St Mary's Parish Community
In recent history much work has been carried out at St Mary's to improve the church and presbytery,
to make them more comfortable and relevant to the needs of today's parishioners. Much energy
and money has been spent on church repairs and renewals and the presbytery has been modified to
provide meeting rooms as well as a kitchen and parish office.
Whilst our history is important, the community is a living body, a pilgrim church and is very much
more than the building we worship in. Our Parish community has a range of groups covering the
whole spectrum of Christian life. Being a living community there is a constantly changing emphasis and
activity within the groups.
Those offering social care, such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Knights of St. Columba,
and those building community such as the Belles of St. Mary's.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Part of a worldwide organisation, the parish group is dedicated to the personal service of the needy.
Their work is undertaken in strictest confidence, offering practical help, companionship, visiting
hospital patients, the elderly and deprived families.
Knights of St. Columba.
A body of practising Catholic men, who are dedicated to supporting their bishops and priests
in their work in the Church. The Order is based on the precepts of charity, unity and fraternity.
Through their affiliation with bodies of Knights throughout the world, they are able to give support to
many calls for help in all manner of ways.
Belles of St Mary's
Aims to unite the women of the parish in a bond of common fellowship under the guidance of the
parish priest in fellowship and charity work within the parish.
The Justice and Peace Group.
Aims to build on the Church's social teaching, promoting awareness of aspects of justice and thus
peace, both within our own community and wider afield. Projects have included the greetings card
campaign during Advent, Holocaust Memorial Day and Racial Justice Sunday.
There are several prayer and study groups, helping us on our spiritual journey.
Julian Prayer Group.
Building on the example of Julian of Norwich.
"He has made His home and eternal dwelling within us" - Julian of Norwich.
Padre Pio Group
Padre Pio never tired of stating the importance of prayer in the lives of Christians and under his
direction many prayer groups were set up worldwide. The format is very simple, with a Scripture
reading, some words of encouragement from the writings of St Pio and prayer. St Pio had great
devotion to Our Lady and knew the power of prayer in praying the Rosary. Our Rosary is offered by
the group for the sick and vulnerable in our parish, for world issues as they arise and remembering
the prayer requests deposited in the Sacred Heart Chapel, respecting the confidentiality of those
named.
Bible Study
Meeting as a group, once or twice a month, to explore the Scriptures,listening to what they have to
say and trying to determine their relevance in our lives today.
Children's Liturgy
A group of volunteers helping our young people to understand and develop their Christian Faith.
Most Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses during the Liturgy of the Word the children
are given the opportunity to hear the Gospel at their level.
Youth Group
Our group of young people meets regularly after the 6pm Mass on Saturdays, enabling them
to meet socially. We organise trips out and link up with other groups. In addition to social
activities the group provides opportunities for our young people to explore their Faith
and become involved in charitable activities.
Uniformed Groups
And last, but no means least there are the Uniformed Groups, made up of young people
having the opportunity to join Brownies, Guides or Scouts, to learn about giving and caring.
The above is not an exhaustive list, but a sample of the activity within our parish. As already
mentioned new groups are constantly forming, while others are resting - such is life!
