News & Information

USEFUL INFORMATION & RESOURCES  (Updated 15 May 2021)

This Week’s Newsletter:    16-05-21

Catholic Pictorial for May:    Catholic Pic May 2021 by catholicpic – issuu

 

PENTECOST NOVENA

Bishop’s Conference:  pentecost_novena_creation_21

Parish:  pentecost-novena-2021

 

COVID-19 UPDATES

If you want a good, balanced, non-political, medically based update on the virus by someone who knows what they are talking about, I recommend Dr John Campbell.  He gives a particularly good and helpful update on YouTube every day.  You can watch him here:

Dr. John Campbell – YouTube

Hands, Face, Space & Ventilate

In addition to ‘Hands, Face, Space’, Dr Campbell suggests we add ‘Ventilate’ to remind us to open windows and doors whenever we are with other people.  He also recommends taking Vitamin D and has a number of videos about this.

 

COVID-19 VACCINES

Vatican Document:    morality-of-using-covid-vaccines

Pope Francis on 10 January 2021:  “I believe that morally everyone must take the vaccine.  It is the moral choice because it is not just about your life but also the lives of others.  I do not understand why some say that this could be a dangerous vaccine.  If the doctors are presenting this to you as a thing that will go well and doesn’t have any special dangers, why not take it?”

The Importance of Vaccination

An article by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, in the ‘Chicago Catholic’, 5 May 2021

vaccination-cardinal-blase-j-cupich

 

ROADMAP OUT OF LOCKDOWN (click on images to enlarge)

Steps 1 & 2

          

Steps 3 & 4

      

Churches in Warrington are Open

Please note:  we will continue the temporary schedule of Mass times for the time being.  The Sunday obligation remains suspended.

Baptisms, Marriages & Funerals

As from 17 May 2021, the numbers attending a funeral in church will no longer be limited to 30.  The number allowed in church for a funeral will now be based on the number we can accommodate in a covid-secure environment.  For St Benedict’s, this approximately 50 (depending on households and bubbles), and for St Oswald’s it’s 80.  For Baptisms and Weddings, up to 30 people may attend.  All other restrictions in church are to remain in place for the time being.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Confession is available on request or by appointment.

Private Prayer

Our churches are open 45 minutes before each Mass and for 30 minutes after each Mass.  Unfortunately, St Benedict’s can’t be open all day at present because it is a legal requirement to have stewards on hand whenever a place of worship is open to the public.

Care of the Sick & Dying

Fr John Schofield and I continue to cover the hospital.  If you are concerned about a loved one, please ask the hospital to page us and we will attend as soon as possible.  Similarly, if you’re worried about a loved one in a care home, please ask the care home to contact us directly.

Many thanks,
Fr Dave

 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Young people in Year 8 who wish to be confirmed in the Autumn are invited to register online at: https://liverpoolcalled.co.uk  If there are young people in older year groups who haven’t been confirmed and would like to be, they are also welcome to register.

 

FIRST COMMUNION

First Communion will be celebrated in September this year.  Letters have gone out to parents in Year 4 at both schools outlining the preparation and the celebrations.  If your child is in Year 4 at a non-Catholic school and would like to celebrate First Communion, please contact Fr Dave as soon as possible.  Many thanks.

 

ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD

As we approach the Archdiocesan Synod on 19 June, Synod Members are currently discerning how they will vote on the recommendations that have emerged.  If you haven’t seen the recommendations yet, you can read them here:

www.synod2020recommendations.org.uk

Reflections on the Synod Recommendations

reflecting-on-the-synod-recommendations-1-2

reflecting-on-the-synod-recommendations-3-4

reflecting-on-the-synod-recommendations-5-6

 

PRAYING FOR A LOVED ONE WHOSE DIED

The present pandemic means that restrictions have been placed around funerals.  This means that you may not be able to attend the funeral of a relative or friend.  The links below offer some suggestions for a little time of prayer for use at home – perhaps at the time of the funeral.

praying-for-a-deceased-loved-one

vigil-at-home

simple-support-ideas

when-someone-has-died

deathbed-etiquette

 

PARISH FINANCES

There are four ways you can continue to support the parish financially at this time:

1) You could put your weekly offering aside and then bring it to church when you next visit.

2) You could set up a standing order.  You can download a form here:

standing-order-mandate-249

3) You can make one-off and regular donations to the Parish online at this address:

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/blessed-james-bell-warrington

4) Text giving is also available for both one-off and regular donations.  Details can be found here:    text-giving

 

DOMESTIC ABUSE

#YouAreNotAlone is the Government’s campaign to reassure victims of domestic abuse that there is help for them during the current crisis:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-and-domestic-abuse/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.  If you call 999 from a mobile and cannot speak, press 55 and this will connect you to the police.

National Domestic Violence Helpline:
0808 2000 247 or https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

Practical Booklet on Domestic Abuse:

nbcw-domestic-abuse-a4-booklet

 

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

The COVID19 outbreak has had an impact on everyone.  It’s important to take care of our minds as well as our bodies and get further support if we need it.  Public Health England and The Mental Health Foundation have produced some useful resources:

what-can-help-your-mental-health-and-wellbeing

tips-that-may-help-during-this-period-of-uncertainty

dealing-with-depression-during-coronavirus

Contacts for support:  https://www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/mental-health

Warrington Council have a great website:    www.happyoksad.org.uk

five-ways-to-wellbeing

New 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line
People of all ages, including children and young people, living in Warrington who are experiencing a mental health crisis can access support through a new, 24/7, mental health crisis line:  0800 051 1508  (This is a FREE number)

 

Those living with Dementia and their Carers

The Archdiocese has provided links to resources which may be helpful for those living with dementia and their carers:

https://www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/dementia

a-guide-for-carers-of-people-with-dementia

activities-for-older-adults

Dementia Prayer Week | RP Books

 

Additional Resources:

Warrington Public Health Bulletin for December includes information loneliness and mental well being, mental health support and working from home healthily:

public-health-campaign-bulletin-dec-2020

public-health-campaign-bulletin-march-2021

public-health-campaign-bulletin-april-2021

Sleep problems during the current pandemic:

sleep-problems-during-coronavirus

The importance of laughter in our daily lives:

laughter-is-the-best-medicine

Relaxation techniques:

relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief

 

FAMILY LIFE

Parenting during the present crisis:

parenting-during-covid-19

For those who are divorced and separated:

https://www.restoredlives.org/dealing-with-the-covid19-crisis-for-divorcees

Messy Church for Children:

https://www.messychurch.org.uk/covid-19

Books for Parents and Children to read together:

god-is-very-clever

professor-know-it-all

will-you-teach-me-how-to-pray

 

ANIMAL WELFARE

Warrington Animal Welfare

Website:    Warrington Animal Welfare

Telephone:    01925 748638  (10.00 am – 4.00 pm)

Email:    [email protected]

(click on image to enlarge)

Lucky Hens Rescue

Lucky Hens Rescue is a non profit organisation that rescues hens that are going to be slaughtered and tries to rehome them.  A few parishioners have adopted hens and alerted me to the charity.  You can read more here:

Lucky Hens Rescue – Lucky Hens Rescue – Non Profit Organisation – Based in Ince, Wigan