THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 15 August 2021
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Of this day, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes:
The Assumption reminds us that Mary’s life, like that of every Christian, is a journey of following, following Jesus, a journey that has a very precise destination, a future already marked out: the definitive victory over sin and death and full communion with God, because as Paul says in his Letter to the Ephesians, the Father “raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. This means that with Baptism we have already fundamentally been raised and are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, but we must physically attain what was previously begun and brought about in Baptism. In us, union with Christ’s resurrection is incomplete, but for the Virgin Mary it is complete, despite the journey that Our Lady also had to make. She has entered into the fullness of union with God, with her Son, she draws us onwards and accompanies us on our journey.
Finally, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are once again able to visit the sick. This can only be done, however, with permission of the family or the Care Home in which the parishioner lives. If you are able and willing to resume this ministry, please bring your pyx to Mass together with a small label showing the number of hosts you wish to take out. At Frinton, the usual Sunday morning routine can recommence, but, again, make sure you have permission to enter the home beforehand.
May God bless you and Our Blessed Lady pray for you.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A catechist asked the children to write a list of eleven great men. As they were busy writing she walked between the tables and noticed one little lad chewing the end of his pen. “Have you finished?” she asked.
“Not quite, Miss,” came the reply. “I’m trying to decide on the goalkeeper.”
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) 8 August 2021
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
We are slowly coming to terms with living with Covid – there have been so many changes to our lives over the past 18 months, not least in the parish – my life has been as busy as ever, but with quite different routines from the pre-pandemic way of life. It now seems that we are in a transition time – a halfway house between the practices we have been following during the pandemic and those we were familiar with before. Thank you for your co-operation in wearing facemasks and sanitising your hands. Whatever your personal views, we need to acknowledge that our prime concern whilst in church is the protection of those around us, many of whom may be vulnerable or feeling a little nervous about being surrounded by many other people.
One of the things I am intensely proud of is that our parishes have continued to offer the Mass on Sundays and weekdays throughout the pandemic (even when only Anne and I could be in church). This has been made possible by the work of so many, particularly our Stewards (who have worked hard to keep us all safe), and those who clean our churches. I cannot thank them enough for the time and effort they have spent.
You will notice that I have labelled the Masses on Thursday and Friday as Penitential Masses (i.e. Mass with an extended Penitential Rite). This is at the request of a parishioner who regrets the loss of Parish Reconciliation Services and the regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday mornings during the Pandemic. Please come along if you are able to, I promise it won’t be too long.
The sick lists published in the pre-pandemic Newsletters are now well out of date, so we are beginning new lists. Could Frinton parishioners please let me know of any names, by email or in writing please, that should be added, and could Dovercourt parishioners let Jane know. Before submitting names, please remember to obtain permission from the sick person (or their immediate family if they are unable to respond for themselves).
Finally, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are once again able to visit the sick. This can only be done, however, with permission of the family or the Care Home in which the parishioner lives. If you are able and willing to resume this ministry, please bring your pyx to Mass together with a small label showing the number of hosts you wish to take out. At Frinton, the usual Sunday morning routine can recommence, but, again, make sure you have permission to enter the home beforehand.
May the God of love bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Notice outside a north London church:
WANTED – WORKERS FOR GOD – PLENTY OF OVERTIME.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) 25 July 2021
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Covid restrictions have been relaxed, but at the same time the medical and scientific experts are urging caution as infections and hospitalisations rise principally in connection with the Delta Variant. The Church, following the advice of SAGE, has produced guidelines for a gradual return to normality.
The governing principle in all this is to provide a safe environment. For the time being, we are not permitted to reintroduce holy water in the stoups and those attending Mass should wear masks and hand sanitize both on entering and leaving church. Our churches will also remain well ventilated, and, as long as the risk remains high, communion will be administered in one kind only (i.e. we will not be using the Chalice).
Further details can be found on our websites and a copy of the full document is available on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales.
The sick lists published in the pre-pandemic Newsletters are now well out of date, so we are beginning new lists. Could Frinton parishioners please let me know of any names, by email or in writing please, that should be added, and could Dovercourt parishioners let Jane know. Before submitting names, please remember to obtain permission from the sick person (or their immediate family if they are unable to respond for themselves).
Finally, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are once again able to visit the sick. This can only be done, however, with permission of the family or the Care Home in which the parishioner lives. If you are able and willing to resume this ministry, please bring your pyx to Mass together with a small label showing the number of hosts you wish to take out. At Frinton, the usual Sunday morning routine can recommence, but, again, make sure you have permission to enter the home beforehand.
May the God of love bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
The curate took his wife to the maternity hospital and said that he would ring later for the news. When he phoned later in the day he called the wrong number and got the county cricket ground. He said, “I brought my wife to your place this morning, is there any news?” He was surprised to be told, “Yes, there are nine out and the last two were ducks.”
COVID GUIDANCE FROM 19 July
COVID STEP 4 GUIDANCE.
The Places of Worship Task Force met yesterday (15th July) and have produced guidance notes to be applied to worship from 19th July 2021.
Full details can be found on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales website. The following precis sums up the main points:
Introduction: the governing principle is to provide a safe environment. Employers (Parish Priests in our case) have a duty to keep premises safe. This, of course, requires the cooperation of parish communities. General points:
- Prevailing local conditions must be taken into account (infection rates etc).
- Mitigations must be in place. We must continue to use hand sanitiser both on entry and exit and face masks should be worn. General cleaning with anti-bacterial spraying to touchpoints.
