On Monday 29 June at 10.00am, we are participating in a Mass led by Archbishop Bernard from St Chad's Cathedral on behalf of Father Hudson's charity. The live stream of the service can be accessed here: St Chad's Cathedral Mass Live Stream

As you are by now no doubt aware, the Government has given the go-ahead for us to reopen our Churches for Mass from the 4th July. This is indeed great news! It will be a welcome blessing for us to meet together once again as a Parish and I am very much looking forward to that.

There will be Mass in St Kenelm's on Saturday 4th July at 1.00 pm and on Sunday 5th at 10.00am.Obviously, space will be limited (see below) and we must obey the new seating capacity of the church. I would very much like to welcome you all back straight away but realistically that can't happen. Short of opening a lottery, I propose that only those with a surname beginning from A to F attend Mass on Saturday 4th July, and that only those with a surname beginning from G to L attend Mass on Sunday 5th July. Even with this system, please be understanding if the new capacity of the church is reached before you get in and don't be too upset that you may be asked to return home if it is.

Inside the church, the way we do things now will be different to the way things have been done in pre-Coronavirus days so we can all expect to see changes. Collective and self-hygiene is paramount in keeping the virus at bay so we will be observing strict hand washing and social distancing in St Kenelm's in the months ahead and I ask you all to understand and comply fully with the requirements of the 'new normal' that will govern our coming together:

• Due to social distancing requirements, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in St Kenelm's at any one time is 33. This is obviously a huge reduction in our seating capacity and will have a great affect on what we can do at this time.
• Social distancing of 2 metres must be observed both in the church grounds and in the church at all times.
• A one-way system will be in operation. You will enter as usual through the Narthex, and exit through the Sacristy.
• The Holy Water stoop will remain dry.
• Please be aware that the toilets may not be used.
• Everyone is required to sanitise their hands on entering and exiting the church and to wear a face covering, which may or may not be a surgical mask. The face covering should cover your nose and mouth and must be worn for the duration of Mass. (The church will not provide masks / face coverings)
• You will be directed to a seat by a steward. This may not be where you would normally choose to sit, but please be compliant as seating will be limited and many of the seats cannot be used.
• If you wish to you can bring your own missal or prayer book. This must be for your own use only and cannot be shared. There will be no books / sheets provided.
• ​In accordance with Diocesan guidelines, there will be no singing, offertory procession, or Sign of Peace.
• Whilst I value the help of Altar Servers and Eucharistic Ministers, these will not be required until further notice due to social distancing and hygiene regulations.
• To limit movement and contamination inside the church, Holy Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass as you leave the church. It will not be possible to return to your seat after you have received Holy Communion.
• Whilst it will be lovely to meet together after such a long time, please resist the urge to congregate outside before and after Mass, and maintain social distancing at all times.

These regulations may seem draconian to you, but they are unfortunately very necessary.

Understandably, many people may be uneasy at the prospect of returning to church at this time. PLEASE REMEMBER: THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND MASS REMAINS SUSPENDED AT THIS TIME. Therefore, you do not have to come to Mass and those who are afraid or vulnerable in any way are strongly encouraged to stay at home and follow Mass on television. (The is a lovely Mass on Shalom World TV from SS Peter & Paul,  Portlaoise, Ireland, available on YouTube at 10am/10pm everyday, and of course streamed Mass from various parishes in the Diocese and the world continue.)

Please continue to be very careful and take every precaution to keep yourself, your loved ones, and us all safe. The virus hasn't gone away, and the global death-toll is still frightening. Only by working together have we any chance of making our country and world COVID 19 free. We pray that that day may come sooner rather than later.
Fr Gerry x

Keeping children safe online •

 

On 25th June the DfE updated its guidance on support for parents and carers to keep children safe online. • It now has links to apps to keep children safe online. • It cites a BBC app called Own it. This app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support. 

 

Also SafeToNet, which is an app for parents to help with safeguard their children whist respecting their privacy.

Father Gerry has asked that we publicise today's message from the most senior Bishops in England to the Catholic Community on the resumption of collective worship.

