Fr Rory Writes:
With the help of God we will be able to re-open our churches for Mass. First and foremost this is to be appreciated for the right reasons, with great care given. It will be influenced by a) the fact that we do not, while this outbreak of coronavirus continues, have an obligation to go to Mass, b) social distancing and all the other measures required for health and safety purposes will need to be in place.
So there are reasons to have fears and to take these into consideration. As this is “Fr Rory Writes” it is not prescriptive and the date have to be changed in order to have all the safety measures in place. Happily, we are hoping to open our churches for Mass on the weekend of the 18th/19th July. There is still work to be done to achieve this with all safety concerns carefully managed. Numbers will be greatly reduced because of the need for social distancing.
We have good teams working together and our first meetings were very successful, but they did open my eyes to how difficult it is to ensure the safety of everyone in both churches, whilst matching the requirements of our diocese, who dictate how much preparation is necessary.
Only 36 people may attend at any one time at St George’s. If you are not at work during the week, you are strongly encouraged to attend a weekday Mass to allow those who are working to attend on Sundays.
You will need to apply for your chosen day, and we ask that you keep to this. (Details as to how to do this will follow)
Times of Masses during the week are:
St. George’s Church – 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays
St. Wilfrid’s Church – 10am on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Our Mass time experiences will be very different.
Restrictions are imposed as follows:-
Numbers are restricted to a Maximum of 36 people at St George’s to ensure social distancing
If you are at all unwell, please DO NOT attend church
It is recommended that small children and babies are not brought into the church
You will be met at the door, you must give your name and contact details to the usher
Sanitise your hand and wear a mask (this is compulsory)
The usher will guide you to a marked bench/seat at appropriate distance from anyone not in your household. There are arrows on the floor, guiding you through the one-way system.
Please do not genuflect to any of the statues, or touch them or any surface unnecessarily
No leaflets or Missals will be provided. If you bring your own you MUST take them home with you.
Please do not converse with anyone outside your own household, to limit the spread of the virus
There may be music, but no singing is allowed
Mass will be shorter to reduce the time spent indoors with other people
The sign of peace will be not be exchanged
The reader, Eucharistic Minister and Priest will always be on the altar
The Priest will remain socially distant at all times
There will be no offertory
Cash offerings must be placed in the boxes provided at the entrance and exit to the church.
Communion under one kind will be distributed at the end of Mass.
An usher will guide you to communion when it is safe for you to enter the aisle, always maintaining social distance
There will be a small physical barrier between the recipient and the Minister. The distribution of the Host will be in silence with arms at full stretch, palms upwards, one on top of the other, as flatly as possible. Communion may not be received on the tongue.
You will leave the church immediately after Communion, through the Sacristy door at St George’s. Take ALL your belongings with you (including your mask) and leave your offering in the box provided. (you may not return to your seat under any circumstances)**
You will be asked to sanitise your hands before leaving the church
**If you cannot manage the steps leading to the sacristy, please wait to receive communion until all others have left. The usher will escort you and you may leave through the back porch.
There will be NO tea/coffee after any Mass. The hall remains closed
The lavatories are closed
Please continue to maintain social distancing whilst in the car park
PS. You will need to apply to the Parish Office for your preferred day as the number at each Mass is so strictly limited, either email [email protected] or phone 01323 841504.