Co-ordination GroupParish Groups
This section is about the different groups inside the Parish who meet often to discuss ideas about activities that take place within the Church.
Co-ordination Group
This group is comprised of the parish priests and nominated members from the various groups within the Parish.
The group’s primary function is to assist the priests in managing the affairs of the parish and to provide effective communication and the sense of teamwork among the many parishioners.
Pastoral Care Group
Members of this group care, in particular, for the sick and the housebound members of the parish community. The members of this group work closely with the priests, meeting together on a regular basis. The members work together to provide the support that people may need in difficult situations.
Finance and Buildings Group
A small group, including the parish priests, focuses on the parish financial accounts and structural resources, including the three Churches in our parish and the presbytery.
Ecumenical Group
Members from this group are spread across the villages, which comprise Kelvedon Catholic Parish. Effective teamwork exists between the Anglican Churches in Coggeshall, Kelvedon, Tiptree and Tollesbury in particular, with the other Christian denominations within the parish district – especially the Greek Orthodox community at Tolleshunt Knights.
Spiritual and Liturgical Group
Under the chairmanship of the parish priest, the members look after the spiritual health of the parish and facilitate a proper and wholesome structure to public worship. Special liturgies for Easter and Advent seasons, for example, are features of the group’s work, as well as prayer days and special services catering for the needs of particular groups within the parish, e.g. the bereaved.
Young People Group
Interested parents and adults who focus on the support and encouragement of younger members of the parish family, help with preparation for First Communion and Confirmation.
In 1999 the team facilitated the attendance of two members of the younger parish family at the Lourdes Pilgrimage, looking after the needs of a particular group of sick pilgrims.
Justice and Peace Group
The members of this group concern themselves with a wide range of issues of social concern at local, national and international level. The scope of work is potentially overwhelming but efforts are focussed on tasks, which can most effectively be supported given the range of talents within the group. The most notable exercise in 1999 was the public meeting called to draw the attention to the plight of the mentally ill in our prisons. The well-attended meeting was addressed by the Governor of Chelmsford Prison, members from the NHS, the probation service and the National Institute for Ex-offenders.
Communication Group
The principle motivation of group members is to provide a sound vehicle for disseminating information throughout the parish by means of the weekly newsletter, to update material on the notice boards at the three Mass Centres and to produce a bi-annual parish magazine. In addition, telling the outside world of the "Good News" through articles in the local press and other media are an important part of the group’s work. For the 1998 Parish Mission, the group was responsible for the design, preparation and distribution of all the publicity material.
Gemma Bridgeman 25th Sept 1999