St. Vincent de Paul
RC Church
Norden,
Rochdale
OL12 7QL

Parish Priest :
Father James Manock.
nordencatholic@outlook.com

01706 645361

NEWSLETTER , LINKS and DOWNLOADS
This Week’s Newsletter

Bibles in Your Hand
Pray Each Day
Simple Stations
See our CAFOD Page

Caritas Click here to find out about CARITAS Volunteer Week
Rosary Leaflet including Pope Francis’s Prayers
Diocese of Salford Website.

You can give to St Vincents using the Code below

TODAY’S MASS
Click HERE for Readings and the Order of Mass

SAFEGUARDING
Click HERE for contacts and further information and HERE for the Guidance Procedure

HARD OF HEARING
If you wear a hearing aid, set it to T for the Induction Loop System

GOING ON HOLIDAYS?
Need local Mass Location and Times in England & Wales?
Need a Mass Leaflet in English?
Speak to Fr. James.
Click HERE for a worldwide directory of Catholic Churches

Does any of the following apply to you?
Are you New to the Parish?
Do you know someone, who is sick or in Hospital?
Would you like a visit?
Do you think the Parish may be able to help you?
Do you think you may be able to help the Parish?
If so, please speak to Fr. James

Alternatively, try our
Parish Groups page for information.

HOPE IN THE FUTURE STAGE 3 -

LIVING THE SUNDAY EUCHARIST

In the Third Stage of our pastoral programme, Hope in the Future, Bishop John has called on us “to value Sunday Mass more and more, devoting ourselves to its preparation and celebration.”
To help us achieve this, four pastoral messages and worksheets will be distributed throughout the liturgical year. The worksheets are intended to prompt reflection and discussion among parish communities.
 

PART 1 -MEETING JESUS IN OUR WELCOME
Starting on Sunday 8th December we had the first worksheet (with an introduction by Bishop John) for discussion with fellow members of the congregation and and asking everyone for their thoughts and suggestions,
If you have not responded, please have another read and let Fr. James have any thoughts or suggestions that might be of use. You can email him (address at the top of the page), write to him or drop a note in at church.
If you do not have a copy of the document just click HERE

PLEASE REPLY. YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED

The Parish Group attended the Cathedral Mass for the introduction of Stage 3 on Friday 4th October and will be looking at their implications for the Parish. We hope to have an in-depth discussion and produce a plan of action. Comprehensive information and resources are available on the Diocesan Website and we suggest that everyone should visit the site to get a more accurate picture of what is involved for all of us and how we each use our own talents to the best of our ability.

LITTLE CHURCH AT ST VINCENTS (for children aged 5-7, reception Year 1 & 2) COMING SOON
We are hoping to start a childrens’ liturgy group for our younger parishioners to enable them to make the most of coming to Mass. A small team of helpers has already begun to look at provision for the children. We need to recruit more volunteers to take a turn once a month on a rota, working alongside other adults.
If you are interested in sharing this exciting opportunity in our parish, please text Catherine on 0750 433 8957 or have a chat with Catherine Thompson or Briege Sivills after mass.
We are hoping to get together and share plans over a cup of tea as soon as we have got enough names.
Thank You.

WELCOME LEAFLET
At St Vincents, we hope to make everyone feel welcome among us particularly through our welcomers at Sunday Masses. In order to emphasise this, we have designed and produced a Welcome Leaflet. It is particularly aimed at those infrequent visitors, whom we would wish to feel particularly welcome amongst us - Christians, non-Christians and those Catholics, who for whatever reason do not attend regularly. The intention is to make the leaflets available at services such as weddings, funerals and baptisms and we would be very grateful for any comments or suggestions you may have.

HOPE IN THE FUTURE UPDATE FEBRUARY 2019
The Diocese is supporting the life of the Parish through a series of events that are available to anyone, who is interested.
The event on Prayer and Spirituality was on Saturday 16th March 10.00 - 15.00 in the Cathedral Centre, Salford. Other events will cover Finance / Administration . Buildings and Health & safety: Websites, Social Media and Newsletters; Social Action & Youth ministry. Please see the poster on the noticeboard for dates and venues or contact the Parish Support Team (Mike Davis, Monica Oliver, Briege Sivills, Brian Lillis, Fiona Dunn Carol Dodgson & Annmarie Thetford)

PARISH OUTREACH NOVEMBER 2018
We here at St Vincent's have so much to offer those in need...  a warm welcome , a little time to listen or to talk or maybe something practical like sharing a meal or a small gift.
We have brothers and sisters in our town who have left their homes and families to seek refuge and safety amongst us. Can we reach out to them?   Thank you to all, who attended our open meeting on THURSDAY 15th NOVEMBER TO THE PARISH CENTRE to find out how we might help and contribute to the life of our missionary parish. An inspirational meeting was promised and so it turned out to be.
Contact Briege Sivills for more information.

