WHAT WILL THINGS LOOK LIKE AFTER 19 JULY IN OUR CHURCHES?
With the good news that the country will begin the next stage of coming out of lockdown on 19th July, you may be wondering about what life will be like in our Churches: will we still need to book a place at Mass; do I need to wear a mask; how long will Mass be; will Readers and Eucharistic Ministers return and if so, when? will we have refresher training; has my DBS expired; can we sing; will we be able to receive the Precious Blood; will Holy water, incense and votive candles return etc?
Well, it will begin with the government making its announcements to the country on July 19th. It then seems to take about 24 hours before the government releases all the final details of how it will affect us. Then our own Bishops’ Conference will send the new guidelines, with notes on how best to implement them, to each of the Bishops, whose own offices will then send them out to each Parish with any extra notes that may be affected by were where the Diocese are, geographically…. reflecting the local situation.
So, we are guided by our Diocese and will advise everyone as soon as possible as we carefully work our way back to a new normality. Our Churches will continue to be regularly cleaned and fogged after Mass so that we keep up the good practice we have adopted throughout lockdown.
But right away we can start getting information together. SO… if you have been a Eucharistic Minister (either at Mass or visiting the Sick or Housebound), Reader, Altar server, Musician or Welcomer, and are now willing to continue in your volunteer role, please do let us know now, so that we can start to plan the way forward. Please send a simple email to our parish office– bishopsstortford@rcdow.org.uk (or give us a ring on 01279 654063) giving us your details and telling us which ministry, in due course, you might be willing to return to, either immediately or in the future…