As Archbishop John says in his letter to the Clergy yesterday concerning the measures to be put in place, this is a Lent like we have not experienced before. We are entering a period of great uncertainty which most of us have never experienced in our life time.

The cessation of the public celebration of the Mass in our parishes from Friday 20th March indicates the serious action that is being taken to avoid this pandemic.

The Archbishop’s advice to us at the present time is:

· Be Good Samaritans to each other;

· Support those most in need in the best possible way;

· Speak to our families and loved ones as often as we can.

We must approach the period ahead with personal faith and prayer doing all we can to support those in our care. As Parishioners of Our Lady of the Rosary, we are required to care for each other and our families. I would be grateful if all our parishioners can do their best to look after our elderly brothers, sisters, and friends whether they are parishioners or not. Some may not have the necessary level of support in the current climate and it is essential that we keep a close eye on them during the next few weeks. We can do this by offering phone support on a regular basis and ensuring that their shopping needs are met.

Please click below for important information from both the Archbishop of Southwark and the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales regarding the suspension of our public worship and services due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.