Coronavirus Update 24th March 2020

Please see latest communication from Archbishop John Wilson, following the statement from our Prime Minister last night. This overrides any previous instruction, and like all other buildings where social activities can take place, all churches and places of worship, are now totally closed to the public. Let us pray that this stringent procedure will give the results necessary to help combat this virus more quickly and effectively. Keep safe and God Bless.

Statement-from-Archbishop-John-Wilson-23-March-2020

Coronavirus Update 20th March 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends, I hope this finds you and your families well. As you may know by now, all Catholic Dioceses have sadly, but inevitably, suspended all public Masses until further notice.

We have done and will be doing our best to keep you all as informed and updated as possible. The latest bulletin is already uploaded, and there is some important information on it. Can I ask those of you who may be able to print copies of it, and other publications soon to go on the website, to try and get them to those who haven’t got access to our website. This will make them feel less isolated through these next few weeks.

I have also printed copies of the letters from our Archbishop and the Bishops’ Conference for England & Wales, and made them available at the back of church for both Masses today. There is a also a useful leaflet ‘Perfect Contrition and Spiritual Communion’, which I’m sure many will find very helpful and comforting. These can be found below.

There are also links to various sites offering live Masses, Prayers and Virtual Adoration. These are also on the Bulletin.

Whilst working from home, we will keep up the updates as we get them. I am contactable via the usual email address and on 07488 241750, Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 12.30pm. For spiritual help & advice, please ring Fr Uche on the church landline 020 8942 2602.

God Bless and keep safe.

Pastoral-Letter-18-March-2020

2020.03.18-Liturgical-Advice-to-Bishops-Final

USEFUL LINKS TO VISIT

Visit our diocesan website:www.rcsouthwark.co.uk  for daily updates and advice.

National networks like EWTN: https://www.ewtn.com and CatholicTV:  http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass will make it possible for Catholics to participate in Holy Mass while homebound.

Some chapels provide live streams of Eucharistic Adoration:https://virtualadoration.home.blog.


Supporting our fellow parishioners during the Covid-19 crisis

As the Covid-19 crisis deepens, many parishioners, including some of the most vulnerable members of our community, may need to self-isolate in the coming weeks. Now, more than ever, we need to offer practical and pastoral support to our fellow parishioners through what may be a difficult and lonely period.

Here at St Joseph’s, the St Vincent de Paul Society will be coordinating our efforts to support those who need it. If you require support, or know someone who might benefit from extra support, please contact the Parish Office. 

To ensure we comply with the relevant data protection laws, we would need consent from anyone requiring help for our group of volunteers to contact them.

We are also looking for more volunteers – if you could help with shopping or running errands, or by calling parishioners who find themselves alone during self-isolation, we would love to hear from you.

The Parish Office is now officially closed but you can still contact the Parish Secretary, Mondays to Fridays, 9.30am until 12.30pm on 07488 241753 or email [email protected].

Coronavirus update

In compliance with national and diocesan guidelines to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, we have put in place some changes, until further notice, to try and limit the spread of the virus.

Holy Communion will be distributed under one kind only, at the sign of peace please just nod or smile; the Holy Water stoups will be kept empty. The Mass Sheets will be for single use and are to be taken home after Mass and not left in church.

There are hand-gels at the back of church and other areas PLEASE use them – ONE PUMP IS ENOUGH.

The PC kitchen is closed until further notice, as is the Bookshop.

These guidelines may change at any point, and we will do our best to keep them updated.