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 preparation for this Sacrament will take place on Tuesdays October 21st and November 4th , 11th and 18th from 7pm – 8.30pm in the Meeting Room at the back of the church. The Confirmation rehearsal will be on Saturday, 22nd November at 10am in the church. The Confirmation Mass will be on Sunday, 23rd November, the Feast of Christ the King and National Youth Sunday at 11am. Please make a note of these dates now.
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.
This week there will be the annual collection for the Sick & Retired Clergy Fund of the Diocese. Donations can be made in the Second Collection, online via the diocesan website. The fund helps clergy who require assistance in their retirement after years of service and it also helps those who are in ill health at any age.
North Ilford Fellowship of Churches are inviting everyone to Pentecost Songs of Praise on Sunday, 8 th June in Ashurst Drive Baptist Church. There will be refreshments afterwards. I attended the NIFOC committee meeting this afternoon. People were saying how much they enjoyed the World Day of Prayer service at our church.
This year we celebrate 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea in 325, which gave the Church the Creed still used at Sunday Mass. Deacon Ken Carleton, dean in the formation programme for deacons, and accomplished church historian, will lead a study day to explore how the Creed was produced, and what role was played by the Emperor Constantine in this first world Council of the Church. The study day will take place on Saturday 7th June from 10.30 (Coffee) until 2 pm, with a break for lunch, at the Catholic Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park, RM2 6DH. Easy access on the Elizabeth Line, or from the M25. The programme will be live-streamed on www.whatgoodnews.org and available subsequently on the same website. You will be very welcome to attend in person as we celebrate that the Lord Jesus is ‘consubstantial with the Father’.
Missio is the Pope’s charity for World Mission. We ignite God’s love by helping local missionaries to walk alongside global communities who are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. I would like to thank you on behalf of Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries for raising £3202.88 in 2024 through the Red Box and direct giving, including direct debits and online donations. Thank you for your continued support for our global church, through prayer and generous giving, despite the challenging times we live in. On the poster at the back of the church is Fr Glenn, a Mill Hill Missionary, with his parishioners at Mary Mother of God Church, in the rural parish of Tamping, Cambodia. In 2024, you provided essential support to enable Missionary Priests, just like Fr Glenn, to go out to some of the most remote areas of their parish to share the Sacraments and the message of the Gospel with their communities. This is the very essence of being a missionary disciple, and something we can all share in. Our Parish here today is connected to our global community through the celebration of the Eucharist and through prayer.
Many thanks to those who support this scheme. The parish bank account was recently credited with £17,209.59 by the tax[wo]man. Very many thanks also to our gift aid administrator, Ms Maxima Emmanuel, for all her hard work in making this possible. If you pay income tax and would like to join the scheme please see me after Mass. It takes just one simple form and it costs you nothing. The parish simply claims back the income tax you pay on any donations you already make to the parish in the weekly collection.
