A Blessing for a New Beginning at Holy Rosary Parish House

After more than three years of planning, fundraising, refurbishment work, and finally moving and settling in, we were delighted to officially mark the beginning of a new chapter for our lunch clubs and men’s groups with a special blessing ceremony at our new home, Holy Rosary Parish House.

The journey to this point has been a long one.

Leaving our previous building was bittersweet. We were leaving behind lots of cherished memories of our Bolam Street communal lounge, but so very grateful to have a new home at Holy Rosary to secure our future after news came in 2022 that we needed to vacate Bolam Street for planned demolition of the nearby flats.

Our lunch clubs, now in their 36th year, and our men's groups which have been running for 12 years, remain as popular as ever thanks to the delicious meals, door to door minibus transport, wide range of activities and the support from our staff, volunteers and fellow attendees. Each group is vital in bringing people aged 65+ together so they stay active and connected in their local community.

Thanks to an incredible fundraising effort which raised £250,000, we were able to undertake a 5-month refurbishment project to transform the building into a welcoming, accessible community space.

The improvements included the installation of a new access ramp, improved flow throughout the building, accessible toilet facilities, and a brand-new kitchen, all designed to ensure the space can be enjoyed comfortably by everyone who visits.

The blessing service was led by Right Reverend Stephen Wright, who is the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, and Father Christopher Warren of St Peter's, St Anne's and Corpus Christi parish, with members of the Holy Rosary congregation joining us for this special occasion.

It was particularly meaningful to welcome people who have worshipped in the ground floor chapel where our groups are now based, creating a wonderful connection between the building’s past and its new purpose within the community.

The blessing symbolised the completion of years of preparation, hard work, generosity, and determination, and the beginning of an exciting future in a new home where friendships, support, laughter, and community spirit will continue to grow. It also continues the wonderful relationship between our charity and the parish, which began when our charity did, back in 1990 with many members of the congregation being actively involved in creating and running our very first groups. The parish contributed greatly to our refurbishment project, by funding the new roof before we moved in.

Following the service, our guests and members of the Wednesday Lunch Club enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate this milestone and reflect on everything that has been achieved.

We would like to thank everyone who supported us throughout this journey, from fundraisers and volunteers to staff, supporters, parish members, and everyone who believed in the vision for this new space.

We are so excited for the future and look forward to welcoming many more people through the doors of Holy Rosary Parish House in the years ahead.

If you or someone you know would like to join our lunch clubs or men's groups, for lunch and activities, contact our team on 0191 4600297. There's a range of activities at each group, a freshly cooked two-course meal, refreshments and accessible minibus transport from home and back again in the local area.