16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 19th July 2020
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 19th July
10 am (Not Public streamed only) People of the Parish
11.30 am Bruno Mortali, RIP
Mon 20th July St Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
7pm Ellen Cole, RIP
Tues 21st July St Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor
10 am Pauline Ellul, RIP
Weds 22nd July No Mass
Thurs 23rd July St Bridget of Sweden
7pm Geraldine Bird, RIP
Fri 24th July St Sharbel Makhluf, Priest
10 am Nicholas Britto, RIP
Sat 25th July St James, Apostle
5pm Kenneth Allison, RIP
Sun 26th July 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
10am (Not Public streamed only) People of the Parish
11:30am Phillip M cGovern, anniversary
Please pray for the sick and those who care for them, today especially for the frail elderly and for those who work as carers.
The return of Public Mass:
Fr Peter writes: As expected, the Government has given permission for public worship with certain safeguards. Bishops have not lifted the Sunday obligation suspension, which means you are not required to attend Mass on Sunday. Every weekday Mass will now serve as a Sunday:
Here are the safeguards:
Please do not come to Mass if you are in the vulnerable category and shielding at home.
Please do not come to Mass if you are feeling unwell.
Social distancing guidelines mean that St Mary’s can accommodate 60 parishioners at each Mass. I have tried to give as many alternative Mass times during the week to spread out our normal Sunday congregation. Remember – any Mass will serve as a Sunday.
It is most important that we can track and trace everyone who comes to Mass should the need arise, and also that we can comply with the restrictions that apply to our numbers. Therefore, you must inform us 24 hours beforehand if you are planning on coming to a particular Mass. You cannot just turn up on the spur of the moment. Please phone (07592 183178) or call into the Parish Office. We will need your name, phone number, names of those attending, and the Mass you wish to attend. If you have not supplied these details beforehand, you will not be able to attend the Mass.
Please remember to alcohol gel your hands when you enter and leave the church.
You must leave two seats empty between you or your family group and the next parishioner.
Due to time constraints there will be no second reading, creed, or prayers of the faithful
Communion will only be given in the hand.
Holy Communion will be given after the final blessing and then you must leave the church.
Mass will be half an hour or less in length.
There will be no singing, or missalettes. You must not leave any personal belongings behind in church.
Offertory money can now be deposited in baskets as you enter the porch.
All Masses will be streamed for those shielding at home.
For the time being, private prayer in the Church is suspended.
Please note – you can now come to Mass more than once a week – but you must continue to book your attendance 24 hours in advance.
I am sure this will be a bit “hit and miss” to begin with.
I would appreciate your continued prayers and patience.
The Foodbank:
Fr Peter writes: The Foodbank would be very grateful to receive any cotton sheets or curtains to make into facemasks for clients. Medical facemasks (the disposable kind) are expensive to buy and last for a limited period of time. The Foodbank would also be grateful if anyone can donate heavy duty fabric shopping bags. The Foodbank wants to issue each client with a re-usable stronger bag to enable them to get a few days food home. Thank you for all your donations. Our client list continues to rise each week – and we are blessed with wonderful volunteers.
The 10am Streamed Sunday Mass:
Fr Peter writes: I am going to continue to celebrate the Sunday 10am streamed Mass for as long as possible. I know that for some of you shielding at home it is your only experience of Mass at St Mary’s. However, at some point in August I intend to take a couple of weeks leave to see my family and have a rest. When that happens, I will let you know of another streamed Sunday Mass that you can tune into – so long as you return to mine when I am back from leave!
Mass in your Garden:
Fr Peter writes: This initiative is only for those who are shielding at home and cannot come to Mass at St Mary’s. While the weather is good, I would be delighted to come and celebrate Mass in your garden for you and some of your Catholic neighbours if your garden can be accessed without going through your house. If you would like to accept this invitation – please call either myself or Yvonne on the parish number and we can negotiate a time. You should have a table (to serve as an altar) and some garden chairs (or guests can bring their own).
Stewards:
Fr Peter writes: I could still do with a few more stewards to help with public Mass. The more we have in church – the easier it will be welcoming, seating parishioners and cleaning afterwards. Please take a look at the Mass times and see if you would like to be a steward. You must be under 70 and in good health.
First Holy Communion Parents:
Fr Peter writes: Before the summer break I would like to meet with you and discuss some ideas how to celebrate your child’s First Holy Communion. I suspect the pandemic will continue into the winter and it may be good to use the end of the good weather in the autumn if we can think creatively. Holly will be in touch with a Zoom Meeting invite this week.
Missalettes:
Fr Peter writes: Our missalette order has just been renewed – unfortunately there might be a gap of a couple of weekends until the new copies are received from the printers.
Baptisms, Sacrament of Marriage and Funerals.
Fr Peter writes: Baptisms can now be organised and like Weddings: the maximum number permitted to attend is 30. For weddings, a simple nuptial mass may be celebrated.
Funerals: the maximum number permitted to attend is 30. A simple requiem mass may be celebrated.
Saturday Evening & Sunday Mass Intentions:
Fr Peter writes: Due to the change in timetable the streamed Sunday Mass at 10am will remain for the “People of the Parish”. The Saturday morning intention will now be transferred to the 5pm evening Mass and Wednesday’s intention will be celebrated on a Sunday. Please do make contact with either myself or Yvonne if this creates a problem.
The return of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Fr Peter writes: As of Monday, you can return to the Sacrament of Confession with certain safeguards:
Please do not come to confession if you are feeling unwell or shielding at home.
I will be available for confession Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 11am – 12 noon. Please come to the presbytery.
Due to social distancing and ventilation, I will either hear confessions in the presbytery garden or, if it is raining, in church.
Due to above practicalities, all confessions will be face to face.
Mass on the Radio:
Cardinal Vincent writes: “I have received messages expressing concern about those not on the internet and the lack of opportunities for them to follow the celebration of Mass. One tenacious correspondent has found out that regular celebrations of Mass broadcast by RTE Radio are accessible here on a standard radio, on 252 Long Wave. Please tell those who receive the information to share it verbally with any people who, through lack of internet links, would otherwise not receive it. I understand that the full quota of Holy Week ceremonies will be broadcast on RTE. More detail is available from roger.childs@rte.ie.”
Being St Mary’s Parish - Staying in touch - Registration & Parish Census:
Fr Peter writes: It is very important that I am able to keep in touch with you. The shepherd needs his flock. Please update your parish details using the parish census sheet and return to me hand delivered via a volunteer who can come to the presbytery. It is so important that we stay in touch with each other. I will endeavour to send out a weekly newsletter to those without computers. If you are receiving post from us but have an e mail address, please let us know your e mail address. I will also use the live streamed Masses to convey notices