Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Darlington Mission
4 October 2026 – Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
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:
Sunday 4, 5pm, Barnard Castle – October Devotions
Monday 5, 6.15pm, Barnard Castle (Latin) – S. Faustina
Tuesday 6, 10am, Gainford – S. Bruno
Thursday 8, 10am, Barnard Castle – Votive
Friday 9, 12noon, Barnard Castle (Ordinariate) – S. John Henry Newman (preceded by Sext at 11.45am)
Friday 9, 6-7pm, Barnard Castle – Holy Hour
Confessions (at Barnard Castle): Monday 5.30-6pm, Thursday 5.30-6pm, Saturday 10-11am
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, Pauline McAllister, Paul Laughlin, Garth Redvers Harris, Geraldine Dobson, Pat MacGregor, Ann Griffiths, Ruth Park, Lily Berepiki.
As also for all the faithful departed, particularly the recently departed, including Peter Hanks, and Charlie Camileri, as well as those whose years-mind falls at this time, including Ruth Carreras, Margaret Alderson, Matthew Snowdon, Caroline Sleap, Gareth Walburn. Requiescant in pace.
October – month of the Rosary. We move into October this week, the month dedicated to the Rosary, all are encouraged to pray the Rosary most especially during this month. As usual, there will be October Devotions, with Rosary and Benediction on Sunday evenings at 5pm during October.
Men’s Group A suggestion to have a men’s group has been made, this would be for mutual support and growth with a mixture of spiritual and social activities. An opening meeting to explore has been scheduled for Thursday 8 October, 6.30pm in the Garden Room.
The Cross stands while the world turns – the Carthusians
This Tuesday sees S. Bruno’s Day, he was a French Priest who was appointed as Bishop, but turned down the preferment and went to live a solitary life with two companions. In time their group grew and became the foundation of the Carthusian Order. One of the smaller orders in the Church, and less well known than others, not least because of its serious approach to enclosure.
The name of the order comes from the Chartreuse Mountains where S. Bruno founded the first house. The name is also anglicised as ‘Charterhouse’. Staying on the name, since the seventeenth century the monks have produced a herbal infused drink, naturally giving it the same name.
Most monastic orders contain an emphasis on the community supporting each other, and so gather for prayer, for meals, and for recreation. The Carthusian life, by contrast, pursues a solitary life. They spend the vast majority of their time in their cells; the community gathers for Mass, and the more solemn parts of the liturgy of the hours; for a weekly walk (during which they may engage in conversation); and on Sundays and major feasts they eat together (though do so in silence) – for the rest of the time, monks remain in their cells.
The cells themselves are necessarily larger. Typically they will have two levels, with a workshop and wood store on the grounds floor, then a bed, table, prayer desk on the upper floor. Uniquely the standard design gives each cell its own garden, with high walls between, monks can then grow their own vegetables to supplement the food provided. The solitude of the cell is maintained even when meals are delivered, there is a ‘turn’ which allows items to be passed in and out with coming face to face with the deliverer – two meals per day are delivered to each cell, and notes can also be passed.
Each community is made up of a mixture of choirmonks and lay brothers. The choirmonks are priests (or are in preparation for the priesthood), they spend most of their time in contemplative prayer. The lay brothers still live in silence, but engage in more manual work; especially providing for the material needs of the monastery (e.g. cooking meals, running the laundry).
The other, related, distinction from most monastic communities is the lack of hospitality. There is no guest house, and Carthusians are very deliberate about leaving the world behind as they enter. The only guests who go to a Carthusian monastery are usually those considering entering. This isn’t an attempt to be rude, but to allow for the completeness of solitude which is at the heart of Carthusian spirituality.
The history of the motherhouse, the Grande Chartreuse as it’s often known, has been mixed. The French Revolution, and then the governments ban on religious communities in 1905 both caused it to be emptied, but each time the monks have eventually been able to return and it continues to function today. There are a further 20 monasteries (15 for monks and 5 for nuns), including S. Hugh’s Charterhouse in Parkminster, near Horsham in Sussex.
In a world a great noise and busy-ness, the Carthusians continue to live the life of silence, of contemplation, of seeking God entirely. Their motto Stat Crux Dum Volvitur Orbis, the Cross stands whilst the world turns, summarises their attempt to place God as the very centre of all things. A life which few are able to undertake, but yet a vital and powerful part of the life of the Church. A small glimpse into their world was recently made, with the film ‘Into Great Silence’ from 2005, which is well worth watching. As we go about our daily lives, we can know that monks and nuns around the world are holding us all in their 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