Towards a Vision (3)

St. Simon Stock – South Ashford – Summary of Meeting

Together in Hope - Thursday 29th March 2007

1. What are the resources (strengths and gifts) in our parish?
   Parish Priest.
   Congregation as a whole and their individual talents.
   Welcoming other ethnic groups.
   Parish Groups e.g. youth, choir, bible study, altar servers, cleaners etc.
   Catechesis.
   School.
   Hall.
   
2. How would we respond to a situation in which our parish, or a neighbouring parish, had no resident priest? What forms of collaboration and coordination would develop?
   Communion services.
   The Blessed Sacrament exposed.
   Prayers.
   Liturgy of the Word.
   Formation of Parish and Finance Committee to act as a focal point for the deanery, and to assist in determining the needs of the parish.
   Coordination of catechesis.
   
3. Are there any special areas of pastoral provision in this deanery that need to be taken into account for the future? (e.g. Hospitals? Schools? Prisons? Future housing developments?)
   Major and ongoing housing development in the Ashford area.
   New and growing centres of population in Ashford area may require a review of the appropriateness of the existing Ashford parish church locations and parish boundaries.
   Catholic secondary school for Ashford.
   Growth in population and its effect on hospitals and prisons in the deanery.
   Lay group set up to foster links between the parish and the parish school.
   
4. Are there any particular changes in pastoral provision that we can recommend to our deanery?
   Sharing of resources and organisations with other parishes.
   The office of Deacon to be promoted to encourage parishioners to come forward to offer their services.
   More priests from overseas.
   The dean to be more visible and to visit the parish.
   
5. Area for further development
   To clarify the role the laity has in a parish with no resident priest.
   To communicate the existing role of the dean and the deanery.

Towards a Vision (2)

We had our second meeting yesterday on the topic Reaching out in Mission. I was very impressed, not to say excited, by the wealth of ideas and enthusiasm with which the topic was discussed. What is emerging is that this consultation process, whilst being a diocesan process, is having its effect at parish level, and so there was a warm welcome to the suggestion by one member that there should be a further meeting or even more than one, to take some of the ideas forward, so that they don't simply end up being part of a report on the Archbishop's desk.

Even if you haven't attended either of the previous meetings, I encourage you to come along to the third meeting next Thursday at 7.30pm at which we shall be considering the topic Facing the Future.

My thanks to John Barton for facilitating at the meeting and for managing to get the following summary on to one side of A4.

St. Simon Stock – South Ashford – Summary of Meetings

Reaching out in Mission - Moving beyond ourselves
Thursday 22nd March 2007

1. How do we reach out beyond the boundaries of our own parish community to believers and non-believers?
· Advertising – re Church and Mass and service times in press and leaflets in hotels, estate agents and homes.
· Local press - letters re Catholic point of view and articles on our activities.
· Parish Mission – knock on doors.
· Team of welcomers.
· Through existing and new parish organisations.
· Being friendly – to all, including our neighbours.
· Encouraging – schoolchildren and the young.

2. How do we bring the Good News to those without faith? How do we reach out in dialogue and collaboration to other Christians and to members of other religions?
· Via Churches Together and World Day of Prayer.
· Local Radio – slot for Parish Priest.
· Ecumenical services – and invite non Catholics to attend Mass and other services.
· Mothers Prayers.
· Our example – enthusiastically radiating our faith.
· School non-Catholic mothers – treating them with respect.

3. How could we enable our parish to become a more welcoming home?
· Parish party – and other welcoming gatherings for new parishioners every 6 months.
· Visiting – new parishioners and those in need.
· Befriend – older members of the community.
· Offer lifts – to people to come to Mass.
· Be more friendly.

4. Aware of the joys and sufferings both within our parish community and beyond it, how do we connect with those in greatest need?
· Closer contact – with charities e.g. Age Concern – to focus on groups in need.
· With young mothers etc - provide support.
· To youth.
· Lapsed Catholics – to return to their faith.
· Group of listeners – for those in need.
· Adopt a parish e.g. South India.

5. Areas for further development
· Further parish meetings after these three, to take matters further at parish level.
· Who are those in greatest need and how do we gain access to them?

Towards a Vision...

We had our first meeting on Thursday this week on Growing in Communion. Here are the conclusions. Thanks to John Barton for facilitating and to all who attended. Next meeting this coming Thursday on: Reaching out in Mission, 7.30 pm in the church hall. If you'd like to add a comment, please do. In the interests of openness and in deference to those who turned up to the meeting and made their comments openly, no anonymous comments will be accepted.

Towards a Vision for our Diocese

St. Simon Stock – South Ashford – Summary of Meetings

Building Up the Life of the Church - Thursday 15th March 2007

1. What and how do we celebrate really well in our Parish?
   Preparation for the Sacraments.
   Mass – said reverently and frequently.
   Eucharistic devotion.
   Ethnic Masses.
   Introduction of traditional liturgical customs.
   Occasional and appropriate use of Gregorian chant.
   Occasions.
   Whit Sunday International Mass.
   Reading, serving, flowers and singing.
   Activities in evenings e.g. Bible Study, youth club.
   
2. What needs to be developed in the community at this time?
   Noise level in Church before Mass.
   Organ too loud – sound system too quiet.
   Welcomers needed to encourage ethnic communities
   Some hymns not known.
   Attracting young people to Church.
   Reaching out to lapsed Catholics, housebound, elderly, those struggling with English and those with special needs e.g transport.
   More volunteers for Extraordinary Minister.
   Establishment of UCM.
   Communications to ensure that all are aware of all parish activities.
   Mass times to be advertised e.g Stringer and local radio station.
   
3. How could we exchange our gifts with neighbouring parishes in our deanery?
   Exchange of views with catechists.
   More communications with St Teresa’s, including ideas and social.
   Faith Group to join up with other similar groups.
   Inviting other parishes to our special occasions.
   Maximise the benefit of our hall.
   
4. What resources do we need to move our parish and deanery forward?
   Greater parishioner involvement especially including ethnic communities and newer parishioners.
   More income (through having more parishioners).
   More representatives from the younger generation.
   Ethnic minorities from whom we can learn.
   More catechists and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion and those willing to form groups eg. Mother and Toddler.
   
   Areas for further development
   · Where do our exact parish boundaries lie?
   · Why do parishioners go to St. Teresa’s?
   · Should we share more with St. Teresa’s?