Fourteenth Sunday in OT: Year A
Dear Parishioners,
Before I explain how we are going to start celebrating Masses in public again in our parish, I first want to shout with you a hearty ‘Alleluia!’, as we will soon be celebrating Mass together again after 3 months of Eucharistic fast. This is good news indeed.
I would ask you to please read Bishop Mark’s message (under 'newsletters'), which you can also find on You Tube (Plymouth Diocese). The message is called ‘Return from Exile’. It so beautifully puts into words what we are all feeling and gives a context for our return to Mass in the light of the Scripture Readings for next Sunday.
Just to highlight one thing the bishop says: The obligation to attend Mass on a Sunday is still suspended.
While we can again gather for public worship, this is not a return to where we were last March. These are strange times. As everywhere else, we need to take special care to keep everyone as safe as is reasonably possible.
The bishops of England and Wales have given us guidelines on the celebration of Masses, as we return for public worship. Parish Priests need to put these guidelines into action in our own church communities, given our unique circumstances which, in this parish, are challenging given that our buildings are small.
Guidelines can be found under subheading 'newsletters'.
We are living in a new reality and are having to do things rather differently. This is the beginning of a journey of returning to full churches and vibrant communities. Let us be patient and pray for one another, look forward to participating more fully in the Eucharist and receiving the holy body and blood of the Lord Jesus once again.
God bless you.
Fr John
Please check the latest newsletter for Mass times for all three churches.
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