News
This is where you will find out about upcoming events here at The Abbey and the Redemptorists London Province and the Region of Zimbabwe.
Dates for your Diary
- The Epiphany: Feast of the Epiphany is Thursday 6th january and is a Holyday of Obligation. As we continue the Christmas season, we join the three Kings in worshiping the Eternal King in the stable. We will have a vigil Mass on Wednesday 5th at 7.30pm and the usual two Masses, 10.00am and 7.30pm on Thursday. Please make every effort to come to Mass for this lovely feast and to visit the crib.
- Bible Study Group: Abbey Hall on alternate Monday evenings 7-8.30pm and alternate Monday afternoons 2-3.30pm. For details phone Elaine Joyce on 07952186893.
- Flower Group Meeting: This will take place in the back sacristy at 5pm. If you are interested please do come along; you will be more than welcome - to enter please come to the side sacristy door.
- The Knights of St. Columba: Meet at Holy Trinity in Sutton Coldfield after the 10am mass. If you would like to join and raise money for the homeless then please contact Nicholas Bartleet for further details on 07778 857 369.
Abbey Choir
After an absence of sung music for eighteen months, the choir is at last resuming weekly rehearsals and singing at the 10.30 Mass. Rehearsals are on Every Wednesday at 8.00pm. If you have a good knowledge of music and are interested in joining the choir please contact Joe on 07721 753992 or contact the parish office with your details.
Car Park Gates
The barrier to the car park will be closed at the following times: Mon/Wed/Thurs 8.00pm, Tues/Fri 5.00pm & Sat/Sun 7.00pm. Any cars left in the carpark will be locked in!
Abbey Cemetery
As stipulated within the grave cremation deeds, Please do not place plants, pots or stones on the grassed area of the graves and cremation plots.
No dogs are allowed in the cemetery. Thank you.
COVID-19 Regulations
As of 9 December 2021, England will move to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.
Government Guidance
The government has updated its guidance for the safe use of places of worship. As of 9 December 2021, England will move to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.
Bishops' Conference Guidance
General Information
Following the statement by the Prime Minister on 9 December, there has been a Government directive that further restrictions to mitigate against viral transmission, especially in the light of the new Omicron variant, will be imposed.
Summarising the Government directives:
• From Friday 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.
• From Monday 13 December office workers who can work from home should do so.
• From Wednesday 15 December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.
The requirements for NHS Covid passes will not apply to places of worship and the acts of worship associated with them. However, any social gatherings linked to events in churches will need to comply with new requirements but only when 500 or more people are involved.
Face Coverings
HM Government has made the wearing of face covering mandatory in Places of Worship from Friday 10 December 2021. However, there will be exemptions for those leading worship, public proclamation of scriptural readings or prayers, and those who are unable to wear face coverings and are exempt.
Singing
HM Government guidance states that "There is a reasonable excuse for someone to remove a face covering when it is reasonably necessary for them to sing, for example, if they are singing as part of a choir, or during a service, rehearsal or for a performance."
The current Church guidance states that congregational singing should take place with face coverings in place and choirs and soloists may sing without such coverings.
Practical Guidance for Churches
With respect to the current situation with the Omicron variant it is important to ensure the following points are followed in our churches:
• That people displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 should stay at home and not travel to church or participate in person.
• That hand sanitiser is available to those attending the Church.
• Face coverings must be worn by those attending public acts of worship unless there is a genuine exemption or the person is leading worship or participating in a role that requires the mask to be removed for a period of time.
• That there is good ventilation and air throughput in the building; in this case, because of climatic conditions, it would be important to remind people to wrap up well in church.
• There is now very strong evidence to support that the main mode of this variant's viral transmission is through aerosols, and that the risk from surface and touch transmission is very small indeed. As such, the strict regimes of church cleaning that were recommended at the beginning of the opening of churches for public worship are no longer necessary. General church cleaning is sufficient.
• That people who are engaged in a form of pastoral ministry which involves ministry to the housebound, sick and vulnerable, should take regular lateral flow tests to ensure they are safe to do so. These are free from the NHS.
Fr Dickinson's 70 years of profession as a Redemptorist
We had a wonderful celebration of mass on Saturday 4th September to celebrate and give thanks for Fr Dickinson's 70 years of profession as a Redemptorist.
Click here to view some images of the mass.