MANY people over the Christmas period would normally be planning to attend church services.

However, as often the case in 2020, things have been made a bit more difficult this Christmas.

Many services are still taking place in the churches which are open in the town, with Covid restrictions and limited capacities in place.

Services have been 'ticketed' in advance to manage numbers with many sold out.

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Father Martin Kershaw, Dean of St Helens told the Star that the usual list of Catholic services in the area has not been published due to COVID-19 and uncertainty over which churches will be open.

However, many services will still be available digitally, with churches hosting live streams, or recordings for people at home.

Fr Kershaw, parish priest for St Austin's and St Teresa's, will be celebrating midnight Mass tonight via Zoom.  

The service will also be a British Sign Language 'signed' Mass.

The parishes can be contacted for information on staustins.sthelens@rcaolp.co.uk and stterresaofavila@rcaol.org.uk.

Also among the services to be 'broadcast' live are at St Julie's Catholic Church in Eccleston.

A 'sold out' service at 7pm on Christmas Eve will be streamed on the St Julie's and Blessed English Martyrs Facebook page.

Father Philip Carr, parish priest at St Julie's said: "Mass will be live-streamed via Facebook from Saint Julie's on Christmas Eve and later posted to YouTube.

"Be assured those who are unable to attend in person will be foremost in our thoughts and prayers during this Advent and Christmas season.

"God bless."

Meanwhile, St Helens Parish Church (Church of England) is to host services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The 10am Christmas morning celebration will be broadcast later online.

See sthelensparishchurch.org