Parish News

Face Coverings

Bishop Fintan Gavin has asked people attending church in the Diocese of Cork and Ross to wear a face covering. This message has been communicated to priests and people of the diocese today.

“In light of the renewed government guidance issued last Tuesday, I would ask people to wear face coverings in Church for all liturgical celebrations such as Mass, funerals, weddings, baptisms, confirmations and First Communions, etc., so that we can create as safe an environment as possible for those who come to Church and minimise the possibility of spreading the virus.”

Children under 13 years of age and people who have received medical advice to not wear a mask are, of course, exempt.

Bishop Fintan has also acknowledged that people across the diocese have worked very hard to put measures in place so that people would be safe and welcome.  

“Parishes have continued to implement these measures including hand sanitising on entering and leaving, cleaning after each ceremony; stewarding so that social distancing rules are adhered to, arranging the pod system so that groups of fifty people remain four metres apart as well as assisting people to approach for Communion in a socially distanced way.”

“I want to thank all those who have worked so hard to implement measures so that people may participate in Mass and public worship in a safe manner, and ask your support to ensure that such measures will be implemented.”

Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ireland

Next Sunday, 16th August, at 1pm, The Ukrainian Catholic Church will celebrate the first Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Catholic Rite in Ukrainian language in our parish church.

We warmly welcome the Ukrainian congregation and their pastor Fr Irineu Kraiczyi to our church for the celebration of their first Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Catholic Rite.

They in turn wholeheartedly invite and welcome you all to join them for the Service and prayer.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Bless their mission. Let all things be unto the glory of God”.

Message from Fr Kevin

Dear parishioners,

After a lot of measuring and taping in the church over this week in order to comply with the government guidelines issued last Friday evening the 3^rd of July, I have decided to go ahead this weekend, 11^th and 12^th of July with the celebration of Masses. The Masses will be at the usual times of 6.30pm Saturday evening and on Sunday morning at 10.00am and 11.30am.

Even though the Masses are going ahead things are not back to normal in the church. The social distancing of 2 metres still applies and has to be observed as you enter the church, while in the church and as you leave the church.

Space in the church is still limited and when the church has reached the seating capacity, people will be directed to the left hand side of the church where they will be able to hear Mass from an outside speaker.

When you enter the church STEWARDS will  1) invite you to sanitise your hands 2) Guide you towards an available seat as seating will begin from the top of the church. People living in the same household may share a pew. 3) Guide you in rotation to receive Holy Communion using a one way system. 4) Guide you in rotation for exiting the church and invite you to sanitise your hand before leaving.                                                     

Please remember the stewards are volunteers and without their help there won’t be any public Masses. This weekend will be the first time for them to be stewards so it will be a new experience for them so please have patience with them.

As space is limited and the Sunday Obligation to attend Mass has been suspended due to the pandemic, I would ask that those who come to week day Masses would follow Mass at the weekend on the television, radio or over social media so that other people would have an opportunity to come to Mass.

Please come earlier to the church so that you can be seated by the time Mass is due to start.

REMEMBER WE ALL HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO OURSELVES AND OTHERS AS WELL.

I look forward to seeing you at Mass over the weekend.

Fr Kevin

No public Masses this weekend

Due to the current restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend public Masses at the moment for health and safety reasons, there will NOT be public Masses this weekend on Saturday evening and Sunday morning 4/5th July in Frankfield/Grange parish.

Hopefully we will be able to return to public weekend Mass soon when we will be able to do so safely.

Parish Notices

CELEBRATIONS OF CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION: Last week Bishop Fintan Gavin wrote letters to the parents/guardians of the children due to receive the sacarements of Confirmation and First Holy Communion this school year. He explained the present situation regarding the celebration of these sacraments. These letters were sent out through the primary schools. Copies of the letters are available to read on the parish Facebook page: Frankfield/GrangeParish Church.

NEW PARISH EMAIL ADDRESS: The parish has a new email address. I would ask that you would note this new email address and use from now on frankfieldgrange@gmail.com

DUE TO THE DEVELOPING HEALTH SITUATION AND FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT AND HSE ADVICE ALL MASSES ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – the church building will remain CLOSED.

Back to Mass Leaflet

Urgent Appeal for Church Stewards

We’ve had a very poor response to our appeal for volunteers to act as stewards for the restarting of public Masses.

Unfortunately we will NOT be able to celebrate Mass publicly as a community from Monday, 29th June, unless all of the guidelines are adhered to; at this moment in time we do not have the required number of stewards that will allow us to reopen the Church for public Masses.

Stewards will be needed for the weekday Mass at 10am and also for the weekend Masses – Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.30pm and Sunday Masses at 10am and 11.30am.

Please, please consider volunteering as a steward. You can ring Marion at the parish office 021-4897379 or Fr Kevin on 021-4361711 or hand in your name and contact details to the parish office, or to Fr Kevin’s home citing the Mass time you can steward at.

Returning to the Public Celebration of Mass

The public celebration of Mass resumes on Monday, June 29th. This will be a source of great joy and hope for many in our parish communities. Public health considerations will however require some practical adjustments to the way we celebrate our liturgies. The two metre physical distancing and government requirements mean that the number of people in the church will be greatly reduced. The demands of physical distancing will also need to be considered when people are entering and leaving the church and at the distribution of Holy Communion.

We are at present working out the logistics of this but one thing is certain all this has to be managed and we will need STEWARDS to help us.

Stewards will be needed for the weekday Mass at 10am and also for the weekend Masses – Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.30pm and Sunday Masses at 10am and 11.30am.

These stewards will meet the people at the door and bring them to the seating that will be available.These same stewards will then direct people to when they can leave their seats to go to receive Holy Communion. Finally they will help with the directing of people as they leave the church. There will have to be a minimum of 4 stewards at every Mass. If you are willing to get involved and be a steward in your parish I ask that you would make contact with the parish using the contact details that are on the newsletter or else hand in your name and contact details to the Parish Office or to Fr Kevin’s house.

Please have an idea of what Mass or Masses you would be available to steward at; stewards will be required at all Masses.

Parish email: frankfieldgrange@gmail.com Tel: 021-4897379

Annual Mass St John’s Cemetery

Due to the Coronavirus the annual Mass in St John’s Cemetery, Ballinrea, that is normally held in August, will NOT now be celebrated.

Church opens from 11am – 4pm

From Tuesday next, 2nd June, our parish church will open for personal prayer only.

While visiting our church please follow all the guideline given so that we can care and respect each other and those who are stewarding/cleaning/caring for our church buildings during these weeks.
Let us continue to pray for one another…

People will enter by the main door and exit by the side door by the shrines.