Dear Friends,
It is now two years since Bishop Patrick brought our two parishes together into a cluster. I and Deacon Martyn, (who has been on sick leave for the last 18 months) as the Pastoral team, alongside the Parish Pastoral Councils and Finance Teams, have tried to do the best we could during this most difficult time of pandemic for our parishes.
Unfortunately, as we were unable to get together with people shielding and with some not having the resources to zoom, we didn’t meet as often as we could or should. While at the same time many parishioners have deeply appreciated the efforts made to keep them connected across the parishes through participation in video clips, letters of communication and the weekly Gospel thoughts.
As we now begin to open up and try to bring back some sort of normality to parish life, this is a good time for us as a Parish to look to the future. My vision as a possible way forward would be by consolidating everything we have into one parish. During the month of August, Our Lady’s month, I would like to invite you all to take some time to think and pray for the future of our parish. Let us take a moment in prayer to look at what we have and what we have achieved over the last two years and let’s ask ourselves, what would we like to see for the good of our Parish and its three Eucharistic Communities of Bestwood, Bulwell and Hucknall going forward. We also need to remember in prayer our three schools in the parish: Saint Margaret Clitherow, Bestwood, Holy Cross, Hucknall and Our Lady’s Bulwell.
At the moment, we are two separate parishes but with three parish Eucharistic Communities and three School Academies. We have had two Parish Pastoral Councils, Finance Committees, accounting systems and so on! It has become clear to us, and to many other parishes in a similar position across the diocese, that doing some things together but having so much of our admin and finance separate is not sustainable. It duplicates work and takes up precious time, that could be spent on pastoral issues and mission in the Parish and School Academies.
As I have already said, due to the lockdown, it has been difficult to meet with people to discuss the options. Let’s take this period of reflection to think about it, ask questions and share our thoughts.
As a parish we are truly blessed with many gifts and skills, and I am appealing to you all to look to the future with hope. Let us build on the solid foundation of the past clergy and the many faithful parishioners who during their time, worshiped God in these two beautiful Churches and not forgetting those of The Infant of Prague Parish also.
We are so blessed to have an incredible team that oversees the day-to-day running of the parish. And I would once again like to show my deep appreciation to Vivien who has done a sterling job in assuring the smooth running of Holy Cross during these last two years and continues to do so on a voluntary basis. There are lots of things we do together; preparation for the Sacraments of Baptisms, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, RICA and RCIC programmes, as well as preparation for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the use of the same suppliers to achieve cost savings, joint parish bulletin etc….
What would this look like?
- We would become one parish with two worshipping communities using two places of worship. We would be known as the Parish of Holy Cross and Our Lady of Perpetual succour.
- Each church would retain its name and identity – we would not simply do everything the same.
- One Parish Priest working with one Pastoral Team of clergy and lay leaders.
- One Parish Pastoral Council with 4-6 people from each place of worship – they would oversee the buildings, financial operation, overall strategy and approve major capital expenditure.
- One Finance Committee with 2–3 people from each place of worship – they would monitor monthly financial reports, coordinate fund raising, report to the parish.
- Each worshipping community will still have groups and activities particular to that community.
Finances
- Currently each parish has a current and deposit account.
The new merged parish would have
- A single current account for operating expenses – all collection and other regular income (such as hall hire) would be paid into this account. This account is used for the day-to-day running costs of the two worshipping communities. Excess income over expenditure would be swept each quarter into a united deposit account.
- A united deposit account to build up funds for joint working.
Advantages of merging into one parish
- Significant reduction in meetings and admin/financial administration
- Security of belonging for all worshipping communities.
- Sharing resources and skills
- 2 smaller units come to form one big unit to support pastoral activities
- Coordinated pastoral care across the area and coordinated engagement with local community
- Equal voice for all as one parish
- Common approach to trades and suppliers to achieve cost savings.
- Joint parish bulletin/website so that events can be shared
- Parishioners support events/initiatives in partner churches
What do you think?
Please take time to download and complete this form Parish Survey and return it to the parish via the office or you can email – deadline for written responses is the end of August. As well as this form, you may email your views /concerns to holycrosshucknallandourladysbulwell@dioceseofnottingham.uk
With every blessing for a blessed and reflective summer!
Peace
Fr John Martin
Parish Priest
Serving the Communities of Bestwood, Bulwell and Hucknall