Category: Fr Eamonn’s Blog

April 15, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you’re able to enjoy some of the relaxed restrictions and that you enjoy this good weather even if it is colder than usual.

Over the past few weekends, it has been wonderful to see how many people are attending Masses, a joy to see the numbers of children present, how well behaved they are without the help of the children’s liturgy. This good news presents us with some challenges in terms of maintaining safe social distancing. To help ease the congestion we will resume the Saturday morning Mass at 10am and invite those who can to attend this one or one of the other weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday. The Sunday obligation remains suspended. The 10am Mass on Sunday tends to have the highest concentration of children so, if possible, please leave this Mass for families with young children.

We have noticed recently that there is a gathering of people at the back during Communion and afterwards for the collection, so we need to do something about this.

The basic rule of our one-way system is to follow the direction of the arrows at all times. So, I ask you to approach Holy Communion from the centre pews first, then return by the one-way system down the side aisles. Please do not take a short cut through the pews. When people in the centre pews have received, those in the side aisles may approach the altar, beginning from the back row, through the porch, down the centre aisle and return via the one-way system.

Baskets for the offertory collection will be left out in advance at the end of every other pew. This should help ease the congestion at the doors at the end of Mass. Within the current restrictions are still not allowed to mingle freely so please bear this in mind when Mass has ended.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and your care for the wellbeing of others.

Wishing you every blessing in the Love of the Lord,

Father Eamonn

Mass schedule is as follows:

Saturday evening Vigil Mass: 6.00pm

Sunday Morning Masses: 10.00am and 11.30am

Wednesday: 10.00am

Friday: 10.00am

Saturday: 10.00am

SATURDAY MARCH 27^TH

6.00pm: Vigil Mass of Palm Sunday followed by Confessions

SUNDAY MARCH 28^TH

10.00am & 11.30am: Mass of Palm Sunday (Confessions available after both Masses)

WEDNESDAY MARCH 31^ST

10.00AM Mass followed by Confessions

HOLY THURSDAY April 1^st:

7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Confessions

GOOD FRIDAY

Old Town Parish of St. Clement’s and All Saints: On-line Procession of Witness – Stations will be broadcast at different times during the day on the Parish Facebook Page and You Tube. (2) The Old Town Parish, Hastings | Facebook

3.00pm Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion followed by Confessions (Good Friday is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence)

HOLY SATURDAY

9.30am Blessing of Polish baskets of food

12.00pm Confessions

8.00pm EASTER VIGIL

Note: Ceremonies will be simple due to covid-19. There will be no washing of feet on Holy Thursday and no Altar of Repose, no public Veneration of the Cross during the Good Friday Liturgy and no Easter fire on Holy Saturday. Please remember to wear face coverings and keep a safe distance.

The death has occurred of Rev. Fr. John O’Brien
St. Joseph’s Square, Fermoy, Cork

Fr. John O’Brien SCA,St. Joseph’s Square, Fermoy and Barking, London.Fr. John SCA passed away peacefully in London after a brief illness. Beloved son of the late Tom and Lizzie (nee Browne), brother-in-law of the late Denis Higgins. Dear brother of Mary (Cahill), Betty (Higgins-Galvin), Geraldine (Twomey) and Tom. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sisters, brother, sister-in-law Sharon, brothers-in-law Matt, Din Joe and Denis, nephews Brendan, Padraig, John and Brian, nieces Lisa, Ann, Denise and Deirdre, grandnieces, grandnephews, his fellow Priests in The Pallottine Fathers, Bishop Alan Williams and the Priests of Brentwood Diocese London, his Parishioners in Barking Parish, extended family, relatives, neighbours and many friends in Fermoy, London and Thurles. Rest in peaceReception into Queen of Peace Church, Fermoy, Saturday, for 12 noon Requiem Mass funeral afterwards to Kilcrumper new cemetery.You are invited to leave a personal message or share a memory of Fr. John on the condolence page below. This will be welcomed and greatly appreciated by the family.Fr. John’s funeral cortège will travel via St. Joseph’s Square to Kilcrumper new cemetery. Fr. John’s Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on www.facebook.com/ronaynefuneraldirectorsfermoy/Donations in lieu of flowers please to, Cork Cancer Research Centre U.C.C. www.breakthroughcancerresearch.ie will be most welcome.

Date Published: Thursday 11th March 2021Date of Death: Thursday 18th February 2021

Ronayne Funeral Director’s I.A.F.D.

• 75 Lower Patrick Street,
• Fermoy, P61 WT21,
• Cork
• View Funeral Home Map

• www.ronaynefuneraldirectors.ie
• ronaynefuneraldirectors@gmail.com
• 025-34217
• 025 40988

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I would like to talk for a few minutes about the arrangements for the Parish First Holy Communion programme for this year.

I’m inviting the children from Year 4, who have been baptised, to join the Parish First Holy Communion programme, which we intend to start in March. The invitation includes children from the Parish who attend schools other than Sacred Heart.

A child’s preparation for First Communion should not, indeed cannot, take place without the support and involvement of his / her family and this year, this will be even more important than ever. Each child will need to be supported at home by a catholic parent or godparent. The children will be following the ‘I Belong’ programme and each child will have both a workbook and tasks to complete on a weekly basis. The programme this year will be run by Mrs Allen through the Seesaw Online Learning Platform, because of the ever-changing restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. There will be a £10 charge to cover the costs of the workbook and certificates.

Once Parish Masses resume, all of the children will be expected to attend every week. In the meantime, it is important that the children engage with the online Masses each weekend.

It is our hope that the First Holy Communion Masses will be held in September or October 2021, the dates will be confirmed at a later date.

If you would be interested in applying for your child to participate in this programme, please email the Sacred Heart School office before March 12th for the application forms. If you have any questions please email Mrs Allen at the school. The school email is: office@sacred-heart.e-sussex.sch.uk

Despite the challenges we faced in 2020, the First Holy Communions turned out to be very special occasions and I’m sure this year will be no different. Wishing you every blessing and Peace.

Father Eamonn