SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Year B) Clergy: 6th December 2020 Very Rev Canon Tom Farrell, Parish Priest [email protected] Dear Parishioner’s Fr Chris Yule: [email protected] We continue our Advent journey and planning our Christmas masses. We have some Deacons: Rev Pat Flanagan: [email protected] ”Walk With Me” prayer books and calendars available at the back of church in addition Rev Gerry O’Reilly: [email protected] to those sent home through the schools. With the change of regulations, we can now Rev Ton Janew: [email protected] Rev Joe Patterson: [email protected] offer public mass each day and will continue the livestream Rosary each evening. Please see the details of mass times on the grid below. Very importantly this week, Rev Keith Millage: [email protected] we will begin the booking arrangements for Christmas masses. We will open the church will be open throughout the Christmas season up to the bookings on Monday morning and ask that if possible, you use the Eventbrite booking Epiphany to make private visits. Remember also the Crib in the system. There are separate links for Christ the King and St Augustine’s and the details Broadgate if you are out shopping. There is a lovely blessing are on the parish website and in the box on the next page. If you are not confident ceremony if you haven’t seen it on the parish website. Thanks to with computers you could always ask another member of your family to book for you, Con McHugh and Alice Robinson for putting this together. but as a last resort you could always email the parish office or phone the parish office We will need lots of help to cope with these Christmas masses and on Tuesday or Wednesday between 12 noon and 2.00pm. We will start with a 2.00pm would ask people to volunteer as stewards. We need 4 Stewards mass at both Christ the King and St Augustine’s. There will also be a 4.00pm, 6.00pm per Christmas mass to help seat people safely. We won’t need and an 8.00pm mass at both churches, so 8 masses in total over Christmas Eve. There collectors as your offerings can be placed in the basket at the front, will also be a 9.00am Christmas morning mass at both Christ the King and St but stewarding will be vital. Please let us know what mass you Augustine’s. There will be a 10.30am Christmas morning mass at St Augustine’s and would be willing to help at. a 12 noon mass at Christ the King, so 4 Christmas morning masses. This means 12 Please remember that all over the Christmas period the masses choices! We will also have masses at 12 noon on the 3 days before Christmas Eve, will be broadcast as usual so if you feel safer at home, please

Monday to Wednesday for those who want to avoid crowds and maybe feel the need continue to watch over the webcam. The Bishops have still given to be cautious. These will not be booked but will have the Christmas Liturgy and us permission to do this and this is valid as your Christmas duties. recorded carols. We will advertise the Christmas masses as widely as possible and it We will have Confessions every Saturday morning and Saturday would be helpful if you could let others know about these special arrangements so evening. It will not be possible to have a Penance Service safely that people do not just turn up without letting us know. It is important that we spread but hope the opportunity for Confessions over the next few weeks the crowd between the 12 masses on offer or that we make use of the three masses will help. We will also offer a Spiritual Act of Reconciliation at each Monday to Wednesday. The Crib will be up on Saturday 19th December for private of the Saturday morning masses. We will be sending out letters to devotion as we can’t have people crowding round the Crib after the masses. The all parishioners throughout the Coventry Deanery over the next week or so through the parishes and schools to let you know about

Christ The King Church arrangements for Christmas. Clearly things will not be as normal Saturday 9.30am Brenda McDonald. 80th Birthday. and it is important that people co-operate with the arrangements 6.00pm Michael McNulty. Anniv. and make others aware of what to expect. Each parish will st st Second Sunday 9.00am Maureen Orton. 1 Ann. Eileen Fagan. 1 Ann. advertise their times and booking arrangements and this will be of Advent Bridget Fernando. Dec’d and Peter Silva. Anniv. on parish newsletters, websites and through the Deanery website 6th December 2020 12 Noon Baby Charlie Ellis. Anniv. as well. Please make people aware of this as we can’t just have Monday 9.30am Siobhan Twistle’s Intentions. people turning up unexpectedly.

