A letter from Fr Philip Thomas [posted 12th June 2020]
Dear Parishioner,
Although we are still in uncertain times, we have been instructed that we can gently open churches for private prayer only. However, before we can do this, preparations have to abide by. The Bishops Conference has laid down some guidelines that need to be in place before we open.
There are guidelines and requirements to be looked at so as to ensure safe opening and safe visits for people. It’s much easier to include the complete set of guidelines that was sent this past week rather than trying to pull out little bits. They are clear and they are concise and are necessary.
I also have to ensure that the principles behind these conditions and guidelines are observed if we are to consider opening: the churches; even before then, there are some important preparations that will need to take place in both St Peter and St Michael’s Churches.
What needs to happen at this first stage? The churches have been closed for three months and they need to be cleaned, freshened up and prepared. I would like a team of volunteers who will help to sweep, dust and wipe down the surfaces of the church and get everything ready for opening. If you are available and (I’m sorry to have to state this) not belonging to one of those vulnerable categories of people in our community-regardless of whether you would consider yourself vulnerable-then please contact the parish office by email.
If you can bring along a mop, a duster or some cleaning cloths all the better. The Church Door will be open for you to come, but please do not congregate at the entrance. I will have a table prepared with particular tasks within certain areas of the church: take one and immerse yourself in that particular section until it is done. Social distancing must be observed even in this part of our preparations. Once the church is prepped then I will begin to mark the certain sections of the church that are not to be used for the time being and ensure that benches are clearly marked to ensure that those coming into church are not seated too close to anyone else.
Before we can open, I have to reassure the Bishop and Diocesan Curia that we can both meet the principles and implement the guidelines so as to ensure those who cross the threshold are safe and looked after. We will then be given permission to open, it will be for a certain number of hours each day. The proposal for both churches to be open are: St Michaels- Wednesday 10.00am-12.00pm. St Peter’s Tuesday-Friday 11.00am –1.00pm.
As much as it would seem a good thing or a nice thing to meet with others in church, and a most natural thing, the church is only open for individual prayer. If we cannot observe this requirement and individuals take it upon themselves to start gathering people, then we have to think again about opening. I do hope you will make use of the quiet, the space, the beauty and the tranquillity as we emerge once more out of the despair and confinement of the last twelve weeks.
Protecting those at higher risk (e.g. the elderly, those extremely vulnerable and shielding or clinically vulnerable and accessing annual flu immunisation) must be our consideration.
Volunteers will need to be in the church at all times to ensure that anyone coming into the church sanitises their hands both going in and going out of the building. It is recommended that people wipe the area in which they have been praying with an antiviral/antibacterial wipe as they leave. Each day when the church is closed, the building will have to be cleaned. Door handles should be cleaned regularly during the day when the church is open.
Ideally it would be good to have two volunteers for each hour. Of course, if it is not possible to find the volunteers then I will have to revise the opening of the church accordingly. Toilet facilities in churches are to remain closed to prevent any risk of transmission of infection I would rather we started with small steps than jeopardise all the good that has been done during lockdown. If you are able to help please email the parish office. We have to consider the welfare and well-being of the community at all times.
