The Feast of All Saint
Dear Parishioners
Introducing Mass on a Sunday Morning
The onset of the dark winter evenings and the gradual decline in the number of parishioners attending the Thursday evening Mass, would suggest that this Mass be discontinued. I have consulted our stewards and we propose to end Mass on a Thursday evening and replace it with Mass on a Sunday in St. Patrick’s Church at 10.30. I am grateful to our volunteer stewards for agreeing to this proposal—for without their support and commitment, we are unable to open the Church for Mass.
Introducing Sunday Mass would still be in keeping with the Government guidelines of limiting social contact as much as possible and minimising interactions with other households as we would be offering the same number of Masses each week.
This change will take effect as from Sunday, 15th November, Government restrictions permitting
Initially we ask parishioners who are able to attend Mass on a Tuesday to consider not attending the Sunday Mass in order to provide the opportunity for those who can only attend on a Sunday to do so. This suggestion will be reviewed on a weekly basis and do remember that Sunday obligation remains suspended. Due to the restrictions, the format of Sunday Mass will be the same as Mass on Tuesdays.
Telephone Booking System
To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone, and to ensure we do not breach our maximum capacity of 70 parishioners in the church at any one time for a parish Mass, we will follow Government and Diocesan Guidelines and ask that parishioners who wish to attend Mass on a Sunday reserve a place in advance. This should prevent anyone having to be tuned away, which would have to happen if our capacity is reached.
To reserve a place for Sunday Mass a dedicated telephone number will be provided and published in next week’s Newsletter. This system has been adopted in most parishes in our Diocese that have been reopened and seems to work quite well.
Mass will not be the same
Sunday Mass will be considerably shorter than you were accustomed to before the lockdown in March, with several changes which we have had to adopt. Please read the Information sheet “Attending St. Patrick’s Church during Tier 2 Restrictions” which is available to download on this website.
Should you be coming to Church?
This is a question we should be asking ourselves if we fall into any of the vulnerable categories. Please read the item “Should I come to Church?” found later in this Newsletter.
Whilst we would always wish to welcome families back to Church, due to the Covid-19 Health and Safety requirements, we would suggest that children should only be brought to Mass if they are old enough to be able to adhere to the guidelines and can remain seated in their place at all times.
Please note, that while we will attempt to take all appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities to ensure our Church is Covid-19 safe, parishioners should understand that they assume the risk of contracting Covid-19 any time they enter a public space, since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection
For the safety of everyone
Please continue to look after each other, keep washing your hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and do try to keep at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with and help reduce the spread of the virus.
Pray for one another and please pray for me.
May God bless you and keep you safe from harm
Fr. Patterson
Mass to view on line
Mass is live streamed from our Cathedral on Sunday at 11.30 and on weekdays at 12.05. These services may be viewed live or anytime later. Alternatively, you may like to follow daily Mass from the Holy Name, Jesmond celebrated live at 10.00 or which may also be viewed any time later.
Mass Intentions
With the exception of Tuesday and Thursday, when there is a public Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, I will continue to celebrate Mass privately each day. These Intentions will be remembered this week.
- Monday – Albert Lagan
- Tuesday: 10.00 in St. Patrick’s Church – Jack Durham
- Wednesday – Vincent Dolan
- Thursday: 18.30 in St. Patrick’s Church – For all who have died.
- Friday – Fr. “P’s” Intentions
- Saturday – The sick, their families, NHS staff & Care Workers
- Sunday – For the intentions of all our parishioners
When you are unable to celebrate Mass with me, you may wish to make this act of spiritual communion:
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen
Please keep in your prayers this week:
- all our parishioners who are sick, housebound or in hospital
- Fr. Kevin Daly and Fr. Jim Dunne, both of whom are active priests in parishes, but are currently quite poorly and,
- all those near and dear to us whose memories we cherish at this time especially Vincent Dolan and Albert Lagan
All Souls Day – 2nd November
Archbishop Bernard Longley will celebrate a live streamed Mass, on Monday 2 November at 19.00, from St. Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham to acknowledge and remember those who have died this year. He says, “This year we remember, above all, the bonds of faith and affection that hold us in communion with those who have died. Their prayers will console and strengthen us as we seek to support one another under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic. May the Holy Souls pray for us.”
Our Departed Loved Ones
Mass this Thursday evening (5th November) in St. Patrick’s Church at 18.30 will be celebrated for all our deceased loved ones especially for those members of our parish families who have died during the past twelve months.
A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors
Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch.
In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen.