Annie Wapples’ Intentions. Thanks to those who have supported the Foodbank and all Tuesday 9.30am Special Intention. (JM). donations have been gratefully received. The Foodbank, the Dily and Mick Gordon’s Intentions. Carrier s of Hope and the Youth Group are all involved in helping Maggie Rattigan’s Intentions. projects for those in need and all your donations will help these Wednesday 7.00am Adam Keane’s Intentions. good causes over the next few weeks. Thursday 9.30am Mairead McEnerney. Special Intention. There will be a mass on Thursday 17th December at 6.30pm for the Phillip Bowkett. 1st Anniv. young people of our parish. The young people who are in Year 7 Friday 9.30am Brenda McDonald. Birthday Intention. will receive a letter over the next week and the young people

7.00pm Fr McKiernan. 50th Anniv. already involved in the Youth Group will be informed via

Saturday 9.30am Charlie Ward. Dec’d. WhatsApp. Any other young person that would like to attend, Edward, Bridie and Eddie Friel. Anniv. ple ase ask a parent to contact the parish office to book a place. This 6.00pm Sheila Johnston. Anniv. James Maher. Anniv. mass will be streamed online and it will just be the young people Third Sunday 9.00am Eithne, Sean, Francis & Elizabeth Gilleran. Ann. who will attend in person. of Advent 12 Noon Sheila Casey. Anniv. Thanks to all who have supported generously through the 13th December 2020 Jim, Benny and Paddy McGovern. Anniv. pandemic. We still have many of our same costs and we are grateful for any donations received. St Augustine’s Church We would like to receive into the Church those who had to be Sunday 10.30am Len Hatton. Anniv. Paddy Mills. Anniv. postponed at Easter. Could those people phone the office and we Mary Harnett. Month’s Mind. can arrange individual times for them in one of the masses leading Wednesday 9.30am Peter Donnelly. Dec’d. up to Christmas Sarah Folan’s Intentions. Just remember the extra 7.00am mass each Wednesday for Sunday 10.30am Bernard West. Anniv. Advent . God bless

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES AT CHRIST THE KING AND ST AUGUSTINE’S (Please click on the link for which Church you wish to attend and this will bring you directly to the website. You will then be able to choose which mass you wish to attend on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day)

CHRIST THE KING – CHRISTMAS MASSES: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-masses-at-christ-the-king-tickets-131336018567

ST AUGUSTINE’S – CHRISTMAS MASSES: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-masses-at-st-augustines-church-tickets-131340893147

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST CARRIERS OF HOPE: It is our parishes turn during the first two weeks of Advent to collect food and toiletries. Any donations left in church will be delivered there. Many thanks as always for your generosity. FEEDING COVENTRY at Foleshill Community Centre would like to say a huge thank you for all the support received from the parish since March. Your generous donations have enabled us to feed 500-600 people per week, provide 168 free school meal packs in October half term, 200 breakfast packs every week in the summer holidays and 70 deliveries per week to vulnerable people during the height of the pandemic. Volunteers have come forward from CTK to help at the centre and make deliveries. Feeding Coventry are incredibly grateful for your support. If you would like to volunteer please contact Helen Needham on 07925 019330 or email [email protected]. If you would like to contribute food donations towards our Christmas appeal, please see below the wishlist of items we would most like to receive. Luxury Biscuits, Festive Chocolates, Cranberry Sauce, Packet Stuffing, Tinned Meat/Tuna, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Squash, Jam, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Spread, Cereal, Tinned fruit and veg, UHT Milk, Pasta, Rice. CHRIST THE KING COMMUNIITY CENTRE. Unfortunately, due to the new COVID 19 restrictions the club will be CLOSED until further notice. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter, Facebook, Google Listings and www.ctkparishcentre.co.uk. VACANCY AT THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BIRMINGHAM – Job title – Chief Operating Officer. Location: Birmingham. Contract tenure: Permanent, Full-time. Salary: £80,000to£90,000 p.a. Closing date for applications: 9am, Friday 18th December. If you would like to receive an Information Pack for this role with details on how to apply, please send an expression of interest and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile in confidence to our consultant, Jenny Hills at: [email protected] COVENTRY PIONEER ASSOCIATION the Memorial Mass of Fr McKiernan will be on Friday 11th December at Christ the King at 7.00pm. This will be his 50th Anniversary Mass. If you wish to attend, please contact Deacon Gerry O’Reilly on 024 76 333881. For those unable to attend you can. CTK PASTORAL CARE GROUP Hope to contact by telephone, those attended the September Community Lunch. These calls will be made before Christmas. If you were not there, but would appreciate a telephone call, please ring Fiona on 024 76 591618 and leave your details. CTK PASTORAL CARE GROUP MEETING on Tuesday 8th December at 2.00pm in CTK parish Library.

