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IMPORTANT NOTICES
Important Information Regarding Attending Mass and Track and Trace Requirements Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this announcement but it was only issued yesterday afternoon (2/7/20).
We have been informed by the Archbishop, in line with the Government guideline that the Church will be required to Track and Trace everyone who attends Mass. This will mean that as you enter the Church you will be asked your name and a contact number either home /mobile, or other means of contacting you if required before you can enter the Church and be seated by the Steward for Mass. The information will be placed in a sealed envelope and placed in the safe for 21 days after which it will be destroyed. The Archbishop has made it very plain that if this information is NOT GIVEN then the person or persons cannot enter the Church for Mass. To assist the Stewards in meeting this requirement, can people coming to mass, please bring with them a slip of paper containing their name and contact details. This will help speed up the process of seating people for mass. This will be for all masses from the 4th July until otherwise notified - Deacon Arthur.
Guidelines for the Commencement of Mass at St Thomas of Canterbury
Dear All, I am pleased to say the celebration of Mass will recommence starting on:
We have all seen how normal everyday life has changed because of the coronavirus, going to Mass will, for the foreseeable future, be different. We all have to adjust to new procedures, implemented by our Clergy that everyone will be required to adhere to ensure we meet the guidelines as set out by Archbishop John and comply with Government safety guidelines, until the situation changes again. Please note the following:
God bless you all and your families Deacon Arthur
Fr Tom
GOOD NEWS - Speaking with Fr Tom, the Diocese has finally agreed it is safe for him to return and he is expected to be back in the Parish the last week of July. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers.
Weekly Offertory Collections
We are aware that parishioners have expressed concern that they are unable to support the ongoing costs of the parish through their regular offertory collections at this time while the church is closed. If you wish to provide your regular support you can do so by setting up a Bankers Order or by donating to the church accounts by Bank Transfer. If you wish to do so please contact me by email on chrisiles311@gmail.com or by phone on 01634 373840 (please leave a message if the answerphone cuts in) and I will provide bank details. Alternatively make a single donation when the church is reopened. Thank you for your concern.
Chris Iles – Parish Finance Chairman
Important Information Regarding Attending Mass and Track and Trace Requirements Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this announcement but it was only issued yesterday afternoon (2/7/20).
We have been informed by the Archbishop, in line with the Government guideline that the Church will be required to Track and Trace everyone who attends Mass. This will mean that as you enter the Church you will be asked your name and a contact number either home /mobile, or other means of contacting you if required before you can enter the Church and be seated by the Steward for Mass. The information will be placed in a sealed envelope and placed in the safe for 21 days after which it will be destroyed. The Archbishop has made it very plain that if this information is NOT GIVEN then the person or persons cannot enter the Church for Mass. To assist the Stewards in meeting this requirement, can people coming to mass, please bring with them a slip of paper containing their name and contact details. This will help speed up the process of seating people for mass. This will be for all masses from the 4th July until otherwise notified - Deacon Arthur.
Guidelines for the Commencement of Mass at St Thomas of Canterbury
Dear All, I am pleased to say the celebration of Mass will recommence starting on:
- Saturday, 4th July 2020 at 6.00 pm
- Sunday at 10.30 am - There will be no 6pm Mass on Sunday until further notice
- Monday at 10.00 am
- Tuesday at 10.00 am
- Wednesday at 10.00 am
- Thursday at 10.00 am
- Friday at 10.00 am
- Saturday at 6 pm
We have all seen how normal everyday life has changed because of the coronavirus, going to Mass will, for the foreseeable future, be different. We all have to adjust to new procedures, implemented by our Clergy that everyone will be required to adhere to ensure we meet the guidelines as set out by Archbishop John and comply with Government safety guidelines, until the situation changes again. Please note the following:
- When you come to Mass you will not be able to just walk in and find a place to sit. You will be required to sanitizer your hands when you enter the porch, and you will be guided by a Steward to where you can sit. This will ensure that we meet the requirement on numbers. Families sitting together, couples etc can sit together but we must meet the social distancing rules. Please be patient, and we will attempt to seat you as quickly as possible. There may be some queuing on entry, but please maintain social distancing guidelines
- It is important to remember that currently there is still no Sunday obligation to attend Mass, however if you attend mass during the week this will fulfil your Sunday obligation. The reason I mention this is because of point 2.
