Area Mass
This is an opportunity to worship together on an area basis, to meet with other Catholics in our particular patch of the parish, and co-ordinate any local initiatives or pastoral care.
Bible Reading
Spiritual growth needs feeding, just as much as physical growth. We do not need to read far in the Gospels to realise that the source of our food and life is Christ himself who is the Word made flesh. There are many ways in which He feeds us, but the primary sources are the Sacraments and the Word of Scripture. Regular reading of the Scriptures is part and parcel of Catholic spirituality. To help us with this there are a number of publications. The bible study group meets fortnightly during Lent.
Bidding Prayers
The general instruction on the Roman Missal states: "In the general intercessions the people exercise their priestly function by interceding for all mankind. It is appropriate that intercessions be made…. for the needs of the Church; for public authorities and the salvation of the world; for those oppressed by any need; for the local community". It is therefore appropriate that these be prepared by members of the laity.
Children's Liturgy
At Baptism it is made clear to parents that: "You are accepting the responsibility of training him/her in the practice of the faith. Do you understand what you are undertaking?" Up until a few years ago, we were running a childrens liturgy, but now the number of children of that age group has declined. Most of the children are older, and take full part in the Mass. If numbers of young children increase, then we will be glad to hold the children's liturgy once more at the 11.15 am Mass at St. John Fisher.
Cleaning
It really goes without saying that a scruffy, dirty church building reflects a community, which is careless about the Holiness of God present there. The cleaning of the building is an offering of love to God and a welcome to all who come into Church. A well loved, cared for building speaks to the casual visitor of a caring community and can be the first stirring of faith.
Counting/Banking
Some have questioned whether this can really be called a "ministry". But, the responsibility for recording what is in the envelopes and counting the cash week by week is extremely important part of the day by day administration of the parish. It is not a glamorous ministry, but vital to our well being as a community. Financial good practice means that there must always be at least two people involved each week. For this we have at the moment ten people from both Wellington & Wiveliscombe.
Ecumenism
"Division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalises the world, and damages the preaching of the Gospel to every creature" Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism. So our parish is committed to work for the restoration of unity. Churches together in Wellington is highly active and welcomes volunteers to help with many of its projects. Street pastors assist people on certain evenings returning from pubs and clubs , and have been a real blessing to the town.
Eucharistic Ministers
Holy Communion is taken to Catholics in all the
Hospitals & Homes each week by Eucharistic Ministers or the Priest.
In Wiveliscombe, Holy Communion is taken out from the Sunday Mass by Eucharistic
Ministers
Fairtrade
Social Justice is part and parcel of Catholic teaching, not an optional extra. Support for CAFOD is one way of doing this. Another very practical way in which all of us can help in the Third World is by paying a fair price for their goods. This is what Fairtrade is about, making sure that the actual producers in those countries receive a fair price for their labour. To this end we have now a Fairtrade "Porch Stall" once a month, which sells food and craft items at a fair price for the producers.Faith-sharing Bible Study Group
An opportunity to study together God's Word and build up our faith.
Finance & General Purposes Committee
Canon Law requires that here be a finance committee in every parish, appointed by the Parish Priest, to help him in the administration of the goods of the parish.
Flower arranging
Flowers can symbolise many things in our lives, including being symbols of Life and Joy. have you ever been to a wedding where there were not some flowers? In many cases there have been quite elaborate arrangements. Now, one of the descriptions of the Mass is "the wedding feast of the Lamb." [Revelation 19.9] This is one of the reasons why we have flowers in church around the altar. These do not have to be elaborate arrangements. We offer to God our best. He does not ask more.
Gift Aid & Planned Giving
The government gives back the tax paid on any donations given to charity if we comply with the conditions laid down. The Church needs to be organised to claim back this tax.
Gift Aid is the general description of such giving to charities. Planned giving is the general description of the methods of giving.Gardens
Since the environment is part of God's gift to us in creation, we have a responsibility for our own little patch round the churches.