Make an Act of Spiritual Communion

This can be done whilst you watch a live stream of Mass being offered by saying the following prayer:

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment 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.”

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Bishops have asked that all should make a Perfect Act of Contrition. Perfect contrition (or a Contrition of Charity) is true and real sorrow for our sins which is created when we realise the immense love of God for each one of us. We express this contrition when we realise how we offend God by our sinful words, deeds and omissions in contrast to the immeasurable love and mercy that He continually shows us.

This requires us to be contrite of heart for what we have done, know and be overwhelmed by the love and mercy of God for His children, and to approach this grace with humility and resolution not to sin again.

An Act of Contrition

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. This week we pray for those recently deceased Thomas Hart, Grace Jakeman, Margaret Neenan, Eddie Healy and Maureen McCann May they rest in peace

Re st In Peace

This week we pray for those recently deceased Thomas Hart, Grace Jakeman, Margaret Neenan, Eddie Healy and Maureen McCann May they rest in peace PAT ROYLE Passed away on 18th October 2020 Requiem Mass on Thursday 5th November 2020

Pat Royal Funeral Service proof.pdf

CATHERINE MURTAGH Passed away on 22nd October 2020 Requiem Mass on Tuesday10th November 2020

GERRY HIGGINBOTHAM Passed away on 12th October 2020 Requiem Mass on Tuesday10th November 2020

DESIGN 2 Gerard OOS A5 4pp SINGLES FINAL.pdf

Rest In Peace

JOSEPH WEST Passed away on 19th October 2020 Requiem Mass on Thursday 12th November 2020

Mass Booklet - William Joseph Greene.pdf

PROGRAMME OF COVENTRY DEANERY CHURCHES OPENING TIMES

St. Osburg's Saturday @ 5.30pm Public Mass Sunday @ 11.30am Public Mass Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday @ 12.10pm Public Mass Monday to Friday @ 12.10pm Livestreamed Mass Saturday @ 11.45am Livestreamed Mass Monday and Thursday @ 12:45pm -1:30pm Confessions

St Mary’s Sunday @ 9.30am & 11.30am Public Mass Monday – Saturday @ 9.30am Mass Livestreamed Confessions any day by appointment. Sacred Heart Saturday @ 5.30pm Public Mass Sunday @ 10.30am Public Mass Wednesday @ 6.30pm Public Mass Friday @ 9.00am Public Mass Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday/Saturday @ 9.00am Livestreamed Mass

St Elizabeth’s Sunday @ 9.15amd and 11.15am Public Mass Wednesday and Saturday @ 9.15am Public Mass Friday @ 6.30pm Public Mass Monday and Thursday @ 9.15am Livestream Mass Confessions – Saturday – 9.45am – 10.20am

St John Vianney Sunday and Wednesday @ 9.30am Public Mass

Our Lady of the Tuesday & Thursday @ 9.30am Public Mass Assumption Saturday @ 5.30pm (Masses at St John Vianney and Our Lady of the Assumption will be livestreamed on Sunday @ 11.00am Monday & Friday @ 9.30am)

St Patrick’s Saturdays at 5.00pm Public Mass Sundays at 10.30am Public Mass Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 9.30am Public Mass

We have a dedicated phone line to book places. The number is 07706400871.

Christ the King Saturday @ 6.00pm Public Mass Sunday @ 9.00am & 12 Noon Public Mass Monday – Saturday @ 9.30am Public Mass Friday @ 7.00pm Public Mass St Augustine’s Sunday @ 10.30am Public Mass Monday @ 7.00pm Public Mass Wednesday @ 9.30am Public Mass All Masses at Christ the King and St Augustine’s will be livestreamed.

