News - StCronansCluster

Saint Cronan’s Church, Roscrea: Monday to Saturday inclusive 10am; Saturday 6.30pm; Sunday 11.30am

Bournea: Every second Saturday in either Couraguneen or Clonakenny 7.30pm – See Table on homepage

Kyle and Knock: Every second Sunday in either Ballaghmore or Knock 10am – See Table on homepage

Finally, after nearly 4 months, we are in a position to re-open our churches and gather to worship.

In re-opening, it is our paramount responsibility to provide for the safety of any person who enters our churches.

Bishop Fintan has issued guidelines in accordance with the HSE guidelines.

• Each church will open 15 minutes before Mass begins

• Maximum capacity for each church is 50 people

• Social distancing of 2m must be observed at all times

• Hand sanitisers are available at entrances to churches – please use before entering

• It is recommended that people attending wear masks

• There will be one entry point and a different exit door – stewards will guide people

• If you feel unwell or are showing symptoms that might suggest Covid-19 infection

or if you have been in contact with someone who has Covid-19, please do not attend

In order to facilitate these guidelines and fulfil our obligation to the safety of the community, people have volunteered by acting as ushers and sanitising the church after each gathering.

• We ask people to enter by the Main Entrance to each church only – an usher will lead you to a seat.

Please follow their direction as you may not be able to sit in your “usual spot!”

• To receive Holy Communion, people will come up to the priest, bench by bench, and return by the side aisles to the same seat (if church has side aisles)

• When Mass has ended, people are asked to exit by the other doors in the church (if church has other doors)

• Social distancing is essential when coming up for Holy Communion and exiting the church

• Baskets for collections are prohibited – boxes will be left out for people who wish to contribute

We ask people to be patient and conscious of other people around them.

The Sunday obligation is suspended presently. Due to the fact that only 50 people are allowed in the church,

we ask people to give as many people as possible an opportunity to gather in the church for Mass.

Perhaps people might listen via parish radio or watch on the webcam at home on some days to allow others a chance to attend. The most difficult part of re-opening is the limitation of 50 people, which must be adhered to. This could lead to the unfortunate position of people being told at the door “the church has reached its capacity under the HSE Guidelines.” This is an extremely difficult position to be in

but safety guidelines have to be followed. We ask all of us to be understanding of this.

Outside speakers are in place in some of the churches presently and in the near future, they will be fitted in the churches that don’t already have them. After Mass, the priest will go out into the car park to distribute Communion to those people.

A video outlining the “new normal” has been compiled and is available on our Parish facebook and our Pastoral Area website. It shows Saint Cronan’s Church.

Videos for the other churches will be uploaded this week.

A warm word of thank you to all who have helped, volunteered, to our Pastoral Councils, Parish Office, Sacristans and anybody who has helped in any way to enable us re-open.

Local Link provides a door-to-door bus service for older people living in the Roscrea area

on Tuesday, Thursday & Friday mornings.

Available to anybody who needs it,

please contact 0761-066140 for more info or to avail of this service.

hospitalised who would like a visit,

or anybody else who would like a visit for a particular reason,

please contact:

Should you wish to bring Holy Communion home to the sick or housebound,

A Marriage Request Form must be filled out at the time of booking your wedding in Roscrea, Bournea, Kyle or Knock.

These forms are available from the Parish Office or may be downloaded here on our Pastoral Area Website, www.stcronanscluster.ie under Parish Events/Preparations. You may also find a guide to the Wedding Mass on the website, including prayers, readings, templates etc.

At least three months notice is required for all weddings.

Our Parish Shop is open in St. Cronan’s Church.

It is located at the back of the church.

Stocking a large range of religious goods, including

Christening Candles, Frames & Gifts,

Eucharistic Adoration continues as follows:

Meetings are held in St. Cronan’s Parish Centre every Tuesday at 11am.

All are welcome!

If you have any enquiries, please contact 086-3989551.

Every Wednesday in the

Parish Centre, Roscrea from

12.30-1pm.

The surplus food is donated by Tesco &

is available free of charge to those who need it.