LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the Diocese / Bishops Conference as of Wednesday 13 Jan – for church services:                                                          

  • England has entered a new period of lockdown with people encouraged to work from home wherever possible and schools and colleges closed. The Government’s Places of Worship Guidance was updated on 11th January and can be found here.‍The general approach of the guidance is an extension of the previous rules in place under Tier 4 in December. However, it has been amended to reflect the new national restrictions. These restrictions:
    • require people to stay at home, except for specific purposes;
    • prevent people gathering with those they do not live with, except for specific purposes;
    • ·require certain businesses to close.

    ‍‍Attending a place of worship is one of the very few legal exemptions that allow larger numbers to gather in the same venue.

    To keep everyone safe, where places of worship choose to open it is crucial that those attending comply with the law and COVID-19 Secure guidance. The following activities should not take place at the present time:

    1) Baptisms or other ceremonies which mark significant life cycle moments but which do not take place as an established part of normal communal worship (with the exception of commemorative events that celebrate the life of a person who has died – see the detailed guidance on this in the full document).

    2) Prayer or study groups in person.

    3) Lifestyle and leisure/recreational groups such as craft groups or exercise groups.

    4) Amateur choir practice or group bell ringing.

    5) Tourism and shops contained within the place of worship.

    In addition to this summary, there are other key changes:

    1) Revised wording on weddings to highlight the consideration that is required from those participating about whether the circumstance is exceptional in order to proceed at this time.

    2) National guidance strongly suggests that singing should only take place where it is essential to the act of worship. Since every effort should be made not to lengthen the time for Mass unnecessarily, it will be appropriate for the time being not to have music at Mass or any other liturgy. This includes recorded music, if it extends the time taken for the celebration.

    You can access up to date COVID-19 guidance for parishes on the Bishops’ Conference website.

            

FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

            

 *** THE HEATING AT OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH IS NOW  WORKING  – in a reduced form *** 

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At St John’s, Horsham . . .

Parish Foodbank – The St John’s Share Shop – This will remain open each day when the church is open. Please continue to donate food, toiletries and baby goods. There has been a significant take up of this. Please share this initiative with anyone you may know who might need some extra help – Fr Aaron

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On-line Masses – weekly and Sunday – continue to be offered from several churches in our diocese (and beyond):

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

St John the Evangelist, Horsham offers live streaming on its website, and via Facebook. Just click on this website link and scroll down to the live link: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com

Live Mass is also streamed from St Mary of the Angels, Worthing at 10.30am SUNDAY & 10.00am Weekdays (7.30pm Wednesdays). Go to: https://www.stmaryoftheangels.org.uk/catholic-mass-online/

An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as being already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.           Amen.

            

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

            

To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

 

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