This blog has been set up to enable parishioners to comment on anything that might be relevant to the Parish Development Plan. This is a plan to be finalised by 23rd May (Pentecost) determining the direction of the parish over the next five years or so.
Please feel free to comment on the Report of the Survey published recently (available on the Parish Development Plan page of the Parish Website) and on anything else you feel might be helpful to the process.
Father James
It is great to have the opportunity to respond to other people's thoughts on PDP2
ReplyDeleteAny development plan must always consider the accuracy of any information on the population to benefit and on the plan's PURPOSE.
ReplyDeleteJill has collated a survey which makes fascinating reading indeed, and it certainly shows a diversity of views - which I do hope we will be able to discuss in a Parish Meeting one day. I should have been a lot more forthright, having read all the comments. For what it's worth,(sorry!) my limited knowledge of the place as a newcomer tells me that the parish undrestimates just what a good job it does in so many fields, and there will, of course, always be some detractors of different kinds - but the desire to improve and reach out more is always a good one.
ReplyDeleteBut I know why I came to Worth, and then came again; and then started to hate leaving, and now resent when circumstances prevent me from coming. It is its simple, yet formal and peaceful spirituality; its warmth (I have always felt welcomed by complete strangers, even if I feel at a slight advantage on that front, being in a wheelchair); its calm, and its incentive to delve back into the scriptures again; its thoughtful, and prepared, sermons (give me 10 minutes - or much more!- of a text, over 3 minutes of off-the-cuff any day). You will never please everyone on matters musical, but the 'Victorian' hymns are amongst the best writings of the last century, littered with pearls which I find myself uttering to myself constantly ('Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee' is a fairly comforting reminder, isn't it?, and I love the idea of the prospect of being 'LOST in wonder, love and praise'.) I'm all for the occasional modern hymn, certainly tune; but it is the words of the most modern versions which often fall so short of their predecessors.
But yes, I would support the re-introdcution of The Hail Mary (the first Christian after all?) - and also, by way of bonding us more together at the beginning of Mass, the Confiteor too.
The question of inspiring the young is one which will occupy us all for a long time. I wasn't all that interested as a teenager and beyond, having been taken every Sunday up until then; but, without taking anything for granted, I think we should trust that SOMETHING SINKS IN, and not despair too much. I am, perhaps, a modest example of that.
Worth, under its enthusiastic and sympathetic parish priest, is doing so much, so well, as this survey surely shows. The balance of formality and approachability is really very good - and will only be upset by the introduction of guitars and drums!
In 2010 as in 2005 parishioners have made heartfelt pleas for a liturgy that is relevant to their lives.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what suggestions people make, but here are a few of my own, to set the ball rolling.
The Offertory is when we offer the bread and wine to Jesus. He not only accepts our offeing but, with great courtesy, transports them into his own body and blood. In days when we nearly all worked on the land the symbolism of the bread and wine as representing our daily labours was obvious. Today it is not, and we need a prayer to make it clear, something on these lines: Lord Jesus, in our daily lives we strive to serve our families and communities by performing our tasks conscientiously, cheerfully and generously, as you would have done. As tokens of our endeavours we offer you this bread and wine, and we ask you to sustain us. (This, or something like it, could perhaps be added to the Prayers of Intercession.)
Second suggestion: a representative for one one of the parish groups reports at Mass on what they have been doing.
Third: from time to time the presiding priest explains the various sections of the Mass.
Fourth: after Mass those interested stay behind to discuss the sermon with the priest, making their own input in terms of examples, comments and questions.
Martin P-L
The blog is a great idea and I hope that we will all make use of it, and that non-bloggers and those without access to the internet will be kept up to date in some other way, e.g. via a noticeboard in the Narthex where they can read comments from the blog and post their own handwritten ones. Thank you , Meg (website editor) for your time and skills!
ReplyDeleteFr. Charles would like to comment that he would like to see greater energy in the parish put into promoting vocations, especially to the priesthood; and more attention given to pro life issues.
ReplyDeleteDear Parishioners,
ReplyDeleteI have recently joined the parish and received the welcome pack. This included the PDP1 (2005-2010) plan and it has partly inspired me to submit a two or three of ideas/comments that could be discussed for the PDP2 plan.
1. ‘Baptism’ is the ‘sacrament of Faith’ and could be an ‘ecumenical’ starting place (e.g. year 1 of the 5 year plan) to ‘Understand our faith’. It could look at the ‘outward signs of inward grace’ (e.g. Water, Cross & Candle), the Creed, conversion of our hearts (by the Holy Spirit) and understanding/spreading God’s Word. [PDP1 plan on page 13 did recommend the RCIA process but the web link is no longer valid! Maybe the RCIA method could be considered by those who have previously taught, received or travelled this route?] Possibly years 2 and 3 could focus on Reconciliation/prayer and Outreach. Is this bold ?...!
2. Acts 2: 42 about the early Christian community and inspiring us to implement a ‘framework of activities’ as was suggested on page 12 of the PDP1 plan. The ‘What/Who’ grid looks at say ‘Fellowship’ for ‘Young Adults’. But in addition we need to look at ‘Where’, ‘When’ & ‘How’ so that external (& internal) ‘barriers’ can be identified and resolved. Some of the negative points identified via the PDP2 research report might suggest barriers/problems such as split loyalties between family and parish; or time constraints between work/travel, evening cooking/meal & evening parish event. Maybe this approach could be useful for the groups considering ‘Deepening our Faith’ or ‘Expressing our Faith’. Is this bold ?...!
3. As “…fewer younger parishioners found time to fill in the questionnaire…” then we need to try again by perhaps a different method.
I hope I haven’t sounded too negative because that wasn’t my intention.
Regards,
Mike Agius
Whatever liturgical changes are introduced will be lost on many because:
ReplyDelete1 We CAN’T HEAR: the audio system is terrible! The volume is fine, but It echoes and booms so much that I personally only hear every third word and have to re-construct what is being said from the general sense (which doesn’t work with Notices!). The loop system is so feeble that I seldom know whether it is turned on or not.
2 We CAN’T READ: Music printed black-on-dark-blue or, worse, text such as In Touch printed black-on-dark-red are virtually unreadable for many. Cream or white for background, please!
I couldn't agree more. I am hopeful that the re-furbishing of the Abbey will ensure that the sound system is addressed as a major priority. All previous attempts to improve it have obviously failed. It is difficult to put the word of God into practice if we can't hear it!
ReplyDeleteNo amount of new furniture, etc. can compensate for the atrocious acoustics.
Could we, please, also have In Touch printed on a light-coloured background. My eyesight is fine but it is the bilious colour of recent issues which is so off-putting
I've often wondered why there are no stations of the cross around the church. As a new Catholic, but having been in many Catholic churches, I cannot remember ever being in a Catholic Church that doesn't have the stations around the perimeter.
ReplyDeleteEach year at this time when we meet for the stations I'm always a bit sad that there are no permanent visuals - after all, it would also be nice to visit them during the year as well.
Thank you all the above for your comments. I am sure the groups working on the three areas of parish life will take notice of what you suggest.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, the sound system is being replaced by a very well known and succesful company who have had successes in various cathedrals and large interior spaces thoughout the country.
And no more dark coloured sheets will be printed from here on.
Finally, just to say that I am really looking forward to a final bold plan for the future of our parish, and as PP, to leading the implementation of it.
Fr. James