Category Archives: St Brigids

Our new Pastoral Council members

Christ the King, pastoral council, St Brigids, St Pauls

We want to thank all those who were nominated recently to join our new 3 Churches Pastoral Advisory Council, and of course, their nominators.  After a little wondering how many we would receive, the Lord was very kind and gave us just about the required number. Therefore we do not need to have actual elections, although to have had one or more would have perhaps deepened a sense of involvement for us all.

So we now have our twelve members, four from each church.  This number, a bit larger than some had expected, is to cover apologies for absence that always occur when meetings are being planned. 

I am particularly pleased to see the breadth in the new members – of age and background, and of experience, both in the life of the church and in their family and working life. Some are well-known, some perhaps less so. Some regularly attend just one of our churches, others are based in one church but also move around for various reasons in line with their commitments. It seems to me that all will bring gifts to this new initiative as we move forward together. The practicalities of starting up, that is meeting dates and so on, will be publicised as soon as possible. Perhaps we will be able share something about each of them too…   So here are the members: 

Hadar Abdulahad  St Brigid’s
Luigi D’Ambrosio Christ the King
Ceri Facey-Davies St Brigid’s
Pedro Mariblanca St Paul’s
Ryan McLister           St Paul’s
Kieran O’Brien St Brigid’s
Carmel O’Grady Christ the King
Cath Power St Paul’s
Sheila Roberts          Christ the King
Ray Sherry                St Brigid’s
Elizabeth Taylor        Christ the King
Russell Wigley          St Paul’s

In addition, Karen Sylvester, current chair of St Paul’s/St Brigid’s PAC will assist for the moment.  Thanks to Elizabeth Taylor for helping with the admin of the process up to this point – and again many thanks to all our new members and nominators, and I look forward to the journey!  

Fr Matthew

Easing of Covid restrictions in St Brigid’s church

covid-19, St Brigids

This weekend (Sunday 13 February) marks a significant step in the easing of Covid restrictions in St Brigid’s Church.

Some restrictions remain:

  • face masks must still be worn at all times
  • registering your attendance is still required (much simpler and quicker if you use the NHS app)
  • sanitising your hands on the way into church is still required
  • ventilation remains vital and so doors and windows must remain open throughout – on windy or cold days an extra layer may be needed

However:

  • from this Sunday 13 February there will be less stewarding – please find your own seat whilst respecting the space of others
  • try to remain at least 1 metre from your neighbour – this will permit 3 individuals or two couples per pew
  • seats on the “Sacred Heart” side remain designated for those who wish to remain 2 metres from others
  • these pews can accommodate 2 individuals or 1 couple plus one individual

To receive Holy Communion, please approach the Eucharistic Minister in single file, just as we have been doing. When offering the consecrated host the minister will, once again, say, “The Body of Christ” to which you should reply, “Amen”, receive the host and return to your seat.

The use of hymn books returns. Please take a blue one and a black one on your way into church and return them as you leave. Those seated in the “Sacred Heart” side should leave their books in the side chapel as they leave.

Mass leaflets will, once again, be available as well as printed Parish Newsletters. Once used, please take them home with you. Do not leave them in the church.

When mass is ended, please leave the church in the way we have become used to. Try to maintain sufficient space from others and move away from the doors as quickly as possible and so avoid congestion inside the church.

Kneelers may now be used and Votive candles can now be lit.

Almost there…

Christ the King, St Brigids, St Pauls,

We are looking to our Children’s “Bambinelli” events and our Carol Service this week.
Booking is necessary for any of our six Christmas Masses as follows:

*Please note that the church is now fully booked for Christmas Eve Mass at CTK though there are some seats available in the Parish Centre. There are still plenty of seats available for Christmas morning 9am Mass but these must be pre-booked.

Full details for our Advent and Christmas activities are on our 3 Churches Advent & Christmas Info Sheet.

Note there is no evening Mass on Thursday, Christmas Day or the Holy Family (Boxing Day).