St. John’s Update – 6th Oct 2016

Post date: Oct 30, 2016 6:7:43 PM

… FTiH - IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ …

Today, after 9:30 Mass we will discuss our current status, initial partnerships progress and parishioner feedback. Jerry Laidler will also provide an update during the homily. At the back of church there are ‘possible proposals & partnerships’ – please indicate on these your preference?

Vicariate Meeting – Parishioner Group Discussion:

During the vicariate meeting all parishes were grouped together – St. John’s broke in to two groups and the combined capture output is below.

Where are we in the process?

We are quite well on in the process. Already consulted with parishioners. Have outreached to other [Catholic] parishes but also with St. Nicholas (Cramlington) and St. Paul’s (Dudley). We have not yet had congregational discussions but the FTiH delegates have spoken [initially and out reached to other churches]. We haven’t considered any documents, and so must arrange further meetings to discuss. We are sharing observations (Diocesan feedback) and we are speaking to potential partners and looking to North Tyneside parishes to share [resources] in addition to [sharing with] Northumberland deanery parishes. Lay people already involved in assisting in running the parish and working as a team.

We will be ready to meet the 27^th November deadline.

What do we need to do next?

Congregations need to meet. Draw attention to above and encourage to meetings. Been initial contact with other parishes. Outreach to care homes. Further contact with other parishes.

Who do we need to speak to and are they here?

The other partnership parishes. Are they here? Some of them. Speak to Frs. Lee, Quinn & Stott and we have been approached by Sacred Heart (North Gosforth). Some parishioners live outside of Northumberland. Data [is] on website.

Questions for FTiH?

How can we make we make working in partnership easier? Funding? Shared resources?

Would we be given training from Amy [of the FTiH team] to instruct us in strengths and weaknesses [going] forward. Eucharistic services on Sunday? Better use of bus to transfer people to church elsewhere? Rotate Sunday Mass with partnership churches?

Possible Proposals & Partnership

The table below outlines the current possible proposals & partnerships – all are in draft form.

The FTiH process asks us to think imaginatively and to try to create partnerships of about 6/7 parishes.

Priests & Deacons proposal

St. Wilfrid’s (Blyth), St. Cuthbert’s (Cowpen), St. Joseph’s (New Hartley), St. Paul’s (Cramlington) & St. John’s (Annitsford).

Proposed with a view to having ‘main church centres’ with Blyth being the main centre for us. The proposal is based on allowing 4 (four) priests and (3) deacons to manage all of Northumberland.

Initial meeting with other catholic parishes

Holy Name (Jesmond), St. Charles (Gosforth), Sacred Heart (North Gosforth), St. Aidan (Benton), St. John the Baptist (Annitsford) & St. Paul (Cramlington)

This would see us looking south in to our diocese.

St. John’s has always been a ‘missionary parish’ serving parishioners beyond Northumberland, so looking beyond our deanery has merits. Some of the parishes above have a lot in common with what we try to do.

Note: St. Bedes (Bedlington) do not want to partner with us at this time as they feel Morpeth is the more logical partnership.

#GodBless+ Fr. Richard B. Harriott