Christmas will soon be with us and I would imagine there there will be more people wanting to attend Mass than has been the case up to now. However, it looks as if the same restrictions are going to apply at Christmas as we have to comply with now. It is possible (as well as my intention) to have four Masses celebrated for Christmas: (Christmas Vigil, Midnight Mass, Dawn Mass and Mass during the Day). This would mean Mass in the Parish Centre at 6.00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass and then two further Masses at 9.00 a.m. & 10.00 a.m. There are four lists (one for each Mass) now available at the Parish Centre for you to sign up to the Mass of your choosing (depending on numbers of course). Please only sign up for one Mass, at least for the time being. If the situation changes nearer Christmas it may be possible to attend more than one, but more about that if and when the time comes. Finally, please note the fields that say ‘3 people’ and ‘2 people’. These are for families, couples who are able to sit next to each other, i.e. live in the same house. By arranging the seats this way it means we can get a few more people in. To book just one place, please just sign a blank box.
There are two collections being taken up at the moment. One is the ongoing collection for the parish, what would usually be the offertory collection at Mass. Thanks to all of you who have continued to support the parish during these difficult times. The second collection at the moment is for ‘Peter’s Pence’. This collection will remain open until next Sunday (6th December).
I have been invited to a meeting at Archbishop’s House on Tuesday 1st December. The meeting will be with the Archbishop, the Diocesan Treasurer and the Property Manager. I am expecting to have some news for you following this meeting. I know we are not supposed to be preaching sermons at the moment, but perhaps some kind of announcement would be appropriate when the time comes, maybe at the end of Mass so that anyone who doesn’t want to stay won’t have to. I know you don’t all attend the same Mass, so I will repeat it for a few days to make sure as many as possible can hear it.