A FRESH START:

The schools return this coming week and I sense that this is an opportune moment for us to come together and re-energise one another, and thereby ensure that our parishes continue to flourish at every level.

In the coming weeks I hope that as many of you as possible will reflect on how you may be able to help and will volunteer to plug the gaps that have been left in the wake of the pandemic. Areas which immediately spring to mind are:

Children’s Catechesis

Especially the First Communion Programmes: we will probably introduce a wholly new programme in both parishes.

The Journey in Faith:

Finding imaginative ways of welcoming those who may be interested in joining our communities… maybe looking at the ALPHA course.

Ministers of Holy Communion:

Ensuring that all those who are housebound are regularly looked after.

Our Liturgies:

Reflecting on how to ensure that we have a variety of liturgies which help people of all ages to experience the wonder of God’s presence: the music ministry needs thinking and talking through! And, of course, we will be training up our altar servers to resume their ministry.

Shrines

Making our Shrines more widely known and available.

Supporting our young people:

Developing the Justice and Peace Group.

Supporting the Administration:

We are blessed with highly efficient administrators in both parishes, but we need the additional support of those of you who help with the finances and so many other practical issues (including cover at the front door of Bishop Eton).

Revitalising our parish councils: 

The value of overseeing all these areas and more is the task of our parish teams and I hope we can begin to gather again to achieve all our aims and if you have any bright ideas on the above or anything else, please do not hesitate to bring them forward.