| Letter from Fr Mark McManus 9th April |
| Dear Parishioners of St Joseph's & St Charles, |
| Thank you for your considerate cards, gifts, Easter offerings, and for all your kindnesses and encouragements, they are much appreciated.
Our beautiful church looked splendid for Easter and particular thanks must go to our flower arranger and sacristans for preparing and decorating it. We thank our organist and soloist who were able to enhance some of our liturgies and our parish website and Facebook page editors for continuing to keep us connected and informed. Finally, our Easter Masses saw the church visited by 281 people and, because of the work of our cleaners and stewards, we were properly prepared to welcome them. This week our Masses will be: Saturday, 10 April, at 5:00pm
Sunday, 11 April, at 9:00am & 10:00am Tuesday, 13 April, at 10:00am Friday, 16 April, at 10:00am Yorkshire Refugee Foodbank
The sudden closure of the church for the ceiling repairs and the subsequent lack of a car park meant one of our Lenten plans was somewhat delayed. At the weekend Masses of 17 & 18 April our deacon Simon, will be available outside the church to collect any offerings of food for the Yorkshire Refugee Foodbank based in Darnall. Tins, jars or dried foodstuffs (nothing that will spoil) or sanitary items please. Thank you for your support.
New Offertory envelopes
These can be collected from Fr M before or after Mass this weekend. Thank you for your continuing support.
Attending church
FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED IN CHURCH
UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXEMPTION THIS IS NOW LAW You MUST NOT come to church if: You are unwell or somebody in your household has coronavirus symptoms, for example a cough or high temperature. Please follow the directions of the stewards. First Holy Communion 2020 & 2021
Given that we don't yet know at what capacity the church might be operating after 21 June, I have judged it prudent not to schedule the St Joseph's First Communion Masses for a regular Sunday Mass time. This will allow us to maximise the number of families and guests who may wish to attend. Accordingly, I propose that we celebrate First Holy Communion with the:
Class of 2020 on Saturday, 10 July, at 10.00am &
Louise George will be in touch with regard to preparation - much of it on-line - and I encourage you to engage with the process as much as is possible. Many thanks.
Class of 2021 on Saturday, 18 September, at 10.00am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Our annual novena in honour of our Diocesan patron will, in this year of St Joseph, consider her 'spouse most chaste.' We will commence at 7.00pm on:Tuesday, 27 April with St Joseph as Foster Father of Jesus and then: Tuesday, 2 May, Virginal Husband of Mary Tuesday, 9 May, Chosen by God Tuesday, 16 May, Faithful Servant Tuesday, 23 May, Patron of the Church Tuesday, 30 May, Patron of Families Tuesday, 6 June, Patron of Workers Tuesday, 13 June, Friend In Suffering Tuesday, 20 June, Patron of a Happy Death Safeguarding
In order to inform the Church's leadership on what is in place already and how best to support volunteers in parishes, the Catholic Safeguarding Project, which is implementing the recommendations of the recent Independent Review, is gathering information on:1. What support, training and information is currently available to parish volunteers; 2. How best parish volunteers might be supported in the future. If, in your voluntary work for the parish, your role includes working directly with vulnerable adults, children or young people, then I would ask you to take part in this important survey which can be accessed online here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hallam-res Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your responses will be used to inform the Catholic Safeguarding Project about how volunteers within parishes can be best supported and the project will ensure that this information is fed back to church leaders. We hope your contribution to this survey will in the long run benefit your parish. If you have any questions, please contact Marie O'Donnelly modonnelly@hallam-diocese.com or Jo Pearson jpearson@hallam-diocese.com Church Cleaning & Stewarding
The continuing work of our voluntary church cleaners and stewards remains the bedrock of our ability to open and use our church. Without them the church would be closed and we are immensely thankful for all that they do. If you have returned to church, have seen how things are done, and now feel ready and able to volunteer then please contact me. More hands help spread the load. Thank you.
Finally, this week's newsletter is here. Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us. St Joseph, pray for us. St Charles Borromeo, pray for us. With my prayers, Rev. Mark McManus Parish Priest |