Restructuring - Parish Partnership.
Added 14th November 2019
Parish Partnership Agreement
After consulting widely with parishioners and working closely with Steven Webb the Parish Partnership Working Group for the parishes of St Joseph's, English Martyrs and St Mary Mother of God have reached a final wording for the document that will be submitted to the Diocese.
Any further questions please contact the parish office or the Steward on stewardupminster@gmail.com.
Please keep looking out in the newsletter for further information on joint initiatives between the three parishes.
After consulting widely with parishioners and working closely with Steven Webb the Parish Partnership Working Group for the parishes of St Joseph's, English Martyrs and St Mary Mother of God have reached a final wording for the document that will be submitted to the Diocese.
Any further questions please contact the parish office or the Steward on stewardupminster@gmail.com.
Please keep looking out in the newsletter for further information on joint initiatives between the three parishes.
| partnership_agreement.docx |
Parish Partnership newsletter
| 8.jul.pdf |
Draft Parish Partnership Mission Statement
| draft_partnership_mission_statement_july_19.docx |
The Hornchurch & Upminster Three Parish Partnership Agreement
Following discussion, the Diocese has agreed to add the Hornchurch/Upminster partnership “to the existing list of partnerships that will retain an extra priest for as long as we possibly can.”
This means that the partnership will retain three priests in the immediate future at least, which means Mass times will be unaffected.
This is a draft partnership plan laying out how the three parishes will cooperate and there will be a partnership meeting for parishioners from all three parishes at English Martyrs on Monday 23rd September at 7.30pm for comments and feedback. For further information contact stewardupminster@gmail.com or Stephanie on 07736847187.
Mission statement
We, the Hornchurch & Upminster parishes of English Martyrs, St Mary Mother of God and St Joseph’s, commit to coming together as a Partnership of Parishes.
Our joint Mission is to be a Christ-centred community which aims to promote spiritual growth and spread the Gospel by word, witness and prayer; bring healing and charity to those in need; and promote justice and peace.
We believe that all human beings are children of God (regardless of culture, race, gender or sexual orientation) and that the universality of Catholicism is based on encompassing diversity of traditions and gifts.
Conscious as individuals of our common humanity we come together to support one another in the wider community (especially all those that are lonely, vulnerable, poor and marginalised) as we travel together through life’s pilgrimage.
As an open and welcoming partnership, we are guided by our faith which is founded on the Word of God through Jesus Christ, the scriptures and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
In living out our Christian lives we strive to become a more joyful, modern and listening community guided by the Holy Spirit.
We are ever mindful that we are brought together in the presence of God through the Blessed Sacrament.
We seek to maximise the opportunities for our members to live out their Catholicism and contribute to the work of the Church in whatever way is best suited to their talents.
We commit to evangelising active and lapsed Catholics as well as those outside the Faith. We approach this by conveying that words and acts of kindness along with a commitment to take joy in God's creation and protect the natural world are signs of Jesus’ empowering presence in the lives of each one of us.
Partnership structure
We will remain as three separate parishes but work together over time to come closer together.
As a partnership our initial focus will be renewal and evangelisation of adults and young people.
We will continue with the partnership team to guide agreed partnership events and activities, coordinated by the Stewards of the Gospel with an annual rotating chair. It will continue to include representation from the three parish councils and finance committees along with the priests.
We will set up a working group with three members from each parish to coordinate youth ministry.
We will set up other working groups for individual activities where needed.
Partnership and separate parish activities
Initially we will seek to merge:
We will also seek to hold cross partnership worship and social events each year.
We will consider employing partnership staff for specific activities if finances allow.
Communication
We will advertise all partnership activities and events in each of the parishes’ weekly newsletters.
We will set up a joint website to promote activities and masses at all three parishes.
Future development
We will continue to evolve over time and any significant changes (i.e. governance or Mass times) will be taken back to the parishes for consultation.
We will also commit to updating the Diocese on progress in the partnership.
We request that the partnership is informed at least 12 months ahead of any changes in number of priests.
Following discussion, the Diocese has agreed to add the Hornchurch/Upminster partnership “to the existing list of partnerships that will retain an extra priest for as long as we possibly can.”
This means that the partnership will retain three priests in the immediate future at least, which means Mass times will be unaffected.
This is a draft partnership plan laying out how the three parishes will cooperate and there will be a partnership meeting for parishioners from all three parishes at English Martyrs on Monday 23rd September at 7.30pm for comments and feedback. For further information contact stewardupminster@gmail.com or Stephanie on 07736847187.
Mission statement
We, the Hornchurch & Upminster parishes of English Martyrs, St Mary Mother of God and St Joseph’s, commit to coming together as a Partnership of Parishes.
