A message from Father Goodman:

(Updated 10/07/2020)

The Bishop's Conference of England and Wales have recently announced that the restrictions on public worship will be partially lifted, from the 4^th July at the earliest.

Our Lady's is now marked out for social distancing and ready to reopen.
Corpus Christi will open for public Masses as early as this can be done safely.

This weekend, Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady's on

• Saturday at 9.30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday at 8.45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Then Masses will follow the schedule in the Masses & newsletter panel

Please note:

• People must provide face coverings which must be worn. (I can provide a disposable face covering for anyone who arrives without, price £1.)
• Please arrive in good time, to minimise queuing outside the church; you will be shown to a seat by one of the stewards. (if the steward is busy showing someone else to a seat, please wait your turn to be shown to a seat).
• Enter by the main double door. A one-way system will be in place in church. You will be shown to your seat by going towards the altar down the central aisle.
• Due to social distancing requirements, there is a reduced capacity (Please note that a married couple or family group count as one, and should sit together).
• Offertory collections: a collection bag or basket will be in the narthex so you can leave your offerings as you enter the church. (The offertory collection will not be taken up during the Mass).
• Holy Water stoups are empty.
• Please sanitise your hands on entry.
• There will be no congregational singing, and no singing by groups/choirs.
• Cards with the order of Holy Mass will not be provided. People are encouraged to bring their own Missals/ipads/tablets to follow the order of Mass and the readings. Any printed newsletters should be taken home because they cannot be re-used.
• Holy Communion will be distributed after Holy Mass has been completed. Stewards will direct individuals to Holy Communion, and sanitise hands. People should queue for Holy Communion in a socially distanced manner, approaching the Altar along the central aisle and in single file.
• Face coverings/masks should be removed to receive Holy Communion and then replaced immediately.
• Only the priest will distribute Holy Communion.
• People should then proceed down the side aisles, and leave via the side doors from the narthex.
• Livestreaming will continue for the benefit of the housebound, and those who must continue to shield.
• There will be no lavatory facilities available
• Churches must be sanitised after each celebration of Holy Mass.

All other gatherings such as choir practice, children's catechesis, First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes and so on will remain cancelled and will be rearranged at a later date.

When Our Lady's is open for private prayer, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for private adoration. For practical reasons, this will not be live streamed.

Please pass on this information to any friends you know who have no access to the internet.

Let us pray for one another in this difficult and distressing time. Please pray particularly for those who are going to be lonely and isolated at this time.

God bless you,
Fr Goodman Parish Priest, Corpus Christi and Our Lady’s