Mary Mother of the Church

Catholic Parish Ivanhoe

 

You may only book for one Mass at a time when you ring. If possible those who have no work commitments should book a weekday morning Mass so that those who are working can book weekend or evening Masses. Please remember that under a Papal dispensation, during this crises, there is no obligation to attend Sunday Mass - so please do not monopolize bookings for Sundays.

3. How to Book for Mass 

1. You can start booking in for a Mass from Tuesday 26th May
2. Ring Parish Office (9499 1515) between the hours of 9am & 1pm
3. Request which Mass you are booking - date and time - how many in your family are attending - office will confirm availability
4. Office will require names and phone numbers of each person
5. You must arrive at the church at least 5 minutes before Mass starts so that you can be processed - late comers will not be admitted and the church doors will be locked once Mass begins

4. Altar Servers / Readers / Ushers

In addition to the 10 people permitted to attend Mass we are also allowed to have extras who have specific official functions in the liturgy. This will include 2 altar servers, 2 readers and 2 ushers. Those acting in these roles will also need to book in through the office but please advise the office that you are offering to be a server, reader or usher so that you can be rostered and registered separately. To qualify altar servers and readers must already be serving in those roles and ushers must have attended one of our training sessions (see below).

5. Ushers for Mass

If our arrangements for reopening our churches for Mass are going to work then we must have two ushers for each Mass.

The ushers will:

1. Greet and check contact details of each person as they arrive
2. Offer sanitizer, hygiene check and direct people to their seats
3. Lock the church at start of Mass
4. After Mass assist with exiting and the sanitizing of all touch points in the church

If you wish to volunteer as an usher, please ring the parish office before Wednesday and book into one of the following training sessions:

1. Friday 29th May 10.30am at St. Bernadette’s
2. Saturday 30th May 10.30am at Mary Immaculate
3. Sunday 31st May 10.30am at Mother of God

It does not matter which session or church you attend.

Please note - without volunteer ushers we cannot reopen.

6. Reopening of Parish Office

Our Parish Office will reopen on Monday 1st June from 9.00am - 1.00pm. Until that time the office phone will be redirected to either Ruth or Fr. Bill.

7. Historic review of Church governance presented to leaders

In a Media Release of 19 May the Australian Catholic Bishop Conference has welcomed a report into Catholic Church governance practices and possible reforms, which was presented to them shortly before last week’s plenary meeting.  The report, entitled The Light from the Southern Cross: Promoting Co-responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia, was commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference following a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.  The report is 200 pages long and includes 86 recommendations.  “The members of the Governance Review Project Team are to be congratulated on producing such a substantial piece of work, with far-reaching implications for the Church’s life and mission,” said Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.  The Media Release is published on our website Plenary Council page and on the News page Here   https://www.ivanhoecatholics.com/news-2020

8. Also featuring on our Website this week

1. Plenary Council assemblies set for 2021 - 2022
2. Plenary Council: Where to after Coronavirus?
3. New Australia Report may help Church find its way out of abuse crises

9. Keeping in Touch

1. Our Website: www.ivanhoecatholics.com
2. Group email: if you are not yet on our group email list, and receiving weekly emails and newsletters from me, please contact Ivanhoe@cam.org.au   
3. Pick up a hard copy of our Newsletter: available from external containers at front doors of our churches and parish office. From 12 noon each Friday

10. Do You Need Help

We have people happy to assist with the delivery of our Newsletters, groceries and other necessities. If you are vulnerable, cannot get out, or access services please phone or email the parish office or Fr. Bill.

With my prayers and best wishes,

Fr. Bill Edebohls

Parish Priest