Remembering you and those you love in my prayers,
Fr Philip Thomas, Parish Priest, 12th June 2020
2021
Sunday 8th August 2021 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 1st August 2021 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 25th July 2021 Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 18th July 2021 Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary time
Sunday 11th July 2021 Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th July 2021 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 27th June 2021 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 20th June 2021 Twelve Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 13th June 2021 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 6th June 2021 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Sunday 31st May 2021 Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Sunday 23rd May 2021 Easter VIII Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 16th May 2021 Easter VII
Sunday 9th May 2021 Easter VI
Sunday 2nd May 2021 Easter V
Sunday 25th April 2021 Easter IV –
Sunday-14th-March-2021-Lent-4.1
Sunday-7th-March-2021-Lent-3
Sunday-28th-February-2021-Lent-2
Sunday-14th-February-2021-Sixth-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time
Sunday-7th-February-2021-Fifth-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time
Sunday-24th-January-2021-Third-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time
Sunday 17th January 2021 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 10th January 2021 – The Baptism of the Lord (1)
2020 (Year A)
Sunday 13th Dec 2020 – Advent IIIB Gaudete Expanded
Sunday 22nd November 2020 – Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 25th October 2020 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 18th October 2020 – Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th October 2020 – Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 20th September 2020 – Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 13th September – Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 6th September – 23rd Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 30th August – 22nd Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 23rd August – 21st Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 16th August – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday 9th August – 19th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 2nd August – 18th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 26th July – 17th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 19th July – 16th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 12th July – 15th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 5th July – 14th Sunday in Ord Time
Sunday 28th June 2020 – Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Sunday 21st June 2020 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 14th June 2020 – Solemnity of The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
Sunday 7th June 2020 – Trinity Sunday
Sunday 31st May 2020 – Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 24th May 2020 – 7th Sunday of Easter
Thursday 21st May 2020 – Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Sunday 17th May 2020 – 6th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 10th May 2020 – 5th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 3rd May 2020 – 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday
Sunday 26th April 2020 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Sunday 19th April 2020 – Divine Mercy Sunday
Sunday 15th March 2020 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Sunday 8th March 2020 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Sunday 1st March 2020 – 1st Sunday in Lent
Sunday 23rd February 2020 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 16th February 2020 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 9th February 2020 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Racial Justice Sunday
Sunday 2nd February 2020 – Presentation of the Lord
Sunday 26th January 2020 – Third Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 19th January 2020 – Second Sunday in Ordinary time
Sunday 12th January 2020 – Baptism of Our Lord
Sunday 5th January 2020 – Epiphany
2019
Sunday 29th December 2019 – The Holy Family
Sunday 22nd December 2019 – Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday 15th December 2019 – Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday 8th December 2019 – Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday 1st December 2019 – First Sunday in Advent
Sunday 17th November2019 – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 10th November2019 – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 3rd November2019 – Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 27th October2019 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 20th October2019 – Twenty-nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 13th October2019 – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 6th October2019 – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 29th September 2019 – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 22nd September 2019 – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 15th September 2019 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Sunday 8th September 2019 – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 1st September 2019 – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 25th August 2019 – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 18th August 2019 – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 11th August 2019 – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th August 2019 – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 28th July 2019 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 21st July 2019 – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 14th July 2019 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 7th July 2019 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 30th June 2019 – Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Sunday 23rd June 2019 – Solemnity of The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
Sunday 16th June 2019 – Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity
Sunday 9th June 2019 – Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 2nd June 2019 – 7th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 26th May 2019 – 6th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 19th May 2019 – 5th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 12th May 2019 – 4th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 5th May 2019 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Sunday 28th April 2019 – Divine Mercy Sunday
Sunday 21st April 2019 – Sunday of the Resurrection
Sunday 14th April 2019 – Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sunday 7th April 2019 – Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sunday 31st March 2019 – Fourth Sunday of Lent Laetare!
Sunday 24th March 2019 – Third Sunday in Lent
Sunday 17th March 2019 – Second Sunday in Lent
Sunday 10th March 2019 – First Sunday in Lent
Sunday 24th February 2019 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 17th February 2019 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 10th February 2019 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 3rd February 2019 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 27th January 2019 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 20th January 2019 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 13th January 2019 – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Sunday 6th January 2019 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
2018
Sunday 30th December – Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Sunday 23rd December – Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday 16th December – Gaudete Sunday
Sunday 9th December – Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday 2nd December – First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 25th November – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Sunday 18th November – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 11th November – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th November – Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 28th October – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 21st October – Twenty Nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 14th October – Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 7th October – Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 30th September – Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 23rd September – Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 16th September – Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 9th September – Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 2nd September – Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 26th August – Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 19th August – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 12th August – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 5th August – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 29th July 2018 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 22nd July 2018 – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 15th July 2018 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 8th July 2018 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 1st July 2018 – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 24th June 2018 -Solemnity of the Nativity St John the Baptist
Sunday 17th June 2018 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 10th June 2018 -Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 3rd June 2018 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Sunday 27th May 2018 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Sunday 20th May 2018 – Solemnity of Pentecost
Sunday 13th May 2018 -Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday 6th May 2018 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 29th April 2018 – 5th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 22nd April 2018 – 4th Sunday of Easter
Sunday 15th April 2018 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Sunday 8th April 2018 – 2nd Sunday of Easter Divine Sunday
Sunday 1st April 2018 – Sunday of the Resurrection
Sunday 25th March 2018 – Palm Sunday
Sunday 18th March 2018 -Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sunday 11th March 2018 -Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sunday 4th March 2018 -Third Sunday in Lent
Sunday 25th February 2018 -Second Sunday in Lent
Sunday 18th February 2018 – First Sunday in Lent
Sunday 11th February 2018 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th February 2018 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 28th January 2018 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 21st January 2018 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 14th January 2018 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 7th January 2018 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord
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