Preparing to celebrate Mass Together again. Volunteers urgently needed

As you know the Government have indicated that public Masses will be permitted in churches from 20 July as long as certain conditions are met. This date could be moved closer or postponed depending on the virus.

It’s important to remember that things won’t be ‘going back to normal’. We have to get used to living with this virus until a vaccine is found which will probably be this time next year at the very earliest.

With current social distancing of 2 metres St Mary’s church will only have capacity for less than 60 people and St Feichin’s for no more than 30 people. These numbers can be increased if households sit together and come to the same Mass. It looks likely that parishioners will be able to fulfil their Sunday commitment by going to a weekday Mass and the parish will make provision for morning and evening weekday Masses.

I imagine for everything to go smoothly we will need a large number of volunteers – stewards and cleaners. Please contact Fr Patrick by e mail or drop a note in the letter box if you are willing to help. (e mail patrickcc@me.com)

For the weekends, I am probably looking for over 8 stewards for St Feichins and 12 for St Marys (allowing for extra Masses). Stewards would divide into teams and would only have to steward one Mass each. They would meet parishioners at the church door and bring them directly to their seat. The same number of cleaners, divided into teams would also be needed in order to get the job done quickly. When I have the weekend stewards organised we will begin looking for volunteers for the weekday Masses

Without parishioners help and cooperation the authorities will not permit us to gather together for Mass. Each parish will have to make available a detailed plan of how they will keep people safe while attending Mass and at other public celebrations such as funerals and weddings. I will hold a meeting towards the end of June with these volunteers when we will know more of what our responsibilities are. Training will be provided. ‘Hand sanitizing stations’ have been ordered for the entrances to each church.

It will all take a bit of getting used to and some learning along the way. If we approach it in the right manner it should bring our community even closer together

.Let us continue to remember each other in prayer.

Fr Patrick