Click here for the St John of the Cross Newsletter for 28 June.
See here the St John’s Newsletter for 21st June.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has welcomed the decision that Catholic churches, that can safely do so, will re-open for individual prayer on 15 June. Cardinal Nichols hopes people will benefit from the ‘sacredness’ of our church spaces and describes it as a “great blessing for individuals and for the benefit of all in society, that church doors will again be open to all who long to pray there for the peace and grace we need today.”
For the full statement see: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/catholic-churches-to-re-open-for-private-individual-prayer-on-15-june/
Here’s the St John of the Cross Newsletter for 7 June.
You can see the Pentecost Sunday Newsletter from St John of the Cross, Aylsham.
13th May
Bishop Alan would like us to know how the Bishops of England and Wales are working for the reopening of our churches. They have prepared the following statement:
The Bishops’ Statement on “Our Plan to Rebuild – the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy”
The timing and the manner of the opening of churches touches profound sensitivities and spiritual needs. The Government’s document and statements fail to recognise this.
The Government’s position, established today, includes these steps aimed at opening churches as soon as possible: the establishment of a task force for places of worship, to work closely with ‘stakeholders’ in ensuring that premises are COVID-19 secure; and heeding the experience of other countries in which churches are already open for worship.
In dialogue with the Government, the Catholic Church will continue its engagement in this process and has already submitted a detailed plan, in full accordance with public health guidelines, for churches to be opened for private prayer. The Church is ready to play its full part in the task force, understanding that this includes the possible earlier use of churches for private prayer, as a first safe step towards their use for public worship.
A link can be found: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/catholic-bishops-respond-to-governments-lockdown-easing-plans/
… is a new ecumenical project to help churches and Christian groups across Norfolk respond to the developing Covid-19 crisis. For more information see:
https://www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/573541/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Partners/faithhopelovenorfolk/Norfolk_foodbanks_find_ways_to_carry_on.aspx
… and for the latest news from the Norfolk and Norwich Christian community, see https://www.networknorwich.co.uk/
While our churches are closed, it’s possible to follow Mass, and other devotions, via a number of websites.
This link has “Church at Home” resources, with Sunday liturgies and daily prayer for families, as well as streaming links: https://www.celebrateconference.org/liturgy
https://www.churchservices.tv
https://www.youtube.com/user/EWTN
Midday Mass is live-streamed from Walsingham each day:
http://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream
If you have any other helpful links that you’d like to share, email me at bolger@waitrose.com
