Parish directory
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Altar Servers
This ministry is open to any boy or girl who has received their First Holy Communion. Those who have completed one year’s service are invited to be enrolled as members of the Archconfraternity of the Guild of St. Stephen and also to receive a medal. This normally takes place on December 26th the Feastday of St. Stephen’s. Training practices are held for the altar servers as and when required. Please see Dominic Dady or Fr. Adrian if you are interested.
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Adult Faith Development
Please see the Sacramental page of the website or more information.
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APF Red Mission Boxes
The Association for the Propagation of the Faith is the Church’s official organisation for creating interest in Mission in parishes. The APF funds missionary work throughout the world. One of their greatest sources of income is the Red Mission Boxes that people fill up with money at home. These are distributed in the parish by Mr Bernard Kimberley. He can be contacted via the parish e-mail address.
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Book of Remembrance
Our parish Book of Remembrance contains a list of deceased parishioners and our deceased family members. The book is placed before the altar during the month of November, the special time of prayer for the dead. Those in the book are prayed for at each Mass and each service during this time. If you would like a deceased loved one to be entered in the parish Book of Remembrance then please write their details down and hand into the sacristy or parish office.
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Catechists
Please see the Sacraments page for more information and details of their work and ministry within the life of the church.
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Child Protection Officer
Following the Nolan Report the Bishops Conference of England and Wales issued national guidelines for parishes. We have in the parish two Child Protection Officers who make sure we follow them and provide a safe environment for our children and vulnerable young adults.
Their work includes the following:
- To check the records of anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults
- To be the point of contact for anyone who may have child protection issues
- To pass on and supply information and advice that may help parents and children
The officers are Mrs Pat Timmons and Caroline Ward and they can be contacted either by writing to them care of the Presbytery or alternatively you can email them in confidence at the following address:
If you would like to know more about the guidelines issued by the Church and the work that is being done in parishes then please contact The Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults: www.copca.org.uk
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Children’s Liturgy:
We have a dedicated Children’s Liturgy Team who invite the children attending the 11.30 a.m. Mass to have their own time of prayer and reflection. The children’s liturgy group is called the ‘Little Shepherds’. This is to remind them that they follow Jesus the Good Shepherd who cares for them and looks after them always. They in their turn must be shepherds by looking after one another and as they grow older give good example.
The catechists use the Gospel that is proclaimed during the Sunday Mass and aim to simplify the key themes and so make it more understandable for the children. An emphasis is placed on participation and the children are given many and varied opportunities to participate fully each week, both in the children’s liturgy and within the celebration of Mass itself. After they have finished their time together, the children present their work to the parish by bringing it up during the offertory procession. They also bring up the parish prayer intention board and the board with the names of those children who will be receiving their First Holy Communion and their First reconciliation.
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Church Cleaning and upkeep of grounds
We have a small group of cleaners who vacuum, dust, polish, clean the brasses etc. We also have a number who pick up the litter from outside the church and make the grounds look presentable. It would be hoped for our Jubilee year to get more volunteers and also to look at ways we can landscape the grounds and make them more attractive.
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Church Flowers
If you would like to make a donation towards church flowers on behalf of a deceased relative or friend then simply write the name of the person and put it in an envelope and address it to the ‘Flower Ladies’
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Church Notice Board
Information advertising parish activities, local and diocesan events is displayed on our notice boards at the back of church. If you would like a poster to be displayed then please hand it into the sacristy and then it will be displayed as space allows.
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Corpus Christi Parish Social Centre
This was established thirty years when Fr. Michael Glynn was parish priest. It has been developed over the years and stands today as a popular meeting place for the local residents. It is also used also by different groups such as the Irish Dancers and the Forever Young Club. The parish uses it for a number of social functions every year. The club welcomes new members and for more information about how you can join can be had by telephoning the club on 024 76 453894.
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CTS Booklets
In the porch we have a range of Catholic Truth Society booklets that explain the faith, teaching and life of the Catholic Church. These range from simple prayer books to official church documents. We have a wide selection of their publications available.
