Dear parishioners,

As you are aware, nearly all COVID19 restrictions in England have been removed by the government since Monday 19th July. Recently at the meeting of the clergy in the pastoral area of Reading, we agreed in our parishes to continue to follow the current COVID 19 procedures as we all have the responsibility to keep each other safe, especially the vulnerable.

In unity with all priests in the area I ask you to continue wearing face coverings in church as a voluntary measure for the foreseeable future.

The booking system for Sunday Mass will continue but if you would prefer to not book in advance, then please do feel free to come for Mass and you will be accommodated.

The sanitising procedure and social distancing will both continue. All this will all be reviewed in a few weeks with Canon Michael Dennehy and the other priests in the Pastoral area.

I am very grateful to everyone for their patience and generosity in complying with the Covid19 procedures that we have in place. I am, particularly grateful to the wonderful stewards who have been doing such an incredible job. They have fulfilled a challenging task with kindness and sensitivity. When the time comes to make changes to our procedures, we will do so gradually so that we all have the time to adjust.

At the same time, let us remind ourselves of our Sunday Obligation and start to come back to Sunday Mass in person. Please find attached a letter from the Bishops’ conference and a letter from Bishop Philip on this topic.

God Bless Fr Stan
Message to the Diocese from the Bishop 200721 and CBCEW Statement – Sunday it is our Day