St Thomas More Sunday @ 9.00am & 11.00am Public Mass Monday @ 6.00pm Public Mass Wednesday @ 9.00am Public Mass Everyday @ 9.00am Livestream Mass

All Souls Sunday @ 10.30am Public Mass Monday – Wednesday @ 9.30am Public Mass Thursday @ 7.30pm Public Mass Friday & Saturday @ 9.30am Public Mass All Masses will be livestreamed

St John Fisher Saturday @ 10.00am & 5.30pm Public Mass Sunday @ 9.00am & 11.00am Public Mass Tuesday & Thursday @ 9.00am Public Mass

Corpus Christi Saturday @ 5.00pm Public Mass Sunday @ 10.30am Public Mass Tuesday @ 7.00pm Public Mass Wednesday @ 10.00am Public Mass Public Mass St Anne’s Sunday @ 9.00am Thursday and Friday @ 9.30am Public Mass

St Joseph the Worker Sunday @ 9.00am Public Mass Thursday @ 10.00am Public Mass

Holy Family Saturday @ 5.00pm Public Mass Sunday @ 10 00 am Public Mass Monday Thursday and Friday @ 9 00am Public Mass Tuesday's and Wednesday's @ 9 00 am Livestream Mass

These mass times have been agreed by the Deanery as we begin to open up churches for public worship in accordance with Government and Church Guidelines.

You are encouraged to make use of webcam masses if this is still the best option for you. To consider the masses during the week as there is no Sunday obligation and these masses are likely to be less crowded. Perhaps, only think of coming to mass on Sunday if there is no other option.

The parishes will review mass times and frequency of masses over the next couple of weeks when we have a chance to judge the numbers required moving forward.

Thanks for your co-operation. We are pleased that we can begin to come to church, but our safety and the safety of others is still paramount and we hope that Priests, individuals and parish communities do not feel under pressure to open churches in a way that puts people at risk.

CHRIST THE KING & OUR LADY OF LOURDES with ST. AUGUSTINE’S, COVENTRY Christ the King Presbytery, 14 Westhill Road, Coundon, Coventry,CV6 2AA Parish Priest: Canon Tom Farrell Telephone: 024 76591618 / Email: [email protected]

MASSES IN A TIME OF COVID-19

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME T O MASS

+ Saturday Vigil 6.00 pm Holy Communion + Sunday 9.00 & 12.00noon + Receive in silence by hand only + Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri/ Sat 9.30 + Masks to be worn to receive the + Friday 7.00 pm host, then consume. St Augustine’s + Single file. + Sunday @ 10.30am + Monday 7.00pm Please Note:

+ Wednesday 9.30am + The Church will be disinfected Attendees must after each Liturgy + Wear a mask + All parish meetings and ministry + Remain 1 metre events remain suspended until + apart further notice + Sanitise hands on entering and exiting the Church + Follow the Please stay at home if... signs + Listen to the stewards + It’s more sensible for you to watch

