Hobart Catholic Parish – St. Joseph's Church

Hobart Catholic Parish

is under the Pastoral Care of the Passionist Congregation.

Church: Corner Macquarie & Harrington Streets
Monastery: 65 Harrington Street, Hobart
Phone: (03) 6234 4866

Please check this website regularly for new and  updated Parish information as circumstances change

Hobart Parish Newsletter – St Joseph’s Church

The Ascension of the Lord, 23-24 May, 2020
Sixth Sunday of Easter, 16-17 May, 2020
Fifth Sunday of Easter, 09-10 May, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter, 02-03 May, 2020

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Opening The Church After Lockdown

(Amended 19^th May, 2020)

Dear Parishioners,

With the direction from our Provincial our Religious Community is still in self-isolation as three of us are over the age of 70.

Keeping in mind the ‘Thinking Ahead’ points I gave in the last two newsletters, I am pleased to announce that we are about to take one small step forward.

There will be no grand opening of the church just a small gathering of no more than 10 parishioners for a 7.30am Mass on Sunday 24^th May.
(IMPORTANT: See church access and booking arrangements below)

Please continue to pray and meditate and enjoy the ‘being the church at home’ experience that has become part of our faith journey over the last 7 or so weeks. Zoom meetings, phone calls, letters and cards exchanged have all become part of our community life as we reach out and support each other.  Parish reflection leaflets, newsletters, web site offerings, live-streaming Sunday Eucharist and Holy Week liturgies are and will continue to be a source of spiritual nourishment over the months ahead. Don’t let them slip by, as we are only at the start of our journey back home when we can meet each other face to face once more.

As the weeks go by the number of masses offered and the number of parishioners able to join in the celebrations will increase.

On Wednesday 13th May, the Archbishop had a video link up with many of the priests to explain his proposal to open the churches.  This proposal running in parallel with the guidelines set in place by the Tasmanian Government is a three phase plan following the guidelines concerning social distancing and hygiene measures.  Out of concern for the celebrant and other parishioners irrespective of age anyone who has flu like symptoms or feels unwell should stay at home and not come to church.

There is no easy way to distribute 10 seats amongst a large and widespread parish community as St Joseph’s is. Please be tolerant of the spiritual needs of others and space your mass attendance out over a week or two. Take the time to develop your “home prayer” by taking the gospel quote from Matthew 6:5-6 ‘Go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is unseen, and your Father who is unseen will reward you.’

PHASE ONE from Sunday 24^th May until Sunday 14^th June
(allows for 10 parishioners in the church for Mass)

 MASS TIMES

Weekends 30-31^st May, 6-7^th June, 13-14^th June:
Vigil Mass 6.30pm Saturdays
Sunday Mass at 7.30am.

With only 10 parishioners in attendance 7 seats are for booking and 3 seats are available on the day.

You will be met at the door and asked to provide your name and contact phone number according to Government regulations and then shown to a seat.  When 10 seats are filled the church will be closed.

BOOKINGS can be made Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm by ringing the Monastery on 6234 4866.
Leave your name and phone number and the day you wish to come to Mass and parish staff will contact you confirming that day.
You can only book one Mass attendance for one day each week for no more than two people.  If problems arise then the parish priest will make the decision.

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Weekdays – Monday 25^th May until Saturday 13^th June inclusive:
Mass 8.00am. (There is no 12.10pm Mass until further notice).

With only 10 parishioners in attendance 5 seats are for booking and 5 seats are available on the day.

You will be met at the door and asked to provide your name and contact phone number according to Government regulations and then shown to a seat.  When 10 seats are filled the church will be closed.

BOOKINGS can be made Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm by ringing the Monastery on 6234 4866.
Leave your name and phone number and the day you wish to come to Mass and parish staff will contact you confirming that day.
You can only book one Mass attendance for one day each week for no more than two people.  If problems arise then the parish priest will make the decision.

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PHASE TWO from Monday 15^th June until Sunday 12^th July
(allows for 20 parishioners in the church for Mass)

Weekday Mass times at St. Joseph’s will be 8am Monday till Saturday inclusive.  There will be 12 seats for booking and 8 seats available on the day.

Weekend Masses will be 6.30pm Vigil Saturday and 7.30am Sunday.  There will be 12 seats for booking and 8 seats available on the day.

You will be met at the door and asked to provide your name and contact phone number according to Government regulations and then shown to a seat.  When 20 seats are filled the church will be closed.

BOOKINGS can be made Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm by ringing the Monastery on 6234 4866.
Leave your name and phone number and the day you wish to come to Mass and parish staff will contact you confirming that day.
You can only book one Mass attendance for one day each week for no more than two people.  If problems arise then the parish priest will make the decision.

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PHASE THREE from Monday 13^th July onward
(allows for 50/100 parishioners in the church for Mass)

This phase effectively opens the church but the social distancing regulations are still to be practiced whenever people are in the church.  If social distancing is not maintained the church will be closed and opened only at Mass time.

There will still be limited seating in the church (maximum seating 50 people).

At certain Mass times the number of people wishing to enter the church may be greater than the seats available and you may be unable to attend that Mass.

Proposed Mass times for Phase Three are the following:
Monday to Friday:  8.00am
Exposition 8.30am, Benediction at 12noon and Mass at 12.10pm
No Reconciliation.

Weekend Masses 8.00am and Vigil mass 6.30pm
Sunday masses 7.30am, 9.30am & 11.00am.

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There will be no daily celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the church until further notice.

Parishioners wishing the Sacrament of Reconciliation are asked to ring the Monastery and make an appointment with one of the priests.  It is hoped that the time of self-isolation for our Religious Community has finished and we are able to resume our normal ministries.

Changes to the above programme can be expected every few weeks so please keep yourself informed via the website or newsletter.

Irrespective of age anyone who has flu like symptoms or feels unwell should stay at home and not come to church.

Please share this message with our community and ask them to spread the word to people whom they know.

May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you.

Fr Peter A

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Readings & Reflections

St Joseph’s, Hobart

Readings for today’s Mass
(link to Universalis)

Reflections and Readings for Weekend Mass (Angela)

Ascension of the Lord – I Am With You Always
6^th Sunday of Easter- Proclaim the Good News

Gospel Reflections (Fr Brian Gleeson CP)

Ascension of the Lord – Hooray For Jesus!
Pentecost – Sharing The Spirit’s Gift

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Streamed Masses

St Paul Apostle, Endeavour Hills

Saturday Vigil Mass – 6.00 pm
Sunday Mass – 11.00 am
Fr Brendan CP
(streamed through Facebook)

Holy Cross, Templestowe

Ascension of the Lord (available now)
Fr Chris Monaghan CP
(streamed through vimeo.com)

St Brigid’s,  Marrickville

Ascension of the Lord (available now)
(streamed through vimeo.com)

Holy Spirit Church, Sandy Bay

Sunday Mass – 10.00 am
Fr Brian Nichols
(streamed through Facebook)

St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart

Sunday Mass – 10.30 am
(streamed through Archdiocese of Hobart YouTube channel)

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