Merseyside funeral directors donates to local Mass

Merseyside-based Frank Dooley and Son Funeral Directors has donated a hand sanitising unit to support the local community and encourage attendance as the Covid-19 lockdown eases.

Kieron Dooley, senior business principal at Frank Dooley and Son, designed the lightweight unit to be set up easily before and after Mass at St Austin’s Roman Catholic Church in St Helens.

The news comes as last month, The House of Bishops announced funerals will be allowed to take place from 15 June amid the Covid-19 pandemic

The House of Bishops announced in light of the easing of restrictions on individual private prayer in places of worship, the reduction in death rates linked to Covid-19 and the pastoral needs of those who have been bereaved.

Dooley said: “Our funeral teams have always had a close relationship with the local clergy and we wanted to ensure the safety and care of people visiting places of worship. 

“We hope the regular and continued use of the hand sanitiser station will provide a degree of reassurance. Safety is paramount to those of us involved in social and community welfare.”

Father Martin Kershaw, Parish Priest at St Austin’s, who displays the sanitiser outside St Austin’s before Mass, said: “The presence of the sanitiser inspires confidence and a feeling of being safe in our congregation. We’ve already had comments from people saying how easy it is to use.

“St Austin’s and Frank Dooley and Son work closely together to support our community. They’re a respected funeral home and are always willing to help.”