CHURCH OPENING TIMES : COVID UPDATE

 03.06.21
COVID Update:                   
As we all know the government is planning to announce on 14th June, whether or not there will be a further lifting of restrictions from 21st June. Hopefully, by the time of our next leaflet in two weeks, we will have good news to share re attendance at church and use of the Green Hut. It would be fab to be able to open for refreshments and socialising after Sunday Mass again, but we’re not sure how that would work numbers-wise at the moment.
Hopefully it won’t be a problem to open for small groups like Brenda’s Craft Club and Carole’s Wednesday Club, providing we follow government advice, and the guidance from the Diocese.
Although some restrictions may be removed, we may still have to maintain some of the measures in place at present. Any updates will be sent out by email and published on the parish website. 

20.05.21
Latest Covid Guidance from the Bishops' Conference:
You can read the new information on the CBCEW, but the main points affecting us in Stage 3 are:
1. The 30 person rule at funerals is dropped in favours of church's safety capacity.
2. The offertory collection can take place.
3. Wedding and Standalone Baptisms can take place with up to 30 people.
4. Holy Communion can be taken to the housebound.
5. Face coverings remain a legal requirement until further notice.
6. Singing, the kiss of peace, and communion under both kinds are still not allowed.
There are another few minor things that have been relaxed, but we are advised to take into account local conditions, especially the 'Indian variant' which is causing concern in the North West at the moment, I think it would be prudent to wait  little longer.

06.05.21
Preparing for Comeback: Now that the green shoots of recovery from the worst part of Covid seem to be appearing, it's time to look forward to welcoming back those of our parishioners who have not been able to come to Mass for such a long time.
It will be so lovely to see them all again. June 21st, just a few weeks away now, is the designated day for most of the restrictions to be withdrawn, which means having no legal limit on social contact, although we will of course, still be guided by the Government instructions in force at the time. Hopefully, nearer the time, we will have a clearer idea of whether we still have to wear masks, or whether we can sing etc.

22.04.21
Baptisms: From May 17th, Step 3 of the Government's Covid 19 response comes into effect.
Weddings, receptions, funerals and commemorative events including wakes can proceed with up to 30 attendees. A broader range of stand-alone events will also be permitted, including baptisms which will be private occasions for 15 attendees.

25.03.21
Holy Week on the Parish Website:
For those who tune in Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday will be 'live' as usual from the Lady Chapel at 10am.
As the other ceremonies will be taking place in the main body of the church with a congregation, it is not possible to broadcast within the time frame, but last year's Maundy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies are still on our website if people would like to follow them again this year. 

18.03.21
Holy Week: As mentioned last week, we will, thank God, be able to celebrate Holy Week in church this year. However, due to Covid there have to be certain restrictions which are as follows:
Palm Sunday - palms will  be blessed at the beginning of Mass but will be distributed by the stewards as you leave at the end of Mass.
Maundy Thursday - there will be no washing of the feet, procession to, or watching at the altar of repose, and no Compline / Night Prayer.
Good Friday - Stations of the Cross will be as usual with people remaining in their benches as the priest moves round. In the Passion Liturgy there will be no kissing of the cross, but people are free to come forward to kneel or bow before the cross, or do so while remaining in their benches.
Easter Sunday - we will renew our Baptismal vows as usual but without lighted tapers and I will not be sprinkling the congregation with the newly blessed baptismal water. 
Please remember that we are limited (by social distancing / Covid regulations) to the numbers we have in church and to enable the stewards to plan seating, it would be helpful if you would let us know if you will be attending one or more of these services.
Please ring or email Maria 07732278730 or wulstans@gmail.com

IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT  :
You do not attend church if you are feeling unwell or if you are shielding or self-isolating.
We do not mingle before Mass outside or in the church porch or entrance, and after Mass in the church grounds. 
Remember, that together, we can keep ourselves and each other safe. 

