Organisations
- Alpha Course
- Altar Staff
- Amen Group
- Catholic Womens League
- Choir and Organists
- Christmas Fayre
- Church Cleaners
- Churches Together in Sleaford and District
- Diocesan Assembly Group
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Flower Arrangers
- Folk Music Group
- Justice and Peace Group
- Little Church
- Parish Hall
- Pastoral Council
- Readers
- Repository
- RCIA Group
- School, The
- Secular Franciscan Order
- SVP
- Welcomers
The Alpha course
What is Alpha?
The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith.
It's relaxed, non-threatening, low key, friendly and fun.
There is a meal together at the beginning of each session which gives participants an opportunity to get to know each other.
Listen, learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile
And it's supported by all the main Christian denominations.
What's involved?
The Alpha course consists of a series of talks looking at topics such as 'Who is Jesus?' and 'Why and how do I pray?' After each talk there are small group discussions. It runs for 10 weeks. Each session starts with a meal at 7pm and finishes by 9.30pm.
Who is Alpha for?
Alpha is for everyone, especially:
• Those wanting to investigate Christianity
• New Christians
• Newcomers to the church
• Those who want to brush up on the basics
The Amen Group
The Amen Group is made up of a band of like minded men who got together in 1999.
The aims of the group are:
(1) To support the parish
(2) To assist the Parish Priest
Meetings are held in the presbytery after morning mass on the second Thursday of each month.
Churches Together in Sleaford and District
Churches Together in Sleaford and District covers the town of Sleaford and its surrounding villages, to the north: Dunston; the south: Folkingham and Aslackby; to the east: Heckington and Billingborough and to the west: Ancaster and its neighbouring small villages.
The aims and objectives are:
To be a visible sign of the Churches' commitment to one another in obedience to Our Lord's prayer "that they may all be one..." by:
a. promoting opportunities for committed prayer together at local level; theological reflection and discussion relating to the unity of the Church and its mission
b. encouraging the sharing and understanding of each other's spiritual traditions
c. fostering ways of sharing the Gospel with the community
d. helping Churches make a practical response to society's needs and seeking a common mind through shared decision making, whenever possible as a part of growth in unity.
Denominations represented on the executive are: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, United Reformed, New Life, Community, Salvation Army and the Religious Society of Friends.
Meetings are held four times a year, plus an Annual General Meeting. Meetings are usually held at Sleaford's Methodist church, on Thursdays at 7.45pm.
Catholic Women's League Sleaford Section
The Catholic Women's League has branches based on the dioceses in England and Wales, It was founded in 1906 by Margaret Fletcher, and has as its patron saint Margaret Clitherow, a martyr of the Reformation, who shares a feast day on 30th August with two other martyrs: Anne Line and Margaret Ward.
The aims of the League are:
> to promote and support charitable works at parish, diocesan and national levels
> to unite Catholic women in a bond of common fellowship, forming a national, non-party-political organisation under the guidance of the bishops of England and Wales
> to train and encourage members to use their talents and skills in the service of the Church and community at local, national and international levels
> to initiate and maintain charitable works, whether religious, educational, or in the interests of moral and social welfare
> to ensure Catholic representation of these interests on major public bodies
The Sleaford section is one of nine other sections in the diocese of Nottingham. Meetings of Sleaford section are held on the first Wednesday in each month in the parish hall, at 2.30 pm in the winter months and 7.30 pm in the summer. Nottingham branch meetings are held five times a year, including an annual general meeting.
In 2006 the League will be celebrating its centenary, with a pilgrimage of members to Walsingham over the weekend 16th to 18th June; and with a National Council at Brighton from 20th to 23rd October. Brighton was the venue chosen by the founder members for the very first national meeting of the League in 1906.
For further information on how to join the League, please contact
Chairperson: Marion Smith, telephone: 01529 415095
www.catholicwomensleague.org.uk
Folk Music Group
A small group of adult parishioners who provide the music for Mass on the first Sunday of each month and at various special celebrations throughout the year e.g. First Communion, the Children's Mass at Christmas.
Currently there are three musicians and two singers. New members, who can be of any age, should be fairly proficient at their own instrument.
The group meets in the Parish Hall for a practice at 9.00am on the Sunday before it is playing in church. On the day of the Mass itself it gathers in church at 9.00am for a final run through.
Justice and Peace Group
Justice and peace issues are considered and , where appropriate, acted upon by a small group of parishioners. The group meet usually once a month on a weekday in the presbytery at 7.30 pm. The weekday for the meeting is chosen to suit the convenience of the members.
Through the group over 50 Aquaboxes of emergency supplies have been sent to various disaster areas in the past two years, including the countries affected by the 2004 tsunami in south-east Asia. The group has participated in hosting a group of mothers and young children from Chernobyl in Belarus.
Members have taken part in rallies for the Make Poverty History campaign in London, Edinburgh and Brussels. The group has also involved itself in many other justice and peace issues.
For further information on how to join or to give help to any special projects or activities initiated by the group, please contact Fr. Michael Bell.
When:
Little Church takes place at the 10.00am Sunday mass. We use the church hall for our activities and rejoin the congregation for the Offertory. We also help Father Michael take the sign of peace to the congregation.
What:
An introduction to the Gospel at a child's level
Inclusive activities aimed at complementing the main Church's programme
Bright, attractive worksheets to complete, colour and take home
An enthusiastic and varied approach to understanding the Gospel
Who:
Little Church is run by a team of parishioners (mostly Mums) and is aimed at infant and junior age children. Children under 5 are very welcome, but we would appreciate it if they are accompanied by an adult.
We also run regular Christmas and Easter Workshops when we prepare for these celebrations. We make items to take home and to decorate the church as well as planning readings/music. Details appear in the church newsletter.
New leaders and helpers are always welcome.
For further details please contact either Father Michael of Sarah Pritchard.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School
Headteacher - Mr Anthony Weldon (Phone 01529 304373)
or visit:
Rite of Christian Initiation
An informal group which welcomes anyone wanting to learn more about what it means to be a Catholic Christian and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The journey of faith is Scripture based and prayer led.
The meetings are on a Tuesday evening in the presbytery mainly during term time.
The aim of the Secular Franciscan Order is to 'make present the charism of our common Seraphic Father (Francis) in the life and mission of the Church'.
The Secular Franciscan Order continues to meet every third Wednesday
of the month September - July inclusive at 7.30 p.m. in the presbytery.
We celebrate the Transitus of St. Francis in October, the Stations of
the Cross in Lent and the Crown Rosary in May.
We welcome new members so please come and share the Franciscan way of life with us.
St Vincent de Paul Society
An international Society founded towards the end of the 19th century by a student called Frederic Ozanam who wanted to relieve the suffering of the poor people of the city. Now the Society works in over 130 countries. Through a network of Twinnages countries in the West help groups in the poorer countries of the world.
Our group, or "conference" as each group is known, meets each second Monday evening in the presbytery at 6.30.
Its work includes visiting the sick and elderly either in their own homes or in residential homes. The conference is twinned with two Conferences in India and helps them financially.
