Eadestown Parish

Numbers permitted to attend public worship:  Up to this moment, the maximum number authorised to be present for any Church service is 50 people.  This number is still in force and is not discretional.  The number 50 includes all those who are present, including celebrant, cantor, readers, ministers of the Eucharist and stewards. 

I am well aware of the difficulty this brings within large Churches, and I have made my concern known publicly.    Contacts are in place to address these problems but as yet no decision has been reached.  

I must however make it clear that any disregard for this cap of 50 people or disregard of social distancing norms could prejudice the possibility of change. Going it alone could well damage the good of all.

People who are recommended to “cocoon”: I have already drawn attention to the basic principles of cocooning.  They involve a balance between individual judgement and social responsibility: “…older people (aged 70 years and over) and those with pre-existing chronic conditions have been found to be more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and are most likely to experience severe consequences from infection so it is still recommended that you remain cocooned for your safety”.

Priests over 70 who celebrate Mass should abstain from any face-to-face contact such as the distribution of Holy Communion.

+Diarmuid Martin, Tuesday June 30^th 2020

EADESTOWN Church will re-open this weekend the 4th / 5th of July 2020.

KILTEEL Church works are underway and will re-open on 12th July 2020.

CHURCH	CAPACITY
Eadestown	50
Kilteel	25

Ushers will help seat everyone, and we would ask that you to please co-operate with the ushers and to understand that once the church capacity is reached nobody else can be admitted. There are external speakers to allow for mass to be heard outside the church, and communion will also be distributed outside.

Mass times will be:

CHURCH	OPENING DATE	DAY/TIME
Eadestown	4th July 2020	Sat 7:30pm
Eadestown	5th July 2020	Sun 11:30am
Kilteel	12th July 2020*	Sun 10:00am

This is only a first step in our return to a new normal, and things will look quite different for a while.

Weekday masses will not resume yet, as new arrangements need to be put in place for cleaning and sanitising the church during the week, and arrangements need to be made to ensure social distancing.

In addition, for those unable or who may not wish to attend, we will continue to Live Stream the 11:30am Sunday mass each week – details will be available here on the Parish website. The Catholic Bishops have extended the dispensation from attending mass on Sundays and Holy days for the time being.

One-way systems will be in operation in both churches – entry will be via the main door only, and exit via the back/side door only. Hand sanitisers are now in place at all entry / exit points. And the churches will be cleaned before and after each mass.

Collection baskets will not be passed around, and instead there will be a collection boxes at doors. We will shortly introduce an online collection facility here on the parish website.

Those who are vulnerable or with health concerns are advised by the Diocese that they do not need to attend mass in person.

The Confirmation date has now been set for Saturday 22nd August at Eadestown Church. As we are limited in terms of numbers, there will be three ceremonies that day at: 10:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm.

We live streamed mass on Sunday 28th here on the Parish website at 11:30am. You can watch the mass here: