Services - See letter below

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

In light of the present situation with Coronavirus the Bishops of England and Wales have decreed that after this Friday the celebration of public Masses and all other liturgical services (for example, Stations of the Cross and Rosary) are to be suspended. Consequently, please can I ask you to take note of the following:

 

• I will continue to celebrate Mass privately every day and so those Mass intentions which have already been requested will be honoured.

• Unfortunately, there is no reason to suppose that the services of Holy Week and Easter will be celebrated this year.

• All parishes meetings and activities should cease until further notice.

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will still be available but please telephone me and we can arrange a time.

• I will, of course, continue to be available to minister in emergency situations.

• Celebrations such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation will be postponed until later in the year when the health situation has been resolved.

• The obligation we have as Catholics to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day is dispensed in the present situation.

• Funeral services are to be restricted to the graveside or at a crematorium. Memorial Masses can then be offered when the present situation passes and we are allowed to gather together again.

• No newsletter will be produced until such time as our normal parish activities recommence.

• Mass will be streamed on line each day from St. John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth and various other churches which have this facility. The link for the Cathedral is:

• However, I would personally recommend that you become acquainted with EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), a Catholic broadcasting network which shows all sorts of Catholic programmes 24 hours a day. This includes a celebration of Mass twice a day. If you have Sky Television it is channel no. 588 and it is also available free to watch on the internet.

• Needless to say, Bishop Philip’s Visitation of the parish will not now take place and so the scheduled meetings with our Committees and the Confirmation candidates will not happen.

 

These are unprecedented times and the Bishops’ concern is to try to ensure the safety of our people. We are used to practising our faith in particular ways and, while these may not all be possible for us for a while, we still need to cling very tightly to the Lord and continue to walk with Him as His disciples. This requires that we stay true to our prayer lives and also that we make a special effort to be aware of any around us who may find themselves to be in need.

 

I continue to be here as your pastor at the end of the telephone (or by email if that is your sort of thing) and you know that you will be constantly in my prayers.

 

With best wishes in Christ to you all,

 

Father Marcus  

Parish Priest:

Fr Marcus Brisley.