Dear friends in Christ
In both the first reading and the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday, we are reminded of the importance of rest and recreation in our lives. Proper rest is necessary if we are to function as human beings; and recreation is vital if we are to regenerate ourselves. We are all conscious that we have had very little opportunity for holidays away for over a year, but as we enter the height of our Summer, we need to find imaginative ways by which we can recover our energies so that we do not become physically and mentally stale. Ultimately this must be so that we can be more effective in our service of God and neighbour. Our Lord shows us how—with His Disciples—we need to find rest and be apart sometimes: for our own well-being and that of those with whom we live and work.
As we begin to move out of the restrictions that have been imposed upon us over these last months, let us all be mindful of others when we come to church and attend Holy Mass. There will be many members of the Parish Family who are still feeling nervous, reticent and vulnerable. Although restrictions will be eased from Monday, we must all remain prudent about how we act and inter-act within the confines of the church; we must all take personal responsibility for the way we act. Even if masks and social-distancing are no longer obligatory, there will be many who will wish to continue adhering to these precautions; and please respect the space of others. Singing in church will be permissible and the Confessional may be used for the Sacrament of Penance. The Offertory collection will resume from next weekend. There is no reason why we should not exchange a sign of peace, albeit in a non-tactile way; i.e. a bow or smile acknowledging our neighbour, unless we are with family members. Obviously Communion from the Chalice is not possible because of the risk of infection. Booking a place at Mass is no longer necessary, nor the stewarding. Our Bishops have issued a short statement Sunday - It Is Our Day on the precept of Sunday Obligation which is available to read online. I would like to express my deep gratitude to those who have faithfully and routinely assisted with the stewarding and cleaning of our church on a daily basis; this has allowed us to keep the church open and help everyone to feel safe; thank you!
I wish you all every blessing for the coming weeks, which hopefully will include some rest and recreation for many of you. God bless!
Msgr Kevin Hale