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Eucharistic Ministers
The Eucharistic Ministers are commissioned to distribute Holy Communion at Mass and also to take Holy Communion to the sick and housebound of the parish. Normally it is the parish priest who chooses people for this ministry. The ministers come together on Holy Thursday, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper to renew their commitment of service. They also come together for days of prayer and for Holy Hours together.
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Forever Young Club
This senior citizens Group meets on a Thursday afternoon in the parish centre from 1.30 p.m. onwards for friendship and wide range of activities. They also go out together for a number daytrips a year; the last one was a shopping trip to Milton Keynes.
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Gift Aid
If you pay income tax, whether it is on wages, salaries, pensions or dividends on shares then you could donate through the new Gift Aid Scheme. For every pound you donate through Gift Aid Scheme the parish can claim a 28 pence rebate from the government.
We do not need confidential information about your finances. All we require is for you to fill in a form and then for you to make your donation in the offertory envelopes or by standing order. The scheme is simple and flexible and one declaration will last you a lifetime. Please note that you can quit whenever you choose to. If you would like to join up or would like more information then please see Michael Fensom our Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
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Health and Safety Officer
It is the job of the Health and Safety Officer to make sure the current health and safety regulations are put in place. If you have any queries regarding the health and safety of the church and around the site then please make contact with the parish secretary or write to the Health and Safety Officer care of the presbytery.
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John Paul II Resource Area
In the area that was once occupied by the piety stall we are currently establishing a resource area for the purpose of catechesis, to help people come to a deeper understanding about their journey of faith.
This is named in memory of Pope John Paul II who called us to ‘Look to the future with commitment to a New Evangelization, one that is new in is ardour, new in its methods and new in its means of expression.’
Children and adults are free to borrow the books, tapes or discs that are in the area. If you have any other resources that you feel could help people understand their faith better then please let us know. There are also a number of Mass and religious cards available in the area as well.
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Mass Intentions
If you would like a Mass offered for a special intention then please use the Mass Intention Envelopes available at the back of the church or from the sacristy. If you have a specific date in mind when you would like the Mass to celebrated, then please make sure you give at least three weeks notice. Please note it may not be possible to offer the Mass on that date especially if it falls on a Sunday. As a guideline the offering for a Mass is now normally either £5.00 or £10.00.
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Ministry of Hospitality
We have received particular encouragement this year from our Bishops to create family friendly parishes. We aim here to make sure that people who are visiting from near or far receive a warm welcome. We have our greeters at our Sunday Masses giving out hymn books and newsletters. Once a month we share a cup of tea or coffee together after Mass in the newly refurbished Fr. Tuite Room.
We have in particular sought to make those who have settled in the parish from such places as the Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Nigeria and the Philippines feel at home here. This year we aim to have a welcome party following a Saturday Evening Mass, so we can get to know one another socially. If you are new to the parish please let us have your details and fill in one of the forms at the back of the church.
Another aspect to this ministry we are currently exploring is how we publicise the life of the parish in the local area. In this way our welcome reaches out to those who have become estranged from the church and to new people in the locality. In our Jubilee Year we also hope to invite people throughout the city to join us for such things as our social events and retreat days so that those outside our boundaries can experience something of our life and hospitality.
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Music and Choir:
We have a faithful group of parishioners who come together each week to form our choir and lead the singing at the 11.30 a.m. Accompaniment is provided by the organists or by the guitarists. They have constantly risen to the challenge of broadening their repertoire so that they include both traditional and modern hymns. Much reflection is given to the choice of music according to the key themes of the celebration of Mass.
One of the aims of the Jubilee Year was to get new hymn books. This was accomplished through the generous sponsorship of parishioners. The choir faces the challenge now of learning many new hymns. They meet on a Tuesday evening to practice the hymns that will be sung either on the coming Sunday or for the major feasts of the church’s year. New members are always welcomed.
We also in preparation for our Golden Jubilee Year have formed a children’s choir. They will be leading the liturgy in a Family Mass once a month.
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Parish Finance and Property Committee:
Its members are appointed to give advice on financial and administrative matters, including the ongoing management and maintenance of parish properties and the site. In particular we have recently considered ways in which we can make the church more accessible to those who come to visit us with special needs. We recently received planning permission to build a new accessible toilet.
