Churches and lockdown easing Step 4

On Monday 19th July we entered Step 4 of the Government’s Covid-19 Response Roadmap. The Bishops’ Conference (CBCEW) has prepared new guidance for parishes accordingly, following discussions with officials from Public Health England and HM Government Places of Worship Task Force. They advice that care must be taken to ensure that churches continue to be places where people feel safe to gather to worship. A key element of the new guidance involves moving away from centralised detailed regulation to prudent local judgements, adopting a continuing cautious approach to easements. The key watchwords for the future steps are discernment of local prevailing conditions and careful consideration of what mitigations are needed in light of these, with a strong emphasis on common sense risk averse activities to continue to mitigate against the transmission of the virus.

After a meeting with our own Covid Response team the following guidance has been agreed for the parish:

• We are still asked to ensure the use of face coverings and also sanitization on entry and exit from Church.
• Track and trace is encouraged and people can continue to use the QR points or sign in themselves.
• Stewards are no longer required to manage movement of the congregation, on entry or for Communion
• There is no longer a requirement for social distancing within the Churches and all seating is available.
• Should people wish to socially distant we will maintain the use of the Halls to ensure this.
• The physical sign of peace remains suspended and Communion continues to be under on kind only.
• We are able to re-introduce congregational singing gradually.
• The use of our PNL centres is is still heavily restricted by our Diocesan requirements for Covid and so for the time being remain ‘out of action’ except for Mass overflow.
• From 1st August we will return to the normal weekday schedule for Mass to which all are welcome.
• St Joseph’s Church will be open daily for visits and private prayer.

We will review these measures as necessary in the light of local conditions

MASS TIMES 

Please see Newsletter for details

The St. Vincent de Paul Society (www.svp.org.uk) works locally in parishes through volunteers helping anyone in need. Join them and work with them to help in whatever way you can. During this pandemic many people are suffering terrible hardship. Contact the parish office for more details of how you can help the SVP’s work.

The SVP are still reaching out to those in need (who would normally receive a visit) and have a mobile phone for this purpose, please ring 07918980330 and they will call back.

Parish Volunteers Audit  Following the Elliot Review, and the newly set up Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) we are asked to undertake a ‘parish audit’ and most of our volunteers are required to DBS check and complete online training at least every three years. If you volunteer in the parish in any capacity please email the parish office so we can get ‘our house in order’.

Diocesan Invited programme the latest Monthly Reflection is out now! The first season of our Invited mission brought people across our Diocese together online. The mission hasn’t ended there, with a series of ‘Deep Dive’ films planned for October. See www.abdiocese.org.uk/invited for more details

Our Justice and Peace group have issued their latest informative newsletter which can be found on our website here

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF SOUL OF:

Catherine Reed RIP her funeral will take place on Thursday 30th Sept at Midday at the Surrey and Sussex crematorium .

Chris Jupp RIP his funeral will take place on Friday 24th Sept at the Surrey and Sussex crematorium

Betty Murphy RIP her funeral will take place on Friday 1st Oct at 10am at St Joseph’s Church followed at Redstone cemetery

Fr Mario Sanderson RIP, a retired priest of our diocese, his funeral is on Tuesday 21st Sept, midday, At St Thomas of Canterbury, Mayfield

Please remember them and their families in your prayers

First Holy Communion programme 2021/22 – After discussion with our leaders, given the easing and the possibility of meeting in person we are preparing to start our First Reconciliation/First Communion course. We have decided, given we normally have about 100 children on the course that the best way forward is to run the programme with those children about to enter year 4 in September who have been waiting for a year now to start preparation. This will mean that those entering year 3 will now have to wait until times are hopefully more settled, though we are proposing to offer a few ‘pop-up sessions’ to help. The best preparation comes from the family and the growing presence/familiarity the children can have with the Mass and the ‘rhythm of faith’ that we celebrate Sunday by Sunday through the seasons of the Church’s year, so, with lockdown easing hopefully continuing, let this be the family aim. If you have a child entering year 4, or a child a bit older, and would like to register interest email: frfhcpnl@gmail.com. The closing date for applications is Sunday 19th September.

School Admissions Forms If you are applying for your child to attend St Bede’s or St Joseph’s, or another Faith School, in September 2022, in the relevant form please fill in ‘Parish of the Nativity of the Lord’ and ‘Fr Tony Bridson’ as Parish Priest. We will have to make arrangements to sign the supplementary forms depending on developments with the pandemic during the autumn so keep an eye on the newsletter

Redhill Women’s Group – free open day Monday 20th Sep, 9.30am -12.30pm, at Surrey Choices Building – registration required, please contact tukes@smef.org.uk

CAFOD is responding to multiple emergencies across the world, including, Haiti, Afghanistan and Africa – please visit their website to find out more and donate https://cafod.org.uk/News/Emergencies-news

Nurturing the growth of the Church – along with lock-down easing comes more opportunity to enliven the parish again and for new folks to step up – can you gift some time to help the celebration of the liturgy, the nurturing of faith and sacramental preparation, the care of the building and grounds, visits to the housebound, or anything else? Please email the parish office with your offers of help.

