Return of Public Masses

Dear friends,

It is great to be able to welcome you back to public Masses once again, from Monday 10th. It has felt like a very long time since we were last able to gather, on Christmas Day. A lot has happened since then, but thank God we are able to re-open once more.
As you return to Mass, you will notice that our safety measures are still in place: hand sanitizing upon entering and leaving the church, social distancing (every second pew) as indicated by the green stickers, and a one-way system for Holy Communion (down the sides and up the centre aisle). It has worked well for us before and it should hopefully continue to do so.
We welcome back in particular our readers, Eucharistic ministers, cantors and volunteers as your role in our re-opening will be invaluable. It is hoped that stewards will be present once again each day to assist people in getting to their seats, to guide people up to receive Holy Communion, and to sanitize the church after each Mass. Given the size of Tramore church, we are permitted to return to ‘pods’ of 50 people, in the main section at the front of the altar, and at both sides. The side doors will be used for these two side areas. In Carbally, Dunhill and Fenor churches, a single pod of 50 people is permitted in each.
Once again, it is advised that people wear a protective shield or face mask when inside the church, and to restrict movement around the church as much as possible, i.e. by remaining in your ‘pod’. Ministers of the Eucharist will come to your section at Holy Communion, so there should be no need to cross from one part of the church to another. We thank you for your co-operation last time, as things worked very well.
We thank all of you who have been joining us each week via live-streaming, and all who have contributed to the upkeep of our parishes, whether through envelopes or our new donate facility on our website. Your generosity is greatly appreciated in these testing times.

Every blessing and good wish,
Mgr. O’Mahony, Fr. Shane, Fr. Tadeusz, Fr Paul