St Theresa of the Child Jesus Totton and Our Lady of the Assumption and St, Edward the confessor Lyndhurst are open this coming Saturday 20th June. The Immaculate Heart of Mary. Plans have now been finalised to re-open in a safe manner for private prayer and reflection only.
Fr. Gerry said: “We are delighted that the government is allowing places of worship to open subject to the correct procedures being in place. Many thanks to the Health and Safety team who have introduced the complex social distancing and safety procedures which is needed to be implemented to welcome back our parishioners and visitors to both our churches. For the present this is for private prayer only and exposition or organised prayer is not allowed”
Both churches opening times from Saturday 20th June 2020 are.
St Theresa of the Child Jesus. Totton
Weekends:
Saturday: 10.00am. to 1200 noon. with confession available.
Sunday: 10.00am. to 12.00 noon.
Weekdays:
Tuesday: 4.00pm. to 6.00pm.
Thursday. 4.00pm. to.600pm.
Our Lady of the Assumption and St, Edward the confessor. Lyndhurst.
Weekends:
Saturday: 10.00am. to 1200 noon.
Sunday: 10.00am. to 12.00 noon.
Weekdays:
Monday. 10.00 am. to 12.00 noon.
Wednesday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
The proposed opening days are shared between the two parishes so that there are time slots that should suit everyone.
Parishioners in good health have volunteered to be stewards who have received instructions and PPE is available for them. At present only 20 people will be allowed in at any one time at St. Theresa and 10 people at Our Lady. Some Pews and seating have been blocked to allow for social distancing, these are marked by a Red Cross. Please bring your prayer book or reading material with you as there is no reading literature available at the churches.
A suggested time limit for prayer of 15 minutes but this will only be enforced if there is a queue. The stewards will indicate the routes to be taken in each church. Everyone will be required to sanitise their hands on entering and leaving.
Stephen Short, the church health and safety rep, is now the parishes COVID 19 Coordinator and has with Fr. Gerry worked out the best logistics for our churches to be safely open for private worship.