Ensuring Our Parishes Continue To Be A Place Where People Feel Safe To Gather To Worship

Dear all,

Our Pastoral Team met on 22^nd July to consider this by discussing the latest guidance from the government, the NHS, Bishops of England & Wales and Clifton Diocese with due consideration also given to the local conditions regarding the virus.

Sadly, cases of positive results are currently very high in both Bristol and Bath. The figures up to the 17^th July for just 2 of our areas covered by the parishes are Headley Park at 1611.3/100,000 and for Hartcliffe 1247.7/100,000, well above the national average.

We are not expecting a massive rush back to church and it is now the holiday season too. We have also not quite reached the capacity we are currently operating under. The Team are aware of some parishioners who want to return to 'normal' as soon as possible and others who are wary and uncomfortable just now.

Our Pastoral Team concluded it is not quite the time to relax what has worked well for us so far.

Therefore, for the time being:

Booking for both Sunday Masses will continue to operate.
The one-way system remains in place.
Frequent hand sanitising is to continue.
Facemasks must be worn unless exempt for medical or age reasons.
2m social distancing between households is to be observed.
Communion will be under one kind, received in the hand.
The Diocesan Policy still stands that if someone is self-isolating in your household, you are advised to stay away from church premises for the duration of the isolation.

For our part, we will maintain good ventilation, our rigorous cleaning schedule and stewards will remain on duty.

This will be reviewed at our next Pastoral Team meeting scheduled for the 17^th August.

We would value your input nearer the time. Please email to Alice on bristol.stpiusx@cliftondiocese.com by Thursday 12^th August with the subject 'C-19 Parish Review'. These will then be forwarded to the whole Team.

As much as we are all looking forward to returning to life with more freedoms, the Pastoral Team has a duty of care to all our parishioners and particularly to the most vulnerable who wish to come to the Church.

In the meantime, we are asking you to look after and to be kind and respectful to the people around you, who may not share your views.

And if you are still wary and chose to watch from home, please click on the Mass youtube link below and be assured that we miss you and are praying for you.

Thank you

Each and every one of us is invited to serve in helping our parishes to fulfil their joint mission of being “a loving, embracing and thriving community with Christ at the heart of our lives, finding God through reflection, prayer and worship, and witnessing to the Good News of Jesus Christ through our words, actions and service to others”.

Called to be a People of Hope

Clifton Diocesan Pastoral Guidelines

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

No worries if you don't have a missal. Click on the picture above for the daily Mass readings.

Clergy Musings

Deacon Mark gives us an update on possibilities following Fr Michael's re-directing of his ministry next February 2022 and the exciting opportunities for all of us to be more active in our faith and local communities.

Celebrating Holy Mass @ St Pius Xth

Communion will be distributed under one kind and in the hand only.

Stewards will invite you to move along your pew to the outside aisle to come forward. Please return by the central aisle.

Protect your priest by keeping your face covering on, stretch out your arms as far as possible. Move away before pulling your mask down to consume the bread.

Hoping To Re-open The Sacred Heart In The Autumn

We are delighted to be starting baptisms once more in both parishes. One of which will be held at the Sacred Heart on the 15^th August. The carpets and windows are being cleaned next week in readiness. We are hoping to open the Sacred Heart for a weekday Mass and private prayer in the Autumn.

Sunday Obligation Suspended

There are many in our congregation who for one reason or another feel it is too soon to take the risk of attending Mass. Yours and your families' health and safety is paramount to us. For this reason, the obligation for us to attend Mass on a Sunday is currently suspended by our Bishops. We hope you are enjoying one of the many Masses being live-streamed across the Diocese and indeed the world.

In the meantime, please be assured that we miss you and will continue to hold you in our prayers.

Booking Essential

Allocated seating is in operation. We are getting close to our limit. Please sign up each week by 10pm Thursday which Mass you want to come to via

the ChurchSuite App,
emailing Debbie or
texting/calling her on 0772 9833 779.

There is a maximum number of households we can seat. Please do not put Fr Michael or our volunteer stewards in a position where they have to turn you away at the door. This would be heart-breaking for all concerned.

Face Coverings Need To Be Worn In Church

The wearing of face coverings in church by the faithful (unless the person has a valid exemption from this regulation) is now law.

The only exemptions are for those who are too small to wear one or who have certain medical condition. We shall endeavour to seat you at 2m. Please let us know when booking.

Please take a face mask if you require one. We have some adult spares in case you forget to bring your own.

Be assured we are on the fringes of 2m as the pews are set 1m apart and we are using alternate pews. However we have to allow for people not moving in sync with each other eg the front sat back and those behind kneeling!

One Way System In Operation

When coming to Mass, please come in via the front door where Stewards will be waiting to greet you with warm welcome. This door will be opened 15 minutes before Mass is due to start to allow for preparations to be made before people start to arrive and to avoid any bottle-neck within the church.

After Mass you are asked to leave in a timely manner via the main fire exit door and along the path at the front of the church building. Please avoid congregating in car parks or on the streets outside the church.

There is hand sanitser available on entering and leaving the Church.

In line with the current Diocesan Policy, the toilets and kitchen are restricted to the use of clergy and stewards only.

Indoors & Out!

Please be patient and considerate of others by observing a 2 metre distance between household groups at all times so that everyone can feel at ease.

.

We don't want anyone to stop coming because someone else made them feel unsafe.

To speak to Fr Michael or Deacon Mark

Please contact them by phone if at all possible. Otherwise, please alert one of the stewards and Fr Michael or Deacon Mark will come and see you in the church.

Please note that for the safety of your clergy, the Sacristy is restricted for their use only.

Financial Support for the Parishes & their Projects

If you are still able to give to the parish at this time, this would be much appreciated.

Standing Orders are the easiest way to pay a regular amount. Download the form here. Just fill in and return to the parish office.

Otherwise using the paypal buttons below may be the easiest way to continue to donate at this time.

Thank you for your generosity

St Pius Xth

Sacred Heart

Stay Connected through our Parish Database

If you havent done so already, please do sign up to our parish database.

This is a great way for us all to stay connected as a community of faith caring for each other.

Once you accept the invitation and set up your account, you can also use the App to book which Mass you want to attend.

We are also sending out regular emails with the latest news and events

In A Time OF Pandemic

Let us pray together for one another and all our Diocesan family:

Loving God, Holy One,
Your desire is for our wholeness and well-being.
We hold in tenderness and prayer the collective suffering of our world at this time.

We grieve precious lives lost and vulnerable lives threatened.
We ache for ourselves, our families and our neighbours, standing before an uncertain future.
We pray: May love, not fear, go viral.

Inspire our leaders to discern and choose wisely, aligned with the common good.
Help us to practice social distancing and reveal to us new and creative ways to come together in spirit and in solidarity.
Call us to profound trust in your faithful presence,
You, the God who does not abandon, You, the Holy One,
breathing within us,
breathing among us,
breathing around us
in our beautiful yet wounded world.

- Sisters of IHM, Scranton, Pennsylvania