Sadly, No Masses this Sunday

I write with a heavy heart as I will have to cancel Masses for this coming Sunday at St Catherine's due to the strange times forced upon us all by Coronavirus. 

As many parishioners will know, I have been in France for a few days this week. However, I have been caught out by the sudden imposition of 14 day quarantine for those returning from France. I have made desperate attempts to arrange a booking to allow me to return before the deadline tomorrow but to no avail, as everyone else seems to have had the same idea! So although I may be able to return tomorrow, it will not be possible for me to celebrate public Mass for 14 days.

I have been unable to find a priest to cover at this short notice - many of those who might usually do so as retired priests throughout the diocese are also in age and health circumstances that restrict them from doing so.

With the uncertainty surrounding all this, I cannot say for definite when Masses might resume but I will keep parishioners informed via email and here on the Blog as soon as I can be certain.

We would have been celebrating the beautiful feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven this Sunday. I hope you will still honour this lovely feast in the best way you can and I will be offering my Mass for all your intentions.

 

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year

 

We restarted public Masses last week but numbers were about half of what we might have expected on a usual Sunday. This seems to be the experience of others who have opened up as well. Not surprising as many will still be shielding for various reasons and others will not have heard that we are open again. Though I fear that there will be a number who have gotten out of the habit and may never return to Sunday Mass. We shall see. 

In the light of the numbers, we are reducing to two Masses, which still leaves plenty of space for the social distancing rules in place. So please make a note that for the time being - Sundays in Covid time, as it were, our Masses will be at 8.30am and 10am only. Actually our 10am Mass was particularly prayerful with just the Latin chant being sung (properly distanced and shielded) by a cantor, very calm and gentle. 

For all the difficulties and tragedies of this time, we trust in the Lord, hearing his words in the Gospel:

Courage! Do not be afraid!

Mass times for this coming Sunday changes

Just a note to give advance warning that this coming Sunday and following we will reduce to two Masses. Simply, there are not enough people returning as yet to warrant three Masses.

SUNDAY 

(both Masses in the Ordinary Form)

Mass at 8.30am

Mass at 10am

++++++++

For the rest of this week:

Thursday 7pm - Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Friday 9.30am - Mass (OF)

Saturday 12 noon - Mass (EF)

Return of public Masses

We return to the public celebration of Mass 

here at St Catherine's tomorrow Sunday 2nd August.

8.30am - 

10am - with music but no congregational singing

11.30am - EF

+++++

Eighteenth Sunday. Year A in the Ordinary Form

  9th Sunday after Pentecost in the Traditional Form

Return of public worship next Sunday: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary time

Dear Friends,

The Parable in the Gospel this week reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth a great deal. The closest we get to it in this life is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and it is with great joy that I can affirm that St Catherine's will re-open for public worship next Sunday, 2nd August. Please do disseminate this new to as many people as possible, as not everyone is online.

Masses at the usual times of
8.30am
10am
11.30am - EF


We now have all the necessary PPE to prepare the church building and volunteers who must assist with each Mass.

Stewards at the door will direct people in and to monitor social distancing and cleanse the church after each Mass (disinfecting door handles, light switches, benches etc.) Each volunteer will be provided with an identifying lanyard.

You will know that the lockdown has produced a severe reduction in our finances. If you have been putting aside your collection money each week, please do remember to bring it along. Although quite a few people give by direct debit, we have probably lost about £6,000 in the eighteen weeks of lockdown.

You may also use the Archdiocesan website to contribute to the parish online by going to:

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-catherine-laboure-farington

With joy I now look forward to seeing as many as possible of you next Sunday. Let us pray with the saints (these here are especially associated with relief in times of epidemic and illness)  for an end to these troubles.

Saint Sebastian - pray for us
Saint Camillus de Lellis - pray for us
St Lazarus - pray for us
St Damien of Moloki - pray for us
St Catherine - pray for us


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we open, here are some of the rules which will be in force:

GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

A reminder that when we do open, those who are socially self-isolating must continue to do so.

Social distancing guidelines are still in force. One metre.

Ever second bench will be roped off and distanced seating arranged on the remaining benches.

Church doors and windows should be left open.

Volunteer stewards are required to be on hand to direct hand sanitising on arriving and leaving, to

direct people to benches and to encourage worshippers to maintain reasonable social distancing.

Votive candles may be lit (but only from a lit candle.)

Single use newsletters, Mass sheets, or other papers may be used but must be taken home. Please bring a Missal if you have one.

Only the priest should be on the sanctuary – without deacons, servers, readers etc. 

There will be no Sign of Peace.

There should be no handshakes or hugs etc. after services.

