The four public weekly Masses in our Church are: 6.30pm on Saturday; 9.00am and 11.00am on Sunday; and 9.30am on Wednesday. The Church will be closed other than during these Masses. While the Holy obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues to be suspended, you are welcome to attend one of these Masses, especially the Wednesday Mass to reduce the weekend numbers.

The capacity of the Church is considerably reduced to meet the two metre distancing rules. Once full capacity has been reached no more people will be able to enter the Church.

You are advised not to attend Mass if you are medically vulnerable or if you are over 70 years of age. You must not attend Mass if you have Covid-19 or flu like symptoms.

Attendees from one household can sit together, but must maintain two metre distancing from other individuals or households.

To ensure compliance with pandemic regulations, when attending Mass please:

• Wear a face mask, unless exempt
• Follow the stewards’ instructions and requests
• Sanitise your hands on both entry and exit
• Follow the signed entrance and one-way system
• Don’t use the kneelers, toilets or water taps
• Observe the two metre distancing rule at all times
• Minimise contact with surfaces and other households
• Ensure children stay with parents/guardians at all times
• Complete an attendance contact card before leaving

There will be no singing or hymn books available and no printed copies of the newsletter. There will be a collection as you exit the Church.

All of the other Masses (i.e. those not listed above) in the Church during the week are being celebrated privately by Fr Mirek.

We are currently permitted to conduct funerals in the Church with up to 30 attendees, weddings with up to 15 attendees and baptisms with up to 5 attendees.

Thank you to the Parishioners who have volunteered as cleaners and stewards to enable us to open the Church for the Masses to take place, however, we urgently need more volunteers to continue having public Masses, so please seriously consider if you might be able to offer an hour or two of your time to help out.

The stewards manage the safe entrance, participation and exit of attendees and the cleaners sanitise the Church before and after each Mass.

If you are under 70 years of age and not shielding and wish to volunteer for these two roles then email the Parish office on sacredheartluton@yahoo.co.uk.

The Parish office is closed and all Parish staff are furloughed. The Parish administration is being managed remotely on a voluntary basis and contact is via:

email –  sacredheartluton@yahoo.co.uk

Telephone – 01582:723099

For coronavirus and other links and information please go to Links & Info.

For Parishioners who have lost their job, or are under threat of losing their job, a free online coaching service is available.  The website draws on 25+ years of coaching experience supporting people facing redundancy and job loss and provides a wealth of information, practical advice and activities to improve performance with looking for a new job or becoming self employed.

The website link is https://www.vitaeopus.co.uk and we would ask and encourage you to pass on the web link to anyone you feel might find it valuable in these challenging times, particularly if they are losing their job without any outplacement or other back to work coaching or support.  The modules provided cover key subjects essential to conducting an effective re-employment campaign.

Please also do what you safely can for any elderly or vulnerable individuals in the community, especially those living alone.  If you know of anybody who would value pastoral care by telephone then please encourage them to contact the Parish Office by email or phone or, with their permission, email their contact details to the Parish Office.  Please print and safely pass on a copy of this newsletter to Parishioners who do not have online access.

Concerning Mass offerings, in these difficult and stressful times, when family health and family finances come first, if you feel able to continue financially supporting the running costs of our Church, there are a couple of easy ways to continue making your Mass offering:

Set up a standing order using the Diocesan Nat West bank account details

Sort Code: 60-06-11
Account Number: 46898093
Account Name: Northampton Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust
Payment Reference: Sacred Heart Parish Luton

Donate online, via the Diocesan website at  Donate. Scroll down to find the “Donate” button and follow the instructions including putting “Sacred Heart Parish Luton” in the notes section of the donate page.

OUR ONLY PUBLIC MASSES ARE SATURDAY 6.30PM, SUNDAY 9.00AM AND 11.00AM PLUS WEDNESDAY 9.30AM. ALL OTHER MASSES ARE BEING PRIVATELY SAID BY FR MIREK WITHOUT A CONGREGATION. THERE ARE NO CONFESSIONS OR STATIONS OF THE CROSS.

Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm (First Mass of Sunday) and Sunday 9.00am and 11.00am

Holydays of Obligation: 9.30am and 7.30pm

Confessions: Saturday: 10.00am to 10.25am (with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) and 6.00 to 6.15pm

Weekday Masses: Monday to Friday 9.30am (check the weekly Newsletter)

Stations of the Cross: Friday 7.00pm during Advent and Lent

Penitential Services: As announced before Christmas and Easter