The Parish of St Joseph and
The Parish of St Charles Borromeo
Sheffield
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Letter from Fr Mark McManus 4th June
 
Dear Parishioners of St Joseph's & St Charles,
 
This week our Masses will be:

Saturday, 5 June, at 5:00pm
Sunday, 6 June, at 9:00am & 10:00am
Tuesday, 8 June, at 10:00am
Friday, 11 June, at 10:00am

Changes to the spacing of the benches
Some greater flexibility in the assessment of the safe capacity of a church (i.e. it is possible to safely drop to 'one metre plus' with the mitigation of face coverings, etc.) means that we can begin to operate at 50% of our total seating capacity. This means, should the need arise, that we are now able to seat 3 individual people to a pew as a 1+2 arrangement of households/ bubbles, or a 1+1+1. Our benches are all over 3 metres in length.
Some general observations:
  • Individuals are still asked to sit in the centre aisle pews as a priority and families/ bubbles are likewise asked to use the side aisles first.
  • As a rule try to space yourself in a checkerboard pattern in relation to others.
  • The presence of the pillars on the centre aisle means than one bench remains out of use and a couple of the others can only be accessed from the right.
  • The greater spacing of the benches and the need to keep people separated means baptisms are currently being celebrated at the foot of the sanctuary.
  • Remember, in 'normal times' the benches would be arranged at about a metre apart. As we edge towards being a little closer to one another let us remain sensitive to the presence of others and patient with one another.
All other Covid measures remain in place, so do please keep using the hand sanitiser, wearing your face coverings and staying a 1m+ social distance when you are inside the church. Thank you.

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Our annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour continues this Tuesday, 8 June, with St Joseph, Patron of Workers, at 7.00pm in St Joseph's church. All welcome
Tuesday, 15 June, Friend In Suffering
Tuesday, 22 June, Patron of a Happy Death
N.B. Here is the slightly adapted novena for you to print out and bring with you if possible, please. Thank you.

Yorkshire Refugee Foodbank
As in April, Deacon Simon will be available outside the church at our weekend Masses, 19 & 20 June, to collect any offerings of food or sanitary items for the Yorkshire Refugee Foodbank based in Darnall, (tins, jars or dried foodstuffs - nothing that will spoil - please). Thank you for your 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.

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 and I wish you a blessed feast day for this weekend.

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
 
Parish Newsletter 6th June

Intentions for Corpus Christi