Message from Fr Francis
2022 at St Bart’s has seen a year of celebration of St Bart’s 60th Anniversary and the start of several new initiatives to reflect the needs of our parish as well as those of other communities. Our Parish mission is “Evangelisation” – proclaiming the good news of God’s love throughout the world by our actions. We also said thank you and farewell to our two wonderful Deacons, Justin and Paul, who moved away from St Albans after many years.
Working with existing parish groups and volunteers from across St Bart’s we undertook many things including sharing spiritual and social opportunities, community outreach, and deepening our relationship with St Adrian’s school.
As we look forward to 2023, a summary of 2022 is outlined below.
I recognise and value your tremendous support and thank you all most sincerely. Fr Francis
Overview of 2022 (non exhaustive)
January
- Christian Unity Candle Exchange, with South St Albans Churches. At St Bart’s 10.30 Mass were joined by Rev Becky Leach and St Bart’s parishioners took a candle and a prayer to St Stephen’s service
February
- St Valentine’s background shared and remembered via a dedicated prayer card
- Mondays – free Soup and Bread lunch after Mass re-started.
March
- Synodal Pathway outcomes from St Bart’s were shared, as well as the Parish survey outputs were shared with the Parish. We await 2023 to see the overall steps to be taken by the Church following a global exercise of consultation.
April
- HCPT Lourdes – 8 children and their helpers in a successful trip to Lourdes
- New Parish Administrator, Dawn Pace, joins St Bart’s
- Ecumenical Lent Groups 2022
- Started weekly English language classes for the asylum seekers resident in a local hotel (Thursday am) and bikes sought and repaired for them to use
- Cake Bake raising funds for Ukraine (£425 raised)
- Adopt a Plant free plants given out after masses
- Ecumenical Walk of Witness on Good Friday
May
- 28-29 May 60th Anniversary celebrations started with a Youth Mass with our Confirmation Group, an ecumenical procession of the statue of Our Lady, from St Stephen’s to St Bart’s lead by Bishop Paul. Several of our previous parish priests joined us. There was an exhibition, a guided ecumenical walk and a party/BBQ for all held in St Adrian’s school on Sunday 29 May. A refurbished Marian Chapel and a new large screen in the Parish Hall, for social and educational purposes ,were the legacy items were gifted by the parishioners and the Parish. An Anniversary edition of St Bart’s Together was issued.
June
- Participation in Sopwell “Larks in the Park” charity event
July
- Fairtrade Lunch
- Participation in St Alban’s Day Procession
- Thank you and Farewell party for our wonderful Deacons Justin Cross and Paul O’Connor.
- We organised a multi-cultural meal for the Asylum Seekers
August
- Novena and prayer card for St Bartholomew
- Cake Bake Fundraising for the building of St Boniface’s Church in Ghana (over £800 raised). The area Bishop in Ghana has decided to name it “St Boniface and St Bartholomew’s Church” recognising St Bart’s support.
September
- Exotic Flower Festival and Afternoon Tea – (raised funds for flowers at St Bart’s, HCPT and building of St Boniface & St Bartholomew’s Church (Ghana)
- Pilgrimage to Walsingham jointly with St Albans and St Stephen’s
October
- Celebration of 60th Anniversary with the children of St Adrian’s school with a procession from the school and a family Mass, including readings and dancing by children, both lead by Canon Robert Plourde
- Harvest Festival – providing food for local community food banks
- Children’s Liturgy starts again for Sunday 10.30 Mass
November
- St Bart’s Pantry was launched with food available for parishioners, their families and friends
- St Bart’s Warm Hub established by extending our weekly, Monday Soup & Bread lunch to the wider community from 12.30-2.30 pm.
- Advent groups 2022 held over 4 weeks
A multicultural meal for our asylum seekers was organised by St Albans Masorti Synagogue and held at St Saviour’s Church
December
- Wreath making event raising funds for parish flowers
- Christmas Eve 4 pm Mass for Children with participation of nativity scenes followed by refreshments in the hall
- Carol Singing to raise funds for HCPT
- Collected Christmas gifts for 160 asylum seekers living in a local hotel.
- Joined Churches Together to sign cards for prisoners at the Mount Prison
Looking forward January 2023
- 10 January – Evening Pilgrimage to St Albans Cathedral and guided tour
- 18 January – Christian Unity Exchange of Candles between South St Albans Churches (Chiswell Green URC, St Bart’s, St Stephen’s with St Julian’s)
- 21 January – Jumble Sale
- 25 January – Circle of Friends Party
- 28 January – HCPT Quiz night