Public Mass will Return on Saturday 4th July

At 12 noon on Saturday 4th July the first public Mass since the beginning of the lockdown will be offered at St Mary Magdalen Church.

The Bishops Conference of England and Wales have released guidelines for the return of public Mass in parishes in our country. I look forward very much to seeing you and being able to be with you, offering the Sacrifice of the Mass on your behalf as the people of this parish in your presence.

Weekday Mass Times will be announced on this website. I encourage those fearful of attending the Sunday Mass to come on Saturday instead.

Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 10.30am and 5:00pm.

A maximum of 60 persons will be admitted to the Church at any Mass on a first come, first served basis. 

The Bishops Conference have dispensed Catholics from their Sunday obligation, so why not come to weekday Mass if you are able?


Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, certain protocols have to be complied with for public Mass to be celebrated. These have been drawn up by the Bishops Conference in liaison with Government they are as follows:

1. A facial covering must be worn in Church at all times.

2. Respect your neighbour's personal space. Maintain 'social distance' guidance from the Governement, of 2 metres, 1.5 metres if 2 metres is not possible.

3. A steward will provide you with hand sanitiser on entrance into the church. Please use it.

4. Follow the arrows on the floor inside the church for entrance and exit of the church before and after Mass.

5. There are to be no hymns, because singing has been restricted, nor is there a 'Sign of Peace'.

6. There is to be no offertory collection basket passed around the congregation. Instead, there will be a designated area for the deposit of your offering, along with our contactless machine. Donations can also continue to be given online on this website.

7. Holy Communion: You do not have to receive Holy Communion at Mass, as is common in Eastern Rite churches. The Church's traditional discipline on reception of Holy Communion is that Communion is made in the Easter season following an appropriate period of penitential discipline.

Please continue to follow this website for further guidance and instruction should we receive it.

May God bless you on this Sunday commemorating Sts Peter & Paul.

Help Needed for the Reopening of St Mary Magdalen Church

 

At last we have some encouraging news. In consultation with the UK Government, the Bishops of England and Wales have announced that from Monday 14th June, parish churches may reopen for private prayer. The celebration of public Mass is still, sorrowfully, not yet permitted.

In order for St Mary Magdalen's Church to reopen for prayer, we have been given guidance from Bishop Richard Moth about how this should be done safely.

To reopen St Mary Magdalen's we desperately need volunteers who will dedicate their time as marshalls or 'wardens' who oversee the safety of those who come inside the church to pray. We can only reopen the church if we have volunteers who will help us with their time.

The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton's Guidance for the reopening of parish churches can be read here.

If you would like to volunteer to enable us to open our church for prayer, please email the office at stmarymagoffice@googlemail.com or call Fr Ray on 01273 326793 to discuss what times of day you are available to help us to open the church and to discuss the necessary procedures the reopening of the church will entail.