MassesSt Peter’s ChurchSaturday Vigil 6.15pmSunday 8.00am 11.00am & 12.15pm.Monday – Friday 8.30am & 10.30am. Saturday 10.30am

Our Lady of Lourdes ChurchSaturday Vigil 7.30pm.Sunday 9.30am 10.30am & 12noonMonday - Saturday 10.00amSt Peter’s Church Shop Opening times: 11.00am – 2.00pmMonday - Saturday

Email:parishoffice@saintpetersdrogheda.ieThe Barbican,St Peter’s Parish Centre041 980 7416

St Peter’s Parish DroghedaNewsletter

www.saintpetersdrogheda.ieSt Oliver’s Pastoral Area

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time5th July 2020

Canon Eugene Sweeney PP, VG St Peter’s Parochial House 041 983 8537 Fr. Linos Dube CC St Peter’s Presbytery 041 983 8239Fr Chrisandus Ambale CMCanon P. McDonnell Our Lady of Lourdes Presbytery 041 983 1899Fr. Barry Matthews CC Fr. Paul Murphy CCDeacons: David Durrigan & John TaaffeSt Peter’s Church Sacristy 041 984 5355Our Lady of Lourdes Sacristy 041 983 1973

St Oliver Plunkett SundaySt Oliver Plunkett Sunday will be celebrated

today, Sunday 5th July. There will be no public procession this year due to Covid-19.

Mass will be celebrated in St Peter’s Church at 4.00pm.

open to the public (with limited seating due to social distancing),and also broadcast live by webcam, www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie

orwww.churchservices.tv.

Chief-Celebrant & Preacher will be Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh.RETURN TO THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF MASS

AND THE SACRAMENTSIt has been four months since 7th /8th March when we lastgathered together for Sunday Mass. It is wonderful to be ableto do so this weekend. Thanks be to God we are permitted onceagain to celebrate public Mass. The return to public Mass sincelast Monday has gone really well. I am really grateful to thestewards, and to the Covid-19 Support Group, the Parish Pastoral Council, the sacristans, caretaker and cleaners for thefantastic job done in preparing the churches. Some people arenot yet ready to come back to public Mass at this time. This isperfectly understandable and all may take their time as necessary. The safety and health of parishioners is of paramount importance and, therefore, in accordance with Government norms and the Framework Document issued by the Irish Bishops’ Conference, the following applies in bothSt Peter’s and Our Lady of Lourdes Churches:1. The dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligationcontinues.2. People who are vulnerable or unwell, and especially thosewith any symptoms that might suggest Covid-19 infection,should stay at home. The same applies to those who have beenin recent contact with someone who has the virus, in accordance with public health advice.

Church Collection for the weekend 27th / 28th June 2020Loose € 200.50 Envelopes €1,263.50 Total €1464.00

Summer Dues are being collected at this time. Many thanks to our Dues Collectors and for your generosity.

Donating to the Parish - Envelopes/ Donate Button/ Standing Order Many thanks to all whohave returned their parish envelopes in recent weeks. Your generosity is much appreciated.Parishioners may return their envelopes to the secure boxes in both St Peter’s and Our Lady ofLourdes Churches, or to any of the parochial houses. A Donate Button is now available on theparish website, www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie where with a credit/ debit card, a once-off orweekly/monthly/ quarterly/ annual contribution may be made to the Parish for either the generalupkeep of the Parish (Sunday envelope) or the priests’ dues. A standing order can be obtainedon the parish website or in the churches which can be completed and returned to the Parishthrough the church envelope boxes, or any of the sacristies or parochial houses. Eucharistic Adoration: Adorers are required for the following times.Monday 7.00pm – 8.00pm. Tuesday 2.00pm – 3.00pm.For further information or to volunteer phone Anna on 041 983 6661 or Breda 041 983 6896.

Year of Reflection and PrayerThis year the Archdiocese of Armagh is reflecting on itself as a Church community and onwhich direction it should take in the future. This present pandemic has given us an insight intojust how challenging that future might be.Bishop Michael has produced a video on YouTube, https://youtu.be/OmnRoFUwCz8. At the end of the video three questions are outlined in order for the period of reflection tobegin. Parishioners are asked to reflect on the following three questions:What has this period of separation and isolation changed for you in relation to Church and faith? Identify one thing we could do as a diocese to begin to sustain faith personally andcollectively as we emerge from lockdown? Can you and those close to you contribute to themission of the Church in your parish or pastoral area?Responses may be forwarded to yprarmagh@gmail.com over the next two months. When the threat of the coronavirus has passed, Bishop Michael hopes that small group meet-ings will take place in each parish around the diocese where suggestions, hopes and concerns might be expressed. This listening process will feed into the preparation for a Diocesan Assembly in the coming years.

ACCORD Covid-19 Couples & Relationships Support Line: If you need to speak to an experienced couples & relationships counsellor during this time of unprecedented stress andpressure on family life, contact 01 531 3331, 9.00am – 8.00pm Monday to Friday. All calls are charged at local rate.

St Vincent de Paul SVP is available as usual to help. Freephone 1800 67 77 77.

Drogheda River Rescue Emergency Help Need a bag of coal, milk, bread, collection of medication? The men and women of Drogheda River Rescue are happy to reach out to all those who need help at this time. Tel 089 250 5562

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People ALONE has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are availableto answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours maybe extended to meet the demand.

