Saturday 18th
July 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This last week I have acquired some new companions who have
been a wonderful distraction. Three House Sparrow chicks have emerged from the
presbytery gardens and have decided to make the office windowsill their
playground. Their game today, as I write this parish update, is to peck out the
window sealant and stare, unabashedly, straight at me. I’m glad I’ve never
watched the Hitchcock thriller ‘The Birds’! As I stare back at my new feathery
friends, who seem not to have a care in the world despite the Covid-19
Pandemic, I’m reminded that Our Lord also looked at these creatures and
probably played with them as a child. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus
says:
‘Can you not buy
two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your
Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no
need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’ (Mt 10: 29 –
31)
In other words, if the actions of such a tiny creature can be
known by God, how much more does He know and love us, His children through
baptism. I have come to appreciate over these last four months the many
blessings that God has given, no matter how great or small. From the genuine
and sincere words of ‘How are you?’ to the supportive and encouraging actions
of others, especially in regards to the re-opening of church. All these gifts
and blessings are just simple reminders and signs of God’s ever present love
for us all. Maybe over these next few days we can reflect on the blessings that
God has given us in our own lives and how we in turn can be a blessing for
others by our words and actions.
The Bishop, in an email sent to the priests of the diocese
yesterday, wrote:
‘People seem to be very understanding. Most churches are
now authorised for opening for private prayer and an increasing number will be
open for Mass I have had no news of attempts to overcrowd beyond capacities. People
also seem to be generous in attending weekday Masses rather than all aiming for
Sunday. I am grateful, as I know you are, for the generosity of so many
volunteers who have made the re-opening possible. May I please ask that we
maintain the clear and now familiar 2 metre rule for social-distancing in
church rather than complicate matters with options regarding face masks and 1
metre? This makes particular sense in the light of the fact that we are still
in a relatively high “R” number zone.’
I would like to re-echo the Bishop’s words of thanks to all
those parishioners who have been so kind and generous in coming forward to help
re-open church and make it a safe environment. People are very anxious and
nervous, especially after watching the media coverage about Blackburn and
Darwen this week. Please, please do not feel that you have to come to Mass if
you are worried and scared. The Bishop has temporarily removed the Sunday
obligation for all Roman Catholics in our diocese. Most of the measures and conditions
imposed on us from the various authorities and official bodies are new and
unfamiliar. These can make people fret (even parish priests!) however, they are
temporary and not set in stone forever. What will the future look like? Who
knows? But as my new friends, the sparrow chicks have taught me, rest easy in
the peace of God and trust Him, for all things will be well. Amen.
Thanks to our volunteer stewards; because of them I am able
to celebrate Mass publicly on these further dates.
Tuesday 28th July 6pm – Votive
Mass of The Holy Angels
Wednesday
29th July 10am – Saint Martha (Memoria)
Thursday
30th July 10am – Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood
Friday
31st July 6pm – Saint Ignatius of Loyola (Memoria)
Again, following government directives, Bishops Conference
conditions and diocesan requirements people are asked, for the time being, to
book a place for Mass. See below for more details.
Preparation
•
We are all still dispensed by the Bishop from
the Sunday obligation.
•
The government and the Bishop have limited the
number of people attending the Holy Mass at our church to 30 people.
•
In order that we comply with this requirement
and maintain social distancing, a temporary phone booking system will be in
place. This is not ideal but we do not live in ideal times at the moment. I
would like to thank Ursula Heyes who has kindly volunteered to undertake this
temporary work.
•
To book please ring Ursula on Wednesday 22nd
July from 5pm - 6pm or on Friday 24th July from 5pm – 6pm on 232
433. For those parishioners that you know, who do not have access to the parish
website, could you kindly pass this information on.
•
People can also book online via the parish
website under the title ‘Bookings’. These further new Mass dates will be added
in the coming week. Again, you can only book for you or your household.
•
When you book you will be asked for personal
contact details in regards to the government’s NHS Test & Trace system. In
line with GDPR those details will be held securely for one month and then destroyed.
•
When you book, it will be for one particular
Mass at a specific date and time, you are not booking a Mass for
perpetuity.
•
Families may sit together. Please state this
when booking as all household members contact details will be required.
•
You cannot book on behalf of another person. One
household, one booking.
•
The stewards can only allow entry to those who
have booked.
•
There will be no public toilet facilities for
the time being in church.
•
The frequency of Masses and liturgies available
is entirely dependent of the generosity of time that volunteer stewards are
able to give. The more stewards the more Masses. If you would like to volunteer
please contact Jennifer Pickles at jennifer.pickles@virginmedia.com
This next section deals with the requirements and conditions
for celebrating the Holy Mass by both the diocesan authorities and the Bishops
Conference of England and Wales. I am grateful to our Dean, Fr. Stamp at St.
Anne’s, for writing this down in a clear and concise way and allowing me to
copy it.
•
People are asked to come to church in plenty of
time before Mass begins in order to make life easier for the volunteer
stewards.
•
As you enter church please wait at the back,
social distancing, and a steward will greet you and direct you to your
allocated seats. Mgr. Daly has reminded us to say: ‘Advise all that their
‘usual seats’ will not be available.’
•
There will be no Sacristans, Altar Servers,
Readers, Choirs, musicians or Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The
Bishops have made clear that for the celebration of Mass, no-one except the
Priest is permitted inside the Sacristy, only the Priest should touch the
chalice, vestments and sacred vessels, and no-one should approach the Priest
while he is on the Sanctuary.
•
There will be no Prayers of the Faithful
(Bidding prayers).
•
There will be no Sign of Peace.
•
Holy Communion will be distributed by the Priest
at the end of Mass instead of at the usual time. Stewards will direct
parishioners, row by row, to come forward for Holy Communion, after which they
will direct parishioners to leave the church via the one-way system. This is in
order to avoid the danger of people gathering together in the church after
Mass, to relieve pressure on Stewards to police this (remember they are already
kindly giving their time) and to ensure the church can be cleaned and
disinfected straight after. This is the method for receiving Holy Communion
recommended by the Bishop's Conference at this time.
•
There will be no singing or music during Mass.
•
Priests have been asked not to sign any Mass
cards to discourage anyone coming into the Sacristy before or after Mass. If
you would like a Mass offered, please write the priests name on the card and
post the donation with the intention through the presbytery letter box.
•
We have also been asked not to display any
notices at the back of church except the poster with details of the Parish
Safeguarding Representatives in case this causes people to 'bunch up' whilst
reading or looking at notices.
•
Social distancing of 2 metres will be observed
by all who are not living in the same household or sharing the same social
bubble. This removes the requirement for the congregation to wear masks, but
anyone who wishes to wear a mask and would feel safer doing so is welcome to
wear their own mask during Mass.
•
There will be no access to toilets or sinks. If
you require water during Mass, please bring your own bottle of water with you.
God Bless and keep praying
Fr. O’Brien