Important information regarding the structured re-opening of our Church

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Dear Parishioners,

Following on from the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, Our Bishop, Dr Donal McKeown has given Fr. Colm and all priests and parishes in the Donegal area guidance on the re-opening of our Church. The details of which we would like to share with you at this juncture…

The government in the Republic of Ireland announced change, beginning this week, to the current pandemic lockdown, which impacts on Churches.  From the Feast of Corpus Christi, the following changes to our previous diocesan guidelines are therefore permitted for church buildings in County DONEGAL ONLY. These changes must be read in light of the National Framework Document published on 9 June 2020 which emphasises the importance of preparation, physical distancing and cleanliness requirements before any gatherings can take place inside any church building.

Baptisms

Individual Baptisms may be celebrated, under the following conditions:

  1. No more than six people may be present in the church building, including the celebrant, the child or adult to be baptised ,the parent(s) and the godparents/ Sponsors; the entire time spent in the church building should not exceed one hour;
  2. Physical distancing and cleanliness requirements should be maintained at all times except for the very brief moments when the celebrant must approach the Baptisand; no physical contact should be made in marking with the Sign of the Cross; anointing with oil should only be done using cotton buds (to be burned afterwards);
  3. Water should be used from a jug, not a font;
  4. For the purposes of contact tracing, a record of all six people present should be kept.
  5. Please note: Baptism request must be made with Lorna, the Parish Secretary

The easiest way to do this is by contacting Lorna via this website in the ‘Get in Touch’ section: https://clonleighparish.com/get-in-touch/

Or write to us at: Parish Office, St. Patrick’s Church, Lifford, Co. Donegal. F93X5TR

You can also contact Lorna as follows:

Tel/Fax. 074 9142001

Email: clonleighparish@eircom.net

Weddings

Very small weddings may take place, only if the Registrar has issued the required documentation for the wedding, and under the following conditions:

  1. No more than six people are present in the church, including the Bride and Groom, the Witnesses and Solemniser; the entire time spent in the church building should not exceed one hour;
  2. Physical distancing and cleanliness requirements should be maintained at all times
  3. For the purposes of contact tracing, a record of all six people present should be kept.

Funerals

The number of people who may attend a funeral, burial or cremation has been increased.  The following changes have been made:

  1. Up to 25 people may attend a funeral and burial or cremation ceremony;
  2. For avoidance of doubt, no more than 25 may be present in the church building during a funeral or present in a parish cemetery during a burial. 

These changes take effect from the Feast of Corpus Christi.  The above changes should be read in light of the Framework Document published on 9 June 2020.