Church closure - revised 18 January
Due to a parishioner having reported symptoms of COVID and subsequently tested positive, having attended the 18:15 Mass on Saturday 8 January 2021, the decision was taken to shut down for a short time. Following consultation and advice received, we have decided to reopen this Saturday 23 January 2021 with 10:00 Mass and Confessions, with the 18:15 evening Mass and other Sunday Masses following (the 10:00 remains on hold).
All Mass times remain subject to review, and we shall continue to follow any restrictions which may be laid down by government from time to time.
It is crucial that everybody continues to follow COVID guidance, adhering to hand washing, hand sanitising, wearing masks and other face coverings correctly and maintaining social distancing. Please come warmly dressed, as we are obliged to keep the church well ventilated at all times. Before leaving your bench, please check to ensure that you have not left anything behind.
It is crucial that we continue using Track and Trace forms on every single visit to church, even if we attend twice in one day, for instance on Saturdays. It is only because we have adhered to use of these forms that we were able to contact everybody concerned.
Should you have or suspect you have symptoms, and you have attended St. Bartholomew's (or indeed any other church), it is vital that you report to Track and Trace to obtain a test and to provide details of those with whom you have come into contact, and this includes the church - it is critical that you tell them that you have been here, so that they can contact us directly and thus speed up the process of tracing everybody who needs to know.
Before we open, stewards will be coming in to thoroughly clean the church. Without stewards we cannot open and, if need be, planned Masses may be cancelled at short or no notice where they are not present. We have come to rely on a small number of people to act as stewards, and we really need more to come forward, where they feel confident in doing so. To be a steward, you must be aged 18 or over, not shielding or be from a household shared with anybody who is shielding, and you should not have any symptoms of COVID, whether actual or suspected. You should also be willing and able to help clean the church after Mass and Confessions as appropriate.
We are grateful to all who have cooperated and continue to cooperate with us in keeping St Bartholomew's as COVID safe as possible.
With the commitment of all, we hope that, unless rules change, we can continue to hold Mass here.
Please keep an eye out here for updates.
All Mass times remain subject to review, and we shall continue to follow any restrictions which may be laid down by government from time to time.
It is crucial that everybody continues to follow COVID guidance, adhering to hand washing, hand sanitising, wearing masks and other face coverings correctly and maintaining social distancing. Please come warmly dressed, as we are obliged to keep the church well ventilated at all times. Before leaving your bench, please check to ensure that you have not left anything behind.
It is crucial that we continue using Track and Trace forms on every single visit to church, even if we attend twice in one day, for instance on Saturdays. It is only because we have adhered to use of these forms that we were able to contact everybody concerned.
Should you have or suspect you have symptoms, and you have attended St. Bartholomew's (or indeed any other church), it is vital that you report to Track and Trace to obtain a test and to provide details of those with whom you have come into contact, and this includes the church - it is critical that you tell them that you have been here, so that they can contact us directly and thus speed up the process of tracing everybody who needs to know.
Before we open, stewards will be coming in to thoroughly clean the church. Without stewards we cannot open and, if need be, planned Masses may be cancelled at short or no notice where they are not present. We have come to rely on a small number of people to act as stewards, and we really need more to come forward, where they feel confident in doing so. To be a steward, you must be aged 18 or over, not shielding or be from a household shared with anybody who is shielding, and you should not have any symptoms of COVID, whether actual or suspected. You should also be willing and able to help clean the church after Mass and Confessions as appropriate.
We are grateful to all who have cooperated and continue to cooperate with us in keeping St Bartholomew's as COVID safe as possible.
With the commitment of all, we hope that, unless rules change, we can continue to hold Mass here.
Please keep an eye out here for updates.
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St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church
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159 Ellison Road SW16 5DE - 020 8679 3545
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Parish Office
The Parish Office remains closed until advised otherwise. However, Contact Forms, emails and voicemails will be accessed remotely, on an intermittent basis. All are kindly asked to wait patiently for a reply, where required. Please do not call at the presbytery without first contacting us, unless your need is urgent.
The Parish Office remains closed until advised otherwise. However, Contact Forms, emails and voicemails will be accessed remotely, on an intermittent basis. All are kindly asked to wait patiently for a reply, where required. Please do not call at the presbytery without first contacting us, unless your need is urgent.
Mass and Confession times recommence with the 10:00 Mass Saturday 23 January
Masses: Sunday 18:15 (Mass of Anticipation), 08:30, 11:30 and 17:00 and Monday to Saturday 10:00
Confessions: Saturday after 10:00 Mass until 11:30.
Confessions: Saturday after 10:00 Mass until 11:30.
Track & Trace Forms still apply. Face coverings remain mandatory. Stewards will be on duty (see appeal below). NHS & Public Health guidelines apply. The Obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains suspended by our Bishops.
Appeal for Stewards
We currently rely on a small number of parishioners to steward at all Masses and to sanitise the church afterwards. If ever there are insufficient people to perform this ministry, we may have to cancel Masses without notice, as it is a condition of being able to open that we have stewards available. Please consider putting yourself forward to add to our team of stewards. You must be 18 or over and free from symptoms of COVID, whether actual or suspected. Please contact Father Deo if you are interested and indeed well enough to take on this role. If you have not been a steward before, you will be shown what you need to do.
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January is the month of The Holy Name of Jesus
There is no name more powerful than the name of Jesus. The Catechism sums up the power of this name beautifully: “The name ‘Jesus’ contains all: God and man and the whole economy of creation and salvation. To pray ‘Jesus’ is to invoke him and to call him within us. His name is the only one that contains the presence it signifies. Jesus is the Risen One, and whoever invokes the name of Jesus is welcoming the Son of God who loved him and who gave himself up for him”. (CCC #2666)
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Words courtesy of Sam Guzman
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