Dear Parishioners
We are shortly able to be present physically at OLMC, following its restoration following major works, and the Covid-19 lockdown. Unfortunately, due to Health and Safety regulations, only 8 pews are available per mass. Each pew can be used by one person or up to 5 persons from one household. If you want attend mass, please register by phone 01261 815405 before each Friday every week.
It is essential that we follow the safety measures set out in the Parish website www.banff.rcda.scot or Facebook page. COVID has not gone away.
AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS Our church has been renewed as never before. A great deal has been done to transform the interior – new painting, lights and a sound system has been installed, through church funds and with the guidance from the Diocese.
We also had to hire scaffolding for the work to be carried out, which was charged for four weeks instead of the ten originally anticipated. I now set out the costs of the work which was agreed by the PPC, following quotes and best value for what we needed:
Church painting (walls and ceiling washing, cracks fixing and painting) £20800.00
Scaffold hire £10306.80
Lights (new chandeliers and wall lights and delivery from Poland, installation) £ 4195.88
New Sound System with Hearing Loop £ 3463.20
TOTAL: £38765.88
There was also additional work done: Painting church interior wooden panels and doors, exterior doors to the church and presbytery, railings, and gate on stairs to the church / renovation of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady sculptures / Washed and oiled high altar /sanctuary lights alteration for LED technology / Repairing of the stone above church door/ brass candle holders cleaning.
There was a further piece of work requiring the help of volunteers. I would like to say a big THANK YOU for those who helped clean the church after the above works were completed. They made a great effort to do it, and it is warmly appreciated by me and the PPC.
So, during last few months we had a lot of expenses and bills to be paid, but no income of course as the church was closed due to Covid-19 and we followed Government guidance and advice from the Bishops Conference of Scotland.
We now have to commence a major fundraising exercise to make up for lost income and to bring our accounts back to a healthy shape. One family in the parish has already kindly offered £300 towards Parish expenses – I am very grateful for that.
PLEASE CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH FUNDRAISING but do so in a way that is within your budget and will not cause harm to you or your family. You can do this in a number of ways, including the usual Sunday collection, by Standing Order and Gift Aid – please contact Parish Priest (Fr Piotr) for bank details and speak to Fiona about gift aid which will add 25% to what you donate. Or, you could donation in an envelope, anonymously or otherwise, put through the Presbytery letter box.
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel let us pray for our Parish and ourselves, that we can continue to meet together in the church without any limitations