18. Confessions, observing social distancing and hygiene requirements, will be held asfollows: St Peter’s Church: Wednesdays, 12.30–1.00pm; Saturdays, 12.30–1.00pm,5.45pm – 6.10pm. Our Lady of Lourdes Church: Saturdays: 7.00pm-7.25pm.19. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel has reopened. The Hours for adoration are as before: Sunday, 8.00am – 8.00pm; Monday, 8.00am –Tuesday, 8.00pm; Wednesday – Friday, 8.00am – 8.00pm; Saturday, 8.00am –6.00pm. Only five chairs – all socially distanced at two metres apart – are in the Chapel, setting a maximum of five adorers only at any given time.20.The car park at Our Lady of Lourdes Church has returned exclusively for church worshippers.With the other priests I am delighted once again to be able to celebrate both Sunday and daily Mass with a congregation in the pews.Eugene Sweeney, PP.

Cemetery Sunday ThanksMany thanks to all those who participated in our virtual Blessing of St. Peter’s and NewtownCross Cemeteries last Sunday, and all who prepared for it. Many parishioners brought flowersto their family graves as they normally do on the last Sunday of June making the Cemeterylook really beautiful. Thanks again to the Parish Cemetery Committee, the Knights of Columbanus, our Cemetery caretaker and groundsmen for their wonderful work. Many thanksalso to all those who contributed on the Go Fund Me page for the upkeep of St Peter’s Cemetery on St Peter’s Parish Facebook page and on the parish website.Due to the extremely high volume of traffic not everyone was able to access the St Peter’s Church webcam on the parish website, for which we apologise. The Parish is investigat-ing how it might strengthen the band width and capacity of the website to maximise the pos-sibility of as many people accessing the parish website and the church webcams at any giventime. The webcam of both St Peter’s and Our Lady of Lourdes Churches can, in addition tothe parish website, www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie be accessed from Church Services,www.churchservices.tv.

First Communion, ConfirmationSchools will be in touch about alternative arrangements for First Communion and Confirmationin the autumn. Resources for children and families have been compiled at diocesan level andare available on the website armaghprays.com.

Rosary, Exposition and Benediction streamed live this Sunday evening from St Peter’s Church at 7.00pm. See St Peter’s Church webcam on the parish website

Anniversaries and Month’s Mind Masses New anniversaries may be telephoned to St Peter’s Church Sacristy, 041 984 5355, Monday – Saturday, 9.00am-1.00pm or Our Lady of Lourdes Sacristy, 041 983 1973, Monday – Saturday, before, during or after10.00am Mass.Signed Shared Mass Cards & Mass Bouquets (Get Well, Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary,Exam, Healing, Intentions) are available in both sacristies. €4.00 eachSt Peter’s Church Shop: Monday – Saturday, from 11.00am -2.00pm.

Feast Days This WeekSaturday 11th July St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe

Deaths We pray for the recently deceased Tommy Fagan, Ballsgrove, formerly Pearse Park,Mona Kierans, Sr Anne Sharratt MMM, Mary Stanley, Maureen (Mary Ellen) Owens,Judy Victory, John H (Johnny) Kierans, Marlene Montgomery, May they rest in peace. Amen

3. A Covid-19 Support Team has been put in place in both St Peter’s and Our Lady ofLourdes Churches to prepare for and implement the return to public Mass.4. Stewards will be available at all Masses to assist. Please cooperate with them.5. Hand sanitisers will be available at all entrances to the churches, and parishioners areasked to use them as they enter the church.6. Mass times will be as they were prior to the cancellation of public Mass in March:St Peter’s Saturday Vigil, 6.15pm. Sunday, 8.00am, 11.00am, 12.15pm.Monday to Friday, 8.30am, 10.30am. Tuesday, also 7.30pm. Saturday, 10.30am.Our Lady of Lourdes Saturday Vigil, 7.30pm. Sunday, 9.30am, 10.30am, 12.00 noon.Monday to Saturday, 10.00am.Seats will be allocated on a first come basis. There will be no ticketing system.7. All Masses will continue to be broadcast live by parish webcam on the parish website,www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie and www.churchservices.tv.8. Memorial Masses for those who died during the time of no public Mass, Month’sMind Masses and First Anniversaries may be held, for the time being, on a weekdayevening in either church.9. Signage will be in place in both churches. Regular cleaning and sanitising will takeplace. The Parish has acquired an electric ULV fogging machine for the sanitising ofseats and frequently-used areas.10. Parishioners are asked to observe all Government and public health norms andrestrictions. The physical (social) distancing demands of the public health authorities,currently two metres, will be maintained. This means that the maximum number ofpeople who can be accommodated at any given time will be much reduced. Besides, thepublic health authorities have capped at fifty the number which may gather indoors atpresent. Some seats will be cordoned off. The specific part of seat which may be used will be marked by a praying hands sticker. Only this part of the seat may be used. Those from the same household can sit together, while those who come to Mass alone will require a place to themselves. This facilitates social distancing and assists us in our cleaning.11. Holy Water fonts will not be used.12. The Sunday collection will be taken up at the church entrances and exits.13. Designated seats will be available for Ministers of the Word and ExtraordinaryMinisters of Holy Communion on the sanctuary for the duration of Mass.14. The Sign of Peace will be omitted. 15. As in the period before the cancellation of public Masses, Holy Communion may bereceived on the hand only. Everyone should exercise care to ensure there is no hand orfinger contact between priest or Eucharistic Minister and the person receiving16. Priests and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will sanitise their handsboth before and after the distribution of Communion, and wear a face-covering whiledistributing Communion. Communion will be distributed to people in their seats.17. Baptisms will recommence this weekend 4th /5th July. Details are as follows:Our Lady of Lourdes Church: Every Saturday at 5.00pm. Register at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Sacristy, Friday and Saturday, 9.30am – 12 noon. Tel 041 983 1973.St Peter’s Church: Every Sunday at 1.00pm. Register at St Peter’s Church Sacristy, West Street, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 12.30pm. Tel 041 984 5355.