PARISH GROUPS

Heerey Hall

We see our Parish Centre, Heerey Hall, as part of our ministry of welcome. Having a suitable and welcoming place for people to gather for social activities is very important for us. 

To view the diary of hall bookings please see attached or for a list of our current hall charges please click here.  For more information about the hall and how to make a booking please contact Frances Jarman on 01903 695211.  

Y18B (Youth 1nspired 8y Belief)

Feel comfortable talking about your faith with people your own age in a relaxed environment. A new group has been started for 18-25 year olds.  For more information see Y18B facebook page or email the team  via the contact us section.

3FC (Faith, Fun and Friendship) Youth Group 

St Michaels Youth Group is open to everyone from Year 6 right through to Year 9. It's a great way to get together with your mates, have fun & meet new friends. The club has lots of cool games and equipment to keep you busy as well as giving you the chance to take part in the planned activities for each session. You can read for yourself the sort of activities we will be getting up to and you can look us up on our web site www.3fc.org.uk.

You can download a registration form for your parent or guardian to sign, or you can collect one from the entrance hall at church. Then just bring it along to your first session and join the fun. The normal cost of a session is £1 but some activities, like cinema trips, bowling and swimming, may cost extra.

Alpha Course

 For more details of the Alpha Course see www.ukalpha.org, contact Mary Gilbert on 506599 or talk to Fr Chris or Deacon Mark (W877801/email mark.woods@dabnet.org).

Our very warmest congratulations to Joanna, Callum, Jo, Vicky and Judit who were received into the Catholic church at St Michael's last Easter. Here you can see a photo of Callum preparing for his baptism by full immersion at the Easter Vigil.

Bidding Prayers' Preparers

We are so grateful to those who prepare petitions for us but we are always in need of new blood.  You do not need to be a Booker prize contender!  We need simplicity, love and Faith.  These are our prayers, our opportunity to bring our petitions and thanks to our Lord.  Pease think about offering -  if only on a trial basis.  Lots of help and guidance is available.  Please make contact with Fr Chris, Deacon Mark or me - Margaret Bamford 873737

CAFOD

In 2009 the parish raised £1,987.06 to support the work of CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) in Africa. This is in addition to money raised at the 2 Fast Days and Emergency appeals. Every little amount makes a huge difference and with parishes all over England and Wales over £1 million has been raised for Africa. From training midwives to educating people about their human rights, CAFOD helps provide the skills that can make the difference between life and death. Let us hope that with your help parishes in England and Wales can raise over £2 million by the end of next year.

The parish also signed over 150 climate change cards asking the government to support action for change at the Copenhagen ‘Climate Change Conference’ As well 3 members of the parish attended ‘The Wave’ Climate Change March on 5^th December in London just before the start of the Conference. In January we raised nearly £1,000 to support the emergency in Haiti.

We are planning the usual area of events (please see attached) from Lent Soup lunches, a Curry Night, a Coffee Morning and Lent Mass and Soup Kitchen.  For more information please contact Jane Woods on 01903 877801.     

We are also promoting 'World Gifts' (http://www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts). Each gift supports a Fund which belongs to a particular area of our work, with the promise that the money raised will be spent on relevant projects within that area. This gives us the flexibility to respond in ways that best meet the particular needs of many different communities. 

Children's Liturgy

All children are welcome to our Children's Liturgy every Sunday during the 10:30 am Mass. During our sessions we sing, draw, pray and learn about the Gospel theme for each week. The sessions are particularly suitable for children between the ages of four and eight but older children are welcome to continue attending. If you would like more information about the Children's Liturgy or would like to get involved please contact Anita Dyer via the Parish Office.

A big thank you to everyone who donated their calendars. We now have an extensive gallery of great pictures to use with the children. Our group has gone from strength to strength and often we have over 30 children in the children’s liturgy group. We are looking at trialling on the last Sunday in the month two groups; one for school age children, taking place in the day chapel and one for pre-school children in the hall. For this to be feasible we really need more helpers. Both Karen and I are volunteer mums, we would gladly explain the role and share our experiences. Please contact Karen or Anita Dyer via the Parish Office.

Church Cleaning 

Each Tuesday morning a willing band meets to help to clean the Church. They are a wonderful group of people who are always pleased to welcome new helpers. If you are able to help please contact Pat Thornton via the Parish Office.

Exposition, Evening Prayer and Benediction

Once a month on a Sunday we hold an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament from 4-5pm, including praying Evening Prayer of the Church from 4.35pm.   Please do join us for all or part of the hour.  Attached you will find the dates for Exposition and Benediction during 2010.

Friendship Club  

Meetings are every Wednesday between 2 and 4 pm in our Parish Centre, Heerey Hall, and new members of any faith or none are always welcome. A small weekly subscription is used for the benefit of the members to subsidise various activities. The club members have enjoyed wonderful away days by coach, talks by guest speakers, theatre visits and visits to St Cuthman's, our beautiful diocesan retreat house and gardens. For more information please contact Joyce Hopkins on 01903 260515.

Justice and Peace Group

To help create a more just world at home and abroad contact Mary Wilson via the Parish Office.

Knights of St Columba

A Catholic men's organisation working on behalf of others in the diocese and local area and for the support of each other. For more information contact Pat Hudson via the Parish Office.

Lent Small Groups

The church gives us the 6 weeks of lent as time of preparation for Easter. To this end the diocese centre, DABCEC, has prepared a pamphlet to aid a series of reflection and prayer to be used in small groups. Many will know that small groups are parishioners getting together in our homes typically from 4 - 7 people to read scripture, meditate, share and pray together. These are great opportunities to get to know each other and to share our faith. Each session should take about 90 minutes and would be usually followed by tea / coffee. If you would like to join us or would like more information please contact Len Argent on W 872894.

Music/Choir

St Michaels has both a monthly Choir and a Folk Choir and is always pleased to welcome new members. For the Monthly Choir please contact Christine Bond via the Parish Office.   

If you would like to join the Folk Choir, either as a singer or an instrumentalist, then please contact Sharon Liley via the Parish Office.

Rosary Prayer Group

The Rosary Prayer Group meets each Wednesday morning after the 9:30 am Mass as we pray with Mary and ask her to pray for our Parish community and for our Parish Mission.

Sense of Prayer

Prayer evenings are held on a Wednesday at St Michael's about every 2 months. Our evenings are intended for those with or without learning difficulties and consist of an acitivity related to the theme of the evening, a period of prayer and reflection, followed by tea and cakes. We have many lovely people who support the group and always welcome offers of help. For more information please contact Len Argent on 01903 872894.

Traidcraft

Our Traidcraft stall is available on the last weekend of every month - the 2010 monthly sales dates are attached. For more information please contact Jane Woods on 01903 877801.