- To meet current guidelines and maintain social distancing we only have seating for around 40 people, slightly more with families or people who live in the same household. This will mean once we have this number in church WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LET ANY MORE IN. I know this will be disappointing, but if we don’t comply we will not be able to celebrate Mass publicly. It would therefore help if parishioners, who are able to, could attend Mass during the week instead of Saturday or Sunday, allowing us to accommodate reduced capacity at weekends enabling everyone to hear mass and not be disappointed. Please share this information.
- At present only one Reader is required to read the 1st Reading, Psalm, and 2nd Reading.
- Fr Simon Peter and a Deacon will be the only two on the Sanctuary, apart from the Reader
- Communion will be at the very end of the Mass.
- The Priest will receive Holy Communion and immediately cleanses the paten and Chalice. He will then hold a reverent silence before the Prayer after Communion, give the Blessing and dismissal. At this point, Ministers of the Eucharist will come forward to assist the priest, cleansing their hands and receiving Holy Communion under one kind. Ministers then move to points for distribution and communicants, directed by stewards will be directed to receive Holy Communion and then immediately leave the Church. A Eucharistic Minister will only be required at weekends if a Deacon unable to assist.
- The Stewards will guide the people from the pews to receive Holy Communion, ensuring that people take their belongings as they leave the church straight after communion.
- Facing the altar, people sitting on the left had side of church will exit via the front door, after receiving Holy Communion, those sitting on the right hand side will exit by the rear door of church.
- We cannot have a normal collection, but there will be baskets at both exits for those wishing to make a donation
- We are being encouraged by the Diocese to pay our offerings by Bankers Order or BACS, and if you wish to do so forms will be available at all masses. If you have any queries please contact Chis Illes, Parish Finance Chairman on chrisiles311@gmail.com or by phone on 01634 373840.
- Further Guidance for Mass - To ensure that we maintain social distancing when at mass, and to cover all eventualities it has been decided that the kneelers will not be used during mass, so you can either sit or stand when you would normally knee. The kneelers will be taped up so that they are not able to be used.
God bless you all and your families Deacon Arthur
Fr Tom
GOOD NEWS - Speaking with Fr Tom, the Diocese has finally agreed it is safe for him to return and he is expected to be back in the Parish the last week of July. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers.
Weekly Offertory Collections
We are aware that parishioners have expressed concern that they are unable to support the ongoing costs of the parish through their regular offertory collections at this time while the church is closed. If you wish to provide your regular support you can do so by setting up a Bankers Order or by donating to the church accounts by Bank Transfer. If you wish to do so please contact me by email on chrisiles311@gmail.com or by phone on 01634 373840 (please leave a message if the answerphone cuts in) and I will provide bank details. Alternatively make a single donation when the church is reopened. Thank you for your concern.
Chris Iles – Parish Finance Chairman
Welcome to the parish website of St Thomas of Canterbury, Rainham, Kent
Welcome to the Catholic parish website of St Thomas of Canterbury, part of the archdiocese of Southwark covering South London and Kent.
St Thomas of Canterbury is Catholic community of believers, rich in tradition and diversity. We provide an atmosphere in which parishioners of all ages and cultures share faith through sacramental and liturgical celebrations, on-going faith formation and other spiritual and social events. We are blessed and proud to have our very own parish primary school, St Thomas of Canterbury R.C.P to support families with young children receive a Catholic education.
Our website is intended to serve as a guide to our parish and to bring together the community we serve. For current parishioners, this website will enable you to keep up to date with the latest news and events as well as access to resources for faith development and celebration. For new parishioners or visitors, you can find out information about our church, visit our gallery, find out who is who as well as mass times.
We hope that you find our website enjoyable, useful and informative. If you have any news articles or information that you feel will be of interest to our parishioners then please contact us through the "contact" page
St Thomas of Canterbury is Catholic community of believers, rich in tradition and diversity. We provide an atmosphere in which parishioners of all ages and cultures share faith through sacramental and liturgical celebrations, on-going faith formation and other spiritual and social events. We are blessed and proud to have our very own parish primary school, St Thomas of Canterbury R.C.P to support families with young children receive a Catholic education.
Our website is intended to serve as a guide to our parish and to bring together the community we serve. For current parishioners, this website will enable you to keep up to date with the latest news and events as well as access to resources for faith development and celebration. For new parishioners or visitors, you can find out information about our church, visit our gallery, find out who is who as well as mass times.
We hope that you find our website enjoyable, useful and informative. If you have any news articles or information that you feel will be of interest to our parishioners then please contact us through the "contact" page
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