Stop Press

Dear friends,

 

STOP PRESS!!!

I was about to send a message to you all, saying that we were awaiting the decision of the Diocesan authorities whether we could open our Churches for Mass in public next weekend, when I received a message from the Vicar General giving us permission. So both St. Pius X and Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus Churches will be open for Mass on Saturday 1^st August.

 

It will be necessary to book attendance on each occasion. Information regarding how to book will be given later in this message. Nobody will be allowed to attend who has not pre-booked.  There will also be considerable differences in the celebrations from what we have been used to.

 

The ‘Sunday Obligation’ remains suspended until further notice. The Bishops remind us that people who have been ‘shielding’, or who are caring for anyone who is extremely vulnerable, should not attend Church. Those who are ‘vulnerable’, including those who are over 70 years of age, should think carefully before attending, to make sure that they feel they can do so safely.

 

Children younger than 16 years old, and persons who are physically disabled or who have learning difficulties, must not attend Church unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult, who will be expected to look after them and ensure that safe practice is maintained.

 

Toilets will not normally be open.

 

Face masks must be worn. Please ensure that you bring a face mask with you to wear.

 

When you arrive at Mass, a steward will check that you have pre-booked. You will be asked to sanitize your hands in the porch, and to wear your face mask. There is no holy water in the porch, and there will be no newsletter to take into Church.

 

If you have brought an offering for the parish collection, please put it into the box which will be available in the porch. The collection will not be taken during Mass in the usual way. There will also be a box in the porch for items for the foodbank or for Mary’s Meals.

 

A steward will show you where you can sit. Places are marked on the benches or chairs, to ensure that all persons keep a safe ‘social distance’. It will be possible for families to sit together.

 

During Mass there will be no singing, though it is permitted for music to be played, and this may include recorded singing. Spoken responses are permitted.

 

Holy Communion can only be received as the host, and must be received in the hand. There will be no ‘dialogue’ at that moment. The chalice cannot be shared. Those receiving Holy Communion are requested to maintain the social distance in the line in the main aisle waiting to receive; and to come up to the line marked on the floor of the Church.

 

At the end of Mass, please do not stop in the porch. If you wish to talk to anyone, please wait until you are outside the Church building.

 

Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth

 

Times of Mass:

• 5.30pm on Saturday 1^st August;
• 11am on Sunday 2^nd August;
• 10.30am on Tuesday 4^th August;
• 10.30am on Thursday 6^th August.

 

Booking: Please ring (01455) – 553774 on the following days, and at these times:

 

Monday 27^th July                 between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

Wednesday 29^th July          between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

Friday 31^st July                     between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

 

These arrangements will change for future weeks. Further announcements will be made later.

 

Reader: Please wear gloves, and sanitize your hands before and after reading. There will be sanitizer available.

 

St. Pius X, Narborough

 

Times of Mass:

• 10am on Saturday 1^st August;
• 10am on Sunday 2^nd August;
• 10am on Monday 3^rd August.

 

Booking: You may book by email or by phone.

 

By email: johnhadley1971@gmail.com

 

By phone: (0116) – 2863676

 

I will take bookings (email or phone)

• between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday 28^th July;
• between 10am and 11am and between 6pm and 7pm on Thursday 30^th July;
• between 5pm and 6pm on Friday 31^st July.

 

Reader: Please sit on the short green bench in front of the lectern. Please wear gloves, and sanitize your hands before and after reading. There will be sanitizer available on the small table by the lectern.

 

All these arrangements are provisional: we will have to see how well they work, and make adjustments as required.

 

 

A great deal of work has been done by a number of parishioners of both parishes, and I am very grateful to you all. Saturday 1^st August is the Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, the patron saint (with Our Lady) of the Church in Lutterworth, so it is very fitting that we are able to reopen our Churches from that date.

 

We must all find other ways of maintaining a regular life of prayer, and I know that many of you have been innovative, either by finding new ways to pray and new intentions to pray for, or by accessing a wonderful variety of celebrations to join via the internet. I am told that YouTube has proved particularly valuable. The best I’ve been able to manage, I’m afraid, is teaching trainee deacons by Zoom!