 

The "latest news section" of the parish website has been updated and also a full copy is attached.

https://www.ourladyandstkenelm.org.uk/25th-june-archbishops-letter-on-resumption-of-collective-worship.html

Dear All,

I am sure you were delighted to hear in the news that Collective Worship may now take place from July 4.

 

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said:

As you can imagine, each Diocese is awaiting guidance from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales as to what this will look like within the reality of social distancing. As soon as we are able to, we will update you on this matter.

“I welcome the statement by the Prime Minister earlier today, that places of worship are now able to resume collective acts of worship from 4 July. This is welcome news for members of all religions in England. I thank all who have worked hard to bring this about, not least my fellow religious leaders.

 

“As Catholics we now look forward to being able to celebrate Mass together again from 4 July. We have waited with patience and longing for this moment, understanding the importance of protecting the health of people in our society. Now we are full of anticipation that we will be able again to take part together in the Eucharist, which lies at the centre of our faith.

 

“It is important that we continue to abide by the guidance, given by the Government, on appropriate social distancing and the other measures to avoid all unnecessary risk. Our own detailed guidance will be distributed around dioceses and parishes so everyone can be confident that they may come to Mass securely and understand the part they are to play in protecting each other from any remaining risk of infection.

 

“The past few months have been a time of fashioning new patterns of prayer, new ways of exploring and enriching our faith and vigorous ways of reaching out to those in need. We can build on these, forgetting nothing of the graces we have been given. Yet now, with the experience of opening our churches for individual prayer already gained, this return to the more normal patterns of worship will be of great importance to all Catholics.

 

“This time of our ‘Eucharistic fast’ has made our hearts grow in longing for that moment when we can come together and receive again the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. That moment is now very near and for that we thank God.”

Dancers have now set up an online appointment booking system for your  use.  Please use the link below 

 

https://dancersltd.simplybook.it/v2/ 

 

 

At present there are two assistants for booking time slots and either option will do. Further assistants will be set up as and when required.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

 

School Uniform for 2020

 

We have always provided a traditional and personal service, but due the Covid -19 Pandemic we are having to change how we do things this year.

 

To ensure the safety of our customers and the Dancers Team, we will be conforming with government guidelines by observing social distancing between customers and staff, limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and providing hand sanitising stations amongst other measures. There will be Perspex screens on the counters, and we have invested in a “Ramsol” sanitising system.

 

We will be operating a one-way system with the entrance on Peckingham Street (opposite Post Office) and exit on to Hagley Street.

 

Unfortunately, as our fitting rooms will be closed, we will not be able to allow the trying on of clothes in store. Items purchased can be tried on at home and we will gladly accept returns and exchanges. All items returned will be subject to a strict quarantine/sanitisation process.

 

For your convenience we are operating an appointment only system for our Schoolwear Department, which will be particularly useful for those children starting a new school. Please email dancersltd@gmail.com for an appointment indicating which School so that we can be prepared.

 

 

For those children starting a new Primary or Secondary School, we will do all we can to help and advise you, but we would ask you to come prepared. It will be very helpful to have your child’s measurements, or by measuring existing garments as a guide e.g. for trousers the waist and inside leg measurements and chest sizes for sweatshirts, pullovers, polos and blazers (a guide to measuring is included below). Sizes can be confirmed by sight when in the shop and will be exchanged if required.

 

We have a web site www.dancersltd.co.uk which is currently being updated to include size guides and we would encourage all parents /guardians of existing pupils, wherever possible, to use this facility to save time in coming into the shop. For your convenience there is also a “Click and Collect” option on our web site. Following a text from us , items can be collected from the ground floor and can be returned or exchanged as necessary.

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/sunday-liturgy-for-families

 

We celebrated our first assembly together since March (at a social distance)! It was so wonderful to come together in worship, join in with some of our favourite hymns and most off all, see each other again! What a lovely day to start the day! 

Father Gerry has sent a longer than usual message about the Feast of Corpus Christi and arrangements that have to be made to prepare for the reopening of the Church. There is a copy of his message on the parish website. Please share. https://www.ourladyandstkenelm.org.uk/