Weekly Bulletin 5th July 2020

Sunday 5^th July 2020

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PLEASE TAKE THIS BULLETIN HOME WITH YOU AND DO NOT LEAVE IT IN THE CHURCH.

 (It is important that possible infections are curtailed) 

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Lord tells us today in the Gospel that He is “gentle and humble in heart” This is the Gospel that was proclaimed at Mass on Friday 19 June – “The Feast of the Sacred Heart “In the Gospel reading Jesus speaks to a people who had experienced their religion primarily as a burden. However the heart of the message of Jesus is a call to enter into a personal relationship with Himself, ‘Come to me’. Many of us have been reared on a religion that put lots of emphasis on the law.   ‘Keep the Law’ is so different from Jesus words today saying ‘Come to me’. There is always the danger of taking the Christ out of Christianity and reducing the Christian faith to rules and regulations. It is the person of Jesus who breathes life into the codes and creeds of our faith. More than once I have heard it said: ‘As I get older, I am more interested in becoming a spiritual person than a religious one‘. The divorce between spirituality and religion, while false, is understandable if religion (the Christian religion in this case) is experienced only as an attachment to impersonal norms and doctrines and not as a life-giving relationship with the Risen Christ.  In coming to the person of Jesus, we discover that, far from being burdened, we are empowered. The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead gives life to our mortal bodies. St. Paul says it today in the second reading “…the Spirit of God has made his home in you” (Rm 8:9)

Today also is our first weekend Mass since the “lockdown” It is a joy to see you back worshipping as a community in the Graan again. However you are aware we are in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic and one of the chief characteristics of this virus is that it loves to be in crowds, where it is possible that infections can run rife. Please use your discretion and if you see a large crowd that are not socially distancing – turn away – for the sake of your health and your families health! Remember this direction from the Bishops still remains true “All are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass and Mass on Holy Days of Obligation until further notice” We are following the government health regulations and some of these new rules will have a big impact on our services. We have lots of restrictions as regards the numbers that we are able to accommodate in the Church because of the rules on social distancing.

Please obey the instructions of the ushers who will greet you at the door and point out to you our sanitising equipment and show you where to sit. The seats in the main body of the church are reserved for families or those of the same household. The seats in the wings/side-aisles of the Church and at the back of the altar and the gallery are kept for individuals. All the seats are marked so please ONLY SIT IN THE SEAT THAT HAS A GREEN MARKER. The chairs in the old sacristy are spaced according to the distancing regulations so please do not move them. During Mass, Holy Communion will be brought down to those in the side aisles, the gallery and at the back of the altar. The family groups who are seated in front of the altar will process up to the celebrant to receive communion, seat by seat, making sure to keep adequate distance from each other. Communion will only be given in the hand. Please exit the Church the same door that you came in. Leave the Church one seat at a time beginning from the back. The door to our shop at the back of our altar is now permanently closed and one accesses this area by going to the reception door and are seen by our staff individually. There should be no crowding anywhere in the Church and especially in the shop. Thank you for your cooperation in these new arrangements. I know that we are all on a learning curve as regards these new regulations but we will get use to them as time goes by. Be patient. Be tolerant. Be forbearing. And be like Jesus in today’s Gospel – “ be gentle and humble in heart” I know you will! Thanks for your kindness, your prayers and donations.  Fr. Charles C.P.

Standing Order Form Link attached HERE. Please note if you complete a form please return it to your own bank. 

DUTY FOR THE WEEK:  Sun &  Mon No Duty. Mon Mass @ 7pm –  Charles. Tues – Arthur.  Wed: Charles. Thurs – Arthur.  Fri –  Charles.  Sat –  Charles.

Shop Opening Hours: Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 7.30pm. Sunday – 9.30am – 5pm. Due to Covid 19 restrictions we are allowing one person at a time into the shop.

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Birthday, Special Occasion, Wedding, Thinking of You  and Exam Mass Bouquets which cost £2 / €2.50 each. We value your support.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: will not take place for the foreseeable future.