 

Please pray for Elaine Smith, of Lutterworth, whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 28^th July (Lutterworth), and for Mary Smith, of Enderby, whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated on 31^st July (Narborough); and for Carolina Johnson (Lutterworth) whose funeral service will be celebrated on Wednesday 12^th August.

 

This week I will celebrate Mass at approximately 9am each day for the following intentions:

 

Sunday Doug and Patricia Partridge RIP; Monday John Bradshaw RIP; Tuesday the people of the parish (Mass in time of pandemic); Wednesday Father Joseph McGovern RIP; Thursday Canon Edward Matthews RIP; Friday Mary Smith RIP.

 

Next weekend, Mass will be celebrated at 10am in Narborough for these intentions:

Saturday People of the Parishes; Sunday Maxwell Corby RIP. At present I do not have information about the intentions of the Masses to be celebrated in Lutterworth.

 

Please pray for Michael Maloney, Teresa Maugham, Debbie Bourke, Sheila Knight, Elizabeth Fullerton, Mary Dunne, Ranjit Mann, Juanita Zaman, (all parishioners or relatives of parishioners), and Father Michael Horrax (retired priest of this Diocese) who are seriously ill; and for Carolina Johnson, Elaine Smith, Mary Smith, Sister Philippa, Sister Rita Winn, Kathleen Pearcey, Anne Kemp, Sheila Dunn, Joan Lamyman, Sister Breege Leddy, Steven Moger, Anne Foong, Michael Ginnerty, and all who have died recently. Please let me know of any others who have died, or anyone who is ill and wishes to ask for prayers, so that I can add them to the list.

 

Recycling Textiles: If any of you are clearing our wardrobes and chests of drawers, or will be doing so at the end of the summer, remember that the parishes can earn money by recycling textiles. The firm we use will take clean clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, sheets and pillowcases, and curtains; but not duvets, pillows, or cushions. Any such items (bagged of course) can be left on the doorstep of the presbytery, 52 Leicester Road Narborough, for us to recycle. We have been paid 30p per kilogram.

 

Contributions to the parish funds: As I mentioned last week, I have received a directive from the diocese that all parishioners must be encouraged to make their contribution to the Church collection by standing order or electronic means if possible. I can provide the parish Bank details to anyone who would like to donate in that manner – many of you already do so (and I am very grateful indeed). I can provide standing order mandates for anyone who wishes – please just ask. As mentioned above, we will not be allowed to take the collection in the normal manner, but there will be a box at the door for contributions ‘on the day’. The collection then has to be bagged up securely for 72 hours before being counted, and counters have to wear masks and gloves.

 

I unintentionally caused a bit of a stir at the meeting for stewards and cleaners at Narborough on Thursday evening, when I remarked to the volunteers gathered there that I also am a volunteer. Bishop Patrick has made it clear that no priest aged 70 or over (which includes me) is obliged to celebrate Mass in public, so my intention to do so classes me as a volunteer. In addition, since 1^st May I no longer receive a salary from either parish. That is my decision: I am a pensioner, and I still live rent free in the presbytery in Narborough, and I do get fed! At Christmas and Easter there will still be the opportunity for anyone who wishes to give a ‘Christmas/Easter offering’ which would be most welcome!

 

I am still thinking of you all and looking forward to meeting you again in person. I pray for you, and ask that you pray for me and for all members of our two communities. I hope you are all keeping well and virus free, and keeping as active as possible and in good spirits. If there is any way that I can help, please do let me know.

 

I am very grateful to all of you who have been distributing my thoughts and messages to those who may not have been receiving them directly. Do please think of those members of our community who may not be ‘computer-savvy’ or do not have email, or perhaps may not have given me their email address. You are welcome to share these thoughts with anyone else who you feel may benefit from them or would like to read them. Please also continue to pass on to me any messages from them – including email addresses. I would very much like to reach as many members of our communities as possible, and if my thoughts are of any benefit to those who are not in our community, I would be delighted.

 

With best wishes to you all, and assuring you all of my prayers.

Father John