THE LATEST NEWS

We plan to open the church for Masses on the 20th of September. Please note that this is only for Mass, at 10.30 on a Sunday, at present. We shall only expand further when we are more certain of the availability of volunteer stewards for other proposed Mass timings.

We have yet to negotiate the booking system, which should be available for our parish by the middle of the week beginning the 13th of September. We shall be using the Diocesan booking service, which is online. If you know of anybody who is unable to use this service, please get them to call us to book on the parish telephone (01332 343777), or send e-mail somehow to the parish e-mail address.

Apologies for the inconvenience of these measures (reduced seating space in church, booking system) to ensure not only the adequately distanced seating arrangements, but also the tracing system that the government wishes us to establish, in order (both) to attempt to control the spread of the virus.

Recently, it was reported that the government has permitted churches to open their doors to the public from the 15th of June, but only for private prayer. Public services, including Holy Mass are as yet not permitted. However, it must be noted that churches can only be reopened after a significant case-by-case review of health and safety requirements during the current public health crisis, and upon the recruitment of a team of volunteers who would be able to steward at the churches during the hours that they are opened. All of this will take time to put into place, and we should continue to wait for our buildings to once more become available to the public.

On the 20th of March, 2020, public Masses ceased at churches throughout the Diocese, by order of the Bishop; this was done in an attempt to control the spread of the viral infection that is now sweeping the nation and the world, by eliminating large congregations of people. Shortly thereafter, on the 24th of March, and for the same reasons, the churches were entirely closed to the public. In the circumstances, the Bishop has asked that we have recourse to private prayer and making the spiritual acts of Communion that are generally used by those Catholics who, for one reason or the other, cannot receive the Sacraments as usual. One famous act of spiritual communion penned by Saint Alphonsus of Liguori:

“My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.”

Father Kevin has been offering Masses in private at the high altar in the church everyday since the 28th of March, usually beginning at about 9.30, and there is a regular Rosary, also in private, during the late afternoon and early evening. There are also regular recitations of the major hours of the Divine Office of prayer in church: Office of Readings and Morning prayer from 9.00, and Evening prayer from 18.00. Once the church is open again, these will all be available to parishioners to attend. Father Kevin began a blog when he arrived in March, to chart his work in the parish. Please click here to visit it.

The newsletter is being produced as usual and may be downloaded as a PDF from the top, right-hand corner of the website. The parish Twitter account we recently created is also scrolling to the right with all types of information.