PARISH TEAM
Fr Tom, Fr Kevin and Fr Vincent meet on Monday mornings to plan the week ahead and review past events. They discuss the content of the newsletter and make sure the diaries are up to date.
Fr Vincent was ordained at his “home” parish of St Mellitus in October, and immediately returned to work here at New Southgate. Many parishioners attended the Ordination and joined him in his celebrations.
Fr Thomas Parayadyil, the Syro-Malabar chaplain, is still working very hard with his community, and spends most weekends with them, as well as holding marriage preparation courses in our Hall.
Fr John McDade is still coming most weekends to celebrate at least one mass for us.
Aileen Adams has stepped down from her catechist duties in the past year. We thank her, and her family, for the many years of devoted service she has given this parish.
LITURGY/PRAYER AND EVANGELIZATION
This year the three Advent talks covered aspects of the new translation of the Missal, as did the homily for five weeks over Easter. This was also accompanied by information printed onto the newsletter. The new translation will be in use from this coming Advent.
The Lenten talks looked at the booklet, Faithful Pilgrim, which reflected the visit of the Pope last September.
Ten Ten again brought together a team of parishioners who put on a series of tableaux depicting the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, which was both moving and thought-provoking.
The Children’s Liturgy team was revamped late last year, increasing the numbers of catechists on the rota.
Successful appeals were made in the newsletter for catechists for First Communion, Confirmation and Baptism courses. This year’s Confirmation course was offered to two school age groups, as the intention is to lower the age of qualification from next year. This meant we had 63 candidates. The course ran through the early part of 2011, finishing with a day prepared by Ten Ten. The Confirmation Ceremony was in late May, and took place at Westminster Cathedral. We were able to keep our groups small because of a large number of catechists, which made working with the groups much easier.
The First Communion course went well – 47 children made their FHC on Saturday 7th May, in two ceremonies morning and afternoon. The course went well, but it was felt that some parents need help understanding the need for commitment that signing up to these courses involves. Two children took the course, but made their First Communion in Ireland.
All our sacramental programmes are parish based, rather than school based, and it is hoped that people learn about them through the newsletter.
We had six people on the RCIA programme who were baptised, confirmed and/or received into the church at Easter.
Altar servers and extraordinary ministers are not always turning up on their place on the rota. We need to encourage more people to take part in these ministries.
Harriet Albert has replaced Grace Lyons as the co-ordinator of the readers rota. Many thanks to them, and to all the other parishioners who arrange the rotas and deal with all the queries. Volunteers are asked to make arrangements amongst themselves if they find they need to change their dates.
We held our annual Sacrament of the Sick Masses in Advent and Lent and there was Mass in the Catholic section of New Southgate Cemetery in June, when the statue of Our Lady, which has recently been repainted and restored, was blessed. Exposition took place on Sunday afternoons during Advent and Lent.
PAPAL VISIT
We were all very excited about the Pope’s visit last September. Masses were held at Hyde Park and at Cofton Park in Birmingham, to which parishioners were invited to apply for tickets. It was a massive undertaking to keep the lists of those who wished to attend up to date. 180 New Southgate parishioners attended Hyde Park and 17 bravely went to Birmingham, rising at 2 am in order to get there on time. All reported that they had a wonderful experience, and wouldn’t have missed it for anything. We were also represented at Westminster Cathedral, and a young parishioner was in the procession at Hyde Park.
The Diocese held two collections to help pay for the costs of the visit.
ECUMENISM
Many of our parish activities have appeared in the Compass magazine this year, largely thanks to Felicity’s hard work. We print the magazine ourselves now, but our printer does not do colour. We are attempting to get it linked up to our website but can’t use the format it is currently being delivered in.
Churches Together in New Southgate and Friern Barnet are helping some Iraqi Christians.
Our CT Stations of the Cross was very successful, and it has been suggested that this is held in another church next year. More information about Churches Together can be found in Compass each month.
The Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols joint event with St Paul’s was cancelled due to the snow last December.
