NEWSLETTER

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Sunday 26 July 2020

Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear Parishioners

With this email comes the Weekly Newsletter and Monika Manser’s Handout to aid contemplative reflection on this Sunday’s Gospel reading.

Although we had been expecting the Government to change the law so that the wearing of face coverings would be obligatory in church, this did not happen.  As long as we retain the “2 metre” distancing rule in church face coverings are not obligatory, although the Government guidance states that their use is still “strongly recommended”.  Thus, whilst taking note of that preference, it remains a personal choice whether you wear a face covering during Mass or not.

Numbers coming to Mass are beginning to increase, which is a very good sign.  I know that there are parishioners who will continue to self-isolate because they are clinically vulnerable and/or fearful of the heightened risk of infection when gathered with others in an enclosed space.  This is absolutely understandable, given the present circumstances.  However, if you would like to receive Holy Communion at home, please do let me or Rosie in the Parish Office know and arrangements can be made for the Blessed Sacrament to be brought to you instead.

St John’s School broke up for the Summer on Tuesday.  A beautiful and moving video was made for the Year 6 Leavers, as it was not possible this year due to COVID restrictions to hold the usual Leavers’ Mass and other celebrations to wish them well as they move on to Senior School.  Those of you who have access to the parish Facebook page will be able to see a part of it, which has been uploaded there.  The headteacher, the teachers, the teaching assistants and all the support staff have done a magnificent job over the last months, keeping the school open for the children of Key Workers and for children with other needs and to welcome the Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children back for the last part of term.  They all deserve our gratitude and a well-earned rest, as further challenges are ahead when school starts again in the Autumn.  Please keep them all in your prayers.

I hope you are keeping well and safe.

Be assured of my prayers for you.

With every blessing

Fr Kristian

Parish Office Hours

The Parish Office is normally open on:

Monday to Thursday from 10.00am-1.00pm

Friday from 10.00am-1.00pm

Rosie, the Parish Secretary, is there to deal with all routine parish administrative matters, as well as to help with any other pastoral enquiries.

During these hours it is possible either to visit the Office, which is situated next to the Presbytery, being careful to observe the necessary social distancing rules, or to contact Rosie by telephone.  Emails can be sent at any time, although these will only usually be answered during Office hours.  The contact details can be found in the Contact Us section of the website.

Masses at St James

Mass is celebrated at St James on:

  • Tuesday at 10.00am
  • Wednesday at 12noon
  • Thursday at 6.30pm
  • Friday at 12noon
  • Saturday at 6.00pm
  • Sunday at 10.00am and 11.30am

It is very important that you let the Parish Office know that you would like to come to a particular Mass.  At the moment there are sometimes spare seats at some of the Masses so you can chance turning up without booking, but there is no guarantee that there will be a seat available

Although the wearing of face coverings in church has not been made obligatory if social distancing remains at 2 metres, the Government has said this week that they are “strongly recommended”.  Until we need greater seating capacity, we will retain the 2 metre rule in St James and therefore it is entirely your decision whether or not to wear a face covering when at Mass.

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. Please contact Canon Kristian or Rosie if you can offer some of your time. Thank you to those parishioners who have stewarded on an ‘ad hoc’ basis and are ‘on call’ if needed for one-off cover slots, and those parishioners who are stewarding on a regular weekly basis. We could do with a third person to steward the 11.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

A Huge Thank You …

… to Christine Pickford, our very own Sewing Bee, for her tireless efforts in making such wonderful face masks for the Parish.  There seems to be a colour and pattern to suit all tastes, so we can colour co-ordinate ourselves when we need to don them. Christine is not charging for the masks, but is donating any money they bring in to charity.  It is a suggestion that perhaps a donation of £2.00 per mask, for those who are able, would be appropriate.

Youth Events in the Diocese

Saskia Hogbin, the Diocesan Youth Events Worker, has asked that the following be put in parish newsletters for our young people:

“On 26 September there will be Zoom workshops for young people to discuss the future of our planet and ways we can teach others to look after it.  We plan to share a prayer service at St Peter’s, Crownhill, later that day.  Bookings will be taken in September.

In October there will be a series of five sessions exploring Faith, Music and Creativity.  One Hope Project will lead three of the discussions.  These are aimed at young people aged 13-21.

Lastly I am looking for young people across the diocese to help put together a short film of prayer and reflection.  We are looking for people to sing as well as those that will share thoughts, reflections and read prayers.  The theme will be ‘My Spiritual Journey: Living through COVID0-19’.

If you are interested in any of these events or have ideas for any future events, please email youth@prcdtr.org.uk.”

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.

Dial-a-Mass

For those who do not have a computer or access to the internet, the Diocese of Middlesbrough in conjunction with the Knights of St Columba have set up a telephone service on which you can listen to a recording of Sunday Mass, which is available from 12noon each Sunday until the following Sunday.  The Mass tends to last approximately 45 minutes and only costs the price of a local call.  The Knights of St Columba cover the additional 34p that each call costs.

The number to call is 01642 130120.

200 Club

There will be a draw in August.  Those members that pay annually will be credited for the four months not drawn and those that pay monthly will not owe for those months.  For the August draw, those who pay monthly are asked either to leave the money in a clearly marked envelope at the presbytery or to send a cheque to the Parish Office, made payable to the “Parish of St James and St Boniface”.  Any queries, please contact Simon Coombs (01884) 258331 or email sicoombs@aol.com.

Parish Giving

Lockdown has been a difficult time financially for many of our parishioners and so we are truly grateful for those who have continued to give their parish offerings by way of Standing Order. Your offerings are important to sustain the life of the parish. There are baskets at the entry and exit to the church for those who contribute by using Planned Giving Envelopes or cash.

Along with other parishes of our dioceses, we are also exploring the possibility of introducing “cashless giving” by means of a “Tap and Donate” system similar to the contactless pay methods that are now used in many shops and services.  Further information will be forthcoming when the details are finalised.

Masses and Events this week

Saturday 25 July

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

Sunday 26 July – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am and at 11.30am (Pro populo)

Tuesday 28 July – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am

Wednesday 29 July – St Martha (Patron of innkeepers, cooks, dieticians)

  • Holy Mass at 12noon – Sam Pennie RIP (anniv)

Thursday 30 July – St Germanus of Auxerre, Bishop

  • “Coffee Morning” on Zoom at 11.00am
  • Holy Mass at 6.30pm – Helena and Val Kelly (birthdays), Clementina Caterina Lapworth RIP (anniv)

Friday 31 July – St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

  • Holy Mass at 12noon

Saturday 1 August – St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm (18th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

※※※ Congratulations to Anna Zuboviča and Robert Radtke ※※※

who were married at St James on Saturday 25 July!