Bookshop and Repository
The Church Shop provides a wide range of rosaries, bibles, missals, prayer books and statues – in short, everything that parishioners, young and old, need to help them in their devotional and spiritual life.
There are many items that make good gifts for Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Easter and Christmas. The proceeds from the shop go towards Parish funds.
Every Sunday 9.30 am – 1 pm
Catechetics
Purpose: To share faith with both young and old in order to nurture and develop an already existing Christian Faith. To share an understanding of faith and help believers along their journey of faith.
Who is eligible to become a catechist? Men and women from the age of 14 who practice their faith. ‘Training’/Reflection – help and guidance given. For those who wish to extend their training, attendance at courses can be arranged, e.g. Courses offered by Diocesan Catechetical Advisors and certificate courses in religious studies/catechetics. A retreat once a year when possible.
Qualities required:
- A willingness to share one”s faith as expressed in the Catholic tradition;
- an ability to communicate with either children or adults in groups of 6 or 8. (Theology degrees not a requirement!)
- To give some time to prayer.
Current opportunities:
- Children’s Liturgy: Sundays during the 10.00am Mass.
- R.E. for children who do not attend Catholic Schools – fortnightly sessions.
- Baptism preparation for parents and godparents of infants (under5’s): a series of 2 sessions, either Monday evenings or Saturday afternoons at various times of the year.
- First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation – approximately October to May (about 15 sessions in total).
- Confirmation preparation – fortnightly, Sunday or Thursday evenings (about 12 sessions in total).
- Marriage Preparation – a series of 3 evenings at various times of the year.
- RCIA/CIC – The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults – June to July, then September/October to Pentecost – Wednesday evenings weekly.
- [CIC Christian Initiation of Children (aged 6 and upwards)] September / October.
Future Opportunities:
- Special Needs – to offer catechetical sessions for children/adults with special educational needs.
- Ongoing opportunities to explore Faith matters
- Passing on Faith in the Family
- Adult Confirmation
Numbers required: Each year, approximately 50 catechists are needed for catechetical work to run smoothly and not be too burdensome, particularly with regard to working with our young people.
Helpers/Support Team: There are many ancillary tasks associated with catechetics e.g. setting up rooms, administration, celebration booklets, providing creche facilities during meetings, artwork, setting up the church for celebrations, among others.
All offers of help and enquiries to the Director of Catechetics: Clare (through Parish Office)
Child Protection Policy & Coordinator
Child Protection Policy:
It is the policy of this parish to protect children and young vulnerable adults from physical, emotional or sexual abuse and to provide a safe environment for them. This commitment flows from our common belief in the dignity and uniqueness of every human life. It is our policy to respect that dignity and uniqueness. We start from the principle that each child and young vulnerable adult has a right to expect the highest level of care and protection, love, encouragement and respect that we can give.
It is our aim to provide an environment that supports and nurtures children and young vulnerable adults so that they may develop and mature as safe from harm as possible. While we aim to protect our children and young vulnerable adults from all kind of harm, we accept that some element of risk is unavoidable. Child Protection Procedures are intended to minimise those risks.
Child Protection Procedures are also intended to assist parish workers and volunteers in identifying ways in which they can safeguard the best interests of the children and young vulnerable adults in their care, and their own best interests as well.
Purpose of the Child Protection Coordinator:
As mentioned above all members of Parish Groups, run specifically by the parish, are required by the Diocese of Westminster to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check in conjunction with the Diocesan Child Protection Policy.
It is the responsibility of the Child Protection Coordinator to undertake this task on behalf of the Parish in conjunction with the above guidelines. A policy of strict confidence is employed when dealing with all personal information.
Contact: Kathy Impey
Christian Unity
Parish Involvement: Conscious of its duty to pray and work for unity among all Christian Churches, the parish is a member-church of ‘Christians Together in Hayes & Harlington’. It plays a full part in planning and executing a variety of local ecumenical activities organised by this body, and parishioners are regularly urged to join in these activities, as well as to pray for the realisation of the ultimate goal, which is full Christian Unity.
