Children, young people and their families are the present and the future of the Church.
The parish of Guildford recognises children and young people in their totality, taking their personal and spiritual growth seriously and encouraging them to seek for Christ in their lives, from an early age.
The parish of Guildford recognises that children and young people are participants in God’s mission, along with the whole Church, as is their right by baptism.
The parish of Guildford recognises that children and young people are participants in God’s mission, along with the whole Church, as is their right by baptism.
Our vision is to see children and young people grow into the fullness of who they are called to be in all aspects of their lives.
We aim to accompany children and young people lived out through being there for them. We desire to enter their world and understand the complexities of their culture, respect it and help them to find Christ where they are. We aim to equip them to see things through a gospel lens and to be agents of his Kingdom not just for the benefit of the Church but the world in which they live.
We especially recognise the impact of the family on children and young people’s development, identity building and desire for fidelity
Recognising the significant role of family networks in the development of children and young people, the parish of Guildford aims to provide ongoing formation and accessible participation in the sacraments in relation to the family and of the family in relation to the child.
The parish of Guildford aims to offer fidelity, genuine hope and abounding love within a welcoming and authentic community. We recognise that young people long for an authentic and creative community that opens itself to the real questions of life and living together.
The parish of Guildford aims to offer fidelity, genuine hope and abounding love within a welcoming and authentic community. We recognise that young people long for an authentic and creative community that opens itself to the real questions of life and living together.
Our vision is to re-imagine Church, where the transformation of children, young people and their families’ results in a transformation of the Church itself
The only way we can effectively do this is to ensure that God, the churches in the parish of Guildford and the home are in communion.
Children
We aim to provide engaging and accessible liturgies and First Holy Communion programmes for all children and their families in the parish of Guildford.
We aim for safe spaces of ongoing formation for our children from ages 7-10 where they can meet with their peers, have fun, and grow their faith (GYM-jams). We aim to prepare them for the next stages of personal and spiritual development, as they transition to secondary school and our youth programmes.
We aim for good and regular communication between those who lead our children ministries and our parents to share and support each other in the responsibility of passing on the faith.
We aim to help equip our parents with effective and holistic parenting skills and a good understanding of how the Catholic faith should impact family life.
We aim to set and observe standards of excellence in relation to the safeguarding of children and young people.
We aim for safe spaces of ongoing formation for our children from ages 7-10 where they can meet with their peers, have fun, and grow their faith (GYM-jams). We aim to prepare them for the next stages of personal and spiritual development, as they transition to secondary school and our youth programmes.
We aim for good and regular communication between those who lead our children ministries and our parents to share and support each other in the responsibility of passing on the faith.
We aim to help equip our parents with effective and holistic parenting skills and a good understanding of how the Catholic faith should impact family life.
We aim to set and observe standards of excellence in relation to the safeguarding of children and young people.
Young people 11-14s
We aim to provide engaging and accessible liturgies for all our young people. We also aim to give them opportunities to take on ministries in our liturgies particularly through altar-serving, welcoming and participation in music ministry.
We aim to help equip young people for their life at secondary school by offering a space for them to make friends from across the parish of Guildford and the different secondary schools in Guildford (jGYM). We aim to offer pastoral support and tools of Christian discipleship as they begin to encounter new challenges to their faith.
We aim to help them to seek for God in their lives, help them to identify their spiritual gifts and provide initial opportunities for them to serve and explore their calling, especially preparing them to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
We aim to hold an annual weekend away as a focus for spiritual development (ROOTED).
We aim to help equip young people for their life at secondary school by offering a space for them to make friends from across the parish of Guildford and the different secondary schools in Guildford (jGYM). We aim to offer pastoral support and tools of Christian discipleship as they begin to encounter new challenges to their faith.
We aim to help them to seek for God in their lives, help them to identify their spiritual gifts and provide initial opportunities for them to serve and explore their calling, especially preparing them to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
We aim to hold an annual weekend away as a focus for spiritual development (ROOTED).
Young people 15-18s
We aim to provide engaging and accessible liturgies for all our 15-18s. We also aim to give them opportunities to take on ministries in our liturgies particularly through altar-serving, reading, welcoming, participation in music ministry and becoming extra-ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
We encourage our 15-18s to share in the responsibility of leadership in our younger formational ministries.
We aim for inspiring, culturally relevant and age-appropriate weekly gatherings that allow our 15-18s (GYM) to recognise God in their lives, to recognise their worth and offer accountability to them as their identities begin to blossom. We encourage an awareness of social justice issues and offer them opportunities to be instrumental in the parish of Guildford’s vision for outreach.
We aim to prepare young people in seeking for God in every aspect of their lives as they prepare for universities and workplaces.
We aim to hold an annual weekend away as a focus for spiritual development (DAMASCUS).
We encourage our 15-18s to share in the responsibility of leadership in our younger formational ministries.
We aim for inspiring, culturally relevant and age-appropriate weekly gatherings that allow our 15-18s (GYM) to recognise God in their lives, to recognise their worth and offer accountability to them as their identities begin to blossom. We encourage an awareness of social justice issues and offer them opportunities to be instrumental in the parish of Guildford’s vision for outreach.
We aim to prepare young people in seeking for God in every aspect of their lives as they prepare for universities and workplaces.
We aim to hold an annual weekend away as a focus for spiritual development (DAMASCUS).
Families
We consider the Spiritual development of children and young people to be a shared responsibility between the parish of Guildford and our parents. We seek to support parents in this role and recognise the importance of family within God’s plan for our lives.
We aim to place and endorse a high value on family life and demonstrate this in all our ministries and activities.
We seek to engage in a continual dialogue with parents about the needs of their children and young people and the effectiveness of our family ministry throughout the parish of Guildford.
We aim to place and endorse a high value on family life and demonstrate this in all our ministries and activities.
We seek to engage in a continual dialogue with parents about the needs of their children and young people and the effectiveness of our family ministry throughout the parish of Guildford.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
We seek to be welcoming and inclusive of all children and young people, whatever physical, mental or emotional conditions they possess.
We seek to make the appropriate arrangements to support those with additional needs (whether physical, mental, emotional or educational) to access and enjoy our children’s, youth and family ministries.
We seek to make the appropriate arrangements to support those with additional needs (whether physical, mental, emotional or educational) to access and enjoy our children’s, youth and family ministries.