The Parish Vision

Mission:

Through the power & guidance of the Holy Spirit we will be a Parish renewed in our knowledge & understanding of the love of Jesus Christ, to enable each of us to fulfill our Christian mission.

We will achieve this By:

1. Ensuring every parishioner has access to the Word of God and opportunity to
   learn, discuss & explore the Word of God together.
   
   
2. Providing a variety of forms & occasions of prayer & worship in addition to Sunday Mass.
   
   
3. Building a greater sense of community, of being a family of faith.
   
   
4. Welcoming all fully, warmly & openly into the Parish.
   
   
5. Developing a greater sense of mission & service to the community in God's

Each of the five themes is covered in more detail below.

By giving an appropriate personal copy of the Word of God to each Parishioner e.g. Bibles, bible “stories”. Make available other materials e.g. scripture commentaries, daily reflections, Catechism. Distribute via Mass and groups e.g. Parents and tots, Catechism/Sunday school, sacramental prep, Youth Action Group, RCIA, tea and talk Bible study etc. All drawn from a consistent source – “editorial”/scripture group to select e.g. which Bible?, which commentary? etc.

Discussion formats may include: Books, videos, audio, courses and programmes, events (in and outside parish), talks and seminars, discussion forums, “letters to the editor” etc. Also opportunities for formation e.g. Sacraments, Discipleship, Church teaching. Streams for ALL age groups e.g. children, youth and adult.

Related more substantial commentaries and materials for those who want to go deeper e.g. The Tablet, Good News, appropriate web sites. Should be free, therefore fund raising required.

Create Parish Library and training centre – reference, lending and book store – expanded repository? Use Parish Library as focal point for study groups and the like, ensure variety to aid inclusion.

Monthly “Word of God” newsletter with reflections, pick of the month, topical, contemporary to new events, study paper, etc. – given/sent to each individual – adult and child versions.

2. Providing a variety of forms and occasions of prayer and worship in addition to Sunday Mass.

By building up knowledge and understanding of power of prayer, provide opportunities for all to experience variety of prayer formats. Extend or set up various groups: Mother's/women's Prayers, Father's/men's Prayers, Youth/young adults prayer, Charismatic Prayer, Music and Liturgy, choir etc. House groups, personal prayer, group prayer, parish prayer. Meditative, contemplative, celebratory, chant/taize, Gospel rock/pop.
Run “How to pray” course. Make more use of varied prepared liturgy's and music. Explore the skills and experiences of Parishioners. Develop networks of prayer groups and music groups, Diocesan resources, interfaith examples.

By providing social and spiritual opportunities to get to know one another: face to face, personal, collective, open, varied. Support network – care, contact needs. Social events – dinners, tea, musical presentations, plays (nativity), Christmas fare, summer fete, youth days, children's activity days, parish outings – social and/or spiritual basis – seaside, shopping, holidays, retreats, pilgrimages, events e.g. “Celebrate” (family conference), “xPlosion” (youth gospel rock).

Encourage active participation in parish work. Make use of parishioner's skills and ability, willingness and interest. Likely requirement for focal objective to give parishioners added impetus to participate e.g. raising funds for …..

This is potentially the foundations for greater spiritual fervour to become alive – a low risk, informal point of contact. The social context is also the basis for many to remain a parishioner of any particular Parish/Church.

4. Welcoming all fully, warmly and openly into the Parish

By building on Roger and Michael (what about Ampthill?). Form welcoming teams of mixed ages, mixed gender, provide with additional information e.g. welcome pack and data card for new/visitors. Extend role (meet, greet, steward, invite, farewell etc.). Use as core contact group for distribution of info – leaflets etc. Explore best practice from other churches and businesses.

Should be present at all Sunday masses, weekday masses, and some form of contact with visitors to the church, kindergarten attendees, other non mass goers.

Need to create information pack, have “team” meeting, improve reception point – open up, make bigger, more welcoming – light, carpet, furniture, information point, etc. – combine with concept of library – increase available space and potential uses of reception area.

5. Developing a greater sense of mission and service to the community in God's name.

By making parish presence known in the community through distribution of Sacred Heart information – mail drop general, Christmas, Easter etc. Advertise broader events in papers, in school newsletters, in local news sheets etc., invite fellow Christians/all to open events e.g. prayer services. Provide parishioners with training in how to reach out in mission and service – tools for Christian living in secular society.

Form a support network for parishioners to access in times of need. Build/improve contacts with Churches Together, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, kindergarten, neighbours, and work colleagues. Adopt charities at home e.g. Emmaus and charities away e.g. Cafod. Participate and be visible in community events e.g. Flitwick Carnival, Ampthill Music Festival, Town Carol Service, Remembrance Sunday services. Set up and run community events – for entertainment, for charity, for fund raising.