Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Darlington Mission
14 June 2026 – Second Sunday after Trinity
Mass today is offered for John Rolfe – R.I.P.
Group Pastor – Fr. Thomas Mason – thomas.mason@ordinariate.org.uk – 01833 631457 – 07876 308657
Assistant Priest – Fr. Ian Westby Deacon – the Rev’d Carl Watson
Web: https://www.ordinariate-darlington.co.uk
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/OrdDarlFacebook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrdDarlington
Services this week:
Monday 15, 6.15pm, Barnard Castle (Latin) – Votive
Tuesday 16, 10am, Gainford – S. Richard of Chichester
Thursday 18, 9am, Barnard Castle – Votive*
Friday 19, 12noon, Gainford (Ordinariate) – S. Romuald (preceded by Sext at 11.45am)
Friday 19, 6-7pm, Barnard Castle – Holy Hour
Confessions (at Barnard Castle): Monday 5.30-6pm, Thursday 5.30-6pm, Saturday 10-11am
*Please note the change to time for Mass this Thursday
Prayer List
Of your charity please pray for all the sick, especially: Morag, Ethel, George Gwilliam, Andrew Gwilliam, Fay Jackson, Dennis Walburn, Elaine Robertson, Barbara Ugoletti, Andrea Matthews, Bridget Wright, Graham Pegley, Calvert Hardy, James Hardy, Keith McAllister, Elizabeth Rawling, Charlie Camilleri, Pauline McAllister, Garth Redvers Harris, Geraldine Dobson, Pat MacGregor, Peter Lovatt.
As also for all the faithful departed, particularly the recently departed, including Avril and John Rolfe, as well as those whose years-mind falls at this time, including Dennis Connelly, Richard Steele, David Steele. Requiescant in pace.
Second Collection – Formation Fund Today there is a second collection for the Ordinariate’s formation fund. We currently have three full-time seminarians, these will be our priests in the future but their formation is expensive. Please be generous in support for the future ministry.
Second Collection – Day for Life Next week there will be a second collection for the Day for Life. There are many grave threats to the sanctity of human life in our world, so please do support this generously.
Ordinariate Festival 2026 – Beauty, Truth, & Goodness This takes place in Eastbourne 13-15 October. Previous years have been very well appreciated by those who went. Full details, including how to book, can be found at https://eastbourneordinariate.org.uk/ordinariate-festival-2026
Delving into the Scriptures – Psalms
Among the books of the Bible, the book of Psalms stands out. It is the longest, by a large margin, but also is incredibly wide-ranging covering a whole array of different situations rather than being a single narrative. It has also been used by the Church in a very different manner than the other 72 books. Given this variety of material, it has been referred to as the ‘canon within the canon’ – i.e., that across the 150 psalms there is the whole of the faith in various different ways.
The starting point of looking at Psalms is to note that it isn’t really a single book in the way that the others are, rather it’s a compilation of individual texts. Those texts are incredibly varied, but also complement each other – this variety makes them particularly useful for meditation and reflection. There are psalms for pretty much every part of life – some are mighty hymns to be sung together, other quiet individual reflections, they cover moments of joy, of sorrow, of anger.
Traditionally they were ascribed to King David, this is not the case for all of the psalms (e.g., some speak of the exile to Babylon which took place long after his death); however, it is entirely possible that he was the author of some. It’s also very likely that some were composed orally and remembered for a few generations by being sung, only being written down years later. As with a number of Old Testament texts, the antiquity means that there is no real means of identifying what was written when and by whom; various theories have been put forward, but they can never really rise above the level of speculation.
You may have noticed that sometimes a reference to a psalm is given with two different numbers, e.g. the famous Miserere Mei might be numbered as Psalm 50 (51). This reflects the Greek and Hebrew traditions; the Septuagint treats Psalms 9 and 10 as one, whereas the Hebrew has them separately; therefore the Greek tradition has most psalms one earlier. Then at the end of the book, the Septuagint divides Psalm 147, so both keep the same number. The origin of this is unclear, as is whether one or ‘more authentic’ than the other. Both styles preserve the same texts, it’s only the number which varies.
As mentioned above, there is a great variety among the psalms. There are a few which are long poetic retelling of the story of God’s care for his people – these would have helped people to remember God’s faithfulness, especially in bringing his people out of Egypt and into the promised land (135/136 being an excellent example), whilst also giving praise to God. Several of them appear to have been used ceremonially, e.g., the Gradual Psalms (119/120-133-134) were sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. Some speak of the role of the King, and were probably used as part of royal ceremonial – here it is worth noting that Psalm 20 (21) is sung during during our own coronation service, including in 2023. Others are far more personal, Psalm 50 (51) is an intense plea for mercy and forgiveness, traditionally thought to have been written by King David when he was reprimanded over his adultery with Bathsheba. Psalm 129 (130) begins in a moment of intense personal desolation, but through its meditation ends up with the exultant ending ‘He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.’
As mentioned above, the psalms have been used differently by the Church than the rest of the Bible. Next week, we will explore both how they have been used theologically, but also liturgically and in prayer. In the mean time, it’s worth saying that they make an excellent basis for our own prayer and reflection, so do feel free to open a Bible and pray through a psalm or two in your own prayers. – Fr. Thomas.
Safeguarding The Group operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and Diocese’s policies and procedures at all times. Our Group Safeguarding Representative is Jos Thompson or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted on 0191 2433305 or at safeguarding@diocesehn.org.uk