Despite the reintroduced of some lock-down measures in the Aberdeen area, Masses will continue to go ahead as planned.
I urge you to follow the given advice while remembering to wear face coverings, to use hand sanitiser regularly and to book your pew before coming to the church.
The recent easing of the restrictions means that now I can offer hearing confessions in St Joseph’s parish garden. There are a few important caveats to such an arrangement.
Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has issued guidelines regarding current arrangements on public Masses. See below the concise, practical extract.
From 15th July we are able to celebrate Mass with a congregation present in the church. It’s a welcome development, but for the time being there will be some restrictions in place in order to minimise the risk of infection by Covid-19. Those restrictions will affect us in the following ways:
In May 2020 the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland established four working groups; an Infection Control Group, Pastoral Ministry Group, Seminary Formation Group and Episcopal Finance Committee, to advise them on various aspects of how Church life would be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These documents have been developed by the above working groups to inform, advise and support parish communities about how to plan for churches re-opening to the public. Continue reading →
CTVC in partner with Million Minutes and Father Christopher Jamison OSB, have created a series of online resources to help people live through the pandemic based on real people such as monks and nuns. Continue reading →
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great and unexpected trial. But for Catholics this trial is not only economic, social, or medical—it is spiritual.” Continue reading →
Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB, has recorded two special messages for the children, catechists & teachers and parents who are preparing for their First Confession & First Communion or Confirmation at this time.
The present global pandemic is having a profound effect on everyone. It presents an enormous challenge to us all. That challenge is survival, survival in all sorts of ways: physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially.
Apart from the very real difficulties of continuing sacramental and pastoral care, the Church also faces serious financial challenges, particularly as long as churches are closed and there are no public liturgies. In order to secure the future financial viability of parishes, a set of Interim Guidelines has been issued to all parishes by the Diocesan Trustees. I think it’s important to share some of the key points and extracts with you all. Continue reading →
The current situation is badly affecting individuals, families and businesses. Many face very difficult decisions on a daily basis and now it’s exacerbated by a very uncertain future. Because our churches remain closed to fight the coronavirus threat, our usual means of upkeeping the parish (Sunday collection) isn’t possible. Some of you have asked how they could continue to support our parish financially, some of you have already made donations (for which I am very grateful). I’m writing this extremely reluctantly because I understand that many of you struggle to keep yourselves above the water.