Mass times : 
Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9.30 am / Sunday 10.00 am
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Please contact us to check availability of space if you have not already let us know which Mass you would prefer to attend.  email - wulstans@gmail.com / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 
If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730

05.01.21
GOOD NEWS! Churches can remain open, at present, during lockdown. 
Mass times : 
Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9.30 am / Sunday 10.00 am
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Please contact us to check availability of space if you have not already let us know which Mass you would prefer to attend.  email - wulstans@gmail.com / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 
If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730

04.01.21 
MASS FOR THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY will be available on YouTube / via the parish Website from 9.30am on Wednesday 6th January.

13.12.20
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Early Vigil - 5pm, which is ideal for families with young children.
Vigil at 7.30pm to replace Midnight Mass,
Christmas morning Mass at 9.30am.
The Mass will also be on YouTube via the parish Website from 7.30pm.
For those who would like to attend in person, it is essential to let us know which Mass you would like to attend, by phoning Maria on 07732278730 / emailing wulstans@gmail.co.uk / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 

29.11.20
CHRISTMAS MASSES
What do we do about Mass at Christmas? In normal times we always get a much bigger congregation than usual for Mass at Christmas, and cater for that by having an early Christmas Eve Vigil Mass, Midnight Mass and Mass on Christmas Day. Clearly, with social distancing we will not be able to fit into church as many people as usual, and St Edmunds is still out of commission. Taking into account that families from the same household are able to sit together, thus making more room for singles, we can probably accommodate about 80 people. We have decided to offer an early Vigil at 5pm, which is ideal for families with young children, a second Vigil at 7.30pm to replace Midnight Mass, and a Christmas morning Mass at 09.30am. The Mass will also be on YouTube via the parish Website from 7.30pm. For those who would like to attend in person, it is essential to let the stewards know which Mass you would like to attend, by phoning Maria on 07732278730 or emailing wulstans@gmail.com

02.12.20
Churches may now open for public Masses from Wednesday 2nd December.
Mass Times :
Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9.30 am / Sunday 10 am
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Please contact us to check availability of space if you have not already let us know which Mass you would prefer to attend.  email - wulstans@gmail.com / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 
If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730

01.11.20
                         Government announcement yesterday ~ churches may only open for private prayer from
                        Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December. (as part of the national lockdown)

There will be no public Masses celebrated after Wednesday 4th November.  
The Lady Chapel will be open for private prayer at the following times
from Thursday 5th November. 
Monday, Wednesday & Friday - 10.00-11.00 am. Tuesday & Thursday - 2.00-3.00 pm

   
31.07.20
Government announcement today ~ we must all wear masks when attending church from Saturday 8th August.

09.08.20
It was great to welcome parishioners to our first Sunday Mass at St Wulstan's since 15th March. 

Mass times this week : Tuesday 6 pm / Saturday 9 am / Sunday 10 am 
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.

01.08.20
Public Mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Sunday morning from 9th August.
Weekday Mass times:
Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9 am. 
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Please contact us to check availability of space if you have not already let us know which Mass you would prefer to attend.  email - wulstans@gmail.com / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 
If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730

31.07.20
Government announcement :
From Saturday, 8th August, all who attend church are required to wear a mask or face covering. 

11.07.20
After months of closure and a few weeks of church opening for private prayer, we were able to open to celebrate Mass. It has been wonderful to see our parishioners, once again, in the pews. 
Mass times are as follows :  
Mass times: Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9 am. 
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Please contact us to check availability of space if you have not already let us know which Mass you would prefer to attend.  email - wulstans@gmail.com / use the 'contact us' form on this website click here. 
If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730

Church will continue to open for private prayer at these times :  
Tuesday & Thursday 4.30-5.30 pm / Wednesday & Friday 11-12 am. NB : no Monday opening 

Unfortunately, we are unable to use St Edmund’s at the moment, as all the chairs are of soft fabric, and only hard surfaces are allowed.

02.07.20
Re-0pening of St Wulstan’s for Public Mass: will begin from next Tuesday (7th July), but it will be a while before attendance at Mass returns to what we are used to. Bishop Paul reminds us that we remain in a stage of transition, and it will not be "All back to as it was before".
Two metre social distancing will remain in place, which means the church has limited capacity (30).
If you have flu-like symptoms, or are in a “vulnerable” category please stay at home.

