St. Joseph's

Our parish is about to open again for public Masses! This coming Sunday is Pentecost, when we highlight the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst, the feast called the Birthday of the Church. We have lived as disciples of Jesus in our “home Churches” since before Holy Week. Now, as the Easter season draws to a close, welcome home to our “big Church”!

We are still in Alert Level 2, so not yet back to the “new normal”. Here are details for the next few weeks.

1.If you are not well, live with health issues, or are anxious about being part of a group of people, stay at home. The NZ Bishops have set aside the Sunday Mass obligation for the present.

2.All our parish activities will be at St Joseph’s Church, Takapuna. The Milford and Bayswater churches will not re-open at present.

3.The first public Mass will be at St Joseph’s on Saturday 30 May at 9am.

4.Sunday Masses at St Joseph’s will be as follows: Saturday 5pm, Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am, 11am, 5pm and 7pm.  NOTE: no 10am Mass!

5.At the Saturday 5pm and Sunday Masses, the first 100 people will be seated in the Church, the second 100 will be seated in the Parish Hall; and another 100 will be seated in the School Hall. Mass will be celebrated in the church, and live-steamed to the two halls; Holy Communion will be brought from the church to people in the halls.

6.Entry to St Joseph’s Church will be only through the doors and the ramp at the front of the church facing Taharoto Rd. Entry to the church hall and the school hall will be only through one door in each case. On entry, you will be required to record your name and contact details (only one person needs to record details for each couple or family). Hand sanitiser will be available for use. In the church or hall, you may sit with other members of your bubble, but must maintain at least 1 metre distance from others.

7.From Monday 1 June, weekday Masses at St Joseph’s will be at 9.15am, Monday to Friday; and 9am on Saturday. There will be no 12.15pm Thursday Mass, and no weekday Masses at Milford.

8.Reconciliation will be offered at St Joseph’s on Saturday mornings at 9.30am

9.On Saturday evenings and Sundays, we’ll need people to help us at each Mass with: counting those who enter, making sure names are recorded, guiding people to a hall once the church is full, wiping down seating places after each Mass with disinfectant, and people to prepare each space on a Saturday afternoon. If you are able to help, please contact Morna Neumann (Parish Secretary) via stjosephtakapuna@xtra.co.nz or the parish office 09 489 6486 noting what you can help with, and the Mass time.

10.In line with health safety, at Mass we’ll offer the sign of peace without physical contact, Holy Communion will be ministered only in the form of Bread, the Body of Christ, and only in the hand.

11.If you have questions or comments about this, contact the parish office at stjosephtakapuna@xtra.co.nz or 09 489 6486; or Mons. David and Fr Carlo at 09 489 6338.

God bless,

Mons. David Tonks