Parish People
Parish
Priest
Fr Dominic Golding was born in Southampton in 1968 and ordained
a priest on 26th June 1994. He has been Parish Priest since September
2000 and lives at St James Presbytery adjacent to the Church. He has been
the Diocesan Judicial Vicar since 2000 (renewed 2005) and, in this capacity,
is appointed by the bishop to serve on the Council of Priests and the
Diocesan Pastoral Council. He is also a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem and his interests include reading, listening to music, gardening,
collecting art and walking his dog.
His address is:
St James Presbytery, Abbots Walk, Reading, RG1 3HW
Tel: 957 4171.e-mail: parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council is a representative body of Christ’s
faithful. The function of the council is to promote the mission of the
Church, to define long term and short term objectives and to create procedures
and processes by which the pastoral work can be established and implemented.
In accordance with canon law, the council is a consultative body. Through
its discussion and advice, it helps the parish priest identify, implement
and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to the
spread of the Gospel in the parish.
Four members
are elected by those who attend the Sunday 11am Mass at St James, three
are elected by those who attend the Sunday 9am Mass at St William of York
and two are elected by those who attend the Saturday 6pm Mass at St James.
Three members are freely appointed by the parish priest. Elections are
held every even-numbered year and the Council meets up to six times a
year. To contact the Chairman:
E-mail parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
Date of next meeting: 3rd September 2008
For the minutes of the July meeting
click here
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Diocesan
Pastoral Council
The Diocesan Pastoral Council was established in 2000 as a representative
body of clergy and lay persons to assist the diocesan bishop in his governance
of the particular church that is the Diocese of Portsmouth. It meets quarterly
and, in accordance with canon law, is a consultative body.
The clergy representatives
are members of the Council of Priests. The lay representatives are members
of the various deanery pastoral councils in our diocese.
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Parish
Finance & Property Committee
Its members are freely appointed by the Parish Priest to use
their professional expertise to advise him on any and all financial and
administrative affairs concerning the parish, including the management
and maintenance of parish properties.
Date of next meeting: 1st September 2008
For the minutes of the last meeting click
here
2007 annual return
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Altar
Serving
The ministry of assisting the Priest and congregation at Mass
is of ancient origin. In our parish, this ministry is open to any adult
who has received the Sacraments of Initiation or any child who has received
his or her first holy communion. A rota applies for those who serve the
Sunday 11am Mass but, at all other Masses, any server is welcome. Those
who have completed one year of serving in our parish are invited to be
enrolled as members of the Archconfraternity of St Stephen. Training sessions
for altar-serving are held as and when required. As well as the ministry
of serving, there are annual socials and trips.
For more information,
contact Fr Dominic Tel: 957 4171 or David Hallé via the Parish
Office
To visit the website of The
Archconfraternity of St Stephen (UK) click
here
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Children’s
Liturgy of the Word
The aim of taking the children out of the Mass is to provide
them with a way of celebrating the Liturgy of the Word in a way that is
more appropriate for their age.
The Liturgy
is aimed at children of primary school age, i.e. from four to eleven.
However, many children stop attending after they have received their first
holy communion. Older children are welcome and usually enjoy becoming
helpers with the younger ones. Children under four are welcome but should
be accompanied by a parent or carer as they may need attention if they
are not to disrupt the other children.
For more information contact
Columbus Ndah (St James) or Sara Scanlon
(St Williams) via the Parish Office
Tel: 957 4171 or e-mail: parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
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Musicians
St James has a choir which leads the singing at the 11am Mass and at Easter
and Christmas services. The singing is usually accompanied by the organ
alongside folk instruments. Practices are held in the choir loft on Sunday
mornings at 10am and new members are always welcome.
On the last Sunday of the month music for the 11am Mass is usually provided
by the Folk Group.
For more information contact the parish office or Debbie O'Riordan (Folk
Group) at the Parish Office on 957 4171 or e-mail:
parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
St Williams
has a choir which leads the 9am Mass and practices after this Mass. This
is organ accompanied. There is also a Folk Group which leads the singing
on the first Sunday of the month. New members are always welcome.
For more information
contact the Parish Office:
Tel: 957 4171 or
e-mail parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
Marius Hopley is the Parish Director of Music. He can be contacted via
the Parish Office or email music@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
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Friday
Prayer Group
A group of parishioners meets on the first Friday of each month
at 8pm, during which time they offer petitions, prayers, intercessions
and thanksgiving for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1). For more information contact
Tom or Rosemary Woodman on 0118 926 8112
Date of next meeting: 1st August 2008
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Lectio
Divina Group
The Lectio Divina Group meet on Monday evenings in the Blessed
Dominic Barberi Room at St James at 8pm.
The practice of Lectio Divina (divine, or holy, reading) originated in
the monastic tradition. It is communal in nature and was used in liturgical
celebration and as a form of prayer over the Scriptures. 'Breaking open
the word' is the term now used for the process by which the Word of God,
revealed in the Sacred Scriptures, is read and reflected on. It seeks
a personal contemporary understanding of what the text is saying and can
awaken the heart to prayer.
Each week the Lectio Divina group meets to read the Sacred Scriptures
for the following Sunday, and reflects together on what we believe God
is saying to us through his Word. No special skill, knowledge or experience
is required! New members are always very welcome.
