Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

18th December 2021 – Current updates for Places of Worship are available on the websites below:

• GOV UK -> See web site -> Covid-19: Up to date guidance for safe use of places of worship online
• The Catholic Church Bishops’ Conference of England And Wales: see document -> CBCEW Guidance for communal worship during the Covid-19 panademic 10Dec21. See web site-> Guidance for Communal Worship during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sunday Mass Booking and weekday Word & Communion

• No need to book a seat: to attend Wednesday Mass or Sunday Mass or Word and Communion.
• No imposed social distancing: this is to increase the capacity of the church (this replaces the previous arrangements of social distancing on one side of the church (every other pew), whilst on the other side of church all social distancing measures will be relaxed (all pews will be available).)
• Word & Communion service: are held on Mondays and Fridays at 9:30am. This is in addition to Morning Prayers and Mass which takes place each Wednesday morning at 9:15am
• Please wrap up warmly as the church windows will be open to priovide maximum ventilation.

Background information: -> St Paul’s: Health and Safety, Coronavirus. This includes a sheet of personal prayers for when Mass cannot be celebrated publicly.

Events and activities at St Paul’s Church: Detailed information on the availability of events and activities at St Paul’s Church are listed below. This is updated frequently. 

Live and recorded streaming services. You can view recordings and live scheduled Masses and services in local churches and the Vatican:

• St Paul’s, Poynton -> St Paul’s Facebook Live (morning Mass on Wednesday and Sunday)
• St. Alban’s, Macclesfield -> Live stream
• St Peter’s, Hazel Group -> Live stream
• Shrewsbury Cathedral -> Live stream
• The Vatican
  • schedule -> The Vatican’s Worldwide Telecasts
  • summary -> Holy Week Transmission from The Vatican 2020

A full list is of Catholic churches using live streaming -> CBCEW Catholic Mass online

Spiritual reflections:

• Relevant prayers and reflections are at -> CBCEW prayers and reflections

Events and activities at St Alban’s Church: Current arrangements at St Alban’s, Macclesfield -> Opening times. Archived version -> St Alban’s opening times

Please note this information below may change frequently.

Notes: arrangements for acts of worship and other sacramental matters are currently constrained by:

• UK Government legislation -> (COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do.
• CBCEW guidelines and downloads -> CBCEW advice
• Diocese of Shrewsbury guidelines.
• St Paul’s supported worship activities. See newsletters and sidebar for the current position -> Home page

Parish activities

Current status of events and activities in St Paul's parish

Event or activity	Status	Notes
Covid-19 measures	The Liturgy Group monitors advice from UK Government, Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales, Diocese and Shrewsbury, NHS and Cheshire East Council.	Within the constraints placed by advice, the Liturgy Group aims to return to normal arrangements as soon as it is safe to do so.
Regular events and activities
Opening of St Paul's Church for Individual Prayer	Arrangements are being investigated and considered.	Opening of churches for individual prayer is allowed under Covid-19 measures, but such opening requires significant measures and volunteer support to be put in place.
Weekend Mass: Saturday Vigil 6:30pm	Cancelled until further notice.	More volunteers needed to hold this Mass.
Weekend Mass: Sunday 10am.	9:45am for 10am Sunday Mass. Physical attendance is permitted but from 10th Ocober social distancing is less to increase congregation size. Also face coverings must be used. The Mass is also available for viewing on Facebook Live,	Details of Facebook Live are on this website and in the weekly newsletter.
Weekday mass 9:30am on Wednesday	Physical attendance is permitted. Booking is not required for in-person attendance, Also face coverings must be used. The Mass is also available for viewing on Facebook Live,
Word Communion services at on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday	On Mondays and Fridays at 9:30am. This is in addition to Morning Prayers and Mass which takes place each Wednesday morning at 9:15am,
Little Church (as part of 10am Mass)	Cancelled until further notice.	Will recommence when volunteers are available, and Little Church can safely meet in the presbtery conservatory.
Choir rehearsal	The choir rehearsal is now on Tuesday evening.
Sacramental services
Baptism	Available by arrangement.	Contact the parish office for details of arrangements and constraints for baptisms. See notes above.
Marriages	Available by arrangement.	Contact the parish office for details of arrangements and constraints on marriages. See notes above.
Confessions	Not available yet at St Paul's Church.	May be available at other local parishes if they have suitable facilities. Contact the parish office for details of arrangements and constraints for funerals. See notes above.
Sacrament of the Sick (often called Last Rites)	No pastoral visits to those who are self-isolating until the isolation period ends.	Contact the parish office for details of arrangements and constraints for sacraments of the sick. See notes above.
Funeral services and Requiem Masses	Available by arrangement.	Contact the parish office for details of arrangements and constraints for funerals. See notes above.
Confirmation programme	This programme is being run.
Eucharistic ministers visits to provide communion to those in care homes and home bound	No pastoral visits.	Will recommence when they can be safely held.
Other
Friendship and Bereavement Group	This has recommenced. Contact the parish office for details.
Coffee clubs held in the presbytery	No longer available	Will recommence when it can be safely held.
Parish office	Parish office contacts by post, email and telephone will be handled. Non-essential personal visits to the parish office are undesirable.	Usual access will recommence when it can be safely provided.
Liturgy Group	Will continue to meet, using Zoom.

List above shows the current status of events and activities at St Paul's Church. This is updated as required. Last update on 18th December 2021

[18th Dec 21]