“We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are in the one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.”

Romans 12:4-8

Our Lady and St Edward's has a new parish team to assist Fr David with parish organisation and maintenance 

The overall function of the team is to assist Fr David and any other visiting priest in the Church Liturgy and in the maintenance and management of the parish.

Roles and Responsibilities

Pastoral Planning

The team will:

-help the parish priest develop and implement pastoral plans that address the spiritual needs of the community.
-advocate for the life of the parish and support the work of existing groups and ministries within the parish.
-foster unity and a sense of community within the parish by listening to the needs and concerns of parishioners and involving them in parish life.

Discernment and Catechesis

The Team will:

-engage in prayerful discernment and contribute to the decision-making process regarding pastoral initiatives and programmes.
-actively promote the spiritual life of the parish including through leading and supporting opportunities for worship.

Membership and Structure

The Team members are appointed by the parish priest (or elected) and should be individuals who are capable of reflection, discernment, visioning, reaching consensus and pastoral planning.

They will serve for 2 years with the possibility of reselection.

This Team will meet three times a year January, after Easter and October or as required.

The Team will work with the parish priest, and the parish priest is ultimately responsible for implementing any decisions made.

The Team will be led by a team coordinator, supported by central team members dealing with the liturgy, buildings and grounds maintenance, safeguarding and finance.

Team Coordinator: Stephen Burke

Members from Liturgy Team: Matthew, Marie, Mary, Richard,

Members from Maintenance Team: Julia, Charles, Mike, Caroline, Kurt

1 Safeguarding member: Bridie (Paula)

1 Finance Member: Maureen (John)

Parish Teams

All of these groups must positively promote and catalyse communication between the parish priest and the parishioners, including through the Central Team, so that parishioners are provided with meaningful opportunities to contribute to, and benefit from, being members of the parish.

Members of these teams are expected to be leaders within the parish, participating in ongoing formation to suitably equip them for their roles.

Liturgy Team – to work alongside Fr David

Coordinators

Ministers of the Word – Julia

To organise and maintain a team of Readers. Readers Rota. Encouraging training and formation.

Stewards and Welcomers – Michael

To organise and maintain a team of stewards. Stewards Rota.

Eucharistic Ministers – Julia

To organise and maintain a team Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Rota. Encourage Training and – formation

Music Ministry – Steve & Bernard Organist Matthew

To provide appropriate music to enrich regular Sunday Mass and other major festivals. To encourage parish participation in liturgical celebrations. Maintain and organise a parish music group.

Children’s Liturgy – to include Altar Servers – Mary

To organise and maintain a team to provide Children’s Liturgy during Mass. To arrange the preparation of our children for the Sacraments. To prepare and organise Altar Servers.

Sacristans – Julia, Bernard, Marie & Richard

To assist Fr David with preparations for the Altar and Mass.

Preparation for the Sacraments – Marie

To coordinate preparation for the sacraments

Refreshments after Mass- Ethna

Maintenance Team – to work alongside Fr David

Coordinators

Finance- Maureen with John Julia and Caroline.

To maintain good parish finance records. Collections (Including gift aid), special collections, banking etc. Annual Finance Report for the Diocese.

Maintenance – Julia, Michael (H&S)

Organise and maintain a team to ensure the fabric of the buildings and grounds are in a safe and good order. Develop a culture of Health and Safety. Engage in a strategy to develop the estate taking into account energy efficient and climate concerns. Liaise with the Diocesan Buildings Manager and other appropriate bodies.

Church Cleaning – Anita

Organise and maintain a team to clean the church regularly (monthly). To ensure the Church is clean and presentable for all services. Develop a culture of Health and Safety, care for the environment and energy efficiency.

Church Flowers – Caroline

To organise a team to purchase and arrange church flowers.

Safeguarding Lead – Bridie, assisted by Paula

Work with Fr David to foster a culture of safeguarding within the parish. Liaise with the Diocese Safeguarding Team to ensure all guidelines being followed. Relevant DBS checks done and updated. To undergo regular training as required by the Diocese.

Parish Communications

Together with Fr David to communicate to the parish.

Through the weekly newsletter, Mass times, weddings, funerals, parish groups etc.-

Ensure website is current and relevant- Lorraine.

Liaise with Church TV to ensure details are accurate and current-Michael.

IT support for Fr David-Michael, Kurt and Mark

Ensure details published in the local press are UpToDate -Michael

Outreach Lead –

Seek to enable the parish to play an active role in the catholic and wider community. The team includes

CWL -Lillian & Eileen Missio – Paula Cafod – Ethna & Danny Churches Together- Caroline

Catenians – Charles & Richard

Parish Social Events –

To organise a team to arrange and promote parish events. Both to build a sense of community and fundraise for the Parish and related charities.

Going forward we will need an administrative/secretarial team to assist Fr David as required.

Your Parish Needs You

Get involved. If you can help with any of the above or have any good ideas.