Click here for newsletter: 22nd Sunday of the Year 2020

Dear Friends in Christ,

 As our children return to school this week, and for many the first time since last March, there still may be a certain amount of apprehension about the ongoing Covid 19. Obviously, these are uncertain times for everyone, and we are all trying our best to regain some semblance of normality in our lives. Education is so very important for our children, and they have already lost several months of vital learning. Manifestly, it is going to take some time to get back all the lost learning. I ask all our parents to trust your schools, headteachers and staff to have your children’s best interests at heart, and they will do everything to ensure their health and safety. I would like to welcome back our Headteacher, Staff and chidlren to St. John Fisher Primary School this week. This has been a very unsusual year for everyone; and the education of our chidlren is now the main concern. There will a lot of work over these next months.  Also congratulations to our A Level and GCSE young people. As they also return to School, and begin their Universities. We wish the best of luck as they continue their education during these difficult times.

 

    Likewise, in returning to school, I would also appeal to our parishioners, especially families, to seriously consider returning to Weekly Mass. It has been very noticeable that very few families have returned to the practice of their faith, even though we resumed regular Weekly Mass from the 4th July. All the Governmental & Diocesan guidelines are in place with regards social distancing and sanitation of our Church after ever Service. Your health and safety is our main concern. We do ask all our parishioners to kindly wear face coverings during Mass. I know this is inconvenient, but this not only protects you, but also others as well. If you feel that your beginning to display symptoms, and feeling unwell, most certainly STAY AT HOME! Testing is free on the NHS. As we’re about to enter the Autumn and Winter seasons, when colds and flu are prevalent, it’s vital that we all keep safe and well.

 

    Sadly, as I mentioned last week, walking up the High Street, I have personally witnessed the lack of Social distancing, non-wearing of face coverings. We’re not invincible, and if you’ve had Covid 19, you know it is quite unpleasant and can be life threatening for some. Keep safe and well!

Click here for newsletter: 21st Sunday of the Year 2020

Dear Friends in Christ
Once again it was really heartening to see so many of our parishioners slowly
returning to Sunday Mass. As people are getting a little more confident about
going out, I would encourage all our parishioners to seriously think about your
lives of faith. The one thing this pandemic has taught us is that without God we’re nothing. As families have spent a lot of time together during lockdown, it’s given us the opportunity to reflect on what truly matters in life. Family will always top the list. Health – obviously with so many people getting sick this year, and continuing to do so, everyone needs to take seriously the implications and consequences of this pandemic. We need to protect ourselves, but we also need to protect each other. The one thing that has really saddened me personally is that I truly believed that this pandemic would have focused most people’s lives of faith; I’ve spoken to many priests at home and abroad, and we have concurred that for many, sadly faith hasn’t played any part in this pandemic. This is a real tragedy!

I personally haven’t been out a lot over the past five months; but I was really shocked this week to witness for myself the lack of social distancing taking place in our high street; in restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, etc; and even the ignoring of wearing a face coverings. None of us are invincible; all the Covid deaths have shown us that. At the Church we have adhered to all the Governmental & Diocesan guidelines; our main objective is to keep everyone safe & healthy. But if this doesn’t continue outside of the church, then we should not be surprised with a second wave in the autumn and winter. My observations over the past weeks are that you’re probably safer at Church than on the High Street. As people slowly resume their daily lives and routines, it is also imperative that the faithful people of God get back to the regular practice of faith.
Please wash your hands before coming to Church. Use the sanitisers available, wear your face covering, and follow the direction of the Stewards to maintain social distancing. Families can sit together in their bubble.
Keep safe & well!

Click here for newsletter: Assumptiuon of the BVM 2020

Dear Friends in Christ 

What is the ‘New Normal?’ If any of you have been out this week, you would have noticed that life is trying to return to some semblance of normality. I’ve seen many people making their way to the Gym next door, the swimming pool is open; restaurants and coffee shops are open, pubs are open; most shops are now open. I see groups of young people walking along the street together; parents out with their children; museums and places of interest are opening. Many parishioners are going away on holiday, both home and abroad; but sadly, very few families have returned to Sunday Mass. The hardest thing during the lockdown was to walk into an empty church every day; I have celebrated Holy Mass every day since 23^rd March, even when I had Covid 19 myself. And now that all places of worship have opened, it is mainly our middle-aged and older parishioners that have returned to Sunday Mass. As I stated a couple of weeks ago, it’s very easy to get out of the habit of attending Church. Please think seriously about this. If you have started to do many of the other things I listed above. I would strongly recommend you also return to Church.

