Pentecost Sunday (Year A) 31st May 2020

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS NO PUBLIC MASS

Sun 31st May 10 am People of the Parish Mon 1st June The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church 10 am Marie Bloom, RIP

Tues 2nd June Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs 10 am Martin Gormally, RIP

Weds 3rd June Saints Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs 10 am Mary Giblin, anniversary

Thurs 4th June Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest 10 am Maureen Emeagi and family, special intentions

Fri 5th June St Boniface, Bishop and Martyr 10 am Marie Bloom, RIP

Sat 6th June St Norbert, Bishop 10 am Eamon and Mai Maloney and deceased members

Please pray for the sick and those who care for them, today especially for the frail elderly and for those who work as carers.

An alternative way to give your offertory collection: Our new “Just Giving Money Page” operated by Virgin. The link is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charities/StMaryFinchleyEast Last weekend the Just Giving Page raised over £500 in offertory money – many thanks. Baptisms, Sacrament of Marriage and Funerals. Fr Peter writes: Sadly baptisms and the Sacrament of Matrimony will be deferred until such time that the public health advice is that congregations can gather safely. Funerals will now take place at the graveside or at a crematorium, subject to the conditions laid down by the cemetery or crematorium authorities. Mass will be celebrated in memoriam when we are allowed to gather. We must keep in prayerful solidarity those who are grieving the loss of a loved one at this difficult time and offer as much support as we can. Saturday Evening & Sunday Mass Intentions: Fr Peter writes: As public Masses cannot be celebrated at this time, it is generally no longer appropriate for priests to celebrate Mass more than once a day, including on Sundays. This will mean that all Saturday evening and Sunday Masses which were to be celebrated for a special intention will now not be celebrated. Instead I will celebrate one Sunday Mass at 10am for the “People of the Parish”. If you have arranged for an intention for a Sunday Mass, I will defer this to the first available weekday Mass. I totally understand your disappointment, and if you would prefer to send your Mass intention to a missionary or enclosed community, let me know and I will arrange a refund. How to see St Mary’s 10am Daily Mass. Fr Peter writes: With the excellent assistance of Peter (a talented young man in the parish) and Holly you will be able to see me celebrate a daily 10am Mass in the Church via www.saintmarys.online Please let others know of this website -every day at 10am. We are working on the sound quality – hopefully will improve – but please turn up your volumes or wear headphones. Do not forget: Fr Peter writes: Even though you cannot come to church, I can still light a candle for your intentions. If you would like me to place a lighted candle underneath the statue of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady or St Anthony, please give me a call, or leave a message, and I will do so before the daily 10am Mass. UK Mutual Aid We connect volunteers to those needing assistance while self-isolating during covid19.To request help leave us a message: 020 31 377 488. We have volunteers in Barnet. We are good at Picking up Shopping • Sending Post or providing useful information • or just a friendly chat. We are a step nearer: Fr Peter writes: Over the past few days I have been getting the church ready to be opened for prayer. No date has yet been decided – but the Cardinal has given parish priests the go-ahead to do a Covid 19 risk assessment on church buildings and to begin to mark out social distancing measures around statues and pews. Some recommendations are very clear –  everyone must use alcohol hand gel when entering and leaving St Mary’s,  all toilets must remain closed,  social distancing means every other pew is closed and only end seats are available for use,  after leaving a pew, it must be cleaned before someone else sits there.  there is only one direction of flow – so you enter via the main doors and must leave the church by the side exits,  statues must not be touched.  Stewards are required in church while it is open for prayer.  Mass will continue to be said without parishioners present. These measures mean it would be prudent to open St Mary’s for a limited period each day, so that pews and surfaces can be cleaned. A suggestion could be 2-4pm one day and 6-7pm another. As referred to, the church will need “stewards” while these measures are in place – and due to Covid 19 diocesan requirements – the church can only be open, if stewards are present. Stewards must be in good health and ideally under 70 years of age. They would be required to direct people into church, ensure social distance guidelines are respected and clean a pew seat once someone has left. The more stewards we have, the more times the church can be left open. If you can help, please let me know. Zoom Lectio Divina: Next week’s Lectio Davina Zoom Meeting is on Tuesday at 6:30pm. We had a lovely group this week – and you are welcome to join us too! Meeting ID: 874 7469 1273 Password: 0HAKWm The Gospel passage we will be looking at is John 3: 16-18 – “God loved the world so much…..” Friends of Westminster Cathedral Lockdown Online Quiz Take part in the Friends of Westminster Cathedral Lockdown Online Quiz on Tuesday 2 June at 6.30pm on the Friends of Westminster Cathedral Facebook Page. The quiz is free to enter but we are asking if you might make a £5 per head donation. All monies raised will help to support Westminster Cathedral. Parish virtual teams are welcome and may communicate using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, What’s App etc.For more details and to enter email christinawhite@rcdow.org.uk Please note that the Friends page is private and you will need to join the page in advance to take part in the quiz.