pray their own prayers and intentions, others still came to just ‘listen’ to the singing and then there were those who came to join in the evening prayer at the end. Whatever your reason, you are very welcome to join us.

The recent meeting at St Thomas More’s Church, Middlesbrough of altar servers drew a good number of servers and a letter from Dominic Jones who will be known to many of our readers.

“I must say I was really pleased to give a talk to all the altar servers about my 30 years as an altar server. Its remarkable and amazing work. Well done to you all. I hope there are further meetings in our parishes.”

Thanks Dominic!

Fr Joe was probably the most dedicated golfer our Diocese has ever seen. Upon the discovery of a trophy in made in his name at St Thomas More’s, Middlesbrough, a team golf event was organised and played last year.

Team Thornaby, captained by Canon Dan Spaight won the day, with St Thomas More and The Holy Name of Mary Parishes coming second and third. It was a great day enjoyed by around forty golfers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Organisers are aiming to raise £10,000 for hospitals in Middlesbrough and Baghdad through a charity event at the Riverside Stadium this June. Middlesbrough-born TV impressionist Kevin Connelly and local band The Beer Pigs will be star attractions at the gala dinner at the Riverside Stadium on Friday June 22. Read the rest of this entry »

Taizé is an ecumenical form of prayer, scripture, reflection, and meditative music that invites God’s presence to penetrate one’s innermost being. Its origins go back to around August 1940, while World War II was raging. A young man named Roger Schutz settled in the tiny village of Taizé in the Burgundy region of eastern France. While living a life of prayer, he began to assist political refugees who were trying to escape Nazi occupation. Brother Roger’s concern for victims of injustice was matched by his refusal to accept the divisions between Christians. His legacy lives on in numbers of over 100 Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Reformed brothers, from 25 different countries. Today, as then, the emphasis of the community is reconciliation between peoples and nations.

The liturgy that has developed in the Taizé Community is for prayer and the worship of God, but it also serves to quiet one’s innermost being. There can be few people who are not familiar with the Taizé music in the Christian church today. It is noted for its chant-like style of repetitive words and melodies focusing on themes of praise, trust, joy and simplicity. Its simplicity makes it easy to join in. “Nothing is more conducive to communion with the Living God than a meditative common prayer with singing that never ends, but continues in the silence of one’s heart, when one is alone again,” said Brother Roger.

A Taize group for the Middlesbrough area is being formed. We plan to hold a monthly Taize evening on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm. Each gathering will last for about an hour. During this time, we will learn the different harmonies for the chants for around 40 minutes, followed by a Taize prayer – with chants, lasting around fifteen minutes. The first gatherings are as follows:

• Wednesday 2nd May at Holy Name Church in Linthorpe
• Wednesday June 6th at Sacred Heart Church, Linthorpe Road
• Wednesday July 4th at the Cathedral, Dalby Way, Coulby Newham

If you would like to come and be part of this group please do – you don’t need to read music or be a good singer and you will be made very welcome.

For more information please contact either

• Val Goldsack 01642 826618 or email info@valgoldsack.co.uk
• Margaret Turnham 01642 850113 or email Margaret.turnham@ntlworld.com

We look forward to seeing you for the first meeting 2nd May, at Holy Name.