From His Grace Archbishop Bernard Longley:

Prisoners' Sunday, this year falls on 11th October. It is the National Day of Prayer for prisoners and their families. It is an opportunity for us all to direct our thoughts and prayers to the needs of men, women and young people in prison and their children and families, and to support Pact, the national Catholic charity which serves them. 

The number of people in prison in England & Wales is increasing, and our prisons are in crisis. In this Archdiocese, there are 13 prisons and, in our communities, there are children and families who have a loved one in prison and who are struggling with stigma, isolation and hardship. It is believed that there are over 200,000 children every year who have a parent in prison. However, the work of Pact brings hope. 

Since 1898, Pact has supported prisoners, people with convictions, and children and families. The charity's work is deeply rooted in the Gospel and in Catholic Social Teaching. Pact continues to restore hope and dignity to thousands of people affected by imprisonment. In HMP Drake Hall, HMP Stafford,  HMP Swinfen Hall, HMP Brinsford, HMP Featherstone, HMP Birmingham, HMP Hewell, HMP Long Lartin, HMP Bullingdon, HMP Huntercombe and in over 50 other prisons nationwide, Pact volunteers and staff work alongside our chaplains to offer practical and emotional support to help people in prison stay connected with their families, and to cope during their time in prison. Retaining strong family bonds is a significant factor in preventing re-offending - with good family relations, those leaving prison are 39% less likely to reoffend. Pact supports building stronger families which leads to safer communities. I have seen Pact's work firsthand and commend it to you. 

The support of Catholic communities makes a huge difference to Pact and to the impact the charity can make for people living through what may well be the worst time of their lives. I express my wholehearted gratitude, on behalf of Pact, for an support you are able to offer. 

Home - Prison Advice and Care Trust
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​News from the Catholic Bishops' ConferenceArchbishop Richard Moth, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has joined fellow presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of the G7 states to make a series of calls on the leaders who will gather for the 52nd G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France. The meeting will be held from 15–17 June 2026.
 
In a joint statement titled Building Bridges for Peace, Justice and Human Dignity, the presidents of the episcopal conferences offer the Catholic Church’s “capacity for dialogue, mediation, and accompaniment for the most vulnerable at the service of peace and the international community.”
 
The appeal they make in the statement covers areas such as the need to respect international law, uphold the dignity of the person, lead in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation through dialogue, negotiation and mutual respect, and to collaborate in the fight against organised crime, human trafficking, illicit trade, corruption, and unlawful financial actions. They also encourage G7 states to promote education that facilitates dialogue and respect for religious and cultural differences.
 
After the recent publication of Pope Leo’s first encyclical letter, Magnifica humanitas on preserving the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, the episcopal conference presidents call for the G7 leaders and technology companies to establish clear international rules so that new technologies serve the human person and the common good – particularly to protect children.
 
Finally, the presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and the United States conclude by turning their attention to migrants and refugees and environmental concerns. They call upon G7 states to commit to “bold and verifiable measures to accelerate a just ecological transition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand renewable energy and support the most vulnerable countries in facing the consequences of climate change,” and to “recall that migrants and refugees must always be received with dignity, while recognising the legitimate responsibility of states to safeguard the common good. Those forced to flee war, persecution, poverty or climate disasters cannot be regarded as a threat. They are our brothers and sisters in humanity.”

​Monday 30th March
10.00am Holy Mass 
7.00pm Penance Service 
Tuesday 31st March
10.00am Mass
Thursday 2nd April
10am-11.30am Confessions

THE EASTER TRIDUUM
Maundy Thursday 2nd April
7.00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper followed by Watching until 11pm. Night prayer of the Church 10.45pm
Good Friday 3rd April
10.00am Office of Readings & Morning Prayer (Sacred Heart)
12noon Churches Together Worship & Witness (the Guildhall, Newcastle) meet at Holy Trinity 11.30am
3.00pm The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
6.00pm Stations of the Cross
6.30pm Stations of the Cross (Sacred Heart)
Holy Saturday
10.00am Office of Readings & Morning Prayer
8.00pm The Easter Vigil

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
Easter Sunday 5th April
9.00am Holy Mass (Sacred Heart)
11.00am Holy Mass

​All Services are at Holy Trinity unless stated otherwise.

We see so much negative news in the media: the disintegration of communities, the neglected state of British high streets, the alienation of young people... This is the story of a group of young people determined to make a difference. A team from T S Domestics in Tunstall was concerned about the state of public spaces around the town. Instead of complaining they decided to do something. They lead and organise community cleaning events to try and put back some pride in the local area. 

