Father Mark writes:
THANK YOU, DEAR PARISHIONERS, FOR YOUR WARM AND KINDLY WELCOME TO THE PARISH. IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE IN SUCH A LIVELY COMMUNITY. IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR ME TO SETTLE AND BEGIN TO WORK WITH YOU MORE EFFECTIVELY.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE PATIENT WITH ME IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE WILL NEED TO DO TOGETHER TO LIVE OUT OUR INDIVIDUAL VOCATIONS AND TO CELEBRATE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND "OUT THERE" IN THE WORLD.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS ALONE AND I WILL NEED YOUR HELP.
WE WILL NEED MUSICIANS TO HELP US CELEBRATE HOLY MASS MORE WORTHILY, AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS TO VISIT THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND, TO NAME BUT TWO MINISTRIES.
I WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THESE MINISTRIES, AND OTHERS, IN THE WEEKS TO COME. WE ALSO HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO: OUR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, CONFIRMATION AND RCIA PROGRAMMES WILL SOON BE STARTING.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT KEEPING ONE ANOTHER SAFE FROM COVID.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU KEEP WEARING YOUR MASKS, UNLESS EXEMPT, AND OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING WHERE POSSIBLE.
IF YOU FEEL ABLE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION IN THE HAND OUT OF CHARITY FOR YOUR FELLOW PARISHIONERS.
OF COURSE, IT IS NOW 'PERMITTED' TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE BUT THE PRIEST (OR MINISTER) MUST SANITISE THEIR HANDS IF CONTACT IS MADE WITH SALIVA. THIS IS TO PROTECT THE NEXT PERSON RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD SUNDAY AND A BLESSED WEEK.
MAY THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
BLESS US ALL AND KEEP US SAFE.
AMEN.
