Please refer to the documents linked to below, which set out the implications of COVID-19 on parish and church life.
Fr Gareth asks you especially to read his (updated) Pastoral Letter carefully.
We will continue to email out this newsletter weekly, together with the Pew Sheet. If you would like to follow Fr Gareth's Mass on the Facebook Live Stream on Sundays please print out the Pew Sheet to help you join in. The hymns are included to aid your own devotions,
but they will not be sung at Mass.
The order of service for Fr Gareth's weekday Mass is included below. Please likewise print this out for use during the week at 10am.
Printed copies of the attached documents have been posted to everyone on the Parish Database. If you did not receive a copy and would like to, please e-mail vicarspa@stmarysilford.org.uk
PASSION SUNDAY today
This is the now less-used name for the fifth Sunday in Lent which begins Passiontide; our focus begins to move towards Christ’s suffering ('passion') and death on Good Friday.
CHURCH BUILDING FULLY CLOSED
The Archbishops and Bishops have now issued directions to clergy instructing the total closure of church buildings. Even clergy are asked not to enter for anything but essential/emergency matters.
PUBLIC CHURCH SERVICES
All public services have been suspended across the UK until further notice. Please refer to the documents in the email newsletter for detailed information about parish and church life over the coming months. Hard copies have been sent to everyone on the parish database. If you have not received them, please let us know. The Pastoral Letter has been updated to reflect current directions.
CHURCH STILL ALIVE…
Fr Gareth is live-broadcasting daily Mass and Evening Prayer, except on Saturdays, on Facebook (tinyurl.com/frgarethjones) from a temporary oratory in The Vicarage. If you have internet access, you might like to join other members of the church family on Facebook (if you haven’t already) so that we can all unite in prayer and worship in real time. Mass is 10am and Evening Prayer at 5.30pm.
WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER
If you have internet access, please ensure that you have subscribed to the weekly newsletter via our website www.stmarysilford.org.uk as this contains all the up to date information about church and parish life during this time of social isolation.
MIRFIELD RETREAT cancelled
We have now heard that, unsurprisingly, our retreat cannot go ahead due to the present crisis. The monastery is closed to guests until at least the end of May. All deposits will be returned, and we will be in touch shortly about making those refunds direct to your bank account by BACS payment.
GOOD NEWS STORIES
We need to hear some good news right now! Please email/call Fr Gareth with any good news/funny stories resulting from our current predicament and we will share them with the parish.