Contact Christine Gordon on 07800 121774.
Living Stones Prayer Group for Young Adults
In today's society it is becoming increasingly difficult to live out your
faith when the messages you see all around you are so persistent and contrary
to those of Jesus. The Living Stones prayer group has two aims: firstly
to help us to grow in our relationship with Christ, so that we may not
be afraid to shine His light in the world and secondly to provide a community,
so that we may support each other in our efforts to grow and through any
problems we may have.
We will meet twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, at
8pm at St William of York, for a time of prayer, followed by tea and biscuits,
and a time to socialise. Please do come and join us.
Contact: Arlene on 07810 753 673.
Date of next meeting: 8th July 2008
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Social
Justice Group
The Social
Justice Group sees its mission as promoting the active expression of our
Christian faith through raising awareness and involvement in social justice
issues in the Parish. The group aims to encourage and support action by
individuals and groups on a wide range of relevant issues which may be
local, national or international.It also plays a role in promoting
discussion of the economic, political and social justice concerns which
often lie behind the problems which are addressed by the charities
which are selected each year for support through the Parish project.
We generally meet at 8pm on the third Monday of each month in St William's
Annex.
For more information on the SJ Group please contact Kevin Boyle via the
Parish Office: Tel: 957 4171 or
e-mail: parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
To see a copy of the Group's latest handout click
here
Minutes of May meeting click
here
Date of next meeting: Monday, 21st July, St Williams,
8pm
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Union
of Catholic Mothers
The UCM is open to all women, married or single. Meetings of
an educational nature are open to all parishioners, men and women. See
the church porch or the newsletter.
For more information
contact Rosina Marsh via the Parish Office:
Tel:957 4171 or
e-mail: parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
For the Summer Term Programme click
here
To visit the National UCM website click
here
Date of next meeting: Thursday, 17th July, St James:
7.30pm
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Repository
The Parish Repository at St James is manned by a team of volunteers
and is open after all Masses with the exception of Saturday morning.
The newsletter can be seen, by request, in the Repository.
In stock are Rosaries, statues, medals, water fonts, holy pictures, Crucifixes
and other religious items. We have a good selection of books, bibles,
missals, prayer books, CTS pamphlets, various occasions' cards and Mass
cards. Greetings cards for various occasions are also on sale.
A cross stitch kit of St James is available and can be ordered from the
Repository. If you would like to have a look before ordering there is
one on display. There is also a kit of St William of York Church which
can be ordered.
For more information contact Audrey Hora via the Parish Office:
Tel: 957 4171
or e-mail: parish@jameswilliam-reading.org.uk
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Traidcraft
Traidcraft is a fair trade company. Producing groups in developing
countries are paid a fair price for their crops and crafts. They are given
advice on business and product lines. There is also a commitment to developing
health care and education through the fair trade. Goods are produced with
concern for the environment and the craft sales keep local skills alive.
Fair trade makes a real difference to some of the poorest people in the
world.
Our parish reps are Tanya Dalton (St James) and Sara Scanlon (St William's)
and a monthly sale of items takes place after the 9am and 11am Sunday
Masses, prior notice being given in the weekly newsletter and in the notices
at the end of the Sunday Masses.
To visit the Traidcraft website
click here
Parish Safeguarding Officer
It is a diocesan requirement that each parish have a designated and trained
Safeguarding Officer and also a Safeguarding Policy. Any parishioner wishing
to speak in confidence about the protection of children is advised to
contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Office: 01962 772079 or by phoning the
Parish Safeguarding safe line on 07906 073025
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Safeguarding
Policy Statement
“Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name
welcomes me”. Mt, 18:5
St James and
St William of York Parish is committed to living God’s word by welcoming
all children, young people and vulnerable adults into our community to
be cared for in a safe environment by people whom they can trust. It is,
therefore, the duty of the Parish community, and particularly those who
work with them, to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of
all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom they come into
contact.
In our Parish community, we
do this by ensuring that;
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The Parish Safeguarding Team has overall responsibility
for Safeguarding issues within the parish and reports to the Parish
Priest.
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Children’s and Young People’s groups
are properly staffed by adults who are aware of the correct procedures
and that parental permission is obtained for participation where appropriate.
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All groups working with children and young people
will be registered with the Safeguarding Team and will follow the
guidelines for working with children, young people and vulnerable
adults as laid down by the Diocese and the Parish.
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Everyone who works with children, young people
and vulnerable adults will complete an application form in which they
agree to screening by an appropriate body and that all forms are held
securely by the Parish Office.
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All volunteers, paid workers and anyone who works
with children, young people and vulnerable adults know that they should
bring any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Person or, in their
absence, a member of the Parish Safeguarding Team.
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The name and contact details of the Designated
Safeguarding Person are displayed on the notice boards of both churches,
and are thus available to all members of the parish.
As part of our
parish commitment, it is the responsibility of the Parish Priest and the
Parish Safeguarding Team to safeguard the welfare of the adults who work
with children, young people and vulnerable adults in our parish, by ensuring
that they receive appropriate guidance, support and training.
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Parish
Disability and Access Co-ordinator - Mrs Emma Hill
Emma's role is to help facilitate the
worship and participation within the Parish community of any member who
has a physical or mental disability. If you have any queries please
contact her via the parish office.
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