Category Archives: News

Re-opening the Church for private prayer

25 Jun
Dear All,
 
We have now received permission from the diocese to open the church for private prayer at the following times: Mondays 10.30am -12.30pm, Wednesdays 4pm – 6pm, Saturdays 10.30am – 12.30pm, Sundays 3pm – 5pm. Seven people will be allowed in the church at any one time and social distancing of 2 metres must still be observed. Hand sanitiser must be used on entry and exit and there is a single directional walkway which is indicated. So the first opening for private prayer will be this Saturday 27th June from10.30am – 12.30pm. 
 
The Prime Miinister has said c hurches will be able to open again from 4th July, for public worship. I do  not know at this stage how this will work. Bishop Patrick has sent out an email to the clergy about this. Here is an extract:

“Before I can send out to you clear guidance on how we shall open our churches again for public worship, after 4th July, I must wait to receive all the appropriate guidelines to be followed from the Bishop’s Conference Secretariat, who have been working with the various government agencies on how best this can be done. The Secretariat are now just waiting for final approval of this document. I hope that in the next few days I shall be able to share all the appropriate information with you.”

What is certain though as we look towards reopening our churches after 4 th July, is that every church that may wish to open for public worship will need to be able to fulfil all the various government requirements with regard to stewarding, hygiene and social distancing. Permission will only be granted for public worship to resume in a church that has put in place all these government requirements, and completed a full Risk Assessment, in order that we may keep our congregations safe, and to help to avoid the spread of the corona virus.”
 
I thank you all for your patience. 
 
God bless you all.
 
Fr Paul

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Letter from Fr Paul: Re-opening the church

9 Jun

Dear Parishioners

ON RE-OPENING THE CHURCH

As you will no doubt be aware, the Government has given permission for places of worship to re-open under strict conditions from next Monday 15th June for private prayer only. Our ability to open next Monday will be dependant on all the necessary measures being in place by then. If they are not we will have to delay. But it will soon be possible to come in on certain days and at specified times and pray before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I will let you know those times at the weekend and they will also be posted on the front door of the church. We are not able to resume the public celebration of Mass at this stage. This is a little further down the road and even then there will still be restrictions.

So the present situation regarding private prayer is as follows:

  • People with cold or flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to enter the church.
  • There will be a limit on the numbers permitted to enter the church at any one time and a single directional walkway will be marked out. Social distancing of two metres must be observed at all times. Please do not arrange for other people to come with you unless you are a family living in the same house.
  • The main entrance on Ashby Road will be used for entering the church and the disabled entrance on the left hand side by the Lady Altar leading into the car park will be used for exiting.
  • There will be no Holy Water in the stoups.
  • Many of the benches will be taped off or closed off. Alternate rows towards the back of the church will be reserved for people to sit in or kneel. Where you may sit on the bench will be indicated. This is necessary to maintain social distancing.
  • Paper materials such as pamphlets, leaflets, hymn books etc will be removed from the church.
  • It is not permitted to touch any of the statues. However you will be able to light votive candles at St Joseph’s Altar. Existing candles must be used to light new ones. There will be no lighters or tapers.
  • Anti-viral hand sanitiser will be provided at both the entrance and the exit to the church. Please note there will be no access to toilets during this time.
  • All surfaces, such as door handles and other frequently touched areas will need to be disinfected by the stewards throughout the day. Then after the church is closed, surfaces of the pews that have been in use as well as door handles must be washed down with warm soapy water and disinfected.
  • You may wear a face mask but this is not obligatory.
  • Parents are allowed to bring small children into the church but they will need to be managed appropriately ensuring they touch as few surfaces as possible.

Thank you to all those who have volunteered so far to act as stewards. If anyone else under the age of 70 and with no underlying health issues would like to volunteer to steward and clean the church at the end of each opening, please let me know by calling 01509 262123.

The above advice concerns the opening of the church for private prayer only. New directives will be issued in due course when public worship is able to resume.

