Worshipping, growing and serving together
St Mary’s, St John Bosco and St Edward’s are three church communities forming one Catholic parish family.
Parish life begins with Jesus Christ.
Before activities, groups or volunteering comes the ordinary life of a Catholic: Sunday Mass, prayer, the sacraments, growth in faith and charity towards others.
You do not need to join a group or take on a role in order to belong.
Simply coming faithfully to Mass, getting to know people and allowing yourself to become part of the community is already an important beginning.
VIEW MASS, CONFESSION AND ADORATION TIMES
Come and belong
If you are new to the parish, have recently returned to the Church or simply do not know many people yet, there is no need to rush into volunteering.
Come to Mass.
Stay for a conversation afterwards when you can.
Join a parish evening or social event.
Allow people to get to know you, and take time to get to know the parish.
Parish life grows through ordinary relationships as much as through organised activities.
Prayer, formation and fellowship
There are opportunities throughout the year to pray, learn and spend time together.
Thursday evenings at St Mary’s
Thursday evenings at St Mary’s provide a regular opportunity for the whole parish to gather for prayer, worship, Catholic formation and fellowship.
Different evenings may include:
- Adoration and Benediction
- the Rosary and traditional devotions
- Scripture and lectio divina
- Catholic teaching and apologetics
- questions and discussion
- saints, Church history, sacred art and liturgy
- practical help with prayer
- vocations and family life
- seasonal celebrations
- social evenings and refreshments
You do not need to be preparing for a sacrament or attending a course.
Come when you can.
You can also explore Catholic formation at any time through our Grow in Faith resources.
Serving at Mass and in our churches
The celebration of Mass depends upon many quiet acts of service.
Depending upon the needs of each church, there may be opportunities to help with such things as:
- reading at Mass
- altar serving
- music
- welcoming people
- preparing the church for worship
- practical help before or after celebrations
- refreshments and hospitality
- flowers and seasonal preparation
- helping to keep our churches and halls cared for
Some ministries require particular formation or arrangements before somebody begins.
If you are interested, do not worry about deciding for yourself which role would suit you. Speak to Fr John or make yourself known after Mass.
Choir and Music
Music has an important place in the Church’s worship, helping the whole congregation to pray and take part in the Mass.
If you enjoy singing, or can play an instrument appropriately for the liturgy, there may be opportunities to help with music in one of our three churches.
You do not need to be a professional musician. What matters is a willingness to serve the prayer of the Church, work with others and help the congregation participate well.
If you are interested in joining the choir or helping with parish music, speak to Fr John or one of the musicians after Mass.
Children and families
Children are an important part of parish life.
Our Children’s Liturgy resources help children encounter the Sunday Gospel and grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith.
There may also be opportunities for suitable adults to help with children and family activities.
Because work with children and young people carries particular responsibilities, safeguarding requirements must always be completed before beginning any role where they apply.
Accompanying others in faith
Some practising Catholics may be invited to serve as parish mentors.
A mentor accompanies one person or family at a time as they prepare for a sacrament or take another step in Catholic life.
The role is not to invent lessons or become an expert teacher.
It is to:
Welcome — help someone find their place in the Church.
Walk — accompany them patiently through the parish pathway.
Witness — show through ordinary Catholic life what it means to follow Christ.
Mentors are appointed by the parish and receive induction and appropriate safeguarding preparation before beginning.
LEARN ABOUT PARISH MENTORS — WELCOME, WALK AND WITNESS
Caring for others
Christian charity belongs at the heart of parish life.
There are many ways in which parishioners quietly care for one another: noticing somebody who is alone, praying for those who are ill, supporting somebody who is grieving, helping a neighbour or simply making sure that somebody who has disappeared from parish life is not forgotten.
Some forms of pastoral visiting or organised support require parish arrangements and safeguarding procedures.
If you know somebody who is sick, housebound or in need of pastoral support, please let the parish know.
Social and community life
Not everything needs to be a meeting.
Parish meals, refreshments after Mass, patronal celebrations, fairs, family events and other gatherings give us opportunities simply to spend time together.
These occasions matter.
A parish should not be a building in which strangers attend the same Mass and then disappear.
Friendship, conversation and shared life help three church communities become one parish family.
Current celebrations and parish events are advertised through the newsletter and website.
Practical help
Some of the most valuable parish service is almost invisible.
There are times when help is needed with things such as:
- setting up or clearing away
- preparing a hall
- serving refreshments
- helping at parish celebrations
- practical maintenance
- gardening or tidying
- transporting or moving items
- occasional administrative or organisational help
You do not have to commit yourself to something every week in order to help.
Some people can offer a regular ministry.
Others can help occasionally.
Others may be able to offer one particular skill when it is needed.
All of these can be valuable.
Safeguarding and volunteering
We want parish life to be safe for children, young people, adults at risk and those who volunteer.
Depending upon the role, volunteers may be required to complete appropriate safeguarding procedures before beginning. These can include training, references, safer recruitment arrangements or a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
This is a normal part of caring properly for one another.
Supporting the parish financially
The ordinary life and mission of our three churches also depend upon the generosity of parishioners.
Regular giving helps support worship, buildings, parish activities, formation and the continuing mission of the Church in our communities.
If you would like information about giving to the parish:
You do not have to do everything
Catholic life is not measured by how many parish jobs somebody has.
Different seasons of life allow different things.
A parent caring for young children, somebody working difficult shifts, an elderly parishioner, a carer or somebody living with illness may not be able to volunteer regularly.
That does not make their place in the parish less important.
Prayer, faithful participation at Mass, family responsibilities, hidden acts of charity and offering difficulties to God are all part of the life of the Church.
The aim is not to keep everybody busy.
It is to help each of us live faithfully as a member of the Body of Christ.
Would you like to help?
You do not need to know which role is right for you.
If there is something you would like to offer, or if you simply want to ask where help is currently needed, speak to Fr John after Mass or get in touch.
Fr John Owens
john.owens@dioceseofnottingham.uk
Parish Office
07354 832195
cathparishmje@dioceseofnottingham.uk
“As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
1 Peter 4:10
St Mary’s • St John Bosco • St Edward’s
Worship God • Grow in faith • Serve one another