Church Cleaning
The church building, like any other, needs to be maintained and cared for. Particularly, as the place where we gather each Sunday, it is especially important that the church remains a dignified and worthy place in which we are enabled to worship God.
Every Saturday morning from 9 am a group of dedicated volunteers work in the church to keep the floors, carpets, benches and other furniture and statues clean and dust-free. Why not join them?
Please ask in the Parish Office for more information.
Parishioners of all ages – men and women – are not only welcome but also urgently needed.
Hire of the Hall
All enquires and bookings should be directed to: Austin Thorne (Hall Manager)
Hire of Botwell Community Centre
This is used largely by our school daily during school term-time, and there is very limited availability for hire.
Where there is availability, there are strict conditions, including the condition that the Community Centre is vacated by 10 pm.
For more information, contact Bridget in the Parish Office during office hours (10 am until 4 pm weekdays).
Parish Finance Committee
Purpose: In Canon Law, the parish is entrusted to the care of its parish priest who must ensure that the parish is administered ‘with the diligence of a good householder’. However, in English Civil Law, our parish is not a separate legal entity, but is part of the Diocese of Westminster. The Finance Committee exists with the principal purpose of assisting our Parish Priest to administer the financial resources of the parish and to ensure that the church and other parish property are kept in good order.
The Finance Committee is responsible for the safety and management of all the funds of the parish and for ensuring that these are kept in an account within central banking. We meet at least four times a year to assess the financial position and to ensure that we have sufficient funds available to meet our current liabilities. We prepare annual budgets and advise the Parish Council with regard to any proposals entailing above normal expenditure. The Parish accounts are kept in a prescribed manner and are presented to the committee members at our meetings.
The Finance Committee is also responsible for ensuring that all relevant legislation is complied with, in particular the Disability Discrimination Act, Health and Safety Rules, Licensing Laws, the Inland Revenue and the Charities Act.
Chair: Parish Priest
Secretary: Parish Administrator
Enquiries: All enquiries to the Parish Office.
Social Committee
Purpose: To co-ordinate and provide social events, bringing people together within the Parish community. i.e. Summer Fayre, Christmas Bazaar and Children’s Christmas Parties.
Tea and Coffee Group
Purpose: To provide an informal place to meet and chat on Sunday mornings after the 8.30am Mass until 12 Noon.
Teas and Coffees are served as well as a variety of cakes and pastries.
The Paper Stall
Catholic Papers, and a selection of Irish newspapers, are sold on the Paper Stall situated in the porch at the main entrance to the church, before and after the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings and the Masses on Sundays. Inside the Paper Stall is a mini repository with a variety of religious items for sale.
The Parish Office and Repository
The Parish Office and Repository, situated inside Botwell House, is open at the following times: –
Weekdays:
Monday: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Tuesday – Friday: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Closed for Lunch: Tuesday – Friday:1.00pm – 2.00pm
Telephone: 020 8573 2544
Evenings:
Monday – Thursday: 7.30pm – 9.00pm (Staff Permitting)
Sunday mornings:
Sunday: 9.00am – 12 Noon (Staff Permitting)
A large selection of Religious items are available suitable for Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, also Mass Cards and Cards for all occasions; Medals, Statues, Rosaries, Prayer Books, Missals and Pictures etc. Religious items for special occasions can always be ordered. At Christmas there is a selection of Cribs, cards and calendars, and at Easter a selection of Easter cards.
We still need more volunteers to enable this service to continue. Please speak with Bridget Fahy for more information about how you might be able to help.
Weekly Parish Newsletter
Purpose: To communicate Parish Information and News, to advertise up-and-coming activities and events, and to provide weekly reflections on the Sunday readings.
Production: Michael Bagness
Items for Publication: Any entries should be submitted through the Parish Priest before 1.00pm on Thursdays.