We're on the way...come with us on the journey!

CLICK on the picture to download a copy. We realise it's a bit 'rough around the edges' and needs some tweaking, but contains the essence of what we have to do to address parish needs.

Please feel free to contact me personally if you would like any further information or to clarify what it entails.

The Parish Liaison Group- an introduction.

One of the main aspects of the Pastoral Plan, which was the end result of 4 years of work by the Synod in the Liverpool Archdiocese, was the setting up of firm lines of communication between the laity and clergy, with shared responsibilities for all the day to day activities of our parishes.

With this in mind Fr Kevin has consulted and evaluated these parish activities and classified them loosely to try and draw a picture of what goes on in a typical parish like ours at Holy Family. 

CLICK HERE to see the structure of the group.

Members of the group have been in contact with parishioners over the last few weeks and it is amazing how many people are busy in creating and maintain an active Parish life, often behind the scenes and unnoticed. The beavers, cubs and scouts are returning to their usual Church Parade Sundays. Children’s Liturgy has restarted during 9.30am Mass. There are now two flower arranging groups. The first Holy Communion group has been completed, Confirmation is about to begin and there have been many Baptisms. Music is being played in Church and the readers, altar servers and Eucharistic Ministers are back. The grounds, gardens and buildings are being cared for and maintained and the Hall is ready for use. The Ladies’ Choir is rehearsing every Tuesday. The counting teams, gift aid and accounts are all in order.

We know that there is always more to do. Recently we hald a Parish Census to make sure that we have a clear idea of who is part of our Holy Family family. This will be an opportunity for you to volunteer as a reader, minister, Scout leader, musician or to pledge some time to help with any number of things that make a parish alive and welcoming. We will also be reintroducing drinks and biscuits after Mass on the first Sunday of the month starting in June. If you would like to help with anything, you would be warmly welcomed. Just contact the Parish Office or speak to Father Kevin.

This is the start of a new beginning at Holy Family and we very much hope that you will get involved. What ideas do you have? How can you help? What could you contribute? What would you like to see happen? Make your voice heard! Email the Parish Office. 

The people shown at the top of the Liaison Group structure have put together a couple of sentences about themselves, just to give you a feel for who they are. Needless to say, we are all willing to assist in creating our Christian community at Holy Family. Please be a part of that community with us all.

•  Athena Kwasnica is the Parish Administrator for Holy Family and is responsible for facilitating all aspects of communication within a busy Parish.  She also maintains Parish records and coordinates all procedures relating to health & safety, licences & insurances and IT provision. 
• Karen Groves has agreed to liaise with those involved in spirituality (e.g. spiritual formation, holy hours, retreat/recollection, pilgrimages, scripture group) and liturgy (e.g. altar servers, music ministry, children’s liturgy, readers, bellringers, sacristans, welcomers, ‘zoomers’, ‘youtubers' and ‘projectors’).
• Hugh Conaghan - Outreach: Local and National.
  I am the Outreach point of contact on the Parish Liaison Group. I have recently graduated with a Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and I feel this would be helpful in my role in the Parish. I work as a Veterinary Surgeon and my other Parish roles include being a Scout Leader and playing music in the Parish Music group.
• John Greenwood - My role on the Liaison Group is to communicate to the group the views and experiences of all those involved in the financial aspects of the parish and maintaining all aspects of the church and grounds.  This includes church & house cleaning, general maintenance, the flower arrangers, the counting teams, book-keeping and the accounts, gift aid, collectors, appeals and fund raising.  It is my intention to communicate with all these groups prior to each meeting.
• Marion Ferns - A member of the children’s catechesis team for Baptism, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.  Helping families and children to understand and prepare to receive the sacraments. 
• Jan Kearney - I help with some of the cleaning in church and presbytery. I like to read at mass and enjoy meet and greet.  Fr. Patsy had me Commissioned as Eucharistic Minister before COVID lockdown and I used to go to Peacehaven rest home each Sunday.  Fr. Kevin invited me to join the Holy Family Liaison group.  My role is to coordinate social events, acting as a funnel for putting forward parishioners’ requests, interests and suggestions regarding parish social events.  I should be more than happy to put your ideas forward and will do my best to keep everyone updated on planned parish events via the Holy Family bulletin.
• Laura Healy - My role as youth liaison is to form a link between the parish, Holy Family Primary School, Christ the King High School, Parish youth groups such as the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and any other young people within the parish.  I also represent those involved with the Lourdes pilgrimage.
• John Moffat - Parishioner since 1993, sings in the music group and has an interest in things technical, eg Our ZOOM and YouTube services, and is the parish representative on the Deanery Synodal Council, set up as a response to one of the 6 areas of development highlighted in the Pastoral Plan. I would like to improve our connections with Holy Family school and increase the involvement of young people (ie under 50!). I’m around Holy Family church quite often so please tell me about anything that occurs to you, good and bad.
• Bernie Shiels - As Parish Safeguarding Rep and in partnership with the safeguarding  team and Parish Priest we aim to ensure that everyone in our Parish is aware of the importance of protecting our children, young people and vulnerable adults. Collectively we promote good practise, maintain communication and positive links with all those organising volunteer activities. In partnership with Fr Kevin we ensure that rigorous recruitment processes are carried out including if required, DBS clearance for all volunteers in accordance with Archdiocesan policy. We access training and provide signposting to support any Parishioner who may raise a concern or require support. 

The following came from one of the questionnaire replies, which gave us a picture of the parish that WE could be...with a little help, and the Holy Spirit!

'I want to be part of a parish that is alive, changing, growing, adapting, reaching out to others, part of the local community, and rooted in a spiritual life that is nourishing, encouraging, empowering and enlivening.'

Wouldn't you like to be part of that?... Come with us on our journey together!

Another word to come from the Synod, is the idea of ‘accompaniment’ where we are all walking our journeys, side by side with each other, looking out for each other, and building our compassionate community with Christ as our head. 

So the group structure is NOT a hierarchy or a committee with those people ‘in charge’ but a means of communication where any parishioner who is concerned about an area of parish life knows who could be contacted and who might assist in addressing that concern. 

That’s our starting point, and it’s quite obvious we’ve a long way to go. There are probably other jobs undertaken behind the scenes that we haven’t even listed yet! And, of course, any parish is constantly changing, and has different areas of concern.

What runs through all we do in the parish is our faith in Jesus Christ, and our willingness to serve each other. Please pray for us, and be a part of Holy Family parish.

And if you see us in church, say hello, let's look out for one another, and make Holy Family a real community.