During Mass No... the webcam mass + Altar servers + You may have a pre-existing + Readers A Message from condition or are immuno- + Children’s liturgythe Metropolitan compromised + Eucharistic ministersArchbishops + You are feeling ill of the in England + You suspect you may be ill or have Dear+ Offertory Brothers and procession sisters+ Physical in Christ, sign of peace been exposed to Covid 19 Grace+ Chalice to you anddistribution peace from God our + You have a sick family member at Father+ Parish and themissals Lord Jesus or hymnChrist. books home On+ SingingTuesday we heard the+ Collection announcement baskets that, from the 4th July reopen for prayer and this+ Congregating year, places of outside services. We welcome worship will be able to this news with great want to thank joy. Since the lockdown everyone within the began, members of all Catholic community for faiths have faced sustaining the life of restrictions on how faith in such creative they have been able to ways, not least in the celebrate important family home. We thank religious festivals. Our our priests for own experience of celebrating Mass Easter was unlike any faithfully for their other we have known. people, and for the Now, in our churches, innovative ways in and with our people, which they have we can look forward enabled participation again to celebrating the through live-streaming central mysteries of and other means. We our faith in the Holy are grateful for the Eucharist. pastoral care shown by The recent reopening our clergy to those for of our churches for whom this time of individual private lockdown has been prayer was an especially difficult, and, important milestone on in particular, towards our journey towards those who have been resuming communal bereaved. We worship. Our churches recognise too the that have opened have chaplaincy services that put in place all the have played a vital role measures needed to in supporting those ensure the risks of virus most in need. Gaining transmission are from the experience of minimised. This all that we have been includes effective hand through, and bringing sanitisation, social those lessons into the distancing, and future, we must now cleaning. We remain look forward. With the committed to making easing of restrictions sure these systems of on worship with hygiene and infection congregations, we control meet tread carefully along Government and public the path that lies health standards. We ahead. Our lives have been changed by the our churches. This will experience of the determined locally in pandemic and it is clear accordance with social that we cannot simply distancing return to how things requirements. We were before lockdown. therefore need to We remain centred on reflect carefully on how the Lord Jesus and His and when we might be command at the Last able to attend Mass. Supper to “do this in We cannot return memory of me.” We immediately to our must now rebuild what customary practices. it means to be This next step is not, in Eucharistic any sense, a moment communities, holding when we are going fast to all that we hold ‘back to normal.’ dear, while at the same We ask every Catholic time exploring creative to think carefully about ways to meet changed how and when they will circumstances. return to It is important to Mass. Our priests may reaffirm that, at need to consider present, the obligation whether it is possible to attend Sunday Mass to celebrate additional remains suspended. A Masses at the significant number of weekends. Given there churches may remain is no Sunday obligation, closed as they are we ask you to consider unable to meet the the possibility of requirements for attending Mass on a opening for individual weekday. This will ease prayer. Fulfilling these the pressure of requirements is a numbers for Sunday precondition for any celebrations and allow church opening after a gradual return to the the 4th July for the Eucharist for more celebration of Mass people. with a congregation. Moving forward, there Please be aware that will still be many there will be a limit on people who cannot the number of people attend Mass in person. who can attend Mass in We therefore ask seen love in action parishes, wherever through charitable possible, to continue works, and through the live-streaming Sunday service of many front- Mass, both for those line keyworkers who are who remain shielding members of our Church. and vulnerable, and Now we can begin to also for those unable to return to the source of leave home because of that charity, Christ advanced age or illness. himself, present for us When we return to sacramentally, body, Mass there will some blood, soul and divinity, differences in how the in Holy Communion. As celebration takes place. we prepare to gather For the time being, again to worship, let us, there will be no respectful of each other, congregational singing come together in and Mass will be thanksgiving to God for shorter than usual. the immense gift of the None of this detracts Holy Eucharist. from the centrality of Yours devotedly in our encounter with the Christ Risen Christ in the ✠ Vincent Cardinal Eucharist. We ask Nichols, of everyone to respect Westminster and follow the ✠ Malcolm McMahon guidance that will be OP, Archbishop of issued and the Liverpool instructions in each ✠ , church. Archbishop of “As I have loved you,” Birmingham said the Lord Jesus, “so ✠ John Wilson, you must love each Archbishop of other.” (Jn 13:34) The Southwark lockdown has brought This letter is addressed to the forth remarkable acts of Catholic Community in England; the charity, of loving opening of the Catholic Churches in Wales is devolved to the Welsh kindness, from Catholics Assembly who are still evaluating across our communities their position on opening Places of as they have cared for Worship. the needy and vulnerable. We have that the general guidance published by the Conference, based on Government Guidance on the safe opening of Places of Worship for individual prayer, is in place. In particular, the 1 maximum safe operating capacity of the church, based on social distancing guidelines, should be clearly signposted at the door and the number and position within the church of people attending at any one time G should be overseen by volunteer u stewards. i d Social Distancing - IMPORTANT a The Government maintains that n c the 2m social distancing e requirements should be applied f o where possible. The Government r has said is possible to go to “1m t plus;” this means you can space h e people more closely (with a C minimum of 1m) providing a e l mitigation of risk is also applied. e In the case of our churches, this b r would mean the compulsory a wearing of a face covering for t i members of the congregation.2 If o those on the sanctuary are n o sufficiently distant from the f congregation, there is no need to M a wear face coverings. s Priests should remain mindful of s their own personal situation with 1 respect to potential exposure to Guidance for the Celebration of virus transmission. It is permissible for those in the 70+ Mass age group, and those who are Introduction vulnerable to infection, to The Government has announced celebrate Mass, but it is strongly that from 4th July 2020, advised that they do not communal acts of worship will distribute Holy Communion and be allowed in our Catholic take particular care to be Churches. This guidance, issued constantly socially distant from by the Bishops’ Conference of the congregation. They should England and Wales for the return to the sacristy directly Celebration of Mass, assumes after Mass is ended. Celebration of Mass within Church Buildings All hymnbooks and missals and Before the Mass other published material Only those necessary should be normally used by the