Coronavirus update
In accordance with the advice of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales, with immediate effect there will be changes to the manner in which Mass, visiting and other activities will take place in St George's and Our Lady Queen of Peace.
The following steps are now in place:
1. Distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds is suspended. The Host will be given on the hand only and it will be necessary to ensure that the priest or deacon places the host in the hand of the recipient in such a way that they do not touch their hands.
2. Suspend the physical sign of peace.
3. Remove holy water stoups.
4. If still in place at that time, public veneration of relics and the Cross on Good Friday should NOT be by kissing or physically touching them.
5. Advise those most vulnerable (elderly, people with weakened immune systems and long-term conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease) to refrain from large parish gatherings and stay at home.
6. Cease use of shared hymn books and missals which could help transmit the virus.
7. Ask everyone attending Mass to sanitise their hands as they come into church using sanitized gel dispensers. The are in place.
8. Ensure everyone maintains good hygiene especially at Mass and parish gatherings. The best way of protecting us from spread is still for everyone to use universal good hygiene, which will effectively disrupt spread of the virus.
9. Ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from attending Liturgy, public events, nor attend the sacrament of reconciliation if symptomatic (They may have an ordinary cold but equally it is important to ensure a precautionary approach).
10. Ensure very regular cleaning of surfaces lots of people touch regularly (e.g. ideally clean door handles before and after every Mass).
11. Do not pass the collection plate around.
12. Ensure ministers of the Eucharist sanitise their hands before and after distributing communion
13. When visiting parishioners at home, wash hands before giving the sacraments. No pastoral visits to people who are self-isolating until isolation ends. However, do offer phone support.
14. Visits to people in care homes or Hospitals should follow advice from the staff on infection control.
15. Suspend catering (teas, coffees etc.) at large parish gatherings where multiple people touch mugs, utensils, biscuits etc.
The following steps are now in place:
1. Distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds is suspended. The Host will be given on the hand only and it will be necessary to ensure that the priest or deacon places the host in the hand of the recipient in such a way that they do not touch their hands.
2. Suspend the physical sign of peace.
3. Remove holy water stoups.
4. If still in place at that time, public veneration of relics and the Cross on Good Friday should NOT be by kissing or physically touching them.
5. Advise those most vulnerable (elderly, people with weakened immune systems and long-term conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease) to refrain from large parish gatherings and stay at home.
6. Cease use of shared hymn books and missals which could help transmit the virus.
7. Ask everyone attending Mass to sanitise their hands as they come into church using sanitized gel dispensers. The are in place.
8. Ensure everyone maintains good hygiene especially at Mass and parish gatherings. The best way of protecting us from spread is still for everyone to use universal good hygiene, which will effectively disrupt spread of the virus.
9. Ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from attending Liturgy, public events, nor attend the sacrament of reconciliation if symptomatic (They may have an ordinary cold but equally it is important to ensure a precautionary approach).
10. Ensure very regular cleaning of surfaces lots of people touch regularly (e.g. ideally clean door handles before and after every Mass).
11. Do not pass the collection plate around.
12. Ensure ministers of the Eucharist sanitise their hands before and after distributing communion
13. When visiting parishioners at home, wash hands before giving the sacraments. No pastoral visits to people who are self-isolating until isolation ends. However, do offer phone support.
14. Visits to people in care homes or Hospitals should follow advice from the staff on infection control.
15. Suspend catering (teas, coffees etc.) at large parish gatherings where multiple people touch mugs, utensils, biscuits etc.