Coronavirus Update
ALL PLACES OF WORSHIP, INCLUDING CATHOLIC CHURCHES, ARE CLOSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANNOUNCED GOVERNMENT CORONAVIRUS REQUIREMENTS.
DO NOT COME TO THE CHURCH OR THE PARISH OFFICE AS THEY ARE BOTH CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, UNLESS YOU HAVE ARRANGED A PRE-AGREED APPOINTMENT WITH FR MIREK.
THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE MANAGED REMOTELY AND CAN ONLY BE CONTACTED AS EXPLAINED IN THE “USEFUL INFORMATION” SECTION ON THE RIGHT.
In accordance with the Bishops’ Conference and Diocesan guidance, until further notice, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays is temporarily suspended according to Church teaching.
All Masses will be celebrated by Fr Mirek privately without a congregation. Mass intentions already requested will be fulfilled and new Mass intentions can be requested by emailing the Parish office at sacredheartluton@yahoo.co.uk.
All gatherings are postponed until it is safe to permit them, including: First Holy Communion Masses, Confirmation Masses, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Penitential Services, the Thursday Club and all other Parish Hall activities.
Baptisms will be deferred until public health advice permits gathering safely. In the case of necessity, baptisms will be celebrated only if safe to do so, with minimal attendees and with all hygiene best practice precautions taken including social distancing, hand washing and “catch it, bin it, kill it”.
Church weddings must be deferred until such time as gatherings are permitted.
Individual Confessions are available by telephone. There will be no face to face Confessions except by necessity and only if a pre-agreed appointment has been arranged with Fr Mirek and with all hygiene best practice precautions taken including social distancing, hand washing and “catch it, bin it, kill it”.
Concerning anointing of the Sick, no pastoral home visits are possible for the moment. However, we would be more than pleased to provide telephone support so, if you, or somebody you know, needs pastoral care then please let us know by email or telephone.
Funeral services will take place at the graveside or at a crematorium, subject to the conditions laid down by the relevant cemetery or crematorium authorities, which may require limitations on the number of attendees. A Mass to celebrate “in memoriam” can be arranged later, when congregations are allowed to gather.
You can watch a live streaming of all of the Masses from Northampton Cathedral on the link https://northamptondiocese.org/live/. Information on the Northampton Cathedral Mass times can be found at http://northamptoncathedral.org/times/.
Other live streaming and information sites that you may find spiritually valuable are listed on the right in the Useful Information section.
We will continue to post weekly Parish Newsletters in the Newsletters section above, plus other helpful Parish information and Diocesan announcements concerning coronavirus in the Useful Information section on the right. Please access them regularly and also please telephone others who may not have online access to keep them informed and to keep in touch with them. Continued social contact is vital, especially for those who live alone.
Knowing that the Mass is being celebrated, joining in spiritually in the celebration, following prayers at home, making an act of spiritual communion, this is how we share in the Sacrifice of Christ in these days. These are the ways in which we will sanctify Sunday, and indeed every day.
We also need to care for each other. There are so many ways in which we are able to do this: being attentive to the needs of our neighbours, especially the elderly and the vulnerable; contributing to the local food banks that remain open; volunteering for charitable initiatives and organisations; and by keeping in touch by all safe means, particularly with those who live alone.
During these disturbing and uncertain times, the rhythm of the prayer of the Church will continue. Please play your part in it. Daily acts of kindness and mutual support will, no doubt, continue and increase. Please do what you can to help others and, for your commitment to this, thank you.
Finally, 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:
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Set up a standing order from you bank account using the following Diocesan Nat West bank account details:
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Sort Code: 60-06-11
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Account Number: 46898093
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Account Name: Northampton Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust
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Payment Reference: Sacred Heart Parish Luton
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- Donate online, via the Diocesan website https://northamptondiocese.org/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
