Parish Groups
Tuesday Coffee. After Mass on Tuesday mornings we meet for coffee and a chat.
World Development Group helps our four sponsored charities with their work at centres in developing countries, with regular meetings, fundraising events, quizes, and an annual Parish Dinner.
SVP (Saint Vincent de Paul Society) helps those in need locally.
Journey in Faith welcomes anyone interested in our faith on a weekday night (usually Monday or Tuesday - see bulletin).
Knit and Natter Group meets on Thursday afternoons. You don’t have to knit! Some knit, some sew, some just enjoy the fellowship.
The Ladies Guild (formerly a CWL group (Catholic Women’s League) provides companionship and helps both the church and the community. It meets monthly.
The Scripture Group explores the Scriptures on a Monday night
our Piety Shop (in the narthex) has very wide selection of helpful books, cards and prayers, statues, icons, holy pictures, rosaries, cribs, medals, calendars, and candles. It is usually open for half an hour after every Mass, .
There is a branch of the Knights of Saint Columba, and some parishioners are members of the Catenians.
We have teams of Readers, Welcomers, Ministers of Communion, and we haveChildren’s Liturgy and a Pre-Children's Liturgy (for very young children and parents) at the main Sunday Masses. We also have teams of Church Cleaners. All these teams do valuable work for the Church, and are a good way of fostering fellowship among parishioners .
Young people can be Altar Servers (and are enrolled in the Guild of St Stephen). Events, and weekend retreats, and trips, for young people are arranged at Alton Castle in Staffordshire, and at Stanbrook Abbey in Worcestershire, and at other venues in Wales.
We have a thriving parish magazine called "The Bell" published 3 times a year, produced by a team of parishioners. It is called "The Bell" after the bell from the original Pugin Chapel (now demolished) that hangs in the narthex above the front door of the Church. Contributions to "The Bell" are always welcome.
The parish is supported financially by a 50/50 Club for parishioners, that has monthly draws. We also have a Gift Aid Scheme, and many parishioners Gift Aid their weekly offering. In November, we hold a Parish Gift Day, when we have stalls, and refreshments in the School hall after all three of the Sunday Masses. This day is an opportunity for parishioners to socialise with each other after Mass, and to make a financial gift to the parish in the run up to Christmas. Help with these important regular fundraising activities is always welcome.
Parish Retreats and Pilgrimages are organised.
Traidcraft runs a monthly fairtrade stall at the back of church after the weekend Masses.
Churches Together is a group of all churches in our area and there are regular outings to a variety of interesting places.
Singers & Musicians are welcome to join the music groups for 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday Masses. Choirs and music groups are always a very good way to get to know people.
Catechists are always needed and welcome to assist handing on the faith and deepening understanding of it. They are especially welcome to help with the sacramental programmes for children in non-Catholic schools.
The School & the School PFA (Parents & Friends Association for the School). Our school plays an enormous and important role in the life of the parish (and vice-versa). Both the school staff and the PFA are very helpful to the parish, and help integrate the school and parish into a single community even though, sadly, many families cannot get their children into our school, because it is so very heavily oversubscribed. Parishioners are regularly invited to School Masses, assemblies, and other celebrations; and staff and PFA members help the parish with major celebrations. Parish children at non-Catholic schools are invited in our school for major celebrations in the sacramental programmes, and the school hosts information and advisory meetings for all parents of parish children (whether admitted to our school or not).
Please note some parish groups will require a Criminal Records Bureau check if there is work with children or vulnerable adults. Our Parish Protection Officer is Mr Gary O'Brien, who is always very helpful.
