Second lockdown: A statement from the Rt Rev. Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury

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“We appreciate the difficult choices faced at this time by government and parliament in responding to the public health crisis conscious of the hardships which even necessary measures bring for society and especially the most vulnerable.

“The Prime Minister mentioned in his statement that he judged it necessary to close much that is judged by the Government as being non-essential in society.  We need to be sure that such judgments are based upon clear evidence that, for example, schools, universities and the football premier league will continue as essential elements of our society’s life.

“The Prime Minister made no reference in his statement to public worship so we were astonished to find in national guidance that the Government was seeking the authority of parliament to close all places of worship.

“It is a momentous act for any political authority to seek to ban public worship across a nation.

“No evidence has been offered to justify why the Government seeks to ban public worship that invariably takes place amid some of the most stringent Covid safety measures in the whole of society.

“The vital role which public worship has for the well-being of hundreds of thousands of people in this Shrewsbury Diocese together with faith communities across the nation can never allow public worship to be dismissed as something non-essential.

“Neither can we lightly overlook how from public worship flows support for the most vulnerable and countless charitable activities in the service of the common good.

“We are asking our Government and political representatives to provide the evidence on which they seeking to impose a ban on all public worship in England.  We believe that public worship is not part of the problem we face rather it is part of the solution to this deeply human crisis.”

+ Mark, Bishop of Shrewsbury, 1st November 2020

General Chapter and Midweek Masses

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Please pray for the 2020 Annual Chapter of the Canons of the ICKSP.

This will occur from Monday 24th August until Friday 28th August. Pray especially for the Canons, who, due to the currentcircumstances, won’t be able to attend this important event of the Institute’s life.

As a result of the Chapter, there are no Masses at the Shrine during this coming week.

External Solemnity of St Philomena

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The 1030 Mass this Sunday (16th August 2020) will be a Missa Cantata to celebrate the External Solemnity of our co-patron Saint, the glorious Martyr, St Philomena. We will be joined by the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus.

First High Mass of a Newly Ordained Priest

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On Sunday 26th July at 10.30am, the First Solemn High Mass celebrated Canon Stephen Sharpe followed by first blessings of a newly ordained priest will take place at St Peter & Paul and St Philomena.

A plenary indulgence is available under usual conditions: Confession, Holy Communion & Prayer for the Sovereign Pontiff for those receiving the first blessing.

We intend to provide a gift for the new Canon. If you would like to participate please contact Canon Poucin.

Masses and Offices temporary schedule

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From Sunday 5th July 2020, due to the building works for the restoration of the Dome and the Sanctuary, we have to temporarily amend our schedule. To see our usual schedule please click here.

Sundays

8.30am: Low Mass
9.30: Confessions
10.30am: Low Mass
5.30pm: Vespers, Rosary & Benediction 
7pm: Compline 

Mondays – Fridays

5.30pm: Adoration (Confessions during)
6.30pm: Low Mass
7.15pm: Compline

Saturdays

8.30am: Adoration
9.30: Rosary &/or Confessions
10am: Low Mass & devotions to St Philomena
5.30pm: Vespers

Restoration work to start

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In March 2020, Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena Catholic Church was awarded a much-coveted ‘Heritage Grant’ of £362,900 by National Lottery, to complete the restoration of the roof and dome. As the country begins its recovery from Covid-19, we have been given permission to start this project, our biggest one yet. The contractors will begin to scaffold the Dome and main sanctuary roofs at the end of June and the regeneration will be seen for miles across Wirral.

Project manager, Anne Archer, said, “Some of the planned project activities to engage with the heritage will be slow to start, especially the planned visits by Care Homes, while the church reopens for individual visits. They will happen and we will become much more dementia friendly, but the bulk of this work will be when the building works have been completed.”

“However, we are still hoping to arrange scaffolding tours for the public as part of the Heritage Open Days in September, and a conference for Heritage professionals. Work on New Brighton’s memories for a very special book will start remotely with some of our partners. Our great team is working on keeping this church open for everyone and would welcome more volunteers.”

Thanks to the help of Wirral Borough Council, The Dome of Home has been able to implement social distancing guidelines and reopen to the public for 2 hours daily.  ‘Wirral Together’ Fund awarded £337 for hand sanitisers, notices and PPE for volunteer stewards. At the moment, the church is open for 2 hours every day from 1-3pm. This will change from 24th June to 5-7pm when the building work begins.

Canon Montjean, Rector of the church said, “We are delighted to reopen our church so that local people can pay a visit to our sanctuary, safely. Please check our website for updated times.”

Church reopening – Volunteers

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Dear friends of the Shrine,

Our church is due to reopen for private prayer on Monday the 15th June from 1pm-3pm daily. We are looking forward to opening our doors to visitors once again, but we need enough volunteers to help on a rota basis.

Volunteer stewards are required to welcome visitors and to ensure that they comply with diocesan social distancing and safety guidelines.

All stewards need to be under seventy years of age and free from any health issues that could compromise their personal safety.
Stewards will need to wear disposable face masks and gloves whilst on duty in church, these will be provided.

They will need to ensure that all visitors use hand sanitiser on entry and exit from the church.
No more than ten visitors are allowed to be in church at a time. The maximum length of time for a visit is fifteen minutes. Visitors must adhere to the two metre social distancing guideline during their visit.
Toilet and hand washing facilities will be available for stewards. If you feel able to volunteer and can spare an hour to two every week please get in touch and let us know the time/ day that is most convenient for you to enable us to add you to our Volunteer Rota.

Thank you for your support, it is very much appreciated.

If you wish to sign up, please contact Joyce:
 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 May God bless you all, your Canons are praying for you, 
 
Your Canons of the ‘Dome of Home’

Collection Envelopes for 2020-2021

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The collection envelopes for 2020-2021 are now available. If you would like to give your offering this way please fill out a form and hand it to the presbytery and Canon Poucin will give you a box of envelopes. Forms can be collected at the Presbytery, or downloaded here.

THANK YOU!

Holy Saturday and Easter Day Schedule

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The schedule for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday is as follows:

Saturday 11th April – Sabbato Sancto

7pm Easter Vigil and Sung Mass

Sunday 12th April – Dominica Resurrectionis

9.30am Sung Mass and Sermon
11.30am Rosary
5.30pm Second Vespers of Easter Sunday
6pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
7pm Compline

You can view all these events via our Live Stream service here.