A message from Fr John

Good morning - I hope you’re managing to find some more inner strength to face the next phase of lockdown.

We heard last night that churches cannot open for public worship which means that we can no longer celebrate Mass in church; we are limited to private prayer only. It is very disappointing to say the least; we felt we had already gone the extra mile. We will learn to take this as another station of taking up our cross to follow the Lord.

Cardinal Vincent suggests:

'At this difficult moment, we ask that, as a Catholic community, we make full use of our churches as places of individual prayer and sources of solace and help. We must sustain each other in our patterns of prayer …  and observing the Vigil of Christ the King (21st November) as a day of prayer for the ending of this pandemic. And we encourage you all in your practical service and support of each other and those around you in need.

This pathway of prayer and service is the royal road we are to take as a gracious witness in our society today.'

I will need a couple of days to think and take advice on how best we might respond, as a parish, in terms of church opening times and venues. For today, if people turn up at Christ the King for 6.00pm Mass, not knowing that Mass is cancelled, the church will be open for private prayer. We need to try to put together a programme that will keep us going until Advent. 

I think that whatever hardships we perceive we are going through, there are many who will have to endure greater privations and poverty - they too are an essential part of the kingdom of God and will certainly need our prayer, compassion and supportive outreach.

St Joseph, our companion on this difficult road, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John

Prayers please for George, Mark and Tom who are poorly