Collections should be in a basket on the way in and the way out.

Lingering clusters of conversation in the porch or outside the church are to be avoided.

Volunteers are required to sanitise bench surfaces and doors etc. after each Mass. That may mean

the number of Masses needs to reduced.

To avoid volunteers having to sanitise toilets after each individual use, they must remain closed and

only be used in a genuine emergency.

You will enter by the main door but leave by the emergency exit in the Confessional Room.

There will be no refreshments after Mass.

Communal singing is not allowed.

You must wear a face mask. Please bring yours with you.

HOLY COMMUNION is not allowed to be distributed during Mass.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Mass intentions are still offered as requested and you may continue to send them in.  Mass is offered each day for all who live in the parish and for all our intentions each day.

Your Prayers are asked for all the sick, including: Rita Sarbrick, Rosena Stacey, Vivienne Lee, Tom Miller, Paul Casey, Linda Melling, Tilly Gee, Kathleen Ward, Clare Butler, Maureen MacDonald, Louie Baines, Maureen O'Brien, Margaret McNiff, Elle Miller, Mark Duncan, Hild Gibbons, Bill Sutton, Barbara Fow, Mary Ann Monaghan, Bernard Lawson, Mick Marshall, Carol Parkinson, Margaret Cheston, Eric Neilson, Alan Cottam, Seámus McLoughlin.

We pray for those who are housebound and for those who love  and care for them. 

O Mary conceived without sin - Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

----------------------------------------

If you would like to pray through the Mass online or via TV here are some links below. Some people find it a way of preparing in some fitting way to make a Spiritual Communion in these times when the actual Mass is not available:

If you have access to Facebook, the beautiful little church of Corpus Christi on Maiden Lane in London has Mass each day.           https://www.facebook.com/corpuschristimaidenlane

Also on Facebook, the Canons at St Walburge's in Preston stream many Masses and Devotions: https://www.facebook.com/icksp.preston/

If you have Sky TV or you can also access EWTN at: https://www.ewtn.com/

With many other programmes that you might find useful.

The Oratorians at Cardiff: http://cardifforatory.co.uk/live-stream/

 
The Fathers of the Fraternity of St Peter also stream their Masses and devotions from Warrington St Mary's at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/livemass/warrington/index.html 

You can even join in Mass live from Westminster Cathedral: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/index.php

---------------------------------------------

God keep you,

Fr Simon.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Parable of the wheat and the tares.

Dear Friends,

The Parable in the Gospel this week of the weeds, sown by Satan, among the wheat, reminds us that God's Justice and Truth always ultimately triumph. At harvest time the weeds are tied up in bundles to be burnt, says Our Lord. It requires of us patience, perseverance and trust. In other words the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Of which, you can read more here: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-seven-gifts-of-the-holy-spirit

While many parishes are still not able to open up as yet for various practical reasons, I hope that we can open up for public Mass once again on Sunday 2nd August.

We now have all the necessary PPE to prepare the church building and volunteers who must assist with each Mass - although more are always welcome to help ease the burden

Stewards at the door will direct people in and to monitor social distancing and cleanse the church after each Mass (disinfecting door handles, light switches, benches etc.) Each volunteer will be provided with an identifying lanyard, a face visor, gloves and plastic apron.

Going by anecdotal evidence, the few parishes that have opened up have found that there are still many people not in the position to begin attending again, though the rule remains that you should not seek out parishes other than your own to attend, as this might overwhelm their capacity. The Archbishop still has in force the emergency suspension of the Obligation to attend Sunday Mass, so no-one falls in to sin by being unable to attend.

For the remaining time, we should all do something to keep the Sabbath day holy; perhaps by taking part as best we can in an online Mass, by keeping a tie of family prayer, by reading and reflecting on the Scripters of the day, by setting aside time for private prayer, spiritual reading or praying the Rosary.

With joy I now look forward to seeing as many as possible of you in the near future. Let us pray with the saints (these here are especially associated with relief in times of epidemic and illness)  for an end to these troubles.

Saint Sebastian - pray for us
Saint Camillus de Lellis - pray for us
St Lazarus - pray for us
St Damien of Moloki - pray for us
St Catherine - pray for us


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

When we can open, here are some of the rules which will be in force:

GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

A reminder that when we do open, those who are socially self-isolating must continue to do so.

Those who are able might be encouraged to gather on a weekday rather than a Saturday evening or

Sunday, to release the pressure on weekend Masses.

Social distancing guidelines are still in force. One metre.

Ever second bench will be roped off and distanced seating arranged on the remaining benches.

Church doors and windows should be left open.

