Kilmessan/Dunsany Parish
June 14th 2020 Tel: 046-9025172 The Body and Blood of Christ
Please pray for the family of George Downey R.I.P.(Dunsany) who died recently. George was only three years old. We hold him and his family in our prayers. Also please remember Patricia (Pat) Crosbie (nee Steen) who died recently and whose ashes were interred in the family plot in Kilmessan recently.
Moving on…It appears that we are moving along nicely as covid-19 is retreating into small numbers. However, we must not let our guard down, having done so well so far. It is important to think ahead as we intermingle more and more. Churches are to open for daily Mass from June 29th . This means that, for some time, we will have to keep to the distancing and other safety guidelines.
Parishes will have to do the following:
- Establish teams to implement preparations.
- Seek assistance from volunteers.
- Provide training where necessary.
- Provide sanitising and cleaning materials.
- Decide on how to implement distancing.
- Communicate this.
- Have stewards to assist and guide.
- Set up signage.
- Arrange collections.
- Arrange regular cleaning, especially for gatherings such as funerals.
There is no obligation, for the moment, to attend Sunday Mass and vulnerable people are not expected to attend. Choirs will be limited in number to two persons. No physical contact for the sign of peace. Holy Communion to be received only on the hand. Ministers of the Eucharist may be required to wear face covering and use sanitising gel before and after distributing Holy Communion. At the moment people gathering indoors should wear face covering. This may change as we progress. The golden rule will be: That we take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Confirmation– At the moment the plan is to have the ceremony in Trim Church on Monday, August 31st at 7pm. The parish priest has kindly offered us St Patrick’s so that we can observe safe distancing and accommodate all 34 children. It will be a more simple ceremony than usual because of the circumstances. We will be in touch with all concerned in due course.
Baptisms– We hope to resume baptisms at the beginning of July. Here too some adjustments will be made. Parents can make contact in the usual way. The celebration of First Holy Communion will probably take a different form than in previous years.
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.