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Parish Newsletter
Our weekly newsletter is a vital source of information about the life of the parish. It gives the times of our weekly Masses and services. Also it gives information about coming events locally and within the Diocese as a whole. If you would like an item included please let us have it after the Thursday Morning Mass. There are no guarantees that it will be included.
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Parish Secretary
The parish secretary, Margaret Barratt, is available most weekdays from 10.30 a.m. until Midday. The secretary deals with the routine administrative matters that are necessary for the smooth running of the parish. If you need a baptismal or wedding certificate, then it is normally easier if you write down your details and send your request with a self addressed envelope. Please note there is a charge for a wedding certificate.
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Pastoral and Liturgical Group
This group has also been founded to help prepare for the Jubilee year and to help arrange the various liturgical celebrations within that year. They have also reviewed the life of the parish as it stands and over the course of the year examine ways we can strengthen our communion and mission.
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Pastoral Council
For a number of years we had a Pastoral Forum that looked to develop the faith and spiritual life of the parish community. That is now ‘resting’ whilst we prepare for the Year of Jubilee but it is one of our future aims to establish a new and fresh Pastoral Council that seek to address all aspects of the life of the parish and be able to put into action the future priorities and plans.
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Readers
Proclaiming the Word of God is one of the essential parts of the liturgy. If you are interested in the ministry of reader then please let Fr. Adrian know. Initial training and instruction is available to all new readers There is also an annual retreat day when readers come together and reflect together on their ministry.
The ministry is carried on a rota basis and if you find you are away on a week that you are due to read then please do your best to find a replacement or alternatively let Bernard Kimberley know via the parish office.
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Rosary Prayer Group
This normally takes place after Mass on a Friday morning. After meditating on the mysteries of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection there is an opportunity for petitions and intercessions. Please see Margaret Duddy for more information.
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Seven Day Prayer Intentions
Every week we invite people to light a candle at each of the three shrines of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady and St. Anthony in remembrance of a deceased loved one, a family members or for a special intention. The prayer intentions are put in the newsletter and also are prayed for at the weekend Masses. Please complete the forms at the back of the church. Alternatively you can to write to us with the details. In order to cover the cost of the candles we ask for a donation of £3.50.
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Saint Marta Group
This group of parishioners comes together to provide tea and coffee and also to serve food when we have major celebrations. They also look after the refreshments for social occasions and after the Advent Carol Service. New members welcome. Please contact the parish secretary for more details.
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Sisters of Charity of St. Paul
The sisters have been in the parish since its earliest days. They have made a vast contribution to the life of the parish over the years and continue to do so with their prayers, teaching in the school, catechesis and visiting the sick. The sisters also continue to visit many of those who have left the parish in order to move into residential or nursing homes and so help them maintain a link with Corpus Christi. The sisters continue to help the parish though their hospitality and by inviting us to use their meeting room. We have also been invited to use their chapel for Masses and services during recent renovation work in the church. For more information about their apostolate please visit their website: http://www.sistersofstpaulsellypark.com/
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Social and Fundraising Group
In preparation for the Jubilee year this group was established to explore ways of bringing the parish together socially and also to raise funds for the work we hope to carry out in the church and on the site. Please see the calendar of future events to find out what they have arranged.
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Traidcraft
On a monthly basis we have a Traidcraft stall after our Sunday Masses. The stall sells coffee, tea, cereals and chocolate. It can also order a wide selection of fair-trade goods from the catalogue. Small businesses in the ‘third world’ countries face many disadvantages when trading in the world markets. Traidcraft operates on the principle that by paying a fair price for products and establishing long term relationships of partnership, poor communities can be helped to work their way out of poverty and create a more equitable world. If you would like to find out more then please see Pat Timmons or Pam McKiernan or contact them via the parish email.
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Youth Ministry
At the moment we have a number of young people involved in reading on a regular basis, as well as altar serving. However one of the aims of the Jubilee Year will be explore ways we can develop youth ministry in the parish and train youth leaders. Although we do not have the facilities for a youth group, we hope in the future to take our young people out for trips and activities.
We also will continue to look at ways our young people can be involved in the planning and celebration of our Masses and liturgies and also to listen to their hopes for future development of the parish.
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