Parish News

Many of you will know that, before Easter, Fr Brian went for a period of convalescence at Ince Blundell Nursing Home.
This unexpectedly coincided with the beginning of lock-down, which meant that he has remained there longer than originally anticipated. Now, having settled there, Fr Brian has decided to remain there, which means he will not be
returning to live at St. Oswald’s. Please keep him in your prayers at this time.

Fr John has prepared instructions on what to do and expect when Churches reopen for public mass on 6th July

click below

Cautious reopening of our churches – what to expect (print)

Cautious Re-opening of Churches for Public Worship
The Archbishop will give permission for churches to re-open for Mass and other public
services beginning on Monday 6th July under the strict conditions set out below for the
prevention of infection and the protection of those attending. Permissions will be reversed should rates of infection rise. The normal schedule of Masses will therefore recommence from that date in the usual locations.
• Each church will have a limited number of people who can be in the building.
(for St.Oswald’s, this number is 130; for Our Lady’s 100; for St. Wilfrid’s 75)
• There should be no concelebrating at a public Mass.
• A church can only be opened for Mass once it has been made ready and has been
approved by the Dean. A risk assessment and other documentation must be completed and
returned to the Dean.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES:
• The vulnerable should carefully consider the wisdom of returning to Mass too soon. They are not obliged to do so. The Sunday obligation has not been re-instated.
• Those who are able are encouraged to gather on a weekday rather than a Saturday
evening or Sunday, to release the pressure on weekend Masses.
• Social distancing guidelines are still in force i.e. 1 metre plus.
• Every 2nd row must be closed off.
• Church doors and windows should be left open.
• Volunteer stewards are required to be on hand to direct hand sanitising on arriving and leaving, to direct people to benches and to encourage worshippers to maintain
reasonable social distancing.
• Votive candles may be lit, but only from a lit candle.
• Single use newsletters, Mass sheets, or other papers may be used but must be taken home.
• Only the priest should be on the sanctuary – without deacons, servers or readers.
• There will be no Sign of Peace.
• There will be no singing.
• There should be no handshakes or hugs etc. after services.
• Collections should be in a basket on the way in and the way out.
• Lingering clusters of conversation in the porch or outside the church are to be avoided.
• Volunteers are required to sanitise bench surfaces and doors etc. after each Mass.
• Toilets must remain closed and only be used in a genuine emergency.

FACEMASKS
• People coming to Church will have to wear a facemask, which they will be permitted to lower to receive Holy Communion.

RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION:
• Holy Communion will be given as the Sacred Host only.
• The priest will wear a visor while distributing Holy Communion and sanitise his hands
before and after distribution.
• Holy Communion will be distributed after the final dismissal of the Mass.
• The priest will receive Holy Communion at the usual point of Mass.
• The words: “The Body of Christ. Amen” will only be said once at the beginning of
distribution. They are not to be repeated for each communicant.
• Communicants will be directed to approach the altar and then leave the church directly after receiving Holy Communion without returning to their benches.
• Parishioners should avoid bringing shopping or other large personal items to church in order to avoid returning to their places after receiving Holy Communion.
• Volunteer stewards will moderate the flow of those processing for Holy Communion.
• Communicants are instructed to approach with arms outstretched in order to maintain a
reasonable distance from the minister.
• Reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is not permitted.
• Communicants must avoid skin to skin contact with the minister’s hands. If contact
happens the Priest is to pause and sanitise his hands.
• Communicants should step to one side and then place the Sacred Host in their mouth and then follow directions to leave the church.

We thank you in advance in observing these guidelines which are there for your own safety and the safety of others.

We now look forward to welcoming you back into church whenever you feel comfortable to do so.

After many weeks of closure during lockdown, St Oswalds has been given the go ahead to reopen its doors for private prayer from Monday 22nd June 2020.
opening times are:

Monday-Friday 10.00am to 12.00pm

Wednesday and Friday 6.00pm-8.00pm

Fr John has produced this video to walk us through the guidelines to be adhered to during your visit.

https://youtu.be/8_4uOUdl8L0

On June 1st 2020, the day after Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady, mother of the Church.

Father John leads us in The prayer of the Glorious mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

https://youtu.be/aHSePjHvVks

St. Oswald’s Church Car Park
Regrettably, after persistent and on-going
anti-social behaviour, it is necessary to install
bollards to the entrance of St. Oswald’s Church
car park, both for the security of the Church and
the well-being of local residents.
Access to the car park will, in future, be from
8.00am-5.00pm each day, at which time the
bollards will be raised.
It should be noted that St. Oswald’s is not a
public car park and is to be used for Church
purposes only

In the last few weeks with our church closed, a number of people have enquired to see if they could still make their normal weekly contribution to the church. There are now three options available to continue to support our church in the absence of the opportunity to give at Sunday Mass.

Option 1 – Standing order

A Standing order mandate can be downloaded by clicking the link below. You can either:

1.Download, print and complete, then send the completed form to your bank to set up, or,

2.Use the church bank account details on the form and set up a payment yourself through your own online banking app.

Option 2 – Via text message from your mobile.

You can now make one off gifts of either £2,£3, £5, or £10 by following the instructions below:

Text  STOSWALD to 70085 to donate £2.

Texts cost £2 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £2 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text STOSWALDNOINFO to 70085.

Text  STOSWALD to 70450 to donate £3.

Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70450.

Text  STOSWALD to 70460 to donate £5.

Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70460.

Text STOSWALD to 70470 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70470.

Option 3: Direct through a secure website

This third option allows you to give your offering directly through a website set up specifically for our Church by The Archdiocese.

just click the link below which will direct you to it.

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-oswald-st-edmund-arrowsmith-ashton-in-makerfield-weekly-donation-copy

We fully understnd the financial difficulties the pandemic has placed on many families and we would certainly not wish you create further financial hardship in supporting our Parish at this time.

However, clearly with all public services currently on hold and churches closed, there is a financial strain in the day to day costs of maintaining and insuring our buildings, and any donation given by any of the above methods would be most gratefully received. If you are in a position to give, please be as generous as you can reasonably afford to be.

With access to church currently not available, please find below some additional prayer resource downloads to aid home worship.