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(Our website was last updated on Friday 2 April 2021)
 

♦  Dear Parishioners, Visitors and Friends  ♦ Our website is updated frequently throughout the week. Please press the F5 key on your Computer keyboard or Laptop, OR the Update function on your Mobile device to ensure you receive the most recent updated versions of all News and Events at our Parish Churches

ALL CURRENT CORONA VIRUS NOTICES APPEAR HERE ON OUR

   HOMEPAGE   

THEY ARE PRINTED ON A LIGHT GREY BACKGROUND COLOUR FOR EASY RECOGNITION

Help the NHS alert your close contacts if you test positive for corona virus (COVID-19)

When someone is positive for COVID-19 speak to them and find out their movements 48 before their first symptom OR if in the event they were asymptomatic a rough idea when they may have caught the virus (as people are going out of the house less this is a rough calculation of which day they could have been infected from).
Track and Trace (T&T) app will pick up ‘close contact’ and notify people via their app but as some people are not using the app so we must refer to the manual T&T list and contact immediately those on the list who could have had ‘contact’ in our building in the above time frames.
As the virus can also be picked up by touch (up to 72 hours on some surfaces) alert anyone who was in the same building to make them aware that a person who was in the building has tested positive and may have had the virus when they were there too.
No names need to be given but explain as touch alone can transfer the virus we are notifying them as a precaution.
Anyone who does not wear a face mask for medical reasons is especially at risk if you are in an enclosed area.
Following the alert people may then decide to self isolate as a precaution and not visit vulnerable people whom they are in a bubble with.
The Isolation period is 10 days after ‘contact’ with a positive person was established.
The more people are aware they can decide if they need to take action on the information by Isolating or getting a test.
Once cleaning has been completed the area is deemed to be free from infection and therefore you do not need to contact anyone who was in the building after a ‘clean’ takes place.

CELEBRATION OF MASSES DURING THE NATIONAL LOCKDOWN STARTING 5 JANUARY 2021

Places of worship may stay open but attendance is subject to very strict controls.
Now, more than ever, we must keep safe and observe the Government regulations to the letter
especially with the new more virulent strain of covid.

ALL RULES MUST BE OBSERVED

Masses and Confessions, for the duration of the 5 January 2021 national lockdown,
will continue in the recommended format required until further notice.
Parishioners of both our churches must be prepared to be turned away if our churches
already have reached the maximum number of worshipers we are allowed inside both buildings.
Please click the blue button below to read our current Newsletter for Mass times and other details
(Note:  Any necessary amendments to our published Newsletter will appear here on our website Homepage)

Confessions:  At Lower Gornal will take place outisde exit doors following Mass on Friday
Please Note:  Parishioners will receive Communion on exit

Unfortunately, there is no "safe place" at Segley for Confessions at the moment 
 

 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS UNDER THE 5 JANUARY 2021 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

Private prayer and communal worship may still take place in accordance with Government regulations
under the current national lockdown

(1)  During lockdown, no interaction or mingling with anyone other than
your own household or support bubble is permitted.

(2)  We ask parishioners who are first to enter a pew that they must go to the far end.
This is to avoid people who are not within family bubbles from crossing over each other.
It also helps and enables wardens to get parishioners seated when the church
starts filling up to our allowed maximum capacity.

(3)  Additionally, we ask that the one way system is followed.
Therefore, once you are seated you remain seated until wardens guide you out for Communion.
At St Chad’s only, you then leave the church.

(4)  Hand sanitiser, social distancing and mask wearing is still in place.

RULES FOR ATTENDING MASSES

1. All entering the church must use a face covering at all times to minimise the risk of contagion to all present - unless exempt for medical reasons or children below 11 years.
2. Alcohol-based hand gel will be available and must be used on entry and departure from the church.
3. Any handkerchiefs or tissues shall be taken off the premises.
4. Personal possessions should be kept to a minimum and should be taken away on leaving the church.
5. Any items found during cleaning shall be disposed of and shall not be deposited in any lost property.
6. While children are unlikely to become very ill, they are capable of both being infected by the virus and of spreading it. Parents or guardians bringing children into a church should not be discouraged from doing so, but it will be important for parents to manage their children appropriately, particularly ensuring they touch as few surfaces as possible for their safety and the safety of others.
7. "TRACK AND TRACE"  is now in place. The NHS Covid App may be downloaded to your phone and may be used to take a photograph of the Q.R.Code on display at the entrance to the church OR you may fill in your details on the special form instead, which is also at the entrance to the church. Stewards are available to help you if needed.

ROLE OF OUR CHURCHES DURING CURRENT LOCKDOWN

On Friday 8 January 2021, following some questions about why our churches remain open,
Bishop John Sherrington, Diocese of Westminster, issued a letter explaining
the position and role of our churches during the current lockdown

Please click the blue button below to visit the link

I thank you for cooperating with all the requests in this section
throughout these difficult times

Fr. Paul Edwards, PP

PARISH SCHOOLS ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

    
 

Please click the button above to visit our schools.
When their website opens, please click the "School Diary & Dates" link
of the school of your choice to access its school diary
for further term information and all other news

Please be aware that
because of the regular changes by Government Covid 19 restrictions and regulations
our schools' timetables might not reflect accurate up-to-date information

UPDATE
All our schools re-opened for most students on Monday 8 March 2021.
Please check for new information published by each school on its website
by clicking on the school's badge above.

DUDLEY CATHOLIC DEANERY WEBSITE

(Registered Charity No. 234216)

  Please click the blue button above to vist the website  

INTRODUCTION
On the Dudley Catholic Deanery website you will find contact details and links to websites, where they exist, for all the Catholic Parishes in the Deanery, together with Mass Times and details of our Catholic Schools.
Our website brings together the Deanery resources and provides information about the Deanery wide activity.
There are twelve parishes in the Dudley Deanery.
The Dudley Deanery  is one of eighteen  deaneries which make up the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham.
 

GIFT AID

Envelopes for 2019-2020 and Gift Aid Declaration forms
are available for collection at both churches

Please check we have your current address.
Also, if you no longer pay income tax, please inform your Parish Gift Aid Organiser

For UK taxpayers who contribute weekly, please consider completing a Gift Aid
Declaration form to enable your Parish to claim 25% on your donation

May we remind all Gift Aid Donors if your financial circumstances alter, for example,
if you retire, please inform Fr Paul as soon as possible,
because we are obliged to notify Cathedral House of any such changes.

Thank You.

Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Guidance and other Correspondence

All the Conferance contents have been moved to a new location
Please click the blue button below to see the contents

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USEFUL LINKS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
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