REPAIRS AND RENEWALS
The Sanctuary floor carpet was removed and replaced with marble during the summer holidays. The steps around the sanctuary were redone in wood, as it was felt that too much marble would be a bit overpowering.
The red concrete area at the back of the church was renewed twice, as the first effort was not successful.
New speakers have been installed in the church.
The Diocese have suggested that all parishes should have a Ten Year Plan of repairs and improvements that they feel they will need. Chris Fanning is on board to help us put this together in the near future.
We are currently obtaining quotes to have the car park wall repaired, and the windows at the front of the house replaced.
WEBSITE
The newsletter still appears (nearly) every week, and pictures of various parish events, including last year’s pilgrimage to Rome, and Fr. Vincent’s Ordination, have also been posted on the website this year. At the end of last year the website had had 5,000 visitors, mostly looking for mass times.
Items concerning the parish/parishioners is always welcome – just send the parish office an email.
FINANCE
Our counting teams have been augmented by new members, and each team meets once in every seven weeks at the moment.
Our income has kept up well during the past year, despite the prevailing economic climate. Expenditure for the year was very slightly higher than last, but because we spent less on repairs and renewals than we did last year, our bank balance at the end of 2010 had increased by £44,560.
FUND RAISING/PARISH ACTIVITIES
The January Sale made £1,400 this year, which has been put towards the costs of the church flooring.
The Fair Trade stall still operates once a month with extra stalls during Fair Trade fortnight and just before Christmas. Profits are sent to CAFOD.
PARISH CENTRE
The Big Hall is still in use on almost every conceivable occasion, from Monday to Sunday. Scouts, Brownies, Irish Dancing, Keep Fit, Mothers and Toddlers, Bernadette Club, Saturday Club, Sunday coffee and teas and the AA all hold meetings in the Hall. It is also used by Ten Ten for rehearsals when it is free.
The Small Hall is used by other groups for smaller, quieter meetings, and is also used by Fr. Thomas for his Syro-Malabar marriage care courses.
PARISH GROUPS
The young of the Parish are well catered for from the toddlers to the teenagers. Our Scout Group, the 22nd Southgate, recently celebrated the Fortieth Anniversary of their foundation by Tom and Maureen Molloy back in 1971, with a “Ruby Camp”, the largest they have ever put on. Young people from all the sections, including the Brownies, were invited to attend and over 100 people took part. Unfortunately the weather was not perfect but on the whole a good time was had by all.
The Scouts and Brownies attend church parade and have helped with cleaning the car park. Cubs and Brownies run one of our Stations of the Cross services during Lent.
The Bernadette Club meets monthly and is well attended by the more senior members of the Parish.
The Knights of St Columba meet once a month in the Small Hall.
The Hall lights have been repaired and new panels installed where necessary.
CHILD PROTECTION
There hasn’t been much activity this year. New catechists have been CRB’d. We are still waiting for new advice from the Government. The Diocese sends out a regular newsletter to child protection volunteers in the parishes.
DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS
The parish makes regular collections on behalf of a number of charities, including the Priest Training Fund, Sick and Retired Priests, CAFOD, the Catholic Children’s Society etc. We are always grateful to those of you who complete the Gift Aid forms, as the charities can make quite a lot of money on tax returns. Many thanks to those who count these extra collections.
We also hold a monthly collection of pennies for Pax Christi, in the past year we have raised over £500, so thank you all very much for your generous donations.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES SCHOOL
The priests visit the school regularly and they attend mass in the church on special occasions. They brought a choir over to sing Christmas Carols for the Bernadette Club. They recently celebrated a Mass for the children who made their First Communion this year.
Some parishioners have been helping the children with a project that teaches them about currency.
Self-assessment forms are currently being handing in by those who will be choosing a secondary school for their children in the Autumn.
STATISTICS FROM OUR 2010 RETURN
Baptisms – 50, including RCIA
Receptions – 2
First Communion – 48
Confirmations – 39
Weddings – 7 in this church, and 7 paperwork prepared which took place elsewhere.
Funerals – 35
Average Mass attendance for October 10 - 1457