Our Church opens - 4th July 2020
Webmaster • June 27, 2020
REOPENING OF CHURCHES
St Augustine’s will be open for MASS on
Saturday, 4th July at 6.30pm and on Sunday 5th at 9am &11am and thereafter at
these times each weekend until further notice. I am hoping to be able to resume
the 8.30am weekday Mass but this will depend on the availability of volunteers.
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 one-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.
The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays is still suspended for everyone and
especially those who have been advised to self-isolate. Therefore, if you prefer
to come to Mass during the week [provided they have been resumed] please feel
free to do so. Those who have been experiencing “streamed” Masses from
various venues have found them very beneficial but I think everyone will be
pleased to be able to receive the Lord in Holy Communion once again.
I very much look forward to welcoming you all back again at the weekend.
The Knights of St Columba invite all parishioners to the meeting room at the back of the church for refreshments following the 6:30pm Mass on Saturday 18th July and the 11:00am Mass on Sunday 19th July. Absolutely everyone is welcome to stay for a chat. You can also learn more about our work; the Knights are actively looking to recruit new members, so if you are a Catholic man interested in faith, friendship, and serving our parish, come and find out how you can get involved.
This will take place on Sunday, 22nd November this year. Application forms available after the summer holidays.
There will be a retiring collection this week in aid of the Holy Father’s charities and to help defray his personal expenses.
SACRISTANS – required for the 11am Mass on Sundays. If you feel able to help please have a word with me after Mass. It mainly entails coming a little earlier and setting up the vessels, etc. Training, of course, given.
St Bede’s Catholic Church, Bishops Avenue, Chadwell Heath are launching a new club for elderly, isolated and lonely parishioners to give older parishioners regular opportunities to meet others. They know that across Ilford, there are many people who spend much of their time alone. This ‘Golden Hearts Club,’ plans to have meetings once or twice a week, initially on Monday mornings. Launch day is on Sunday the 7th June at 12.30pm , when those who are able, are invited to come for lunch, cost £10. Details can be found on the notice board at the back of the church.
In 2025 St Augustine’s Parish raised £3326.53 through our Red Boxes and donations to Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries. Thank You! Our missionary community here at St Augustines is part of a worldwide network of people supporting missionaries overseas through prayer and financial assistance. Communities around the world who are being supported by missionaries like the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who feature on this years Red Box Thank You poster, rely on your support so they can continue to flourish. Visit missio.org.uk to find out more.