Volunteer stewards are required to be on hand to direct hand sanitising on arriving and leaving, to

direct people to benches and to encourage worshippers to maintain reasonable social distancing.

Votive candles may be lit (but only from a lit candle.)

Single use newsletters, Mass sheets, or other papers may be used but must be taken home. Please bring a Missal if you have one.

Only the priest should be on the sanctuary – without deacons, servers, readers etc. 

There will be no Sign of Peace.

There should be no handshakes or hugs etc. after services.

Collections should be in a basket on the way in and the way out.

Lingering clusters of conversation in the porch or outside the church are to be avoided.

Volunteers are required to sanitise bench surfaces and doors etc. after each Mass. That may mean

the number of Masses needs to reduced.

To avoid volunteers having to sanitise toilets after each individual use, they must remain closed and

only be used in a genuine emergency.

You will enter by the main door but leave by the emergency exit in the Confessional Room.

There will be no refreshments after Mass.

Communal singing is not allowed.

You must wear a face mask. Please bring yours with you.

HOLY COMMUNION is not allowed to be distributed during Mass.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A reminder that although our own church cannot just yet open, there are churches nearby you can  visit for private prayer. Please contact them to see if this is possible.

 --------------------------------------

Your Mass intentions will still be offered as requested and you may continue to send them in.  Mass is offered each day for all who live in the parish and for all our intentions each day.

Your Prayers are asked for all the sick, including: Rita Sarbrick, Rosena Stacey, Vivienne Lee, Tom Miller, Paul Casey, Linda Melling, Tilly Gee, Kathleen Ward, Clare Butler, Maureen MacDonald, Louie Baines, Maureen O'Brien, Margaret McNiff, Elle Miller, Mark Duncan, Hild Gibbons, Bill Sutton, Barbara Fow, Mary Ann Monaghan, Bernard Lawson, Mick Marshall, Carol Parkinson, Margaret Cheston, Eric Neilson, Alan Cottam, Seámus McLoughlin.

We pray for those who are housebound and for those who love  and care for them. 

O Mary conceived without sin - Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

----------------------------------------

If you would like to pray through the Mass online or via TV here are some links below. Some people find it a way of preparing in some fitting way to make a Spiritual Communion in these times when the actual Mass is not available:

If you have access to Facebook, the beautiful little church of Corpus Christi on Maiden Lane in London has Mass each day.           https://www.facebook.com/corpuschristimaidenlane

Also on Facebook, the Canons at St Walburge's in Preston stream many Masses and Devotions: https://www.facebook.com/icksp.preston/

If you have Sky TV or you can also access EWTN at: https://www.ewtn.com/

With many other programmes that you might find useful.

The Oratorians at Cardiff: http://cardifforatory.co.uk/live-stream/

 
The Fathers of the Fraternity of St Peter also stream their Masses and devotions from Warrington St Mary's at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/livemass/warrington/index.html 

You can even join in Mass live from Westminster Cathedral: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/index.php

---------------------------------------------

Please do continue to keep in touch via our Parish Facebook page and my blog. I continue to be in touch with parishioners via phone calls and emails.

May I ask that, if you are able, please continue to put aside your weekly offering each Sunday and bring it with you when things return to some normality. If you would like a Standing Order form, please contact me. 

You may also use the Archdiocesan website to contribute to the parish online by going to:

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-catherine-laboure-farington

God keep you,

Fr Simon.

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year

The Parable of the Sower

Dear Friends,


The parable of the Sower in this week's Gospel reminds us all that we need to prepare the ground of our soul to receive God's grace. The Sacraments, Prayer and living according to the Gospel and the Precepts of the Church are the ways in which we can do this.

When it comes to reopening our church for Mass, preparing the ground is also important and the Archdiocese has in force strict regulations before this can happen.

Unfortunately, many parishes are - for various reasons - still not opening for public Mass.

We now have all the necessary PPE to prepare the church building and for the volunteers who must assist with each Mass.

However, we do not have enough volunteer stewards for us to go ahead with this. We need stewards at the door to direct people in and to monitor social distancing and we need one or two more to cleanse the church after each Mass (disinfecting door handles, light switches, benches etc.) Each volunteer will be provided with an identifying lanyard, a face visor, gloves and plastic apron. To open we still need some more volunteers to do this for each Mass but, especially for the 10am and 11.30am Masses.

Until all the equipment is in place and we have the volunteers, I cannot submit the form to the Archdiocese to seek approval for re-opening.

Going by anecdotal evidence, the few parishes that have opened up have found that there are still many people not in the position to begin attending again, though the rule remains that you should not seek out parishes other than your own to attend, as this might overwhelm their capacity. The Archbishop still has in force the emergency suspension of the Obligation to attend Sunday Mass, so no-one falls in to sin by being unable to attend.

