Rob Colquhoun

Have been on Placement up in Washington and Penshaw between Newcastle and Sunderland. For the first week, I was in St Bedes in Washington with Mgr Phil Carroll. In the first week we (Stefan and I) saw many first communion parents, visited parishioners, went to Durham and Chester le Street Hospital, had a funeral. We also went to some of the nursing homes, had quite a few nice meals out and then at the end of 1 week I went over to Our Lady Queen of Peace in Penshaw. We have been working in the school, sitting in on lessons as an assistant and also giving talks about priesthood and the Church and answering any questions to year 9. I took an assembly one morning and we also visited more parishioners in hospital. We visited the nuns in Sunderland one evening. We have also seen Durham Cathedral, Bishop Auckland, Newcastle, Sunderland and Penshaw monument, a Greek temple on top of one of the hills here. Overall the parishioners have been really welcoming and kind. We have also seen some of the marriage preparation organisations, been to Ushaw for the community evening and also to the Youth Ministry team evening.