Hospital Services
In Wellington the Churches work together to ensure that there is always a short Service in the Cottage Hospital on a Sunday, and that the Nursing Homes in Wellington also have a Service on a regular basis. The form of Service varies, but basically is a Ministry of the Word and Prayers, usually with music/hymns. The congregation at St. John Fisher is committed to taking its turn on the rota.
Music
Description: Music has a very significant effect on all of us. It can be community-building, celebratory, healing, and many more things. As such, it has an important place in the Worship of God.
Occasional Newsletter
This is a contact across the parish with all those households where there is at least one Catholic.
Offertory
The 'Collection' and the Bread and Wine symbolise the offering of our lives. In the offertory procession the whole Church offers itself to God to be transformed. The Offering of the Gifts is one on the essential actions of the Mass.
Parish Brochure
This is a simple information card about the parish for distribution in public places.
Parish Diary
Published twice/three times a year this is an invaluable aid to co-ordinating all the differing elements in the corporate life of the Church
Parish Project
Each year the Parish takes on two or three missionary/social causes. This is our 'Parish Project' for the year.
RCIA & Confirmation
RCIA is the general course of instruction for adults being received into the Church, or teenagers preparing for Confirmation
Readers
Proclaiming the Word of God is a great responsibility. A reader is the instrument through which God speaks to his people. This ministry is a matter of understanding what is to be read, just as much as having a "good voice". God can work through us, even when we do not do things well, but the ministry of reading does ask of us the commitment to preparation and practice.
Repository
For the provision of books, tracts, cards and religious devotional objects
Retreats
Even a nodding acquaintance with the Gospels tells us that Jesus often "went up into the hills to pray". It doesn't take much intelligence to realise that if it was important for Jesus to do this, it is essential that we find time for quiet retreat from the busy world.
That doesn't mean that everyone has to "go on retreat". We may be able to find the time and space elsewhere, but an organised retreat can be a great help.Rosary Prayer Group
Prayer is an integral part of the life of the Church. .It is one of the "marks" of the Christian Community as described in Acts 2.42. A Church which does not pray is really a contradiction. We all need to pray. But there is also a place for special groups and occasions for prayer on behalf of the whole community. The Rosary Prayer Group is one such opportunity. It is not exclusive. It is open for anyone to join in on any occasion. There is no membership. There is no public commitment. But it also relies on some people making that personal commitment to share this particular ministry of prayer.
Sacristans
This ministry is concerned with the care of all the requisites for worship, and the preparation of the Sanctuary for worship.
Servers
Worship is the activity of the whole Church. The work of an Altar Server is to make sure that ceremonies are carried out in a devout and orderly manner so that the whole community maybe helped to more worthily offer that worship to God. This ministry is not restricted to small boys or girls.! In fact, good as they are, we do need more mature people who can take on responsibility and act on their own initiative.
Pastoral Care
This is concerned primarily with visiting the sick, the housebound and anyone in need.
Social Events
Playing skittles or enjoying a glass of wine together does allow us to get to know each other better - and we are supposed to be one family! Any profit from the social events goes to our Parish Projects, so there is an addition benefit.
Sunday Coffee
It is well known that meeting and talking with each other is essential if you are going to build up the corporate sense of any community. This is just as true for the community of the Church as for any other group. One such opportunity is over coffee or tea after Mass. The practical provision of this opportunity is then truly a ministry to the Body of Christ.
Weekly Bulletin
The Weekly Bulletin is our main source of communication within the Parish Community. Obviously a lot of the information comes from the Parish Priest
But as we move more and more into a collaborative ministry, the co-ordinators of the various ministries will have information to share with others in the parish.Welcome at Mass
We meet for worship as the Family of God. The greeting we receive as we arrive underlines this. But, it is not just a friendly nod. Worship is a corporate activity of the whole Family, in which all of us participate in various ways. To enable us to do this properly, we may need Mass books, Hymn books, Mass leaflets etc. It is much better to have these handed out, rather than having to scrabble about to find the right books, if you can! This is the ministry of Welcome,
Young Communicants
This is a group of children/young people who have made their First Holy Communion. It is intended to be part of the preparation for Confirmation