Coronavirus
| Started on Sat 21/03 | Coronavirus and the Catholic Church The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales, after consultation with the Bishops of every diocese, have agreed that all public Masses must cease as of this weekend until further notice. The obligation for the faithful to attend Holy Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation is removed. Monsignor Gerard, Monsignor Dasey and Fr Albert will still be celebrating Mass every day privately, and the intentions will be published on the newsletter every week. LIVE STREAMING :- A DAILY MASS at 10.00am each day (including Sundays) our three priests plus Bishop Drainey will celebrate these Masses Praying the Rosary Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 3pm
The Cathedral website and St Francis website will have updates regularly and hopefully links to the live streaming (all of this in the hope that you have a computer?) I have had to suspend all baptisms and confirmations as-well as the Fist Holy Communion Masses that we were going to celebrate in May. There have also been weddings starting in May that have now been postponed, and we will be contacting all those with wedding planned for June and July. We have been asked to defer these celebrations until such time that people can gather in numbers safely. I am afraid that no pastoral visits can be made to people who are self -isolating. However, we are available via telephone to anyone who needs to talk, or a friendly voice to help. Many of our care homes now have definite restrictions. Regarding funerals during this period, this is going to be a very difficult time for family and parish, as we cannot celebrate Mass or have any public gathering. The advice from the Bishops is that we should have a funeral service at the graveside or at the crematorium, subject to the conditions laid down by the cemetery or crematorium authorities. Arrangements should be made for a Mass to be celebrated in memoriam when congregations are allowed to gather. Following the Prime Minister's announcement (23/03) ALL CHURCHES ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE God Bless you all Monsignor Gerard. Contact us on : 01642 597750 Finally, please note that under the new regulations St. Francis Social Club is closed until further notice. | |
| Updates on Tues 24/03 Sat 28/03 Tues. 24/3 Tues.24/3 | ||