Here at St. Edmund’s, we have taken all Governmental & Diocesan recommendations and guidelines very seriously. Your Health & Safety are our prime concern. Procedures are in place when you attend Church to protect you. (You’re probably safer here than going to the Supermarket). It goes unsaid, that before you leave home that you should thoroughly wash your hands. Hand sanitiser is available as you enter the Church. It is now mandatory that you wear a face covering. A one-way system enables you to take your seats from the outside aisles. Alternate benches are closed facilitating social distancing. There is no ‘sign of peace’; no physical contact with another person, excluding the ‘family bubble’.

If you still feel insecure or unsure about attending one of our Sunday Masses, why not attend one of the Weekday Masses at 10.00am, Monday – Saturday. Returning to normal is the goal of everyone. But we must also make the effort to achieve this ourselves!

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR BLESSED LADY:

Today we celebrate the great Doctrine of Faith, that at the end of her natural life here on each God assume Our Blessed Lady body and soul into heaven. This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility. We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by God that the immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.

Munificentissimus Deus emphasised Mary’s unity with her divine son and as his mother, she is the mother of his church which is his body; she is the “new Eve” (the term is used three times), paralleling Christ as the new Adam; and by her assumption she has attained the final bodily resurrection promised to all Christians, and the Church has reached its ultimate salvation.^[14] These three plus the Perpetual Virginity of Mary make up the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic church.

The dogma of the Assumption followed from the 1854 definition of Mary’s Immaculate Conception (her freedom from original sin), and both developed from the recognition of her status as the Mother of God, meaning that she, like Jesus, was without sin, preserved from corruption, resurrected, received into heaven, and a recipient of corporeal glory.

Click here for newsletter: 19th Sunday of the Year 2020

Dear Friends in Christ                                                                

 Once again, it was wonderful to see so many of our parishioners returning to Sunday Mass. As people gain their confidence about going out and trying to get back into some routine of ‘normality’, I just want to reassure all our parishioners, that here at St. Edmund’s, we have taken all Governmental & Diocesan recommendations and guidelines very seriously. Your Health & Safety are our prime concern. Procedures are in place when you attend Church to protect you. It goes unsaid, that before you leave home that you should thoroughly wash your hands. Hand sanitiser is available as you enter the Church. A one-way system enables you to take your seats from the outside aisles. Alternate benches are closed facilitating social distancing. There is no ‘sign of peace’, no physical contact with another person, excluding the ‘family bubble’.

 

I make this Special Appeal to all our parishioners, to seriously consider returning to the Weekly practice of faith. Manifestly, many people are returning to other social activities; as gyms, restaurants, pubs social venues, parks, museums, some theatres are now open. Parishioners are also flying abroad for holidays. We are encouraged to be sensible and follow the guidelines. And considering the information available, please know that when you come to Mass on Sunday (which now last for approximately 35 minutes), we will look after you! As from Saturday 8^th August, it is now mandatory to wear a Face Covering in all places of worship. Also, please do not congregate outside after Mass. Thanks!

Click here for newsletter: 18th Sunday of the Year

Dear Friends in Christ 

Last weekend, it was truly wonderful to see so many of you at Sunday Mass. People are slowly gaining their confidence about going out and trying to regain some semblance of normality to their lives. Although this ‘New Normal’ is quite strange, we also cannot become complacent about Covid 19. One of the worrying factors is that there will be a new wave of infections. As you know we have adapted the Church to accommodate social distancing. I would ask all parishioners to adhere strictly to these rules.

This week I have received an updated instruction from the Governmental & Diocesan guidelines; where there is an enclosed space with a large gathering it states that FACE COVERINGS should be worn, which means in the Church; it not only to protect the individual, but also everyone else. Also, in the new guidelines, it has stated that as soon as we leave Church we should not congregate outside or have social conversations, just go straight home. I know this seems somewhat severe, but we are trying to protect everyone from this contagious virus.

I make a very special appeal to all our families to seriously consider coming back to the weekly practice of Holy Mass. Routine is important, especially for our children. The practice of our faith is not something that we just tag on to the rest of our lives, it is fundamental to who we are, and of course, eventually of what we become. Let us all make a very special effort to consider the importance of our faith, especially in these strange times. Life is not a dress rehearsal, we only pass this way but once, and we need to take every opportunity given to us in our relationship with God.

In the past it was noted that a habit can be acquired within 21 days. In more recent studies it said up to 66 days. We were away from Church for a hundred days. As I have stated it’s as easy to get out of the habit as it is to get into it. Manifestly, I believe that everyone must make a conscious effort to try to return to the ‘good habit’ of Sunday Mass