St Martin de Porres Catholic Church

Dear sisters and brothers,

From later this week, churches will be able to open for a limited number of public Masses again as well as private prayer.  Our first public Mass will be at 11am on Sunday 6th December, returning to our recent schedule of 9.30am on Tuesday and 6.30pm on Thursday in the following week.  We will continue to open St Martin’s each Saturday, though only from 1pm to 2pm, for a time of Eucharistic Adoration.  The return to this reduced time will begin on 5^th December.  The only thing that may stop this is if we aren’t able to source the resources required or don’t have enough stewards.  Of course, we will all need to adhere to the restrictions that existed prior to the recent lockdown, with the wearing of face coverings and a one metre separation between households.  This will, as before, limit the numbers of those who can attend inside the church.  If you choose to come and attend outside or in your car, we will endeavour to have the speakers in place as previously, and to bring Holy Communion to you outside.

The obligation to attend Mass on Sunday remains suspended, and we are encouraged to participate from home in some way – either joining us online (see links below) or praying through the readings of the Mass, whcih you’ll find on the newsletter elsewhere on this website.  In either of these ways you will be sharing in a spiritual communion with those of us who feel able to come together.  I will continue to offer Mass privately for the whole parish on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

I will endeavour to live stream Masses on…

Tuesday at 9.30am       Thursday at 6.30pm       Sunday at 11.00am

via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StMartinsLuton/ Please note that you do not need to have the Facebook App or an account in order to view these videos, as our account is public.

We now also have a YouTube account.  Search for ‘St Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Luton’ or click on this link, St Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Luton – YouTube and subscribe to receive alerts for future videos of streamed Masses.

Confession can only be made available by appointment at this time, so please ring the parish office if you would like to arrange this.  Pope Francis has reminded us that, in a time such as this, if we profess genuine sorrow for our sins to God, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness and accompanied by the firm resolution to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as is possible, forgiveness of sins is obtained, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, no. 1452).

The parish office will continue tobe partially closed as we are in Tier 2.  Elaine, our parish administrator, will be working reduced hours.  Please note that we will only be able to deal with enquiries via phone or email.  She will still endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible, but replies may take longer than usual.  Please do not come to the presbytery office at the moment.

I will be keeping you all in my prayers as we continue to journey through these challenging times but let us also remember that Jesus’ love is more powerful than any disease, and that with St Paul we stand together as the family of God, praying for each other that we will continue to show our faith in action, working together for love and persevering through hope!!!  And in my role as Father, be assured that I carry you in my heart, and entrust us all to the ‘power’ of the Holy Spirit who brings us his hope and conviction, even in the most troubling of times.

With every blessing,

Simon