in the sacristy before Mass. The congregation and not meant for celebrant, sacristan, or server single use should be removed should prepare everything for the from the church. The Holy Water celebration of Mass with care. stoups should be dry. Until Single-use gloves should be further instruction is given on worn at this stage. Particular care singing, there should be no should be taken over the congregational singing at Mass. preparation of the elements for During the Mass Holy Communion. The altar Any worship aids (missalettes breads for distribution to the etc.) should be for single use and people should be placed into a taken with the user when the clean covered ciborium (a pall Mass ends. They should not be can be placed over a dish paten). left in the church at the end of Sufficient altar breads for each Mass. celebration should be placed The priest, and if present, deacon within at this stage. A separate and server, should remain ciborium/paten should be socially distant at all times on the prepared for each person who sanctuary during the celebration will distribute Holy Communion. of Mass. This is particularly The cover of the ciborium or dish important at the Gospel (for the paten should not be removed deacon’s blessing), the until the time for distribution of Preparation of the Gifts, and Holy Communion. during the Liturgy of the The priest should prepare his Eucharist. own chalice and paten with a Readers should be supplied with large altar bread for consecration. single-use gloves and should The chalice should have a avoid touching the microphones purificator and a pall. The or the Lectionary during the purificator should be used only Liturgy of the Word, apart from once and then laundered. He page turning. The homily should should prepare the cruets of wine be brief, to minimise the time and water and his own bowl for that people are congregated in the lavabo. Again, the towel the church building. The Prayer should be used only once and of the Faithful should be omitted. then laundered. There should be no offertory 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati procession of the gifts of bread ons/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use- and wine to the altar; the priest of-places-of-worship-during-thepandemic/ should have these on the covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship- during-the-pandemic credence table or the altar before 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm Mass begins. There should be no -announces-easing-of-lockdown- sharing of the collection plate or restrictions-23-june-2020 Guidance for the bag. People should be Celebration of Mass encouraged to make their 2 donation to the church online or via standing order. Plates or other collecting boxes for cash pre-prepared ciborium for the offerings should be placed at the Communion of the people. If entrances and exits of churches, there is a deacon assisting, or and this should be overseen by any other Minister of Holy stewards. The collection should Communion, they should be consolidated into plastic bags, similarly cleanse their hands sealed, placed into a secure and then receive communion location and left for 72 hours from the priest from the before counting. Counters should people’s ciborium, and under wear gloves when doing this task one kind only. They should and the area should be well then cleanse their hands again ventilated and cleaned before and before receiving their afterwards. ciborium from which they The Communion Rite remove the covering or pall if Members of the congregation it is still in place. should not exchange the sign of At the place where peace. communion is to be After the prayer and its response distributed, a physical “Behold the Lamb of God…Lord barrier should be placed, I am not worthy,” the priest for example a prie-dieu should hold up the Host to the (kneeler on the priest’s Congregation and say audibly side) or small table to “The Body of Christ” to which socially distance the the people should respond priest Guidance for the “Amen.” In the same way, he Celebration of Mass elevates the chalice and says, 3 “The Blood of Christ” and again distributing Holy Communion the people respond “Amen.” The from communicants. priest should receive Holy Communion must be given Communion under both kinds silently in the hand only, with using his own Host and Chalice. the communicant standing, The priest will need to explain and avoiding any physical this to the congregation at this contact. People should wait in point. There are two options for their pews until instructed to the distribution of Holy move forward to the priest for Communion. In both cases, Holy Communion by the because the people have already Stewards, always aware of the acclaimed the presence of the regulations on social Lord, at the Priest’s Communion, distancing in the orderly the People’s Communion is queue. When they approach distributed in silence with no the priest, they should do so dialogue between minister and with arms at “full stretch” so communicant. that there is a good distance • Option 1 between the priest and the Once the priest has received communicant. Their hands, Holy Communion, he should palms upwards, one of top of cleanse his hands with alcohol the other, should be extended sanitiser before opening the as flatly as possible. Having received Holy Communion, with parishioners, who should be communicants should move encouraged to return home and back to their pews in an not remain. orderly manner. The celebrant should place the Once Communion is complete, used altar linens into a receptacle the priest returns to the altar and for laundry. All sacred vessels places the unused Hosts, without should be washed in hot water touching them, into the with a little neutral soap and Tabernacle and he cleanses the dried completely before storing. sacred vessels himself in the Any discarded printed materials usual way. should be removed and bagged • Option 2 for disposal. The priest receives Holy The church should be closed after Communion as described and the Mass has finished in order to immediately cleanses his clean the space according to the paten and chalice. He then Bishops’ Conference guidelines holds a reverent silence on individual prayer. If there is before the Prayer after cause for concern regarding the Communion, giving the possible contamination of Blessing and dismissal. At clerical vestments worn during this point, the other Ministers the celebration of Mass, these of Holy Communion who should be washed in accordance will assist the priest come with the manufacturer’s forward, cleanse their hands instructions, using the warmest and receive Holy water setting allowed for the Communion under one kind. fabric and allowing time for them They then move to the points to dry completely. for distribution and Celebrations of Mass Outdoors communicants are stewarded If there is space for the forward in an orderly manner celebration of Mass outdoors to receive Holy Communion around the Church, which as above, and then allows for the social distancing immediately leave the guidelines of Government to be Church. The remaining fulfilled, and that all of the Blessed Sacrament is placed above liturgical advice can be into the Tabernacle and the done safely, then there is no vessels cleansed in the usual reason why Mass cannot be way. After the Celebration of celebrated outside of a church. Mass Rev. Canon Christopher The procession from the Thomas sanctuary at the end of the Mass 2 should ensure good social 5 distancing. The sanctuary party t should return to the sacristy after h Mass. If the clergy wish to greet J the people, they should remove u their vestments first and not n engage in any physical contact e 2 0 2 0 R e v i s i o n 6

