Throughout the world, lighting a candle is a sacred ritual. We light a candle for many purposes; to illuminate darkness, dedicate prayers, solidify intentions, offer blessings, evoke the Spirit and to pray for each other. Our candles at Church are blessed. I am more than happy to light a candle on your behalf, either email me or use our parish WhatsApp. I will also say a prayer for your special intention.
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Over these past months we have bowed our heads in prayer to remember and pray for the dead. Families have lost loved ones. Friends have lost someone special in their life. Week after week, we remember anniversaries of loved ones passing. We miss them. With tears in our eyes we say farewell. We commend their life and soul to God.
When we lose a dear friend, someone we loved deeply, we are left with a grief that can paralyse us emotionally for a long time. People we love become part of us. Our thinking, feeling and acting are codetermined by them: our fathers, our mothers, our husbands, our wives, our children, our friends, the child lost in the womb......they are all living in our hearts. When they die, a part of us dies too. This is what grief is about; it is that slow and painful departure of someone who has become an intimate part of us. When Christmas, New Year, a birthday or anniversary comes, we feel deeply the absence of our beloved companion. It is not easy to say goodbye. It takes time for the pain of grief to recede. The Lord’s promise rings in our ears: ‘Blessed are those who mourn – They shall be comforted.’ The Lord keeps His promise day in and day out. He also reminds us that there ‘are many rooms in my Father’s House’. We and the Church support every soul on its journey to Eternal Life. Our prayer, our Masses, our Rosaries, our spiritual support, helps to open the narrow gate to Eternal Life for family and friends. We commend to God’s mercy those who have died recently in our parish and we also support our parishioners who have seen oved ones called to Eternal Life in these past days.
For the family and friends of: Franciso Ordillano (R.I.P. 14th June) Violet Wood (R.I.P. Funeral: 16th July) Selvakumar Selvarajah (R.I.P. 22nd June) May they be consoled by our prayers and unity at this time. Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, And let Perpetual Light shine upon them for all Eternity. My thanks to the Friday and Saturday Teams for their commitment to serve the Lord in this very special way.
Over these past months we have learned so much about what it means to be Church and how many ways there are to be Church without gathering in person or making full use of our church buildings. Even as we do these things, we yearn for the time when we will be back together in the community. Our Cardinal and our Bishops welcome the news that we can begin the slow but steady process of resuming Holy Masses and celebration of the Sacraments.
We are happy to announce that St. Teresa’s Parish has been able to move to Phase 1A of the gradual reopening of our parish church for PRIVATE PRAYER and ADORATION of the Blessed Sacrament. Our Parish is OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER On FRIDAYS 12 – 2p.m. On SATURDAYS 12 - 2p.m. Please take note of the following guidelines in place for attendees: Twenty persons are permitted to be inside the church at one time. Persons who come to pray will be permitted to stay in the church for a maximum of twenty minutes. Thus, St. Teresa’s can accommodate a maximum of sixty people during each one-hour period. Attendees must enter the church by the side sanctuary door. This will be sign posted. Upon entering the Church, attendees will be greeted by a Steward, a member of our Parish Reopening Team. They will provide each attendee with hand sanitiser and then guide them to an appropriate place in the church. Attendees must remain in the seat to which they are directed. Attendees must exit the church through the side doors near Our Lady’s Altar; to allow for one-way traffic. One family bench is available for attendees from the same family bubble to pray seated together. All seating is cleaned after every use by the Parish Reopening Team. Please consider wearing a face mask when you are in the church (optional, but wise). If you are feeling sick or showing ANY ‘flu like symptoms, please stay at home for your own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others in the Church. Our Diocese asks our Stewards to request those showing symptoms not to enter the Church. We must adhere to the guidelines set out by our diocese so that our parish churches can begin to open again. We hope you understand that we are doing this for the health and safety of all persons present. Candles are available for lighting. The Bishop’s Conference advises attendees not to touch statues in the Church. We ask all attendees please to adhere to the twenty-minute time limit allowed for each person. This will allow more parishioners to participate in private prayer – THANK YOU! Please know that we hope to increase the amount of prayer time in church as soon as we are able. Everything depends on the number of volunteers who join our Parish Reopening Team, so that we can follow the guidelines set out by the authorities and the Bishop’s Conference. If you are a parishioner and NOT in a vulnerable category and wish to volunteer, please let us know who you are by email. Should you have any questions regarding this information please reply by email: [email protected] or call our parish number: 020 8648 4113 Read here or download Archbishop John Wilson’s Pastoral Letter - Concerning the Reopening of Catholic Churches for Individual Prayer. |
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