TOGETHER IN FAITH ENABLES PARISH MISSION !
Fr Brendan Killeen writes:
"The photograph is of the final Mass of our two week mission which involved both parishes (St. Thomas More, Towcester and Ss. Francis & Therese, Northampton). The Mass was celebrated in a school hall because the hundreds of people who turned up could not fit into either of our churches. The mission was an overwhelming success and was made possible thanks to the generosity of parishioners to Together in Faith. It was the parish project for both parishes. The final Mass marks the end of a great year for both parishes where everyone came together to support both Together in Faith and the mission."
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PARISH PROJECTS provide for specific local parish needs
– parishes retain 10% of funds raised up to their campaign goal, and 80% of anything raised above that figure
Strong parishes are the foundation of the Diocese. By providing resources at a local level to help each parish realise its ambitions allows for a more active and growing Church.
Together in Faith will help fund, for example, new centres for use by all members of the parish, refurbishment of church buildings and facilities, supporting the work of volunteers and the effective running of parishes, providing chaplaincy services to local schools.
Holy Family Parish in Slough are using funds from the Together in Faith campaign to put in place new Stations of the Cross in their church - see Latest News. When the church was re-ordered in 2007 the parish commissioned Stephen Foster to carve an image of the risen Christ, which now hangs majestically in the sanctuary. The image has been so inspiring that the parish has now gone back to Stephen. Parish priest Canon Kevin O’Driscoll commented: “The Together in Faith campaign has been incredibly well supported in the parish and it has already enabled us to add to the beauty and inspiration of our church building.” .
St Teresa’s, Beaconsfield is a parish which seized this opportunity to raise funds for a significant local undertaking. For three years, St Teresa’s had been preparing to replace its parish hall, a facility which had served the parish well, but was in need of major upgrading to cater to the many and varied needs of a growing Catholic community.
Fr Francis Higgins and his team of eighteen volunteers reached out to every parishioner, meeting personally with almost half of the families in the parish. They shared with them the aims of Together in Faith, discussed the local project and asked them to consider supporting the initiative. Parishioners confirmed their support and commitment, raising a total of £750,000, nearly £500,000 of which will be used for their new parish centre. This is now well advanced and heading for a May opening.