
In normal circumstances moving into a new parish presents both considerable challenges and new opportunities, but it must be more difficult in present circumstances settling into a new environment as a priest due to all the social distancing protocols and the limited pastoral engagement that we are able to have with people. I hope all three of them will be happy in their new appointments.
Here at the Cathedral we have been able to offer a scaled-down schedule of weekday and weekend Masses for the last two months – with weekend Masses at 4pm on a Saturday (Vigil) and 9am and 11am each Sunday. Attendance has been encouraging taking into account that many are still having to remain isolated due to health-related factors, and at present the total weekend attendance is about one-third of our pre-Covid figures.
Compared with many places of worship, we have a vast internal space for people to maintain a safe distance, and for us to keep a relatively safe environment. I feel that we are almost at the point of trying to encourage those who are able to come back to Mass; and when we do reach the appropriate time we may need a slogan or a campaign to encourage people back to Mass.