UPDATE FROM BISHOP JOHN’S PASTORAL LETTER OCTOBER 2018
 “Thank you for your care for and appreciation of the priests and religious of this Diocese. As we continue to develop our sense of mission in parishes, schools and family life, let us be sure to remove tasks from our priests and religious that can be done by others so that they may attend to all that they are specifically ordained and consecrated to do.
Let us ask in our daily prayer that the Lord will prompt and urge men and women to respond to His call so that, by their service, our Church may grow in its mission – making Christ ever more clearly present in our world.”

The full text is available HERE and may be listened to HERE

HOPE IN THE FUTURE UPDATE OCTOBER 2018
Following the Parish Meeting back in June a small group of parishioners are getting  together to respond to Pope Francis' challenge for us to reach out to each other in love and friendship as the disciples did.
We want to find ways to make our parish even more welcoming and to support those in our local and global communities in practical and prayerful ways. Projects might include, CAFOD, CARITAS , SVP, supporting Refugees and Asylum seekers in our town, working with our Young people and developing good links with our schools.
If everyone did one little thing, our parish would be an even more vibrant place.
Please do come along . Everyone has something to offer and everyone's contribution is valued.
Last meeting Wed 24th October 7.00-8.00pm in the Parish Centre.

HOPE IN THE FUTURE UPDATE- MAY 2018
Salford Diocese is using a roadmap to show the 5 stages, events and resources available to parishes, however every parish may adapt this journey to suit their own local needs.  More information can be found at:
http://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/parishes/the-five-stages/

The current Parish team has created a Hope in the Future statement:

St Vincent’s Parish is a welcoming, vibrant missionary community sharing and celebrating our Catholic faith spiritually and practically within the parish and across our wider community.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday 20 June in the Parish Centre 7 - 8pm to build on the ideas gathered in May 2016  and the many ministries already in place, which we celebrated in Advent.  If you are interested in finding out more please come along. Whilst not everyone will feel able to join a team, there will always be a way for everyone to play a part in our Parish Life, please continue to pray for the Parish and for all people who live within our boundaries. 

UPDATE JUNE 2018
Thank you to all those who attended the meeting on Wednesday 20th June there was a great deal of lively discussion. 
The 4 groups (Sacramental Programme for Children and Parents, Liturgy & Sacramental Life, Social Life and Outreach) have agreed some activities they would like to progress.  This will involve asking for volunteers and we hope other people will be able to spare their time and skills. 
Communication (one way of outreach) was a common point and all Parishioners are invited to just say hello (and optionally introduce yourself) to someone you don’t know each time you enter Church.
If anyone would like more information or to provide support please contact Fiona Dunn (01706 352240 or after 9 a.m. Mass in Tea & Coffee).
The parish is still in need of a Youth Representative (aged 18 – 25), this involves attending Diocesan gatherings to represent St Vincent’s. If interested please contact Father Paul.

HOPE IN THE FUTURE - THE FIVE STAGES

Stage 1: Celebrating our Parish
The First Stage places an emphasis on prayer. Invoking the power of the Holy Spirit to engage all people of the Diocese in this process.
Key to this stage is to recognize and celebrate the Missionary Activity that already takes place in our parishes.
We will seek to engage clergy in renewing and developing leadership styles.

Stage 2: Harvesting our talents
The Church teaches that it is the mission of all people to proclaim the Gospel. Stage Two looks to develop this mission.
During Stage Two, there will be an emphasis on encouraging all people in our parish to discern their gifts and put them at the service of the Church, including sharing in the leadership of the parish.

Stage 3: Living the Sunday Eucharist
The weekend liturgy is, in a real sense, the shop window for the parish.
The Third Stage will provide an emphasis on how we can build on this Celebration to ensure that our parishes are mission oriented through our welcome, our liturgy and our hospitality.

Stage 4: Proclaiming the Good News
Our schools and the celebrations of Baptism, weddings, funerals, Christmas and Easter Liturgies, bring a significant number of people into contact with our parish. These times provide us with opportunities to engage people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Fourth Stage will place an emphasis on providing formation to deepen this engagement.

Stage 5: Sharing the Hope
Our parishes already make an enormous contribution to the local community. The Fifth Stage will place an emphasis on building on existing outreach and resourcing and providing new opportunities for the parish to be a beacon of hope within the local area.

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium
 

HOPE IN THE FUTURE - FIRST STEPS IN OUR PARISH

A small team  was formed to support this initiative and lighten the load on our clergy and thank you to all who volunteered. Don’t be concerned if you were not selected; your talents will be very much needed as Hope in the Future progresses. 

The parish team held 3 three 1 hour meetings before Advent to look at the strengths of our groups (as we did a year ago) and to prepare to celebrate them during a special liturgy on the 1st Sunday of Advent.

A Big Thank You to all who took part in the procession of gifts at each mass on the weekend  to recognise and celebrate the numerous groups within the Parish.
A Big Thank You to everyone for all you do, and all you are, helping to make St Vincent’s a very special place

If you wish to know more please contact Fiona Dunn (352240) or Mike  Davis (648309). Please continue to pray for the Parish and for all people who live within our boundaries.

