Local Events

A small proportion of us will be able to be present with the Pope during his visit. For the majority, there are ways of celebrating locally.

A priority for our parish events is that they are welcoming, offering a place round the table, so to speak, to everyone. Guidelines have been written for parish event organisers to support them in preparing gatherings where everyone feels that they are cared for and belong. In this way we will be mirroring the life of the first Christian communities.


‘Everyone was filled with awe; the apostles worked many signs and miracles. And all who shared the faith owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and distributed the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. Each day, with one heart, they regularly went to the Temple but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.’

Acts 2: 43 - 47
, New Jerusalem Bible.

Commissioning

The parishioners who do attend a main event will do so as parish representatives. Perhaps pencil in a prayer and commissioning time during the Sunday Mass or on a week day preceding the Pope’s arrival? This will provide an opportunity for parish representatives to be sent to a Papal event with the love and prayer intentions of the whole parish. Attendees could in turn be invited to share their experiences (testimony) and photographs with parishioners the following Sunday.

Vigil Gathering

On the night of the 18th September consider scheduling Saturday evening Mass earlier and gathering with other local Christians (e.g. Churches Together Groups) in a hall or school to follow the Prayer Vigil together. A format for such an evening and instructions about how to set up your own ‘big screen link up’ are available online.

A format for a suggested parish evening will be added once the venue and programme for the Vigil is announced.



Technical support to set up your own ‘big screen link up’ in a parish hall, school or other suitable venue is provided in the document for download to the right of this page.

Mass on 19th September

Consider rescheduling the times of your Sunday Masses once the final Papal itinerary is known.

Welcome Sunday

You might consider hosting a special invitation and welcome day the Sunday after the Papal weekend. Each parishioner could be invited to bring a neighbour or friend with them to Mass. There would need to be a team of welcomers in place and refreshments made available afterwards.

Everybody’s Welcome


The aim of this resource is to support parish communities in becoming more friendly, more family-sensitive, and more welcoming of all, because these simple yet challenging qualities of parish life are absolutely crucial to the flourishing of the most effective form of pastoral care for marriage and family life: informal family-to-family sharing of gifts, graces and experiences.

http://www.everybodyswelcome.org.uk/


Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Network

The RCIA is the liturgical and catechetical process designed for adults attracted by Christ and his teaching. It supports them as they seek to respond more deeply and to enter into the Communion of the Church.

The RCIA Network is made up of people who have leadership roles in the RCIA process in Dioceses and parishes, and exists to support them in their work and to promote an authentic understanding of the Church’s teaching about the Rite.


http://www.rcia.org.uk/


Catholic Enquiry Office (CEO)


The CEO exists to respond to questions about Catholic life and beliefs from spiritual enquirers. The basic aims of the Office are to:

1) To stimulate interest in Catholic life and beliefs

2) To promote a better understanding of the Catholic Church

3) To respond to enquirers

All enquiries are dealt with in strict confidence. If a question relates to a matter for which specialist advice is required, the team may forward it, without the person’s name and contact details, to an expert advisor.

Free information packs about the Catholic Faith are sent to enquirers on request.


e: enquiries@life4seekers.co.uk
 w: www.life4seekers.co.uk