Face Coverings.

Face coverings will be mandatory in Places of Worship from Saturday 8^th August 2020. All those who are attending churches must wear a face covering unless they are exempt from doing so. This is for the good of all who gather in the Church for Mass as it is an enclosed public space where there are people from different households and do not normally meet. Priests in the sanctuary providing they are sufficiently distant (2m or more) from the congregation do not need to wear a face covering except when distributing Holy Communion.

For details of exemptions and information on when, why, and where to wear a face covering please see the Government Web Site: –

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own-face-coverings.

From Monday 6^th July we will be recommencing public celebrations of Mass.

Monday to Saturday Church will open at 9.30am and Mass take place at 10.00am. Monday to Friday Church will remain open following Mass until Noon for Individual private prayer.

Sunday Church will open at 10.00am for Mass at 10.30am after which Church will be closed until 5.30pm for Mass at 6.00pm.

All the guidelines which have been in place will continue and are there to protect and keep safe all our people.

• A maximum of 70 people will be able to attend any mass and once this number has been reached a barrier will be placed across the door.
• If you are Elderly, have underlying health issues or have a cold then please think about staying away from mass at present or, as the Sunday Mass obligation is still suspended, consider attending a weekday Mass.
• On entering and leaving Church please use the hand sanitiser in the narthex.
• Every other bench has been roped off to maintain social distancing.
• Only FOUR people may sit in a bench, keeping a two-metre gap between each other, unless you are all in the same household and then you may sit together.
• Access benches by the centre aisle and when leaving church use the side aisles so maintaining a one-way system.
• Please note that we are required to keep the toilet locked.
• Do not touch statues.
• Please do not congregate to talk in the narthex, in Church itself or under the awning at the top of the steps.
• The Holy Water Stoups will remain empty.
• For the foreseeable future Sunday morning Mass will be said and without music as we are not allowed to sing. The hymn books and service books have been removed.
• Altar Servers will for the foreseeable future sit with their family in the Nave and not take their normal place on the altar, as the regulations allowing public celebration of mass does not give a role for them.
• Similarly, at all masses, readers and ministers of the Eucharist will not, for the foreseeable future, fulfil their ministry.
• There will not be an offertory at Masses, and you will be advised where to leave your weekly offering.
• The gifts will not be brought to the altar for the foreseeable future.
• The passing of the peace will not be proclaimed or take place.
• At the point of Holy Communion, please do not leave the bench until a steward asks you to and then processing up the centre aisle keep the two-metre distance by standing on the roundel on the floor.
• Please remain standing when you reach the sanctuary step. The Sacrament will be placed on your hand only. It will be done in silence and you do not make a verbal response. Please return to your bench by the side aisles.
• Please remember not to shake hands with anyone by greeting or farewell.
• Church must be sanitised after every mass if two or three of you are able to assist with this, it will be appreciated. It is not onerous, and sprays and paper towels will be available.