Our joint Mission is to be a Christ-centred community which aims to promote spiritual growth and spread the Gospel by word, witness and prayer; bring healing and charity to those in need; and promote justice and peace.
We believe that all human beings are children of God (regardless of culture, race, gender or sexual orientation) and that the universality of Catholicism is based on encompassing diversity of traditions and gifts.
Conscious as individuals of our common humanity we come together to support one another in the wider community (especially all those that are lonely, vulnerable, poor and marginalised) as we travel together through life’s pilgrimage.
As an open and welcoming partnership, we are guided by our faith which is founded on the Word of God through Jesus Christ, the scriptures and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
In living out our Christian lives we strive to become a more joyful, modern and listening community guided by the Holy Spirit.
We are ever mindful that we are brought together in the presence of God through the Blessed Sacrament.
We seek to maximise the opportunities for our members to live out their Catholicism and contribute to the work of the Church in whatever way is best suited to their talents.
We commit to evangelising active and lapsed Catholics as well as those outside the Faith. We approach this by conveying that words and acts of kindness along with a commitment to take joy in God's creation and protect the natural world are signs of Jesus’ empowering presence in the lives of each one of us.
Partnership structure
We will remain as three separate parishes but work together over time to come closer together.
As a partnership our initial focus will be renewal and evangelisation of adults and young people.
We will continue with the partnership team to guide agreed partnership events and activities, coordinated by the Stewards of the Gospel with an annual rotating chair. It will continue to include representation from the three parish councils and finance committees along with the priests.
We will set up a working group with three members from each parish to coordinate youth ministry.
We will set up other working groups for individual activities where needed.
Partnership and separate parish activities
Initially we will seek to merge:
- Confirmation and RCIA programmes
- Alpha, Landings and adult evangelisation activities.
- Training of Eucharistic ministers
- Formation of the laity (e.g. Disciples of the Gospel)
- Baptism and marriage preparation
- Youth work
- Church groups (Legion of Mary, Knights of St Columba, SVP, CWL, Catenians etc)
- Justice and Peace, charitable and community activities (e.g. Pass it on)
- Outreach to the homeless, sick, elderly etc
- Healing (eg the Healing Well)
- Festivals, pilgrimages, processions, prayer groups and Adoration
- Social events
- Diversity, interfaith and ecumenical work
- Administration and finances
- Safeguarding and GDPR
- First Holy Communion
We will also seek to hold cross partnership worship and social events each year.
We will consider employing partnership staff for specific activities if finances allow.
Communication
We will advertise all partnership activities and events in each of the parishes’ weekly newsletters.
We will set up a joint website to promote activities and masses at all three parishes.
Future development
We will continue to evolve over time and any significant changes (i.e. governance or Mass times) will be taken back to the parishes for consultation.
We will also commit to updating the Diocese on progress in the partnership.
We request that the partnership is informed at least 12 months ahead of any changes in number of priests.
Fr. John commissioned a small sub-group of the Parish Pastoral Council to draw up this document.
The document endeavours to address the practical day-to-day issues that the partnership may encounter.
It does not set out to be prescriptive but to be viewed as a starting point.
More strategic issues such as which model to adopt (e.g. independent parishes: partnership or a super parish) are left to be addressed as the relationship of three parishes (English Martyrs, St. Mary Mother of God and St. Joseph’s) evolves.
Parishioners’ comments, advice on how this document could be enhanced would be greatly appreciated.
In the first instance please send them to Rachel Hayward: Email upminster@dioceseofbrentwood.org
The document endeavours to address the practical day-to-day issues that the partnership may encounter.
It does not set out to be prescriptive but to be viewed as a starting point.
More strategic issues such as which model to adopt (e.g. independent parishes: partnership or a super parish) are left to be addressed as the relationship of three parishes (English Martyrs, St. Mary Mother of God and St. Joseph’s) evolves.
Parishioners’ comments, advice on how this document could be enhanced would be greatly appreciated.
In the first instance please send them to Rachel Hayward: Email upminster@dioceseofbrentwood.org
| restructuring_1.8.docx |
Added 28th March 2019
Vision Documents
Steward of the Gospel Update
Many thanks to all who were able to come to the Parish Meeting and others who engaging with the important work of shaping our Parish Partnership for the future.
Work is ongoing around evolving options for models of the Parish Partnership and more information will be fed back to parishioners in June with time for consultation and discussion. We will present our proposal to the Bishop at the end of this year and Parish Partnerships will become active from Easter 2020.
Many thanks to all who were able to come to the Parish Meeting and others who engaging with the important work of shaping our Parish Partnership for the future.
Work is ongoing around evolving options for models of the Parish Partnership and more information will be fed back to parishioners in June with time for consultation and discussion. We will present our proposal to the Bishop at the end of this year and Parish Partnerships will become active from Easter 2020.
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