HOPE IN THE FUTURE - LAUNCH 4th OCTOBER 2017

In a Pastoral Letter read out in the churches in the Diocese on 1st October 17, Bishop John reminded parishes of their missionary purpose and how we intend to go forward and the restructuring of parishes forms a small though very important part of our journey in Faith.

To quote Bishop John
“The programme is an invitation to every parish in the Diocese to recognise its potential and develop its missionary identity. It is designed to be a 5 stage journey. As the programme unfolds there will be resources that enable every parish, at whatever stage it may be in its development, to strengthen its mission. It aims to nourish those within the parish community while helping to identify what that community may be doing in outreach and service.”

The Pastoral letter can be downloaded HERE and listened to HERE.
A video of Bishop John’s introduction is should be viewed. It is available HERE

Briege Sivills, Mike Davis and Fiona Dunn represented St Vincent’s Parish on Wednesday 4th October at the Service to introduce “Hope in the Future” and we will be giving more information and appealing for your help and commitment to this venture in the weeks, months and years ahead.

DIOCESAN RESTRUCTURING

The Report based on the responses to the consultation period ended on 16th October 2016 was delayed due to the sheer volume of responses  On the weekend of 15th January 2017 a Pastoral Letter from Bishop John was read at all the Masses and a copy of the report was made available for most homes after Masses.

In his Letter Bishop John spoke to us here at St. Vincent’s and said:-

“In the case of this parish of Saint Vincent de Paul, Norden, it is proposed that it remains as at present. Depending on the outcome of some further discussion that I have requested, it may be that this parish will be asked to incorporate some territory from the parish of Saint Gabriel and the Angels and Saint John the Baptist, Rochdale.
The implementation of these proposals will happen in stages, appropriate to each situation over the coming months and years.”

There will also be a special page on the diocesan website relating to these proposals. This will contain a full copy of the report, together with a recording of the pastoral letter and a short video presentation by the bishop.
If you have not already received a copy. the full report is available HERE. Please be aware that there are 24 pages in the report and it needs to be read a few times to grasp the full implications.

In Summary overall, there are no proposed structural changes for our own parish apart from the possible changes mentioned above. However there are very significant proposals for those parishes in our immediate vicinity. It is proposed that our Deanery of St Therese of Lisieux covering Bury and Rochdale should go from 20 parishes, 24 churches and 17 diocesan priests to 13 parishes, 22 churches and 12 diocesan priests. These are very significant changes, which will affect all of us in some way. An obvious effect is that the workload of our priests will rise enormously, which will mean they will need to rely more and more for support from parishioners on the secular side of running of the parish and allowing them to concentrate on their priestly service to the parish. On that subject the report stresses that
Now we have fewer priests but enough to provide for the sacramental and pastoral life of the members of the parish, that only a priest can provide. All other aspects of parish life must rely on the collaboration and contribution of the members of the parish community.

It goes on to identify a parish as having three distinct but mutually dependant dimensions and expands on them to spell out the numerous ways in which we are all called to help

1. The Parish as a place of prayer and Sacrament
2. The administration of a Parish
3. The outward Mission of a Parish

It spells out the numerous opportunities we are presented with due to the needs of our fellow Catholics, of our fellow Christians, of those who have fallen away from the Faith, of the non-believers, of the Poor, the Lonely, the Sick; the list seems never ending and Bishop John and Pope Francis are putting it up to us to come up with a positive response to the question, which is being put to us.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Some background : It has been recognised for a number of years that a significant restructuring of the management of the diocese and deaneries was needed with a reducing number of clergy. With this in mind Bishop John issued a document to introduce the process and invited every parish to hold a meeting for parishioners to look at where they are presently, and how they might grow in the future, so as to truly become those missionary parishes Pope Francis often talks about.
Our Parish Meeting took place in the Parish Centre on Tuesday 3rd May 2016 and was well attended. There was a short summary in the subsequent Newsletter of the items raised and a detailed summary is now available HERE.

Bishop John has been meeting throughout May 2016 with all the clergy, each deanery as a group, so as to prepare the way and make some necessary changes so that the diocese may continue to be served by the clergy and laity, in the years to come.

The meeting with the clergy from our deanery took place on Thursday 12th May 2016 and a proposal for the way forward was submitted to Bishop John by the priests of the deanery. He met with all the priests of the Diocese and the resulting proposals for the future structures of our parishes for our thoughts and comments in the 3 month period of consultation, which ended on 14th October 2016.

Bishop John also issued a Pastoral Letter (issued at all Masses on 11th and 12th June 2016) to prepare the way for the proposals and this can be read or downloaded HERE.
The message is that prayer will be the key to giving us “a clearer insight into what we need to do and provide us with the strength to do it.”

After a period of Consultation ending in October 2016, to which there were thousands of responses, the Final Report was issued on 15th January 2017.