Should I come to church?
If you have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable the government is advising that you do not need to shield at the moment, but if you are in this category, you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low, as outlined in the Government Guidance.
Some people, including those aged 70 and over, are described as being clinically vulnerable, meaning that they are at a higher risk of severe illness from the coronavirus. Individuals who fall within this group are advised to minimise contact with others outside their household.
If you fall into either of these categories, or if you feel unsure about returning to Mass, you need to consider the wisdom of doing so.
Please remember, you are not obliged to attend Mass. Sunday obligation is suspended.
You must not come to Church if you are feeling unwell or if you suspect that you have Covid-19, (high temperature, new persistent cough, lack of taste or smell) or if you are living with someone who has or is suspected of having Covid-19. You MUST self-isolate in accordance with HM Government guidance and arrange for testing.
Please note, that while we will attempt to take all appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities to ensure our Church is Covid-19 safe, parishioners should understand that they assume the risk of contracting Covid-19 any time they enter a public space, since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection
What to expect when returning to Church
The Archdiocese of Liverpool have put together a video which gives us an idea of what to expect when you can return to Church.
On leaving the Church – Please be responsible and adhere to the law
Under Tier 2 Restrictions, it is against the law to mingle outside the Church after Mass. Parishioners are asked todisperse immediately on leaving the Church. Fr. Patterson urges those of you who come to Mass to follow this advice and in doing so set an example for others to follow and, of course, prevent the possible transmission of the coronavirus.
Parish finances and offerings
Fr. Patterson renews his thanks to those parishioners who, in these financially challenging times, regularly contribute to parish funds, which helps to meet the day to day financial commitments of our churches.
He is appreciative of those parishioners who are bringing their weekly offering envelopes to Mass or choose to drop them through the presbytery letterbox. Parishioners are also able to make their offering by bank transfer directly into the parish accounts or by cheque; the details of the accounts are below.
For security reasons, please do not put any envelopes through St. Alban’s Presbytery door. Envelopes for St. Alban’s parish should be posted through St. Patrick’s Presbytery door only.
If you Gift Aid your offertory contributions, the parish can reclaim the tax on your offering should you wish to make a bank transfer. It would be helpful to enter your name and Gift Aid envelope number as the reference when making the transfer.
Alternatively, you might wish to put aside your envelopes each week and bring them along to church when you feel able to come.
The details for bank transfers and cheques are as follows:-
St. Alban’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Pelaw St Alban, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 92010984
St. Patrick’s HSBC bank account name: DHN Felling St Patrick, Sort code: 40-34-18, Account No: 52010453
Grateful Thanks
Fr. Patterson is very grateful for a further donation of £387.87 from the Women’s’ Guild for St. Patrick’s parish funds.
Weekly offering envelopes
Several parishioners did not collect their new weekly offering envelopes before the lockdown in March. These are available for you to collect from Church after Mass on Tuesday or Thursday evening this coming week.
Parish News by Email
If you are aware of parishioners who would like to receive the Newsletter and other news from the parish by email, please ask them to email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk and they will be added to our contact list.
Printed copies of the Parish Newsletter are available at 10.00 Mass on Tuesday mornings.
Volunteers
A church can only reopen or stay open if there are sufficient volunteers to assist as stewards and cleaners at every celebration.
It is very easy to “sit back and let others do the work” but no church can fulfil the Government and Bishops’ Guidelines without an adequate number of volunteers.
If you would be able to help as a volunteer, and haven’t already done so, please email Fr. Patterson at felling.stpatrick@rcdhn.org.uk. Ideally you should not be in a vulnerable category to assist as a volunteer. The more volunteers we have, the less demanding it will be on your time, as it appears these restrictions are going to be with us well into next year.
Protect your loved ones – download the NHS Covid-19 App
If you have downloaded the NHS App, it may be used to register your track and trace details when coming to Mass in St. Patrick’s Church. Simply scan the QR Code which is displayed in the Church and is specific to St. Patrick’s Church only. Please have your phone ready and the App open before entering the Church so that you do not create a “pinch point” by having to search for your phone in your pocket or bag.
Should you choose to “sign in” using the App, you should leave your phone switched on whilst you are in the Church, but please ensure it is in silent mode!
You may of course continue to bring your Test and Trace details in an envelope and place it in the box at the front of the Church. The choice is yours to make.
Those who choose not to download the App or are unable to, should continue to bring their Test and Trace details in the usual way by means of an envelope.
Diocesan Website
More information and support may be found on our Diocesan website.