Holy Trinity Parish had a problem. In order for the new heating system to be installed, we first needed the walkway on the north side of the church clearing. It was totally overgrown, rubbish had been thrown over the wall, there were even discarded needles from drug use. The task was urgent and we did not know where to start. The Parish Administrator approached the team from T S Domestics for advice. They immediately offered to come and help. 

They spent a very cold and wet winter afternoon cutting down the shrubs and weeds, clearing and cleaning. They were ably assisted by Chris from Staffs Pressure Washing Services who washed it all out and cleared the drains. He even returned the next day to finish the job and to clean around our Grotto Garden.

We are so grateful to our volunteers for all their time and efforts. The good news is that the new heating installation is going ahead and should be starting on Tuesday. Thank you also to the members of the parish who have been so patient while we sorted out the problem, and to all who have given so generously to the Building Fund to pay for the new heating system. 

Check out our volunteers on Social Media and give them a Like:
TS Domestics | Tunstall | Facebook  
​Staffs Pressure Washing Services | Newcastle under Lyme | Facebook

The Seminarian hosted by Holy Trinity for Parish experience early in his formation, Luke Theobald, had written this week's reflection for the Archdiocese newsletter. Luke reflects on the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of our Advent preparation. Our Advent Penance Service here at Holy Trinity will be on Monday 22nd December at 7pm. We share Luke's reflection here:

The dress code on a Sunday in seminary is fairly conservative: suit and collar for priests and candidates, and suit and tie for the other seminarians. Radical fashion choices aren’t expected.
 John the Baptist is a different story. This Sunday we are introduced to John wearing a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt. It is a bold look. Quite possibly, if he were visiting the seminary, he might be politely asked to change into something ‘more appropriate’ before joining the community. 
 But does John the Baptist’s clothing really matter?
 In the seminary we dress formally on a Sunday to reflect the honour we have for the Sunday Mass. John’s ‘wild’ clothing reflects his total commitment to his radical prophetic message. His message: one of repentance and preparation.
 John was calling on the people of Israel to prepare themselves for the Messiah, Jesus. In Advent the Church calls everyone one of us to prepare our hearts again for that same Jesus.
 We get ready for Christmas by making so many external things beautiful: Christmas lights and decorations, beautifully wrapped presents, new Christmas jumpers and more. All of which are wonderful.
But what about our internal beauty? Could we use this Advent to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ in our hearts with the Sacrament of Reconciliation? To receive God’s unbounded love and mercy in Confession seems like the best present we could give ourselves. 
 
Luke Theobald, Seminarian
Venerable English College, Rome

News from Stella Maris
Christmas can be a challenging time for seafarers. They miss spending this special time of the year with their family.  
Many struggle to cope with homesickness. Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas when you’re thousands of miles away from home and can’t be with the people you love. 
But seafarers arriving on ships at the ports in the UK are never forgotten, thanks to the port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors from Stella Maris, the Catholic Church’s official maritime agency.  
They will be delivering Christmas presents when they visit dozens of ships in ports in the coming weeks. 

“It’s incredibly tough to be at sea at times like this. All the normal pressures of work are amplified. That’s why we want to provide a gift to every seafarer who will be at sea on Christmas Day,” said Chris Reynolds (pictured), a Stella Maris chaplain. 
Chris and other chaplains receive tremendous local support from the parishes and parishioners in and around their places of work. 
“Whatever people choose to give will mean the world. Because when a seafarer feels isolated, lost and sad this Christmas, a gift lets them know they are not forgotten,” he said. 
Chris knows how seafarers feel. He used to be a deck cadet on oil tankers, tall ships, and ferries. He remembers the first time he joined a ship, in South Africa. He’d never worked at sea before and was nervous. 
“But then a Stella Maris chaplain strolled up the gangway with an armful of small gifts and a big smile on his face. We talked and prayed, and his visit settled me so much. 
“It’s not just the gifts, but the love and reassurance that chaplains like me can bring to seafarers this Christmas. A listening ear. A hand on the shoulder. Presence and solidarity.” 
Seafarers will be far from their families and friends on Christmas Day, but the gifts that Stella Maris’ chaplains and ship visitors bring them and the pastoral and spiritual they provide brings seafarers joy, making sure that they are not forgotten. 
Please say a prayer for seafarers and fishers this Christmas. Thank you for your generous support through the annual Diocese collection.