Dear Friends

The government’s announcement late on Tuesday evening of further restrictions
due to the increased numbers of individuals testing positive for the Covid-19 virus sent
churches into a minor spin as we tried to establish the implications for us in various situations. We now have more clarity and are pleased to say that there will be no change to our existing situation with regard to worship. Services can continue as before, with appropriate social distancing; weddings and baptisms can still be celebrated in church, although post-service social events are likely to be affected by the new rules. Hire of our buildings for events other than worship might have to be reviewed, however, and potential hirers are advised to contact our parish office for further information.

I expect some of you might have visited the Chiswick Flower Market last Sunday which was deemed a great success! One or two people I spoke to after Mass expressed their surprise that the venue for this event is in our parish. Our parish boundary actually extends north from the river right up to the south side of Chiswick High Road. I visited the market on my way home and it looked wonderful, although there didn’t appear to be much social distancing. There was a long queue to get in as everyone had to apply hand sanitiser, but it moved quite quickly and I had lots of positive feedback. There have been very mixed responses to the new traffic restrictions on Devonshire Road. It has been wonderful to see so many people sitting out in the sunshine and enjoying a coffee at the various cafes. Some of our shops have flourished while others have clearly been adversely affected by the new parking restrictions. 

We continue to pray for the schools in our parish, for the staff, pupils and their families. Many children have not been at school for six months, they have long outgrown their uniforms and school shoes, and it has been an expensive time for their families! Let us hope that this term might go smoothly for them and not interrupted by serious outbreaks of the virus. We look forward to welcoming our children to our new Family Mass at 11am every Sunday, starting from September 20th.

With every blessing

Mother Eileen