I understand these measures are going to be a little burdensome but we must abide by the rules if we want our church to remain open. I thank you all in advance for your cooperation and support in these matters.

May God bless you all.

Fr Paul

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Live Stream Mass – Nottingham Cathedral

5 Jun

Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, special Masses are being celebrated for the sick, their families, care workers and NHS staff  by one of our diocesan Bishops of England and Wales, in his Cathedral every Thursday at 7pm.

On Thursday 11th June (Feast of St. Barnabas), Bishop Patrick will be taking his turn as part of this important initiative. the Bishop will be offering Mass at 7 pm, which will be live streamed from the Cathedral of St Barnabas on the Bishops YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/bishoppatrickmckinney

Do join Bishop Patrick at Mass that evening through the medium of live streaming.

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Letter from Fr Simon – 9 April 2020, Maundy Thursday

9 Apr

Dear Parishioners

I would like to wish all of you every blessing as we begin The Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Be assured that I remember  ALL parishioners at each Mass I say in our empty Church.

It would have been my sister Veronica’s 74th birthday today and I want to thank so many people who have remembered her in their prayers.She was cremated on 7th with just her four boys present, and I said Mass for her at the same time here.

Let us pray for all those suffering from or bereaved by the corona virus and for those brave souls who risk their own lives to care for them.

Let us pray too that a vaccine may soon be developed and that the world may begin to breathe a little more easily.

Our Sisters in the convent  where I used to say Mass each day are coping well, but remember them in your prayers as they remember you all.

Then our young people those preparing for Fist Holy Communion and our Confirmation candidates all need our prayers too.

We look forward to being able to go about again and remain hopeful that this is not too far away.

Kind regards

Father Simon

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The Pope’s Blessing and the Sacrament of Penance while the Church is closed

28 Mar
Dear All,
 
I’m sure lots of you tuned in to the Pope’s extraordinary “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing yesterday evening to the city of Rome and to the world with prayers to end the pandemic. It must be the first time in history a Pope has given this blessing to an empty St Peter’s Square.  The most moving moment for me was at the end when the Pope stood at the door of St Peter’s Basilica and blessed the world with the Blessed Sacrament as the bells of St Peter’s rang out joyously. 
 
It was a totally unique event. Normally the Pope only gives the Urbi et Orbi at his election and at Christmas and Easter. But the blessing yesterday was the Holy Father’s way of making himself present in all of our lives in this time of crisis. While he is live-streaming Mass daily on the internet, Mass on TV or the computer can’t replace your actually being present at the Eucharistic Sacrifice. But the Urbi et Orbi, which only the Pope does, does transmit over the TV, radio or internet. You receive all the blessings as if you were actually there in St Peter’s Square and a Plenary Indulgence was attached to all those tuning in.
 
 
Moving on to Confessions. During the present situation it is going to be very difficult for people to receive the Sacrament of Penance. Under these circumstances you may make an act of Perfect Contrition which when the Sacrament itself is not available can forgive even mortal sins, provided you resolve to go to Confession as soon as the opportunity arises. There is a really good explanation of this and also of a Spiritual Communion in the article below. Just click on the link below.
 
 
A reminder that there is Holy Water available outside the front door of the church for you to take and sprinkle in your homes and to bless yourselves with. Bring a bottle and fill it up. I see people have already been taking from it. Holy Water used with faith forgives venial sins and can give protection against evil and sickness. I have also put some printed newsletters along with the text for tomorrow’s Rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary outside the front door on a table. Don’t forget to join me in spirit tomorrow at 11am and make the Rededication yourselves. 
 
Please remember you may subscribe to the weekly newsletter online by signing up from any page of the website (right-hand column).  The homepage is updated daily with lots of new information.
 
And finally, let us continue to pray for an end to the pandemic and for all the sick, particularly those infected with the virus, for the needy, for the dying and those who have died. 
 
May Our Lord, Our Lady and St Joseph protect us all.
 
Fr Paul

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