25th September – Day for Catechists Bishop Richard invites Catechists across the Diocese to a day of inspiration and reflection. This event will provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the ministry of Catechist in light of a difficult year for Catechesis, the publication of the new Directory for Catechesis and the recent Apostolic Letter on Catechists from Pope Francis. The day begins at 10am for more information contact ruth.gerun@abdiocese.org.uk

Beginning Experience Weekend: October 8th – 10th, Sion Community, Brentwood, Essex. For those who find themselves single again following divorce, separation or bereavement besouthofengland@gmail.com

Marriage Anniversaries Mass at St Joseph’s Guildford, 9 October, 11.30am – 2.30pm. Are you celebrating a significant anniversary this year? Join us for a wonderful opportunity to renew your wedding vows and revel in the joy that marriage can bring. For more information and to book contact: katherine.bergin@abdiocese.org.uk

www.righttolife.org.uk/jobs/ – with attempts before parliament for both start and end of life ’termination’ this charity are looking to hire skilled professionals to strengthen their ability to oppose these efforts and protect life.

Opportunities for job/volunteer roles within our locality to work with Women/baby Asylum seekers. Please contact the parish office for further information.

The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group has great need of men’s clothes for those who have come from the Channel boats – if you can help contact: josie@gdwg.org.uk

Redundant iPads and Laptops are desperately needed by the Gatwick Detainees’ Welfare Group.. These devices can help give access to classes for speakers of other languages, to communicate with friends, family, our staff, their volunteer visitor and to access resources such as Food Banks and to join our post detention services. Contact Josie at: josiewade@gdwg.org.uk. Thank you.

UN Climate Talks This year, the UK will host the ‘COP26’ climate talks in Glasgow in November. Many of the world’s poorest countries are struggling to cope with the effects of climate change such as increased droughts, floods and cyclones. We need world leaders to put the poorest people at the heart of their talks and the UK has a critical role to play as host. Please sign our petition to the Prime Minister at www.cafod.org.uk/reclaim.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church How can you deepen your Catholic faith without going on a course or sitting down and reading the whole book from cover to cover? The answer is that each week we are publishing short extract summaries from the Catechism of the Catholic Church which have been thematically arranged in bite-size chunks that take no more than 10 minutes to read. Teach yourself and deepen your faith: click here to take you to our feature page.

DO YOU SHOP ONLINE? AND WISH TO HELP PNL? If you shop online at no cost to you a small donation can be made to the parish for each purchase you make! All you need do is enter your details by going to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/pnl and clicking ‘Support us for free’. Then, when shopping online, you will be asked if you want to claim a donation for PNL. Click ‘Claim Donation’ and a small percentage of what you spend will be sent to our Parish Development Fund. So, please get clicking. Thank you.

TELEPHONE SUPPORT If you would like to have a chat with someone for whatever reason in the parish, or would like to offer a bit of support at this time, please contact the parish office to share your details
Telephone Support of the bereaved, members of our Deanery Bereavement Team are able to offer you the time and space to talk If you have been recently bereaved. In the current circumstances, face to face visiting may prove difficult, but a chat on the phone is simple to arrange. If you would like to talk to someone then please contact the Parish office and this can be arranged.

PARISH ONLINE ZOOM GROUP There is a small group of parishioners who meet via Zoom each week on a Sunday evening at 6pm for about 40mins to share the Gospel for that week, prayer requests and a song / hymn. We are keen to welcome anyone and if you are interested, please get in touch via the parish office.

17th Reigate Scout Group ….exciting news they are starting ‘Squirrels’ a new section aimed at introducing 4-5 year olds to the scouting adventure. They will meet on Thursdays 4.30-5.30pm. If you would like your child to join or could offer to help send an email: 17th.groupscoutleader@gmail.com

Resources for families and faith a revamped website offers many fun and helpful ways to develop faith – you might like to take a look: www.colourandshapeonline.com

MARRIAGE CARE write to say: Please encourage your parishioners to seek support if they are experiencing relationship distress. Our professional relationship counselling service is provided on a donation-only basis and seeking help at whatever stage can make a real difference. You can find out more and book counselling sessions at www.marriagecare.org.uk

VINCENTIAN VOLUNTEER Aged 18-35 with a year to spare to live in a faith-filled community and make a difference serving the needy in our society? Then visit www.vincentianvolunteers.org.uk

ST JOHN VIANNEY GROUP “I have a vocation from God. If I already know what it is, I pray to be faithful. If I am still searching, I pray to hear God’s voice and to respond generously.” Is God calling you to the priesthood? The St John Vianney Group is a group for men, aged 18-45 who wish to explore whether they have a calling. For further details contact Fr Con Foley via email foleycon@gmail .com or call 01932 842 643.

SAFEGUARDING IN THE PARISH Some roles in the parish require volunteers to have a DBS check which are renewed every 3 years. Katie Jones, our Safeguarding Rep, will be contacting people if a re-check is needed. However if you are in a role in the parish and have not had a recheck or if you have any query on the DBS process please contact Katie on 01737 761017.

BEQUESTS THANK YOU We are very grateful that a number of parishioners from our three churches have assisted our parish by gifting a donation to the parish in their wills. A sheet has been prepared by the diocese outlining the wording that should be used for this. It also includes information on Foundation Masses and bequests to our diocese. If you would like more information please contact the parish office