COVID-19 National Disaster Restrictions

Dear Parishioners of St.Thérèse, Edenvale

At the extraordinary meeting of the parish pastoral council, at which Fr Neil Frank OMI was present, the following decisions have been approved.

In terms of the national disaster declared by the president of the republic on Sunday 15 March 2020, and per the instructions given by His Grace Archbishop Buti Tlhagale on 17 March 2020 no gatherings of more than 100 people will be allowed. This affects the funeral of Fr Leathem, our Sunday Masses and celebration of other Sacraments.

The funeral Fr Joe, as instructed by the Archbishop, will be by invitation only and is limited to Priests, Religious Sisters and Brothers. Under no circumstances will any of the laity be admitted to the requiem mass. We are very sorry for this. The Mass will be broadcast live on Friday 20th March on Radio Veritas on frequency 576 AM and channel 870 DSTV audio.

The Parish will have a Memorial Mass for Fr Joe after the state of national disaster has been cancelled.

All weekend Masses at St.Thérèse have been cancelled with immediate effect for this period of the national disaster. The Archbishop has granted a dispensation with regard to the attendance at Sunday Masses and Holy Days of obligation for the period of the natural disaster. Accordingly, parishioners are dispensed from their Sunday obligation.

Instead of the Masses on Sundays there will be distribution of the Blessed Sacrament for those who prepare themselves in the following way. This applies only to parishioners of St.Thérèse. Parishioners who desire to receive Holy Communion on Sunday are to prepared themselves by reading the introductory rites and performing the penitential rite of Mass, and the reading the Liturgy of the Word or listening to the broadcast on Radio Veritas at 11AM. It is recommended you do this as a family and take some time to share what the readings mean for you individually.

Distribution of Holy Communion will take place on Sundays, starting this Sunday, 22 March, at the parish church at these times:

A Priest or a Deacon or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) will be in the church during these times. Parishioners are invited to come at a time convenient to them. Please keep at least 1 meter apart from each other if there are others in the church at that time. When you enter the church,

The Mass intentions that have been booked for the Sunday Masses will be transferred to the weekday Masses.

For your benefit we have increased the number of weekday during this time so you have the opportunity to attend Mass. We have kept the normal times and added an extra Mass each weekday. We expect that the attendance at these Masses will be less than 100. We invite to come to one of these Masses as is convenient for you. The weekday Masses are in the table below.

Please limit your attendance to only one weekday Mass, so that other parishioners have the opportunity to attend and we don’t contravene the 100-person rule. We will monitor the attendance and make decisions for the following week.

Finally parishioners are requested to follow the relevant health procedures including the washing of hands and remaining 1 meter away from fellow parishioners. Hand sanitizers will be provided at the entrance of the church.

A priest will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation at the following times:

Should you require the sacrament of the sick, please contact the parish office.

Baptism scheduled for 5 April and 19 April will continue. Families are requested to keep their numbers to a maximum of 20.

All other activities are cancelled with immediate effect.

At this time please continue with your prayers and private devotions, please remain calm and take care of your health and please allow the parish office to perform its duties with the minimal disruption.

Fr Neil Frank OMI
Acting Priest-in-charge
Provincial of the Oblates in SA

Ms Catherine Matthee
Parish Pastoral Council Vice-Chair