Reopening of our churches

A productive meeting was held on Tuesday 21st July: thank you to all those who attended or had been in touch with ideas and suggestions beforehand.  As a result of studying the Bishop’s guidelines for reopening our churches for the celebration of Mass a clearer way forward is emerging, and some specific areas in which parishioners’ help is needed have been identified.

We’re aiming to re-open both churches from the solemnity of the Assumption, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August.  It’s likely that Mass in Southwell would be celebrated on Saturday at 6pm, and in Calverton on Sunday at 10.45am.  However the Sunday obligation remains suspended and so there is no requirement for parishioners to come to Mass, especially if they or a member of their household is particularly vulnerable or has underlying health issues.

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Areas in which parishioners’ help is needed in particular:

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1. organising a telephone booking-line for those wishing to attend Mass (a parishioner has volunteered to undertake this role);

2. preparing risk assessments for the safe celebration of Mass in each church, based on diocesan templates;

3. checking the church building for health and safety issues prior to reopening (two parishioners have volunteered for this in Southwell);

4. creating signage for the church one-way system, etc (a parishioner has volunteered for this);

5. cleaning the churches before the first opening, including moving pews / chairs to ensure the 2 metre distance between each person;

6. cleaning the churches before and after each Mass (teams of two parishioners for cleaning before, and two for cleaning after, each Mass);

7. stewarding during each Mass (a team of three parishioners is needed for each Mass; to do this volunteers need to be under 70 years old, and complete a short volunteer form).

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Please consider if you are in a position to offer to help

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Without parishioners’ help it won’t be possible to open our churches at this time for public Masses to be celebrated.  The more parishioners who are able to volunteer (especially for the cleaning and stewarding duties) the more we will be able to create rotas and allow flexibility in how often the duties are undertaken.  If you have any questions contact Father Simon directly, and together we can celebrate Mass again!

Please also look at the newsletter,

or under the coronavirus tab above,

for ways in which you can help to reopen

our churches for private prayer and Mass