I am sure all of us await with great interest the decision on whether Alert levels will change throughout the country next week. It seems that Auckland will move to Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand continuing at Level 2 with maybe an increase in the number of people able to gather. No doubt Church authorities will advise us on what is possible following the announcement on Monday.

We will be unable to celebrate Sunday Masses until level 1. However, hopefully it will be possible to celebrate weekday Masses at the revised level 2. All will be revealed in due course and the Parish Office will make use of the Church App and email to let you know.

We have been giving much thought to when it may be possible to resume our First Communion preparation and to begin the RCIA programme for this year. The decision is very much dependent on when alert levels change. We hope that we will be in a position to make some decisions after the announcement on Monday.

Planned Giving envelopes for the period 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022 have been prepared and will be available in the Church foyers. You will be able to collect them once the churches re-open.

The Finance Committee have recommended that this may be a good time for parishioners who donate through the envelope system to consider giving by automatic payment. Many parishioners have chosen this method over the past few years and it has many advantages. It is a seamless way of ensuring the Parish is still able to receive donations and function financially during lockdowns when we are unable to gather for Sunday Mass.

If you would like to change to automatic payment or require more information please contact Sandra at the Parish Office.

Despite the lockdown and restricted activities over the past few weeks our architect has continued to work on the Building Consent with the Napier City Council for the new Administration and Mission Centre. We hope it won’t be very long before construction begins.

Father Barry Scannell sm

Parish Priest