NEW START WITH JESUS

Suggestions which have been taken up: [February 2001]

Quite a number of the initiatives suggested at the Parish Meeting (see below) have been acted upon. Some were already in operation, though not regularly.

1. Family Bidding Prayers
Two families have come forward to organise the Bidding Prayers at 10.30 Mass on Sundays in Lent.

2. Parish Library
There is now a growing collection of religious books will take place soon. They are available for borrowing by members of the parish.

How YOU can help

There were about 50 people present at the last Parish Meeting, with a good proportion of under 18s which was encouraging. The meeting considered the themes of the "Mission Statement" put together after the Diocesan Assembly in the first week of September.

"We are a parish that prays, that welcomes, that cares"

The meeting looked at 46 replies to the questionnaire which enlarged on this theme. A five-page report had been put together with a two-page summary which formed the agenda for the meeting. Those present asked that thanks be given to Tess who had done such a good job in collating the replies and writing the report.

Only the first two sections, on Praying and on Welcoming, were considered. The suggestions fell into different categories:

There were also some ideas were not very practical, like a regular early morning Mass in Lent for working people. We have only one priest and it has been tried before - with a congregation never larger than 3. There are such Masses elsewhere locally and a notice advertising these has been placed in the church porch.

Thought for the week beginning October 15th

Many amongst our people
have left our Church sad
because they have failed God and themselves
.How can we help them, and ourselves,
hear that only with God is anything possible?

Report from the first weekend in September 2000

This was a unique weekend for the diocese. The normal parish Sunday Masses were cancelled. Bishop Brewer had asked that there be just one great Mass in each parish.

The Assembly entitled "Meeting the Challenges of a Church in Transition." which was held at St Martin's College, Lancaster on the first weekend in September, was attended by 350 laity and clergy, from all over the diocese. This was to be the high point of the Diocesan Millenium, or rather, Jubilee programme. New Start with Jesus, which Bishop Brewer had proposed last year.

The group from Our Lady & St Edward's

Mark, Tom, Marie, Sam & Fr.Bernard

Fr. Peter Draper, co-ordinator of the New Start, suggested that going back to Jesus Christ and the Scriptures would give a true perspective to efforts towards renewal. Lengthy reports of what was said, personal impressions and serious articles with hopes and suggestions for action fill the pages of this month's Lancaster Diocesan Catholic Voice. There are several projects being discussed and developed in Our Lady's parish as a result of activities like this Assembly but they can be summed up in the statement issued by a follow-up parish meeting on September 24th, "We pray, we welcome, we care."

During the month of October the Sunday Bible Study session is usually suspended and replaced by four weeks of talks by visiting speakers. Last year instead everyone was invited - and especially members of the covenanted churches - to come for a series of discussions about the Bible. What is it? What does it mean for us today? Parish Bible study sessions have always ended with the question, "What can we do about it now, in our own lives and in our parish?"

The first discussion on Sunday October 1st was concerned with the very first 'books' of the Old Testament - preserving more ancient oral traditions - about the beginning of everything and how God is the Creator. The following week the theme was taken from the Old Testament again and was followed in succeeding weeks by a passage from a Gospel. These meetings were well attended.

The Jubilee Mass at St Walburge's was part of the New Start programme. People from all the Catholic parishes in Preston attended a Celebration Mass for the Year of Jubilee.

The suggestion of family bidding prayers has been taken up and by the middle of March 2001 two families, with parents and children taking part, had led these during the main Mass at 10.30 a.m. on consecutive Sundays.