G frequently touched by penitents u i should be ensured. Placing the d penitent and priest at right angles a n to each other or back to back c would further reduce air spread e f containing droplets between o them. Asking penitents to r C sanitise their hands when o arriving is a sensible step. n f Confession inside churches or buildings e Within a church, if the church s s environment allows for i confession to take place in an o n open space (such as a side chapel 1 or other private area), this is preferred. If possible, the priest Guidance for Confession and the penitent should not sit Confession/Penance face-to-face but at right angles to The Sacrament of each other or side-by-side, facing Confession/Penance requires the opposite directions, whilst still one-to-one encounter between a allowing for the spoken matter to priest and the penitent. As such, be heard. Penitents should have this must be conducted in as safe sanitised their hands when a way as possible. entering the church as part of Principles existing measures. The principles used to stop • It may be possible to infection transmission during place a plastic or glass screen between the priest and the confession are: penitent which would allow for • preventing droplet spread between priest and a face-to-face encounter. If so, penitent through physical the screen should be made of a distance or barriers or solid material, positioning and • If a grille is used, a cloth • by means of cleaning curtain (or a piece of plastic and hygiene preventing spread film) should be placed over the between penitents using the priest’s side to minimise same kneeler or chair by transmission risk. cleaning points that are • If a chair or a kneeler is touched frequently (eg the top used for the penitent, the of the kneeler). The times of touchpoints (where the penitent confession, either indoors has touched with their hands) and/or outdoors, may now be should be cleaned with advertised. household detergent after each Outdoors Confession penitent; it may make things Confession outdoors is permitted. easier if the penitent were to Social distancing should be stand. observed for this and good At this time, the use of traditional hygiene though cleaning surfaces confessionals should be avoided if possible, due to the restricted airflow within them. However, if they are to be used, traditional “Roman ” confessionals (penitent kneeling at right angles to the priest speaking through a grille) are best. A plastic film on the priest’s side covering the grille will provide a barrier against air droplets. The touchpoints on the kneeler should be cleaned after each penitent. Maximising the airflow through the confessional would be a priority; such as, if possible, leaving the door open. Above all, priests should ensure that through ensuring the regular cleaning of the points that are touched frequently and the positioning of a barrier between penitent and himself, the risk of virus transmission is minimised. Priests should limit the number of confessions they hear each day to reduce their exposure risk. Rev. Canon Christopher Thomas 24th June 2020 Revision 4