The dispensation from attending Sunday Mass still holds, so getting to Mass on any day of the week during these strange times is just as important for those who would love to come back.
Mass times: Tuesday 6pm / Wednesday 9.30 am / Thursday 6 pm / Friday 9.30 am / Saturday 9 am.
Church will be open for 30 minutes before Mass.
Several people have asked would they be turned away if there were already 30 people in church.
We are very much hoping to avoid that scenario by asking you to let us have your preferred first and second choice of day for Mass, preferably by email (wulstans@gmail.com) or by using the 'contact us' form on this website click here. If you do not have access to email, please ring Maria on 07732278730
When you get in touch we would need to know:
• Your name (and, if you are not using email, a phone number)
• How many people from your household/support bubble will attend. (As you will be able to sit together at Mass, it’s vital we know how many are in your group).
When we have everyone’s preferences, hopefully before Monday, we will be able to confirm by email or phone, which of the days you have chosen, that we will be able to welcome you to Mass.
It is vital that you contact us in advance and please don’t just turn up for Mass without receiving confirmation from the parish that there is sufficient space that day. It would, of course, be very helpful, if you were able to attend Mass on the same day each week, but that may not be possible for everyone.
We will continue to broadcast Sunday Mass on the Parish website for the foreseeable future.

When you come to Mass:
• Please maintain a 2 m distance and be guided by the stewards.
• Please sanitise your hands in the porch before entering church. 
• To minimise movement in church Stewards will direct you to fill the benches from the front.
• You will probably not be able to go in your ‘usual’ bench but that will give you a new perspective!
• You may light candles at the statues once you have been shown you seat, but remember that sanitising liquid is highly flammable so keep your hands away from the flame.
• There will be a box at the back of church for offertory envelopes.
• Stewards will invite you from your bench to go forward to receive communion to avoid a long queue in the aisle. Please keep to the centre of the aisle and maintain a 2m distance from the person in front
• Holy Communion must be received only on the hand.
• At the end of Mass, please wait in your seat until a steward invites you to leave. Exit from church will be via the Lady Chapel.
• Please sanitise your hands as you leave church.
• Please move away from the church building on leaving via the Lady Chapel and not congregate near  the entrance to hinder others leaving the building.
This document is on display in the church porch.

Church opening for private prayer:
Church will continue to be open for private prayer at these times :
Monday 11-12 am / h. Tuesday & Thursday 4.30-5.30 pm / Wednesday & Friday 11-12 am.
Unfortunately, we are unable to use St Edmund’s at the moment, as all the chairs are of soft fabric, and only hard surfaces are allowed.

28.06.20
THIS WEEK WE RECEIVED THE GREAT NEWS FROM THE BISHOPS CONFERENCE THAT WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ABLE TO ATTEND MASS IN CHURCH. THIS WILL BEGIN IN OUR PARISH FROM TUESDAY 7th JULY. PLEASE SEE TIMES BELOW. 
Please note the following guidance and letters. Specific details and arrangements for our church will be published later in the week on the parish bulletin and website. (Times of opening for private prayer will be amended from this date.)
A Message from the Metropolitan Archbishops  of the Catholic Church in England  
Letter from Bishop Paul to Diocesan Clergy - Guidelines on Liturgical Celebrations
Diocesan Guidance for the celebration of Mass

MASS TIMES
Tuesday - 6pm / Wednesday 9.30am / Thursday 6pm / Friday 9.30am / Saturday 9am

20.06.20
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE VISITORS IN CHURCH THIS WEEK.
CHURCH IS OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES: 


18.06.20 
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT CHURCH FOR PRIVATE PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. PLEASE SEE OPENING TIMES BELOW AND PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS INFORMATION REGARDING KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE. THERE IS MORE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE IN THE CHURCH PORCH. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS DOCUMENT