Message from Father Peter

Dear Parishioners

As the Covid-19 crisis worsens, it is clear that we are all going to be affected by it in one way or another.

The government has been very clear about those who fall into a higher risk group and may be more vulnerable. Most of us, even the young and healthy may feel a greater sense of isolation and anxiety.

Some of us are fortunate to have a good network of friends and family local to us, but even those may be affected depending on who may need to self-isolate and when.

The parish wants to offer assistance in helping all of you through this difficult time.

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Connecting people who need help with those who can offer help

Our first step is to connect those of you in a higher risk category, or more isolated situation, with a network of people to support you. Thank you to all of the people who have already volunteered to help out with practical activities such as shopping and deliveries of food and other essential items as well as phoning for a general chat and check in.

If you would benefit from some help, please contact the parish office (details below) so we can share the list of volunteers that live near you.

For those of you who would like to reach out and provide some help, please also contact the parish office so that we can add your details to the lists.

Your situation may change so please reach out to the office at any stage. Volunteers will be welcome to join at any stage as we may need more as time goes on.

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Providing opportunity to connect together spiritually while you are staying at home

The next stage will be to help connect you with the daily practices of the church to support your spiritual needs. Sunday Mass will be available on YouTube via the parish website and the Diocese has arranged for live streaming of several services.
https://rcdow.org.uk/news/how-to-participate-in-mass-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

We are looking at how to provide online and telephone access to Masses as well as Rosaries, Mothers’ Prayers and other offerings and will let you know as soon as these groups are up and running.

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Making sure we can get messages out to the parish community as needed

 We are sending this message out via our parish website news and also to email addresses that we have from the parish census.  If you are not getting the news updates from the website, please register at www.stmargaretsrcchurch.co.uk/

If you would like to register but are unsure of how to do so, please contact the parish office and they will do it for you.

Should you have any suggestions or requests about other needs or ways to provide support, please do let us know.

Please make sure you look after yourself and all of those around you by taking notice of the guidelines being laid out by the government and the Church in order to keep us as safe as possible at this time.

With my prayers and good wishes for you and your family
Fr Peter

Parish Office Contact Details
Phone:  020 8892 3902
Email: stmargaretsonthames@rcdow.org.uk

Lent in Isolation

Lent in Isolation is a website that aims to bring spiritual nourishment to all those in isolation during this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

On government and scientific advice we are being forced into isolation, separated from friends and family. As Catholics, this extends even deeper; into our faith life. Whilst this is deeply saddening, the Catholic Church has given us tools of prayer so we can to continue to walk with Christ in our isolation. 

Through this website we hope to help you in this journey by giving you access to recordings of the daily readings, Gospel reflections from our priests, and leading you prayerfully through an act of Spiritual Communion. 

Message from Father Peter

Suspension of the public saying of Mass

As the Cardinal says in his letter to the Diocese, the need to suspend the public celebration of Mass was taken with a very heavy heart. This was not a decision taken without prayer or thought. The Church as a visible society, led by her shepherds, have the ability to dispense the laity in their need to participate in Mass in the case of severe illness. This is a national illness so the same rules would apply. The clergy of the Diocese who participate in the Bishops’ mission to preach the Gospel and minister the Sacraments are obliged to fulfill the Bishop’s request.

This will be very hard decision to accept but may I ask for your understanding. St Margaret’s Church will remain open on Saturday morning 10:30am for Confessions and throughout Sunday for private prayer.

I will say a private Sunday Mass that will be relayed on Youtube and will be available for anybody who wishes to participate. There are many other Churches producing a streamed service. Please see the attached document for other options.

Please see a video from the Cardianl explaining the situation:https://vimeo.com/398532027

Maintaining a prayer life in this period

Every Catholic is invited to develop their prayer life, and a number of resources are specifically available. Please see two potential sources below:

The structured daily prayer offered by Magnificat (graciously offered free at this time: https://us.magnificat.net/free  

or by Universalis might be particularly useful for parishioners if we enter a period of lockdown or for those about to self isolate who are comfortable with the internet: https://universalis.com/

Mothering Sunday

This Sunday is Mothering Sunday and bunches of daffodils will be available to take away from the Church carpark. Sadly this cannot be done in person but our thoughts, prayers and love remain the same.

Thank you 
Fr Peter

Letter and guidance from the Bishops on COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The Cardinal and the Archbishop of Liverpool, as President and Vice-President of the Bishops’ Conference, have written a letter to the Catholics of England and Wales. It addresses the changes that are now necessary in the life of the Church as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The letter can be viewed by clicking the download button below.

As a parish we will also be looking at what we can do during this pandemic. The parish pastoral council is drawing up plans to provide a support network for the more elderly or vulnerable members of our parish community and more details will be shared shortly.