Fr Paul - Update on Mass
Fr. Paul • July 18, 2020
Update on Mass from Fr. Paul
St Augustine’s will be open for MASS on
Saturdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 9am &11am each weekend until further
notice. Stewards will be present in the church so please follow their instructions
at all times. The social distancing rules which apply generally continue to apply
within the church precincts. Those from the same household may sit together but
those from differing households must obey the new metre rule. The benches are
marked accordingly. If you would like to volunteer as a steward or in helping to
clean the church please email. Volunteers should not belong to either a group
being shielded or who are particularly vulnerable.
As of necessity the experience of the Mass will be somewhat different. Singing
is forbidden. Mass will proceed in the usual way, although slightly truncated,
until Holy Communion. At this point communicants will proceed in an orderly,
socially distanced queue towards the minister. Upon arrival at the point of Holy
Communion the communicant should extend their hand for reception of the
Sacred Host. The minister will say nothing and neither will the communicant.
The Sacred Host should be consumed at once. The communicant then returns to
their place in the church. Holy Communion on the tongue and from the chalice
are still not allowed. Mass will end in the usual way. By all means say “Hello”
to friends and parishioners whom you will not have seen for some time but
please always remember to abide by the social distancing rules. We are subject
to inspection and could be closed down again if we do not abide by the
regulations. Weekday Mass has resumed usually at 8.30am. However, please
see the newsletter for occasional variations.
The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays is still suspended. Therefore, should
you prefer to come during the week when there will be fewer people please feel
free to do so. Needless to say, we are still having to pay the bills even though the
church has been closed. It is possible to make a donation online through the
parish website [address overleaf].
This programme will commence in the New Year. Application forms are available at the back of the church. Please ensure a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate is attached to the form if they were not baptised in this parish. Completed forms should be posted through the presbytery letterbox. Any child in Year 3 and above who lives in the parish and attends Mass is eligible for First Holy Communion. Those who live outside the parish must obtain the permission of their own parish priest before applying.
The preparation for this Sacrament (for those already registered) will continue on Tuesdays, November 4th , 11th & 18th from 7pm – 8.30pm in the Meeting Room at the back of the church. The Confirmation Mass will be on Sunday, 23rd November at 11am.
Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection this weekend to share God’s abundant gifts with our global neighbours as they find lasting solutions to poverty and climate challenges. Your generosity offers “signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year, helping build more water tanks in communities like Waré’s in Ethiopia where women have to walk for hours to get water. Use the CAFOD envelope in church, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030. You can also text CAFOD to 70560 to donate £10.
Youth Gather is a weekend of faith, fun and friendship – with speakers, workshops, prayer and outdoor activities, meeting friends old and new, and all while sharing in and celebrating our Catholic faith. There will be coaches offering transport from around the Diocese included in the cost, as well as all meals, cabin accommodation and activities. This event is for year 9 and above. Apply now at www.bcys.net/events
WE WELCOME this Sunday H E Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, who will be celebrating the 11 o’clock Mass.
This week there will be the annual collection for Peter’s Pence which helps to defray the personal and charitable expenses of the Holy Father.