Message from Canon Kristian

Dear Parishioners

I am sending you the weekly Newsletter as usual, together with the guide to imaginative contemplation provided by Monika Manser and with an advertisement for the Senior Camp for this year’s Summer Catechetical Camps that will take place on line due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.  Deacon Michael Turnbull, the Chair of the Camps Committee writes:

Our plans for “Virtual Summer Camps” are moving ahead rapidly, and we are planning to offer a “camp” experience online for all age groups. 

 This year, as one might expect, contacting people through church and school has not been easy, and as we come to the end of the school term, the schools have found themselves bombarded by paperwork and guidelines for the opening of schools in September. 

 I wonder whether I might ask for your help to spread the news to the young people in your parish, inviting them to join us for a taste of the Summer Camps. 

 The numbers for the Junior Camp are reasonable, but we would welcome more young people for the Senior Camp (years 7-10) and for St Petroc’s (years 11-13) in particular.

 Please circulate the attached file, to whoever you feel may be interested.  We have a deadline of 17th July for sign up for this year’s camps.

The Summer Camps are a great way for the young people across the diocese to meet up and get to know each other (if only virtually, this year), and I hope some of our youngsters will take part on line.

It has been really great to be able to celebrate Mass together with some of you this past week and I hope that as many of you as possible to take up the opportunity to come to Mass again on a regular basis.  It will take us a while to get used to the “booking” system, but this administrative task, which has been put in place so that we are all protected from the spread of COVID-19, should not take away from our joy at being able once again to celebrate the Mass together – the source and summit of our Christian life.

I hope you continue to be well and that you will enjoy what promises to be a sunny weekend.

With prayer and every blessing

Fr Kristian

Holy Mass at St James

Our new Mass schedule has been running for almost a week – Tuesday at 10.00am, Wednesday at 12noon, Thursday at 6.30pm, Friday at 12noon, Saturday at 6.00pm and on Sunday at 10.00am and 11.30am – and it has been a delight to be able to celebrate Mass together, even if the church environment feels a bit strange and our numbers for each Mass are limited.

Rosie has been kept busy in the parish office answering calls and responding to emails from those parishioners informing her of Masses they would like to attend.  It is quite an administrative task to allocate places that ensure the social distancing is maintained and everyone kept as safe as possible, but things will hopefully settle into a new routine as the weeks progress.  It is very important that you let the Parish Office know in good time that you would like to come to a particular Mass as, once we have reached the limit, we are not permitted to allow additional people into the church. That said, even if you have been to Mass once already within a week, it is always worth contacting the Parish Office if you would like to come to other Masses.  There is always the chance that there will be some free spaces.  Rosie is in the Parish Office on Monday-Thursday 10.00am-1.00pm and on Friday 10.00am-2.00pm

All the Masses have been well attended so far but, although we are limited to between 17 and 30 people at Mass because of social distancing regulations, there has been room at most of them for a few more people. It looks as if some Mass times will be more popular than others and, if this becomes a trend, alterations can be made to the schedule to maximise the numbers who can get to Mass.

You will remember that the Bishops of England and Wales have continued to suspend the “Sunday Mass Obligation” in order to allow those who can to take part in Mass during the week, thereby making room at the weekend Masses for those who are working or who otherwise cannot get to Mass during the week.

National Guidance from the Bishops’ Conference regarding the celebration of Mass has also been issued, which the Bishop has made obligatory throughout the Diocese. Mass will be a bit different from what we are used to, particularly the way we receive Holy Communion, which may only be received under one kind and only into the hand.  The “Amen” response to “The Body of Christ/The Blood of Christ” will be said together before Holy Communion is given out, so that Holy Communion is received in silence with the communicant stretching his/her arms out to full length, with one hand on top of the other opened as flat as possible.  The priest will be separated from the communicant by a barrier to ensure that the social distancing is maintained.  People must follow the indications of the Stewards with regards to when to go to Holy Communion and to the directions out of and back into their pew.

At least two Stewards (three on Sundays) need to be present at each Mass to ensure the observance of social distancing, to take the details of those present, if necessary, and to sanitise the church afterwards. We need to have more volunteers to become stewards, so that the responsibility can be shared across the parish community. Remember that without stewards we cannot celebrate a Mass, so please contact Canon Kristian or Rosie if you can offer some of your time.  (Those who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable cannot act as Stewards, but those who are classed as clinically vulnerable, which includes anyone over 70, can act as a Steward alongside a person who is not classed as clinically vulnerable)

Please be aware that the toilets and the kitchen are out of use at this time.

St Boniface

The Rose Window has been expertly repaired by stained glass window craftsmen and re-installed in St Boniface.  A protective shield will now be placed over the outside to prevent further damage due to vandalism.

We look forward to the time when St Boniface can be opened again for Mass.  Unfortunately, it will be extremely difficult under present restrictions. Even if the “one metre plus” rule with the compulsory wearing of face coverings were to be adopted, only a very small number of people would be able to fit into the church due to its size and shape and the position of its entrance/exit points.  Also, as two Stewards must be on duty whenever a church is open for Mass, we would need volunteers to take on this role.  Please contact the Parish Office if you would be willing to act as a Steward when St. Boniface can be re-opened, bearing in mind the restrictions noted above.

Imaginative Contemplation of the Gospel

A handout to help us to pray with this Sunday’s Gospel using our imagination is available under the Resources section of the parish website. There is an opportunity to pray this Gospel together in our weekly on-line prayer group.   Contact monika.manser@btinternet.com for the Zoom access details.  All welcome.

Holy Communion at Home

It is now possible for us to take Holy Communion to those who cannot come to Mass because they are vulnerable, sick or housebound.  If you would like to receive the Sacrament at home, please contact the Parish Office and arrangements will be made for someone to bring the Blessed Sacrament to you.

Parish Newsletter

Over the last few months, most parishioners have been receiving the Newsletter by email.  This has been a good development since not only can attachments like the weekly imaginative prayer reflections be easily added, but the reduction in the use of paper and other printing materials is better for the environment.  In addition, to reduce the possibility of cross-infection, we are not permitted to leave leaflets or booklets of any sort in church.  So, going forward, we are aiming to be as “paperless” as possible.

If you have not been receiving the newsletter by email and would like to, please email your email address to the Parish Office and it will be added to the mailing list.  However, if you are unable to access email, do let the Parish Office know and we will endeavour to have the newsletter delivered by post.

The newsletter is also made available either to read online or to download as a PDF on the parish website each week.

Requiescant in Pace

Please pray for the repose of the souls of Stella Todd and Marlene Trew, whose funerals take place this week.  May they rest in peace.

Diaconate Ordination of Albert Lawes

Albert Lawes, one of our seminarians, will be ordained a deacon this Sunday at 2pm in the Cathedral.  You are warmly invited to take part in this Mass, to pray for him and to support him as he journeys towards the priesthood, by going to the link: https://youtube/PbSEtNlkhOo.

Masses and Events this week

Saturday 11 July – St Benedict, Patron of Europe

• Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

Sunday 12 July – 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

• Holy Mass at 10.00am
• Holy Mass at 11.30am

Tuesday 14 July – Weekday

• Holy Mass at 10.00am
• Requiem Mass for Stella Todd at 12noon

Wednesday 15 July – St Bonaventure

• Holy Mass at 12noon

Thursday 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carmel

• Holy Mass at 6.30pm

Friday 17 July – Weekday

• Holy Mass at 12noon

Saturday 18 July – Weekday

• Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm (16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time)