- Social distancing – there is no legislation on social distancing. If you are concerned, please make this clear to the steward on duty who will endeavour to find you a place to sit away from the most crowded parts of the church.
- Congregational singing should be phased in gently.
Acts of Worship:
- Churches can be left open and unsupervised.
- Test, Track and Trace. As long as the NHS Test, Track and Trace system is in operation, churches should continue to make available the means for people to sign in for acts of worship using the NHS app and the associated QR codes (or other means of attendee identification, eg. an attendance register).
- One-way systems are no longer necessary.
- Stewards are no longer necessary to show people to designated seats etc. (but see 3 on social distancing above, and 2 above on NHS Test Track and Trace). Stewards can assist in cleaning after Mass.
- Holy Water Stoups – not to be used.
- Ministers can be used, eg. servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (to assist with the host only – i.e. only one Minister at Sunday Masses – see 8 below).
- Offertory – collection as at present for the time being (i.e. Bucket at Frinton, baskets at Dovercourt).
- Holy Communion under one kind only for the time being.
- Buildings to remain well ventilated.
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Can take place with safety features in place. Please contact Fr Frank for advice.
Home visits:
Can resume. Eucharistic Ministers speak to Fr Frank if you are willing to resume this.
Social Activities (eg. coffee after Mass)
Can take place from 19th July. Subject to risk assessment – essentially referring to queueing and seating (ie. No moving around, except to enter or exit when face masks should be worn).
Fr Frank (16.07.2021)
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 18 July 2021
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER LXII – keeping in touch.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) 17/18 July 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Saturday (17th) (Dovercourt) 2.00pm Marriage of Cheryl Baster & Peter Swift
(Frinton) 6.00pm Anne Jackson
Sunday (18th) (Frinton) 8.30am Marie Hines RIP (the Sisters)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am All Parishioners
Monday (19th) (Dovercourt) 1.45pm St Joseph’s School – Leavers’ Mass
Tuesday (20th) (Frinton) 11.00am Anne Latimer RIP (Th Sisters)
Thursday (22nd) (Frinton) 11.00am Michael Sherwood RIP (Sherwood family)
Friday (23rd) (Dovercourt) 9.30am All Parishioners
Saturday (24th) (Dovercourt) 11.00am First Holy Communion Mass
(Frinton) 6.00am Helen Koncewicz
Sunday (25th) (Frinton) 8.30am Donald Cunliffe RIP
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Errol MacBean RIP
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Private Intentions
The Sick and those who care for them
The Homeless
Prisoners and their Families
Seafarers and their Families
Fr Frank writes:
As I write this, I am contemplating what life may be like after 19th. For one thing, this may well be the last ‘emergency’ newsletter – Jane and I will have to remember old skills when it comes to producing the next ‘old style’ edition…….although it may take some time before the content builds up. In time, weekday Masses will be scheduled in the pre-pandemic fashion, including Saturday mornings followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and our Eucharistic Ministers will once again be able to visit the sick and housebound. We will need to be patient, as it will inevitably take some time before things get back to how we remember them.
In all this, we are all aware that the virus has not gone away, and we need to remember to continue to take precautions. For this reason singing will be introduced slowly, ventilation will be maintained and I ask that you all continue to sanitize your hands and that you please WEAR FACE MASKS in order to keep others safe. More details will follow once they have been published by the Bishops’ Conference.
May our Risen, Ascended, and Glorified Lord bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
The rector said to a young woman parishioner, “You know I pray for you every night.”
She replied: “I’m afraid it’s too late, rector, I’m already engaged.”
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) 20 June 2021
For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER LVIII – keeping in touch.
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) 19/20 June 2021
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Saturday (19th) (Frinton) 6.00pm John Turner RIP (Turner family)
Sunday (20th) (Frinton) 8.30am Sheelagh Hannigan RIP
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Christine McDonald RIP (Brian McDonald)
Monday (21st) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Fr Arthur Barrow
(Frinton) 2.00pm FUNERAL MASS: Nollag Foster RIP
Parishioners are invited to come to this Mass
Thursday (24th) (Frinton) 11.00am Holbrook/Barron Intentions
Friday (25th) (Dovercourt) 9.30am Errol MacBean RIP (Carmel Sadler & family)
Saturday (26th) (Frinton) 6.00pm Karen Elles RIP (Peter & Penny McManomon)
Sunday (27th) (Frinton) 8.30am Alison Pridham-Ackred RIP (Chris Ackred)
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Dennis & Margaret McCarthy RIP (Maura & family)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Private Intentions
Those who suffer Persecution, Oppression and Denial of Human Rights
Seafarers and their families
The Homeless
All Parishioners
Fr Frank writes:
The Prime Minister has announced that Coronavirus restrictions will continue in their present form until 19th July at the earliest. This means that current practices and precautions continue to apply to our celebration of Mass: alphabetical allocation of seats on Saturday/Sunday, the wearing of Masks, social distancing, no singing or unnecessary talking in church, and the use of hand sanitiser on entering and leaving church.
We all pray, I’m sure, for a safe world and a speedy return to normality.
May God bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Mass attendance, June 2021: 19/20 June surnames S-Z, 26/27 June A-D. Sunday Mass attendance, July 2021: 3/4 July surnames E-K, 10/11 July L-R, 17/18 July S-Z, **24/25 July A-D (** subject to change). Please note that there are no alphabetical restrictions applied to weekday Masses.
Sunday Smile:
A letter from a schoolboy at a preparatory school to his parents:
Dear Mum, Last week the bishop came for confirmation. I could see him well from the seat in the chapel. Now I know what a crook rally looks like.