However, we should all do something to keep the Sabbath day holy; perhaps by taking part as best we can in an online Mass, by keeping a tie of family prayer, by reading and reflecting on the Scripters of the day, by setting aside time for private prayer, spiritual reading or praying the Rosary.

You may have seen televised Masses from elsewhere but other dioceses have differing protocols.

I am disappointed that still we cannot open for public Mass but only two churches in this Deanery have so far been able to do so and only two in the neighboring Chorley Deanery, so many parishes are finding it difficult.

I hope that you all remain well and I know that many of you are helping one another.

May God grant us the grace an patience to make the best use of these difficult times and I pray that we will as soon as possible be reunited before the Real Presence Of Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass very soon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

When we can open, here are some of the rules which will be in force:

GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

A reminder that when we do open, those who are socially self-isolating must continue to do so.

Those who are able might be encouraged to gather on a weekday rather than a Saturday evening or

Sunday, to release the pressure on weekend Masses.

Social distancing guidelines are still in force. One metre.

Ever second bench will be roped off and distanced seating arranged on the remaining benches.

Church doors and windows should be left open.

Volunteer stewards are required to be on hand to direct hand sanitising on arriving and leaving, to

direct people to benches and to encourage worshippers to maintain reasonable social distancing.

Votive candles may be lit (but only from a lit candle.)

Single use newsletters, Mass sheets, or other papers may be used but must be taken home. Please bring a Missal if you have one.

Only the priest should be on the sanctuary – without deacons, servers, readers etc. 

There will be no Sign of Peace.

There should be no handshakes or hugs etc. after services.

Collections should be in a basket on the way in and the way out.

Lingering clusters of conversation in the porch or outside the church are to be avoided.

Volunteers are required to sanitise bench surfaces and doors etc. after each Mass. That may mean

the number of Masses needs to reduced.

To avoid volunteers having to sanitise toilets after each individual use, they must remain closed and

only be used in a genuine emergency.

You will enter by the main door but leave by the emergency exit in the Confessional Room.

There will be no refreshments after Mass.

Communal singing is not allowed.

You must wear a face mask.

HOLY COMMUNION is not allowed to be distributed during Mass.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A reminder that although our own church cannot yet open, there are churches nearby you can  visit for private prayer. Please contact them to see if this is possible.

 --------------------------------------

Your Mass intentions will still be offered as requested and you may continue to send them in.  Mass is offered each day for all who live in the parish and for all our intentions each day.

Your Prayers are asked for all the sick, including: Rita Sarbrick, Rosena Stacey, Vivienne Lee, Tom Miller, Paul Casey, Linda Melling, Tilly Gee, Kathleen Ward, Clare Butler, Maureen MacDonald, Louie Baines, Maureen O'Brien, Margaret McNiff, Elle Miller, Mark Duncan, Hild Gibbons, Bill Sutton, Barbara Fow, Mary Ann Monaghan, Bernard Lawson, Mick Marshall, Carol Parkinson, Margaret Cheston, Eric Neilson, Alan Cottam, Seámus McLoughlin.

We pray for those who are housebound and for those who love  and care for them. 

O Mary conceived without sin - Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

----------------------------------------

If you would like to pray through the Mass online or via TV here are some links below. Some people find it a way of preparing in some fitting way to make a Spiritual Communion in these times when the actual Mass is not available:

If you have access to Facebook, the beautiful little church of Corpus Christi on Maiden Lane in London has Mass each day.           https://www.facebook.com/corpuschristimaidenlane

Also on Facebook, the Canons at St Walburge's in Preston stream many Masses and Devotions: https://www.facebook.com/icksp.preston/

If you have Sky TV or you can also access EWTN at: https://www.ewtn.com/

With many other programmes that you might find useful.

The Oratorians at Cardiff: http://cardifforatory.co.uk/live-stream/

 
The Fathers of the Fraternity of St Peter also stream their Masses and devotions from Warrington St Mary's at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/livemass/warrington/index.html 

You can even join in Mass live from Westminster Cathedral: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/index.php

---------------------------------------------

Please do continue to keep in touch via our Parish Facebook page and my blog. I continue to be in touch with parishioners via phone calls and emails.

May I ask that, if you are able, please continue to put aside your weekly offering each Sunday and bring it with you when things return to some normality. If you would like a Standing Order form, please contact me. 

You may also use the Archdiocesan website to contribute to the parish online by going to:

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-catherine-laboure-farington

God keep you,

Fr Simon.