Dear Parents,
I have been reflecting on the current situation following some emails from parents. This journey that we are on has been and continues to be so stressful and so uncertain for so many including myself. We have 10 Confirmation services and 14 First Holy Communion Masses to celebrate. Many of the boys and girls due to make Confirmation this Saturday have just received or are about to receive their first dose of vaccine. This is also the age group in which there is currently a high incidence of the virus. The Archbishop has also reiterated his advice to postpone.
Accordingly, I am postponing the Confirmations due on 21st August. I have to admit that I am overwhelmed by the challenges posed and have been trying to find a solution and hopefully we will find a way.
I am hoping that we might be able to have the Confirmation services on weekday evenings in September as to have them on Saturdays may not be possible except if they are spread out over the next four or five months. Subject to the health advice at the time, I propose to celebrate the postponed ceremonies as follows.
10am 21st Aug now Sept 20th at 7pm
12noon 21st Aug now Sept 21st at 7pm
2pm 21st Aug now Sept 22nd at 7pm
4pm 21st Aug now Sept 23rd at 7pm.
But, of course we have all learned that it is not possible to make any plans as they can be changed at the last minute.
I appreciate the difficulty this short notice brings and thank you for your patience.
Fr Aquinas