Lates news 16.07.20

Cannon Paul Gargaro the Diocesan Coordinator has supplied further information, which people may find useful.

 

 

Update to Mass Guidance

 

In response to a couple of enquiries and some medical advice:

·         At Communion time priests/deacons/extraordinary ministers should sanitise their hands both before and after putting on masks.

·         If giving a blessing at Communion time (or any other similar occasion), the priest or deacon must give the blessing by making the sign of the cross from 2m distance. He must not touch the person being blessed (i.e. no tracing the sign of the cross on the forehead or laying on of hands).

 

Tracing

 

Remember the priest, deacon, and volunteers on the lists of attendees must be included at any Mass or service. If you are using booking software their names may need to be manually added to the lists.  

 

Funeral Guidance

 

The Government have now published their Guidance on funeral services, which is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-funeral-services/. Our diocesan guidance is already in line with the Government guidance. Since the attendance is limited to 20 (not including the celebrant, parish volunteers, or funeral directors), the Government encourages us to continue live-streaming funerals if we can do so.

 

Wedding Guidance

 

The Government have now published their Guidance on wedding services, which is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnership-registrations/.  I have attached an updated version of our diocesan Guidance, taking into account the Government’s advice. The main thing to note is that at weddings, unlike funerals, the number 20 includes absolutely everybody present (including the priest and parish volunteers, musicians, photographers, the couple and the witnesses, as well as the guests).

You can access the updated information throughthe link below;-

http://www.strobertbellarmine.org.uk/Websites//GuidanceforMarriageversion2.pdf

 

If you have started Masses I hope that they have gone well. In my parish we had Mass yesterday and everything went to plan, although it’s the weekend that will be the real challenge.

 

Keep up the good work, and thanks for all you have done to get your parishes back open.

 

Best wishes,

 

Canon Paul Gargaro

Diocesan Coordinator