The parishes where Fr Marc Lyden-Smith is P.P

Congratulations to these, the people who have been baptised and received into the #Catholic faith in my parish tonight at the Easter Vigil. Jesus is risen, Alleluia!

Praise God! New converts in #Sunderland.

Allegri’s Miserere is beautiful because of its simplicity, restraint, and emotional honesty. Rather than overwhelming the listener, it gently draws them into a space of reflection, where longing, vulnerability, and hope coexist. Its famous soaring lines feel less like display and more like a fragile, human cry for mercy. Ultimately, the piece expresses suffering transformed into quiet grace, offering a sense of forgiveness that unfolds softly within the music.

Every single one of the 79 parliamentarians has my absolute respect and gratitude - thank you. This is the most fundamental change to abortion law since 1967, after a mere 46 minutes Commons debate, it raises a multitude of alarming questions that must be answered!

Well worth a watch this Easter: Harry Clark goes to Rome and explores a Catholic's role in the modern world, support for those struggling with their mental health and the sanctity of life. bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00… #Catholic #Rome #HolyWeekWatch

The cross is now placed over the city of #Sunderland, as it always is on #GoodFriday, and as it has been for decades. For 3 days it will stand, reminding us all how much Jesus loves us. It is also a challenge for us - to love and serve one another across our city and communities.

Responding to a woman writing to the Vatican magazine Piazza San Pietro, Pope Leo decried violence against women and emphasized that educating young people in respect is the key to preventing it. catholicnewsagency.com/news/270357/po…

A Saturday morning lesson in mortality... Full article: ow.ly/JP2G50Yrzac

A Church has went on the market in #Sunderland. After much reflection, the decision was taken to amalgamate the two Catholic Churches of Holy Rosay and Immaculate Heart into one site, since the churches are less than a mile apart. The new church of The Holy Rosary AND Immaculate Heart of Mary is a flourishing parish community with over 400 people attending every weekend, over two Masses at 6pm on a Saturday evening and 9.30am on a Sunday morning. With services and activities during the week too. As a consequence, the Immaculate Heart Church is now available for offers to be received. It is hoped the site and the land will be used for something that will have a positive effect for the local community. This will be essential when considering the offers received. rightmove.co.uk/properties/172…

Happy #InternationalWomensDay. Who are the women that inspire you? Here are some of the extraordinary women saints who have made a huge and lasting impact on the whole world. Which remarkable women will you be thinking of today? #IWD2026 #Catholic #womenempowerment

This is your Monday morning reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws at you.

“God just keeps you grounded. Keeps you humble.” Scottish footballer Ben Gannon-Doak on how he found religion. Watch A View From The Terrace on @BBCiPlayer bbc.in/46I8QL0 #AVFTT #AViewFromTheTerrace

👏 Policies like this aren’t just about meals, they are about opportunity and dignity for families who are struggling. Lifting many more children out of poverty should be something everyone can support, regardless of party. Investing in children today is investing in the country’s future. Well done @bphillipsonMP

Pope Leo XIV on speaks of Donald Trump’s Iran War for the third time in three days: “Find solutions, without weapons, to resolve problems,” the first U.S-born pope said. “Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred. Hatred keeps growing in the world.”

Fasting is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the Word of God. Abstaining from food is an ancient ascetic practice that is essential on the path of conversion. It helps us to identify and order our “appetites,” keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency. It teaches us to pray and act responsibly towards our neighbor. #Lent

To mark the 800th anniversary of his death, the remains of St. Francis of Assisi are on public display until March 22, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the Lower Basilica. ewtnvatican.com/articles/saint…

Pope Benedict XVI pray for us..

The Rite of Election in @dioceseHN All to be received into the #Catholic faith this Easter.

As Lent begins, the Church invites us to purify our hearts and renew our lives, drawing closer to God as we prepare for the great feast of Easter. One meaningful way to do this is by repenting of our sins and frequently receiving the Sacrament of Confession. No matter how long it’s been, it’s never too late to return and begin again. Full Examination of Conscience: ow.ly/gFWs50YiSqy

This morning, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Castro Pretorio for his second pastoral visit to a Roman parish. Before Mass, he greeted hundreds of faithful gathered in the courtyard — families, children, religious sisters, priests, migrants, and travelers from around the world — many reaching out for a blessing. In a neighborhood marked by contrasts, just steps from Rome’s Termini station, the Holy Father reminded the community that the Church is called to be a “presidio di carità” — a living presence of charity — amid the challenges of poverty, migration, and social wounds.